New Mama...

Well, this week was actually very slow.  Scott was sick with the flu or something for the WHOLE week.  I don't remember the last time he was that sick.  Between the rest of us, we can't tell if we have a touch of what Scott has or allergies or both.  It FINALLY rained a lot yesterday and has helped with the allergies, but there is still some coughing going on, so I assume it was a little of both.  We really enjoyed the whole day of rain.  It has been a long time since we have seen anything.  We maybe had one day of snow up here and that is very rare for this time of year.  As soon as the rain hit, I was driving down the road and there are spurts of green popping up everywhere.  It's a nice change from the dreary brown.  It's amazing what life a little bit of water can do to...well, everything!  We also had a nice surprise yesterday...our cat, named Hooch (I call her "hoochy-mamma" for getting pregnant in the first place!), had her kittens.  Copper, the other cat, is not far behind.  We should have her litter here in a few weeks.  Here are pictures of Hooch with her 5 little kittens.

She had 3 orange ones, which I think are the same as the dad, and 2 black/grey ones like her.  Copper has been a wonderful Auntie and tries to keep them all warm.  She helped keep them clean and keep Hooch clean when things were, well, not so clean.  There are a few things I have learned about cats that I didn't before this whole thing.  It only takes them two months from start to finish to have kittens...they are almost as fast as rabbits and mice!  They actually have a very clean birthing area.  Cats are in heat pretty much any time they aren't pregnant or nursing.  Guess what is going to happen to Hooch in about 7 weeks?!?  Yep...no more kittens for her!  I found out also that the law of incest does not apply to cats after about 6 months of age.  Brother came by and got them pregnant.  So, needless to say, as much fun as this is and all...I'm with Bob Barker...get your cats spayed or neutered!!!  Dallen and Ashton think they need to keep at least one of this litter.  I haven't decided.  They really are good to have around and they haven't been any trouble except for the whole pregnant thing, which is fixable...so we'll see.  Maybe Copper's litter will be cuter?!?  We'll post pictures of their progress.  It is fun to have little ones around again :)  

We also got to be part of the Gilbert Temple Dedication.  We went to the 3:00 pm session for several reasons.  It was good.  Elder Callister gave a really good talk on why temples are important.  It made me want to go right then!  They said that starting on Tuesday and through the month of March, they already have 100 weddings scheduled for the temple and over 140 more with in the next few months!  Good thing they built it big!  Maybe Mesa Temple can have a little breather.  I am glad we got to go through it with the kids.  Did you know there were 33 dedicatory sessions for the Salt Lake Temple?  There are some people that were at all 33!  That's crazy!  I was looking at our Stake President and thought "I wonder if he's been here all day" and then when they said that the SLC had 33, I didn't feel so sorry for the Stake President anymore :).  They also mentioned that as of 1985 there were only 35 operating temples.  The Gilbert Temple make 142 operating temples as of today. It's just amazing.  Another talk that I liked was about finding our ancestor's names.  It was given by Elder Richards.  He explained how he felt there was no genealogy left for him to do because his great grandpa was president of the Genealogical Society for years and then his grandpa or father had a big role like that also.  He said that his ancestor was one of the first major contributors to the family search index.  He then mentioned that with the new technology and the new family search, he has now obtained over 700 family names that are currently being worked on.  He mentioned that he now has a monthly temple day with his endowed children and they do sealings.  I just love that idea.  Anyway, we'll see if that can ever happen, but I have found a new sense of "maybe I can do something" and I plan on having a family home evening with the ward family history person in our ward because she is amazing at all this and what better way to help someone in their calling by allowing them to do it?!?  We'll see if the rest are on board...maybe I will be doing this on my own.  Well, that is all for the week.  We are getting healthy again and we are reminded how blessed we have been because we have been so healthy.  We are grateful that it will go away, as there are those that it is a trial for life.   

Gilbert Temple

We were able to take some time and go down to Phoenix and visit with family and see the Gilbert Temple.  To be honest, it was gorgeous, but I REALLY love the murals that are painted, like in the Snowflake and Draper temples (and others, I'm sure, but these two are my favorite), and this temple doesn't have any of that.  Even still, it seriously was amazing and so beautiful.  I am glad we got to take the kids to go see it.  Calvin didn't want to go, so it was just Dallen and Ashton who went and we were lucky enough to have Mike and Laura and their family with us, too.  Scott tiled Heidi's bathroom (shower and floor) and we were there for "Omelet" with the Bowler clan and we also got to go to the park and hang out with everyone.  It got in some Chipotle, and that makes me very happy!  We had a great time and really didn't want to come back, but we had to.

Monday, when we were driving home, it was just me, Dallen and Ashton.  We stopped at Krispy Kreme on our way home because that is what Ashton wanted for his "birthday cake".  They were pulling them off the line just as they were coming out.  Dallen inhaled 3 before we got out of the parking lot!  Needless to say, it was a fun treat.  Scott stayed to finish the bathroom and I was picking him up the next day.  So, we were driving home and I drove to Payson because Ashton still makes me nervous in the city.  He doesn't seem to pay attention like I need him to and it freaks me out.  He asked if he could drive home from Payson, and I said "sure" because it's pretty much and straight shot.  So, we left Payson and started up the mountain rim and it started to snow, but it was just flurries and the ground was still VERY wet.  We were traveling up the rim and I was explaining to him the different sounds of the road (wet roads vs slushy, etc.).  I said "see, right now it is just water" and then we turned the corner and the roads were WHITE!  There was no in-between. He had to make his own road.  There weren't even any tracks to follow.  It was crazy.  So, I said a quick prayer "Heavenly Father, I need to be calm because if I'm not calm, this will be bad" and so after that, I was able to talk Ashton through it.  It was pure white roads for the next hour (in the dark, mind you!), but he handled it like a champ.  He was glad when it turned back to normal roads...and so was I!  Here are some pictures from the weekend...

February Birthday kids...Matt (12), Ashton (16), Emily (18), Abby (9?), Jeremy and Dallen (14)

Dallen hanging out with some of his cousins.

Dallen pushing Brianna with Cami, Hayley, Audrey, and Sam.

Dallen, Sam, and Matt

Gilbert Temple Open House

 Other things that happened this week...

Ashton turned 16!!!  This was the weirdest birthday ever.  He wanted all the money that I spend on his birthday (including cake, ice cream, etc.).  I told him if he does that, then we won't be having anything on his birthday.  He didn't care.  He wanted these headphones for his xbox and they were expensive.  So, he got the headphones, and then found out they didn't work.  He was so bummed.  So, now we have sent them back.  So, on his birthday, he went to school, went to a friend's after, I went to go get Scott, no ice cream or cake...nothing.  We hugged him and said "happy birthday", and that is all.  It was really weird for me, but Ashton didn't seem to mind.  He's so much like Scott in that way.  I guess every child is different.  He was ordained a Priest today and so he will be able to bless the Sacrament next week.  I can't believe he's 16!

I lost my job this week (on Ashton's birthday).  Construction business with no work...I know they will get work, and actually it is a blessing in disguise.  It was time for me to go.  We did okay, but it was like oil and water some days and she needs someone that is more compatible.  The more I am away from it, the more I realize this was best for all involved.  I pray she finds what she needs. So, we'll see what happens.  I just keep praying and hoping that there is something out there because we have been working really hard on keeping on our budget, but it doesn't work too well when a chunk of income is gone.  I applied for a position at the local bank as a teller, but who knows.  I tried to go introduce myself to the manager, but missed her each time.  I guess I'm not supposed to meet her!  But, I heard she is aware of my application and there are a couple friends here that have already called, knowing I need the job, and have told her about me.  I'm feeling loved, for sure!  Even if I don't get that job, I know we'll be okay...we always are.  Some days I just want to know how :).

Calvin started working at Sonic and likes it.  He loves that there is order and everyone knows their jobs and what is expected of them.  I guess he didn't feel the last place had that.  I told him Sonic has been around awhile and they know what works and doesn't work. Glad he is able to work again.

We found out our cat is pregnant.  For months we had been talking about needing to get them fixed and low and behold...she's fat!  We had caught her brother (whom the neighbors adopted) in our garage and didn't know if brotherly love was going to be a factor...well, it was.  We are just hoping it is the one and not both.  So, as soon as she has her litter...guess what is going to happen to her?!?  Never dull with our animals.  Oh, and our stupid chickens (see picture below) who have not laid a single egg, laid 4 of them while we were on vacation.  What the heck?!?  Have they laid any since we got back...NO!  Dumb chickens.

That's all for this week.  Derrek and Alec are doing good (check out their blogs).  Alec is going to see a therapist.  I always said that we shouldn't bother saving for college, but for their psychiatry bills.  I know I did the best I could, but they come from me and Scott, and they have had to deal with our inadequacies.  I am grateful that he is able to help straighten things out.  Therapy has done wonders for me and Scott.  It's just nice to have someone there to take the thoughts that rattle around and help make sense of them and give direction.  We hope that for Alec. I am proud of the boys.  They aren't afraid to face things and they are humble enough to admit when they need help.  I am so grateful for a wise mission President that is able to really listen and help.  It's a process going from a boy to a man, and sometimes I think it's a little harder these days because the boys haven't been required to step up like they are and a world that thinks they are silly to do so.  They are brave and have more to them than they know.  

 

Can we start the new year over?!?

I can't believe December is gone and so is January!  Well, I won't tell lots of stories, but we'll just do the highlights this week and then hopefully get back on track next week (not making any promises!).

Christmas was great.  We took fun pictures and then Scott's SD card crashed and they are all lost.  I was sad, but oh well...  We got to Skype my parents, Derrek, and Alec who are all serving missions.  We were on Skype for at least 5-6 hours that day, and if any of you know me...I don't like doing Skype, but I was so happy to see them and talk to them.  We had fun.  We tried to set it up so that Alec and Derrek could Skype each other, but Derrek couldn't hear Alec and so they were just able to wave to each other, which I thought was just as cool.  I think Alec called Derrek later.  Alec was VERY homesick that day.  It was really hard for him, but he made it and is doing good (go see his blog!).

We just hung out for Christmas break.  Scott and I had to work and so did Calvin, so Dallen and Ashton did what they do most...Dallen hung out outside and Ashton inside!  There is NO snow here, and it is almost eerie in a way.  Last year, the kids were sledding and having a great time, but not this year.  Dallen went on a Klondike campout with Scouts and there was NO SNOW!  I have NEVER heard of a Klondike campout without snow.  They raced their "sleds" in the dirt.  So crazy!  He had fun, though, and that's all that counts.  We do hope we get some moisture (snow or rain...we don't care at this point).  I hope we do because this area has been known to have some pretty nasty wildfires and lightening storms that start them.  We'll see what happens.

Calvin lost his job with Celebrations a couple weeks ago.  He handled it like a champ.  I really was SO impressed with his maturity in the whole situation.  He talked with his boss face to face and they both came to a mutual agreement that it was time for him to move on and he just told her that he really appreciated getting the opportunity to work for her and the things he's learned and just asked that she would give him a good reference.  She agreed to that.  I don't know all the details and I only hear his side of things, and even though he didn't feel it was completely fair with how he was let go and why, he handled it so much better than I have seen some adults handle it.  It was really a privilege to watch.  Someone said, "way to go, mom" and that is not correct...it was all Calvin.  We just found out today that he now will be working for Sonic in town.  I told him that my boyfriend in high school worked there and his hands always smelled like onions.  Funny the things we remember!  He thinks he'll be a cook and he's excited to start earning money again.  He likes the freedom.  That's the other thing, too.  He seriously has been amazing to watch through all of this.  He knew that he had one last paycheck to get and didn't know when his next job would be.  So, he chose to ride the bus to school and not waste his gas.  It's things like that where I think, I am pretty sure I would have thrown a fit!  Like I said, he has just been so fun to watch and I love seeing the young man he is.

Ashton turns 16 next week.  He's so bummed that he waited to get his permit.  We just left it in his hands as to when he was ready to take the test and he chose to do it 2 months after he was allowed.  So, he will get his license in April and believe me...he's counting down the days.

Work was CRAZY for Scott during the holidays.  It is interesting to see that people wait until they get through Christmas or New Years and then decide they are done.  We had a great Christmas day.  It was quiet and we really were able to enjoy it.  Then Friday hit and I think Scott had 7 cases between Friday and Monday.  Then New Years was kinda quiet and then the same thing.  I almost lost my job with  my neighbor because during the week of New Years, I was gone to Tuscon for trips every day.  One of the Police officers at the Medical Examiner's office in Tuscon said "I think I have seen you more this month and people I work with!"...he wasn't lying.  It was crazy.  So, I had to have a heart-to-heart with my boss and it was good.  I really needed it and so did she.  It was one of the hardest things I have ever done because there was a real fear of losing my job and it really is perfect, but I understand that my mortuary runs do take a toll on her, especially when we are so busy.  Everything is back on track for now and I am a little more conscious of her needs and she realized a lot of things, too.  She's a good person.

Okay, one last little story.  Last Sunday I was getting ready to walk out the door and this is what I almost stepped on...

Presents from our cats.  To the left is the bunny's head, then the body and a mouse.  I love our kitties.  They are awesome hunters, but please don't leave them at the door!  If you look close, you will see the guts of the bunny coming out the top (it looks like it's the head, but it's not...remember, that's to the left!).  Anyway, we came home and it was gone!  Licked clean!  So, now we think the cats were bringing gifts to Shep and Angel because that's who cleaned up the mess.  Dallen was glad because he was the designated cleaner of the mess because he has the most animals, but the dogs did it for him.  So gross!!!  Good ole' country life!

This week we get to go down to Phoenix and Mike and Laura are coming with their family and new addition, Marcus.  We are so excited to see everyone down there.  We get to go through the Gilbert Temple open house, too.  Calvin has to stay home because he has too many absences at school and now he has a new job he is starting.  We will miss having him, but grateful for the job.