Parents love this kind of stuff...

Yesterday the girls had a hard time getting along. While I was on the phone with my mom they were hitting each other and yelling and then being yelled at and getting in trouble. I told my mom, "Most of the time they get along great, but sometimes they just have to be siblings..."

It's true, 97.3% of the time they are best friends and it's awesome... last night when Matthew and I went to bed we found their bedroom light on and their bed empty. Our light was off and our bed was occupied (felt a little like the mama bear coming home to find Goldilocks in my bed!... just kidding, it happens too often for me to have felt like that!) Anyway- we went to move them and realized they were holding hands!!!! Fingers laced and everything! It was awesome! So I sent Matthew for the camera, he came up to shoot a pic and the battery died and the camera shut down..... WHAT!!! So we ran and charged it for a few min, came back and they were no longer holding hands, so we created a re-enactment by careful placing their hands together the best we could without waking them. I couldn't wait to post it, so it is 4:55 a.m. on Monday and I'm posting as I head out the door for work (even though I just finished a post just before finding my sleeping beauties)... Hope you all have a fabulous day! Just remember, get along and go to sleep holding hands...

Quick update

Mostly pics this week, with a few comments to e'splain them... at least that's my plan so that i can get to bed on time!

We had a lot of water fun at mom and dad's house this week. Marie set up a 12' diam/3' deep pool so that we could take the kids during the summer- the task now will be to figure out pool maintenance. My good friend Jessica, my kids "goodness mother," sent them a slip and slide and it's finally warm enough to bring out to play... I think the kids had a good time.... Thanks Jess!





McKenna is in this mess of towels somewhere... she was "soooo cold!!!" Her little lips were blue, but she kept getting wet and having a blast!


Until she finally had to come inside and she got to chill with a fruit snack and be warmer in one of grandpa's t-shirts.

















It was also this little girls birthday on the 17th. Here she sits with a few of her presents. One of them was bubble gum... which if you know this little gal, she loves the cheap, sugary, bubble gum, and she can work it,boy! She's even taught Gwennie how to blow a real bubble! That's my girl!!

Before we went swimming McKenna had gotten in trouble for something (can't remember what now) but the punishment was that she wouldn't be able to swim. Well, as any parent knows, sometimes the punishment just makes things more difficult for you. So I told her she could earn back the privilege if she did some school work. So her sister helped her with sequence rummy and she had to practice her name. We didn't get Kenna into preschool, so she has some catching up to do in order to get ready for kindergarten. But I must say, she's coming along nicely- she's a smart kid-o...




I thought this was a cute pic... I caught Jocilyn reading a story to Gwennie and Hunter- it's fun having cousins...


Here are a few pics of the daddy's on Father's day. They were helping the kids catch tadpoles in the pond of our common area. First you see our hunting party... then the mighty hunter in his stealth approach/sneak attack... did it work? Was he successful?

Yes!!! Of course he was!!! Here is the transfer of one of the tadpoles- they probably caught 5 or so that day... I have to give a thankful shout out to Marie for keeping the tadpole tank at her house... The kids love it, the moms not so much... thanks Marie.







Jocilyn grabbed the camera and snapped a couple of she and I... just kinda fun...






Matthew and Travis had to work on welding some latches for a job, but there was a break so that daddy could help his girls conquer their 2-wheelers.... off came the training wheels and they have been riding all week without them- getting better every day.... It's funny because they got their bikes about 2 Christmas' ago and have had zero interest until now... I'm glad that they are finally enjoying them.

Here is Matthew welding and Travis grinding to get about a million latches done in time for this job to be finished... I know you aren't suppose to look at welding in progress, but I snapped a shot.... then I took quite a chiding from all of the kids who were certain that I would now be blind... so don't look too long at the pic... I don't want to be responsible for your optical demise!!!







Who knows how these pics will line up in the actual blog... hopefully the explanations make sense... This random one was cute of Tyler and Marie pond-side while the tadpole hunt was on- Tyler would throw a rock into the water and clap up a storm for himself... it was cute.










Here is one of Matthew at deaf story night. His brother was asked to tell some stories but couldn't and so they asked Matthew... I have to say (and I know I'm prejudice) but I think Matthew did a better job than anyone else! I laughed and really enjoyed his animation and enthusiasm. There were several deaf there who couldn't believe that Matthew is hearing- they all really enjoyed the stories and Matthew, I think, really enjoyed himself- he was totally in his element.

There's always a surprise for me at the end of blogging... I posted it and when I looked there were these random pics that somehow ended up totally out of order and without explanation... clearly they go with the bike riding sequence... This program isn't always friendly to me when it comes to organizing my pics... ah, well... at least it's a new post!!! Love you all!

Oh, what do you do in the summertime?

I know many of you have started your summer. Yes, school is out, the kids want to play- but we are waiting for a key player here in our area... the sun. You see, suddenly we are having highs in the 60's and 70's- pleasant? Yes, conducive to the water activities that the kids are anxious to engage in? ... not so much... Here are my girls headed out to play on a recent morning- note the coats... may I remind you, it is June... June people!!! Where is the sun?



Not to worry, McKenna at least is grounded for scaring the crud out of her mother this week. Here is the house she was suppose to be at...

Here is the street she came bopping down bare-foot and in the rain after I'd scoured the neighborhood for a 1/2 an hour and found her purse and jump rope abandoned on a rock, along with the friends scooter. The other mother had no idea where they were and started calling around. I was ready to call 911- seriously! I asked her, "where were you?" her answer, "at someone's house I don't know." hmmmm, is that okay? So after a long discussion and tears from both parties... she was put down for a nap and grounded for a week for not being where she was suppose to be...

Isn't she just an angel... when she's asleep?

We seem to have been spending a lot of time over at Travis and Marie's... likely because they are gracious hosts' with the mosts.... Last Sunday their freezer went out, and so meat needed to be used, and use it we did...

The kids played in the backyard. See Marie's pretty garden? (well a portion of it) McKenna didn't understand why I told her to stop picking the leaves- she said, "they aren't flowers!" We've been having this discussion at our house after a neighbor child picked all of my flowers- so the kids have been instructed- "Don't pick ANY flowers, even if you think they are weeds, maybe someone is trying to grow them!!!" ... So what was the problem with just picking leaves? McKenna had to learn that the problem was simply, mom said not to...

Here is Mr. "T-Tyler-Texas" heading out to be with the big kids in the back yard. He is so in "go-mode" all of the time, and just too happy to be outside every chance he gets. His grandparents were just in town, and Lucky made the comment that he is the most content kid to play on his own- what a blessing he is, I'm glad to be his aunt...

Here are Hunter and Jocilyn waiting for the bus for the last time this year. Jocilyn and Hunter actually have different bus stops, but she liked to wait at Hunter's, with him. So most of the days I was off, that's what we did.

Jocilyn had a birthday party where they were to dress as their favorite movie star. I'll bet that any mother of a girl between the ages of 4 and 15 can probably guess who that would be- Hannah Montana, but of course!!! Alas, we could not find a Hannah wig... she shed some tears, and then we found a Belle wig that we made in to a "Mylie" wig... so she went as Mylie... I'm sure she ditched the wig within the first 30 min of the party anyway- and had a great time with her friends. Well, that is until we picked her up at 10:00 pm because it was a sleep over and I'm not sure she's old enough for those- and even when she is deemed old enough, Saturday night's are out. This was hard to explain to a little girl who knows that her friends go to church (not ours) too... so why can they spend the night and she can't? We are learning, ever learning...


We spent Friday evening with Marie and Travis and much of Travis' extended family. Like I said, his parents were in town this week, and so Friday night we had a couple of his cousins and their families over and had a BBQ. It sure felt like family. The one cousin does all of the computer work for our business and the other cousin is married to Robby, who has worked for us since the beginning- so they aren't strangers to us- the conversation was good and fun. Lots of laughs, and I sat there and just thought, "This may not be my 'family,' but it is sure easy to be with and love good people..." This picture is to prove that Travis cleaned the kitchen afterwards. I grabbed the camera just to grab a couple of shots and his mom said, "Good idea, document that he knows how to clean!" He's a good boy, he blesses my sisters life, and for that I'm grateful.

Now for a couple of odd-ball/random pics. Some of our good AZ friends are having to live in a hotel for a short time while in between homes. I think that would be hard for any length of time with kids who want to be out running around all of the time... Matthew and I made a quick trip to UT this week so that he could get re-certified for his ASL interpreting. So, thinking of my poor friend Mandy, I snapped a quick pic of our room and it's luxury kitchen. Want to know something sad? I did the math and it would be cheaper for us to stay in this room than it is for our monthly mortgage... YUCK!!! But, at home we at least have room to stretch, play, chase, hide, seek, cook, etc... and 3 people can potty at one time- I think I'll keep the house!!! (until the bank takes it back- hey, it's happening to half of our neighbors- we'd be in excellent company!)





Also in memory of Brandon and Amanda was my breakfast the next day... Ahhhhh, remember Sundays after church? I don't know if you still do this, but biscuits and gravy! YUUUMMMMM!!!



Here is a quick pic of some of the study materials that Matthew referenced before his test. He feels good about his performance- but it will be months before we find out if he achieved the level he hopes for- which would be "NIC- Master"... (sounds cool, doesn't it?)










On our way back home we kept "leap-frogging" with this truck-5th wheel-boat combo... and I kept saying to Matthew, "now that looks like fun!!!" ... who's with me? Let's go camp near water for 2 weeks and ski our brains out!!! We can also pull tubes, or just cruise the lake at sunset... ahhhhh, sounds great, I'll book it- oh wait, my parents have the 5th wheel, and we don't have a boat at all... I don't think we'd get very far with just the truck... I'll get back to you when I have more...

Ready for vacation...

I'm tired... my head hurts all the time. I get up way to early for work and get home way to late. The laundry and the bathrooms are winning... I'm thinking Calgon just won't cut it for "taking me away." I think I need Southwest, or United maybe... or no.... Hawaiian Air... they could take me way, way, way, away.

Enough of that... I'm here, I'll get up at 4 tomorrow morning and go to work. I'm thankful for a mother-in-law who watches and loves my children in my absence. I'm grateful that I have a husband who wants to take care of his family- when some men aren't hardly willing to work one job, mine works 2 and still smiles and laughs when he gets home... and he cooks!!! I'm thankful for Sundays to go to church and get all choked up at the realization of just how blessed my life is, and how much my Father loves me, he knows I'm tired and my head hurts- not sure He's involved in helping me with that, but I know he knows and that He'll help me get up in the morning and do it all again, and again, and again.....

I haven't been taking nearly enough pictures- last Sunday, though, I must have thought I looked pretty good because I took a few of myself... anyway- it's an updated pic of me.

Matthew playing with the girls...

And the girls getting their tithing ready to turn in next week... they are so excited- isn't that great?

Mother's Day

This morning as I sat on the couch reviewing my Relief Society lesson my children came bearing gifts... McKenna was delighted to finally give me flowers- everytime we are in the store she wants me to buy some for myself from her... a beautiful dozen of pink roses...

Jocilyn chose a yummy smelling bath basket, which she is very excited to help me use...


And Matthew, knowing I've been frusterated with some very rough heels- got me some pedicure supplies....

Church was great, I really enjoyed the meeting. I wasn't thrilled to be teaching on Mother's day and I'm not sure how it went. I was feeling really emotional, and there was not the usual participation.... oh well...

Then after church I had the opportunity to talk to my mom on the phone. What a blessing mom's are. I'm so blessed that I've been able to have children and experience motherhood... I'm doubly blessed that I was taught by such an example as my mother- who in my book is the greatest mother of all time... and then when I married I gained another great mother figure- I am so blessed.

Thank you mom for teaching me so many important things: love, kindness, patience, dilligence, hard work, house keeping (even though I fall short... I'm doing better!), cooking, basic sewing, tolerance, "killing people with kindness," faking it til you make it, enduring through difficult times and having faith that Heavenly Father will not leave you in them forever, forgiveness, how to help others feel of their importance and value, you have taught me these and so many other things... you have helped shape the woman I am, and given me the measure of the mother I hope to be. I love you mom- miss you- happy mother's day!

A few pics

It's been so long since I've posted that here are just a few pics from the last week or so... Kenna was sick last weekend, she woke up in the night with a fever. When I brought her downstairs to get some medicine she crawled up onto the counter- I snapped a pic- can't you just "see" the fever on her face?

So, curly sue stayed home from church with me last week...



Jocilyn and daddy went to church...

Then McKenna and Jocilyn drove us to Travis and Marie's where we had dinner...
Here is a random family pic from our March visit to Lynn and Jakes... it was really fun to have everyone together, even for just a quick minute...

Matthew taking the girls up to bed- some nights they are just too tired to carry themselves... very rough...

Newsflash: "Bubba shot the Jukebox" is rock-n-roll

So, this post won't have pics- but a couple of funnies-

We were driving yesterday to get Hunter's birthday present when the girls decided to discuss age. "How old is Devan?" Jocilyn asked, I said, "she's 9 mos older than you, so she is 7, she'll be 8 this year." So we talked about who is older than who and Kenna announced that when she is 64 (random) she'll be older than all of us... I thought it was cute. I love how their little minds work.

Then Jocilyn wanted me to put some rock-n-roll on the radio. So I'm scanning through the channels when one of the country stations is playing "Bubba Shot the Jukebox," and she yells out, "Yeah mom!! THIS is rock-n-roll!!!" ... sure it is sister, enjoy!

Matthew and Travis are in Oregon again. People who don't know what they want are stupid. The fence they've been installing over the past couple of weeks would be finished today, but the owner of the property (it's an apt complex I think) came by and didn't like the angles. Well, they were replacing an existing fence- so wouldn't you think that the angles would have been the same on the first fence? and if he didn't love them then, why didn't he tell the guys to do the new one differently? So now it's going to take them back to Oregon at least once more and I'm really over that... oh well...

Now for a brief explanation of why I haven't posted since Easter... it's because I'm dead. I know you think that there would be blogging in heaven- but no, they are too busy with heavenly things there. And in hell, they just torment you with the thought of blogging, but don't let you do it. Why am I dead, you ask? What killed me? I've been officially worked to death. Two weeks ago we opened the clinic 3 more days a week- so now we are 6 days. We've only been M-W-F 13.5 hour days and those were shortened to 11 hour days which makes the day a lot more stressful- but I love getting off earlier. Then because 3 eleven hour days isn't full time, each staff member picks up a 7 hour day on either T-Th-Sat. They've brought in another nurse to pick up 2 of those so I'm working 4 days instead of 3 each week, but they are intense. And then as the charge nurse I have to make sure that the new patients have all of the admit junk done even in my absence- and as much as I appreciate this other nurse for coming in- she doesn't know what she's doing in the clinic because she is a nurse on the "acute team" meaning she does dialysis for our patients when they are in the hospital- she never has been in a clinic before... so I feel a lot overwhelmed.... but I think it will continue to improve.

My parents left on their mission a week ago. They've been in the MTC this past week and will be until Tues when they leave on their cross country trek. I'm envious of that- I think their mission will be great- but I think the trip will be fun too... I just love traveling with family, and I think it would be cool that you could stop anytime and have "home" with you (because they are pulling the 5th wheel that will be their home for the next 6 mos).

Marie has my camera because it had a bunch of pics from Hunters birthday party on it and I didn't think I'd be blogging- but I'll see what pics I have that are new and will post some when i have it back. In the meantime- XOXO to all of you- be good take care- and blog more often than me :-)