Summertime...

We are in full swing as far as summer is concerned.  We've already had some fun activities happen.  First of all, Calvin graduated!!!!  YAY!!!  We weren't sure he was going to make it because he had to finish an on-line math class (not his strongest subject), and having the discipline to do it on-line sometimes is really hard (from experience!).  Anyway, he buckled down and passed the class.  He did really well.  Here are some pictures of us and a couple of his friends on Graduation Day (May 23rd)

Dallen, Calvin, Ashton (they are catching up in height!)

Calvin and parents (I'm pretty sure we have shrunk!)

Calvin with friend, Justin (soon to be roommates)

Calvin's other good friend, J. J.

It was a good evening and then Calvin was off to grad night, which he said was horrible, but he won a "Chrome" plug-in and it's been pretty cool for him.  He was hoping to score big like Alec did last year.  They really need to change things with grad night.  It's really horrible and the reason they do it is so that the kids won't go and drink, but it is so horrible that it makes the kids WANT to drink (not really, but it is that bad!).  Calvin has decided to move down to the Valley.  He wants to get settled and then start school in January.  He doesn't know what he wants to do, so he is taking his time.  He is very money conscious and so he is taking things slow.  He quit his job here at Sonic and so it is official that he is going to move.  They just have to find a place to live.  We'll see what happens in the next week or so.  He will be living with Justin (above) who is already down there working.  It will be a good experience for them.

Ashton just completed his sophomore year.  He will be a Junior now.  He pretty much has a job at Sonic, now that Calvin has left, and so they said they would finalize things with that this week.  Hope it goes well.  It isn't sure until it's for sure!  He was able to go to EFY in Flagstaff.  Here are some pictures of him and his group.  

This is his group and counselor.  His cousin, Zac is in the back (right)

Girls and Guys....Ashton can never be serious!

Jessica caught Ashton's eye :)

This last weekend they had an EFY "reunion" (it's only been a week since they last saw everyone!).  Most of the kids are from Phoenix/Gilbert and surrounding areas.  They went to the temple, breakfast and hung out all day.  I am not sure if they went to the dance that night, but Ashton said it was a possibility.  He came home a different person.  Last year was good, but something changed him this year.  Anyway, it was an awesome experience and one that will definitely stay with him forever!

Dallen has been gone for 2 weeks at Philmont Scout Ranch.  Scott went for one of the two weeks.  He said it was super hard, but the boys had some really fun experiences.  Dallen said he really like rappelling and he also really liked having church out in the middle of no-where.  They had a really spiritual sacrament/testimony meeting and Scott said all the boys were bawling because they were all touched.  It's good to have them home. 

We also have 11 kittens now.  Here are a couple of pictures.  They hopefully will be leaving our home soon.  They are 4 and 5 weeks old (we can't tell them apart, so we have to go by the younger group as to not wean them too early).  They have been fun to play with.  The mama's are getting fixed next week.  No more of this!  

We have 7 black stripe and 4 orange stripe.  They are just starting to get curious and it makes me nervous from childhood experiences of them resting on the wheels or engine of the car...and not surviving!  Anyway, it's fun.  

This week we are going to Phoenix for Charity's (Heidi's oldest daughter) mission farewell.  She leaves for the Tacoma Washington mission in a week or so and we are so excited for her.  We just got Derrek's release date...September 19th, he'll be flying into Phoenix!  Alec is hitting his 1 year mark soon.  Time seems to have flown by this last year.  

Time management...or lack of it!

I have realized in the last couple months that my time management is WAY out of whack.  Since the last post, there have been changes!  First, ALL the kittens that were born, died.  How sad is that?  The longest one of them lived was 2 weeks.  The mama cats had a cold and the babies caught it and then they died.  It was really sad.  But, never fear...we missed the window of opportunity to have them spayed, and they are both about to give birth again.  Being the first time cat owner, I didn't know when I could have them fixed because on all the websites I looked at, they said wait until the mother has nursed 6 weeks, but I guess I could have done it after all the kittens had died!  Anyway, lessons learned and we are a little excited to try it again.  My friend that has raised cats for 40 years gave me tips and so we'll see if it goes better this time.

I went horse-back riding for the first time in 12 years!

I was able to get two new jobs.  I have been working at one for about 5-6 weeks and the other for about 3 weeks.  I REALLY love my new jobs.  One is for the local restaurant, Celebrations, that Calvin did the dishes for this past year.  I really feels like I am just at a Relief Society function, working in the kitchen and prepping food and serving for an activity or something.  I work Fridays and Saturdays there, either in the morning shift or the evening shift.  I really love to cook and I have already learned some great recipes!  Of course, I can't give them away, but they are GOOD!  The other job came because the mother of the owner of Celebrations needed someone that had done books before, and my first day at Celebrations, she kept bugging Julie (the owner) for my number so that she could steal me.  She didn't even know me!  She called a couple weeks later and Julie is awesome because I didn't want to let her down and I really like working there, so I am able to do the bookkeeping job Monday through Thursdays and then on Friday and Saturday I am working at Celebrations.  I am learning a new program called Infinite Visions and I appreciate that it is a very thorough program and can understand why government agencies and especially schools use it.  It is not as pretty or user friendly as Quickbooks, but I am growing to appreciate it.  We work with all the Grant and Charter schools on the reservations here in the State of AZ.  It brings me back to the days of working at the Multi-cultural Financial Aid office at BYU where I processed and helped collect funds for all the American Indian students there and I feel I am right back there.  That was probably my best job ever and this one is becoming one of my favorites, also.  I am doing payroll and accounts payable and Jim, who has been doing payroll, is really a good teacher.  I really have appreciated his patience and his ability to let go of it and allow me to learn.  He probably has more trust in me than I do in myself, but it helps me to think, "well, if he thinks I can do it, then I probably can!".  Anyway, it is a family business.  Rita is the owner, and her two daughters and son-in-law (Jim) and one other guy work for her.  Anyway, they are all really nice and supportive and it is nice to feel competent again.  I appreciate my old job teaching me about payroll and Arizona taxes, as I didn't know much about that before.  I wasn't going to take the job at Celebrations because I knew the ladies that worked there and I didn't want to ruin anything with that, but felt strongly that I should.  Then I was glad because I liked it and then I got another job because of that job!  I can see that by taking this job and learning this program it is setting me up for the ability to work for schools and is a great asset for me.  I am really grateful for the opportunity and can't believe it is real.

But, this all leads me to time management!  I have not been able to get done the things that I feel are more important than these jobs and that is visiting teaching and temple attendance and focusing more on my calling and helping others.  These things are the things that truly make me happy.  So, this next week, that is my new focus.  I am going to figure out my time and make sure those things are at the top of the list and not the bottom.

Ashton getting his driver's license!

School gets out this week and the kids are ready.  I can't believe Dallen will be a Freshman and Ashton a Junior!  Calvin is graduating and wants to move out.  He pretty much doesn't live here anyway.  He is planning on moving to an apartment here in town with his friends and going to Northern Pioneer College here until he figures out what he would like to do.  He's been toying with the Army idea, but it doesn't seem to stick, so who knows.  He is really an amazing artist and I hope he is able to find somewhere he can use that talent.  He is truly gifted.  Ashton is looking for a job and gets to go to EFY this year.  Every week he has made plans to go "bug" someone about a job.  It's not necessarily every day, but the fact that he sets weekly goals and follows through is such a great life skill!  Ashton recently got his driver's license and loves running errands for me.  It's nice to be able to have someone take Dallen where he needs to go or run into town to get groceries for me.  I will miss the days when they are all gone :)  Dallen has a summer job with a guy in our ward and goes and helps lay sprinklers and does yard work.  Dallen has always like doing that kind of stuff.  He worked for him last summer and that's how he was able to buy his horse this last year.  He was pro-active, also, and called the guy and asked if he needed help this summer.

Scott finishes his internship in June.  I can't believe we are done and he will be able to do this anywhere.  Jason really wants to make sure we stick around and so he and Scott have been talking about Scott running a second funeral home for him and then he would get experience being a manager and then he would be able to have that on his resume, also.  I told Scott we aren't moving for at least 4 years (until Dallen is gone), but the fact that Jason wants to make sure he does stay, he is making it very difficult for us to want to ever leave!

Autumn

Charity

Other things that have happened in the last few months...Scott's sister, Jennie, had her baby and named her Autumn.  She is really cute and sweet.  A few days after that, we were able to be there with Wes as he was confirmed into the Catholic church.  It was very important to him and we are glad we were able to support him in his decision and be there.  It was important for us to be there.  We got to spend Easter with Scott's family and that was fun.  Charity, Heidi's daughter, is leaving for her mission to Tacoma Washington in July.  We are so excited for her.  We will miss her tons, but it will fly by.  We can't believe that Derrek is coming home (also my Parents!) and Alec has been out for almost a year!

Grant

My sister, Jenette had her baby, Grant, and she is going well.  I am sad I wasn't able to go help her, but I kept feeling like I needed to tell her I couldn't and didn't know why.  Then I got the new job and it started the week she had him.  I then knew why I needed to stay.  I didn't even go to Women's Conference this year which was a big deal, but the whole time I felt at peace and knew this year was not a year I could or needed to go.  We can't wait to meet him!

Henry

 Another nephew we haven't met is Henry.  Kent and Amy had their baby in March and we are so happy for them.  Chris (their oldest son) is getting ready to have his baby (well, wife Christina is) in June.  Can't wait to see their baby.  Anyway, here is a picture of Henry...love all these babies!

 So, as you can see, things are going good for now here in Taylor.  We are healthy and feel very blessed and can't believe we are where we are after the last three years of struggling.  We are grateful to all the family and friends that have helped and for the lessons we have learned.  We have become better people because of it and although I never want to go through that again, I am grateful that it happened.

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.