December events...

MERRY CHRISTMAS! But before I write about our day, I have to recap the past couple of weeks...we've been busy!

First, thing I need to post about is Ashton doing the spelling bee at school! I don't know about you, but this is a huge fear for me. He was very confident, up until the morning of and then he had a breakdown. We talked about him just getting through the first word and then he can worry about the rest after that. I said, "worse case scenario...you don't spell it right and we leave early and go get an ice cream cone to celebrate". He thought that was a good idea. It was after school and his brothers were awesome and wanted to support him (we all took turns reviewing words with him over the past couple of days/nights). So, we all showed up at his school and here are some pictures of him

He was close to the end of the first round and he had the word "siege". He missed it by spelling "seige". I could happen to any of us. I think he was secretly relieved. So, we went home early and had an ice cream cone! He did awesome!

We had several Christmas parties we went to. Scott and I went to a Primary Christmas breakfast for all the Primary workers. We had a fun little gift exchange (white elephant). I got a Christmas tie that Ashton loves to wear! I forgot what Scott got. It was fun. I really love the people I work with and I love serving the kids. Seriously the best calling! Then we had a Relief Society Christmas party. There were at least 50 women there. I had two friends call and ask if we could go together! I was so excited that I had friends that wanted to go with me!!! We all three ended up going together. It was a lot of fun. I do get nervous, though, because I am still new, and so I make myself introduce myself to at least one or two people that I haven't met yet. One, I met, was not very active, and her name was Kim. I was glad that she came so that I could meet her. She was really nice. The second one, Amy, had just moved here, too from Idaho. I teach two of her kids in Primary. We talked about the transition and how the kids are doing.

We had a lot in common and it was really great to talk with her. The very next night, we had the ward Christmas party. I really have to struggle to be able to help here because there are so many people that offer to do it! I guess that is good, but different. Someone couldn't believe that I would sign up to do green beans (just out of a can) AND potato casserole AND help in the kitchen! It's like it is un-heard-of here! I was grateful they let me anyway! They had dinner and about 200 people showed up. There was a talent show and Ashton and the Deacon's Quorum performed "12 days of Christmas"...Deacon style and then they played their Harmonicas...here is the video below...

School has ended. Alec and Calvin don't know what their final semester grades are, but I can tell you that they managed to pull their grades (in the one class they were failing) up to passing (D's) right before they took their final. I asked them if they felt good about what they had done, and they could honestly say that once they started trying, they did their best. That's all we ask of them, really. I know we aren't going to be perfect and jumping into this school and the requirements they ask of them compared to Snow Canyon High is like going from elementary school to high school without a warning! So, I expect this next semester will be much better. They have set goals and standards for themselves, and realize that this isn't for me and Scott, but for themselves. YAY!!!

On a side note, I have to tell of something SO exciting to me! It happened to Derrek and Alec is now finally there. We call it "their brain connected" moments. I walked into the boys bathroom the other night, trying to get the boys to finish getting ready for bed and there was Alec CLEANING the bathroom. Derrek can attest, but Alec was one of the messiest donors of the bathroom...not anymore! He kept saying "this place is so gross. The counters are gross. Everything is gross!". I just looked at him in shocked and asked if he was okay. Needless to say, at 9:30 at night, he cleaned the whole bathroom! And since then, he has taken notice of things and been nicer and more mature about decisions and life. It is such a wonderful thing to look forward to when they are teenagers! I thought it was just Derrek, but it is Alec, too, which means that the others will someday also say "this bathroom is gross" and I'll find them cleaning it up! YAHOO!!!

We got things cleared up with Dallen's teacher. I knew that Dallen wasn't all innocent, and found out that his little friend had issues with the teacher and it was almost like he and Dallen were "misery loves company". The next Monday, after I had threatened Dallen that he was going to re-do 6th grade, with the same teacher, his friend actually changed schools. Dallen came home and said that school was good and that things with the teacher were good. Then he told me about his friend moving (his friend didn't clean out his desk because, he told Dallen, that he wanted to make the teacher do it!). Then Dallen told me about how much work he got done. AMAZING! So, the whole next week, things were getting better with the teacher. She was more complementary to Dallen and he responded by being his jovial self. YAY!!! So, I am pretty sure things are going to be just fine.

Scott finished up classes with a 4.0! We just found out that he got awarded a scholarship for $1,500 from a Funeral Home Scholarship Fund that was NATIONWIDE! He was one of two recipients! We could not believe that he was chosen. We feel so blessed and watched over. We sat down the other night and started writing all the miracles and blessings that have happened in the last year because we don't want to forget them. We have filled up a page and those are just the big ones that we remembered in a 15 minute period! I know there are more. I want to post them on the wall and have spots so that we, as a family, can put down more. I would love to help the kids be involved in seeing all their blessings as well. It's just been so humbling. Scott said that he actually misses school. He has really enjoyed it. He has been able to work full time and will do so for a month! This last week he had a whole day of overtime, and he has also taken on night calls (picking up people in the middle of the night if someone calls), and taking phones for a night. It pays decent, and so he figured a night or two of doing that would be okay.

I really appreciate him sacrificing his sleep to earn a little extra money. He is in it for the training, though. He knows that if he is ever wanting to own his own place, he needs to know every aspect, and he has been blessed to be able to do a lot.

We went to the Mesa temple lights and watched Scott's teacher (she's Catholic) sing at the temple grounds with a stake in Gilbert. The Stake and the Catholic church combined choirs and sing every year to "put away differences and come together in their love of Christ". It was great. They had a whole bell ensemble. It was beautiful and well done. Here is a picture of Dallen at the lights. The other boys wouldn't pose for me!

We were going to go to St. George this last week. It started out going to pick up Derrek and bring him back home, but that wasn't going to work out. So, then it turned into taking the kids up to see their friends, see Derrek, and then come back for Christmas. That didn't work out either. Calvin and Alec were frustrated because they said, "there just isn't anything left for us there". They have had to let go of what they were holding onto there. It was kind of sad, in a way, almost like a death. Calvin was sad, the most. We then tried to get Derrek to come home. I found out the boys had been fighting and not saying nice things (Calvin and Alec trash talking Derrek), and he really didn't want to come home. I laid into Calvin and Alec and told them they had better fix this. They knew they had messed up and tried really hard to let Derrek know they just miss him and hate that things are different. I hope he knows that. Anyway, we tried getting him home, but it just wasn't working, either.

So, I told Derrek that sometimes things don't work out and there is always a reason and we need to trust that reason and be okay with it. I was sad, though, because I just love having my boys around. I realized that this is going to be my challenge as a mother of boys. We will just have to make new traditions and ways to stay connected.

Instead of going to St. George, I decided to take that little bit of gas money and split it into activities that the boys and I can do during this break. So, the kids each picked a day to do something and they have a budget. We did Alec's day and he picked ice skating. Thanks to coupons, we are going to be able to do all their activities! I love coupons! Here are some pictures of the kids ice skating. They were pretty good! They have a few bruises, still!

Do you like the hospital advertisement on the wall in the background? I thought that was pretty funny!

Oh, we also had my sister, Jenette, and her husband Craig and their new daughter, Hanna, come to visit us on their way to moving out to Virginia! We were so glad and grateful that they would make the effort. We had not seen Hanna yet and I am glad I got to. She is so chunky and cute! Also, Jenette brought her gerbils for us to keep. Here is a picture of them and then a picture of our dogs...do you see a theme here?!?

Give up?!? Our animals are all the same coloring! We have a black/white gerbil and a tan one and a black/white dog and a tan one! The kids can't remember the names that Jenette named the gerbils and so they have resorted to calling them "Shep and Angel" because they look like the dogs! They have been great to have around again. We love gerbils. We are also babysitting some for a friend in our ward. So, we have four gerbils right now!

Okay...Christmas...

Last night we had Christmas Eve dinner with all the Bowler's here in town and Jeff came down, too with his roommate, Steven. It was great, and John and Rebecca were nice enough to take on hosting all of us. We usually have it at Heidi's house, but she had been in the hospital all week with complications with her liver due to, they think, combinations of medications she had been taking. She is doing better now and got to come home on Friday evening and we are all grateful that she is doing better and got to come home for Christmas. We ate and had a little program that, for some reason, I was put in charge of. I think I am the worst person to do something like that, but whatever...So, I stuck to the basics. I had Scott read Luke 2 and broke it up with Christmas hymns that went along with the story. In my mind it was perfect. I don't know about the rest, but I just wanted to remember Christ and sing a little.

We exchanged "cousin" gifts. The boys liked that. Scott and Dallen then went to a Methodist Christmas service with Wes at 10:00 pm. They said they enjoyed it. Dallen was so tired when he got home and almost didn't want to wake up this morning!

We have been very overwhelmed by the generosity by family and the Lord. We had really just settled in our minds that we were not going to really have a Christmas, as normal, and instead we would just find ways to serve. It's really better that way, anyway. We were blessed this month with an extra paycheck, and with it were able to buy the kids one gift each, pretty much. We have never really spent much on Christmas gifts and I consider this a blessing coming into this year because all the kids were fine with not getting anything or very much. I love them for that. They told me today that they would have been okay if it ended up that they didn't get anything, and I know that would have been true. So, we were able to get them one gift each. Thanks go coupons and shopping the sales and being patient...I was able to get a couple of things the boys really wanted/needed (even the dogs got their yearly treat of a bone and stuffed animal!).

Dallen got a bike. He has been wanting one for awhile and I am sure will be glad that he won't have the chain fall off every time he tries to ride home from school. Ashton got a hoodie with headphones and a flying helicopter. Alec and Calvin got a Kinect that came with 3 games!

I found a great deal on it and was so grateful, because if they are going to play the dumb thing, they might as well move :). Actually, it is really fun.

Family members gave us more than we could ever imagine and Scott and I both keep trying to formulate words to tell them how appreciative we are, but nothing seems to be right. Calvin and Alec got some really cool legos, Ashton got an MP3 player, Dallen got a great fishing pole, but after seeing Ashton's MP3 player, he really wish he had that. After I let him pout it out for awhile and when he was done, I told him that I am sure we could return it and get him the MP3 player like Ashton's. So, that is the plan (sorry mom and dad...I should have known!). Family also gave the kids $25 gift cards to spend and gave Scott and I money and gift cards to our favorite restaurants (Cafe Rio, Paradise Bakery, and Outback) as well as a Kohl's gift card, which will come in handy because today Dallen was complaining of his legs hurting...growing pains! My parents gave me a calendar with pictures of me growing up (scary!) and all the family member's birthdays with their pictures on their day. I thought it was a great idea and really appreciate it. Shep and Angel got their annual bones and plush toy. They are happy and Shep tries to carry them both around! We had a wonderful church service with music and program. Scott was the narrator and did a great job. We just feel very blessed to be healthy and together. We have a roof over our heads and because of the goodness of others, and God, have been able to have our needs met and then some.

School..School...School

I think this week's post is going to be all about school! Well, almost.

First of all, Derrek just told me that he was accepted to the University of Utah!!! How exciting for him! Of course, I'm going to school at BYU, so hopefully this won't cause a problem :) He's still waiting to hear back from BYU and I am not sure if there is another school he applied to besides that (he already was accepted to Southern Utah University already!). It's great that he has options. He has worked hard to keep his grades up, and now he has options because of it! Yay, Derrek!!!

We have been struggling this week, especially, and all year so far (for that matter) with Dallen and his teacher. I know how Dallen can act. He HATES getting in trouble and has always tried to use his charm and outgoing personality to win the teachers over. Well, this one isn't buying it and it's almost like we have an all out war going on between the two. I am almost to the point where I think they deserve each other! I have been trying to help, but she has basically told me that I am not doing enough on my end as a parent, which...yes, there are some things I can improve on, but Dallen is pretty much going to do whatever he wants no matter what I say to him at home. Dallen keeps saying "I think she has something against boys", as I have learned that there are only 9 left in the class out of 25 students because they have all had the same problem with her. Anyway, it's frustrating. I still haven't figured out what I am going to do. I wrote her an email suggesting that maybe I come in and help her grade papers and stuff and just having me in there would help Dallen and then I could help her quiet kids down so that she could teach. She told me that it would be a distraction to the class and they just don't need that because it's bad enough already. I have never heard of such a thing...Anyway, very frustrating. I don't want Dallen to get out of it because he's being a brat, especially when he does it to me at home, but at the same time...when is enough, enough? We just need to get through the other half of this year!

Scott is done with school this week and has a whole month off!!! I am so excited because we will actually have full paychecks for a month! How exciting is that?!? He is flying through it with awesome grades. He took his Chemistry final the other day and made a 98% and I think he made a 96% overall in the class (or it might be higher). Who does that in Chemistry?!? And he doesn't study! That's not fair!!! I'm really happy for him. I always knew he had it in him. He's so smart and now he's focused and loves all of it. It's great!

I started my Statistics class this week. It actually isn't too bad. They have it set up on line really well. They have a "tutor" recording as well as reading that helps me to understand. Also, while I'm listening to the recording, I can pause and rewind and get the notes I need. You can never do that in a class setting! Anyway, week one was good...only 43 more lessons to do! I also applied for a scholarship and they awarded me enough to pay for a full class (3 credit hours), and so I will probably start another class in January and use my Pell Grant to pay for my Stats class (if I do it that way, I have to finish the Stats class by August 31st and that will motivate me to get it done!). Anyway, I am very grateful and very happy to have help to get my schooling done. A goal I've had for 20 years!

Ashton, Calvin, and Alec are still working on getting their F's up. It's really hard when they mess around the first half and then try to make it up the second half. But, I think Calvin's F is a D (so he said...I haven't looked), and Alec's is closer to a D, which is good and Ashton just has to turn in homework and then his will be up. Luckily they are on the quarter system and their first quarter grades will help even out the tumbles of this last quarter. I'm proud of them for working hard on it.

Other than that, things are good. We are healthy, and content and it's a good place to be. All my Christmas shopping is pretty much done (it helps to be poor...the kids are only getting one thing each and best part is, they don't mind). We have been able to focus on others this Christmas and love this time of year. I love singing all the Christmas songs and teaching the Primary kids songs from the Primary songbook. We have awesome kids that love to sing. It's seriously the best church calling ever.

Thanksgiving...and beyond!

We had a great Thanksgiving. I think it was one of our best, yet. I woke up and my voice was COMPLETELY gone! My whisper felt like I was yelling. I had no cold, that I knew of, except the night time drainage from having your window open and so there it was...no voice. It was pretty funny because I would talk to people (in a whisper, mind you) and they would talk back to me, but in a whisper. I would remind them that they didn't have to whisper...I just couldn't help it! It made me laugh. I shouldn't say it was the best ever, but it was good. I did feel bad that we, as a family, made the decision that Scott's dad wasn't invited to join us because of things that have happened in the past few months before Thanksgiving. It's still going on, so we'll see what Christmas brings...hopefully some mending, but I think this is something that has been coming for a long time and Ruth was always the go-between that isn't here anymore and she was the reason her children had any relationship with their father. Now, it's just a matter of them re-defining that relationship and working toward a new one.

We made our share of the food...a turkey, six or 7 pies (I can't remember), and I think that is it. When we got to the church, all I had to do was get the meat off the bones of the turkey and then we were pretty much ready to eat. Everyone was there on time, the food was all hot and ready, and I don't think that has ever happened to us. Usually we get there on time and then we eat 1 1/2 to 2 hours later because something didn't get cooked or whatever. Anyway, it was the best pot luck I have been to in a while! Lots of good food and it just seemed to go really smooth. We enjoyed each other's company and it was a good day. We had plenty of left overs to get us through Friday, too...which is usually the plan. I made a whole bunch of paper leaves and laminated them so that we could write what we were thankful for and put it on my tree branches. I was silly and didn't take a picture of it before it was taken down, but I am glad everyone participated on it. I hope they were able to reflect on the things they were grateful for.

Here are pictures of the kids eating the yummy food. I am so bad at taking pictures of Thanksgiving...I don't know why. Maybe I'm too busy stuffing my face and talking with adults!

We had a great time seeing and being with Derrek again. It was hard because I wanted our family to be just by ourselves and absorb Derrek, but it was Thanksgiving and I wanted to be with everyone, too. So, on Saturday we were able to hang out as a family. But, I will get to that in a second. I felt bad for Derrek because he felt kind of misplaced. It was us, but it wasn't "home" as he knew it. I am not totally sure, but I have a feeling that is part of the reason he doesn't want to come back for Christmas. I am bummed, but I understand. Scott just told me that I need to make friends with all my son's wives in order to see them often. Boys are so different than girls. I know Scott's family better than he does and he loves them a lot! It's just a weird period of life when they start leaving home.

All the girls went shopping starting at 10:00 pm Thanksgiving night and the last of them got home around 4:00 am. I had gone home and slept 10 hours instead! It was wonderful. It's nice not having any money, so there was no choice and I sure needed the sleep! We did head back up to the church around 10:30 and I went and had "breakfast" with the girls and they told of their shopping horror stories (2 hours in the purchasing line at Kohls!) and nightmare at Walmart. It was fun. Then we went shopping a little bit more. I needed to get pants for Alec and they had them for $18! That's a steal for pants for him. So we saw Charity working at JC Penny and bought the jeans there. Then back to the church for more socializing. The boys and kids were already there. Then David, Scott's brother, had free movie passes for all of us to a new movie theater that opened up where they served food and drinks. The people next to us had, I think, a chicken basket and fries and soda. We spontaneously left, not thinking about Jennie and Wes and Ada. It was not fair, and we felt bad that it happened so fast. I hope they will forgive us.

We all went and saw the Muppet Movie. We thought it was great, clean, fun. We were excited because we realized on a couple of songs that they had to be written by "Flight of the Conchords" and sure enough, there were at least 4 of the songs. We are still singing the songs!

Saturday, Scott and the older boys went and helped a couple older ladies in our ward put up their Christmas lights and trees. Then they were in the mood to do ours, too...so, we did! Derrek was here to help and it felt good to do it as a family. We even hung up lights outside! We went and got family pictures taken by the girl that plays the piano in Primary with me (I lead, she plays). I also visit teach her and she was so nice to come and do them for us. It wasn't until we were having her take them and the things that she was saying made me realize that she actually does this as a side business! I felt so bad because I never discussed prices with her. I asked her Sunday, and she said "Oh, yeah...I usually charge, but I wasn't going to charge you guys". I felt like a dunce, but I was very grateful that she would take time away from her family to do that for us. I can't wait to see how they turned out. She said she's not done with them...whatever that means. I'm sure they will be great! Sunday, Kent and Amy came to church with us so that they could pick up Derrek and drive him home to St. George with them. It was really nice that they would do that. We had a great meal (lasagna) after church was over and they were off to St. George. It felt like before when we had to leave Derrek. It is just really hard for me. I love my kids so much and I just want us all to be together, always! I just have to realize that we will be and I don't have to have them in my house to have a great relationship with them. Like I said before...it's just a weird transition.

This last week, Alec was asked to Winter Formal by a girl in our ward. She was really cute and asked if Alec had been asked and I said, "no" and she was glad. Then she came up later and asked "can he drive?" and I said "yes". Anyway, she set up a time when he would be out, to come over and decorate his room. This is what she and her friends did...(she's the one in the glasses)

There were balloons everywhere...on every wall, ceiling included. Then Alec came home, knowing that something was up. Come to find out later, he had stuck the video camera on before he left because he thought something was fishy. He recorded the whole thing. Pretty funny. Anyway, they got out their knives and also let the dog pop the balloons filled with confetti and papers. It was funny because they were half-way through popping them, and having a great time and then they looked around and realized that it was making a HUGE mess. He had to find the one that said who was asking him. She had called him from my phone and said "Alec, this is Hannah Gallo, from the the ward" and he said "Uh-huh" and she thought he said "huh?" and she thought he didn't know who she was and she left feeling bummed, which broke my heart because I know she was going out on a limb asking this new kid to a dance. Anyway, because he mumbles, she didn't understand him. So, I made sure he made her realize that he did know who she was. I texted her and told her and she realized that he did. Anyway, here is a picture of him looking through the papers and then finally the very last one, he found her name!

I have to wait to get pictures from a mom that took some. I thought she would have posted them, but not yet. Anyway, he said it was fun and went with a lot of kids from our Ward. They are a great group of youth and we feel very blessed that he is in a ward with so many his age. Oh, they went ice skating the night before. Alec said that was really fun, but he was hungry and sore when he got home. Definitely ready for bed...it wore him out!

Scott is finishing his classes up for the semester. I think he has two weeks left and basically it is all testing! He finished his Chemistry class with like a 99%. He said that out of all the tests for the semester, he only got 5 questions wrong...out of ALL the tests!!! That's crazy! He is doing well. He asked for a raise, because it's been 6 months and they said "no"...that it wouldn't be fair to those who work there who had been in his same position and are now in his same position. That was frustrating because we are just trying to figure out how to make things work. After that answer, we were wondering if we should continue with Bunker, and once again, the answer is "yes". We are grateful to them for the job and they are great to work for, but $10/hour is sometimes hard to stomach. But, the Lord keeps blessing us and we have been able to pay all our bills every month. Whether it was from someone or some money from Heaven, our bills have been met. It was another one of those months and we were coming up on the 1st and I actually had peace this time. I didn't worry...mostly because there wasn't anything I could do. I have done all I could do and I was willing to face whatever came our way. And again...the day before we needed to pay rent, the money came. We had Tithing Settlement with our Bishop today, and I just sat crying as he talked about Tithing and why we pay it (a symbol of our Faith) and the blessings from paying it and Fast Offerings and I knew we were proof of those blessings. There is NO other explanation of the things that have transpired in the last year. It definitely has been an even greater testimony builder for me. Scott wants me to write all the blessings that have happened in the last year. He is starting to forget them. I can't forget them. They are so amazing to me...every month! Anyway, we are just so grateful, even if he is only earning $10/hour right now. Even that is a blessing.

Derrek is doing good. He had a major canker sore in his mouth and I thought it looked like strep, but then Scott looked at the picture Derrek sent and it wasn't on his tonsils. Poor kid! It's huge. So, hopefully he will be able to get medicine for that tomorrow. We will get to see him again in a couple weeks when we go up to St. George for a visit. It will be short, but that way we can see him for Christmas vacation. He has plans to take Calvin and Alec sledding and stuff and I know the boys are really excited to see their friends and cousins.

Calvin and Alec are still looking for jobs. They are doing better on their grades. Alec has raised his math from a 35 to a 57! That's almost a D! I'm proud of him. It has taken a lot of discipline and willingness to keep trying, which is a hard lesson to learn and a defining characteristic that will take him far in life.

Ashton is participating in a school Spelling Bee this Tuesday. I had no idea that he liked to spell or that he was any good at it! He is completely Scott's child. I was reviewing the words with him and he would mess up, and I would spell it for him and then come back to it later and he would remember the correct spelling. I am excited to watch him do it on Tuesday. We'll let you know how it goes!

Dallen is doing okay. He has been real feisty lately. I don't know if it is just his age (almost 12...and this is where the drama starts) or what it is. He, I think, just wants to not be treated like the youngest and Ashton would just absorb it and Dallen fights back. Alec was about to POUND him today because he was being so mouthy. Does he not realize that he is taking on a 270 lb. beast?!? Crazy kid!

I have started up my classes again. I took a year off to get Scott going. I am home all day doing nothing, while I look for a job, and so I decided that since we qualify for Pell Grants and stuff, that I might as well take advantage of it. So, I am doing a Statistics class. I am really nervous because I have to be really disciplined to get it done in time and it is all on-line which I don't do as well with. Scott said that he would help me and Jenette, my sister, just took a class like this and she gave me a web-site that really helped her to pass her class. So, I think I will be ok. I just need to do it! Starting tomorrow, it is on! I am determined to graduate from BYU. It will happen :).

Scott and I went on a fun, free date. The Science center had a Gingerbread House auction and then a class on how science is used in cooking. That's right up my alley! So, they had a guy who owns Urban Cookies and Ollie Cakes. He was on "Cupcake Wars", and won!...one our family's favorite shows. So, he went through the different reactions of ingredients. I learned that for your cookies, it is better to use cake flour. That way they will be lighter and not brown either. Who knew? Anyway, it was fun and free and our gingerbread house is still the best :). (a reminder if you forgot!).

Just a few more days...

We are so excited!!! Just a few more days and we get to see Derrek!!! We miss him.

As a follow up to the boys' grades...we took the Xbox away, as I said last week and Calvin was getting a new game on Tuesday. Well, I talked to his teacher on Monday. I was able to hear her side of the "cheating" story. She said that she doesn't know what he was doing, but it did look like he was cheating. He was flipping through the pages at the time she saw him. She said that there were others who were watching him and she felt that she was put in a position where she had to stick to her guns so that all rules were obeyed by all. She couldn't dismiss it because if another child did the same thing, she would have to dismiss him, too? So, anyway...we understood she was basically backed into a corner, and we understand what she had to do. Seriously, I could never be a teacher. So, she said that Calvin would still be able to make up his grade and gave him a plan to do so. I came home with that info and Calvin was missing 4 assignments (that still didn't count, but our rule is that if you handed in everything and did your best, we don't care what the grade is. If you're not handing in everything, then we can't help if you don't help yourself). Calvin had to do those assignments to get to play the Xbox and then each day we would see if they had their assignments done. Calvin got all four done Monday night (AMAZING!!!). He got to play the Xbox the next day with his new game...all is well with him :)

I talked with Alec's teacher on the down low...Alec doesn't know I talked to his teacher because I wanted to know if I needed to push Alec to go talk to his teacher or a counselor to transfer out of the class. His teacher was great and Alec ended up being brave and talking to his teacher. Alec came home and said "he's a great pep-talker". I thought that was funny. So, together, Alec and his teacher came up with a plan and Alec is amazingly understanding his homework and actually anxious to see how he does on this next test.

Dallen is still Dallen. Until he decides that he wants to do this for himself, then we are looking at low grades. I am really glad grades don't count during 6th and 7th grade!

Derrek had Sadies Dance yesterday, with a girl at his school. I think her name is Megan. I haven't been able to talk to him today. I was visiting teaching when he called :(.

I had a girl at church ask me today if Alec had been asked to the Winter Formal. I said "no" and then she later came up again and asked when she could come ask him to the dance. I'm excited that she wanted to go with him.

Calvin applied to MANY jobs this week and a kid at school, who works at the Wendy's by our house, told him that he got the job by going in and talking to the manager after he applied on-line. So, it was crazy on Friday...I had to get Dallen and Ashton off to scout campouts (it was crazy because they were both going to the same place, but with their individual leaders...one at 4 and the other at 4:30...in two different meeting places!). So, after the younger two were off to their campouts, I took Calvin over to Wendy's and it just so happened that the General Manager, who would be doing the hiring, was there and Calvin talked to him. He came out almost skipping. The good thing, too, is that Calvin just had his haircut the day before and so he looked presentable (in my mind). Calvin has been "waiting by the phone" and just wants this so bad. So, who knows...keep him in your prayers. He just really wants a job. Alec, too. He's been applying, but is still too shy to go talk to people. Scott might start doing the night calls and if he does, he is going to ask Bunker to see if they would hire Alec to do them with him. Scott asked Alec if he would do that with him and Alec said "so, I'd be picking up dead people...I'm not sure I'm okay with that". But, I think he would do fine. We'll see...it's still in the works, but I think it would be a great backdoor into the working society for Alec. He just isn't able to do it normally :).

Well, other than that, things are good. The last two weeks were really interesting, financially. Just when I thought I had learned all I could about dealing with finances, I learned another lesson, but it wasn't learned until there was only 29 cents in our account for 7 days! I don't say this for people to send us money...please...it has been a good experience. Scott and I had both realized that even though we have skinnied things down, that we weren't really thinking about money when we did get it. When we would get it, we would just spend it again. This last week, though, we were more aware of gas we used, drinks at the QT, necessities verses wants and realized that there were a lot of things that were wants. We found that we were willing to sacrifice things that we wanted to do (like me driving up to see Scott's sisters or Calvin and Alec wanting me to pick them up from school) so that we could make things last a little longer. I don't think we have ever really had to do that exercise to this extent. It was a great learning tool for us as well as the kids. They, too, have really learned the value of a dollar and I am grateful that we have been able to talk to them about the struggles, but that they see we keep going and that blessings do come.

I just was amazed that I could learn more. Anyway, it is all good and we are continually being blessed and our eyes opened to becoming better people. I love it (most days! There are days I kick and scream and don't want this trial...but after calming down, I see the blessings!).

Life as we know it :)

I am glad this week is over. It seemed to be very stressful and long! We took away the Xbox due to bad grades and I am sure part of it is the kids, but I almost feel that their previous education at Snow Canyon was weak in preparation for coming to this school. They are highly academic, which is great, but it has been a huge awakening for Calvin and Alec and this school does not mess around. At Snow Canyon, they could do assignments from the beginning of school and still get partial credit. Here, it is like college...if it's not in, too bad! Well, Alec and Calvin both have math classes that are killing them. Actually, Calvin's teacher accused him of cheating and took his test and tore it up in front of him. He claims that he can't do anything right in her class and so I have a meeting with her tomorrow (I hate confrontations!). Anyway, until we hash this out, there is really no hope for his grade. If it doesn't go well, I will be heading to the counselor's office and change him out. We'll see, though. It definitely is a two-way street. I don't think that Calvin cheated. He has such a guilty conscience, but then again, he kept the "M" rated games from me for a few weeks (until I found them). So, who knows.


Alec, I feel, realized that he would have to work hard in this class and then bombed the first test (after he felt he put forth effort) and then Alec tends to just give up because "why bother if you can't do it good" kind of attitude. So, lately (because the Xbox is gone) he has been doing his homework and being a little more responsible. He doesn't know this, but I talked to his teacher and he agreed that Alec is struggling and he said "this is a really hard class". So, he said that he would talk to Alec about it tomorrow after he sees how Alec did on the most recent test. So, we'll see if he needs to transfer to a lower math (Alegbra 2) and relearn what he should have learned in St. George and go from there. Thank goodness we came into the school where we were actually ahead on credits. This way, there isn't the threat of summer school or anything like that. Alec was actually going to have to find stuff next year to fill his schedule, but maybe if he fails the class, he can get rid of the "F" next year when he takes it again. Anyway, it is all new and confusing!!! But, they want their Xbox back (they weren't playing it tons...it was just something to get them motivated!). They also have been looking for jobs. We told them one of the criteria to getting it back is to come up with a goal of how many applications they would turn in each week. It's hard because they both need to apply to places and both have no experience. Also, around here, you have to be 18 for a lot of the jobs because that is the age you are allowed to sell alcohol...we didn't have alcohol in the stores in Utah like they do here. So, this week they are headed down by the mall to Toys R Us and other places like that. I just want them to try. I know it will happen...heck, I still don't have a job, but I'm still trying. It's just time to start working on it. Alec is really afraid to do this. I think he has a huge fear of rejection, so I'm hoping that this exercise helps him realize that it's okay to have people say "no". Anyway...


Scott has been working a ton...you know what that means...many people are dying! It's actually their busiest time of year...I think all the snowbirds come back and holidays and such just is too much for people :). Anyway, my weekends are pretty much alone with the kids. He worked all day Friday...13 hours and then again on Saturday for 7 hours. Then we went to help Scott's sister, Kathie, finish her cabinets because she is getting countertops tomorrow. Very exciting! It looks great, but we were there until midnight! It was a long exhausting day for all of us. School is still going great, and he found out that he will be graduating as a member of the Honor's Society...with honors! Seriously amazing considering his struggle with school when we were first married was a nightmare (six different tries and many student loans!). I knew he had/has it in him!
Today we had our Primary program at church. I am the Primary music chorister (love it!) and so it was a lot of work getting the kids ready for this program. I was really wound up because I had had an idea with one of the songs and wanted it to work out so bad because I knew it would touch a lot of people. The song was "We'll Bring the World His Truth" or aka "Army of Helaman". My idea was to have the primary kids sing the first verse:

"We have been born as Nephi of old, to goodly parents who love the Lord. We have been taught and we understand that we must do as the Lord commands. (chorus) We are as the Army of Helaman, we have been taught in our youth. And we will be the Lord's missionaries to bring the World His truth".
Then this is my idea...to have the Young Men/Women of the ward (ages 12-18) do a flash mob type thing where they stand in their spot and sing the second verse with the primary (their parents and adults had no idea that they were going to do it...just the leaders knew!). I wanted to do this because of the words...

"We have been saved for these Latter-days to build the Kingdom in righteous ways. We hear the words our Prophet declares "Let each who's worthy go forth and share" (chorus) We are as the Army of Helaman..."
Then to have them sit down and the whole congregation sing the last verse with the primary...

"We have been taught and we understand. Increase our knowledge through study and prayer. Daily we'll learn until we are called to share the gospel to all the world (chorus) We are as the Army of Helaman...

Then the Primary kids sang the end part "To Bring the World His Truth".


It was amazing! The Spirit had most of us in tears. I just felt that the words were so fitting for each group. Anyway, it was my favorite song (maybe because it worked!). The youth were awesome and I am grateful to Calvin, Alec, and Ashton who stood up and did it even though they were afraid that they would be the only ones. They weren't, but the other kids were kind of waiting for direction and when my boys stood, the rest did. I am grateful to them. They love me :). This is also Dallen's last primary program. He will be graduating from primary in February! I can't believe I won't have any more kids in Primary! This next conference is going to be awesome...Priesthood session is for me to do whatever :) Not, that I haven't enjoyed having time with just Dallen...I have...it's just one of those milestones I have joked about enjoying for so long.

Derrek is doing good. His foot still hurts and is cramping his style, but it's just one of those things. He just told me today that he got accepted to Southern Utah University in Cedar City. He is applying to University of Utah and also BYU. We are SUPER excited to see him next week.(this is how he and Alec will always be to me!...so cute!). I told him to tell me what meals he misses and I'll make them for him while he's here...it's a good thing I can cook...my boys will always come home for that!

Ashton and Dallen are doing good, for the most part. They are both trying to figure out school as well. Dallen's teacher is good, but I can't figure her out. She called me on Thursday (I got 3 phone calls that day from teachers about 3 different kids!). She asked me if there are things going on at home that she should know about. I was thinking in my head "only that we are living off $4 for the next week...but nothing major"! She said she thought he was depressed and that he doesn't focus on his work and is disruptive and on and on. He actually just butts heads with people when he thinks what they are asking him to do is stupid...he does it to me and his dad!!! Anyway, it's something to work on...there is something about 6th grade that I hate...this is my last year!!! Ashton is making friends and doing good. This year he has worked really hard at getting things turned in and being more responsible. This is my child who loves to avoid work and in the past would cry for hours on having to do one problem. So, it's been GREAT! I'm happy for him that it is easier and he has realized that just doing it makes life easier.

Well, I didn't mean for this to be so long...but, it is my journal (I like writing it here because then I tend to be more positive if I know people are going to read it...there are definitely things that I can mention that are negative and a "downer", but why focus on that!). I hope you're not saying "this was positive? I'd hate to see what was negative!". Like I said...it's been a rough week, but the kids are all doing great, trying always to do a little better and working hard at finding the good out of the bad. They are amazing.

Fall Fun...

It has FINALLY gotten cooler here. It is really nice, and you almost forget how hot it has been...almost! We have really enjoyed the cooler weather. It makes us want to be outside more.
Well, lots has gone on...so where to start...

DERREK

We'll start with Derrek! He has had some fun times these last few weeks. First of all, he fractured his foot playing football in PE class at school. He has to wear a boot for like six weeks or so for it to heal. It hasn't been fun.
He also had his Senior Pictures taken (by my dad...his grandpa...Thanks, dad!). Here they are...he's so handsome (and silly!).

Then, thanks to Facebook, I saw that he went to the Yellowcard concert with Hayley (she bought him a ticket for his birthday).

And, then...again, thanks to Facebook, I saw that he went to Pineview High's Sadie's with Lexi Schofeld (sp?). They are a little item, according to Derrek. Here are pics I got from that...I haven't talked to him yet today, so all I have is the pics. I need to find out what all the pictures mean. Anyway, it looks like they had fun.

I think that is about all for Derrek! We get to see him in a few weeks and we are all really excited. He still hasn't seen where we have moved to, or met any people that we have met. Our ward keeps asking us when they are going to get to meet him! We love our ward. They are great.

Scott is doing great with school. He has been recommened for a scholarship by his teachers because he has a 4.0!!!! About another month and then he is done with this semester and then he just has one more. I seriously can't believe how all this is working out. I can't say it has been to our doing, either. There have been amazing miracles this whole time. There are days, however, that I would be more than happy for this trial to ease up! It's mostly financially...it's definitely in the Lord's hands. We are doing all we can and He has been watching out for us. It's all good.

Alec, Calvin, and Ashton have been doing a dodgeball tournament with the Stake down here. I personally can't believe that they have the Deacons in with these older boys! Those poor Deacons are just targets! Alec said there is one team that is all Teachers and Priests (14-18) and they have no mercy. Ahhh...I love teen age boys! Anyway, they have been having fun with that. They are freaking out, though, because their Priest/High Adventure group is planning a backpacking/hiking trip to the Grand Canyon. It will be four days and they are going rim to rim and back. It is a grouling hike and Alec and Calvin are freaking out. So, we have taken the Xbox away (their grades have been slipping), and hopefully they will want to get out a little more. Scott and I have talked about doing family hikes like we used to, in order to help them prepare for this.

We had a fun Halloween. It is really strange having older kids. Our neighborhood got together with a pot luck. It was fun and there were a lot of people. The problem with being in a new ward is that we were struggling to know people's names/faces and then they put a costume on, and it all goes out the window! It was fun, though. After, we let Dallen and Ashton case the neighborhood and Alec and Calvin went to hang out over at the Hooper's house to give out candy and play Xbox. Scott and I went home and handed out candy and watch a movie...no kids. It was weird. Here is a couple pictures of Ashton (Michael Jackson) and Dallen (something scary) and I had to show Ashton categorizing his loot...

I was able to go to Time Out For Women with Heidi, Kathie, Rebecca, and Rachel (she joined us on Saturday), and we even saw Tiffany, who is married to Scott's cousin, Jim. We were too late to get tickets for Friday's presentations, but it was Heidi's birthday, and so we decided to go ahead and get a hotel and have a girls' night and then do TOFW the next day. We went and had mexican food (my favorite) and then we all forgot our pajamas, and so we went to Ross/Target to find some. It was fun. The next day was great and full of uplifting speakers and the theme this year was "Become who you are meant to become". For me, it is something that I have really been working on this past year. Most of the speakers, to me, just validated that I have been doing things right and that this journey is beautiful, and it has been for me. It's been hard, but I love who I am because of my journey. I have learned my strengths and try not to focus on my weaknesses, only to improve myself. Anyway, lots of great talks and music. We got pictures with Hilary Weeks, one of our favorites, and then I wanted a picture with Shawni and Linda Eyre because Dallen's best friend in St. George is their nephew/grandson (Ashton Loosli). Anyway, it was fun. Then I ran into someone that was in my ward when we lived in Laveen. We were only there for 4 months and I kept looking at her and wondering how I knew her. Then, at the end, I had to ask. It was fun catching up with her. She has 5 girls! I told her I was glad someone was able to take on the "girl" side of things, while I cover the "boy" side.

I think that is all for now...whew! I am sure I missing something else, but this is long enough!

Peach-faced Lovebirds (not just me and Scott!)

I just have to blog about this. I am not normally a bird person, but I am in love with these birds. They are called (as I found out), Peach-Faced Lovebirds. The first time I saw them, Scott and I were exercising and two of them flew past us and landed on the fence beside us. I thought someone had lost their parakeets or something (every bird is a parakeet to me!). Anyway, then one day, I was in my back yard and heard all this bird chattering. It was actually driving Shep nuts. He was under the tree doing his bird-barking bark. I swear we live in a bird sanctuary! Anyway, I look up and it is a tree full of these birds and the fun thing is that they would sit by each other on the branches in pairs and fly around in pairs. They can talk up a storm, let me just tell you. They are really fun to watch. Our tree in our back yard is home to many birds in the morning. Scott and I can hear where our house is because the birds are so loud coming out of our tree, that we can hear them on our way back to our house from exercising in the morning. I need to record it so that you can know what I am saying! This happens at dawn and dusk every day (the bird chatter, not the exercising!). So, most afternoons, right before I start getting things ready for dinner, you'll find me out back in a chair just watching these birds and hearing their happy, fun chatter. I never thought I would be one of those people :).

Another 16 year-old :)

We love Calvin! He has always had such a funny personality and smiley eyes. I love that he is always giving me hugs and telling me that he loves me. He's my teddy bear :). When he was little, he was always my lap child. We used to joke that as soon as someone would sit down on the floor, they would instantly be looking at Calvin's backside, backing up to them to sit down ("beep, beep, beep"...the sound of Calvin backing up!). He also would do quirky things like yell out random words. Either he or someone would be talking and he would yell out "CHICKEN NUGGET' or something like that and it would take us off guard and make us laugh. He still does stuff like that. He is always giggling, but can be very serious, too. He was my biggest baby...10 pounds 2 oz and a week early (Alec was the same weight, but a week late). I have a feeling he will be my tallest kid, too, but we'll see :).

Calvin had his 16th birthday this week! Although, unlike most 16 year-olds, he wasn't ecstatic...just happy because he still can't get his drivers license due to the fact that we haven't lived in Arizona for six months. He has to wait until January. He had a good day. He had to go to school, but he said it was a good day at school. He wanted to go out with Alec, and so they ran to Game Stop to put money (his birthday money) toward a game that is coming out in November ("Need For Speed - The Run"). On the way home, pulling out of the parking stall, Alec backed into a car! Calvin was freaking out. Supposedly the lady was honking her horn, but they had the music up loud and couldn't hear. There was no damage to our van, and there was a small scratch to her car. She took Alec's insurance info and gave us hers. They were freaking out. Anyway, I am glad they were all safe. It definitely shook Alec up enough to be a little more careful! They came home and we had Pie and Ice Cream (before dinner!). Calvin picked Pumpkin and Lemon Meringue and Mint Chocolate chip Ice Cream (those do not go together!). After the festivities at home, they went to try a Chinese restaurant that someone told them about called the "Asian Cafe Express". He said that when they walked in, there were only Asian people and they felt so out of place. They were going to stay and eat, but the guy gave it to them as "to go", and so they came home and we watch "Transformers 3".

Scott continues to do well in school. While we were away on the cruise, he missed 3 tests! He was a little worried about making them up, which he did on Monday. He did awesome and made A+, A, and B+. Then the next day he took another test that the rest of the class was taking on Monday and he made an A on that, as well! He is still really liking it and very happy. It is really nice to not have to worry whether or not this is going to work out or not because he has never had this determination and love for what he is doing. It is really great to see. I am excited for him that he has found something that he loves and is passionate about.

Derrek just took his ACT yesterday. He doesn't think he did very good on it because he said he couldn't concentrate and felt that he was running out of time and ended up guessing on some. I personally hate the test (I am not a good test taker). He plans on taking it again in December or the next one after that. He is doing good, too and we can't wait to see him in November. It's been hard on all of us to be apart and not be able to get him down here to visit. But, it builds character...we have a lot of that!

The other three boys are doing good. Alec is going to be getting his toe-nail taken off this week. He kept ignoring that it was infected and when I would ask him about it and ask him if he felt he needed to go to the doctor, he would just brush it off. Well, it has been infected for a couple months and he mentioned something the other day and I said..."That's it. You are going to the doctor". So, he did and now he is on a antibiotic and will go in on Thursday to have his toe nail remove. The funny thing is that my toe started acting funny, infected and stuff and so I think I will see if I can tag onto his appointment (I haven't looked to see how bad mine is because my toe nail is painted cute with flowers and I don't want to take it off! I'll wait until the day of the doctor visit!). I am doing good. I haven't started looking again for a job. It is really hard because I have always told my Heavenly Father that the kids will always come first (if I don't make that promise, I will be a work-a-holic because motherhood is hard compared to working outside the home...at the end of the day, you can leave your office and go home...motherhood doesn't get that break.). Anyway, trying to find something within the hours that the kids are at school has been hard. I am going to talk to my friend who is a court reporter. She works from home and maybe that is something I can go and do? I don't know at this point. Keep us in your prayers :).

Back to Life...Back to Reality...(yes, it is a song!)

K...I'll get to this week in a minute...

Since I last wrote, I had a birthday. It was a fun day. My sisters-in-law took me to get a pedicure and go out to lunch. It was perfect. Then I made enchiladas for dinner...yum. Then we had FHE because it was on a Monday. Our friends, the Blackhursts came by and sang "Happy Birthday" to me and gave me some Cold Stone ice cream...chocolate with brownie chunks! Then for FHE I wanted to go get Gelato. It was perfect.






On the last post, I wrote that I went and helped my friend, Anna, who had just started chemo. Well, less than a week later, she passed away (three days after my birthday). That was really hard for me. It has been a weird experience with Anna. We had an instant connection when we met. I have never had that before and usually it takes me six months to a year to let my guard down and feel that I am friends with someone. Not Anna...it was instant for both of us. I am so grateful for the time I had with her. It was only 4 months, but it was like a tender mercy that maybe the Lord was having her hold on so that I could have those moments. Its really weird. Anyway, when she knew it was the beginning of the end, she told her husband that she wanted no one but Scott (and Bunker Funeral Homes) to take care of her. He felt so priveledged and as soon as we found out that she had passed away, Scott rushed over and took care of her that evening. He said it was such a reverent experience and he felt very priveledged. She was 41 years old. She was a beautiful person.

This last week, Scott and I went on a Disney Cruise to the Mexican Riviera...which actually ended up being a Baja California cruise because we couldn't go to Puerta Vallarta because there was a hurricane that went ashore there and was followed by two tropical storms! So, we went as far down as Cabo San Lucas and Disney scheduled another stop at Ensenada (about 70 miles south of Tiajuana...if that gives you a clue!). We were at sea for four of the seven days. But, Disney was great and kept us entertained even when we were all stuck on the boat most of the time. We played games like naming 100 movie quotes, 80's songs, match your mate, and others. Cabo was beautiful. Scott and I got fried! We were too cheap to pay the $13 for sunscreen on board and so we went into town and it was MORE! We didn't want to have to go all the way back to the boat, so we got fried. The sand was perfect and the ocean was so clear and blue and SALTY! The second day there, we got a boat taxi and went to "LUBBER's Beach", otherwise known as "Lover's Beach" and on the other side, the natives call it "Divorce Beach" because you can't swim on that side because of the tide/undercurrent there. We paid the guy for a round trip ride and we thought we were stranded when he didn't show up at the time he said he would pick us up. He finally got to us (thank Heaven!) almost an hour later! We were just grateful that he came because we had brought no other cash or debit card. We were going to have to bum off people at the beach who had Disney towels from the boat, but we didn't have to.




We went to Ensenada next and we were greeted by sea lions barking. It was fun to see. Then we walked into town to see if there was anything (all there was to do was shop). We were followed by a lot of kids selling gum or other things. I guess most people can't refuse little kids, but we did. We didn't stay out long and went back to the boat. We watched "The Help" on board. Scott had never seen it. It was just as good the second time for me.




We were greatful to Heidi and her family this past week. The boys and dogs went to her house and stayed. And also to Kathie and her family for keeping them busy (tearing out her shower) and taking Dallen camping. Ashton had a campout, also, and had fun. It was nice not to worry about them, considering we had no way to communicate with them unless it was an emergency. Then we came home and the fun starts. Alec managed to put a hole in one of the walls in the hallway today, the dishwasher is broken, and something else happened, but I can't remember. Anyway, the kids are well and safe and I guess that's all that matters.




Also, my sister, Jenette and her husband Craig had their first child this last Monday. Her name is Hannah Sophia Whetten. She was a whopping 9 lbs. 1 0z and 20 1/2 inches long. Jenette had to be induced and it took pretty much all day. Isn't she cute?!?

Derrek got to go see her tonight because they are in St. George as they are in transition of housing right now.




Well, things are settling in pretty good. It is hard to come home from a vacation where you literally have no choice but live in the moment and you have no communication of your "former/future" life. As we were driving in, I started with the thoughts of things that were coming this next week and I actually got teary-eyed because it was nice to not think about money, kids, jobs, and other worries that are a constant here. Oh well, life goes on. It was a fun trip and I'm glad we got to go.

And the rains came down and the floods came up...

This week has been a doozy for me, personally. Probably for my family, too, because they have had to endure my rollercoaster of emotions. Oh, well...it's good for them :).

So, on Monday, I was innocently trying to find a box to send some stuff to Derrek and came across three "M" rated video games that are not allowed in our house...and found out later that Alec and Calvin had bought them. Alec just turned 17 and has decided to use that freedom of age and buy these games that he "doesn't see anything wrong with them" and bring them into our home even though he knows how we feel about them. Then I found out that they played them with Dallen and Ashton. This was their argument that it created brotherly bond (or fear in Dallen and Ashton if they told on them!). It's been interesting because for the past two weeks or so, Scott and I have almost been at our wits-end with Calvin and Alec. They had become more disrespectful, fought more with each other and their brothers, carried this aire of arrogance and entitlement that I could not for the life of me figure out where this was coming from. Scott and I have had many talks over the past couple weeks trying to come up with a plan on what to do about them acting this way because it was changing our house in a way I had worked SO hard to create the opposite. Since finding these games and taking them away and having a candid talk with Alec and Calvin (I didn't confront them at first about the games. I just put a note where I found the games and told them how sad I was and how I cannot go back and allow those games and that I would like to talk about it with them...they texted me the next day at school and said they wanted to talk...I listened/cried and that's all I could do. They understood and later Calvin came to me and appologized. Alec, in his own way realized those games aren't worth the fight.), our home has become the place that it had been before. Calvin and Alec are more helpful and kind to Scott and me and also to Dallen and Ashton. No one can tell me that these games don't make a difference. They do, especially when they have to sneak them...I think it creates a worse atmosphere.

The next day, there was a high and a low. Jennie and Wes had their baby...little ADA RUTH (the high!). She is so chunky and cute. They were so sweet with her, and as first time parents are...can only put a smile on your face. It was very tender. After leaving the hospital that night, I found out that I didn't get my job after all (the low). I was devistated and frustrated because we desperately need the money and I couldn't understand why the Lord wouldn't allow this righteous desire. It's been a weird journey trying to find a job. Anyway, basically he went to fire the girl I was replacing, but instead decided to give her another chance. He said that if it still didn't work out, that I would be the first one he called, even though I would probably have a job already. I told him that I am getting ready to go on a cruise and that I wouldn't start searching until after then (I need a break!). So, who knows... Scott thinks that the girl will mess up between now and then and after we get back from Mexico, it will be the job I get. I just don't know anymore. I want to be hopeful because it really would be perfect (and since he can't fire this girl, I would be set for life with a job!), but I am exhausted on this rollercoaster. So, I bawled all day Wednesday (my poor family). I was just done with everything. I was tired of struggling financially, tired of trying to get my kids to want to do what is right because that seemed to not be working, and just tired of life. I was down in a hole and not wanting to get back up. That night I wasn't having good thoughts and so I put myself to bed by 7:30 pm. I knew that is just what I needed. Then I woke up the next day. I had decided that I can't go on like this...even though it is where I wanted to stay and the only way I know how to get rid of those feelings is to go serve someone else. Thank goodness Heidi needed some help. She graceously allowed me to come to her house and help her clean it while she did other things that she needed to get done. It was so refreshing and helped bring me out of the darkness I was feeling. The next day I was trying to figure out what I would do. I have to keep myself busy with something or I literally go crazy. It is really hard moving to a new place because in St. George, when things went wrong, I knew enough people and relatives that I could go and do things for them and get it all out of me. Here, I don't have that as readily.

So, Friday I was praying that the Lord would help me fill my day so that I wouldn't go back into my depression. I mentally still wanted to go there and felt like I was fighting with all my might. Then I got a phone call from a dear new friend here in Mesa. I am in love with this person. I cannot say enough good about her. It was, for me, an instant connection when we met the first week we were here. Anyway, her name is Anna Davies and has been fighting cancer for 10 years! Thoughts of her, actually helped bring me up out of my darkness on Thursday because I kept asking myself, "why does she keep fighting so hard, when I just want to give up?". She just started Chemo Thursday morning. It is the highest dose that they can give a person and most agressive also. I know this is one of the hardest things she is going to have to go through. Anyway, she called me and asked if I would come help her do laundry and iron clothes so that her husband could have a little break from all he's had to take on because she can't do anything right now. I felt so blessed and priveledged and told her that she was truly an answer to my prayers that morning. I am not sure she believed me, but that's ok...I know :). I love being around her so much that I ended up staying and chatting for 5 hours! It filled my day and made my day.

Yesterday, I started to go back into my doom and gloom (my poor family). I just can't see how this is going to work and that frustrates me. It's not a lack of faith. I have that...it's just what is my part in all this? What am I not seeing?!? So, I did good most of the day, and then right before Women's broadcast, I got in a fight with Scott. He couldn't answer my questions and I was mad. Then I went to Relief Society Broadcast, and President Uchtdorf's talk was, I feel, just for me (and then I realized that there must be others struggling just like me). Anyway, it was really good and talked about 5 things that we should not forget. So, that is my new goal...to absorb what he talked about. Here's a little bit of it: http://lds.org/pages/general-rs-meeting-2011?lang=eng. I am hoping this week is better. Tomorrow is my birthday, and so, that will be a given for a good day :). I just have to keep trusting that God knows me and all that are required for me and my family. It's just hard some days, especially when you were just sure that this was the answer to solve some of the problems. Oh well...life does go on.

Yay!

First of all, it was Derrek's 18th birthday. I cannot believe I have an 18-year-old! He said he had a good birthday. His friend, Kaley planned a whole day for him. Then he was also able to get his bike all fixed up and also buy a crash symbol for his drum set. He's a happy camper :). He was even nice enough to go shopping for his dad and brother on his birthday. Of course, he went to the Asian store to buy knives and throwing stars because he was 18 and he could. It was a hi-light for him.

Next, I got a job!!! Aunt Dar, you were right...the right job came to me :). I'll be working for a General Contractor, doing exactly what I was doing in St. George for my family's business. He will let me make my own hours, as long as the work gets done and so I have a lot more freedom so that I can do what I think is most important, that of being there for my kids. It's right down the road, literally up the street from where Scott works and anyway, it will be exactly what we need. I am just so grateful. He still has to fire the other girl working for him, so I won't be starting until he does that. He reminds me of my dad, who has a hard time firing anyone. But, it's gotten to the point with him, that he can't give her responsibilities because it isn't good for his business...hence, me coming in :).

Everything else is pretty much the same. Alec posted on Facebook that Arizona is getting a lot better, even though he still misses his St. George friends. Dallen got invited to his first birthday party here, and went paint-balling. He was in heaven. The kid is a nice kid and his mom is too. It's been good and we are starting to meet more people and starting to branch more into the community. It just takes time and convincing ourselves that we want to do this!

A round of birthdays...

Even though it has been over a week since we had the first round of birthdays, it's never too late to post about them :). But, before I do that, I have to share a fun Family Home Evening we did...

BUBBLES! I don't know what it is, but I have this huge facination with bubbles and they really make me happy. I don't know why, but they do. So, we were all just feeling blah from the events of starting school and worries of normal life and I saw a picture in Family Fun Magazine of a girl playing with the big wand bubbles and decided that is what I needed...so that is what we did. We invited the Blackhurst family. Thelissa (the mom), I knew my Freshman year at BYU because she was roommates with my cousin Kim and they pretty much saved me my Freshman year. They let me tag along and I was so grateful. And, here we are again, in the same ward. Then Dennis (the dad) has a sister that works with Scott at the funeral home and so we have a connection there, too. Anyway, they had invited us over the first week we were here and since then we have tried to find ways to do things together, so I invited them to do bubbles with us (they have five kids...three boys and two girls...their oldest is the same age as Ashton and their next son is just a year younger than Dallen). Even though it was a "heat advisory" day, the wind was just right and made it a really fun time...here is a video from that...

Later that week was Scott and Alec's birthdays. Alec turned 17 and Scott the big 40! Scott usually tries to hide behind Alec's birthday and never lets anyone do anything for him on that day, but a couple of the gals that he works with at work wouldn't let it slip by. So, they "friended" me on Facebook and we kept in touch as to when and what to do for the party. He had no idea. They made him a "coffin" cake, which I found to be very funny and found out that it was their first attempt to make a cake for someone...they did awesome. It is weird to me that others don't do that because it is something that was always done in my family and also raising my kids was to make their birthday cake...now they just want pies! Anyway, Scott had no idea and they sent him on an errand and then told him to come back for a "first call" to get the information and as he walked in, he saw me first and was really surprised. They had pizza and cake for him and it was a really good time...then a real "first call" came in and it was back to work! Alec just wanted the keys to the car and his birthday money and Calvin to go with him on the town. So, that is what he did, but I had to get pictures of them blowing out the candles...except I forgot to buy the candles! So, Alec did toothpicks and lit those! We had a fun treat because it is tradition to get pies from Croshaw pies in St. George for their birthdays...well, it just happens that Croshaws had opened a store right here in Mesa...right by the boys' high school! It's the same!!! So, Alec got to have his "Very Berry" pie and all Scott wanted was strawberry Gelato from the place that we love...so that was his "cake". It was perfect. Then Scott also wanted to go to the temple for his birthday, and so after pie and gelato, Alec and Calvin left to paint the town (this is a picture of them eating at "Tasty Joes" a Chinese restaurant they heard was good and they agreed) and Scott and I went to the temple. Dallen and Ashton were more than happy to stay home! Alec and Calvin actually beat Scott and me home. They need some lessons :). Anyway, it was a fun day.

The next day Scott and I went to Flagstaff for the Bowler Adult Getaway. Everyone had already been up there since Thursday, but we weren't able to go for that long and just went for a visit on Saturday. It was fun seeing Mike and Laura, Jeff, and Kent and Amy (all the rest we get to see more regular).

Not much else has happened this week. Scott took the Priest Quorum (and Calvin) to the Mortuary. The Bishop talked about how it was a spiritual experience for him, which is a big reason Scott wants to do this for this period in time...and yes, they saw bodies (they were covered...but they were there). The boys seemed to handle it pretty good. Now they know where their dad works and what he does (mostly...Scott didn't show them the details).

We had an interesting walk the other day. Scott and I go exercise/walk every morning and we were walking past this tree and all of a sudden we hear a "plop" sound. We had walked past this tree and startled a bird, literally to death! Scott had to put it out of it's misery because it was not doing well. So, then we continued the rest of our walk and on the way home, we cross paths with a baby rattlesnake! It was coiled and trying to warn us, but he had only 1/2 a rattle because he was so small...we decided to end it's life because there were kids getting ready to ride the bus and didn't want any of them to get bit. So...on our walk, we killed a bird and a rattlesnake. It was interesting.

Derrek's 18th birthday is tomorrow (Sept. 5th). He said he was going to be doing some stuff, but I am not exactly sure if all his plans are coming together. I hope he has a great day. I will post next week about it...hopefully I will get some pictures :).