Summer almost over

I can't believe it but the summer is nearly gone and what have I done? Not much. I worked an awful lot, but tried to show the kids some fun when I didn't have to. Thanks to Grandpa & Grandma "T" the kids were treated to Six Flags passes and have enjoyed a few days there in their free time this summer. I did manage to take the three younger kids to Utah for a few days since my sister was there for a vacation with her kids, since her hubby is over in Iraq. They had a great time and we were able to hike to the Timp cave and yes even I was able to do it, but was shocked at how much the high altitude affected me, but to be real I am also very out of shape, so it was a nice combination for me. We wanted to go down the Alpine Slide but got rained out on that one so we took the kids to BYU and bowled, they had a great time and I thought between Ashlee and Jenna the floor was going to break when they tried to "throw" the bowling ball down the lane. It was fun for them though and that night we topped it off with going to see 17 Miracles which gave my two that went a whole new appreciation for the pioneers and they were able to see and feel some of what was sacrificed for all of us, truly humbling for me. Steven said he LOVED it and was very grateful for all they did. Kaley as well.
We love being able to fly on SouthWest but its hard to non-rev this time of year and we proved that by sitting in airports for 7-8 hours at a time both ways just to get out and back, but it was worth it.
So, while in Utah, Bob was trimming the bushes in the back and something flipped up and hit the back sliding glass door and shattered one side, but only one pane. They are supposed to replace it on Thursday, only around $400. Last week, on Wednesday Bob called me while I was getting ready for work and I assumed he was calling to tell me he got there, but instead told me he had just been in an accident. He was on I-75 and was sandwiched between two cars. Our Honda is now in the shop looking at somewhere around $8,000 in damages. I am very glad Bob was okay though he is still a bit sore from the whole thing, you can always replace a car, but not the person who was in it.
We continue to have those "missionary" blessings, but somehow I try to stay positive through the whole thing. I figure its better to have a good attitude than to let it get me down. Most of the time this works, but I must admit wondering exactly what lessons I need to learn at times when I feel I have been humbled greatly, but then being reminded by my dad that Heavenly Father really loves me to bless me with so many trials. I don't doubt I am being taught through the refiners fire, but still have the faith to always look forward and trust in him. I realize just how lucky I am to have the wonderful family and friends that I have and the fact that I am able to be here to experience life I know is a privilege and I try very hard not to take that for granted. Like the Panda Bear in Kungfu Panda says today is a gift that is why it is called the present. It makes me stop and think so I really like that one.
We are down to just over three months before Michael will be in our home again and we all can't wait. He has been an awesome missionary and is still a Zone Leader and doing a wonderful job. He of course has had trials just like we have but I have no doubt some of that for both of us is the threat he is to Satan in bringing others to the gospel. He is a great kid. Nate will no doubt be the same. Kaley and Steven already both want to go and they will be equally as good or better. Ashlee may go and may not but she prays that everyone will read the Book of Mormon each night so you know where she stands with her testimony. I have been so blessed with awesome kids who do what is right despite their lame mom. Bob is so good to remind them what is really important and loves to spend time with them doing things they like and he loves it. Right now it is football with Steven, but it was soccer for years with Michael, Nate and Kaley, then basketball with Kaley and swimming with all of them, Ashlee loves to have him throw her in the air and "watch" her swim and do flips etc. He is a great dad and I am blessed to have such a great husband that always supports me in all I do, he is truly made for me! Well school starts in one week, I think we are ready but I am sure there is something I have forgotten but it will all be good. I am one lucky lady to have such an amazing family-----truly blessed!

Summer

I can't believe the kids are finally out of school and we are all home today. I have today off and am so glad to have a Friday to spend with them. Steven is out washing Nate's car and did Bob's yesterday, he is a very hard worker. One of the ladies I work with quit and her last day is the end of the month. She is the assistant office manager so now until they get someone else I have to work more hours. The new lady from my ward they hired is taking the place of the one that just left. I was asked if I want the extra hours or just three days and I am sticking to the three days, I am a lot happier and have no interest in working full time. I just want to work enough to help out and that is it. Is should be interesting, I think they wanted me to go back to at least four days a week if not more. I am a little bummed as I wanted to do something with the kids but now will be working all of July and August nearly full time. Oh well it never goes as planned. Nate is officially graduated from high school and seminary, it is weird to have two out of school. He is working a few more hours and that is good and getting ready for his mission. We will be getting his wisdom teeth out probably next month. We see the regular dentist at the end of the month so then should get the okay for Nate. Michael is now down to six months, less really and that seems weird too. Kaley is babysitting and trying to save her money, Steven is helping out around here, Ashlee is as well and is trying to read every day now that it is summer. Bob started his new job at work and is working hard and enjoying it so far. I think its a lot of new stress but the good kind. The kids are enjoying swimming a lot and I am grateful for the pool so they have something to do when its so hot outside. It has been in the high nineties for the last few days or weeks. It has felt like summer for at least the last month. Anyway, lots to do but enjoyed having everyone stay at our house, the kids especially enjoyed it and it was fun to see my parents after so long and we hadn't seen Bob's for a while to so that was nice. Anyway, lots to get done, I have to go and buy some pants for Michael to send, I already found him some shirts so now need to mail them. Like usual it costs more to send the stuff almost than what it is worth. I guess that's what you do when you have a missionary out :) More later...

Graduation Week

That is right, Nathan will be graduating from high school on Saturday. He will then be graduating from Seminary the next night on Sunday. I can hardly believe I will have two kids out of school or at least public school. It is crazy that time goes by so quickly. I know there were times when they were little that I wondered if they would ever grow up, be careful what you wish for. Nate is probably my biggest homebody of all of my kids. That is not a bad thing, as I was the same way. I know where he is and what he is doing and trust him. I am super proud of the fine young man he has turned into and am grateful for all that he adds to our family. His next step is working, taking a few classes at the collin county college and getting ready for his two year mission. Just as one comes home (December 8th) another one will be getting ready to leave a couple of months later. At least they will have a little time to spend with each other before their lives change even more. It has been a busy month and we are nearly into the sixth month of the year, did that go really fast or is it just me? My mom and dad are home from their mission to Indonesia and the kids are super excited to see them. They were trying to surprise Nate for his graduation but he was so disappointed that I helped my dad see it would be better to tell him than to make him wait. He was so happy!!! This month Kaley got on her top braces and her teeth are already straighter. Before we could do that we had to have four teeth pulled and that was painful but it is overwith thank heavens. She is such a trooper. She has been babysitting and is enjoying having her own money. The kids love her and she is super fun and patient, after all she has been Ashlee's second mom for as long as either of them can remember. Steven has signed up for football and is super excited to be doing a different sport. He went to Sky Ranch with Bob and loved it and was recruited there by a dad who is a coach after he saw how fast he runs and how good he is at catching the ball. I am not sure it this is the sport he will settle into but its good to have a rounded perspective. Ashlee is doing well and loves school. She will need a little extra work this summer but we hope to have her back where she needs to be. She still acts like a teenager and some of what comes out of her mouth you have a hard time believing is from a six year old. Michael is doing well on his mission, he is 2/3rds of the way done and is learning a lot from being a Zone Leader. He is over two stakes and a lot of missionaries. It will be good for him later in life to have these experiences, though many are not easy. I am busy with work and trying to stay organized, a lot to handle. I am glad for the family coming this week but feel bad we don't have more room but its a free trip for the parents and a free place to stay, that is the nice part about working for an airline. I can only imagine with all the traveling Bob's parents do it would be into the thousands every month if they were having to pay for it and probably similar for my parents in buddy passes. I am glad they can use them, otherwise why work there? We definitely don't use the free flights to our advantage, the last time I flew was out to see my sister with the kids and Bob and before that over a year. That is what happens when you are working and need to go to places that are free for you as well. I really think its neat that we are able to help our parents out as much as we do and hope they feel the same. Anyway, it will be a good week and of course the focus is on Nathan and we are super proud of him and all he has accomplished, I never once had to get him up for seminary that starts at 6 a.m. and that is really saying a lot! Way to go Nate, we are honored to be your parents and I am ever grateful you came to our home. Congratulations on all you have accomplished!!! Nate the GREAT! Love you.

April 2011

Another month already here. A lot has gone on, but we are doing well. Michael was made a Zone Leader and was a bit nervous about that but it will be such a good opportunity for him. He is a natural leader, just doesn't realize it. He seems to be changing the members minds about missionaries where he is serving now, as he said there was a real problem with trust with some of the leadership and the missionaries. If anyone can rebuild that it will be Michael. He says he doesn't get much sleep as this calling takes a lot of his time, welcome to adulthood. I have been going to bed early only to wake up wide awake at 3 a.m. It makes it hard the following day for me to keep going, but I can't seem to break this new habit. Nathan is getting even closer to graduating, boy did that sneak up fast. Kaley is one step closer to braces, she sees the oral surgeon today to talk about the teeth she will need to have extracted, then braces here we come. Steven is still the greatest help around the house I have and I am so grateful. Ashlee is doing well and getting stronger by the day, what a fun little girl she is. We have had quite a few dead animals in our pool lately, so strange. We had six baby possums that were in the filters and a baby rabbit. Each day we are nervous to check the filters for fear of what we may find. Bob is going to go to Sky Ranch with Steven, its the fifth grade camp. I went with Kaley, while my parents came to watch Ashlee during the day and so Bob is going. The only difference is it was $80 for each of us when Kaley went and is now up to $190 each, double in three years, crazy. I hope he enjoys it for that price. I know he will, but wow there are a million other places our money can go. I am working and hoping to take some time off this summer to have some mental breaks as well as some fun with my kids, we will see how it all works out. Bob may be changing jobs, will keep you posted on that, of course he would still be at SouthWest just may have a better opportunity. Well next month my parents come home from their mission and we can hardly wait, should be a lot of fun to see them and catch up. Bob's dad retired at the end of March and that is also great news for our family. Well better go get ready for work, never seems to end.

Ashlee's Surgery

Well a lot has gone on with us in the last couple of weeks. Nate had two tires blow out on his way to get his new drivers' license and we ended up having to buy three new ones. It was a blessing he wasn't on the freeway and was able to control the car just fine, for that I am very grateful. I get to have a root canal tomorrow, but that is good as I have an exposed nerve that has been causing a lot of pain to say the least. It will be expensive but very worth it. I actually need two, but will wait on the other one. Then on Wednesday Miss Ashlee will be having her right kidney removed. I will spend the night with her and hopefully be able to bring her home on Thursday. The surgeon will remove it robotically and the recovery time should be a lot less than if they had to cut her all the way open. I have the rest of the week off and some of next to make sure she is recovered and able to go back to school. I am more worried about the germs she may pick up at school than if she will recover quickly. It is Spring Break for the kids. Today they cleaned the house and went on a bike ride and I rewarded them by taking them to see "Mars needs Mom's" the movie and that was fun for them. It was nice as Nate didn't go so I only had to pay for two kids. He is very good to share his benefits with all of us and saves us a lot of money all the time. Movies are one of my favorite things and he and I are able to go all of the time and when he leaves I will really miss that time with him. The earthquake in Japan was certainly humbling and once again reminds me that we are not in control of anything here. I am so grateful at times like these natural disasters and surgeries and other health issues that I have the belief system that I do and the faith I have. How do other people do it without it? I know I couldn't. I am ever grateful for parents who taught me what was really important and hopefully I am teaching that to my kids as well. I am so grateful for Ashlee and know this is hard, but in so many ways I am glad she is the age she is to that her recovery will be faster and hopefully the memories will be better. She is a joy to have in our home and we couldn't have asked for a more vibrant, loving and caring daughter. She is very artistic and has been making paper dolls of all of our family members and is soooo creative, I can't even believe how good she is and only six years old. I will be very glad for this time next week when I hope life is moving forward and this has passed. Anyway, I just wanted to catch up a little and thought this may be the only time I have for a little while. Happy March, it came so quickly and I am sure it will go just as quickly. Love to all.

End of February??

Another month has almost passed and how behind am I? Since I last wrote the kids ended up with five total snow days, four in a row because of ice. I ended up spending two days in the hospital as they thought I had a TIA, or a mild stroke. Since then I have had a migraine that sent me to the Dr. as my pupils wouldn't respond to light and I lost my vision. Two weeks ago on Nates' 18th birthday Bob's cousin Wendy and her eight year old daughter were killed in a head on collision on highway 6 coming out of the canyon on the way to Tillamook, Oregon. We flew out for the funeral and were the only ones representing Bob's family besides his mom and dad. It took quite a lot for us to get there as Bob had to get a space only available seat for he and I. It works like a regular ticket but you can still lose your seat. It took all day to fly there and the funeral was on the next day late afternoon and then another full day of flying and we were both back at work on Friday. I ended up getting shingles, which is my third time, the first time was when I was nineteen. I found out I am low on Vitamin B12 and that can cause a lot of the problems I have so am now getting injections for that. Ashlee has had croup this week and Nate turned up very sick and is now on an antibiotic and finally feeling better. I celebrated our 22nd anniversary on Thursday. Bob took me out to lunch, a movie and dinner. He got me a great card and it was nice to just spend the day with him. Michael is still in Logan and training for the third time. He seems to be doing well, but is getting worn out physically, which I can relate to. Work has been coming along, but continues to be a major stress in my life up to now. I am not sure if it is adding to my health problems but am certain it is causing some of them. We are ever working at trying to stay ahead and get ahead, but that is always the goal in life. I feel very grateful for all of my blessings, though I occasionally ask myself why so many of the same issues all the time, but I must really need to learn something or I wouldn't keep having them right? I know more now than ever how important your health is and we are certainly not in control of anything. I have wonderful kids who keep me ever humble at just how valiant they truly are. I know I don't have much time left with Nathan before he will go on his mission and that is good and bad. I am glad we have a new Bishop and he seems to really care about the youth, which is also a great blessing. I can hardly believe all that has happened or that we are nearly three months into the year 2011, where has the time gone. Well I think that is a huge update for now. I will certainly try to do better. Happy March, its almost here.

Happy 2011

It is true another January is upon us. We are back into school and work and life is back to normal. It snowed here in Allen, Texas and quite a bit. The kids actually got a two hour delay to the start of school because of the ice and snow. The kids were excited for the sn0w as its not very common in our neck of the woods and being from Utah we sure miss it a lot. I must admit I don't miss the shoveling but the days in the house, cooking and enjoying being together with no where to go. We have a lot going on in our lives right now, our six year old Ashlee is facing a few challenges right now, but how much she is aware of I am not sure. She has been diagnosed with reflux which Nate had at this same age, where the urine flows up to the kidney's instead of staying in the bladder where it is supposed to. This requires surgery, but the catch to this is Ashlee appears to have one kidney that has little to no function, which if this is the case will need to be taken out. We do a test tomorrow to determine what percentage of function it has and will know more what our options are then. We feel like all will be well, but it is a lot to swallow with a six year old. We hope this new year will find all of us happy and healthy with a great year ahead of us. We are excited as Michael is on the down-slope of his mission and we look forward to the end of the year when he will be home again. He is training again, while being a district leader still at the USU campus in Logan. I think that updated you for the beginning of 2011 but we are grateful for all that we have, especially family at this time. Happy New Year!