I forgot...

I realized this week that I have forgotten how to budget my time when I had a job. I was able to work this last week, and that has been nice. It is a temporary job and we have the kinks (I hope) worked out. I still have to bill him, and we'll see how that goes :). Anyway, it's been challenging learning a new program and trying to remember after 8 months where things should go, but for the most part, it's like riding a bike. Except, all other areas of my life have seem to have fallen by the wayside! I feel like I have just been putting out fires, and dealing with stuff as they come along. Mostly with the kids, but also with my callings, and other responsibilities. School has been put on the back burner this weeks, as well as food shopping and planning meals and getting things done like cleaning the bathrooms and laundry, date night and going to the temple.

These things are just always there and so if they aren't screaming for my attention, they don't get it. I don't remember how I did it all before! Anyway, it has been a good reminder to have balance in life. There are always things that will take our time, but choosing the best out of the pile is what is important.

We had my cousin, Kristy and her daughter Makayla (sp?) here with us. It has been nice to see them. I don't know them very well, but I am glad that they would call and ask to stay here. Kristy and her family are planning on moving here to the Phoenix area to continue with schooling. Makayla graduates this year (a year early) and wants to attend ASU. Kristy has gone back to school to be a court reporter. Alec and Makayla went river rafting yesterday...and yes it is FREEZING COLD still! But, once Alec has an idea, he can't get it out of his head. So, they didn't make it to where the kids usually float down to because Alec was so cold. It was a nice day, though. Calvin and Ashton have been having a lot of fun bonding over bowling. Calvin is really enjoying this bowling class, and he takes Ashton with him when he bowls.

Dallen hiked a hike called "Flat Iron". Supposedly Alec and Calvin didn't go all the way up to the top and the leaders have been giving them a hard time because Dallen did go to the top. Anyway, Dallen is a great little hiker and loves being outdoors. He came home and collapsed for three hours (he was so tired he couldn't even take off his shoes. He was in tears almost just thinking of having to move!). We then took him out for his birthday dinner (yah...it was a month ago!). He chose Olive Garden. He was nice to let us take our friends visiting from Las Vegas with us (Dave McElvany, Lars, and Shawn). It was a fun time.

Derrek went to Preference the Saturday before Spring Break. We wanted him to come down that day, but he wanted to keep his commitment and go to Preference with Kyle Thayer. She has been friends with Derrek and Alec for awhile. I know Alec really liked hanging out with her. Fun girl.

I guess Preference went well. Derrek didn't tell me much about it.

Derrek and Lexi came down the following Monday during Spring Break. We were so happy that they had the same Spring Break as we did. Talk about "tender mercies". It was fun meeting Lexi. She held her own with this group and seriously, they can make or break you. She was initiated into the boys' world (which I am just used to) and she was great. We really loved having them here.

We went bowling a couple of times. Calvin was determined to get his class done this week, so it seemed like we did a lot of bowling. It was fun, though, and Scott got to go with us one of the times.

It was Dallen's, well...second time and cousin, Jeremy's first time to do Baptisms at the Mesa Temple (Dallen had gone with our youth group two nights before. That was his first time). I thought it would be awesome to do it all together as a family. Heidi and her kids that could go, came with us. So, in this picture it is Alec, Charity, Derrek, Lexi, Calvin, Jeremy, Zac, Dallen, and Ashton in front of the Mesa Temple. It was fun and I just love the temple.

After the temple, we just HAD to go to Bahama Bucks for some shaved ice. It was delicious and always a treat. We also went to the Phoenix Zoo with Heidi and her kids the day before. It was fun, but really warm. A lot warmer than I thought it would be. We were there for about 5 hours and it was perfect. It was nice having older kids. They all got to go their way and Heidi and I had a great time with Matt and Sam, so no pictures of the Zoo.

This week we were back to life, except for the XBox being gone for two weeks. It's been really nice, but you would have thought I cut off Calvin's legs or something! He is "so bored" and there is just "nothing to do". So, we have had a few discussions. They got it taken away because he got an "F" and Alec got a "D" in their last quarter classes, so they have to get their grades up and turn everything in and prove that they can have it back. And...they have been doing much better! We'll see...it's a constant battle.

I finished my contract job. I am so grateful for the experience. It taught me a lot. I'm glad, though, that I can also be home. Scott is still doing great with work and school. Only a few more weeks until he graduates! He's done amazing.

Kid History

Here we are again...another critter in the house! We went 6 months without anything other than the dogs. Then came the Gerbils...which was fine. We like having Gerbils. But we also like having fish...(came the fish), and we like having hamsters...(came the hamster), and then mom caught a frog...(couldn't just leave it alone!), and we like turtles...(yep, you guessed it...came the turtle!).

I have decided that Dallen is no longer allowed to go to Petsmart with any amount of money. He will think of a way to get any critter there he can. He has changed his mind about what he wanted, but the fact was...something from that store was coming home to our house! First, it was a lizard, but the cage was too much for him to set up. Then it was a bird, because he heard Aunt Heidi might have a cage (glad I didn't ask!), and then it was a turtle. I made the mistake of letting him go with Calvin to the pet store to get feeder fish for his fish (which they forgot to buy!) and instead Calvin liked Dallen's idea of a turtle and drove to Walmart with him, instead, to get a bucket (storage tub) for the turtle to live in. They would have bought the turtle that night, but you have to be 18 or older to buy it. Anyway...Dallen had a breakdown because I wouldn't run back to Petsmart that night to get his turtle that he already spent money on a tub for! He needed to wait a whole day! I am the MEANEST mom ever! Needless to say, we have the turtle (which never ends up costing what they think it will, even though I have them plan it out...that's another story!). Dallen is SO happy. He has been taking really good care of it and the rest of his animals (he has claimed the Gerbils, the frog, and Angel as his own...which is fine because he cleans the cages and feeds them and loves them!). So, we are now up to 9 critters in our house, counting the dogs. Good times...

Monday night was our Family Home Evening (of course), and it was my turn to choose the activity. My kids ROLL their eyes when it is my turn. I don't care because I know that they secretly like it and they will never forget it! So, I chose to do catapults. Here they are making the catapults.

Half of them were cussing at me and the other half were having fun. Either way, it was fun. Scott, of course was the master...check out the one he made.

Anyway, after the majority of them were made, we got out the big marshmallows. They flew pretty good, and then it started...MARSHMALLOW WAR! Those things can hurt...especially when Alec gets his power behind it! It was way fun and the dogs could not figure out what was going on! It was great because we got to throw food without the mess! We only found one rogue marshmallow this week...we were able to find all the others. Good memory...

Thursday, I went to a job...well, what I thought was an interview, and the guy said "well, here it is, I'll leave you to work". There was a definite lack of communication! Anyway, so the deal is there is a guy in our ward who is an accountant (I didn't know this until recent and I couldn't figure out why he was always asking how my job hunting was going...now I know!). He called me and said "I got you a job. He needs his books updated. He hasn't entered anything in for 2011 and we need it done so that he can file his taxes". He went on to explain how this guy's bookkeeper was mad that she had to work with another accountant (the guy in my ward) and so she left and he has been stuck winging things for a month. So, in my mind, he needed a bookkeeper and I was going to interview for the position. I was so nervous, grateful, and every other emotion in between. I didn't know how this was going to work and was just excited for the opportunity, especially since I was told by Rich (the guy in my ward) that he'll pay $25-$30/hour! Anyway, I show up and it's the program "Peachtree". I had never worked on Peachtree and thinking it was an interview started to talk about my resume. Then he said "well, it's all pretty much the same, right?" and I said, "well, yah...accounting is accounting!". So, I said, I would give it a try, not realizing that I was working! So the guy said "I'll leave you to your work" and then left for the rest of the day. I was there with his daughter in their home office! It was really strange. Anyway, I left and then I called him and got a voicemail and so I asked him in the voicemail what he expected from me as an employee (hinting or trying to find some sort of idea what was going on). Then...nothing! He didn't call me back. Then I called Rich to see what was going on and left him a message. I was such a mess. I wanted the job, but didn't know who my boss was or if it was permanent or temporary or if I could have my needs of being there for the kids, etc. So, finally, the next afternoon, Steve (the guy I was to do work for) called and told me that it was just a temporary, contracting job. He just needed help and didn't have money to bring anyone on full-time. This actually is great, for me. Anyway, so I will go and do my work and invoice him. It should take me about a month. For his sake, I hope it won't take that long. Then he can get his taxes done in a timely manner, but, there is always an extension. I still don't know Peachtree, but I have figured it out enough to enter all his receipts and such for the year and categorize them in their proper places. Peachtree is a dumb program compared to Quickbooks, if anyone was ever wondering. Anyway, I'm so happy to have this opportunity and I can still be there for the kids and make my own hours...like this week, I can't go in on Wednesday because the kids don't go in until 8:30 and then are out by 12:00 (stupidest thing every...on a WEDNESDAY!). But, blessings all around of me having a little bit of work that will help things out and I can still be there for my family, which is my #1 priority since they won't be with me much longer. I'm excited.

We went to see "Kid History #8" premiere this last Friday. Yes, it's only 8 minutes long, and yes we could see it on YouTube the next day, but what fun is that when you could meet the Roberts brothers and Richard and have a fun evening with them (and other fans)?!? So, that's what we did. They came down here to little Mesa at Mountain View High School to show "Kid History #8" to us before they showed the world. They also showed their newest music video "Kid Remix #2". Here we are joining in "Kid History Jeopardy".

And then while we were walking into the auditorium, we saw my niece, Megan, with her friends and so, they were sitting on the awesome side of the auditorium so that after it was over, they were able to jump in line to meet them really fast. Dallen and Ashton wanted to meet them too, and Megan let them cut with her.

It was fun. Calvin jumped in at the last minute and got in the picture, too. They were really excited to meet them and talk to them. It was funny.

So, as we were watching "Kid Remix #2", I kept saying to myself "that kid in the carseat looks so familiar". I started going through all the kids that I knew that looked like him and it looked like our neighbor from St. George (well, they lived a couple houses down). But, I couldn't see his parents or anyone else from that family that I recognized and so I just figured it wasn't someone I knew. Then I posted that we saw the "Kid History" stuff and Jenny, the boy's mom that I was thinking of, told me that her brother films those films for the Robert brothers and that they were doing a music video starring Tyler! I couldn't believe it! I saw it before his own mother did! We used to babysit Tyler every now and then, and he is a HAM! He would say the funniest things. My favorite was he had done something wrong and went and locked himself in the bathroom and his parents were trying to get him to come out to talk to him and he said "I can't come out until I'm finished repenting". He was like 4 when he said that! Very funny. Anyway, it was a fun connection.

School is going great. The kids have put in their schedules for next year. Calvin started his on-line bowling class. Ashton has already decided that it is what he is going to do, too. He and Ashton went bowling yesterday for his class. He plans to get the majority of it done next week during Spring break. Scott is cruising along with his schooling and not studying and getting perfect scores on his tests....not fair! Derrek sent me a text the other day that said basically that he took his Medical terminology class and didn't study and made 100% on the test. Seriously...not fair. I am working on the Child Development class and I am freaking out because I feel like I can't remember anyone's names or what they theorized about! I am going to be up to my eyes in flash cards while Derrek and Scott don't even have to think about school! Oh well...so happy for Derrek that he got that gene! Calvin mentioned the other day that he is so grateful for the schooling opportunities that he has here. He likes all the options that Red Mountain offers that Snow Canyon doesn't. It has turned out to be better for him. I was comforted by his comment. We have really worked hard to help him see that this place isn't too bad. They are making more friends and having a better time at school. I am so grateful. Alec is going on a date this weekend. This is something he doesn't do often. It's with a girl in our ward. She is really cute and fun to be around. Her name is Morgan. Anyway, I am glad it will be with a good group of kids.

The boys also played church softball this week, which is a miracle because in St. George I couldn't get them to do anything and our neighbor Josh Beecher would have to come over and drag/bribe them to go. Anyway, they decided to go at the last minute and had a really good time! Calvin, Alec, and Ashton went. Dallen could have gone, but he didn't finish his jobs and homework so he couldn't go. Maybe this week. Anyway, they played two games and they made the teams with whomever showed up. Calvin complained because he got put on a team with a lot of Deacons (12-13 year olds). But, I just reminded him that they probably did that so that the team could have a chance with a power-hitter. So, this week, I have the job of finding some cheap gloves for them to use. I have seen miracles happen before :). I'm just glad they want to play and interact with others. We really live in a great area.

No more kids in Primary...

So, I haven't blogged for a couple of weeks, so hopefully this doesn't get too long. We have just been busy. We were able to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir a couple weeks ago. We had a fun time. I wasn't too sure the boys would really like it, but the choir had some great numbers and the audience got to clap and interact with them, that you wouldn't get if you were in the Conference center during Conference. I am so grateful to the family in our ward that bought us the tickets. It was not cheap and I am so grateful that they wanted to do that for us. It meant a lot to me. We took the Metro into the downtown area. Phoenix was having a huge 100th year birthday celebration for the State of Arizona that evening (well, all day), too, and so parking would have been horrible. I am glad we were at the first stop because we got seats on the way there. It filled up really fast because others had the same idea. The older boys said it felt like when we went on the train into Rome, but I think this was a little more crowded. It was fun. We had a drunk guy entertaining us...singing. I gave him a piece of gum (he asked for it), and he thought I had just done him the biggest favor ever! Drunk people make me laugh. Anyway, he was on this train with all these people going to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It was just a funny contrast to me. Anyway, he was fun and made the trip go faster. We got to the concert and were on the second tier, but like the fourth row up the second tier...not too bad, and lets face it...beggars cannot be choosers! We definitely could not complain! The kid's favorite parts were when Alex Boye (sp?) came out and sang a couple solo songs with the choir. He was dancing around the stage and really put on a show. They listen to other songs of his sometimes and so it was fun to see him in person. They really loved the patriotic songs that were sung and of course the hymns that they know..."Come, Come Ye Saints" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic". They did an encore and that was fun. The announcer (Lloyd Newell, who does the Spoken Word on Sundays) said we should be careful asking for an encore because they have over 1,000 songs in their repertoire. The symphony was amazing as well and it is awesome to think that it is all volunteer. We then rode the Metro train back into Mesa and it seemed like everyone else was going to Mesa also. It was fun to talk to others about the concert and people in their lives. One lady talked about her grandson winning 3rd in the State of Montana in wrestling earlier that day. And how she had another grandson going on a mission.

Here are some pictures from that evening...

Last Sunday was Dallen's 12th birthday. It seemed to be a big milestone for me because I have no more children in Primary (at church). All my boys are in Young Men's! That is just crazy to me, especially when they are little and you think "wow, someday...Derrek will be 18 and Dallen will be 12 and they will all be in Young Men's together". All Dallen wanted was to have a little birthday party with his cousin, Jeremy, who turned 12 just a couple days later (on Wednesday, the 22nd). It was also another milestone because it will probably be my last cake I make for my boys. They are just "too cool" for it now. I made an iPod once...what more could they want?!? :) Anyway, it was fun doing his birthday. So, he opened presents in the morning. We ate pancakes (Scott made them for him). We went to church and he was ordained a Deacon. Alec and Calvin got to join in doing that. That was a cool experience. They also got to help with Ashton becoming a Teacher. Then we came home and got ready to go to Heidi's house for a family get-together. Mike and Laura and family were in town and Kent and Amy were coming and so we were excited, but neither of them were able to make it for the evening affairs. It was still fun, though. We had a Pinata, and lots of cake and ice cream and yummy food. I love how all the cousins get along so well.

Then the next day, it was President's day, and so the boys were out of school. We went to the "train park" in Scottsdale with the whole family so that we could see Mike and Laura and their family, as well as Kent and Amy and their family. We hadn't been to the train park for about six years. It was fun, though and a GORGEOUS day in Phoenix. Here are pictures of our group at the park, Dallen playing ball with cousin, Cami, and the boys took a train ride around the park. We spent about 5 hours there and then all headed to Peter Piper Pizza for dinner so that we could continue all being together. It was a fun day. Calvin and Dallen won big on the tickets at PPP and got over 1200 tickets each. That's a lot in PPP world. We had fun. Scott was able to come up after work and see his brothers and it was great to see them together.

The last thing I need to blog about is that we have two new friends in our house. First we have "Hemi", Ashton's dwarf hamster that he bought with his birthday money.

He bought the cage and everything and the hamster. He also bought a little running ball that he rolls around the house in. The dogs just hover over it trying to figure out what in the heck is going on. It's pretty funny. He's an awesome hamster because he has let Ashton hold him all the time and doesn't bite...not like our other ones that we have had.

Next we have ???...well, we just haven't named him yet!

I was leaving the house of a person in our ward, just getting done with a meeting and saw him hopping in her front yard. So, I caught him and brought him home (he managed to pee all over me...I don't blame him...I would have been scared that bad, too!). So, I brought him home and we ran and got him a cheap little cage to put him in, and some crickets. I just had to laugh at myself. I'm such a "boys mom". They were all excited that I caught it and were laughing at me too, because, well, let's face it...it's not normal that a mom is the one bringing home the critters! Anyway, the only difference between me and the boys is that I have remorse for taking the frog from his family and the boys don't care :). Hopefully he won't hold it against us :).

We are all doing well. The kids are figuring out their schedules for next school year. Calvin has signed up for a PE class online...BOWLING! This school has a whole set of online classes that a student can take along with his/her schedule. Calvin doesn't have a "full" schedule because he doesn't have an "A" hour and he's taking seminary (which doesn't count), but he still needs to get in classes because he is planning on doing a tech school for the next two years, which will take up the second half of his days...so he has to take a Summer school class this summer and an online class next year (English), and an online PE credit for Spring semester. Alec will have extra time on his hands because he moved here with extra credits and so he is planning on taking German III...just because! I told him he could go half a day and then go to work. He didn't like that idea. I told him he could get a job easier because he'd be available. Still...no go. We'll see :). Calvin is still looking earnestly for a job. He tackles a shopping center per week. He is persistent, and I know it will happen for him. One place told him that they were putting a freeze on looking at teenager applications because they wanted to see if there were any adults that wanted the jobs. It's just a different time...we have people our age taking the jobs of our teens. It's sad, all the way around. The teens don't get the experience they need and the adults are having to scrimp on jobs that don't even keep them afloat (us included!). Hopefully something will come up soon. Derrek is doing good. He got sick, and that's never fun, but he keeps on going. He is grateful for his job, but it is really hard on his body (detailing cars) and hopes to find something better soon. He will be coming down here in a couple of weeks for Spring Break. That will be fun! This week we get to go see "Kid History 8". We are so excited. It will be fun and silly and with our friends!