Ready for Summer?!?

I got back from BYU Women's Conference and I hit the ground running!  I don't remember being this busy in the past couple of years (since we left St. George).  I think the biggest thing is that the mortuary has been SUPER busy.  They have had 25 cases in the last 3 weeks!  I don't know what is happening around here.  Most of them are from the reservation.  It is sad. Scott has finally had a weekend off for the first time in almost a month.  It has just been crazy.  We are grateful that the families pick our mortuary because there are many others they could choose.  We feel blessed.  Other things that have been going on...

ALEC GOT HIS MISSION CALL!!!  I can't believe I haven't blogged about that yet!  Like I said...it's been crazy around here.  Alec is going to the Denver Colorado South Mission.  He is really excited.  I love that the day after his call, he said "I am really excited" and then told us of reasons he was so happy to go to Colorado.  I was just in awe as I listened to him say that "it will be one of the prettiest  mission in the country" and "I get to speak English" and "even though I'll be away from home, it will still be close, so it won't seem like I'm that far away".  I didn't hear one negative thing come out of his mouth.  What a blessing for him to have a positive attitude and find the good, especially because this is his choice and I feel he truly knows that the Lord knows him.  One friend said, "this will be great because then the people that he baptizes, he will be able to go through the temple with them whether he's home or not.  He'll always be close to them".  I never thought of that!  This friend's son is going to the Denver North mission!

The kids are out of school.  Even though their grades don't reflect much, I am proud of the boys.  They have not had it easy with all the school switching and having to start over the past few years.  Alec and Dallen have probably done the best and Ashton just takes things in stride and Calvin, while fighting things at first, is starting to settle down and look at the good.  I was laughing because we were celebrating that Calvin and Ashton got D's in some of their classes because they would have had to take Summer School and would have had to pay for it.  So, we were happy for them that they were able to accomplish that!  They know they could have done better, but the first half of the year seemed to be dedicated to coming to terms with being here.  Alec and Dallen, like I said, did great and had a great year and have made a lot of friends.  I don't think I've ever seen Alec so happy with himself and life in general.  Such a blessing to a mother!  Here are pictures of Alec's graduation...

I love the picture of Alec with me and Scott and Dallen because it was taken by Calvin looking down on us! He's so tall!  After graduation, Alec went to Grad night.  He said it was the most boring one EVER.  They literally went to the community center and ate and talked all night.  There were no decorations.  There was a little bit of music that Alec said was dumb and someone went and plugged in their ipod and then people started dancing and having fun, but then the music was being dj'ed by the Juniors and Sophomores and they got all mad that the Seniors were trying to take over the music, so they switched it back and then stood by it the rest of the night.  Then they had to go home before it was over because they had a city curfew!  The Grad Night was basically bribing all the kids to come there and get prizes so they won't go out and get drunk.  The later they stay, the more prizes that are offered.  It went from 10-3 and Alec said before he went "I'm staying until I win something!".  He was so funny about it.  Well, it turns out, it paid off because he won a laptop and a printer!  He said the whole night, he got nothing and there were others that were getting called all night.  They could keep two and if they got called for a third one, then they could trade one of the others.  He said that it was literally the last two prizes and he was ready to head home.  It was 3 am and it was over and then they called his name!  He was so excited and exhausted!  He came home and then was up at 6 am!!!  That kid and his early morning rising!  He's been that was since birth.  I think he was too excited about his prize and wanted to play with it because Ashton told me that Alec came in and plugged his nose to wake him up so that Ashton could give him the wi-fi password.  Anyway, he's had a good week.  He also went to Disneyland on his Senior trip (before graduation).  Here are some pictures I snagged off his friend's facebook pages...

They went to Six Flags and Disneyland and home.  The whole trip was $280 with hotel, food, park entrances, and travel.  I think it was a great deal!  I was so glad he got to go.  

Dallen won a bike this last week at school.  He had been complaining every day that school was pointless for the last week and he didn't want to go.  But, I told him he would have plenty of chances to stay home all summer and he needed to go.  So, much to his dismay...he went.  Then I get a call from a guy in our ward who is a teacher and he said "Your son won a bike and I was going to bring him home with it, but I have to get permission, cause, you know, I just have to do that being a teacher and all."  I thought it was so nice of him to do that for us.  So, here is Dallen with his new bike!

Then today we decided we would go pick up a couple cats from some friends in our ward.  NO ONE spades or neuters their animals here...I think we are the only ones!  I saw a sign at the humane society that said "money in to help spay or neuter"...sweet!  That's where I'm going soon!  Dallen and Ashton are going to pay for theirs to be done and I'll pay for the other one.  We were just going to get two and had two, but then our neighbors took the rest of the litter and decided to only keep two and had to get rid of two, so they came to our house, and since they are going to be out door cats and the chances of survival are small right now, we decided to go ahead and get another.  It's almost like they are disposable out here...it's weird for me because I get too attached and can't imagine any animal as "disposable" (Scott has no problem!).  Anyway, here is a picture of the three we got.  They really are cute.  

We are all doing really well, though, and feel very blessed.  Alec is really ready to leave on his mission and he's really excited to go through the temple.  Our nephew, Chris, will be getting married July 19th in the St. George temple and I am so excited because Alec will be able to attend the wedding in the temple.  I can't wait for him to see what he will be able to have.  I am going to miss him, though.  Scott is working hard and getting ready to work on the back yard.  We have so many friends here and everyone is so willing to help and give all the advice they have learned.  We are so grateful.  We are finding our niche here in Taylor and are really loving this experience.  

Last but not least, I almost forgot...our first day of Summer and we are in Insta-care with stitches!  Ashton went to go wash the van and the hose was tangled near a broken tv and he somehow scraped his hand across the broken glass.  I was making a candy lei for Alec's graduation (turned out cute!), and in comes Ashton saying "I think I can either see my tendon or my bone"...WHAT?!?  I said, "are you serious?!?" and then he showed me...

yep!  He needed stitches!  We found out that it was his ligament that he was seeing.  He was fascinated by it moving when he moved his fingers.  Funny boy.  Before we left for the doctor, he said, "mom, we have to take a picture of it!"  Made me proud...I have trained them well!!!

 Here is a picture of Ashton at the doctors.  He wasn't happy that I took his picture, but he's the one that said we had to document this :).

This all happened a couple hours before Alec was to graduate and I was kind of freaking out that I was going to miss it!  I figured worse case we would get there late and at least Scott would be there.  We managed to get there 5 minutes before it started and there was not a seat left in the stands.  I was almost in tears, but then our friends found us and squished three of us right next to them and Calvin and Ashton sat on a couple benches below us.  It was crazy.  Our friends said that usually when they have to come, they are there for other family members (this year their daughter graduated) and they sit in their truck on the other side of the field until it's about over and then walk onto the field like they were in the stands the whole time.  I thought that was funny, but it's seriously something to think about next year!  They were there an hour and a half early and the stands had blankets EVERYWHERE saving spots.  They had to basically take over other people's saved spots and so that made me feel better about showing up 5 minutes before it started because it was just as hard to get a seat an hour and a half earlier!  We were grateful they squished us in.  It made the graduation that much more enjoyable!  Ashton is doing better and will get the stitches out in a week or so.  He will be at Scout camp and so I'm not sure how that is going to work, but it will somehow.

Alec and Calvin and Scott have a Priest quorum "Top Shot" activity this week.  Three days of shooting all different types of gun and all different types of targets.  I'm even told they are going to have some targets that explode when they hit them.  They are going to have a real fun time.  They are going to a cabin, the bishop's wife is cooking their food and they get to shoot guns the whole time.  I told Scott he HAD to take pictures.  I'm excited for them.  Dallen and Ashton and I will have to make our own fun :).  Then next week they are off to Scout camp and the Summer is off to a running start!  I'm just glad we aren't moving this Summer....two summers in a row is enough for me for awhile!

BYU Women's Conference...and other things...

BYU Women's Conference was this last week.  I REALLY love going.  It seems I go just in time to need specific direction or answers to things I am stuck on in my life.  Then after going, I get to work on that for a year until next year and then new questions come up and they are once again answered.  We had a great time.  Here are a couple pictures of us.  I don't have all the pictures because, well...I didn't bring my camera.

We had Me (of course), Scott's sisters - Heidi, Wendy, and Kathie, our sister-in-laws Rebecca and Laura, and Kathie's friend, Laurel, and Wendy's friend, Annette (they are both more like family, too!).  We had a great time.  Lots of good food, laughs, and learning.  The weather was PERFECT!  Usually it rains or even snows one of the days, but this year it did it the day before we all came.  It was perfect.  There are a couple stories that I think are so funny...

First, there was a class on controlling your tempers.  Kathie, Rebecca, Laura, and someone else decided to go (can't remember the other).  You aren't supposed to save seats, but Kathie and Rebecca were saving them for the others and this lady comes and starts pestering them about "you can't save seats".  Kathie and Rebecca said the people are right outside and basically ignored her...or tried.  So, she stood at the end of the row and was glaring at them!  Kathie had to go to the bathroom and left Rebecca there all by herself.  The lady didn't budge and she stood at the end of the isle glaring.  Rebecca kept looking the other way and didn't want to make any eye contact with the lady.  As I was hearing this story, I started laughing because I realized two things...1.  This was a class about controlling your temper...this lady was in the right spot!  2.  In all the time she used to glare at them, she could have easily found another seat!  I really hope she found one after all...she needed that class!

Then on Thursday we were doing the service stations.  We were making "Cold Kits" for those who need to bundle up (probably homeless).  So, we were cranking them out (there were about 11,000 kits that were being made...it was AMAZING.  Rebecca has my pictures of that).  Anyway, as I was helping, one of the ladies that was next to me said "have you ever lived in Las Vegas?"  And I said, "Yes, for about 3 years".  She said, "Do you know the Bennetts and the Pattersons?"  And I said, "YES!"  She said, "I recognized your name from the ward cookbook because I use your recipes all the time!"  I about died!  She is now in that ward and so we were able to talk about all those I knew and who had moved and who had stayed.  It was so fun.  Then we said our goodbyes.  Then the next day, we went to go hear President Eyring speak and I go to sit down and who is beside me?!?  Yep, Pat Hammons....the lady I was talking to the day before.  It was fun to see her again and so she took our picture together (again...no camera) to show our friends back in Vegas.  I thought it was funny that she recognized my name from a cook book! 

I got to eat lunch with my friends from Oklahoma, Amy Bingham Jensen and Tonya White Jones.  It is so fun to talk to them and the experiences they are having with their kids and family.  Amy is my favorite and I truly treasure her friendship.  She took me to my first concert, Huey Lewis and the News and then to Chicago's concert.  We had fun together and still do.  She married a "Scott", too and we laugh about that all the time. We try to get together every Women's Conference and it is something I truly look forward to.

I brought goodies home for the kids, including BYU mint brownies...two little pans full, but did anyone get any?!? Only Ashton!  He ate BOTH pans of brownies all by himself.  I couldn't believe it.  

Other things...Here is our Chicken Coop finished...well, almost finished.  Scott forgot to put on a door so that we could get in and out.  He didn't think it was a big deal until he had to figure out how to get the food out that they placed in the coop.  So, I am sure this next weekend, he will be adding a door...But, here it is now...

We moved the chickens in and they are SO happy with all the room.  They are fun to watch and the dogs, especially Angel, love to see them.  

We are going to get a couple kittens soon, too.  They keep the mice away which keep the snakes away, which is good considering I just saw a rattlesnake not too far from our property...YIKES!  We will have to keep them in the garage until they are a little bigger because the owls and hawks take them away as well as other animals.  Crazy!  Then my friend told me yesterday that Dallen can "have her horse"!  WHAT?!?  I told her he needed to pay something for it and so we came to the agreement that we would re-address it in September or October because then Dallen can work all summer and see where he is for buying all that goes with the horse.  It is an older horse, but perfect for a first time owner.  Dallen was so excited and more determined than ever.  My friend also said that she would sell him the bridle and all the stuff (except a saddle) that go with the horse for really cheap.  She said she understood that if the child pays for it, he will be more likely to take better care of things.  So, we are going to be working on seeing whether or not we can do this for Dallen...it's asking a lot, but I would really love to give him the opportunity.  Sometimes I think I'm crazy!

The other night for Family Night we made Funnel Cakes.  For some reason I have been wanting them, reminding me of Oklahoma, missing Oklahoma.  So, we made them.  I was not feeling well, but we were going to do it or bust!  

We were chuckling because the boys seemed to not understand what "a dusting of powder sugar" was.  They didn't care, though.  And, can I just tell you....they were the best I've had in a long time.  Calvin and Alec missed out because right after prayer, they ditched us to go play basketball.  So, Scott, Dallen, Ashton, and I played a game and ate some yummy funnel cakes.  It was perfect.  

So, Calvin is now thinking of staying here for next year.  Things are falling through for his place to stay in St. George and the others that have offered, he would have to go to church and stuff, and he doesn't want to do that in his life, right now.  So, I am glad. He and Alec took the ACT test.  Alec got a 25 without studying and Calvin got a 19 (he wants to take it again).  Alec is just planning to put everything on hold and since he is going to just go to a Junior College his first year back, he isn't going to worry about applying before he leaves on his mission.  We are hoping his call comes this week.  It has been assigned...they just need to mail it. 

Mother of boys...

There are certain times when I realize that I miss out on things because I have all boys.  That came up this weekend as Alec took someone to Prom.  Where are the pictures?!?  Well, I don't have them yet because usually the pictures are taken at the girl's house which is the reason I am sad sometimes I don't have girls...I don't get to enjoy that excitement with the kids...So, I guess, I'll just tell what I know about it :). 

Alec asked a girl named Hannah Caldwell.  He had this great idea to freeze a note, asking her to prom, in a bucket of water and then making her hammer through the ice to get to the note.  As in Alec style, the night before he wants to ask her, he said, "hey mom, can you help me ask a girl to prom?"  and I said, "What?!? You want to go to prom?  When is it?  Who do you want to ask?"  Then he said, "Hannah, a couple of weeks".  I love when he talks to me!  So much information!!!  Anyway, so we figured it out and put the bucket in the freezer.  We arranged to meet after his lunch and he had gotten permission from the principal to set it up in the "Quad" or the courtyard of the school and there would be the block of ice with her name attached to the hammer on top of the ice.  So, I met him with the bucket of ice and he and some friends met me and took it in.  Then I got a text from him about 45 minutes later that said "it failed"...WHAT?!?!  I finally got out of him that as he was getting the ice out of the bucket, it wasn't frozen all the way through and fell apart, and just as this was all happening, she just happened to walk through the courtyard (everyone was supposed to be in class at this time!) and saw that he was doing this and it was failing!  So, since she was there, he just went ahead and asked her.  Later on Facebook I found this picture posted on Alec's page...

So, I figured out she said "yes".  He was SO cute watching him make plans and arrangements.  He had budgeted and planned what he needed as far as money and set it all aside.  I was so impressed with watching how careful he was with everything.  He ordered the corsage and boutonniere on his own, decided the outfit he was going to wear (decided he didn't want to spend the money on a tux and decided to buy a silver shirt to go with his black suit and a lime green tie because her dress was silver and lime green).  I had thought about offering to pay for it, but then I realized half way through all of this that he didn't need or want my help in that way.  Then later in the week, he asked if I could help him do a breakfast for the morning of Prom because they were going to do that and then go Paint-balling.  He went with three other couples, (8) in their group, and the guys all got together and planned everything out.  It was so fun to watch Alec go to "planning meetings" and stuff.  So, Friday night, they had a movie night outside and got a projector and did the movie against one of the buildings in town.  Here is a picture I found on Alec's F.B. page (again!)

This is Alec with Hannah and Brittney (I think that is her name).  Alec made Orange Julius and took it and they had a good time (Alec's words..."it was fun").  Then there was the breakfast the next morning at our house.  Did I get a picture?!?  No, because I felt like I was intruding and didn't want to do that to the group, but then kicked myself for not doing it...oh well.  So, we had a waffle bar and fruit and it went well and was fun to meet them all.  Then they went to play paint ball and Hannah said that she and Alec rocked and didn't get hit at all.  The boys had planned out what games they were going to play (capture the flag, tag, etc) with paint ball.  Then they came back and decided to go swimming at Fools Hollow Lake.  Um...it just snowed here last week!  I told them they were crazy and Alec was not even sure he wanted to go, but being the good sport he is, he went, and of course went swimming.  Crazy kids!  Then they got ready for the dance and as Alec is taking a little nap, I could just imagine the girls getting ready, doing their hair and all of that and then at our house I didn't even see him before he walked out the door!!!  He got dressed, and walked out the door, but then had to come back in for something and that is when I saw him all dressed up.  He wouldn't let me take a picture.  So, I guess I will have to scour Facebook when those pictures come up and post them later.  I am not sure what they did.  Alec just said it was fun and that they had Fettuccine Alfredo at someone's house and that they were home by midnight.  He did say, though, that his suit jacket was taken, probably on accident because the one left that he grabbed didn't fit him and was a rental, so he turned that one in to a teacher because someone is going to have to return it, and hopefully they will bring his back to the school on Monday.  If not, oh well...that's how it goes sometimes.  

We have been super busy around here.  All the kids are ready for school to be out...I'm not sure why...there isn't much for them to do!  Calvin is still looking for a job, but no luck.  It's hard when he applies to a job and the town in so small that he finds out that someone else gets it who turned in their application later than he did.  I don't know what to tell him anymore.  I just turn to the Lord.  He knows better what is going on, anyway.  

I just found out, today, that I am being release as Primary Pianist.  It is bitter/sweet because it is a really challenging calling for me because I know I am not as good as others are in our ward, but I really have enjoyed being in there and playing the songs in my home and being able to serve and grow in that way.  Bishop asked that I not say what the new one is, so I will post that next week :).  I knew that the time was coming to be released, though.  As I have been practicing really hard on this new song I am supposed to learn, I had very strong feelings that I would not be playing this for the program in the fall.  It's weird when promptings come like that.  Then I just sit and wait until it all changes.  In a way, I am grateful for the "heads-up".  This happened when I was YW President.  I needed a new counselor (one was moving) and a new secretary but for over a month, nothing was coming to me, and then I had a very real impression that there was change in the air and that I just needed to work with what I have and be patient.  A few weeks later, Scott was called as Bishop of a new ward and all the boundaries were changed in our Stake.  I just kept telling Scott before the changes were made "something big is coming, but I am not sure what.  I just know I'm not supposed to press getting my presidency filled".  Anyway, it was cool to be in the middle of that and have those impressions.  

Alec received the Melchizedek Priesthood today.  It's so incredible to see your boys turn into men.  This last year has been incredible to watch Alec.  Snowflake/Taylor has really changed him and made him probably the best of himself that I have seen.  

Calvin has a new side project going on and I am so impressed with the men we live by.  I think most of them have left the Church at one time and then have chosen to come back and it seems that they have been coming out of the wood works to put an arm around Calvin and touching him in ways that aren't "churchy".  Anyway, Calvin's new project is restoring an older motorcycle.  It is his art teacher's motorcycle/dirt bike and he has worked it out with Calvin to either give him some of the profit, if he decides to sell it, or Calvin is hoping to get to keep it.  Here is a picture of the "before"...

Our neighbors are also awesome and have been helping Calvin with ideas that he could do.  They tinker on things all the time at their house and so I am sure they can help.  But, there is one that came over today to talk with him about it, Brother Powers.  He has rebuilt many motorcycles and knows how to go about doing it.  Anyway, he has made himself available to Calvin and I am so grateful.  Calvin still thinks he will be going to St. George for his Senior year, but we'll see.  It seems like everything keeps pulling him here, except his ability to get a job, but I know there is a reason for that.  It will be interesting to see where all of this goes for Calvin.  It's like watching a good movie where you can't possibly ever guess the ending!  

I get to go to Women's Conference this week.  I am so grateful for the opportunity.  I wasn't sure I was going to be able to go, but I knew that I needed to and I knew that the Lord would help me find a way, and He has.  I am really excited and so grateful that Scott and the boys let me go.  Scott keeps saying "I'm so excited for you, that you get to go".  I love that my husband is so supportive even though I know that having me here is easier for him.  Anyway, I'm excited. 

We are all doing well, even Derrek.  I have been missing him really bad the last couple of weeks.  I don't know why, but I just have been missing him.  I can't tell him that, but I wanted to write it down so that he would never doubt that we do think about him and miss him.  

Alec should be getting his call this week...while I'm at Women's Conference!  I am going to ask him if he would at least put me on speaker phone while he opens it, but I will leave it up to him.  It is not my call, it is his and however he wants to do it, it is his choice.  I just hope he tells be before he actually leaves!  I can just see Alec packing and I ask "what are you packing for" and he'll say "oh, I'm leaving for my mission in the morning".  We'll see...the Lord gave me a very big tender mercy when we opened up Derrek's call.  I was there to pick him up to move to Taylor with us and he hadn't received it yet and it came on the day I arrived and he was able to open it with family, friends, and I was able to be there.  Maybe Alec won't get his until next week and then I can be there, but I am okay not being there.  I just want to celebrate it with him and know where he is going.  He's really excited to go and has just grown up, it seems, over night.