Wow! Has it really been that long since I have blogged? Sorry but life just got crazy around here, but I didn't realize it had been that long. So much has happened! Here are a few highlights.
In the past 3 months.........
*Jake broke his neck. He is much better now and luckily no permanent damage was done...that we know of. He is still working in the training room at school, trying to improve his grades and looking for a job.
*Zach moved out! I hate it!!!! He is on his own though, and doing great. We miss him like crazy but he seems to be happy and is still on task to graduate both High School and Seminary. We are proud of him for that!! He also bought a car and works a million hours a week.
*Mitch is taking drivers ed. and driving me crazy to drive everywhere! He is a good driver and is doing awesome. He has become quite the character around here and keeps us laughing. You can still find him in front of his xbox most days, but also has been fixing bikes for us outside. He is getting really good at it and I finally have my bike back. Thanks Mitch!
*Landon has built several things and if you are curious to know what you will have to come over because I don't want to list everything....it would take all day. He never stops. Now if I could just get him to build that box I need for the back yard! Lan also became the president of the Deacons Quorum. Soooo great!
*Tiana is busy being a girl. She has been planning prom, doing hair, church stuff, senior project, doing her online classes and still helps around the house. She is AMAZING! I refuse to let her move out and go to college!(I Wish!)
*David got a new job on top of his current job and now has started traveling again....everywhere. He is now the Global Director of Training or something like that, and will be gone again. It stinks, but it's because he is an amazing teacher and we are proud of him!!! He also got hit with a potato gun and got stitches in his chin. Good story so make sure and ask him to tell you! :)
*I planted my garden and put in tons more shrubs and flowers, and have taken on several more sewing projects! Maybe too many though...we'll see.
*I turned 39 and discovered I have gray hairs.
*I also still watch my niece Lacy and LOVE IT!! Mallory and Jason also just bought a house and are moved in and seem to love it!
*Our son Brad came home with his wonderful girlfriend Morgan. They were here for Easter and while he was here found out he got into BYUI!!! It's been so awesome to see him get to where he is and we are sooooo proud of him.
*Landon discovered several new ways of scaring me with his tree climbing, rope swinging, bike jumping stunts. I'm sure one of these days I am going to have a stroke watching him.
*Ryan(Our oldest) has moved, got a new job, gone to Denver for training and seems to be doing ok. I don't hear from him too much but he's been busy with all of the above! Miss you Ry!
*Sara is still a dork(And I mean that in the most loving way possible!) :) She is finishing school working her butt off and hopefully moving to the Tri-cities if I can convince her she needs too! I am having very little luck with that but I am determined to succeed.
Well, there you have it. Not too exciting, yet if you were here would understand my new gray hairs. I love being a mom and watching my kids, it's actually really fun and scary all at the same time. It's definately not boring right now and sleep have become a luxury again in my life, but it's all good. They just grow up way too fast. I loved having most of them home at Easter time. It was fun just to watch them be together and laugh. The picture above is all the kids that were here and their bargain sunglasses from Griggs! They had to all have matching of course!
My adorable niece Lacy after her nap today. I got to sit with her for a few hours today and we had a great time! She is so smart and so sweet! It was just what I needed after being cooped up in this house for the last week. Could she get any cuter??
On Sunday Tiana turned "18"! I can't believe it!! When I first met Tiana she was four years old and the cutest thing I had ever seen! She was very sweet but had a little spit fire in her for sure. I love that about her to this day because she can definitely take care of herself! She has held her own with these boys, and knows how to get them right where she wants them! It's actually fun to watch...sorry boys... it is! Tiana has always been a sweetheart though. When she was four yrs old I heard her crying in the bathroom and then she came running to me just sobbing. I asked her what was the matter, thinking the boys clobbered her or something. Well, she was just so sad but was finally able to tell me that she brought in her worm that she found outside to give him a bath, and he went down the drain. We went and found another worm and of course I had to explain that worms like dirt etc...She was just wanting him to be clean. That is one of my favorite stories about her....My other favorite stories about her is when she actually ate a worm because the boys said she couldn't cuz she was a girl. She just picked it up and let it slide right down. She Rocks! Tiana is a wonderful daughter who has such a kind heart and has always been so helpful to me. It has been such a privilege to be her mother and watch her learn and grow into a young woman. Here are a few of my favorite things about Tiana!
Everyone made it home safe yesterday! We had a wonderful day just hanging out at the house, eating way too much food and watching old home videos. We exchanged gifts and for the first time ever....we didn't even start opening them until about 10am. I think I like that!:) Everyone was happy, which was a huge blessing for me to see this and to have everyone together. I felt like we got to experience the joy and truth of the phrase "time heals all wounds" and a good reminder of what is truly important. I hope we get to have more of these days in the future but until then I have some awesome pictures and memories to remind me. Thanks kids for being here and being so good to one another, and for a wonderful Christmas Day!
Funny thing happened tonight! The kids were stir crazy and wanted to go out and build a snowman or something, and even though we usually don't do this on Sunday I gave in. It was either that or drive me crazy and lets face it...I'm crazy enough. Anyway, Jake came running in the house all excited about this jump they built and wanted me to see how cool it was and how they built it. I jokingly said "OK but it better not be one of your brothers under there!" Well, it was cool alright! In the next pic you'll see what this most amazing jump was! Do I know my kids or what?
These leaves are now covered in over a foot of snow today....or more! Hard to believe it is another Christmas. It has been a rough year for our family and yet we feel very grateful for all the struggles. We seem to be coming out a little stronger, a little bit more loving and have a new appreciation for family. This year we will have all of our kids here for Christmas ...Ryan flies in on Christmas Day, Sara and Brad get here on Tuesday. This will be the first time in a long time everyone will be together. Karen says that this is her gift! Like a lot of folks we know, this is a frugal holiday so we've been busy making most of the things we have been giving this year. Lots of candy, crafty cards, ornaments and short notes to say hello. Maybe the best part of Christmas this year has been spending time with each other and not so much about presents. We hope it will be that way for you too. From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!
So weird! This was in the Tri-City Herald today. Jake called from school and told me about it and I thought he was mistaking...then he brought it to me after school. Kinda fun! I had no idea he ever taught in Tri-Cities. Very Cool!!!
OK we all those moments as parents when we just aren't sure our kids know what they are doing and literally want to run into the night screaming for help...or maybe that's just me! Anyway, today was Zach's presentation for his senior project, which all seniors are required to do and pass in order to graduate in WA State. Well, I have been watching this process for months and have at times drove him crazy with questions and the need of reassurance that he knows what he is doing and that he is recording everything etc. Well, it seems all that worry was in vain. Today my child who 2 years ago wouldn't stand up in public, let alone speak...gave an awesome presentation! His project was to build a drum set that he could play and create a unigue sound from. His set is a little smaller than a normal drum set I guess. He built them, tuned them and put together a power point to show the whole process/project. He presented it as if he had done it a million times and seemed so comfortable up there. It was an amazing thing to watch and for a mom.. a little moment of glory! It's a tough realization when you have to let your kids grow up, but today I saw Zach a little different. Not a little boy or the funny goofball we all know he is, but a man sharing something he loves with others and doing a very fine job of it. Zach we are sooo proud of you and your huge accomplishment!
