Back home

It has been awhile since I have blogged. There have been many times that I wanted to. But my mom's computer is sooooo slow.........so forget about downloading pictures. So much has happened.

1. We have moved back to Washington. We are currently living with my mom. I miss Don terribly. I hope he gets the house fixed up soon and on the market.

2. After a week of spring break here I finally have my kids in school. I was so worried about it and yet...ofcourse...there was NO reason to be. Caleb loves middle school here and has made some GREAT friends from church. YEAH....couldn't be happier. There was only one or two kids from church in his school in Virginia. And they weren't kids he hung around with so this is the best EVER. I love knowing my children are hanging out with good kids. Zach also has someone in his class from the ward. And they are good friends. It makes me so happy. Rachel is enjoying her class too. What a relief. I am bummed that Kindergarten is only half a day here. It is hard getting used to having to take Ethan to school every day in the afternoon. He rides the bus home but there is not transportation to school. I wanted to get a part time job in the fall once Mayah got into school but don't think that will work yet with half day kindergarten. OH well.

3. Zach is playing baseball. This is the first time any of the kids have been in an organized sport and I LOVE IT. I have waited for this day for a long time. I have tried convincing the kids to join something but I didn't have much luck until now. So fun. We love going to his games. I am now a taxi mom. The days of being home are no longer....but I love it. I enjoy going going going. Makes it a little trickier to schedule sciptures and FHE but we now have them ealier in the day when the kids first get home from school. We get Don on speaker phone so we can do these as a family.

4. We attended a benefit raffle for a little boy. My mom's home teachers grandson needs a Kidney Transplant. They had a silent auction and then a dinner and then a live auction. All the items were donated. My mom and I really enjoyed watching people open their wallets so willingly. I couldn't even come close to competing. To give you an idea of this auction.....plates of cookies went for $100. A painting went for $700. Pictures of the temple...for hundreds of dollars. T-shirts signed by Jimmer...also hundreds. I can't quite remember the exact amount but I'm telling you....I could have cried watching so many generous people. I wanted the 2 night bed and breakfast in Leavenworth. Don and I had our first date there.....fishing along the beautiful river. It sold for $600. AHHHH. The auctioneer said that he has traveled all over the state of Washington doing benefit auctions and he said the Columbia Basin (this area) by far....gives the most. There are some great people here. I know that is why people stay in this area.

5. Saturday night my mom and I attended the Junior Miss pageant. I LOVE attending things like this and it made it even better that I knew someone. A girl in our ward was in it and there was also 3 other members......I just don't know them well. It was A GREAT evening. SO fun. So entertaining and I am so grateful for my two oldest for babysitting. I did have the younger ones in bed but still. Such willing boys. Love em. The girl in our ward took 1st runner up. The winner and the 2nd runner up were members too.

6. We are going to Time Out for Women in Seattle at the end of the month. It is going to be a blast. I am going with my sister, sister in law and my mom. Definately gonna be a great girls weekend out. And a HUGE thanks to my little brother and brother in law for watching all the kids. They will have nine kids all together. I think they will do just great. Not an easy task...if you ask me.

I am thankful to be back in the area. I am so grateful for such a great ward. The scouting program in this ward just ROCKS. These men are amazing. When I told my brother who was in charge of the scouts he said "now thats Gold" I agree. My kids didn't have much of a scouting program in our old ward. My 10 year old never really had a leader. So this is great.

Rachel now goes to Activity Days. It is hard to believe that my kids just keep growing. It makes me feel old. My days of play dates are just about over. Seems unreal. I'm not sure I am ready to be done with them. I guess I don't have much of a choice.

We are doing well. I miss my friends in Virgnia. I miss our play dates each week. But I am thankful for our new adventures. I enjoy being with my mom. I enjoy our talks. I just feel bad for bringing so much noise and chaos to her home. Going from one person to a house full of six more has got to be very overwhelming. But she has been so welcoming. I am so glad.