What a whirlwind our life has become. The days seem to blur into the next, "what day is it?", it a common phrase around here. We are all rushing around and enjoying ourselves. So much has happened and so many experiences seem to fly under the radar without stopping to actually savor them.
Montana is growing into such a beautiful, and intelligent woman. I had the opportunity to go to a Young Women activity with her at our church. Watching her interact with the other girls and being so sure of herself, having fun, being silly, talking about spiritual things. I felt like I had just met someone new. My daughter, yet not the one I know. It was truly a proud moment.
She is on the honor roll at school again, a frequent achievement for her, yet I am still amazed every time she brings that piece of paper home. She is definitely the smartypants in our family. Things seem to come easily to her, and she works so hard to get her homework done and turned in on time. Most days, she finishes everything at school because she is so quick. She must have inherited her smarts from her pop, because that is definitely not in my DNA. But she did get my looks! haha
She is advancing to Jr. High soon. I am so weirded out by this! But she is totally ready! And so excited. We are still waiting to hear if she was accepted to Bennion Jr. High. It is out of our boundaries so we had to apply for a special permit. They send out acceptance letters middle of March. The anticipation is killing us!! Especially her!
Sierra is still waiting to hear from University of Minnesota, but the dance team try-outs are the beginning of April. She is still unsure of what to do. But I know, in her heart, she would love this opportunity. Being such a nervous Nelly, I would be a basket case the whole time. But I know it is time for her to spread her wings. She is so incredibly talented, and she deserves to take every opportunity that comes her way. Even if mom doesn't like it. She has been accepted to University of Utah, so if U of M doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world.
Sierra was in the Miss Dance/Drill Utah Pageant again this year. She took 1st attendant!!! Which is so incredibly hard to do. She actually placed first in the routine, but second in modeling and speech. All top 7 were so amazing that I would have hated to be a judge. Seriously amazing talent. She is going to go to Nationals in California next month. There are a few things she can improve (totally minor, but in competing, every little thing counts) so we know she will kill it! So excited for her! This would be a fabulous endorsement for her and she could win some scholarship money.
She graduates in June, then turns 18. Then off to college. Wow. It's such a weird feeling, but I am so proud of the women she has become. She is still very seriously dating Mark Lesuma. He is a fantastic kid. So sweet to her, and so supportive of all she does. He is fun to talk to, smart, and the kids & I really love him. They have talked about getting married someday. He wants to serve a mission, and I have told Sierra about a million times that she cannot consider getting married until she is graduated from college! So we will see how things pan out in the next few years. EEK!
Justice is a little spit fire as usual. He is so full of life and energy. Always planning something and doesn't give up until he gets what he wants, or gives up all hope of it happening. He has been struggling with school this year but managed to pull off a decent report card. So I am rewarding him with an ipod (buying it used) which he still has to earn buy doing homework and chores for $5 a day. Let me tell you, he is beyond the moon excited for this.
His dad and I would really like to see him get involved with sports and be physical. We keep encouraging him but he has no interest in that kind of thing lately. He is in Scouts and LOVES it. His dad got him a guitar and he is LOVING that. He and his friend are learning how to play from a video, and his dad is teaching him as well. He has his social life- which is all consuming- from 7:00am-7:30pm the friends are calling, or he is playing with them. He is an adorable kid and I get compliments about his behavior and work ethic from his teachers and other parents, which makes me happy- because sometimes it's hard to keep him in line at home. He is still my cuddle bug, which I love, because the girls don't like to hug or chit chat unless I MAKE them! :-)
It's business as usual with me. Same job, same hours, same everything- but I am happy and enjoying life. No dating on the horizon- and I really don't care. I still see Patrick occasionally for lunch- but we are just friends. I'm enjoying my family and making the most of my time with them- which never seems to be enough. I did get a new computer- the old one died a sad, horrible death. With all my files and pic inside. Most of them were saved to facebook
Toodles.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Whatever it takes
Our lives have been packed with visits to the doctor for the past few months. There's the usual sore throats, eye infections, and so forth...but, the majority of our appointments have been for Sierra to try and figure out what's going on with her.
Phase 1- She started getting massive migraines that OTC medicine didn't seem to help. RX was prescribed. She seemed to be doing better, although the frequency of the migraines stayed about the same.
Phase 2- She started passing out, blacking out, or feeling woozy and random moments- but generally when she was dancing. After the first time- we thought it was weird and a one time thing. Two times had me worried about her eating, drinking, drugs, etc. But all checked out normal and we were convinced she was fine. After a couple more times we began to seek medical treatment.
Phase 3- Family doctor examined her and wanted to send her to a neurologist for further examination. Neurologist did an MRI and changed the RX for her migraines. All test came back normal and he dismissed her case stating that he thought she needed more sodium in her diet. Symptoms persisted.
Phase 4- Symptoms increasing. Extreme fatigue, tingling and numb feet and hands, chest pain, numb arm. Sought out a cardiologist for testing. Doc did EKG and stress tests, also decided to have her wear a blood pressure cuff for 24 hours. This took her BP every 20 minutes. No abnormal results. Then he had her wear a heart monitor for 7 days. This monitored her heart rhythms and heart rate. It also included a button she could push to mark when she was having symptoms of any kind. They would then call and speak with her about the symptoms and what was going on.
No conclusive results. Heart rate would go up during exercise, but blood pressure was generally on the low side. He dismissed her case and believed she was fine.
Phase 5- Depression set in. She was feeling so tired, no energy. Everything was hard, dancing, getting dressed, being awake. She was sluffing school and falling severely behind. She spoke to a counselor at school saying that she was having suicidal thoughts. I was called immediately to the school for intervention. I was not surprised by the chain of events that led to this- but I was surprised by how intense her depression was. She seems so level headed, mellow, and responsible most of the time. It was very scary to see her like this. Racking sobs, unleashing all of her worries, fears, and scary thoughts. Depression runs in my side of the family, and her fathers. So I had no doubt that she needed immediate medical treatment to get her back on track. I know that medical problems can also bring on depression. We saw our family doctor and had them put her on an anti-depressant. It took a couple of weeks, but she seems on an even keel emotionally now. She has caught up on her school work and is not feeling such a heavy weight- however, her body is still not cooperating with her active life style.
Phase 6- More passing out. We decided to see and 2nd cardiologist. He was recommended to us and we had high hopes. He put her on a heart monitor similar to the one she wore before, but it measure more intricately her heart rhythms. She had to wear it for 3 weeks. He wanted to figure out exactly when and why she was having symptoms. They decided her heart rate was getting to high while exercising. He put her on a beta blocker/blood pressure medicine to bring down her heart rate. He felt she was dangerously close to heart attack range. Tried the medicine for a week and then came in for conclusions. He determined that all of her high heart rhythms were during exercise and he did not feel right about continuing the beta blocker due to her age, and it was not helping her symptoms. He sent us to a pediatric cardiologist for further testing.
Phase 7- Same problems. Same questions, same paperwork. But this doctor was utterly disgusted with the amount of testing we had already gone through. He believes she is completely dehydrated. Working at an athletic level and starving her body of water. Sodium needs to be upped and Water needs to be ingested at an aggressive rate. 5000 mls a day. He called it hyper hydration. Just to get her back on track, then we can scale back. He believes all of her problems are linked- the migraines, the tingling, the passing out, the racing heart, the exhaustion. We are not totally convinced this will work- but it is definitely worth trying. She's been tested enough to fly to the moon. He is convinced there is nothing wrong with her heart, brain, or organs. He believes she is a child in a woman's body and the blood is competing with the heart and the brain. Which causes the fainting. He said this is common and called it vasovagal syncope syndrome. She may have to deal with it for a while, while her innards catch up with her physique. I hope this helps- a simple solution for a problem we have been so worried about. It hasn't helped much yet- the symptoms are persisting-but it's only been a week. We go back in 4 weeks for a follow up. I'll keep you posted.
Just want my baby girl healthy, happy, and loving life. I'll do whatever it takes.
Phase 1- She started getting massive migraines that OTC medicine didn't seem to help. RX was prescribed. She seemed to be doing better, although the frequency of the migraines stayed about the same.
Phase 2- She started passing out, blacking out, or feeling woozy and random moments- but generally when she was dancing. After the first time- we thought it was weird and a one time thing. Two times had me worried about her eating, drinking, drugs, etc. But all checked out normal and we were convinced she was fine. After a couple more times we began to seek medical treatment.
Phase 3- Family doctor examined her and wanted to send her to a neurologist for further examination. Neurologist did an MRI and changed the RX for her migraines. All test came back normal and he dismissed her case stating that he thought she needed more sodium in her diet. Symptoms persisted.
Phase 4- Symptoms increasing. Extreme fatigue, tingling and numb feet and hands, chest pain, numb arm. Sought out a cardiologist for testing. Doc did EKG and stress tests, also decided to have her wear a blood pressure cuff for 24 hours. This took her BP every 20 minutes. No abnormal results. Then he had her wear a heart monitor for 7 days. This monitored her heart rhythms and heart rate. It also included a button she could push to mark when she was having symptoms of any kind. They would then call and speak with her about the symptoms and what was going on.
No conclusive results. Heart rate would go up during exercise, but blood pressure was generally on the low side. He dismissed her case and believed she was fine.
Phase 5- Depression set in. She was feeling so tired, no energy. Everything was hard, dancing, getting dressed, being awake. She was sluffing school and falling severely behind. She spoke to a counselor at school saying that she was having suicidal thoughts. I was called immediately to the school for intervention. I was not surprised by the chain of events that led to this- but I was surprised by how intense her depression was. She seems so level headed, mellow, and responsible most of the time. It was very scary to see her like this. Racking sobs, unleashing all of her worries, fears, and scary thoughts. Depression runs in my side of the family, and her fathers. So I had no doubt that she needed immediate medical treatment to get her back on track. I know that medical problems can also bring on depression. We saw our family doctor and had them put her on an anti-depressant. It took a couple of weeks, but she seems on an even keel emotionally now. She has caught up on her school work and is not feeling such a heavy weight- however, her body is still not cooperating with her active life style.
Phase 6- More passing out. We decided to see and 2nd cardiologist. He was recommended to us and we had high hopes. He put her on a heart monitor similar to the one she wore before, but it measure more intricately her heart rhythms. She had to wear it for 3 weeks. He wanted to figure out exactly when and why she was having symptoms. They decided her heart rate was getting to high while exercising. He put her on a beta blocker/blood pressure medicine to bring down her heart rate. He felt she was dangerously close to heart attack range. Tried the medicine for a week and then came in for conclusions. He determined that all of her high heart rhythms were during exercise and he did not feel right about continuing the beta blocker due to her age, and it was not helping her symptoms. He sent us to a pediatric cardiologist for further testing.
Phase 7- Same problems. Same questions, same paperwork. But this doctor was utterly disgusted with the amount of testing we had already gone through. He believes she is completely dehydrated. Working at an athletic level and starving her body of water. Sodium needs to be upped and Water needs to be ingested at an aggressive rate. 5000 mls a day. He called it hyper hydration. Just to get her back on track, then we can scale back. He believes all of her problems are linked- the migraines, the tingling, the passing out, the racing heart, the exhaustion. We are not totally convinced this will work- but it is definitely worth trying. She's been tested enough to fly to the moon. He is convinced there is nothing wrong with her heart, brain, or organs. He believes she is a child in a woman's body and the blood is competing with the heart and the brain. Which causes the fainting. He said this is common and called it vasovagal syncope syndrome. She may have to deal with it for a while, while her innards catch up with her physique. I hope this helps- a simple solution for a problem we have been so worried about. It hasn't helped much yet- the symptoms are persisting-but it's only been a week. We go back in 4 weeks for a follow up. I'll keep you posted.
Just want my baby girl healthy, happy, and loving life. I'll do whatever it takes.
Monday, January 23, 2012
I am not a robot!
I am the first to admit that I am a bit wishy-washy when it comes to religion. I know at my core, it's important and I believe in God. But I have a hard time applying it to my daily life. This is why I love working with kids in my church calling. I have a very vanilla, no religion involved calling. I'm the secretary. I file reports, make assignments, and make birthday presents. It's perfect for me.
It keeps me involved at a level that is comfortable for me, without dabbling too much into the things that make me uncomfortable and get my blood boiling. Even in primary- this is tricky. Forever families, temple marriage, memorizing scriptures- almost weekly this brings tears to my eyes. My track record has become so spotty and my family life such a shambles- that even these basic truths are hard to apply to my life.
On the surface, I have tried to do the things that should bring happiness. Married a returned missionary, we were sealed in the temple. He later left the church and we divorced. Studied the scriptures with husband #2 regularly, being a new convert he did not have the knowledge of many church doctrines. Once he learned more, he left the church. We were later divorced. Now I have 3 children whose fathers do not attend church. When I want to take my children to church, inevitably, it is a struggle. I want them to choose to come to church willingly. I don't want to make them do anything. But I also want them to learn about our religion, and be armed with the knowledge that they are children of God and that there is a plan and reason for our existence. This is a daily struggle. We are stuck in the semi-active way of life. We want the blessings of choosing well, but making those choices is not always easy. Living on the fence is painful.
Our Bishop is a great educator. He comes in to primary once in a while to teach the kids a short lesson. I am always amazed at how he can get his point across and teach with the spirit in such a short amount of time, with such impact. Yesterday was a great example and touched me deeply.
We are talking about Free Agency this month. The point is that we are free to make our own choices. Not forced to do anything we are not comfortable with.
Here is the gist of his lesson:
Did we have free agency in heaven. Yes, we chose whether to follow Lucifer or Jesus when the plan was presented.
Do we have free agency on earth? Yes. Can we choose to not listen to our parents, teachers, leaders, etc? Yes. Make our bed? Wake up happy? Cheat? Lie? Study hard? Be friendly? Steal? Come to church? These are all decisions you make on your own. What you choose determines your consequence. But it is YOUR choice. Would you rather have mom and dad make all of your choices for you so that you never make a wrong decision or get in trouble? No. Would you rather have a chip implanted in your brain, and mom and dad, or God has the remote control. They control all of your actions. You would never make a wrong decision or get in trouble. Would this be better? No.
Do we get yelled at, or in trouble when we make wrong choices? Yes. Is it painful? Yes. But we learn to choose wisely. We cannot learn unless we experience the free agency to choose right or wrong. This is the plan. We are not robots. And who would want to be?
It keeps me involved at a level that is comfortable for me, without dabbling too much into the things that make me uncomfortable and get my blood boiling. Even in primary- this is tricky. Forever families, temple marriage, memorizing scriptures- almost weekly this brings tears to my eyes. My track record has become so spotty and my family life such a shambles- that even these basic truths are hard to apply to my life.
On the surface, I have tried to do the things that should bring happiness. Married a returned missionary, we were sealed in the temple. He later left the church and we divorced. Studied the scriptures with husband #2 regularly, being a new convert he did not have the knowledge of many church doctrines. Once he learned more, he left the church. We were later divorced. Now I have 3 children whose fathers do not attend church. When I want to take my children to church, inevitably, it is a struggle. I want them to choose to come to church willingly. I don't want to make them do anything. But I also want them to learn about our religion, and be armed with the knowledge that they are children of God and that there is a plan and reason for our existence. This is a daily struggle. We are stuck in the semi-active way of life. We want the blessings of choosing well, but making those choices is not always easy. Living on the fence is painful.
Our Bishop is a great educator. He comes in to primary once in a while to teach the kids a short lesson. I am always amazed at how he can get his point across and teach with the spirit in such a short amount of time, with such impact. Yesterday was a great example and touched me deeply.
We are talking about Free Agency this month. The point is that we are free to make our own choices. Not forced to do anything we are not comfortable with.
Here is the gist of his lesson:
Did we have free agency in heaven. Yes, we chose whether to follow Lucifer or Jesus when the plan was presented.
Do we have free agency on earth? Yes. Can we choose to not listen to our parents, teachers, leaders, etc? Yes. Make our bed? Wake up happy? Cheat? Lie? Study hard? Be friendly? Steal? Come to church? These are all decisions you make on your own. What you choose determines your consequence. But it is YOUR choice. Would you rather have mom and dad make all of your choices for you so that you never make a wrong decision or get in trouble? No. Would you rather have a chip implanted in your brain, and mom and dad, or God has the remote control. They control all of your actions. You would never make a wrong decision or get in trouble. Would this be better? No.
Do we get yelled at, or in trouble when we make wrong choices? Yes. Is it painful? Yes. But we learn to choose wisely. We cannot learn unless we experience the free agency to choose right or wrong. This is the plan. We are not robots. And who would want to be?
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Becoming a Mom
It's been too many months since my last post. I've considered catching up- but I've decided to just begin anew.
I have several friends and neighbors who are either pregnant or have recently had their sweet babies. Nothing gives me greater joy than looking into the eyes of a sweet newborn babe. I have always noticed how intensely they look back at me. I wonder what they think- if they are trying to communicate with me but have forgotten how- or if they know me from a previous existence- or if they just see something in my eyes that they recognize and relate too.
When I see a baby born in movies, or on tv--all those feelings come rushing back. The joy- the excitement. The pain, the love, the intense feeling of meeting that kid that's been sitting on your bladder, kicking your ribs, and growing inside you all those months. Nothing can prepare you for that. It is completely magical.
When I became pregnant with my first child, Sierra, I had no idea what I was in for. I think I went into it as just the next step in life. I had no idea how much my life would change. How much I would love her. How hard it would be to go thru a day on so little sleep. How everything that hurts them, hurts you too- because you don't want them to feel pain, or be sad. But they do, and you do too. I honestly had no idea how to be a mom, no training. It's just a day by day process. Until one day you look back, and 17 years have gone by- and you've done it....you've raised a human from baby to adult.
I continued to grow up with my children. I have grown into an adult as they have grown into little humans. They have helped me to see my faults. They are numerous. They have also helped me grow into a stronger person, stronger than I ever thought I could be. I was such a young mom. 24...24!!!! When I think about my girls becoming a mom at that age, it seems so crazy! Married at 20!!! Was I nuts? Sierra is 17 now. Could she be married in 3 years?? Could she be a mom in just a few short years?? Certainly not. Right?
I've tried to drill it into my kids that they cannot even consider getting married until they are 25 and graduated from college. I had so much growing up to do- I still do. But hopefully, they will finish being kids before they decide to become get married, and especially before they become parents. But seriously, do they ever listen? I know I didn't. My mom and I were just laughing about this the other day. You can't be told how to live your life. You do things through trial and error. That's just how it is.
Being a mom did not come naturally to me. I'm not a good cook. I like my alone time. I like things clean and organized. This is not a good mix. But I have learned to love those little mess makers of mine. I love their stinkin guts!! How did this happen? How do they steal your heart the minute your eyes meet? How does it happen? I don't know- it's some kind of kid magic. And from that moment on, you are a mom. I have tried to put their needs before mine. I certainly struggled when they were babies. I loved snuggling with them and their soft skin. But I much prefer them grown. The teasing, the laughing, the adventures we have. I hope we are making good memories.
I worry so much about not giving them the life that they deserve. Being twice divorced, all my kids are in a split custody situation. Which totally sucks, and yet. sometimes, it is a real blessing. Like birthdays, Christmas, holidays, and the like- you get to celebrate twice. Sometimes 4 times when you throw the grandparents into the mix. But I so wish we didn't commute between mom and dad's house- I wish we had the storybook ending. But we don't. And it's ok. We do the best we can. The kids seem happy for the most part and have just grown up in this situation. I often wonder how their married lives will be. Will they be able to stay with their spouse forever? Will they end up like their parents? Only time will tell- and it really doesn't matter. All that matters is that they are happy. I know I have learned, above all else, that I am a mom. That is my calling in life, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. The stretch marks I bare are my trophies. And I am proud to wear them.
I have several friends and neighbors who are either pregnant or have recently had their sweet babies. Nothing gives me greater joy than looking into the eyes of a sweet newborn babe. I have always noticed how intensely they look back at me. I wonder what they think- if they are trying to communicate with me but have forgotten how- or if they know me from a previous existence- or if they just see something in my eyes that they recognize and relate too.
When I see a baby born in movies, or on tv--all those feelings come rushing back. The joy- the excitement. The pain, the love, the intense feeling of meeting that kid that's been sitting on your bladder, kicking your ribs, and growing inside you all those months. Nothing can prepare you for that. It is completely magical.
When I became pregnant with my first child, Sierra, I had no idea what I was in for. I think I went into it as just the next step in life. I had no idea how much my life would change. How much I would love her. How hard it would be to go thru a day on so little sleep. How everything that hurts them, hurts you too- because you don't want them to feel pain, or be sad. But they do, and you do too. I honestly had no idea how to be a mom, no training. It's just a day by day process. Until one day you look back, and 17 years have gone by- and you've done it....you've raised a human from baby to adult.
I continued to grow up with my children. I have grown into an adult as they have grown into little humans. They have helped me to see my faults. They are numerous. They have also helped me grow into a stronger person, stronger than I ever thought I could be. I was such a young mom. 24...24!!!! When I think about my girls becoming a mom at that age, it seems so crazy! Married at 20!!! Was I nuts? Sierra is 17 now. Could she be married in 3 years?? Could she be a mom in just a few short years?? Certainly not. Right?
I've tried to drill it into my kids that they cannot even consider getting married until they are 25 and graduated from college. I had so much growing up to do- I still do. But hopefully, they will finish being kids before they decide to become get married, and especially before they become parents. But seriously, do they ever listen? I know I didn't. My mom and I were just laughing about this the other day. You can't be told how to live your life. You do things through trial and error. That's just how it is.
Being a mom did not come naturally to me. I'm not a good cook. I like my alone time. I like things clean and organized. This is not a good mix. But I have learned to love those little mess makers of mine. I love their stinkin guts!! How did this happen? How do they steal your heart the minute your eyes meet? How does it happen? I don't know- it's some kind of kid magic. And from that moment on, you are a mom. I have tried to put their needs before mine. I certainly struggled when they were babies. I loved snuggling with them and their soft skin. But I much prefer them grown. The teasing, the laughing, the adventures we have. I hope we are making good memories.
I worry so much about not giving them the life that they deserve. Being twice divorced, all my kids are in a split custody situation. Which totally sucks, and yet. sometimes, it is a real blessing. Like birthdays, Christmas, holidays, and the like- you get to celebrate twice. Sometimes 4 times when you throw the grandparents into the mix. But I so wish we didn't commute between mom and dad's house- I wish we had the storybook ending. But we don't. And it's ok. We do the best we can. The kids seem happy for the most part and have just grown up in this situation. I often wonder how their married lives will be. Will they be able to stay with their spouse forever? Will they end up like their parents? Only time will tell- and it really doesn't matter. All that matters is that they are happy. I know I have learned, above all else, that I am a mom. That is my calling in life, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. The stretch marks I bare are my trophies. And I am proud to wear them.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
August- A novel :-)
If you are brave...read on. This is an epic post...close to novel size!!
Today is the last day of summer. I thought I would be sad about it, but I'm actually ok with it. We have had an over-abundant amount of fun, antics, and laziness this summer. Fall brings a more scheduled life, cooler weather, and looking forward to holidays. I start to think about craft projects, gift projects, costumes, more homemaking efforts and less keeping everybody busy-ness. It's nice to switch gears.
Here is the update for the past month:
JUSTICE
Justice has really been enjoying scouts. We were finally able to get his uniform and he couldn't wait to wear it. He has earned a few belt loops, but we need to pass off his Wolf before he can get them officially. So we are working on that. We had a really fun pack meeting picnic with water games after. Wet Sponge Pass, Water Balloon Toss, Water Balloon Slingshot, Sprinklers, and Popsicles to cool off with. He was soaked! A good time was had by all.
Justice had quite an adventure a couple weeks ago. He told me he was going to play with his friend Marcus, and he took off on his bike. About an hour later he comes home with a cage, a rat, and some rat food. He had gone to the local pet store with his friend, they put their money together, and bought this thing. Then came home and proudly presented it to me. I was completely freaked out. 1- He crossed a busy street on his bike- Not allowed. 2- Bought a pet without a parent present (Is that even legal/ethical?) 3- Brought home a pet we did not even discuss having.
I marched right back to the pet store with him and the rodent, gave the store owner a piece of my mind for selling a child a pet with out a parent and demanded his money back. He said he could take back the food and cage, but they can't do returns on pets once they leave the store. I was livid!! So I hummed and hawed about what to do. Justice was in tears, his friend was looking at me like I was the devil, I just decided we would make the best of it. Hoping this thing would not live long anyway (like most of our fly by night pets ie: goldfish, frog, bird, cat). After getting instructions on how to care for this rodent, I was told "rats are the smartest of the rodents" very proudly by the store owner. I told him a smart rodent is not what I'm after. Is he going to get out of his cage, how often do we feed him, etc. It was not a pretty day. But we have adjusted, and Justice is very good about taking care of this thing. He has to keep it in his room as the girls and I are not ready to share space with a rat yet. So...JAM is here to stay. For about 2-3 years. UGH!!
JENN
I was recently in charge of the Drill Team BBQ for the drill families. I had a committee and we decided it would be fun to rent out the Taylorsville Pool and have the BBQ there. It turned out so amazing. We went with a Luau them. We had flowers for the girls to put in their hair, little umbrellas for the coconut drinks, little hula skirts for the condiments (so cute! I wish I had some pics), paper lanterns, lots of bright colored table cloths and TONS of food! It was assigned potluck and everyone also brought their own meat. I was so worried that we wouldn't have enough food. But we had more than enough. Everyone spent the night swimming, gabbing, getting to know each other, and playing a few "minute to win it games". Overall- a giant success. And I am so happy I get to do those kind of assignments this year, rather than decorating lockers. Phew!
My cleaning business has really been picking up lately. I have donated a few gift certificates for raffle baskets, fundraisers, and sold a few for gifts, plus my regular clients. So I have been busy. I have come up with a gift certificate that I will have on sale thru Christmas. Also I posted a picture of a darling gift idea we did for a couple of raffle baskets, but it would be a darling gift for a party, birthday, holiday, what have you. It's a Margarita Party Basket. See pic below for details. My friend Christal came up with it and I absolutely love it!!
Patrick and I are still dating, but sadly, we just don't have enough time to see each other much. We work opposite shifts, and have different days off-- but we squeeze in time together whenever we can. He is such a sweetheart. He happily helps me with things around the house. He calls it his "Honey-do" list. Luckily, he is very handy to have around! And seriously- anyone who can put up with me is a keeper!! haha
Dallin, his son, came with him a couple days ago and they had too much fun on the roof. I'm not sure what all they did up there- but they were sure giggling and whispering a lot! :-)
I'm so thankful for their help and for all the sweet things Pat does for me and the kids. I'm a lucky girl to have him in my life.
MONTANA
Tana is busy as a bee lately. She is on the student council at school, and so she gets to participate in the weekly News Report the school produces called TNN. Here is the link to the one where she is a featured anchor. SO AWESOME!!
http://www.youtube.com/embed/37b3YEHn_Cg"
She is starting dance with the Central Utah Stars this Thursday. It's a once a week class she can do while she is visiting her dad in Mapleton (right by Salem). She is pretty excited- and me too! She is still busy babysitting every chance she gets. The girl has more money than me most of the time!!
And since she recently turned 12, she has advanced from Primary to Young Women in our Church. She was so thrilled. They have activities every Tuesday and it is fun to see her come home so bubbly about everything they have done and learned, and talked about. She's growing up so fast. She really is becoming a women right before my eyes.
BEAR LAKE
My parents took us up to Bear Lake to do some camping for a last hurrah, before school starts. So we decided we would make it Montana's birthday celebration and let her invite a couple of friends. Sierra couldn't come because of drill team stuff- so we really missed her. The weather could not have been more perfect. The water was a bit cold, but once you were wet it was just fine.
There was a giant inflatable trampoline/slide/obstacle thing there the first day that the kids played on for hours. We set up a tent just for the girls. I thought they would be too scared or cold to actually sleep in there. But they loved it! It was there little hideaway. And they talked every night until VERY late.
Mom fed us like royalty. She even brought snacks and drinks down to the beach. Seriously- she is the best!!! Dad took care of the RV, the fires, and the dogs most of the trip. We had such a good time. Roxy decided she was a racist while we were up there- she was attacking all the White Dogs!! What is up with that!!?? We had to keep her chained up the whole time or she would take off and go for the throat! I've never seen her act like that. Weird. But at least she wasn't barking the whole time!
The kids all behaved so well and didn't fight much. It was a really relaxing trip.
On our way out of town we stopped for Raspberry Shakes. YUM! Tana ordered Banana Pie Shake. I think that was probably the best one! Getting that next time for sure!
Thanks for taking us Ma & Pa! You know you rock!!
Bear Lake Pics Link
http://www.slide.com/r/l8vyqC8X7j-xACmV_Es8i8ul4huwLHDG?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original
SCHOOL
School Started August 22 this year. Earlier than I ever remember it starting. But we were totally ready. Sierra is a Senior, Montana is a 6th grader, and Justice is in 4th grade. Both my elementary kids got paired with EXCELLENT teachers. I couldn't be happier. They seem to really be enjoying their classes and learning a lot. Sierra has a couple of classes that she likes, but the rest of them seem pointless and a waste of time. Half the time the teacher isn't even there and they watch a movie or something??? Not happy about that. Hopefully, they get their act together soon. She didn't get into a few of the classes she signed up for, but looks like she's got all her credits lined up so she can graduate in June!!
SIERRA
She always has so much going on, I don't even know what she is doing half the time. She is starting a semi-permanent dance teaching job this month with Xcite Dance Studio in Sandy. She is subbing for a month or more for a teacher who is out for surgery. Then they are keeping her on their list for when they need subs. Wahoo. She is choreographing for a lot of girls that are doing solos this year, cutting their music, and still doing team choreography occasionally. She worked with a team in Houston, TX (her dad's friends daughters team) The Klein Oak Strutters. She choreographed two routines for them and they have her fly back occasionally to clean things up. Luckily her dad has those flight benefits!! She loves it so much!
Also...we found out she is in the running for Homecoming Queen. The Pageant is tomorrow night. The girls wear a gown, answer a question, perform a talent, and bake a cake and decorate it??? I'm so excited for her. For her talent, she put together a Power Point presentation with her Thailand pics. A lot of them are from the time she spent with the Tribe. There will be music playing in the background, and the words on the pictures say things like; There's a time to give, There's a time to share, There's a time to love, There's a time to laugh, There's a time to dance---and then she will come out and dance. Can't wait to see it. Here is a pic of her dress. It is gorgeous!! She borrowed it from a friend. Prettier than anything we saw in the stores!
And, lastly...We had a wonderful party for Grama Dodie in celebration of her 80th birthday! All the family came and celebrated with her. So lucky to have her alive and kicking still! She is ornery as ever- haha-- but we love her anyway! She is going to be around a long, long time. At least 20 more years!! :-)
Today is the last day of summer. I thought I would be sad about it, but I'm actually ok with it. We have had an over-abundant amount of fun, antics, and laziness this summer. Fall brings a more scheduled life, cooler weather, and looking forward to holidays. I start to think about craft projects, gift projects, costumes, more homemaking efforts and less keeping everybody busy-ness. It's nice to switch gears.
Here is the update for the past month:
JUSTICE
Justice has really been enjoying scouts. We were finally able to get his uniform and he couldn't wait to wear it. He has earned a few belt loops, but we need to pass off his Wolf before he can get them officially. So we are working on that. We had a really fun pack meeting picnic with water games after. Wet Sponge Pass, Water Balloon Toss, Water Balloon Slingshot, Sprinklers, and Popsicles to cool off with. He was soaked! A good time was had by all.
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| Peace out, boyscout...at the Scout Store |
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| Pack meeting |
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| Cubs |
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| Values Presentation |
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| Justice's new pet...JAM |
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| He loves this thing, I do not! |
Justice had quite an adventure a couple weeks ago. He told me he was going to play with his friend Marcus, and he took off on his bike. About an hour later he comes home with a cage, a rat, and some rat food. He had gone to the local pet store with his friend, they put their money together, and bought this thing. Then came home and proudly presented it to me. I was completely freaked out. 1- He crossed a busy street on his bike- Not allowed. 2- Bought a pet without a parent present (Is that even legal/ethical?) 3- Brought home a pet we did not even discuss having.
I marched right back to the pet store with him and the rodent, gave the store owner a piece of my mind for selling a child a pet with out a parent and demanded his money back. He said he could take back the food and cage, but they can't do returns on pets once they leave the store. I was livid!! So I hummed and hawed about what to do. Justice was in tears, his friend was looking at me like I was the devil, I just decided we would make the best of it. Hoping this thing would not live long anyway (like most of our fly by night pets ie: goldfish, frog, bird, cat). After getting instructions on how to care for this rodent, I was told "rats are the smartest of the rodents" very proudly by the store owner. I told him a smart rodent is not what I'm after. Is he going to get out of his cage, how often do we feed him, etc. It was not a pretty day. But we have adjusted, and Justice is very good about taking care of this thing. He has to keep it in his room as the girls and I are not ready to share space with a rat yet. So...JAM is here to stay. For about 2-3 years. UGH!!
JENN
I was recently in charge of the Drill Team BBQ for the drill families. I had a committee and we decided it would be fun to rent out the Taylorsville Pool and have the BBQ there. It turned out so amazing. We went with a Luau them. We had flowers for the girls to put in their hair, little umbrellas for the coconut drinks, little hula skirts for the condiments (so cute! I wish I had some pics), paper lanterns, lots of bright colored table cloths and TONS of food! It was assigned potluck and everyone also brought their own meat. I was so worried that we wouldn't have enough food. But we had more than enough. Everyone spent the night swimming, gabbing, getting to know each other, and playing a few "minute to win it games". Overall- a giant success. And I am so happy I get to do those kind of assignments this year, rather than decorating lockers. Phew!
My cleaning business has really been picking up lately. I have donated a few gift certificates for raffle baskets, fundraisers, and sold a few for gifts, plus my regular clients. So I have been busy. I have come up with a gift certificate that I will have on sale thru Christmas. Also I posted a picture of a darling gift idea we did for a couple of raffle baskets, but it would be a darling gift for a party, birthday, holiday, what have you. It's a Margarita Party Basket. See pic below for details. My friend Christal came up with it and I absolutely love it!!
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| New Gift Certificates available for my cleaning business On Sale now for $65/normally $75 Available now thru Christmas Contact me if you would like to purchase for your loved ones! |
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| Fun Idea for a gift: Margarita Party Basket w/ all the trimmings Chips/Salsa Bowl, Chips & Salsa, Margarita Salt Margarita Mix, Napkins, 4 Margarita Glasses And... a Gift Cert. for clean-up before or after the party |
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| Patrick & his son Dallin |
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| Up on the roof fixing the &#$*&^% AC again! Thank you boys! |
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| My sweetheart Patrick |
Patrick and I are still dating, but sadly, we just don't have enough time to see each other much. We work opposite shifts, and have different days off-- but we squeeze in time together whenever we can. He is such a sweetheart. He happily helps me with things around the house. He calls it his "Honey-do" list. Luckily, he is very handy to have around! And seriously- anyone who can put up with me is a keeper!! haha
Dallin, his son, came with him a couple days ago and they had too much fun on the roof. I'm not sure what all they did up there- but they were sure giggling and whispering a lot! :-)
I'm so thankful for their help and for all the sweet things Pat does for me and the kids. I'm a lucky girl to have him in my life.
MONTANA
Tana is busy as a bee lately. She is on the student council at school, and so she gets to participate in the weekly News Report the school produces called TNN. Here is the link to the one where she is a featured anchor. SO AWESOME!!
http://www.youtube.com/embed/37b3YEHn_Cg"
She is starting dance with the Central Utah Stars this Thursday. It's a once a week class she can do while she is visiting her dad in Mapleton (right by Salem). She is pretty excited- and me too! She is still busy babysitting every chance she gets. The girl has more money than me most of the time!!
And since she recently turned 12, she has advanced from Primary to Young Women in our Church. She was so thrilled. They have activities every Tuesday and it is fun to see her come home so bubbly about everything they have done and learned, and talked about. She's growing up so fast. She really is becoming a women right before my eyes.
BEAR LAKE
My parents took us up to Bear Lake to do some camping for a last hurrah, before school starts. So we decided we would make it Montana's birthday celebration and let her invite a couple of friends. Sierra couldn't come because of drill team stuff- so we really missed her. The weather could not have been more perfect. The water was a bit cold, but once you were wet it was just fine.
There was a giant inflatable trampoline/slide/obstacle thing there the first day that the kids played on for hours. We set up a tent just for the girls. I thought they would be too scared or cold to actually sleep in there. But they loved it! It was there little hideaway. And they talked every night until VERY late.
Mom fed us like royalty. She even brought snacks and drinks down to the beach. Seriously- she is the best!!! Dad took care of the RV, the fires, and the dogs most of the trip. We had such a good time. Roxy decided she was a racist while we were up there- she was attacking all the White Dogs!! What is up with that!!?? We had to keep her chained up the whole time or she would take off and go for the throat! I've never seen her act like that. Weird. But at least she wasn't barking the whole time!
The kids all behaved so well and didn't fight much. It was a really relaxing trip.
On our way out of town we stopped for Raspberry Shakes. YUM! Tana ordered Banana Pie Shake. I think that was probably the best one! Getting that next time for sure!
Thanks for taking us Ma & Pa! You know you rock!!
Bear Lake Pics Link
http://www.slide.com/r/l8vyqC8X7j-xACmV_Es8i8ul4huwLHDG?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original
SCHOOL
School Started August 22 this year. Earlier than I ever remember it starting. But we were totally ready. Sierra is a Senior, Montana is a 6th grader, and Justice is in 4th grade. Both my elementary kids got paired with EXCELLENT teachers. I couldn't be happier. They seem to really be enjoying their classes and learning a lot. Sierra has a couple of classes that she likes, but the rest of them seem pointless and a waste of time. Half the time the teacher isn't even there and they watch a movie or something??? Not happy about that. Hopefully, they get their act together soon. She didn't get into a few of the classes she signed up for, but looks like she's got all her credits lined up so she can graduate in June!!
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| Back to School Night |
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| New Giant Pix that decorate the School |
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| Lookin Sharp |
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| New Backpacks |
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| Drill Team-first day outfits Sierra is back row, far left |
SIERRA
She always has so much going on, I don't even know what she is doing half the time. She is starting a semi-permanent dance teaching job this month with Xcite Dance Studio in Sandy. She is subbing for a month or more for a teacher who is out for surgery. Then they are keeping her on their list for when they need subs. Wahoo. She is choreographing for a lot of girls that are doing solos this year, cutting their music, and still doing team choreography occasionally. She worked with a team in Houston, TX (her dad's friends daughters team) The Klein Oak Strutters. She choreographed two routines for them and they have her fly back occasionally to clean things up. Luckily her dad has those flight benefits!! She loves it so much!
Also...we found out she is in the running for Homecoming Queen. The Pageant is tomorrow night. The girls wear a gown, answer a question, perform a talent, and bake a cake and decorate it??? I'm so excited for her. For her talent, she put together a Power Point presentation with her Thailand pics. A lot of them are from the time she spent with the Tribe. There will be music playing in the background, and the words on the pictures say things like; There's a time to give, There's a time to share, There's a time to love, There's a time to laugh, There's a time to dance---and then she will come out and dance. Can't wait to see it. Here is a pic of her dress. It is gorgeous!! She borrowed it from a friend. Prettier than anything we saw in the stores!
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| Sierra and her boyfriend Mark @ the party |
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| Homecoming Dress :-) |
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| Happy 80th Birthday Grama Dodie!! We love you to pieces! |
And, lastly...We had a wonderful party for Grama Dodie in celebration of her 80th birthday! All the family came and celebrated with her. So lucky to have her alive and kicking still! She is ornery as ever- haha-- but we love her anyway! She is going to be around a long, long time. At least 20 more years!! :-)
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Never a dull moment
August 1st rolled around, and that was the first day this summer that I heard the dreaded phrase, "I'm bored", from the kids. We almost made it to the end of summer! Maybe year round school is the way to go, with short little vacations here and there...maybe not. We've escaped it for this long. I'm hoping we can avoid it all together. We absolutely love our summers! Spending time with the kids, being carefree (for the most part) with our schedules, and letting the day unfold naturally is so fantastic.
Here's what we've been up to for the last month!
Justice & Montana were able to go to Disneyland with their dad. They had an absolutely fantastic time. Justice was super brave and rode most of the BIG rides. Montana absolutely loved it and said they were able to get on everything they wanted to several times. Even several trips on California Screamin- the best coaster ever! Glad they had a fun trip.
Sierra and her drill team went to a camp called "Basic Dance Training" up in Park City. It is based on military type training, and they work their butts off from morning til night. Sierra was chosen as one of the top 5 dancers at the camp (out of probably 250-300 girls). They call it Top Corp. This is the third year she has been chosen. She is an absolutely talented being. So proud of her and her team! They were so cute when she was chosen- they lifted her up like she had just won a football game. It was awesome.
Mom went up with me to watch the last day of camp performances. We were able to sit with Alisha Peters from Bountiful Stars (her daughter dances with Davis High) and the three of us talked "dance studio". Studio drama, What's new with Stars, Vegas Nationals, etc. It's such a fun part of our lives that follows us everywhere we go. A lot of the girls on Sierra's team and the other school teams, are girls I have taught. It makes me so proud to see them as they grow up and continue their dance training. I'm glad I got to share it with my mom. Also, I recently found out that Britnie Thompson is the head coach for Kearns High this year. :-D Love it!
Mom & I had dinner at the Blue Iguana after the performances and enjoyed the Park City scenery and the yummy food. I love spending time with her!
I've had my hands full of DIY projects lately. And none that I intentionally planned to do. The first was trying to get my car registered and inspected for the year. They told me my window tinting was too dark. Really?? I had no idea what to do about it. I initially thought it would involve new windows (geez I'm such a girl sometimes!! haha). So I did some research and found it was actually pretty easy to do. Just some special spray- plastic- and a razor blade. So if anyone needs it removed...I'm your girl.
Ended up fixing the fence gate that blew off into the yard during a pretty intense wind storm. There's nothing I cant fix with some putty and a drill!! Quite proud of that project!!
Then one day, I thought I would replace the AC vent on the ceiling. It was pretty old and yellowing. And for some reason it wasn't staying screwed in tight to the ceiling. So I got all the supplies and ready to do the job. On further inspection, I noticed that the ceiling was bowing a bit. I wasn't sure if it was my eyes, shadows, or an actual problem. So as I removed the old cover- I discovered that we had a leak in the air conditioner that was in turn getting the drywall/ceiling wet. My dad came over to discover how bad the damage was. And it was pretty bad. The ceiling basically collapsed into the kitchen with just a few pokes. And that began the month long process of fixing the AC for the millionth time this summer, tarring the roof around the AC unit, replacing the copper piping, rewiring the power switch, replacing the AC float, patching a rusted out piece of the AC unit, tearing out the drywall all around the AC vent, replacing the insulation, drywall, taping, mudding, sanding, texturing, painting, putting up a new light fixture, and then....back to the original project of replacing the vent on the AC. And now it is beautiful!! My parents are absolute saints. My dad insisted on doing the work rather than claiming it on my home insurance. I'm sure many days he wished we would have gone the other route, but it was a "fun" learning experience for all of us. One we don't wish to repeat!! They came virtually everyday for the last month and we would work for a few hours on the project. Yesterday we finally finished!!! I took them out to dinner to thank them for all their help. Paltry pay for such hard work. But I am eternally grateful!!
Montana has turned into "Babysitter Extraordinaire"!! She is in demand all over the neighborhood. Making good money, and having fun doing it. She has made a babysitting kit with stickers, certificates, pages for coloring, crayons, markers, and charts for information to jot down. She's the first one to volunteer when she hears of a need. It's so cute. My neighbors call almost weekly to have her come over for a couple of hours. A lot of times she is with her dad or off with friends-- so I am her personal secretary. Scheduling her next available appointment, turning down gigs she's not available for. It's been a great summer for her!
Sierra traveled to Thailand with her dad for a couple of weeks and had an absolutely amazing adventure. She kept a blog of her entire adventure as well as hundreds of pics. Here are the links. Blog link: http://www.goodbyetville.blogspot.com Pics link: http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150268656408673.337181.686568672&type=1 If you aren't her facebook friend, just request it and I'm sure she will add you. I will add a couple of my favorite pics here, but there are so many amazing ones you should see. She was able to trek through the jungle, stay with a native tribe for a couple of days, play with tigers (at a petting zoo), ride an elephant, river raft, stay in the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and visit many temples, as well as spend some time at a luxurious resort in a remote city. I think she learned a lot about how incredibly blessed she is here in America. She has been a different person since she came back. I love that she can have adventures like that. But I am a complete basket case of worry the entire time she is gone!
Justice was able to go to his first Cub Scout Day Camp. He had such a good time. He learned about space, wood burning/carving, bought a little Swiss army knife, made friends, went on hikes and had a great time being with just boys. He told me "The best thing about Cub Scouts is there are NO GIRLS!" haha. I don't blame him. He is stuck with girls most of his life. A man needs man time! I hope he can have more adventures like that. He is really enjoying Scouts and the leaders are so great and caring with him. They really want what's best for the kids. They work hard to make sure the kids learn a lot and have fun. I've started driving the Scout carpool, so it's fun to see how excited they get on their way there.
Justice and Montana were both able to go to camping at Mill Hollow with their school this summer. It's a recreation camp between Kamas and Duschene owned by Granite School District. They have cabins, and such. So it's not too rustic. They stayed for three days. The mosquitoes loved Tana's blood, Justice did not get sunburned but Montana did- weird- J is the one with transparent skin :-). They loved the hikes, campfires, food, their bunk leaders Rain & Skye (nicknames I believe) and of course, shopping at the camp store. I was so glad they got to go together-- but it sounds like they barely saw each other. Which was fine with them!
We are planning a trip to Bear Lake in a couple of weeks so finish off our summer. It's been packed with excitement, but we can definitely fit in one more adventure. We are going for Tana's 12th birthday. She is going to bring a couple of friends. Can't wait!
Happy Trails ;-)
Here's what we've been up to for the last month!
Justice & Montana were able to go to Disneyland with their dad. They had an absolutely fantastic time. Justice was super brave and rode most of the BIG rides. Montana absolutely loved it and said they were able to get on everything they wanted to several times. Even several trips on California Screamin- the best coaster ever! Glad they had a fun trip.
 |
| Cap'n J-Dog |
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| My beautiful Baby Girl |
Sierra and her drill team went to a camp called "Basic Dance Training" up in Park City. It is based on military type training, and they work their butts off from morning til night. Sierra was chosen as one of the top 5 dancers at the camp (out of probably 250-300 girls). They call it Top Corp. This is the third year she has been chosen. She is an absolutely talented being. So proud of her and her team! They were so cute when she was chosen- they lifted her up like she had just won a football game. It was awesome.
Mom went up with me to watch the last day of camp performances. We were able to sit with Alisha Peters from Bountiful Stars (her daughter dances with Davis High) and the three of us talked "dance studio". Studio drama, What's new with Stars, Vegas Nationals, etc. It's such a fun part of our lives that follows us everywhere we go. A lot of the girls on Sierra's team and the other school teams, are girls I have taught. It makes me so proud to see them as they grow up and continue their dance training. I'm glad I got to share it with my mom. Also, I recently found out that Britnie Thompson is the head coach for Kearns High this year. :-D Love it!
Mom & I had dinner at the Blue Iguana after the performances and enjoyed the Park City scenery and the yummy food. I love spending time with her!
 |
| Congrats Baby Doll |
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| "THE" Jacket |
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| Team Lifting her up! |
I've had my hands full of DIY projects lately. And none that I intentionally planned to do. The first was trying to get my car registered and inspected for the year. They told me my window tinting was too dark. Really?? I had no idea what to do about it. I initially thought it would involve new windows (geez I'm such a girl sometimes!! haha). So I did some research and found it was actually pretty easy to do. Just some special spray- plastic- and a razor blade. So if anyone needs it removed...I'm your girl.
Ended up fixing the fence gate that blew off into the yard during a pretty intense wind storm. There's nothing I cant fix with some putty and a drill!! Quite proud of that project!!
Then one day, I thought I would replace the AC vent on the ceiling. It was pretty old and yellowing. And for some reason it wasn't staying screwed in tight to the ceiling. So I got all the supplies and ready to do the job. On further inspection, I noticed that the ceiling was bowing a bit. I wasn't sure if it was my eyes, shadows, or an actual problem. So as I removed the old cover- I discovered that we had a leak in the air conditioner that was in turn getting the drywall/ceiling wet. My dad came over to discover how bad the damage was. And it was pretty bad. The ceiling basically collapsed into the kitchen with just a few pokes. And that began the month long process of fixing the AC for the millionth time this summer, tarring the roof around the AC unit, replacing the copper piping, rewiring the power switch, replacing the AC float, patching a rusted out piece of the AC unit, tearing out the drywall all around the AC vent, replacing the insulation, drywall, taping, mudding, sanding, texturing, painting, putting up a new light fixture, and then....back to the original project of replacing the vent on the AC. And now it is beautiful!! My parents are absolute saints. My dad insisted on doing the work rather than claiming it on my home insurance. I'm sure many days he wished we would have gone the other route, but it was a "fun" learning experience for all of us. One we don't wish to repeat!! They came virtually everyday for the last month and we would work for a few hours on the project. Yesterday we finally finished!!! I took them out to dinner to thank them for all their help. Paltry pay for such hard work. But I am eternally grateful!!
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| The bowing, lovely ceiling |
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| After tearing it out |
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| Making it all perfectly straight |
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| The lovely assistant |
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| Drywall up- mudding begins |
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| Finished Walls after minor painting problem |
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| Finished Ceiling!! |
Montana has turned into "Babysitter Extraordinaire"!! She is in demand all over the neighborhood. Making good money, and having fun doing it. She has made a babysitting kit with stickers, certificates, pages for coloring, crayons, markers, and charts for information to jot down. She's the first one to volunteer when she hears of a need. It's so cute. My neighbors call almost weekly to have her come over for a couple of hours. A lot of times she is with her dad or off with friends-- so I am her personal secretary. Scheduling her next available appointment, turning down gigs she's not available for. It's been a great summer for her!
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| Blonde & Tan |
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| Her new Aviators |
Sierra traveled to Thailand with her dad for a couple of weeks and had an absolutely amazing adventure. She kept a blog of her entire adventure as well as hundreds of pics. Here are the links. Blog link: http://www.goodbyetville.blogspot.com Pics link: http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150268656408673.337181.686568672&type=1 If you aren't her facebook friend, just request it and I'm sure she will add you. I will add a couple of my favorite pics here, but there are so many amazing ones you should see. She was able to trek through the jungle, stay with a native tribe for a couple of days, play with tigers (at a petting zoo), ride an elephant, river raft, stay in the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and visit many temples, as well as spend some time at a luxurious resort in a remote city. I think she learned a lot about how incredibly blessed she is here in America. She has been a different person since she came back. I love that she can have adventures like that. But I am a complete basket case of worry the entire time she is gone!
Justice was able to go to his first Cub Scout Day Camp. He had such a good time. He learned about space, wood burning/carving, bought a little Swiss army knife, made friends, went on hikes and had a great time being with just boys. He told me "The best thing about Cub Scouts is there are NO GIRLS!" haha. I don't blame him. He is stuck with girls most of his life. A man needs man time! I hope he can have more adventures like that. He is really enjoying Scouts and the leaders are so great and caring with him. They really want what's best for the kids. They work hard to make sure the kids learn a lot and have fun. I've started driving the Scout carpool, so it's fun to see how excited they get on their way there.
Justice and Montana were both able to go to camping at Mill Hollow with their school this summer. It's a recreation camp between Kamas and Duschene owned by Granite School District. They have cabins, and such. So it's not too rustic. They stayed for three days. The mosquitoes loved Tana's blood, Justice did not get sunburned but Montana did- weird- J is the one with transparent skin :-). They loved the hikes, campfires, food, their bunk leaders Rain & Skye (nicknames I believe) and of course, shopping at the camp store. I was so glad they got to go together-- but it sounds like they barely saw each other. Which was fine with them!
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| Marcus & Justice |
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| Waiting for the bus |
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| Ready to kill each other...as usual |
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| Anna, Montana, Julia, Kylei |
We are planning a trip to Bear Lake in a couple of weeks so finish off our summer. It's been packed with excitement, but we can definitely fit in one more adventure. We are going for Tana's 12th birthday. She is going to bring a couple of friends. Can't wait!
Happy Trails ;-)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Summer Fun!
We are thoroughly enjoying our summer!!! Swimming, Vacations, Camps, Sports, Hanging with friends, movies....seriously, can't it last all year!! I know, I know...too much of a good thing is no good. But we, especially me, can't get enough.
As usual, I have waited to long to write a post and now there is so much to write that I don't know where to begin. I guess I will start with the "good" news. We have decided to take our home off the market. We were getting a lot of lookers, but no one willing to seal the deal. It's so much stress keeping the house ready to show, and we were having showings 2-3 times a week. So we have decided to wait a year, continue with the improvements, and try again. Hopefully the market will have improved by then. There is just no way I am willing to drop the price to where I would be loosing money. So we are super happy to be in our home sweet home for another year. Sierra can finish high school, Montana can finish grade school--and then we will see where life takes us.
Work at FOX has been so insane lately. Our systems have been crashing and we have been stressed to the max trying to keep things on air- doing things 2-3 times because they keep getting kicked out of the system. But now, we are back on line and it is such a relief. For the most part I love my co-workers and am so blessed to be working in a field I enjoy. I have also been crazy busy with my cleaning business- but that is a good thing! I have decided it is my therapy time. I can think, and work out my anger, and make someone happy in the process. I can only take on probably two more homes- and that will be my limit.
Here are some fun highlights of our summer so far. Kids are happy, busy, and miraculously...I have not heard the phrase "I'm bored" yet this summer. But I know they are looking forward to heading back to school. Justice and Montana were able to travel to Idaho with my mom and grama Dodie to see Danee Dee graduate and attend the family party. They had a blast. Right now they are in Disneyland with their dad. Sierra has travel plans with her dad, but they haven't decided a destination yet. I'm sure it will be somewhere fabulous. I hope to at least squeeze in a camping trip here or there. We will see. For whatever reason I can't post video here, which stinks!! But visit my facebook page to check out more of our goings-on! Happy Summer!
As usual, I have waited to long to write a post and now there is so much to write that I don't know where to begin. I guess I will start with the "good" news. We have decided to take our home off the market. We were getting a lot of lookers, but no one willing to seal the deal. It's so much stress keeping the house ready to show, and we were having showings 2-3 times a week. So we have decided to wait a year, continue with the improvements, and try again. Hopefully the market will have improved by then. There is just no way I am willing to drop the price to where I would be loosing money. So we are super happy to be in our home sweet home for another year. Sierra can finish high school, Montana can finish grade school--and then we will see where life takes us.
Work at FOX has been so insane lately. Our systems have been crashing and we have been stressed to the max trying to keep things on air- doing things 2-3 times because they keep getting kicked out of the system. But now, we are back on line and it is such a relief. For the most part I love my co-workers and am so blessed to be working in a field I enjoy. I have also been crazy busy with my cleaning business- but that is a good thing! I have decided it is my therapy time. I can think, and work out my anger, and make someone happy in the process. I can only take on probably two more homes- and that will be my limit.
Here are some fun highlights of our summer so far. Kids are happy, busy, and miraculously...I have not heard the phrase "I'm bored" yet this summer. But I know they are looking forward to heading back to school. Justice and Montana were able to travel to Idaho with my mom and grama Dodie to see Danee Dee graduate and attend the family party. They had a blast. Right now they are in Disneyland with their dad. Sierra has travel plans with her dad, but they haven't decided a destination yet. I'm sure it will be somewhere fabulous. I hope to at least squeeze in a camping trip here or there. We will see. For whatever reason I can't post video here, which stinks!! But visit my facebook page to check out more of our goings-on! Happy Summer!
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| Swimming at Kearns Rec |
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| Mr. Happy! |
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| Out in the deep! |
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| Help! haha..what a ham! |
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| Little Miss Smarty Pants! |
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| Getting dolled up for a day at the park w friends |
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| Started his orthodontist work...Retainer first! |
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| Blonde & Tan...must be summer |
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| Sierra's birthday pedi! 17 Y'all!! |
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| After 6 mos. they finally put her bottom braces on! I LOVE this pic! |
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| Sierra's drill team marching in the T-ville Days Parade |
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| Team before the parade! Cuties! |
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| 5 games in 2 days...4 wins...and still smilin'! |
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| Warriors!!! |
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| The Real Salt Lake Mascot! |
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| Tana & Amalia--They may look sweet & innocent... |
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| Waiting for the next game |
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| Cool soccer ball painted on the grass! |
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| At the drive-in movies |
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| Before heading to Drill Camp |
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