Closing the Blog

When I started this blog a couple years ago it was so fun to update it regularly, to follow the blogs of friends and family and to keep in touch through this medium. There was a very hard time a year ago when my life was so overwhelming that I couldn't even find time to write in my journal. During that period, this blog served as my journal. I even printed it out in book form and added it to my journal collection. However, that time is past (thankfully) and my life is again manageable. Updating this blog is one thing still hovering over me and leaving me feeling guilty for falling down on one more duty. Therefore, I have decided to quit blogging. My apologies to the few of you who keep in touch with me through it. Please feel free to keep in touch via email, facebook, text, calling or even going old school and dropping by for a visit. I would love to chat! Until then....

FHE idea

At the beginning of the year we decided to highlight one person from the scriptures with each FHE lesson. Their picture or other reminder is displayed in our home for the week and we discuss a lesson that that person's story represents. For example, this past Monday we talked about the 10 virgins and procrastination. Aiden and Alexis have both been falling down in their school work because they haven't been doing it on time. When we talked about the 10 virgins we got to discuss both spiritual preparedness and also every day preparedness/procrastination. Some others that we have done are:

Haman- learning the consequences of doing things that hurt other people
Laman and Lemuel- when we ask for God's help we need to also follow his laws.
David (we will do him again because there is so much there)- courage
Shad., Meshac, Abed. and Daniel- Word of Wisdom, keeping our bodies healthy
Balaam- obeying God, kindness to animals


So far it is going really well and the kids are excited each week to see who we are going to learn about next. It is sometimes easier to find person to highlight and to discuss his or her story than to decide, "What are we going to talk about tonight?"

Valentines Day

Nicole was giving me grief about still having Christmas on my blog so here is one that will last me another month or more:

What is your favorite Valentines Day memory? Here is mine:
When our kids were younger, Dallas took them out for a day and went hiking and found a cute tin bucket. He then took the kids to Home Depot to buy flowers for the bucket and Walmart to buy sidewalk chalk to decorate the bucket. They assembled it all and put it on the front porch so I could see it every time I walked out the door. I LOVED it!!

Christmas Traditions

I am curious what kind of Christmas traditions everyone has. If you would like to, please leave a note with one tradition you and your family share around this holiday season. Here's mine:

We have a few things we do each year. But I want to share a game we began this year that I hope will turn into a tradition. On our piano we have a three piece nativity set- very basic. I made it out of clay pots and wooden balls. Each morning before the kids wake up I hide baby Jesus somewhere in the house. The kids all go on a treasure hunt in the mornings searching for baby Jesus. The person who finds him gets $1. By the time Christmas comes, each child could have earned around $5. Not much I know, but $5 to a 6 year old is big bucks!

Now it's your turn. What do you like to do as a family?

Lucky 13

This past weekend Dallas and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary. We celebrated by taking the entire family (including all three grandparents) to the park at Anthem. The afternoon passed peacefully while we played Scrabble, ate some lunch, rode bikes, napped and played on the playground. I couldn't have asked for a better, more relaxing day!

In honor of our 13 years together, here are 13 memories of that wonderful day and 13 things we enjoy doing with each other today.

13 Memories of our wedding day

1. the temple lawn was being fertilized so the grass wasn't green- it was black.

2. Dallas' wedding ring was late- the jeweler met us at the temple!

3. We didn't have a reception line- I hate them. We just walked around and visited with friends.

4. I wore a burgundy crushed velvet dress to the temple and afterwards at the luncheon.

5. We were married in sealing room 4 (to the left of the staircase as you come downstairs)

6. I didn't cry at the wedding until afterwards when I hugged my sister.

7. My father-in-law and my brother Craig served as witnesses to the wedding.

8. We stayed at a Motel 8 on our wedding night then left early in the morning for our honeymoon in the white mountains.

9. My reception colors were burgundy and green.

10. I felt like a princess!

11. My sister was having a miscarriage on my wedding day but didn't tell me until years later because she didn't want to ruin my day (she attending all the day's events like nothing happened). Now THAT is sacrifice! What a sweetheart!

12. My heart was about to beat out of my chest before the actual ceremony.

13. I remember thinking, "I am the luckiest girl in the world! This day is the best ever! Nothing will ever go wrong!"

13 Things Dallas and I enjoy doing together

1. holding hands in church

2. window shopping at Home Depot

3. Going to Sonic during happy hour (Dr. pepper for him, Diet Cherry Coke for me)

4. taking long drives

5. Staying up late at night after the kids go to bed

6. attending the temple

7. going out to dinner

8. bottling/canning things from our garden

9. playing Scrabble

10. lying outside at night with the kids on a blanket to look at the stars

11. yardwork

12. playing Hand and Foot (a family card game)

13. giving each other our own little secret "I love you" sign. (I am sure you have seen us do it because we do it all the time but I bet you don't know what it is!)

Halloween 2009

Good Lesson

While I was in California (see next post), I had a nice conversation with my Uncle Ernie. He is my mom's younger brother and has always been like a father to me. I love him with all my heart. As we sat on the couch early this morning before anyone else was awake, he told me about a class he teaches for people struggling with addictions. One of the stories he told me taught me a lesson and I share it in hopes that it might help someone else.

In the scriptures we read that when we pay our tithing, "the windows of heaven will pour down blessings that there won't be room enough to receive them". A gentleman in this class commented that he would pay his tithing then wait for a check to come in the mail, a bank error, or some other windfall of money that would be just the right amount of money that he needed. He was looking for a miracle of money.

After struggling with this for a long time, the gentleman said he finally reread that scripture and focused on the word "window". He realized that money does not come through windows when they are open. What does come through open windows is light and warmth. He said he learned that when he paid his tithing, Heavenly Father wasn't promising to give him that money back in another form (yes, that stuff does happen sometimes, but that isn't my point) but rather when he paid his tithing, Heavenly Father promises to give him light and knowledge and warmth. He promises to strengthen our testimonies.

As we all continue to struggle financially, I hope this helps someone else like it has me. I need to focus my attention on blessings that are not as tangible as cash such as the light of the gosple, peace in my heart and an increased desire to do good.

Wedding and beach weekend

I'm too sexy for my short...

I Love the Beach!!

Insert Bay Watch theme music here.

Ash after a long night of partying

Me and my cousin Michelle

Beach Beauty

Run! Run! As fast as you can!

Bro's

This is what happens when you give two 6 yr olds the camera

My cousins Dave and Kathy Horner, Mom, Uncle Ernie (Father of the Bride)

My cousin Jackie got married this weekend in California. My mom and I took Aspen and Ash with us on the trip and had a GREAT time. Jackie and her siblings have always been some of my favorite people in the entire world to be with- extremely fun and happy. Now that we are all grown up and live all over the country we don't get to see each other like we used to, making weddings an even more special occasion because we get to reconnect with one another. My children met my cousin Stephanie's boys and they were instant friends. It was like they had known each other their entire lives!

Sunday morning we hit the beach for a couple hours before heading home and the weather, sand, water and amount of people couldn't have been better if we had planned it. Absolutely GEORGEOUS!!! It was me that was whining when it was time to go home, not the boys.

I am glad to be home now though. I missed the rest of my family and nothing beats walking in the door and having your kids run up to you and give you hugs. I hope they never get too big to do that.

3 month catch up

I went to Bahama Bucks last night with some friends and one of them is a big time blogger. She inspired me to catch up with my blogging and to do better at following other people's blogs. (Step A-WAY from Facebook, Wendy!) It has been three months since I last blogged so here is a short recap of what has happened in my life over that time. Fair warning- it isn't all that exciting. Try to stay awake.

Started school. LOVE IT! I am using my brain and getting out of the house. Just got my midterm exams back and got a B in a 300+ level Democracy class essay exam. Can you believe it? ME! Look out Palin- here I come! Japanese history is going good as is math and Culture Diversity.

Kids are all in school and extra curricular activities. This is what I spend every afternoon/evening running around to. The boys are all on different baseball teams (games 2 nights a week and practices two times a week), Alexis is in the town play, Willy Wonka, Amanda is in YW, Aiden is in scouts, Alexis goes to Achievement Days.

I got put in the Relief Society presidency. It is great to be out of primary but I worry that I am not doing a good job in RS. It seems like what I do matters a lot more there than it did as music leader in primary. Meeting new women and visiting with them is a lot of fun though and I am glad to be serving where I am serving.

Found two baby sulcata tortoises in our front yard. The kids have named them Tut and Tina and we love them!

Halloween is coming up. Dallas and I are going as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, Alexis is going as the Queen of Hearts, Aiden is going as a belly dancer (Yes, you read that right), Aspen is going as a toilet, Ash is going as the Shaggy Dog and I don't know what Amanda is going as. I am looking forward to it!

That's about sums the past three months up- school, kids and home. That's my life and I LOVE every minute of it.

Are you kidding me???

I just checked out the ASU website to find out about parking permits. There is NO WAY I am paying those kind of outrageous fees. The cheapest rate I found was $210 for ONE semester and the price goes up to just under $800! I am seriously in shock right now. Not sure how I am going to get to class but I guarantee it won't be by car.

What's New?

It is almost 4am and I am forcing myself to write in the blog right now. I wish I had something fun and exciting to write about but I just don't. We are pretty boring. The only major thing coming up is school. The kids start back in a week and I start at the end of August. (Well, I finish the summer semester in two weeks then start up again at the end of August.)

Alexis and Aiden got their teacher assignments this past week and are excited to start at Queen Creek middle school. It will be a new adventure for everyone since they are changing the school to a 5th and 6th grade school from a 6th-8th school. Aspen and Ash are meeting their new teachers soon too. Ash is in Ms. Self's class and Aspen is in Mr. Jeffers. There was a little drama getting Aspen a teacher that I felt would be good for him but I feel content about him being in Mr. Jeffers class. He seems like a good teacher. I don't know much about Ms. Self but I have heard she is a loving teacher, just what Ash needs. Amanda starts at the high school this year and she is both excited and nervous. Who didn't feel that way the summer before high school? I am glad she is taking seminary and hope she will learn a lot about our church and heritage by taking it.

As for my schooling, I am taking classes at ASU and am VERY excited about it. It has been 13 years since I have been in a classroom setting and am finding myself anxious to get started. My class load for the fall will be a math class, democratization, diversity in cultures and Japanese history class.

With the exception of the math class, all my classes this semester are in compliance with my requirement to take ten credits of "culture" classes. The classes I had to chose from were kind of a joke. Some of the classes options I had were gay and lesbian rights, the struggle of illegal immigrants in the US, African American history, Wealth Distribution, Chinese American history and Women in the 19th century West. I chose the ones that seemed the least driven by political agendas. Seriously, even if I am educated in wealth distribution or the plight of illegal immigrants into America, is that going to make me a better nurse? In a hospital setting I will treat every person the same. The human body is the same, no matter if it is a Mexican body, a poor body, a rich body or a lesbian body. I will be performing the same procedures regardless of who or what the person is. Grr... All to get a little piece of paper to hang on my wall that says I went to school.

Dilema

I am not sure what to do. I have a big dilema. Dallas took the kids to the ranch for three days and I am here all alone. What do I do? Well, let's see... I can make dinner for only me(or not make dinner at all). I can clean the house then watch it stay clean. I can go to bed without removing any children from my bed. I can brush my teeth without cleaning toothpaste from the sink first. I can sit on the couch without scooting somone's feet off it. I can put my Diet Coke on the counter and return later to find it still as full as when I left. Boy, I am really going to suffer through these few days! hahaha

Just kidding of course. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my children and dear husband and I will be very excited to see them again on Friday night. In the mean time I will LOVE LOVE LOVE being alone.

California Baby!

Dallas n' me chillin' at Dland
Aiden riding a narly wave Dude!

Underneath the pier

Yup, the water was a little cold.

Ash the Master Builder

Amanda and Steve Rushton

touching star fish in the aquarium

Manhattan Beach

Aspen catchin' some waves

Beach Beauty

Splash Mountain

I think this pic could be in a teen magazine or something

Daddy Daughter
The whole gang
Chicks dig me!

Muscle Man

Alexis opening Disneyland!!

Dallas and I took the kids to California last weekend for a much needed family vacation. It was more incredible than words can express! We played together, we made good memories, we grew to love each other more, the whole nine yards.

We arrived at our hotel at around 3:00pm, checked in and promptly changed into our swimsuits and hit the pool. After a couple hours in the water we took a stoll down the street to find a place to eat. Afterwards we just hung out in the hotel room and played games. (Isn't the hotel room one of the most exciting places on vacation according to a child anyway?)

Day two began with Disneyland. It was Alexis' birthday so she got a fun pin to wear all day that said it was her birthday. As we were waiting to get in, an employee came up to Alexis and said, "Hey birthday girl! You wanna open up Disneyland today?" She agreed and then she got to push the button to open the gates, start the music and the announcements. How exciting! (fairly anticlamatic in reality but awesome bragging rights!)

We were able to hit all the rides we wanted to and repeat the ones we liked. At the end of the day there was a good concert by Steve Rushton from the Disney Channel. Even if I have been 21 for a few years and I am not as hip as I once was, he sounded very good. The older kids had fun watching him and interacting with him. Ash fell asleep right in front of the huge speakers during the concert and when it came time to leave the park he slept walked the entire way to the car.

Day three was spent sleeping in, enjoying a slow breakfast and then a miraculous day at Manhattan beach. The weather could not have been better if I had custom ordered it! At one point I fell asleep on the beach under our umbrella with a cool breeze blowing. The only thing missing was a coconut cup with a little umbrella and straw. The boys played in the water and sand all day while the girls collected sea shells for their new beach themed bathroom and then they played in the water. We also walked through a small aquarium on the pier. It was very very small but something interesting to do. Couldn't beat the price- free!

By 5:00pm the kids were all wiped out. We went back to the hotel and they all wanted to take a shower. That in of itself was unusual. Then they all got in their pajamas without being asked (at 6:00pm!!!) and crashed on the beds. Aiden asked me, "Mom, do we have to go out to dinner tonight? Can we just have it delivered here?" Dallas and I found a McDonalds, dropped it off to them then he and I went out for a date to Olive Garden. Yum!! By the time we returned, all five children were sound asleep. Sounds cheezy, but it was a perfect ending to a perfect day.

I can't wait to go back!

Funny Mess

This morning Alexis was chopping onions from our garden so we could dehydrate them. All of a sudden the spring inside of the chopper popped and the chopper shot out of her hand. The blade portion flew across the kitchen counter and punctured an unopened can of Diet Coke sitting on the counter. The can exploded and started spinning on the counter. When I went to grab it, it shot off the counter and landed on the floor. That agitated the can even more and it began spinning in circles again. By the time I ran around the counter to get it there was pop on EVERYTHING in my kitchen- the walls, the cupboards, the appliances, pictures, ME AND MY KIDS, the onions we were chopping, the floor, EVERYTHING! As I was mopping I even found drops of pop in front of my back door- about twenty feet away. It was a huge mess but we were all laughing. The kids were really good about helping me clean it all up and it will be something to remember for a long time.

Catching Up

Aiden and Cassidy playing Wilbur and Charlotte
Ash and his kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Okonowski (yeah, try saying that as a kindergartener with a lisp and a missing tooth)

Ash and me at Amazing Jake's for his 6th bday


Well, it has been a wild few weeks. I never knew May was so hectic until I had five children in school. Between graduations, end of the year concerts, award ceremonies, parties, field trips, orientations for next year and the ever present baseball games, violin lessons and YW, we have had something almost every night for three weeks now. That isn't a complaint- I am glad my children are active and succeeding at the various events they are involved in. I will just be glad when we can breathe again too.

Let's see... first, Aiden's play is over. He did an AMAZING job! I don't just say this because he is my kid, but the audience was cracking up at him. The entire row behind me had tears in their eyes because they were laughing so hard. I can't nail down exactly what he did that was so great, just his little mannerisms and various ad libs, I guess. Anyway, it was a blast watching him and I am very very proud of all of his hard work and the end results.


Next, Ash is graduating from kindergarten. My baby. I can't say I am sad, but it does feel like part of our lives is ending. I am glad we are starting so many new things this next year because it takes the sting out of losing the last little bit of "little kidness" (is that a word?).


Thirdly, Amanda is graduating junior high and is off to high school. She made the principal's list this last quarter and we couldn't be happier for her. She has come so far and continues to impress us with her determination to get everything right- both in school and at church. Her Personal Progress is coming along quickly and I expect she will finish within the next year or 18 months (for those of you not of our faith, the Personal Progress program is a goal setting program, similar to the Boy Scouts. The culmination is a Young Womanhood Recognition Award that would be the equivilant of earning an Eagle Scout award. It requires many many hours of hard work, planning, volunteering and personal growth).


While I am talking about Amanda, I have one funny story. Next year she is taking guitar and she told me that she doesn't really need lessons because she already knows how to play it. She said she can strum it, she just needs to learn the notes. Yup. You already know it all girl! Yes, she is a typical teenager-know-it-all.

I took my biology final yesterday and am relieved to be finished with it. I still have microbiology going on and will continue with that until the end of July. My work and school position is kind of up in the air right now. I am losing most of my daycare in the fall due to them entering kindergarten, either full or part time. Then today I received notice that the two children I was planning on watching full time next year will not be here because their mom just got laid off from work. That leaves me watching four children part time and no children full time. I am hesitant to take on any others because I just don't know when I am going to be called up for nursing school- it could be three months, it could be a year. I am just going to take things a day at a time for a while.

I think that just about covers it. I am so glad life is busy! Heavenly Father has blessed me with a wonderful family and a great life. I couldn't ask for more.

Couples Dinner Tutorial

I am excited to be hosting a class at my house on June 27th and am curious who would want to come. It is just for fun and to learn some new cooking skills. If you are interested in the following, please let me know.

My chef friend, Stephanie Peterson, is going to be coming to give a private lesson on 30 minute dinners. These aren't just your average dinners- she was the head chef at the Phoenician! The menu hasn't been finalized, but check out some of the possibilities (the last one is my favorite!):

http://cheftessbakeresse.blogspot.com/2009/03/french-onion-orange-chicken.html

http://chefstephanie.multiply.com/journal/item/94/Toasted_Pepper_Pecan_Brie_with_Garlic_Croutons

http://cheftessbakeresse.blogspot.com/2009/01/sundried-tomato-blush-sauce-and-pasta.html

The class will be for 4-8 couples and you will eat a 3 course meal throughout the evening, plus learn how to make it for your family another day. My friend is a riot and I guarantee you will have plenty of laughs and good company throughout the evening. The cost is $40 per couple, about the same as what you would pay if you were to go out to a decent restaurant on date night. You will also leave with the recipes, tips, and any leftovers that we may have. She will not be selling anything, just coming as our own private cooking tutor. WAY better than anything Food Network can put out!

So far Holly and Paul Stetka, Kade and Heidi Miller and Dallas and I will be there. My mom said she might want to grab a friend and join us as well. I am looking for one to four more couples. If you would like to come, please let me know ASAP. It is going to be a blast!

Second Time Around

I started microbiology this week. Again. I took this class a few months back but ended up failing it because I couldn't keep up and the drop date had already passed. At the time I was taking 12 credit hours, working full time, Dallas had gotten laid off and my mom had just had surgery so I was taking care of her around the clock. Toss in five kids, scouts, YW, sports, a primary chorister calling, housework and all that goes along with being a mom and I just couldn't do it anymore. Failing grade or not, I simply couldn't keep up. I chose the class that was the hardest and quit working on it. (Luckily the school was understanding when I explained my circumstances and allowed me to keep my financial aid, even though I took an F in the course. They are even paying for me to take it a second time. HURRAY!)

Things are a little less busy in my life right now. I still have all the normal things but my mom doesn't need care anymore, Dallas is working and I am only taking 8 credit hours instead of 12. My other class will be finishing in three weeks so I just need to hang on until then. In the mean time, this blog is going to be fairly quiet. See you in a month!

A good friend came over yesterday and helped me use up some herbs that are growing in my garden. She is a professional chef and a real riot! Her chef Tess blog is listed in my favorites over there on the right hand side of my blog. Check it out. She has photos of our day together. Seriously, I wonder why she doesn't have her own cooking show by now because she is hilarious and extremely talented. There are some good recipes and cooking tips on her blog. I would highly recommend it.

Our Boy of Summer

It's baseball season and we are having the best time watching Aiden play in his first season. Here is a video of him stealing home. It is a 42 second video and all the action happens in the last six or seven seconds so be patient as you watch it. Way to go Aiden!

The picture is of him and his best friend and neighbor, Tyler Stetka.

Deal Alert!!

This one is good! For the next year, you can now get what is called a "Culture Pass" to visit any of the following places for free:

AZ Museum for Youth
AZ Museum of Natural History
AZ Science Center
The Bead Museum
Cave Creek Museum
Children’s Museum of Phoenix
Desert Botanical Garden
Heard Museum
Mesa Contemporary Arts
Phoenix Art Museum
Phoenix Zoo
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
Taliesin West

Here is a link to the website for more information. It is definately one you won't want to miss. http://www.showup.com/culturepass2