End of Summer

I realized, once again, that I haven't posted things that have happened.  We had a REALLY fun reunion with the Bowler family at Jacob Lake.  I only had two kids there!  Calvin decided to not come with us because he was moving the next few days after we got back and he felt it would be too stressful for him...Here are some of the pictures from that...

Watching the herd of buffalo

The whole group!!!  Jennie and Wes and their 2 kids were the only family not represented.

 They took a day and went to the North Rim.  I didn't feel like going...been there a million times and just wanted to relax, so I got to snuggle with Marcus.  The rest of them got to see a herd of Buffalo.  Dallen LOVED this because we watch nature shows all the time and to see them live was a treat (especially for my animal loving son!).  There were plenty of other things...catching critters, playing with cousins, writing letters to missionaries (we have 4 out in the family!).  We had a movie night, made paracord bracelets.  That was fun!  Lots of games, food, some napping, showers, rain, and a great weekend.  

Megan, Zac, Ashton, Jeremy, Dallen, Paul

Dallen with Aunt Kathie

The "cool" 16 year olds (Emma escaped the picture!)

Movie night...

Dallen writing to the missionaries

Dallen and his buddy

Cami LOVED that Dallen and Ashton wanted to take a picture with her.

It really was a fun time and I'm glad we got to go.  It's always iffy because of the car or work or something else always comes up, but we were grateful we were able to go.

We got home and a couple days later, I ended up heading down to the Valley to move Calvin.  I literally had 24 hours to move him.  I got off work at 3 from my bookkeeping job, got Calvin and all his stuff, said goodbye to Scott, got to Heidi's to spend the night, ran to the mall to buy school clothes for Dallen because he was starting school in less than a week, woke up early the next morning, dropped off Calvin and his stuff and made it back to Taylor 5 minutes before I had to go to work at my other job!  Here are some pictures of that 24 hours :)

Calvin saying goodbye to his dad

Calvin moving his stuff in...

All moved in!

Dallen having a little fun on the drive home.  He and Alec used to do this...put pieces of chips on the end of their fingers and have the wind hold them there.  Entertainment for at least a good hour!

Calvin is doing good there.  He and his roommate are working out the kinks.  It's hard getting used to how others do things.  But, they are learning.  The first week was hard for him.  He didn't have a job and was super stressed because he literally used his last dollar to move into the apartment.  He had to put about $600 or more into his car right before the move and it about killed him!  But, he needed the car and we sacrificed going to St. George to be there for my parent's homecoming, so that we could help him get settled and a little money so that he could buy gas to go look for a job.  I don't think I have ever seen him hit the pavement so hard to look for a job!  He had a job within 5 days.  He is working at "Queen Creek Cafe".  He moved to San Tan Valley and I didn't realize how far south it was from Phoenix.  It took us an hour and a half to get to his apartment from Heidi's house!  That was hard because he was homesick the first week and had no gas money to go visit family.  He survived, though :).  Anyway, his job...he started out as prepping/dishwashing/grunt and within a week, they moved him up to a cook.  He was even training another new kid!  His days at Celebrations and Sonic have really helped him for this job.  Today, he told us that they are now training him as a bouncer!  What?!?  A bouncer?!  I have ALWAYS thought Calvin should do something in law enforcement or something like that.  We even tried to get him a job as a corrections officer at the jail just a 1/2 hour away.  Anyway, he can't do it on his own until he turns 19 because it's against the law for him to work in the bar area until he's 19, but he can train...that's legal.  He said last night he had to break up a Samoan guy and a much smaller guy and he was freaking out!  But, he did it and everything went well.  So, we'll see what happens with all that.  He really is doing good and he's happy.  I love that he calls and tells us.  

The next week, school started.  My parents got home from their mission the same week, also.  They got home on Tuesday, and school started Wednesday.  Actually, my parents got delayed in Rome and missed their flight in Paris, so they didn't get home until Wednesday, but they are home and off visiting grandbabies they haven't seen yet!  

Dallen and Ashton are in high school this year.  It is AWESOME having all my kids in one school again.  It hasn't happened since they were all in Elementary together (Dallen went to pre-school at that school, too!).  Plus, our high school has Fridays off and now all my kids have Fridays off!  If we wanted a 3-day weekend, we could take it!  Anyway, they are really liking their classes this year.  Ashton said his favorite is film and media class.  I could totally see Ashton liking that.  Dallen said he really likes having Seminary last.  He said "I just come home happy!".  I think he's the first of my children to EVER say something like that.  He is happy, though, and if it's because of seminary, then that is even better.  Here is a picture of their first day...

Dallen - Freshman, Ashton - Junior (August 6, 2014)

That's about all the news we have here.  Derrek and Alec are doing well on their missions.  Alec will be turning 20 next week!  I can't believe I'll have another in his 20's.  Those two have sure grown into amazing young men.  I love watching them and am grateful I get to be a part of their life.  Work is going good.  I have realized how to balance things.  I gave a lesson a few months ago in Relief Society and it was about visiting teaching.  There is a great talk from Sister Julie Beck that she gave at a Women's Conference I was able to go to and she gave the analogy of the rocks, pebbles, sand, water and if you don't put the right things as a priority, it will never fit, but if you put the rocks in (the important things, the must do), then the pebbles (the less important, but still need to be done), the sand (the "nice to do" things) and the water (everything left over to do), then you will find you can get it all done.  Anyway, I have a pile of rocks in a jar by my kitchen sink to remind me of this because I knew I get out of balance.  I was way out of balance since starting these two jobs.  I was feeling out of balance and just felt like I wasn't paying attention to the things that I feel should be a priority and I have reorganized myself to take care of those things first.  For me those things are going to the temple, doing my visiting teaching, visiting other sisters that I think of, church, scripture study, etc.  I have demanded time for those and all the other things seem to fall into place.  I have found time to exercise whereas before it was nearly impossible.  I have found time to bake and take things to others.  I have found time to hang out with my kids and be a little more present.  I have found time to go on dates with Scott.  We even found time to go help someone save his corn (story below).  All the while, I have been able to have all my hours at work and do all these things.  It's not all perfect, but I have definitely felt the wisdom from the words of Sister Beck and am grateful for that guidance.  

I just have to show this pretty picture of what we get to see daily here during July and August.  Along with it comes some nasty rain and wind if you are under it! As you can see...someone is getting it!  We had a HUGE storm come through our neighborhood and it was crazy!  A member of our ward planted a large garden this year and when that storm came through, it came so fast that the rain made mud which allowed the wind to blow over his corn.  I got a phone call from a sister asking to send out a text (that's my job in the RS) to all the sisters to see who could help save the corn. We had about an hour before it got dark (he didn't think he could save it and another member of our ward convinced him it could be saved).  It really sounded so funny to me, but I knew it needed to be done.  I love our ward because the minute the sisters got the message, there were 10 cars there!  Scott and I were on our way back from a movie and stopped and grabbed Dallen and went to save some corn (stood it back up and packed dirt/mud around it).  It was definitely a first!  It was fun.  My allergies did not like me, so I came home and took a couple benedryl and went to bed!  But, I would do it all over again :) 

Working hard...

We have been doing good the past few weeks.  Lots of work opportunities in the summer and we are grateful for that.  This last week, Dallen and Ashton have been helping a couple of sisters clean out their mom's house, who passed away a year ago.  The mom was sort of a hoarder and so there is a TON of stuff.  This is good and bad for my boys because I have taught them to find treasure in trash (so to speak) and so while the sisters are throwing things away, my kids are wanting to dumpster dive!  It hasn't been that bad, but close.  They sisters made a deal with the boys.  There is a car there that was their mom's.  It isn't anything fancy and right now it doesn't even work.  They think it is just a dead battery from sitting so long and the mom was a shut-in and never really went anywhere.  It was filled with junk, though!  Anyway, they offered the boys the car for working this last week.  Ashton's eyes were BIG with excitement.  One of the days, the boys were taking a break in the car and the sisters came back from lunch and they asked Dallen and Ashton what they were doing and Ashton with his arm hanging on the steering wheel said "chillin'".  They thought that was funny and said, "well, you haven't earned it yet, so let's get back to work".  It was a good experience for the boys and the sisters have called Scott several times telling him that they really enjoyed the boys over there and that they are good kids and have a pleasant demeanor about them.  So, they finished the job and should be able to try and jump the car this week and at least get it over to our house.  One of the sisters is going to call the DMV and see what needs to be done to transfer it into Ashton's name!  I'm excited for them and it has really been a great experience.  If anything, they can you-tube how to fix it!

While working, though, Ashton had a couple little accidents.  He did this to his lip (well, actually Dallen threw something at him that was metal and it hit Ashton in the lip and went through!).  We had to go to insta-care because I was afraid of what would happen if food got in it and stuff.  It was big enough to stitch, but the doctor said it would abscess and so he left it open and gave us an anti-biotic to rinse with.  It is starting to heal.  Then a couple days later, he had stepped on a nail and it went into his foot.  Good thing we already got him a tetnis shot from the lip accident and so we are good!  I am not sure I could afford much more of this job!.

Speaking of jobs, Ashton is now officially working at Celebrations as a dish washer.  He is doing what Calvin did.  He works every day this week except Thursday.  That's a lot of dishes to wash!  Anyway, he seems to like it and it will be good for me to not be around him and the other ladies will have to teach him how to do things.  He actually is pretty good and knows what needs to be done.  Dallen will probably help out next week because all the dishwashers will be gone and then he can earn some money.   I am grateful for the opportunities they have been given.

Calvin is going down to Phoenix for a couple of job interviews.  Keep your fingers crossed!!!  One is for Target and I am not sure about the others.  He will be down there while Charity (his cousin) gets ready to leave for her mission this Wednesday!  She will be missed.

at the rodeo!  

We got to go to the Rodeo for the 4th of July.  It was actually held on the 5th.  I worked on the 4th and because nothing was going on in town for the 4th (because it was all being held on the 5th), working wasn't that big of a deal.  The rodeo is always fun.  Except...it's monsoon season and sure enough...the clouds rolled in.  It poured on us.  We usually stay, but it started lightening and I get nervous sitting on the metal bleachers while it is lightening.  I kinda wished we stayed because 10 minutes later, it let up and the rodeo was back on.  We saw most of it.  Just didn't get to see the barrel racing and the bull riding.  Those are my two favorites.  I just have to post this picture of Dallen.  He was so excited to wear his hat and boots.  He is the cutest cowboy :).  I'm glad I got one!  Now I just need one that wants to play sports and then I can die happy!  I might have him convinced about that, too...we'll see.

 Here is another thing that happened a couple of weeks ago.  Ashton managed to get in his first accident.  Luckily it wasn't a bad one, but my car seemed to get the brunt of it!  He was pulling out onto Main and it was dusk.  The other car looked like it was in the far lane and so Ashton turned right into the close lane.  Well, the car wasn't in the far lane and Ashton clipped the guy's back tire (hence the black marks on the bumper).  The guy was really nice about it and Ashton was given a ticket for not yielding.  He has to go to court on Wednesday to see what his ticket will be because that's how they do it here.  I keep wondering if taking them to court helps the kids to be more conscious of what they do.  It seems to be working for my boys!  I have been there with every one except Dallen (Derrek doesn't count because he's never lived here).  Anyway, good thing Ashton has a job and also that it wasn't worse than it could have been!

One last picture. So, Scott had all week off, literally.  It wasn't planned, but he had a lot of extra comp hours that needed to be used and they weren't busy at the mortuary, so Jason said for him to take the week off.  So, Scott took the boys camping in Show low area at Scott's reservoir (fitting, I know!).  They took canoes up there and had a good time.  Calvin even went and we love it when Calvin still wants to do things with the family.  Anyway, I couldn't go because it was in the middle of the week and I needed to go to work.  Scott actually came back one of the mornings so that they could take the cats to get fixed (yay!), but that's beside the point.  Anyway, one of the nights they were gone, I decided to do something from Pinterest.  I love that site and I pin stuff all the time, so every now and then I decide to try stuff that I see.  I was feeling festive and sometimes for work we make cakes and I thought this would be fun since I was head cook on the 3rd and working on the 4th.  But, I needed to see how it looked before I served it to people!  It turned out ok. The cake was from scratch, and I think I would find a different, better tasting recipe.  This one was okay, but tons of butter and I'm not a huge fan of tons of butter.  The boys said it was good.  Anyway, I didn't get to do it for the restaurant because someone had already made another cake, but that's okay...it wasn't perfected at home yet :).  Maybe next year!

Well, that should catch us up for now.  July is already in full gear.  The calendar has the 1st day of school on it already and so it won't be long until we are doing that again!  So excited to have both boys in high school this year.  They have Friday's off and so we can probably do more...well, if I'm not working so much!

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.