Happy Halloween! We survived another Halloween. Emily and Tanner put together their own costumes. Emily is from the 50's, Tanner is the Headless Horseman, and Hayden is a Mickey Mouse Jedi. We had a trunk or treat with the ward and got enough candy then, but went out Halloween night anyway. We went with our friends and had a great time. Now we can think about Thanksgiving.

Here chick, chick, chick! This is John's birthday present--50 chicks! They are residing in our garage at this time. They are so cute at this age! These are meat chickens.We are going to be canning for days!

Emily was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society this year. It is based on her grades from last year. We are so proud!

This has been our week of birthdays. Hayden's was on Weds. and Tanner's today (Sun.) This was a party year, and we had separate parties. I have had all the cake I care to eat! Hayden is 10 and Tanner 12. Tanner received the priesthood today, and is now a deacon. He is excited to be able to pass the sacrament next week.

Jordan has had an exciting few weeks. The same week that he needed stitches, Jordan attended his final board of review and passed. He is now an Eagle Scout. We are all so excited. I forgot the camera at home, so we used the cell phone camera. Needless to say, the pictures are not the best. Because he is now an Eagle Scout, he is able to get his permit. So, the very next day, John took him to the DMV. He passed the first time, and tried to drive home. However, because he couldn't bend his knee due to his stitches, John had to drive home. He still has his stitches, but is able to drive my car. He is actually a very good driver. Jordan will get his stitches out tomorrow.

John and I were just talking the other day about how blessed we are. I had a student whose father was killed in a motorcycle accident last weekend. We were talking about how blessed we are to have such great kids, and not to have suffered such trauma. (Knock on wood!) Not more than two hours later, Jordan calls me and tells me he needs to go to the hospital, (again!) I truly thought he was joking. He wasn't. He split his knee open and had to have 12 stitches. He now has 25 stitches in the same leg. John and I both have said, if this is as bad as it gets, we are doing good! With four kids, three of them being boys, we have been pretty lucky!

I have entered a whole new world! I have a friend at school that has introduced me to the world of blogging. I thought this would be a great way to keep in touch with family and friends so far away. I am not good at writing letters or emails, but love to work with our family pictures--although we do need a new family portrait. Anyway, if you click on the pictures, they will show up more clearly. I hope that you enjoy viewing the things that are happening in the lives of the AZ Woodards.

Jordan started school on July 28th. The rest of us started on August 4th. Jordan is a junior this year! Emily is in 8th, Tanner is in 6th, Hayden is in 4th, and I taught 5th for the first five weeks. They needed to have another 5th grade class, but did not have a teacher yet. They asked me to do it until they were able to hire another teacher. That was supposed to be within 2 weeks. 5 weeks later still no teacher. I thought about job sharing, but it still took more time away from my family than I wanted. I told them I could not do it any longer and will be back to substituting. I could of even had first grade or kindergarten. I love being a teacher, but wanted to be home more for my family. Jordan only has 2 1/2 years left at home. (No, I'm not crying about it, yet. Well, maybe!)

The kids are at such a good age. We have so much fun being together and doing things as a family. Heavenly Father has truly blessed us.

This year Queen Creek Performing Arts Center is putting on Jungle Book. Emily, Tanner, and Hayden, along with their cousins-Shannon, Allison, and Rebecca,auditioned. It took two days to convince Tanner to do it. He wants to be in the play, but too nervous to sing in front of everyone! They all got the part of an elephant in the army. This will be fun.

John is fighting midlife by participating in triathlons. Here he finished the 1/2 ironman in California. He had to swim, bicycle, and run. He is definitely our iron man!

In May, we ended our year long pass to Disneyland. We figured we needed to get it since John was running the half marathon one month and Emily danced there with her dance company another month. We had so much fun each time we went. The night before we went for the last time, Jordan crashed on his bicycle and had to have 13 stitches in his leg. Needless to say, he used a wheelchair. It has been a few months now, and we are all feeling withdrawls and the need to go back. If you will notice Hayden's cast on his right arm. During the first baseball game of the season, he got hit with the ball and broke his thumb. His cast came off in time for him to make the last two games!