Excitement continues...

Wow! Another eventful week. Derrek had his 15th birthday this week. He is really maturing into an amazing young man. We were watching home movies today, ones that we haven't been able to view for a long time because we didn't have an adapter, but I bought a new one. In the videos, he was still leader of the pack, but it was all about him, and as I watch him now, it seems to be changing into seeing other people. Yesterday, he knew I would be gone most of the day and the house was a pit, and while Scott was taking a nap, he and Alec decided to start cleaning up. That is huge in our house. Anyway, for his birthday, we went to my mom's for pizza, pie, and a swim. He just wanted to be around family, and then Scott took him home and stopped in a BIG, VACCANT, parking lot to practice his first real chance at driving. We are going to California at the end of this month and he asked today if he could drive down there if he got his permit before we went down! I am really not sure I am ready for this. Anyway...I have control issues, and I am thinking this is really going to help me get over them quickly! Sorry there aren't any pictures...they are on another camera that has to be downloaded on Scott's work computer! Anyway...
It was also Calvin's first football game. In the clip below, he is #95 (on the line). He told me he wasn't hitting hard because he was very tired. Anyway, it is a good video. His team won, 30 to 0. He LOVES it though, and I am excited for him. Scott even enjoyed the game, and he is not the biggest fan of sports, so for him to say that...it must have been a great game!
I just have to toot my own horn today. Scott and I have been learning sign language because our ward is paired with the Deaf branch in our stake. So, we have been taking a class during Sunday School. Today the teacher taught us how to bear our testimonies and then challenged us to bear them in sign language during their Sacrament meeting, which was right after our block. So, I did! It was definitely short, but I was excited I could do it. She bribed us with her blue ribbon cookies! That's all it took :) I still cried, because I cry whenever I bear it anyway, but I was grateful for the challenge. It has been a great experience. So...toot, toot!

Whew...this week is over!

As you can see...we had a couple of birthdays this week. Thanks goodness they are on the same day! Scott and Alec had their birthdays. Scott turned 37 and Alec is now 14. We tried to make it special. We started the day out by opening presents. The kids bought Scott a present..."UGLY PILLS". They thought it was the funniest thing in the world. They spent their own money on it and wrapped it up for him. They were almost jumping out of their skin to give it to him. On the side of the bottle, it gives directions and part of it said, "two words...PAPER BAG". Alec got three pairs of shorts and two shirts. He didn't think I could pick things out for him, but I didn't do too bad. Sunwest took Scott to lunch (that he was late to), and Alec got extra money for his school lunch. We went to Jumpin' Jacks, where they have all these bounce houses set up in a warehouse and you pay money to go play on them all. The kids love it. I actually fell asleep on Scott's shoulder for about a half an hour. We came back to the house and had some cheesecake and sherbert ice cream. This week is Derrek's birthday. He's a little excited.

This week was also my first PTA "assignment" for the teachers. It was S. E. P. week (basically parent/teacher conferences and the kids are out early) and it is also the end of the month and so I had to do birthdays. My job was basically to "spoil" the teachers. They needed snacks or food or something like that so they could take it to their room and have it there to eat in between the parents coming. I couldn't pick just one snack, so I loaded up a basket full of different snacks (granola bars, fruit leather, ritz bits, etc.). I just set it on the table each day and would go and pick up the empty basket the next morning to be re-filled. Thank goodness for Costco. It worked out. Then on Thursday, I took in a cake (from Costco, of course), and eleven goody bags full of a "movie night" (popcorn, Hollywood Video gift card, and candy) and handed those out to those who had a birthday this last month. Then an hour and a half later, when I went to take the basket of goodies in for the SEP's, the cake was GONE! I couldn't believe it. Anyway, I made it through and don't have S. E. P.'s until November.

Saturday rounded out this week nicely. The three older boys went with their Scout group and hiked the Narrows in Zions National Park. They had a blast. I went to work at the temple, and came home to Scott mopping the kitchen floor. He and Dallen and Ashton cleaned the whole house except the older three kids' bedrooms and the two bathrooms. What a treat! All I had to worry about was laundry, so I grabbed the book "Twilight" (because I have been told I must read it), and started it. I had about three or four hours to just sit and read. It was great. Those moments are rare for me. It's a good book and easy to read. I am pretty sure I am like the last person to read it. Oh well...

Wow...how fast things change!

This is the only picture of Ruth I could find on this newer computer. She is with Kathie (and her husband/kids) and Jennie, Scott's sisters at their favorite place...Disneyland! I have found myself in much reflection over the past week, since we have found out that Scott's mom has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma cancer. I find myself happy and sad at the same time. I am sad, for the obvious, that Ruth has to go through this and the chances of her returning to our Heavenly Father are great. But, I find happiness in the thought that she gets to go. I guess it was a good thing that I saw "Saturday's Warrior", no matter how cheesy it seems, it still has truth in it and hope. It also reminds me that the Lord watches over us and allows us to always be connected with our families. It has been interesting to see that even though we are sad by the news, there are constant "tender mercies" that the Lord gives to us. The kids and Scott and I have been in awe that we could feel peace in times of sorrow. Our frustrations of "not mom!" have changed to understanding and peace. We are excited that we get to go to Disneyland in September with her (a tender mercy). I know that there is a bigger picture here and even though I do not understand it at times, it always works out for the best. This has pretty much consumed our week. Scott is in Phoenix this weekend with his siblings and parents. What a great experience and memory. I heard a talk yesterday about wasting our time, and how we don't know when we will leave this earth, but that we have about 72 hours per week to put our time to work so that we can return to our Heavenly Father. I have reflected on what I have been doing and found that there is always room for improvement and thank goodness I have time!