Woodstock Family Reunion

 

Since we were all coming to northern Utah for Scott and Danielle's wedding we decided to have a mini-family reunion. We stayed in a vacation home in Salt lake for 3 days. With my side of the family it is usually loud, out of control, messy and super duper fun. I was having way too much fun to take a lot of pictures, but there's a few I sneaked in there.

Boys ready to go!

 

 Rod's lap isn't big enough to fit the coloring book so he had to be inventive.

 

Kid's decorating shirts

 

We had way, way too much junk food there. It was awesome. 

  

Unfortunately we couldn't have the whole family there. Jamen left for a 3 month deployment to Malaysia and Japan just a few days before the reunion. It wasn't the same without him.

  

On the way up to Bear River for the wedding we stopped to look at the Ogden LDS Temple that was just rebuilt and was going to be rededicated the following week. This was the temple I went to growing up. It looks way different than it did when I went to it, but it still had the same sweet spirit. 

(I remembered to take pictures for this)

  

Summer Vacay

We stayed pretty close to home for our family vacation this year. We drove up to Salt Lake and went swimming, shopping and sight seeing. Then we met up with Steve's dad and Paula for dinner and a visit to a children's museum, then spent the night with them. The next day we went down and stayed with Steve's mom and went to the zoo with her, David and Jessica. It was a very low key, fun and relaxing vacation.

Zoo:

On the train (love Robin's photo bomb)

I wonder how long we can get away with the boys sleeping together on the floor :)

Children's museum:

Utah State Capitol Building:

Temple Squre:

 (Spencer took this picture)

Randomness (with a lot of commentary)

I use this blog as my journal, so feel free to skip my extremely long commentary and just look at the pictures. 

We moved! After two years of managing apartments we (but mostly me since it was mostly my job), decided to call it quits. I had really mixed feelings about it. I loved the students, the challenge and being able to put Steve through school while still being at home with the kids. But I was so sick of people never respecting our private time. We would constantly gets knocks on our door, and phone calls and texts at all times of the day and night. Sometimes it was an emergency but 75% of the time it was something that could have waited until our office hours and the conversation always started with, "Sorry, I know it's not your office hours but...."  But most of all I hated not being able to be a mom. I was able to stay home with my kids and that was great but I was constantly telling them we couldn't do this or that because I was working. I couldn't play with them because I was busy. We couldn't go to park because it was office hours and someone might stop by. Sorry you have to wake up from your nap because I have to go show an apartment or let a plumber in. I felt like I was constantly putting my kids second and missing all the worthwhile little moments you never get back. So I took a leap of faith and quit (I gave the owner several months notice though). We have been saving for a long time and have quite a large nest egg so we've been living off savings and Steve's part time school job income until he graduates at the end of the semester. I was totally freaked out and second guessed my decision every other day, but I knew what I decided to do was right so we went with it. I knew I made the right decision when I told Spencer we wouldn't be doing apartments anymore. His whole face lit up and he start jumping around and celebrating and telling me all the things we were going to be able to do now that I wasn't going to be working anymore. He really missed his mom.

It was a somewhat stressful move.  Is moving ever not stressful? (And just to clarify something so the rest of this story makes sense. There are 6 apartment complexes and 2 sets of managers. We were going so new managers were moving in. But there was another set of mangers that were already working and staying) We had a set date to move out so the new managers could move in. We got into our new apartment a week early so we could slowly moving everything over and not have to get a moving truck. We took a couple loads of boxes over every night and then were going to move all the big stuff over Friday. Amber took the kids over night so we could clean and move without having to watch them too. The other apartment managers were letting us use their trailer for the furniture and we got everything out on a Friday Evening. Then Saturday I had it set up for a lady I knew and her teenage granddaughter to help Steve and me clean the apartment (with 4 people cleaning I figured we could get it deep cleaned in 3-4 hours). Then our apartment maintenance guy was going to come paint the apartment at noon so the new people could move in that night. (The previous tenants had painted one of the rooms orange so we were putting it back to white and doing some touch up work). I was going to pick up the boys from Amber after I got the painter going at noon. Well my cleaners didn't show up and when I finally did get a hold of her she said she had things come up and couldn't come anymore (didn't bother to call and let me know though). Then when I called to confirm with our painter he said he also had something come up and wouldn't be able to come until that evening or Monday. I called the new people and they said it was fine because they weren't going to really move in until next week anyway. So at first I thought "Whew that's lucky. I guess I don't have to stress then. Steve and I will just clean as much as we can until noon. Then I'll send Steve to get the boys while I finish cleaning the rest of the day and then the painter can come Monday." But then I got a text from the other managers (the ones that helped us move and was going to help the new managers move too.) I guess the husband had taken off work to help the new managers move that night and he was very mad that we were "taking our sweet time moving out because we didn't care what happened to everyone else after we left because it wouldn't be our problem anymore".  Although I may put off a tough exterior I am a very sensitive person and immediately started bawling. I called Amber in tears and asked if she could watch the boys a little longer and then Steve called to talk to the other manager that had sent the text. He calmed him down and explained our side of the story; that everyone had bailed on us and we were doing the best we could. Steve told him he really needed to talk to the new managers because they were the ones that told us they weren't moving in until next week. The guy felt really bad and apologized. Then Steve called the painter and said we needed him here today. He said could come at 4pm. So we kicked it into high gear and got the whole apartment deep cleaned by 3pm. Then we dropped off the keys to the new people and said "good riddance"-- not really, and they moved in that night.

(Steve eating pizza in our empty apartment Friday)

 

(These were my bruised knees after scrubbing the kitchen and bathroom all morning.)

But in the end we got out and the transition to new managers went pretty smoothly. The picture below was taken on September 1, 2014 when I officially became a "stay at home mom".  We celebrated by staying in our pajamas until we felt like getting dressed that day. Not working is a harder adjustment than I thought it would be. I started helping my brothers with their paper route when I was 6 years-old and I've worked ever since. I get easily distracted and lazy if I'm not careful. So I started my full-time mommy adventure by making an hour by hour schedule for each day of the week. (Steve thinks I'm crazy). It's a flexible schedule in case something comes up or falls through but it helps keep me on task and the boys and me busy. I've been at it for a little over a month now and love it. I cross off things as I'm done and feel super accomplished when I get everything crossed off at the end of the day. Love my boys and deciding to stay home with them was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Every Tuesday is park day: where we go to a different park (Cedar city has about 15). This is a fun park that has a mini amphitheater. I sat and watched as the boys put on a show for me.

Fun sleep over with Grace and Taylor. Love having cousins so close (in age and location).

Jace was visiting from Texas and took Amber's family, my family, dad and Daniel out for dinner (generous guy). The next 3 pictures are me trying to get a normal picture with Jace and Daniel. It took a while.

 I let the boys choose what they want to eat for breakfast and lunch each day. I give them about 3 choices and they choose what they want. I figure it's a good way to start letting them exercise their independence. However, sometimes they ask for additional items that make for weird combinations. This morning Rod wanted Oatmeal with blueberries and a pickle.

This day Spencer wanted a tortilla with cheese and apples - all together. It was a "cheese, apple pizza".

Spencer always took my word for it when I said something was dangerous. He never ran in the road, touched anything hot or sharp.... Rod on the other hand has to try everything out for himself first (and sometimes trying it out multiple times before he believes me). When he was younger he figured out how to take out the safety tabs in our electrical sockets and shocked himself 3 times before he finally stopped messing with them. The picture below is the first time he burned himself on the stove. It took a second time before he started being really careful.

These are two of my good friends Kim Miner and Kathy Glad. We served in a Primary Presidency together a few years ago. Even after I moved across town we've still stayed good friends. My mom used to say, and several other people have told me that I have a very old soul, because I have no problem getting along with and being friends with people of any age. When I was a teenager I used to sit and talk with the gray hairs at church and have just as much fun as I did with the girls my age. That's one thing I love about friendship - there is no age limit. Kim is about 10 years older than me (her youngest is the same age as my oldest). Kathy is about 20 years older than me (she just became a grandma). Despite the fact that we are in totally different stages in our lives-we get along great!

I knew it was coming. None of us had been sick for about 4 months and I knew our good luck had run out. Spencer came down with the cough, congestion, runny nose, fever first; then Rod, then me (Steve missed it all together-lucky). On one of the days we were all sick, we were laying in my bed coughing together and Spencer wanted to take a picture of us "being sick". That is Rod trying to do a pouty look.

Spencer had a blast at preschool last year. But since we didn't know if/when we would be moving when Steve graduates and since we are trying to be prudent with our monthly budget until he does get a job, I decided to do my own at home preschool with Spencer. He's a super social kid and I wasn't really worried about him in that area. I made a board that we can put away and get out each preschool day. I talked to my good friend and Steve's Aunt Karen that are both Kindergarten teachers to get their opinion about what they need to know for Kindergarten. My sister-in-law Krista also taught preschool last year so I got her curriculum and changed/added a few things of my own and we went for it. We're 2 months in and so far he's doing great, learning a lot and we're both having a lot of fun.
(PS I made this board very late at night and yes I miss-spelled school)  :) 

 

Friday is adventure day in our house. Where the boys and I (And sometimes Steve if it's something we want to do as a family) go and do something new or exciting. And since almost everything is new or exciting for the boys it's not hard to find an adventure. This day was one of our bigger adventures. We visited the Frontier Homestead State Park in Cedar City. It's a museum and hands on park that helps you experience life as an early pioneer settler in southern Utah. Really fun!

Spencer Says

April 4, 2014

It had been a very long day, so after dinner I laid down on the couch to rest. Spencer kept trying to get me to play pretend with him, but I told him I was too tired and to play with Rod. He said he didn’t want to play with Rod so I told him to go play by himself.

Spencer: “No I’m not going to play by myself! Stop being like that girl from Frozen, that sister when she’s in bed and doesn’t want to play. I’m like Anna and I want to play. Stop being like Elsa!”.

October 2013

What is something mom always say to you?

-Put your pants & underwear on

What makes mom happy?

-I do!

What makes mom sad?

-When I mess up my room with toys and teddy bears and dinosaurs and crackers and lots of crackers.

How does your mom make you laugh?

-When you drop toys and everything

What was your mom like as a child?

-You were afraid at Daddy’s game.

How old is your mom?

-One

How tall is your mom?

-You’re as tall as you

What is her favorite thing to watch on TV?

-Cartoons

What does your mom do when you’re not around?

-You call me at work cause I’m busy at work

What is your mom really good at?

-Vacuuming

What is your mom not really good at?

-drawing pictures of hearts

What does your mom do for her job?

-Type on the computer

What is your mom’s favorite food?

-Oranges and Lettuce and ice cream

If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

-A squirrel with a tail

What do you and your mom do together?

-Wash my car

How are you and your mom the same?

-We both like milk and juice and cookies.

How are you and your mom different?

-Watch different cartoons.

How do you know your mom loves you?

-Because she hugs and kisses you lots and lots

What does your mom like about your dad

-Playing with him

Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?

-To girls nights.

6/29/14:

Spencer and I were playing Power Rangers. He was pretending he was a bad guy and I was the Yellow Ranger. He had this evil lava that if he put a power ranger in it they would turn evil. So he tricked me and threw me into the lava. When I was “evil” we starting doing evil things together. We beat up the other rangers and their cute little dog. And then Spencer said, “Heeheehee (evil laugh) now let’s drink lots of juice and no water. Because too much juice is bad for your body! Heeheehee” 

Wow Spencer you are really evil.

8/10/14: Spencer is really in to Super heroes lately. He knows most of the major super heroes and their counterpart names (ie. Spiderman is Peter Parker. Hulk is Bruce Banner etc.) He was pretending to be Superman/Clark Kent. We told him that Kal El was superman’s name that his real parents named him, and Clark Kent was the name his earth parents named him. He came up to me later and in his deep pretend voice said, “Hello, I am Superman. But my real name is Cowbell.”

8/12/14: A few months ago Steve was talking to Spencer about baptism. He quoted the scripture that says a man must be born of the water and the spirit, and told Spencer that when we’re baptized it’s like we’re born again, etc etc. Well in Spencer’s little 4-yr-old mind he thought that meant would literally be ‘born’ again when we are baptized (we’d be a little baby and grow up a second time). Steve and I both have tried to explain to him many times that it’s a metaphor, and he says he understands and but then he says stuff like this:

-We were visiting Grandma Oliver and eating Sunday dinner when Spencer turns to me and says, “Mom when I’m baptized and born again will you name me Clark?” (Grandma Oliver and I could not stop laughing)

-I was getting Rod ready for bed and putting on a sweat shirt on him that used to be Spencer’s when he was little. Spencer, “Mom whose shirt is this?”

Me, “It used to be yours but now it’s too small so we’re going to let Roddy wear it now.”

Spencer held the shirt up to him to see how it would look and I said, “Spencer that’s way too small for you.”

Spencer, “I know. I just wanted to see if I can wear this shirt when I’m baptized and little again. “

8/22/14: Spencer was in the Kitchen eating and I was down the hall using the bathroom in my bedroom. While I was in there I sneezed. About 30 seconds later I see a little hand poke through the bottom of the door with a Kleenex.

Spencer, “Here mom, here’s a tissue.”