Nathan's Reverence Talk

Nathan was reverence child on Christmas. He wrote his talk himself and then Eric helped him with correct wording and then even typed it up for Nathan. Nathan did a great job and didn't appear to be even slightly nervous.

Gingerbread Men

For FHE last week, the kids each decorated a Gingerbread Man.

For FHE last week, the kids each decorated their own Gingerbread Man.

Christmas

Christmas started at 7 am. The twins were up at 6:20, but we made them wait until 7 to open presents. Uncle Charlie tried to stir things up by having the twins yell "Fire!" to wake up everyone else in the house so we could open presents early. Apparently the weren't believable because it did nothing to get Eric and Erin up. Unfortunately, Eric woke up with the same virus Papa had the day before. So he opened a few presents and then went back to bed until we got home from church at 3:30.

It was so much fun to have Grandma, Papa, and Uncle Charlie here for Christmas. Charlie provided much commentary through out the entire day. He keeps me laughing all day long. I am not sure where he got his sense of humor and I don't remember him being this funny when we were kids. But the whole family enjoys having him here. He better come see us next year in Omaha or else our Christmas will be way TOO quiet!

Mount Lemmon Snow

It's nice that within an hour's drive, we have a place to go play in the snow. Papa was sick, but the rest of us, including Uncle Charlie, enjoyed sledding for an hour on Christmas Eve. Then we got too cold and had to head back down the mountain.

Bobcat Badge

Papa's Motorcycle

All the kids, with the exception of Nathan, want to ride on Papa's motorcycle. Unfortunately, there isn't a helmet that fits Zach. But Eric and Erin have each had turns. They loved it.

Manga Bird

Manga is Chinese cartoon with human features like the eyes. Erin drew this Manga bird to look like her real bird, Mikki.

More Baptism Day Pictures

New Scriptures

Brotherly Love

Celebrating at Jason's Deli

Zach being Zach

Decorating Gingerbread House

Zach's wrote his own reverence child talk that he will give today in Sacrament Mtg.

Baptism Day

Yesterday, Nathan and Zachary were baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They have been preparing for this day for 8 years and what a joy it was to see them take that step to follow Jesus Christ and covenant to keep the commandments. I felt the Spirit strongly as it bore witness to me that my boys were making the right decision to be baptized. Grandma and Papa drove all the way from Florida to be here and Grandpa flew from Charlotte, North Carolina. We appreciate their sacrifice to be here with us on this special day. Eric and Erin played the piano while we waited for the boys to change. It was a beautiful day, the best we have had in a couple weeks. So everything was perfect.

Christmas Party

Erin asked to have a Christmas party this year at our house. We told her that she could invite 5 friends. Fortunately, 4 were able to make it. They had a good time eating pizza, roasting marshmallows, building gingerbread houses and playing ghost in the graveyard.

Baby Names

When I was pregnant with Eric, my sister-in-law Michelle was about 10 years-old. She sent me a list of baby names that she "approved of." So anyone out there that thinks Eric should be a Mario Jr. This is why he not. Ha Ha!

Now Michelle is pregnant with her first child, so I am sending back the list.

Stolen Merchandise

So for Christmas I'm getting a Playstation 3. Me and Erin know but Nathan and Zachary have no idea. I have a Playstation 2 and I went to Gamestop to sell it and a bunch of games. I ended up walking away with a few games from Gamestop. Today Zachary was searching through my room and found the games. I was trying to hide them from him to keep it a secret.

When he found them he looked at me and said, "Does mom know about these?"

I told him she did. He then asked when I had to bring them back. I had know idea what he meant. When I asked him why I needed to bring them back he said, "Whenever I steal something I have to bring it back to the store."

Wow. I told him that I didn't steal them and that I bought them. Well, he didn't believe me. When I told my mom the story she went to Zach and asked if I had stolen merchandise. Zach, in all seriousness, told her that I had. He then asked me if I had stolen them and told me to be honest. I told him I would go get him the receipt. After examining the receipt for several minutes he agreed that I had purchased them and looked a little disappointed. Then he asked why I had the games and I told them they were for Uncle Charlie. He was very upset that I would sell stuff to buy other people gifts.

Great to see he has so much trust in me

Posted by Eric

Sick

Mario left for Vegas sick. Luckily, he left us all his germs. Eric and Zach were home sick on Monday. Now Erin is sick. Nate and I have avoided it thus far. But Nate took compassion on Erin before leaving for school. He covered her with her favorite warm robe and covered her in all his favorite stuffed animals. Only her feet were visible. Even Buzz had to go check it out.


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Great to be Eight

Nathan and Zachary were invited to attend their first Cub Scout pack meeting last night since their birthday was the next day. It was a special pack meeting because the Honor Guard from base attended and did the flag ceremony. I went out Monday and bought the uniform and book for each boy. Zach must have read the book 3 times before last night. He is so excited about joining Cub Scouts. I thought they looked adorable in their new uniforms. After the pack meeting, I had a Relief Society Christmas Meeting. So I quickly dropped the kids off at home and gave Eric a list of things to do. He had offered to make the boys' ice cream cake since Mario was out of town. Then he and Erin decorated the house. They put streamers everywhere, even up the stairs making it a maze. There were streamers hanging from my Christmas tree to the light all the way on the other side of the large living room. The twins loved it.

Unfortunately Mario had to go TDY to Las Vegas all week, so he missed out on all the birthday celebrations. Last night the boys had a really hard time going to sleep because they were so excited about their birthdays. This morning they were up very early as well. We started our morning with blueberry bagels that they chose for breakfast. Nate and Zach exchanged gifts that they got for each other. I found it interesting that each got the other a book they wanted from the book fair. They also opened some gifts from Grandma. Then I went to school with them because it was my day to volunteer in their classes. I checked them out at lunchtime and we went to McDonalds.

Mrs. Williams and class singing to Nate

After school, they each invited a friend to come play at the house for a few hours. They wanted to go to Rocks and Ropes and go rock climbing. But without Mario, I didn't feel that would be safe with friends. So we stayed home, played Wii, football, Legos, and Foosball. I took pity on a friend in the neighborhood that we hadn't invited but Nathan had proudly told that it was his birthday and he was going home to have a party. I know CJ felt bad he wasn't invited. So Zach and Nathan along with their friends ran over to his house to invite him to come play. So with 5 boys between the ages of 7-9, my house was quite loud. But I think they had a lot of fun.

Nathan invited Adian. They have been good friends since first grade. Now Adian is in Zach's class, so Nathan is a bit jealous that he and Zach have become friends too. Zach's best friend is Isaiah. They have been friends since kindergarten. I don't know how the two of them stay friends. They are SO competitive with each other. They each act like he is the best at everything. Today they were arguing over Wii remotes. Eric overhead this conversation between them.

Zach-"We have 4 wii remotes."

Isaiah-"Well I have 5 remotes at my house."

Zach-"Well only 4 people can play at a time, Stupid."

That is a typical conversation between the two of them (and stupid is a bad word in the Perez House). But they remain best friends. So I am a little sad to see Zach lose his buddy when we move. At least he will always have Nate.

Nate and CJ

Isaiah, Zach, and Adian with Eric's homemade ice cream cake

Lego World Racers

Zach and Isaiah

Now the boys have December 17th to look forward to because that is the day of the Stake Baptisms. We have been having many FHE on baptism, so hopefully they will be prepared for the Bishop's interview on Sunday.

What great gifts Heavenly Father gave me 8 years ago. As their kindergarten teacher commented today, "I got a 2 for 1." Truly I did. I love you both so much.