We recently found out that Britain needs orthotics. Orthotics are implants that go into her shoes and help change the shape of the bones in her feet. Her bones are forming wrong which causes her to be flat footed and knock kneed. It is not a big deal now, but as she grows older her feet and ankles will always ache.

So we have made a number of trips to the podiatrist. We went to leave Tuesday to pick them up and she ran to tell her Daddy good bye. Adam asked her where she was going and she told him "the doctor." He made a sad face at her. She said "It’s okay Daddy there is no blood at this doctor. He tickles my feet." Adam and I had a good laugh and off we went to the doctor.

I told the receptionists the story while I waited for the doctor and they laughed. The doc came out to the waiting room gave me the orthotics, a couple papers and a few instructions and he left. I made Britt’s next appointment and started shooeing the kids out the door. Britain then proceded to fall to the ground crying "I wanna see the doctor! I want him to tickle my feet! I like the doctor." The receptionists and I cracked up. I showed Britain the orthotics and explained we would be back in two weeks for the doctor to tickle her feet. She jumped up and was out the door with a quick wave to the receptionists. I am sure they will laugh about that for a while. I know we will.

~Melissa

Yesterday, Melissa and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary.

It was a great day. We started off my doing sealings at the Provo Temple where Melissa almost fainted…again. I can’t remember a time when we have done sealings and she didn’t  faint. I even warned the sealer, so all of us were prepared. She was fine though and didn’t actually faint. Got pretty close I must say.

We then had breakfast and continued on with a normal day. In the evening I cooked a fancy, shmancie dinner for her and we ate by candlelight.

It was quite the special day and I was feeling particularly sensitive to the grandiose of it all.

I thought I could feel the moment again when I kneeled across the alter in the San Diego Temple and looked into Melissa’s eyes. I remember how beautiful she looked. I remember how anxious I was. I remember how nervous I was about being a husband, about starting a family. I didn’t know how I was going to do it. It didn’t matter though. I was doing the will of the Father. How could I go wrong. We had help and so we would be ok.

Turns out we have been just that. Oh, things have been bumpy. Times have been hard… I have the grey hairs to prove it. But I look back now at that decision and have to give thanks for the strength I received to take that step. Melissa and I had only just met less than 3 months earlier, and there we were ready to covenant to spend the rest of eternity with each other.

I am so grateful that I have learned to rely on the right Counselor when it comes to making these types of decisions. The pattern was set when I made the decision to get baptized, and now it follows me wherever I go.

I love you Melissa… más que me puedo decir

~Adam

Hope today was a great day. We love you!

And we can’t wait to see you get baptized in a few weeks!

On January 27th, that scripture in D&C was fulfilled in my life. For almost 15 years I have toiled with trying to help my family accept the Gospel. It has been difficult and very discouraging.

I had finally told myself that if it was to happen that it would probably be a long time from now. I was okay with that because I always knew that eventually it would happen. My Patriarchal Blessing says so.

So you can guess that I was as shocked as anyone when my sister Diane called me to tell me that she and her husband Rhea were talking to the missionaries. As I saw them progress and begin the change of heart that comes with conversion, I was beyond ecstatic.

Well, the day did arrive when I got to baptize them. It was one of the greatest spiritual times of my life. I was not prepared for the spiritual onslaught that I witnessed. As I hugged my sister after giving her the Holy Ghost I was overcome with joy. I was unable to control my emotions. Good thing I was among my ward family in the Oxnard 1st Ward. They know me and understood what I was going through. At least I hope.

I have to tell Rhea and Diane thanks for that wonderful gift they gave me. Most of all, I have to thank Heavenly Father for the miracle that has come to the Basua and Moore families. I know it will bless us for generations to come.

~Adam

This is my Dad with President Lewis. What a day!

I know it’s a day late but my wife had her 30th Birthday yesterday (I hope she’s ok that I told you).

I put together this little tribute for her. There are many reasons why I love Melissa and why I am so grateful to be blessed with her as my wife. She’s beautiful, a great mother, an elect daughter of God, the list goes on and on.

The two songs in this video are from me to her. The first one is self-explanatory. The second was the song I dedicated to her at our wedding. Gosh how I love that song.

I love you babe!

~Adam

A birthday wish to an old friend…

from the Basuas

Happy 3rd Birthday to my beautiful twins!! Who knew I could have twins, let alone twin girls (I always only wanted boys, so much for that). The past three years have gone fast with the days passing slowly. It’s been quite an adventure. I wouldn’t change much, only a poop mess or ten and a little of the crying and screaming. Okay, a lot of the screaming.

I am grateful for a sweet natured Kalixta. She is talking lots now. She loves to pack around all her toys. Her favorites are any kind of pony, books, and balls. Animals are her thing, she takes after her Grandma Sylvia. She is taking her time learning how to use the potty. She likes to wear panties but doesn’t like to sit on the potty even for a piece of candy, which is nuts because Kalixta has a HUGE sweet tooth. Kalixta also loves to eat. Guess she gets that from her parents!! Kalixta is the sneaky one. She is so quiet it helps her sneak into things all the time like Auntie Marci’s make-up, Mom’s purse, chocolate powder mix from the pantry, or glitter in the craft room.

Britain is a huge adventure, to her everything is fun except getting her hair done! She is Ari’s little Mom. Britt is never quiet! She tells you exactly what is on her mind. Today she told me I didn’t love her any more because I wouldn’t let her open her presents yet. Her prayers are the best! She says "Mommy loves me, Daddy loves me" and continues until she exclaims that all those in the circle love her. Oh, and then includes herself, "Britain loves me." Then she tells what everone is- male or female, "Daddy’s a boy, Mommy’s a girl" and on and on. We try to interrupt and help her end but she will not be deterred. Britain loves any toy that Zoë owns. 

Oh I could go on and on. My girls are GREAT! and I love them tons! I am grateful for the blessings that have come with twins. I am even more grateful that Heavenly Father has sent them to me and has given me the abilty to endure to the end! I love you girls!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KALIXTA AND BRITAIN!

MOM

I don’t think that I have ever set New Year’s Resolutions- EVER! I have thought about it and even made some in my head but I never actually wrote them down and tracked myself throughout the year. I think the fear of failure was the driving force- BUT NO MORE!

I have been listening to Anthony Robbins (Anything to help get myself to reach my potential) and he is very big on goals.

He gives a very persuasive example of why we should all make goals.

Here’s what he says (in a nutshell):

-There was a Yale University study in 1953
-Graduating class was interviewed just before they left school
-Asked how many of them had a clear specific set of goals WITH A WRITTEN PLAN for their achievement
-Less than 3% had this
-20 years later (1973) they re-interviewed surviving class members to find out what their lives were like
-Of those, the 3% that had goals appeared happier, more well-adjusted, more excited about their lives as a whole
-Also, the goal setters (the 3%) were worth more in financial terms than the entire other 97%, who didn’t have goals, COMBINED!

Pretty interesting huh?

There is something that happens when you write down your goals- why you want them and a clear plan that you will take to get them.

It’s magic.

You become a creator.

Sound familiar?

See ya, gotta go make some goals

~Adam

Ari got her first ponytail yesterday. I always save the honor of the first ponytail for Auntie Marci. She gave Zoë and Britt their first ones (we decided Kalixta never had that typical first ponytail because we just left her beautiful curls alone). Yesterday was the day and Ari wasn’t too happy. She cried, but boy does she look cute!

As we were taking pictures of her first she had another first. She sat all by herself! She has come close before, but yesterday she passed the sitting test. She is growing so fast so I have decided that she is done growing. No crawling, no standing and certainly no walking or talking! 😉

Melissa

I am not good at new year resolutions. In that past that has translated into not really truly making any, knowing that I wouldn’t keep them anyway. This year however is different. I want to make and keep my goals. The problem may be that I have too many goals this year. We will see how that turns out.

My first goal is to be a fun Mom. I go through a day and feel like I have done nothing. But more importantly I feel I haven’t spent any time with my great kids. Well I should say quality time, because I spend lots of time dressing, feeding, directing, picking up with, and getting frustrated at my kids. But I realized my kids are growing up way too fast and I am missing it because I am too busy. Too busy with what? Who knows!

So I started the year with a goal to play with the kids for an hour everyday. Not starting something with them so I can go do something else while they play. I want to sit down and play at least a whole hour. I want my kids to remember me as someone who played with them, not as someone who was always cleaning.

I haven’t done it everyday this month, but I have done it enough to know I like it. It is fun. Every morning I ask Ammon "What do you want to do today?" He gives me his list  which is usually very long and I tell him what I need to do in order to play with him. He helps me WITHOUT complaining and then we do what he wants.

We have had a great time playing in the snow, playing Bingo, fishing, cutting, glueing, coloring, doing puzzles, and on and on. It has been a BLAST!  It has also helped me be nicer during the rest of the day. It helps me be playful and loving instead of grumpy and stressed.

Today Nik and Zoë had no school, so I decided to have a fun craft day. I worked with one kid at a time and each was able to finish a craft with me. We have a good time, but the best was when Ammon said we needed to do this everyday cause he liked me. 

So hopefully it will get easier and easier to make time to play and make fun memories with my kids.

Melissa