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 :).
Thursday, October 27, 2011
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 :).
Sunday, October 23, 2011
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 :).
Sunday, October 16, 2011
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.
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.
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