We are still alive!!!

Summer has hit! I remember being busy as a teenager, but never took into account that my parents had more than just me to deal with! Now I get it!

Derrek and Alec have loved being up at Scout Camp. Alec works for free and he is just in "training", but he loves it so much that he talked the director into letting him just go every week (he was only supposed to go for three weeks). They have had a friend that they met up there drive them to and from and it has been fun for them to have that little extra freedom away from mom and dad. We do have to remind them of certain consequences that come along with some of the things that they might choose to do :)

Calvin has wanted to be their age all summer. It's hard for him to be 13. But, he has been really nice to Dallen and Ashton and it's been fun getting to spend time with him as the "oldest".

Dallen and Ashton like them gone. They don't get picked on (as older brothers so lovingly do). Ashton had Scout camp this week...his first overnighter at Scout camp. As 11-year-old Scouts they go for two days and one night. I got a call about 10:15 pm, the first day, telling me I needed to come pick Ashton up from camp. He had been throwing up all day. Come to find out, the leaders had also lost his sleeping bag on the way up (the camper thing on top opened and it flew out!), and he didn't bring a lunch or water up and so he got sick. So, I went and got him (it takes an hour and a half each way) and got back around 1:00 am. The next day he was totally fine. Derrek and Alec were so nice to him and helped bring him to me when I went to pick him up. They then made him some things and brought them to him. They really wanted him to have fun up there with them. Maybe next year.

We have "adopted" a young lady to our house. Her name is Lauren and she just moved up here from California. She was going to get married and then she broke it off and tried to go back home, but there was no where for her to go because she was supposed to be getting married. So, she moved back up here on a Saturday and came to church on Sunday. Long story short, I felt impressed to talk to her and she asked if I knew where there was a room for rent that day because she would have to sleep in her car. We have taken her in and the boys have really loved having a "sister" around. She is only 4 years older than Derrek and it seems like we have met before. I told her that maybe when she found out what she would have to go through on this earth that when she made it to St. George, the Lord would direct her to our ward (of all wards to come to in St. George!) and we would help her through this time in her life. She has been in Foster care since she was 9 and has had some host families that are LDS to help her through. Scott and I both have felt that we need to help her. It's been a weird and cool experience.

Scott is almost done working at McDonald's. This will be his last week. He struggled with whether or not he should continue or not, but when he made the decision, there was an instant blessing that he received that helped him to know it was the right thing to do. He felt he needed to work there to help us through some hard times, and has really felt blessed because he chose to continue to do something to help out and the whole pride reality check has been amazing for both of us (Sunwest is still there, but it doesn't fill the whole day and we can't take full paychecks right now). We didn't think we were prideful, but having to take a job at $9/hour as a manager (I can't believe that is all a manager for McDonald's makes here!) has been humbling. Especially seeing people that work there who do it for less. We are humbled.

I had girls camp. It was really fun. I like girls camp. There was only a minimal amount of drama and it wasn't from girls that were supposed to go. I have really enjoyed being with the Young Women. It's been hard with summer, though, because there is just no one here. We only have 9 active girls and when it is summer, they haven't been here together...yet! But, they are all great girls and when I taught them in Primary, I truly grew to love them and because of that, that love it still there and it has just been really easy to step into this new calling. Next week we go on the Trek at Martin's Cove, Wyoming. My Cousin, Dave Gilgen, and his wife, Sherri, are the other "ma and pa" from our ward. They are going to hate living by us because we are going to rope them into everything we possibly can...our ward needs people to serve! We are excited that they would come, though. I know my kids are excited. They love the few times they have been around Dave...he's fun.

I also had my first root canal this week. Last Sunday my mouth started hurting really bad and on Wednesday it hurt so bad I couldn't even close my mouth. By the end of the day I was crying because I couldn't eat anything. The dentist was great in getting me in on Wednesday and was able to perform it on Thursday. I was scared, but got to watch a movie, and you tend to forget what it going on (I watched "Raising Helen"). Anyway, it is MUCH better now and just GRATEFUL I was able to have it done.

Today is my dad's 60th birthday!!! So, shout out a happy birthday to him!

Ahhh...Summer...

The past few weeks have been crazy, but good. I have decided I am going to stop feeling bad that I don't do the blog every week...I will do it when I can! Today I can!

We are now out of school. The last week of school is always so crazy because everyone just wants it to get here. The kids are excited and the mom's are anticipating their children being home ALL DAY (and sometimes not in a good way!). We love our children, but it is an adjustment. They are SOOOO BORED and can't seem to find ANYTHING to do. I constantly remind them that I seem to be able to find quite a bit to do and if they would like to help, I am sure I could help them find things to do, also. They never get THAT BORED. It works almost every time. Derrek and Alec have been doing a lot of skim boarding with friends. They are trying to get it in as much as possible because they will be leaving next week for their jobs.

I have to toot Alec's horn, though. He managed to pull all his grades up this last quarter. It was all him. Scott and I encourage, but it is his responsibility to get his grades up. We keep telling him that there are no excuses because on his end of year testing, where 4 is the highest, he gets 4's on all subjects...so it isn't that he doesn't have the brains. Anyway, he got almost all A's...just two B's. They all did really well this year, but Alec decided to step it up for himself.

We had the Bowler Adult Get-away in Pine Valley, UT. It was so nice up there. Our next door neighbor has a cabin up there and he let us borrow it for the weekend. It was perfect and we all played nicely :). There were just a couple that couldn't come and they were missed, but all ten kids in Scott's family were able to make it. It's really cool that they all get along and love each other. I know of a few families that can't stand their brothers or sisters. We did personality tests up there and that was fun to see which in-laws were like the "original" Bowlers. Scott and I are EXACTLY the same personality type. We thought that was funny. It would explain why we don't fight...we agree on almost everything! The only thing we realized is that if we have a child that is our "opposite" would we be able to give that child what he needs? Something to work on.

That same weekend (last Sunday) I received a new calling at church. I am Young Women's President. I am excited and this was my first week and it seemed to go good. I know the majority of the girls because I taught them in Primary and so it is fun to be able to go through the next stage in their lives. It's definitely a team effort, though. Scott mentioned that I will do fine because I "know their enemy"! I am in the trenches where that is concerned. Anyway, it will be good.

Well...one last story...some may think this is sick and wrong, but if you know Ashton and Scott...they have this little sick and twisted humor that goes on between them...

On Tuesday, Ashton was going crazy. They were all so bored they asked me to take them to the Library! My kids NEVER ask to go to the library. So, we filled up the day the best we could. By the time Scott got home for work, boredom had set in again. Ashton told Scott "there is nothing to do. I am so bored. Dad, do you have any ideas on what I can do?" Scott said, "you have two choices, one you will like and the other you won't like". Ashton said, "okay, what is it". Scott said, "you can do houseWORK, school WORK, clean up your room WORK, laundry WORK (etc.)". Ashton said, "Okay...next". Scott said, "Well, it looks like the only other thing there is for you to do it commit suicide". Ashton said "I think I'll go for that". Now this sounds horrible, I know...but it is all in joking...believe me! So, about an hour later we hear all this banging in the garage and it is Ashton building something in the garage. We asked him what he was doing and he said "I'm building a ladder". That led to the next question, "What do you need a ladder for?". He matter-of-factly said, "to climb up on the roof to commit suicide". Needless to say, the ladder does not reach the roof and Ashton will not be trying to kill himself (for those who are worried). No need to call child protective services, either! He at least found something to do in his weird way. He's so proud of his creation. Since work is obviously out of the question for him...he has decided to stick with building and has been working on some sweet Lego creations.

Busy couple of weeks!

I just had to add this picture because it is so cute. Shep loves to carry around this lion stuffed animal and he'll play with it and then he will just lay on it like this. It's the only stuffed animal that he doesn't or hasn't torn up...yet. It's like it is his friend! Anyway...it was just cute!


Ashton and Dallen got to go to a fishing derby that the Lion's Club holds every year. Scott took them and they were catching fish with their hands. They caught four of them. We don't eat fish...they are more or less used for biology purposes! Dallen loves to fish, though. He has two fishing poles and a net and a little tackle box and they go down to this pond every now and then just to fish. He's pretty good at it too.

I got to go to Women's Conference (with Ruth, Scott's mom, Kathie and Heidi, Scott's sisters). It was really good and I didn't know how much I needed it. It is a serious spiritual high. If you have never been, you need to make the effort. It is worth it! Although, it is hard to come back because you feel like you can conquer the world but then come home to reality and then flip through your notes and realize that what they kept telling you is that you can't do it alone...the Lord is with you! Scott is so good to me to let me go (he practically pushes me out the door) because he knows how good it is for me.

Things I learned...

I was thinking about gifts that I need to find and there were some suggestions on how to get there. One is to ask yourself "what did I come here to do?" Then make a list of what you can and want to do and work toward doing or learning those things.

There are only two ways through this life...with Christ and without Christ.

To make weak things strong...ask what is your weakness and why have I been given these specific weaknesses? They are ours for a purpose...to become humble which makes us aware of our need to rely on the Lord. We can only change with His help.

I learned and saw that we women are quite a force to be reckoned with! They had service stations everywhere, but to see all the women in action was amazing and to be apart of that was incredible. I did cards, because I know how to do that. It was quite a production. Just imagine what we can do just in our own little areas of the world? It was amazing to see what just 20,000 or more women could do...I can't imagine what the whold Relief Society can do as a force. We women have such amazing gifts.

There is a lot more that I learned, but it would take too long to write it all. And, what I write is stuff that I needed personally...you know how that is! This is a clip of Hilary Weeks.

We saw her at a concert they had that evening. This was taken at a Women's Time Out conference, but it was the same. She had some other great ones that just had us laughing really hard. She also sings some amazing spiritual songs that help to lift us up. She was really fun to see.

Scott and I are also taking a parenting class. You would think that we wouldn't need one because our kids are so perfect :) JUST KIDDING! It is just a different type of parenting now...they don't need discipline...just guidance. This class helps us to use our words differently so that the kids feel more valued and they do things because they want to be proud of themselves and not do things to make us proud. Which, is how we want it for them. And the thing that stinks is that it starts with us. So the teacher has been having us look at ourselves and why we do the things we do. The first week, Scott and I came home all depressed because we knew we were the cause of our kids issues, but didn't want to face the facts! It's been good, though.

Then it was teacher appreciation week as soon as I got back. I had some help from others. They did the door decorations and they posted pictures of teachers when they were in grade school so the children could guess who they were. It was a fun little contest. Then I also was in charge of getting the kids to bring stuff to their teachers and we did it as a contest also. Then I had to do a teacher luncheon and that was nerve racking because I have to do things perfectly and stress out beyond what I need to do. I made these chocolate candy suckers in the shape of flowers and made them into table decorations (shown above). It was good. The luncheon was catered and so I didn't have to do much for that. So..the week went well, and I just hope the teachers enjoyed it. If not...they can fire me!

We went to see Brian Regan. He is so funny and the guy he brought with him (Kermit Apio sp?) was funny too. They are clean and it is so much fun to be able to take my kids to something like that because they are clean. The older three paid for their tickets and got to go. It was fun.

Other news...Derrek got the job at the Thunderridge Scout camp this summer. He will be gone every week and come home for one day to do laundry and whatever else and then go back up. That will be his summer. Alec got accepted as Counselor in Training program and it isn't paid, but he will do three weeks and with this experience, he will be hired on for more pay than Derrek is getting, next year. Calvin is going to Timberline and Scout camp. He's ready to get a lot of merit badges. Anyway, it is going to be weird having them gone most of the time. I am sure Dallen and Ashton will like it! For our Steurer reunion, the three oldest will be gone and we'll just be taking Dallen and Ashton. That will be weird. Our family will be just like my brothers and sisters...all the same age kids! Ashton will be the oldest one there!

Today for Mother's day, I got a necklace from Ashton, a bookmark and picture frame from Dallen, letters of love from all, Alec baked me a cake and offered to eat it for me (so much love!), Derrek made me breakfast that was going to be in bed, but I ruined it by walking down stairs. I got to sleep in until 9:00 this morning. Scott made me fluffy pancakes for dinner. It has just been a great day. There has been no fighting. What more could I ask for. Here is a picture of Derrek's breakfast to me. It was sweet.

This is the cake that Alec made for me (thanks to eggs and powdered sugar from our neighbor). They are also showing such love by eating it for me!

Oh, at Women's Conference I was lucky enough to run into friends that I had in Oklahoma. It's funny because as they mentioned, the only times we saw each other was at girl's camp and stake dances, but we yearned for that connection of being LDS with others because there weren't many of us in our schools. Anyway, it was Amy Bingham (now Jensen) and Natalie Johnson (now Hawks). We also talked about how we loved growing up in Oklahoma and even though we lived in different cities, we all had the same experiences and how hard it is to find that for our children in Utah. It took all of us moving away from Utah to remember what was important and what we wanted in our children's lives and now that we are all back in Utah, we are geared up to battle the complacency of those who are LDS and forget what that means. Anyway, it completed my Women's Conference experience to see my old friends.