Modesty is Hottesty -Modest is Hottest

The pool isn't fancy but the kids and Jordan still had a great time swimming while I did laundry in the hotel guest Laundromat.  I had a week moment and let Tess get this bikini.  She swam at a friends house who had a "two piece" and came home really wanting one.  Tess had been sick and has had a lot of tantrums this week so to avoid more of that I let her get it.  I told her that it wouldn't make Heavenly Father happy, but sadly she didn't care.  So here she is.  I got reprimanded by my mother.  But to be honest, she wore them, I had a handful through my life, and Ellie and Reagan had one when they were little and we all turned out ok.  We'll have to work on our thinking "modest is hottest" (from my kids favorite Youtube video at the moment) around here.

Moving update

We have moved out of our house and are now living in a Residence Inn in Tempe.  Its been about a week and we have a week left to go.  Its not that bad.  The room in nice and clean. It has two bedrooms with king size beds and a pullout couch that we haven't had to pull out yet, the kids take turns sleeping on it like a couch and the other three sleep in the bed.  Since Jordan has still been traveling, sometimes I have a kid in bed with me and no body is on the couch.  Also, we have 2 bathrooms which has been really nice in the morning since the kids were still in school until Friday. 

It's kinda a crazy story how we ended up in the residence inn.  The company had rented us a furnished apartment in Chandler that was in a really nice area (farther from Mesa than I wanted but nice). The kids and I showed up there one night late after a long day of packing up our house to find 2 rooms with only 2 full size beds and no pullout couch.  We slept there that night, but called the next morning to say it wasn't going to work for us, that we need a place for the 6 of us to sleep and that if necessary we would arrange to sleep in a hotel that night.  Khadija, our contact for housing, was nice but as I learned through this process pretty incompetent.  We did end up sleeping in a hotel in Scottsdale that night.  Khadija couldn't seem to arrange anything or figure anything out in 12 hours.  So the next morning I called her back and she still hadn't figured anything out. I gave her a couple suggestions and she ended up booking us at a residence inn in NORTH Scottsdale that was 50 minutes away from my kids school.  She said there wasn't anything closer that would fit our family.  So I called residence inn and they said they had plenty of rooms available at the residence inn in Tempe (that's only 20 minutes away from my kids school). this wasn't settled now, it took many more phone calls on my part to get this arranged. but I won't go into it, because its really not that interesting and I might get mean about Khadija. I should also mention that Jordan was totally no help with any of this.  I had to move us from room to room to room to room all by myself.  I was crying and so stressed out.

We only have one more week before we move to NC and its still so bitter sweet. I haven't said official good bye's to anyone because I know I'll just cry. But I am ready to not live in  a hotel anymore, although the free breakfast has been really nice!

The movers were so nice and did a great job. Im SO grateful I didn't have to pack everything up!

The Last week of School

My kids had a great last week (or so) of School. 

Reagan did so awesome in her last orchestra concert.  I am proud of how quickly she was able to play the violin.  She says she want to keep taking- that makes me happy.

Reagan and her besties Avery Karen and Sarah Lish

 

This year Reagan's teacher was Mrs. Weser.  She was so great for Reagan. Reagan is smart but doesn't always do her best work. She'd rather get it done fast so she can read. But Mrs. Weser pushed her to do her best work and she really improved this year especially in writing.

Maddox had two teachers this year. First Mrs. Stone.  Maddox loved her, but her husband was transferred over seas with the Military.  She came back the last day of school to say good bye.

Mrs. Banovich took over in December.  I Loved her!!! She makes everyone feel like they are so special (including me). She won't be teaching at Hale again next year. She just came out of retirement for her friend who happens to be the principal of Hale. Im so glad Maddox got to have her.

As Student council president Ellie and the other members of presidency had to put on Hale News Network many times through out the year.  I got to go watch how it was done on their second to last time.  These kids are all pretty amazing. They were like pro's by the end of the year.

During the awards assembly Reagan was recognized as a member of the student council. she was elected to represent her class.

Ellie played a big part in the assembly as student council pres.  She got to lead everyone in the pledge, hand out the treats to the teachers and also was awarded many things, including the presidential award for academic excellence and runner up trophy for the school spelling bee.

We asked Maddox once, if he had to pick someone to marry who would it be and he said Shareen from his class.  After school I caught him sitting by her. Cute!!

Ms. Marshall the principal loves Ellie. How could she not. she's the most mature and responsible student council pres they have ever had.  Ms. Marshall asked Elllie to be her pen pal.



Tess went to the most Amazing preschool this year. As Discovery club, the teachers really foster a love of learning.  She learned about the body, different habitats, space, children from all around the world and how they're the same and different, about all the presidents of the United States, how to read, how to write properly, the list goes on and on. The main teacher Saurell Jackson has so much energy and loves all the children.  Im so glad Tess had the opportunity to attend Discovery Club.

At the end of each unit they had a parent program where they sang songs and answered questions about the things they learned. 

Reagan's Birthday

My little RayRay turned 10. Double digits!  To celebrate, we took some of her friends to As You Wish ( a pottery painting studio) and then to Neilson's frozen custard for dinner and concretes.  Reagan is doing so well and is turning into such a beautiful young lady. For her birthday she got an outfit including a maxi skirt that's so in right now, some light teal sparkly Sperry boat shoes (size 8 by the way- she takes after her mother), a Razor moped (to be delivered in NC) and a gift certificate to pick out any case for her iPod 5 (she doesn't like her current one) and a cute swimming suit from DownEast basics. I made a list so one day she can read this and laugh about the things that were so cool when she was 10.

House Hunting in NC

     I spent the last week with Jordan, looking for a new house for our family in the Raleigh, North Carolina area- more specifically the Cary/Apex area.  He was given a promotion as  a regional manager for the mid Atlantic region.  He will cover from Pennsylvania to South Carolina and we could basically live any where in that region.  We chose to go to North Carolina for many reasons: Good Schools, pretty country, proximity to the beach, proximity to the Raleigh temple (its in Apex) but most of all proximity to family.  Jordan's parents will only be 3 hours away, his sister Lindsey and her little family 1.5 hours away, His brother Clayton 5.5 hours away and best of all, his sister Chelsea and her family 10-15 minutes away. We are so excited to live by cousins.  Even my brother Rich and his family are only about 12 hours and said they would dive down to visit us!
    This move and promotion come with a lot of emotions for me. Good and bad.  I'll start with the good, because Jordan thinks I've been a little pessimistic about things lately.  Jordan taking this position will mean more money for us and is a necessary stepping stone for him in his career.  I have no doubt he will be a great manager and will be promoted again soon.  I really am excited to live so close to Jordan's family. I hope this will really strengthen our relationships. I think living in the east will give my kids and myself more opportunity to have our testimony strengthened and more opportunity for missionary work.  It will be a blessing. The houses in North Carolina are generally pretty. With things like front porches, wainscoting, hardwood floors and coffered ceilings.  Raleigh is a melting pot of people.  about 100 people move there a day so its supposedly an easy place to make new friends and an easy place to sell your house (in case another move is in our future).
    After a week of house hunting, many tears from me, a trip to the Raleigh temple and seeing over 60 houses we found one that we think will be great for out family.  Since I'm trying to be more optimistic, I'll describe the things I'm excited about and try to be minimal with the bad.  The house has 5 bedrooms which Ellie and Reagan really wanted. They have shared since Reagan turned 2 and think its time for their own space. I think they will miss each other.  It has a finished attic space so the kids will have a place to hang out with their friends.  The yard is pretty flat so with a little work it should be a great place to play and hang out for our whole family.  It has some really pretty finish work and  I love the color of the hardwood floors and granite counter tops.  Its a brand new house. We will be the first to live there. so I don't have to move in and worry about cleaning other peoples dirt or repainting doors, mouldings.  It has a pantry in the kitchen that is pretty big.  It has a three car garage so we should have space for storage and a third car when Ellie gets one. It is one of the least expensive homes in the neighborhood so we can do upgrades without worrying about becoming to expensive.  We don't have a close backdoor neighbor to encroach on our privacy.  The neighborhood looks like it has lots of kids. There are lots of basketball standards and play sets through out.  Our house is right across the street from the neighborhood pool and park and just down the road from a new city park that's almost complete. We will be 5 minutes from the temple and a super target and movie theater. I have heard the ward is great and even have someone awaiting my arrival.  My friend from college, Renae Kirby has a good friend who lives there.  So after writing this list of good things about the house, I feel bad even saying anything bad about it.  So I think I won't.  It will be great and I'm sure we will love North Carolina, Apex and our new home.  We are supposed to do the final walk through next week and Jordan will take more pictures, but for now I have this one of the out side of it.

2532 Tuffeto Trace, Apex NC will be our new home.

Sleeping next to me

My kids love to sleep with me.  Almost every night Tess or Maddox slips into my bed and takes up my bed space.  Ellie and Reagan love to take turns sleeping in my bed while Jordan in out of town.  a lot of nights we end up with 3 or 4 people sleeping in my Queen size bed. Sometimes I have little (and not so little) hands falling over on me.  More often I have whole arms and legs falling on me and sometimes heads.  I usually have feet or bums poking into my side and drastically diminishing my sleeping space. I wake up all the time to my babies stinky breath in my face (poop sandwich anyone?).  Sounds like torture, but I have come to love it.  My favorite part is watching their beautiful peaceful faces on the pillow beside me.  They are growing so fast. Too fast. and Jordan and I sing a part of a country song Ellie once danced to, to each other all the time "let them be little, cuz they're only that way for a while". We are finding this song to be way to true.

Truth or Dare

Tonight Ellie invited some friends over from school to play games and have pizza.  For the first time, she invited boys!! She had Taft and Perry Cowley, Madeline Wood, Brinn Thornton, Afton , Jerom Schults, Grant Judd, Tyler  , and  Ammon Moritz over. They are all such good nice kids.  After playing out in our back yard for a bit, having some pizza, and playing just dance on the wii they headed to the park for night games. Since they are 11 and 12 I didn't want them there alone in the dark so I told them I was coming. Not one of them seemed to care. I was suprised. I took  a seat on a bench in the shadows so they wouldn't feel like I was watching their every move. after a minute they all came over and asked me which game they thought they should play.  again they didn't act like they cared I was there.  After a few games running around the park they wanted to play truth or dare and proceeded to sit about two feet behind the bench I was sitting on. I tried to give them a little privacy by listening to a book on my iPhone but they soon involved me.  Perry came and sat on my lap for one of her dares and then Grant came over sat beside me and them delivered the pretty smooth line "if you were a pirate would you put your parrot on this shoulder (tapping the shoulder closest to him) or this shoulder (tapping the other shoulder and ending up with his arm around me)?"  .  The kids thought that was soooo funny.  I did to.  These kids are so good an innocent and I love them. I hope Ellie and all my kids find a group of friends as good in NC. and that they stay this innocent and good forever.

Text to Jordan

I just sent Jordan this text and then I had the thought to blog it. It was kind of a great moment and not my finest at the same time:

I was just in bed when I had a thought to go check to see if the garage was shut. It's not a normal part of my routine when your gone or anything. It was open! At the same exact time I THOUGHT "thank you Heavenly Father" and SAID "holy shit". I hope Heavenly Father couldn't hear what I said over what I was thinking. I don't even swear. Not often anyway. I was amazed, grateful and scared all at the same time.

I'm so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that protects me. especially when Jordan is out of town

Fun day for Maddox

Today Maddox started the day with a basketball game and ended it at Amazing Jakes.  Grandma and Grandpa Romans were able to come to his game, which was so nice of them and meant a lot to us.  February was Maddox's month to have a date with Jordan and I all by him self.  He chose to go to Amazing Jakes. It was nice for Jordan and I to be able to give him all our attention without the distractions of his sisters.  Maddox is really loved

It's Snowing in Mesa!!!!

It was amazing!  All the neighborhood kids came out of their houses to play in the anomaly.  We even got two snowmen (albeit tiny) and a snowball fight-including a snowball to Maddox's eye, out of it! It was all anyone talked about for days. 

Tess and I

Tess and I spend a lot of time together; Often doing something really important like taking pictures of ourselves like these. I will miss her so much when she goes to kindergarten next fall.

Rock climbing with the Fam

 

 

Jordan and I realized that more often than not, our family outings were going to a movie or going out to dinner.  We do not want to raise our kids that way.  Although we still love movies and restaurants, we want to be active as a family.  So today, when we had some time for a family outing, we decided to go rock climbing. We were met with mixed emotions from the kids.  But they mostly wanted to go.  I love rock climbing and once took a class at UVSC that was pretty awesome- I want my kids to love it so we can graduate from indoor climbing walls to actual mountains.  Tess, Ellie and Reagan all LIKED it.  Ellie and Reagan even got to the top of several of the walls.  Tess was strong but got a little nervous and didn't want to go to the top.  Maddox did great the first couple times and went half way up the wall.  The next time he climbed I made him go up a little farther saying he couldn't come down if he didn't. Nice parenting, I know, but I didn't think it would be a big deal and that he would be proud of going higher. I was wrong.  What I learned about Maddox tonight is that he is afraid of heights.  Once he got that foot and half higher on the wall he was frozen in fear.  I  wouldn't lean back to get his feat on the wall so I could help lower him down in the proper position.  After about 10 minutes of me and Jordan and Ellie trying to tell him what to do, He got into position enough for us to bole him down.  I was sad he hated it and sad that none of my kids seem to share my love of it.  We are still on the search of an activity that can be our families "thing" we do.  Growing up, my families thing was boating.  I'm still holding out hope that in the near future boating will by our families "thing" also.... since rock climbing didn't work out.

Tess is in trouble

I don't remember what Tess did, but she was in trouble.  I love that she turned to Maddox for comfort and that he was there willing to give it.  I hope they are always this kind to each other. Not that they don't fight, because they totally do. But they also are such good friends and love each other. 

I love when my kids love each other

Today this was Maddox and Ellie during power hour. (The hour on Sunday that they have to read church stuff or have a little nap). Although it didn't last the whine hour. At the end they ended up bugging each other and having to have power hour extended another 30 minutes.

Personal History: My Birth and Family

   My full name is Melissa Ann (Grider) Romans. I wasn't named after anyone in particular it was just the name my parents liked. Partly because my Aunt Gay took my mom's first favorite name for her first daughter (Meredith) and a couple months before I was born my dad's aunt Maureen took their next favorite name for their second daughter (Brooke). I used to with my name was Samantha or Brooke. I still wish my name was Brooke.  I've never really liked the name Melissa. My brother's  and sometimes Jordan, call me Liss and a couple cousins and my Grandpa Grider call me Missy, my mom calls me Melissa Annabelle, but to most people I'm Melissa.
   My dad's name is Michael Allen Grider. He was born November 14, 1955 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  My mom's name is Rita Lee (Vlandy) Grider. She was born on August 3, 1956 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 
   I was born on March 31, 1979 in Salt Lake City, UT.  I don't know many details about my birth.  I should ask my mom.  I do know that when I was born I looked like an Indian baby. I had a fro of dark hair and red skin. 
   I am the oldest of 4 kids. Me, then 3 brothers.  Richard (Rich) Allen Grider was born less than a year and a half after me on June 23, 1980.  Steven (Steve) Allen Grider was born on October 20, 1983. And about 8 years after I was born Spencer Allen Grider was born on September 30, 1987.  Growing up, I had very different relationships with all my brothers. Rich and I would fight like crazy. Sometimes, when  my mom was gone, I would do everything in my power to hurt him. Especially kicking. Kicking was my specialty.  I remember having such rage at him. I have no idea what it was about.  Nothing worth the rage I'm sure.  Although he was less than a year and a half younger than me, we were never close. We went to different jr. High and High Schools and never did anything socially together. Its sad really.  I never even thought about it although I had plenty of friends his age.  Rich is a very big hearted guy and I'm very happy to say that I don't feel any rage toward him now.  Right now he and his family (Natalie, Makai and Madsen) are living in New York state and we plan to visit them this summer. 
   Steve and I were closer. All through elementary school he would beg almost every night to seep with me in my bed. He would offer me anything i wanted in his room if I would let him.  We would stay awake scratching each others backs and talking.  When he was little he often wet the bed and would leave me sleeping in it. Gross. He still owes me for that. As he got older, we bonded over music. I remember sitting at the computer memorizing all the words to Greenday songs together.  I don't remember ever really fighting with him, although I'm sure we had our moments. He currently lives in Salt Lake near my parents, manages two Verizon wireless stores and has a very beautiful and nice girlfriend named Kat. I'm hoping this is the one for him.
   Spencer seemed so much younger than me. I was eight when he was born, but I felt a little like his mother.  I babysat him a lot and used to have dreams worrying about him.  I remember neighbors always commenting about what a good boy he was and wondering what in the world they were talking about because he wasn't good for me when I babysat him.  He did a lot of his growing up after I was married, but he had a special bond with Jordan.  And I think that out of my brothers he and i are the most alike. We definitely look the most alike. 
  My parents were/are great.  They were so much fun. Always providing opportunities to play with us. weather it was a trip to Lake Powell or my dad turning out all the lights and  hiding from us so he could scare us while my mom was at mutual or something. They provided everything we needed and wanted financially, physically and emotionally. I know we weren't the richest of my friends, but I always had everything they did.
  Around the house I had a lot of responsibilities since I was the oldest.  We did Saturday chores together and I babysat a lot.  My mom was a good housekeeper, but I wanted things to be perfect all the time. I remember making job charts for me and my brothers and giving them to my mom to hand out. If my brothers knew if was my idea they never would have done it.  I don't think they were enforced very well and I remember redoing some of my brothers jobs because I didn't think they were done well enough.  I'm still a little crazy like this.