Good Bye 2009

Well here it is the last day of 2009! 2010 is less then 24 hours away! I am sure as with everyone, 2009 was a year to remember. We had losses and gains, heartache and caring, love and hate, etc.

2009 was a big year for my family. I reconnected with my sisters and my nieces and nephews. We have done holidays together and family pictures. We have made plans to go on a summer trip together. Not sure how that will work, but we will have to wait for July to see!

We have had Christopher and Amber for 1.5 years and Katie for 1 year. Amazing how time flies! We are hoping that the adoption will be final in February! I will keep everyone updated and the let everyone know when the adoption party is!

We lost friends and ward family members this year! Plus lots of babies born in our ward family! We almost had one of our own, but lost it. Struggling to understand why, I realized that God has a plan for us and maybe a baby just does not fit into it right now. Maybe later, maybe never, either way we will take what we get and have and cherish it. It is devasting to be so excited one week and crushed in the next. But we suffered and survived. (PS: I prefer it not be brought up in conversation, still a bit hard to talk about)

I am going on my third year in primary and I love it!!! I really enjoy teaching the primary children. I think I learn more from them then I do from Relief Society. We move from 9am to 1pm this Sunday and I can not wait! No more chasing the kids to get their breakfast down and dressed for church, because we slept through the alarm! I can sleep til 9am and still have plenty of time for everything else! Yeah team!

I look forward to 2010 and its adventures. Whether it be at the Grand Canyon with my family, on the road to another Winter Guard competition, to just taking a drive to the mountains for a picnic, it will also be a year to remember! May your 2010 be as great as you want and may your 2009 live forever in your memories! Happy New Year! And for my Puerto Rican reader, you get to see 2010 first, if it turns out to be weird, let me know so I can stay in 2009!

Moving done, Christmas done!

All of our furniture and much needed items are out of the house. There are a few things left there, but Richard will get all those today! A few friends of Rebecca's are coming over today to help move everything that we want to keep into the garage in boxes. I will be cleaning the house Tuesday after work. What fun! Notice the sarcasim in that sentence! I will be ready to clean though. My visiting teacher and a friend are going to help me! There is just dusting, window washing, vaccumming, sweeping and mopping to do! That should be relatively easy. The hard part will be doing the bathrooms! I hate cleaning grout!

Christmas has come and gone! Is it wrong to be happy that it is over? Because I am very happy that it is over! I can not wait to get all the decorations down and put back away! I want to get all the moving boxes emptied and put away also, but I can not do that until the Christmas decorations are down. I will be disasembling Christmas tonight. I know it sounds bah humbug of me, but it has to go!

The kids were all happy with what they got! Including all the games we got for them. We tried to stay away from the Littlest Pet Shop, Polly Pocket and Matchbox! No more little toys, they have enough of them as it is! We stuck to things that they needed or we would like them to have! Not sure what we were thinking with the drum set for Christopher, but he is enjoying it and actually getting good at them!

Almost Christmas

Here it is almost Christmas and we are moved into our new home. The Christmas tree is not up, but it will be tonight! We are going to decorate tonight and unpack most of the boxes. There is still alot to do at the old house. Like get all the non essentials out and into the new house. Then clean the house and make any necessary repairs to damages that were caused by the move out. We have scheduled a trash pick up of all the extra garbage that will not fit into the cans. We have two weeks still to get everything out and cleaned up, so we should be able to do it.

Richard and the kids will be going over today to hopefully bring the rest of the kitchen over. You never think something is needed until you need it and discover you left it at the other house! Then we will bring over the rest of the bathroom stuff and then the living room and garage. There is a little bit of furniture left but is easy to get! I am hoping to have the house completely finished by the 29 so that Sister George and Sister Arnold can come over and help me and the kids clean!

Just your basic dusting, vaccumming, washing of floors and windows, and bathroom and kitchen clean. Should go quickly with help.

I know the box unpacking will go easy as soon as all the shelves and cabinets from the other garage are in the new place! My ADHD pays off with that sort of thing! Plus I can decorate the new house with all our pictures. Can not wait! So many walls this time! Plus an entire extra living room for decorations and pictures! Yeah!!!

Packing packing packing!

I have been packing all week and so far we have about 40 boxes on the back porch ready to go! I have to finish Rebecca and ReAnna's room, and clean all the clutter so furniture can be moved out of the room. The bathrooms need to be packed and only brushes, toothbrushes and toothpaste left out!

The living room is going to be harder, but we will get it done. The kitchen is going to be a royal pain in the neck! Lots to go through and lots that can break if not packed correctly. Started on some of our room last night, but I got frustrated because Rebecca still will not do the laundry. It is driving me crazy!

She has become so lazy lately. Her and her sister's room is a royal pig stye! Garbage and candy wrappers everywhere! I sent them up there last night to pick up all the garbage, but nothing ever came back down! I have to work on that room and my own tonight and then try to pack up the kitchen to take over to the new house tomorrow. Should be able to get the garage and kitchen done tomorrow by ourselves and most of the clothes for the kids room. Cross your fingers for me!

Moving......

I really hate moving! It is not fun and it is totally annoying! Plus I end up having an asthma attack from all the dust that gets up in the air! You think you have a clean house until you move and then you see all the dust that has accumulated in the oddest places!

Well where we live now the owner of the home has lost his job, therefore he is moving back and wants his house back! Great! I see a pattern and I do not like it! We got this information about two weeks before Thanksgiving! Way to ruin my holiday spirit! We tried to buy a house and were unsuccessful because our credit was not that great. We only have a car payment and that is current but it is not enough to get our credit score up. So we needed to apply for a credit card! Whoever thought that credit cards could raise your credit score?!?! Not me!

On a hunch I checked our craigslist for houses and found one! We went to look at it last Friday and decided to take it! We have to pay $1000 today to secure it and then we sign papers on Friday and then we start moving!

I already have Christopher's room completely packed. I left him just enough clothes out so he can wear them to school this week. Then Katie and Amberlin's room is 95% done, did the same with the clothes. They will be done tonight quickly and then I start on Rebecca and ReAnna's room. That one really scares me. They have a ton of clothes and junk that we are not taking with us to the new house. Goodwill will be the recipient of all their get rid of stuff. Plus I get a receipt and can write it off on my taxes! Awesome! Then on Wednesday I start on our room! Should be relatively easy, but there is alot to go through and get rid of! Then Thursday I will be doing the bathrooms, kitchen and living room! The garage we will start moving on Friday along with the rooms that I have packed!

I am sure that Richard and I will be able to move most of the boxes by ourselves. The Elder's Quorum is coming at 10 am on Saturday to help move all the big stuff! I am hoping to get the kids' rooms all set up before they get out of school that day. You all know me so do you think I can do it?!?!?!?

John's Incredible PIzza

I have really decided that this is NOT my favorite place in the world. It is too loud and to packed especially when you have Families First Christmas Party there for all the foster parents and kids. It was insane!

Richard had choir practice so I had to take the kids without him for a while to the party. I told all the kids that they needed to eat at least one piece of pizza before they could have dessert. We found seats and I sent Rebecca with Christopher and ReAnna with Kaitlyn to get their food. They came back and Amber and I went to get our food. We were gone like 5 minutes and by the time we came back, their food and plates were gone and they were asking for dessert. I just know they all ate like two bites and threw the rest away. I explained to them that I am not making anything else for dinner tonight, so if when we get home they are still hungry, that would be their choice.

They all went to get dessert and finished that pretty quickly. They asked for their token cards and that is when I hit them with they have to wait for Daddy to get there before they could go play. They wanted to know why they could not got play while they waited for Daddy. I told them because you will spend it all in 10minutes and then spend the rest of the time whining and asking me and then Daddy while he is eating, Can we go home? every five minutes. They all started pouting.

Katie asked how long until Daddy would get here. I looked at the clock it was 6:18! We had gotten there at 6:05! So we sat there for awhile while Amber and I are our food. Surprisingly she was the best eater out of all of them. She had two pieces of pizza and macaroni and chees before dessert. About 6:45 all the kids, except Amber started getting hungry again. So off they went for a piece of Alfredo pizza. Mmmmm.... so I think I am right, they ate like two bites and tossed it, too excited about dessert and games! Mother's intuition!

Totally SUCKS!

Why do we have the type of luck that whenever we rent a house when we are comfortable and happy, they decide to move back and we have to move out! WHY?!?!? It seems like it is our destiny to never stay in any house for longer then 2 years!

So now we are house hunting and trying to find something to keep the kids in the same school and the same ward! We love our school and especially our ward! We looked into buying a house, but we could not get qualified! Whoever thought not having credit cards could hurt your credit! So now I am on the hunt for a credit card so in two years we can try to buy a house!

We have been praying about one particular house that is now out of our reach completely. Then on a hunch I went and looked on craigs list to look for houses for rent and I found one. It is about 1.5 blocks from Cole Elementary, and about 2.5 blocks from the Church! So we are withing the square which we wanted to stay, if we get the house.

We get to go to the open house on it this afternoon and if we like it we are submitting our application and deposit! I get a peaceful feeling when I think of the house. Richard says no matter what, the Lord will take care of us as He always has in the past.

Finally!

After weeks and weeks of waiting all the kids' school pictures are in! Finally!

Update

Well the thing I prayed for to never happened, has happened! I had to give a talk! Not sure why I said Yes, but it kept coming out of my mouth! My talk was scheduled for the Sunday before Thanksgiving with the appropriate topic, giving thanks. Not sure where to go with the topic, I just did what I always did in high school, shoot from the hip and go for it! I got alot of compliments on my talk. I was pretty shocked at how many people told Richard that they really enjoyed it. Most people said that I gave them alot to think about. My talk was about how even the little things are what we need to be thankful for. I typed my entire talk up, so I could just read it and not have to try to remember it. So here it is. Let me know what you think!


The Sunday before Stake Conference I went looking for my husband so we could go home together. As I was looking for him, Brother Nielsen tracked me down and asked me to give a talk the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Before I could yell fire and attempt to run away, I heard Yes come out of my mouth. I should have blamed it on Pressured Speech, but I figured it gets me off the hook for awhile. Plus I wasn’t sure I could outrun Brother Nielsen in my heels. So here I am standing in front of what looks like a million people and I am trying not to hyperventilate and pass out. Though passing out might get me out of this talk, I doubt I could do it gracefully like in the old movies.
I am Rhonda Fisher and we have been in this ward for two years this week. Richard and I have been married for 5 years this coming March. We have 5 children Rebecca, 15, ReAnna, 13, Kaitlyn 10, Christopher 8 and Amberlin 6. Richard and I worked together at AT&T when we met. We worked together for several years but on two different floors. A mutual friend introduced us, but we did not really get to know each other until we both got a new job within AT&T and had the same training class. He threw a ball at me the first day and it has been uphill ever since. Most women get flowers sent to them when a guy likes them, I get a ball thrown at me from across the room! Richard is anything but typical! HE is the most original human I have ever met. Richard is now a stay at home dad and I have been with AT&T for 17 years now. The first 15 years in operator services and in Engineering and Construction since 2007.
I looked up thankful on the internet and got some very interesting websites. Nothing I could work with. It is hard for me to read something and then try to re explain it to others. I am better at just telling a story that I made up in my head or reading a story someone else wrote. So I looked up a Thanksgiving Poem. I found one I liked a lot and then decided to elaborate on it.
As most traditions go, on Thanksgiving, you give Thanks for what you have and who you are spending it with. Most people give the same answers, family, my children, etc. The poem that I am going to read finds stuff that I am not sure I would have even considered being thankful for.



I am thankful:
For the wife
who says it's hot dogs tonight
because she is home with me
and not out with someone else.
For the husband
who is on the sofa
being a couch potato
because he is home with me
and not out at the bars.
For the teenager
Who is complaining about doing dishes
Because it means she is at home,
Not on the streets.
For the taxes I pay
because it means
I am employed.
For the mess to clean after a party
because it means I have
Been surrounded by friends
For the clothes that fit a little too snug
because it means
I have enough to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work
because it means
I am out in the sunshine.
For a lawn that needs mowing,
Windows that need cleaning,
And gutters that need fixing
Because it means I have a home.




For all the complaining
I hear about the government
because it means
we have freedom of speech.
For the parking spot
I find at the far end of the parking lot
Because it means
I am capable of walking,
And I have been blessed with transportation.
For my huge heating bill
because it means
I am warm.
For the lady behind me in church
who sings off key
because it means I can hear.
For the pile of laundry and ironing
because it means
I have clothes to wear.
For weariness and aching muscles
at the end of the day
because it means I have been
Capable of working.
For the alarm that goes off
in the early morning hours
because it means
I am alive.
And finally, for too much e-mail
because it means
I have a friend who is thinking of me.







I am thankful for all the many blessings in my life. My husband even though he thinks it is his duty to scare me at least twice a day, for Rebecca when she gets the clothes out of the dryer and leaves them on the couch like a little elf is going to come fold them for her, for ReAnna who gets mad when you tell her that she has to wash some of the dishes by hand because they don’t fit in the dishwasher, for Kaitlyn who whenever you bring out a camera to take a candid shot, she poses, for Christopher who thinks it pretty cool that his mom can throw a mean spiral with his football, and for Amberlin, who thinks if she gives you the puppy dog eyes, you will make her bed for her. I am thankful for my sister who comes almost every weekend and makes the bed for her and cleans the disaster my teenagers call their room. I am thankful for my nieces and nephews that come and help with the band competitions and are happy to be at my house.
I am thankful for our summer vacation that took us to a lot of church historical sites including Temple Square, where my husband told almost every missionary that I was an investigator, you should have seen their eyes light up at the word investigator. It was like someone yelled free candy at an elementary school! And also places like Nauvoo, Liberty Jail, Adam Ondi Ahman, and Carthage Jail. I am thankful for the feeling of the spirit I got while sitting in the room where Joseph and Hyrum Smith died, which told me that everything I had been taught by the missionaries was true. I am thankful for our trip this year that took us to see family and old friends. I am thankful to Katie Arnold for taking Rebecca to Activity Days and church with her. I am thankful that our first visit to church was the Primary Program at the Dry Creek Ward, where all the primary workers kept telling me how wonderful Rebecca was and how grateful they were that she jumped in and filled the vacant spot. I am thankful that Rebecca is not shy and is outgoing and confident. I am thankful that ReAnna is who she is and that everyone accepts her and loves her for it. I am thankful that Joseph Malcolm helped Amberlin remove her tooth on the way home from school, so she did not have to get her own blood on herself.




I am thankful for Heavenly Father telling us that we needed to move to this ward so we could get Kaitlyn, Christopher and Amberlin. I am thankful that they came to live with us and that we will be able to adopt them soon! I am thankful I have a husband that is a great husband, father, and friend. I am extremely thankful that my husband is such a great cook, because if I had to cook every night we would starve. I am thankful for our home teacher, who makes it to our house once a month and my kids never seem to annoy him with their odd questions.
I am thankful for my visiting teacher who came outside and dragged me into Red Robin for Girl’s night Out before I could make it back to my car to escape! I am thankful that my husband invites different families over for dinner so we can get to know people in the ward. I am thankful for Facebook, because I can see what all the nuts I went to school with are doing and where to stay away from to avoid them.
I am thankful for my Valiant 9 class last year that made me laugh almost every Sunday over something funny they did or said. I am thankful for my CTR 5 class this year, which makes me giggle when they all give the same answer for different questions. I learn more teaching primary then I ever could just reading the scriptures. I am thankful that my family is back in my life and I am Deeta again. And that they go with us willingly to church when they visit on the weekends. I am thankful for a Bishopric that is friendly and approachable, though I still feel like I am being sent to the principal’s office whenever I need to meet with the Bishop. And I am thankful for this church and the people in it. I am especially thankful for this ward. My last two wards I felt like I did not exist and that no one cared that I was there. Here I know people and people seem like they really want to talk to me and to get to know me. I am thankful for this Gospel and all that is has taught me and blessed me with.

There is a lot to be thankful for in everyone’s life. You just need to look hard and you will see what it is. Even something little that blesses your life is something worth being thankful for.

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

What a crazy weekend!

This weekend was our first ever Bands Of America Competition! And boy was it crazy! We had to leave at 6:30 Saturday morning to get to Santa Clarita at the College of the Canyons. We had to serve the kids lunch at 11:45. We got there after the trucks but well before the buses. We were like 2 hours ahead of them. We started setting up our kitchen and then we got told that we could not cook in the parking lots, we had to go clear across campus, like 2 miles, and set up in the picnic area! We ended up behind the baseball diamond, the stadium and the soccer field. We had a great spot with an excellent view of the bands competing! It was great! Sorry the kids had to walk, but like most teenagers they found a shortcut!
It turned out to be a good thing that we were where we were, because kids kept coming off the field almost passing out from the heat. We ended up being the cooling stations for the ones that almost passed out! It was our day to be the Good Samaritans! Everyone was very grateful that we were there!
All of our band kids enjoyed the food and the area that we picked! Plus it was the Band Directors birthday, so Richard and I braved the LA area traffic to track down a Costco to get cakes, more water, cups, fork, plates, etc! He was very surprised and happy!
We did not make finals so we headed back to the hotel. The kids that had costumes dressed up in them and sat around the hotel common area and had a great time. Richard and I snuck off to bed around 9:30 because we had the 1 am shift for room checks! We had to make sure the kids were not too noisy or that they had not broken the tape on their doors. The tape helps us to know if the kids left there rooms after curfew. If the open the door with the tape on, they won't be able to get it back on once they close the door! It works very well!
On Sunday as a treat for the long day of competition, the chaperones and the band kids went to Magic Mountain! I think I was more excited then the kids! I wanted to ride all the roller coasters!
My friends Emily, George, Jeff , Sandra and I rode Goliath, Scream, Colosuss, X2, Log Jammer, Revolution and Viper! It was awesome! X2 was so scary!! You lay down and they turn you all over the place! You are upside down and backwards! I opened my eyes twice and we were upside down and then when I saw the flames! It was scary, but a moment I will never forget! I kept yelling to my friend Sandra that we were going to die!
Rebecca hung out with her friends and had a great time. Her friend Tyler lost his shoe on X2 and had to buy a pair of flip flops that cost $30! I was shocked! The park was very expensive for souviners, food, drinks, etc. Crazy! A water bottle was $3.75! And you could not bring in food or drinks! Found out later you could bring in water! I really loved the No Smoking rule at the park and the no profanity or cursing allowed! They really push the Family Friendly Park idea! I thought it was a great idea!
ReAnna, Katie, Christopher and Amberlin went to my little sister, Rosalie's place for the weekend and for trick or treating! They had fun! Plus I have like forty tons of candy to go through! I will have fun doing the "quality control" tasting! Hee hee!

Update

It is hard to believe that Halloween is tomorrow! Then we are into the Holiday Season! Where did the time go? It seems like Thanksgiving and Christmas get here earlier and earlier every year! I need another month to get ready for Thanksgiving and another two months for Christmas! I want a recount!! I will have to make do with what I have! Endure to the end, they say!
Last night I went to Peachwood Ward's Girls Night Out at Red Robin. It was pretty fun. There were only four of us, but we talked and laughed and had a great time! Normally there is about 10 women that show up, but I think because it was so late this month that no one remembered. Maybe next month!
Tomorrow is another band competition, this time in Santa Clarita. Instead of a Western Band Association competition we are doing Bands of America competition. Alot of different school from different states! One is from Texas!!! I am hoping we will place in the top 3. Then the next day as a Thank You for all your Hard Work, the band is going to Magic Mountain! I can not wait to ride all those roller coasters! WHEEEE!!!!!

Just checking in

It has been a long time since I last blogged. And believe me ALOT has happened since. ReAnna is now 13 and Rebecca is 15! Where does the time go? Christopher is 8 now and him and his sister, Amber have been with us for over a year now! We are coming up on one year with Katie also! Just plain fast! Time flies and your babies grow up before your eyes. It is hard to believe that Rebecca is a sophmore and only has two years left in high school after this year! Absolutely insane! Am I the only one that wants to stop the clock and spend more time with them making memories that they will never forget and replicate with their families? I sure hope not!

It is Marching Season and we have already finished two competitions. One in Merced and one in Visalia. We did good at both. Richard is in charge of feeding the kids, so we spend the week before the competition getting everything ready for that. Trips to the grocery store, Smart and Final, the band room, etc. It is a very busy time in our house with school and church activities! There is never a slow day.

Christopher is now old enough to go to scouts and he is really enjoying it. Not sure if he is learning what he should be. He seems to have some band influences at school and is listening to them and not choosing the right. We keep telling him he needs to remember that he has been taught to choose the right and to be an example, but he still listens to the bad influences around him. It has only been like a month since he started scouts so I am hoping that he will start to listen after he has been going a little longer. Crossing every extremity I have.

ReAnna had a Twilight themed birthday party. Can you guess what movie we watched? Let's see could it be Twilight? Ding Ding Ding! The prize goes to...ME!! It went pretty smooth! She had fun and so did her friends. Especially after she told them that her mom has a vast knowledge of useless information about many things including Twilight. Her friends were pretty amazed that I finished all four books in three days and re read the last one twice in those three days. Then ReAnna told them I read Harry Potter in less then 5 days. I guess I read fast. And yes I can comprehend what I read. Just in case that question is on your mind! LOL!

Rebecca had her birthday party last night. It was a formal dinner at our house for her and seven of her friends. We had the living room set up like a restaurant and the back porch was the "waiting room". Glad that I have a covered porch, otherwise my furniture would be wet! Richard spent all Monday and Tuesday making her seven course meal. We started with Brocoli Salad with Melon Slices, then Shrimp Bisque, Garden Salad with Raspberry Walnut Dressing, Stuffed Mushrooms, Chicken Melanese with Braised Green Beans, Homemade Raspberry Sorbet and then Chocolate Cake with Cheesecake and Raspberry puree filling with Vanilla Ice Cream and Chocolate Shavings. The kids all got a kick out of Richard in his Chef's Coat and us acting like it was a real restaurant. The kids were laughing and eating and enjoying themselves. One of the boys said he has not laughed that much in a long time.

My twin sister and her kids have been at my house every weekend for the last two and they have been going to church with us. I am happy! It is nice to have the kids get to know the church and they actually are enjoying themselves. The church that they go to with their dad, they are not allowed to make noise or move around. They really relaxed when they got to our's and saw the babies and little kids making noise and no one really paying attention to them.

That is an update! Whats up with you?!?!?

Sharp Knives

On Friday, we went to the Clovis Farmers Market looking for this guy that sharpens knives. We looked around and asked some people, but he was not there. We asked another guy and he said that he would be at The Vineyard the next morning.
We went to The Vineyard and found him rather easy. The Vineyard is very small so it was very hard not to find him. While we were there Kopi was there passing out information on the Greek Festival. I guess real men do wear dresses. Silly!
We got the knife sharpened and headed home. That night while cooking, Richard cut his finger on a part of the knife that has never been sharp before. I got out the first aid kit and used my first aid training and doctored him. He said I get too much of a kick out of playing nurse.
So yesterday he is trying to get the ring off of a bottle and stabs the end of the knife into his hand. The soft spot on your hand between your thumb and forefinger. All I heard was him say I think I hit an artery. I am thinking Oh crap (and a few other choice words when I saw all the blood). Again I get to play nurse. Took alot of pressure to get it to stop bleeding, before I could bandage it up.
They say that dull knives can hurt you worse then that. A sharp knife will stop at any resistance and a dull knife will not. I would hate to see what a dull knife would have done to his hand! Scary!

Going back to school

I have been wanting to do this for a long time. I want a college education! I have always been fascinated by accounting and tax preperation. Richard is worried I won't be home enough, but this is something I have always wanted. I know he will support me, I just need to find a way to do most of my schooling at home online if possible. I applied at DeAnza College in Cupertino because they are on a quarter system and I can get my AA faster. Any suggestions on local schools that I can attend online only?

The kids are back in school!!!

The kids are back in school! Whoo hoo! Should I be this happy or should I be sad? Not sure. I am happy that they are back in school learning and driving their teachers crazy and not me. I am sad because now I have a 1st grader, a 2nd grader, a 4th grader, an 8th grader and a 10th grader! Scary how time flies and how fast kids grow!

Though I think for all adults we get two "most wonderful time of the year" moments. One is very obviously at Christmas time and the other is the first day of school. Oh crud! That means Christmas is closer! What to do, what to do! I think maybe stuff for their rooms to decorate them more. Wow am I thinking ahead! Probably because the kids are at school and I can think!! YEAH! I am just far too happy about school starting. Is that normal? Do I care? Possibly not! Hahahahahahahaha!! I am losing my mind! Oh well, not too much of a great loss! Hee hee!!

Summer at The Fisher's

Summer started out like any normal typical summer for us. Rebecca and ReAnna celebrated their last day of school and then spent the weekend getting ready for Girl's Camp. The weekend before we went on a five day camping trip with my family. My sisters in the outdoors, sans showers and flushing toliets, pretty amazing, if I do say so myself. ReAnna had an allergic reaction to something and again her face swelled up, causing her to miss her entire last week of school. We sent her on the last day but 15 minutes into school her teacher sent her to the office and the nurse sent her home.

Monday Rebecca left with the fourth years and headed to camp and a overnight hike. Then on Tuesday ReAnna left with the rest of the girls. On Tuesday night around midnight we got a call from the camp saying we needed to pick up ReAnna. Richard convinced them that he would pick her up the next day if she was not better. He picked her up. When Rebecca got back we were told that the nurse at the camp sent her home because she thought she was contagious! How is an allergic reaction contagious? I think not! Her doctor thought it was ridiculous, but we kept her home.

When Rebecca got home that Saturday, she had a youth dance and she was very excited to go to that. Her friend was having problems at home, so Rebecca decided to give her a place of solace at our house. Little did any of us know how much this young girl was going to distrupt our lives for the next few days. She went home on Sunday and snuck out of the house to go visit her boyfriend. It is a very long drawn out story, so I will stop there. Needless to say, Rebecca does not talk to her right now because she is very upset with the decisions she made after that.

Fourth of July was uneventful at our house. We were playing video games all day before we realized fireworks started in 45 minutes and we had not eaten dinner yet. So Richard cooked the hot dogs quickly and I helped him to pack up the cooler and we rolled out to Railroad Park. Ran into the Farnsworths there and spent some time talking to them.

On July 17th we took a two week 5600 mile vacation. We went to Silverdale WA first and stayed with Richard's brother and sister in law. They invited family over for a BBQ the Saturday that we arrived. I saw my two nieces and their kids, some for the first time! My one niece, Janine has a 3 1/2 month old son Kylan. He is so cute!! We went to church with the on Sunday. Boy is their church attendance small. Together we took up 1 and a half rows, but we did not have to worry, only like 8 rows were being used!!

We left after lunch and headed to Richland WA, to visit Dan and Shari Gilbert. We wandered around Richland with Shari as she showed us the sights and the different places around her. Dan had to work Monday, so we only got to see him Sunday.

Tuesday morning we headed to Montana to bury my grandmother. Literally. The guy was waiting for us with the shovel and stayed long enough to tell us where to put it when we were done. We dug the hole and while digging we found three heart shaped rocks! I kept them so I can give one to each of my sisters. From there we headed East, towards Mount Rushmore!

We got there Wednesday and it was amazing! I had seen it several times in movies and on television specials, but to see it for real was a trip. It is just amazing how good they are. What a National Monument! I totally recommend taking the trip to go see it! It is something that you will never forget!

From there we headed to the Crazy Horse monument. It is somewhat the same as Rushmore, but far bigger and barely done. They have the face carved but that is it. By the looks of it, it will be done when my kids kids have kids. Total waste of gas and money, in my opinion.

On Thursday we stopped at Winter Quarters and saw the temple there and the cemetery. Plus we toured the visitor center. The kids dressed up as pioneers and we learned how they traveled across the country to Utah. Plus they got to pull a hand cart. It was very informational. From there we headed to the tabernacle that Brigham Young was confirmed the President of the church in. It is a rebuilt replica. The original was built in winter in 14 or 18 days. In the spring they discovered that it was built on a marsh! So it fell apart, but they rebuilt another further away so that people can see how small it was, but it fit ALOT of people. I think 2000 or 200. Can't remember. Plus we got to see what the Mormon Battalian wore to march to San Diego.

From there we headed to Missouri to stay with Richard's sister Sharon for 5 days. We went everywhere in Missouri. Liberty Jail, Adam Ondi Aman, Far West, Richmond and Independence Visitor Center. Richmond was a new stop. It is where Oliver Cowdry was burried. Pretty amazing! We ate at Richard's favorite restaurant, Strouds. It was fun and we had a blast.

The following Tuesday we headed to Utah. We stopped in Colorado to see the visitor center for the Dinosaur Monument Park. We went from there to the other visitor center for the park in Jenson Utah. Not much fun because the real fossils were closed because of the instability of the room surrounding it. Oh well. The kids became Junior Palentologists and we saw a real dinosuar bone. It came to my shoulder and was petrified. Pretty amazing to see that.

We got to Midvale Utah and met Lisa (Rew) Durrant, my sister missionary when I decided to be baptized, for dinner. We got to meet her son, Jason. He is so cute at 14 monthes old. All boy and into everything. The next day we hung out with Lisa at Temple Square and wandered around the Church History Museum. There was a showing of pictures from 1907 in Navuoo that were redigitalized. Got to see alot there.

I had arranged to see my sister Darla and my nephew Justin at the reflection pond. I had not seen her in 6 years and we did not leave on good terms 6 years ago. The meeting went well and I was happy. It is amazing what time, prayers and Heavenly Father can do to heal hearts. I am getting my family back, but this time I am stronger and they see that. They are finally loving me for who I have always been. I am glad that they can see that now.

From there we headed to Cedar City Utah to see Cindy Coleby Marquardt(my other sister missionary), but she did not answer her phone. We called and called and even went to her old job to see if they knew where she was. Nothing, so we continued on to Vegas.

While we were at dinner in Mesquite, NV, Cindy called. She was very upset that she had missed us, as were we. She called her husband after she discovered we were going to be in Vegas for 2 days. She called us back and told us they were coming to Vegas to see us! YEAH!!

We hung out all day Friday, played in the arcade at the Excalibur, saw M&M World, wandered the strip, went to lunch, went to the pool and then to dinner. It was so much fun to see them. Plus it was fun to have someone to talk girl stuff with.

Saturday we headed home. Our trip done, but with memories that will last forever.

It was great to see old friends and family. The kids had a fun adventure. I realized I now have 7 nieces and nephews and 16 great nieces and nephews on Richard's side! Awesome! What a family summer vacation! I posted pictures on my facebook so check them out!

Interesting!

We are going on a summer vacation similiar to the one we took prior to my being baptized. On our trip we will be stopping over in Stevensville Montana to place my Grandma's Urn with Grandpa's. Well the lady called us yesterday and informed us that we need to dig the hole for the urn ourselves! WHAT?!?!? I thought it was a joke and a very bad one, but she was serious! What the flip?!?!? If a hand reaches up out of the grave as I am digging it, I am so out of there! I will run home to Clovis! I sure hope on Judgement Day I get extra points for this one and not a "What were you thinking?" look!

We are heading out Friday July 17th, right after work for Grants Pass Oregon for the night and then on to Washington to visit family and the Gilbert's. Then to Montana to be a grave digger for a day, the to Mount Rushmore, then Missouri, then Salt Lake then Las Vegas and finally home! Two weeks and 5000 miles! Should be fun and it will be Christopher, Amberlin and Kaitlyn's first times out of state! They are so excited!

We plan on seeing some church historical sites in Missouri and then Temple Square in Utah! I can not wait! This is going to be fun and spiritual! I loved the feeling I got the last time we were at Adam Ondi Amon (sp). Peaceful and relaxing. Plus happiness.

I plan on doing a scrapbook for our Summer Vacations, but I am so not good at those. I want to do one every summer and hopefully I will get better at it!

WOW!

It has been over a month since I blogged! Time sure flies by when you are ripping out your hair trying to get the children to do their chores and to stay out of the dirt! There are five weeks left of school and all the kids are looking forward to summer, but no one more then Richard. I am just looking forward to my vacation the last two weeks in July! Summer goes by so quickly! I remember when I was in school thinking that it was not long enough.
Our best friend's the Gilberts are moving this week to Washington! Totally sucks but they have to go where the work is. But we can visit and vice versa! Still sucks though!!
Richard has Father Son campout starting after school on Thursday. Should be interesting. I will have a house full of only girls for almost three days! PARTY!! CHICK FLICK TIME!!! Then the next weekend he has an 11 year old scout campout! Then we are going camping for four days with both my sisters and their children! Could be an insane experience, I might need a straight jacket after going!
We went and saw Star Trek at the IMAX! TOTALLY KILLER MOVIE! LOVED IT!! Go see it! Can not wait for GI Joe, Transformers 2, Harry Potter 6, Land of the Lost and all the other ones I am waiting to see this summer!! Happy dance time!
Got a new computer at work and I may have to beat it with a sledge hammer! I love that it is faster, but again I have a computer with attitude! Why is that? Is it programed in or when it finds out it is my computer is just "developes" one? I really wonder about that. The copier/printer gave me major attitude last week even after I threatened it with pulling the plug. Nothing just attitude to I turned it off! Hahahahahahaha!! I really need a creative outlet!
Our friends who have been waiting for a baby to adopt was give a 2 day old baby girl on the 21st of last month. She was a Safe Surrender baby! They are so excited! They have been waiting 2 years for a baby to adopt! I am so happy for them!!!
My CTR 5 class is going great. We have learned that if you bring paper and crayons they will sit still long enough to hear the lesson answer some questions, all of which the answers seem to be Jesus, and have prayers. Bribed them with popcorn one Sunday, boy was that a HUGE hit!!!
So how has you last 6 weeks been? Oh! Congrats Sister Shelley on the twin babies! Twins are awesome! I should know cause I am a twin!

What is new with us?

This is all the kids together starting from left to right: Kaitlyn, Brytani, ReAnna, Mathilda, McCurtis, CJ(McCurtis' friend) Zackary, Christopher, Trenton, Lucas, Rebecca, Rayna and Amberlin.

Rachel, Rosalie and Me! Can you guess who is my twin? They were both wearing heels, so they are not taller then me!!

Well alot has been going on lately! The most exciting is that my family and I have talked and are reconciling! I went with Richard and all the kids on March 1st and went to see Rosalie and Mom, then on March 22nd went to see my twin. All the visits went great. So great that we invited Rachel and all her kids to our house last Friday for dinner. Rachel wanted to surprise Rebecca at her Color Guard Championship. Rebecca was so happy to see everyone! Then we took her home to feed her, so she could see Rachel's ex husband Uncle Mike! It was so nice to see everyone again!

Then the next day we took a trip back to Los Banos, which is where Rachel and her kids live, for a birthday party. It turned into somewhat of a family reunion. My mom, Rosalie and her kids were all there too! After the party we went to the park for awhile and hung out and talked.

I realized how much time I had missed being away so long. I use to pray and pray that I could see my nieces and nephews again, but it seemed to go unanswered. A few monthes ago it seemed like I was getting my answer and then this month I did! It wasn't that God was not answering my prayers, it was that He was waiting for them to be ready.

We all realize what we have missed in the past six years, but maybe it just wasn't time! Now we get along better then we ever did as kids! It is great to have my past meet up with my present. Now we can all look forward to the future together!

Birthday

My birthday was February 17th, this past Tuesday. Most people look forward to their birthday, but I have not since about my 8th birthday party. I am a twin and it just amazed me at how many people would forget that! The invitations always said you are invited to a party for Rachel and Rhonda, but everyone would show up and all the gifts said To: Rachel. It's like the "and" was invisible. All the parents said "They are twins? We did not know." So everytime, they would say the gift is for both of us or my parents would say we could share. How do you share one Barbie doll? Or a shirt that was purchased in your twins size who happens to be 2 sizes larger? It made no sense to me and besides Rachel was not the sharing type. The gifts had her name on it and in her eyes it was hers. As we got older, our friends would remember that we were twins. The school however always forgot. They would announce Rachel Fields birthday and forget me. When I use to help in the office, I realized that they thought I was a mistake in their system. Just because all the info was the same, they thought Rhonda was Rachel's middle name! Plus every yearbook, they spelled my name wrong!!

Now I think I just dislike being center of attention. I hate to be singled out and made "special" as they call it. I do not like to attract attention. People here at work give me accomadations to managers and I get embarrassed. So I think my dislike of my birthday now is a combination of the past and the attention. I have no worry about getting older. Age is only a number.

Though my dislike of being the center of attention will sort of be all messed up once I get my book published and then get it made into a movie! I don't want fame and fortune, I just want recognition, that someone likes my book.

Now I am confusing myself!

This week in words

The title of this blog makes me feel like I am writing a newspaper article. I could only wish my life was that exciting! It is more "chicken with it's head cut off" life right now!
All the kids are doing great. Rebecca is in her second semester as a freshman and ReAnna as a seventh grader. Kaitlyn, Christopher and Amberlin are doing great in elementary school. Katie and Chris both got awards for being kind at school. Do they really give those out? I was shocked. Then Katie got an award for perfect attendance for her 1st semester at Cole! She was only there for 2 weeks of the 1st semester! How crazy is that?!?! I will take the award and be proud!
This Saturday we are hosting a birthday party for Rebecca's friend who turned 14 on the same day I turned 36! Totally cool!! We are doing a movie party and I am being forced to watch High School Musical 3! Ahhhh!! I would prefer Twilight, but it is not to be released until March 21st!! Richard is making her a chocolate chocolate chocolate cake. No that is not a misprint, the cake is completely CHOCOLATE!! A chocolate cake, with chocolate filing and chocolate frosting. MMMMM!!! Chocolate!!
This past Sunday Amber turned 6! Now all the kids are one year older then when we got them! Awesome!! The kids adoption should be finalized in May, but if the CASA worker has her way March 10th. Everyone pray and keep your fingers crossed for us! I would really like this all done and over with March 10th! Then in the summer we can start looking for another boy to adopt! Probably around 5 or 6 preferrably. That way Chris is the older brother and he has a younger brother. I want a toddler, but Richard thinks I am out to get him when I say that! Silly Silly man!!
All our excellent fundraising and working my behind off at the concession stands and the gift wrap booth paid off! Rebecca has a large surplus in her account and next year's fees I do not have to stress over! Awesome!! The paper cuts and deafness was worth it!!
Hard to believe that we are almost into the 3rd month of 2009! Where does the time go? Is it because I am always busy and impatiently waiting for the times I can relax because we have no plans? I think so!
My CTR 5 class is great. We have 14 kids in our class with two sets of twins, but luckily not all of them have been coming at the same time. We have yet to have over 6 kids lately. I'll say that and next class, all of them will be there. Including the one that told me Stop Thinking Cow! Oohh! I wanted to pop him one, but I just told him that by saying that that makes me think I do not want to like him because that was very mean to say to anyone especially your teacher and at church!

News from the Sardine Can

I am no longer in the cubicle with the high walls, so the closing in feeling is gone. We were transfered to our permanent desk and all is well. The masses of boxes were a bit frightening for a time. I always felt like they may fall on me and crush me. Death by Boxes! What a way to go! As of yesterday the boxes are gone, so my death by boxes is no longer emminant. I do however seem to have a problem with people walking by my desk and talking loud. It is as if I do not exist or they are just rude yellow pages advertising sales reps. I am going with the latter. It is hard not to notice me! I will need to put a SHHHHH!!! sign by my desk and see if they pay attention or I may have to go to their managers. People say something to everyone else who is too loud. Yellow Pages is the largest complainer! I will figure it out!
I have finished reading The Work and The Glory and I want more! I want the story to keep going, but I guess that is up to my imagination and church history to finish the story! I need to find something else besides romance novels to read during breaks and lunch now. I may try The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. Rebecca got that for her birthday!
Happy Valentine's Day! May love find you in the most unexpected and kind way!!

Survived the week

I survived my first week in the Sardine Can! Yeah!! I did it! Without the lose of limb or sanity. Well maybe not the sanity part!! I have five children, I think the sanity went a long time ago! I was lucky that last week was a short week in the Sardine Can. Not sure if I would have survived five complete days, but with the weekend breaking up the fifth day from the fourth day, I can do it!! With any luck we will be in our new spots on Tuesday, though this rumor infested office, says Friday. I am not sure if I can handle another week at this desk. One would think with high walls it would be quieter, but nope. It is totally opposite! It is loud! Maybe because the sound can't just bounce off and disappear? Who knows? I am not an expert in sound travel, but I do know that it is loud!
Well, hopefully I will be moving into my permanent spot tomorrow. Cross your fingers and pray!!

The Cardinals were robbed!!!! Stupid Pittsburg Steelers!!!!!!!

Day four

Boredom has set it now. The assembly of our permanent desk is almost complete, yet I find myself bored out of my mind. I lost my mind many months ago, so being bored is not such a feat any longer. Frequent trips to the restroom or just to walk around, help to keep me from falling asleep from the boredom. The Sardine Can smells like paint again, but luckily it is only touch up paint. Therefore it will dry quickly and the smell will not linger forever. There is a small amount of lawn outside and I am fighting the urge to go out there and take a nap on it in the sun.

The jobs on my desk seem to be multiplying and it has rolled over to my boxes. I started with seven and am now up to nine. It is a slow multiplication, but if we not get to our permanent spots soon, I fear that number may double overnight! My radio keeps me company and in touch with the outside world. I have access to my private email accounts, but the company firewall blocks any and all attempts to access my Facebook account.

I will continue to blog to keep everyone informed of my state of boredom. State of mind no longer a problem, seeing as I am slowly losing brain cells from the paint smell caused headache!

Third Day

I survived the second day in the Sardine Can, they call an office. The paint smell eventually went away completely and most of our desks are assembled. My manager finally got a phone, so I can call her and annoy her instead of the email approach. I managed to find my way to our new desks and back to my temporary one without getting lost. I even took Richard over there for a quick tour. Today it is very cold in the building, I am guessing because they are throwing garbage in the dumpster out front. I have still managed to keep the Siren at bay. She has yet to know I am in the Olive office yet. Though once she knows I am here, I will need a better hiding place. I have my lookouts, but they can not be on duty all day. Well back to the copier.

Day Two in the Sardine Can

Here it is day two. I survived the first day in the Sardine Can, even though it felt like the walls were closing in on me. Today it seems that way also, but I am ignoring it. There is still a faint smell of paint, but I am getting use to the headache it causes now. I have found the copy machine and I am getting some work done. I do however feel my desk is somehow causing the jobs on my desk to multiply. Where was this desk at school when I had all the trouble with multiplication?!? Not invented yet I will bet. I have found the hot water, so I can have my hot cocoa. It is by the bathroom, so I know where that is now. I went to find it yesterday and got lost and ended up by the coffee bar. It is very close to my desk, I guess if I had just looked up, I would have seen the Women sign. Tried to leave breadcrumbs back to my desk, but they kept getting taken. So now I just look for the Hollywood and Vine sign. Hard to explain that one, but it is someone's desk decoration. Our permanent spot is over halfway done, so I will be moving to there sometime this week or next Monday. That will make me have to find a new trail to the bathroom and the hot water. I can do this, but I really wish they had provided us all maps or at least beacons, so I know when I am close to my desk!!

So far this year....

My company ended the year by announcing that they were laying off 12,000 employees world wide. Luckily my department was not affected by that lay off. Then they announced that our office was moving back to the Olive office. Half of engineering is on Olive and the other half, my half is on Ashlan. They started moving department by department right after Thanksgiving. Of course my department, the largest, went last. Our last day at the Ashlan office was yesterday. Today we are on Olive in temporary desks until they finish the construction in our permanent area. We should move there by next Monday. So we went from Ashlan and Villa to Olive and Clovis.
I feel like I am in a sardine can! It is so tightly packed in here. And surprisingly loud! They girls around me whisper and I can hear everything they say like they are standing right next to me.
They movers managed to break my ergo chair. So I am using a temporary until they can order me a new chair. It does not look like it can be fixed. They broke one of the wheels off completely! What were they moving it with, an ax? Strange!
Luckily almost the entire commute is freeway, but I still do not like being out by the winery. It smells out here when they are fermenting the skins and leftovers after they squish the grapes! I guess I will get use to it. We sometimes have to do things we do not like. It won't kill me, I hope!

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2009

*YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2009 when...


*1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.

2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.

4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.

6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.

7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.

8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.

10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.

11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile ... : )

12 You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.

14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

5. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list


*AND NOW YOU ARE LAUGHING *at yourself.If not, you should be. You know you want to

Addicted!!

Why is it, that I go see the darn movie Twilight and now I am addicted?!?!? I read Midnight Sun and just fell in love with Edward! The movie was amazing especially with Peter Fanicelli as Carlisle! I am now reading Twilight and can not get enough!! Luckily Rebecca has the set, so I can borrow it from her. I wonder if it is the book or Edward's appeal as a vampire?!?!? Oh well I will be with the rest of the Twilighters and be waiting for New Moon to open!! Crazy! I thought this type of addiction was only for teenagers?

2009

Here it is 2009 and it seems only the year has changed. Nothing dramatically changed at midnight. We are still in an economic slump, still have Obama as president elect, weird weather, etc. I wish we could wave a magic wand and everything would be perfect. Though I am sure my version of perfect could be someone else's hell. Like the saying goes, you can please some of the people some of the time, most of the people most of the time, but not all of the people all of the time.
We spent the evening watching Richard play his new video game after dinner. Rebecca had friends over from church and they got ready and went to the Youth Dance. She was so excited!!! It was her first dance because she missed the last ones by a few days and then the other she was at a band tournament. We invited some friends from church over for dinner and we had a great time. They were the parents of Rebecca's friend from church. She is a sweet girl and we like her parents.
I got CTR 5 again! My Valiant 9's went on to greener pastures. Though they all miss me as I am told. I am so glad I stuck it out! Thanks Krista and Tina for the encouragement to stick it out!! This past Sunday, I taught the CTR 5 class for the first time. They are pretty rambuncious, but they will be ready for CTR 6 when I am done teaching them. There are 14 of them, with two sets of twin girls!! I am a twin, so it will be great!! One even has my twin's name!!
The kids go back to school tomorrow and I am so glad for that!! They need to get back into their routines! Everyone has an alarm clock now, so they will be getting up by themselves!! I register Katie tomorrow for Cole! All three little ones will be in the same school now! It was just crazy driving to and from two different schools that had the same schedules!!
We can start the adoption of the two little ones next Friday! I am so excited!! Hopefully the CASA worker can convince the judge to let us adopt all three at the same time! Otherwise Katie can not be adopted until June. Cross your fingers and pray!!
My office moves in three weeks, so it is crazy here! We have to pack about 45000 jobs, which is an equivilant to about a 6 bedroom house! Lots of stuff and they are putting us into a smaller location. Try fitting a 6 bedroom house into a 2 bedroom house and you can not get rid of anything!!
I have had a cold for about 4 weeks now and I am sure it is a sinus infection now! Great, huh? Kids do it to you! They get a few days of sniffles and a cough and I get four weeks of this disease!! Yuck!! I have to go see the doctor this week!
Our friend David showed up at our door one day last week and surprised us with the information that he has moved back home. Everyone was so glad to see him! He was surprised and happy about his welcome. Little David has gotten so big!! They came over this past Tuesday and hung out for a little and played with the kids!
A few days after Christmas we got a call from New Jersey! It was from Vanessa Scott! Billy gave her permission to take all the kids and move back to Australia! I am so happy for her! She needs her family support there. His family always blamed her because their son was perfect. Boy was he far from that! But I am glad she called we had been trying to locate her and were getting worried! We will miss her, but we can go visit her one day! I have always wanted to go to Australia! I know she will be happier there and be better taken care of.
Well back to the grindstone! I really need to blog more, but with 5 kids it is hard now!!