A New Member of Our Family

Our family grew today. Jazzmine (Jazz) joined our family today from the Humane Society of Utah. She is a spayed Patterdale Terrier mix and is estimated at about 5 years old and weighs 24 pounds. She has only barked once all day, is already house broken and is pretty obedient. We're working on learning each other's cues. She's still a little nervous in her new home, but we think once the kids settle down, she will too. John and I surprised the kids. We told them we needed to run an errand and then we came home with her. It took them a while to believe that she was ours and we were keeping her. Welcome home Jazzmine!

Thanksgiving Hike

My sister-in-law had a tradition when she was growing up (in California) of going on a family hike Thanksgiving morning. She is trying to continue this tradition when Utah weather cooperates. This year she invited our family to join theirs as they hiked the Y. We agreed to meet at 7am at the trail head. Jonny and Chris were up and dressed by 5:30. Can you tell they were excited? Adam and Micaela didn't wake up so I let them sleep in. This meant John got to sleep in too. It was sprinkling when we left our house and I warned the boys that we might cancel. The rain got harder as we got closer to Provo, but by the time we got to the trail head it stopped raining and didn't come back.

This is our view when we began.

Sarah was a trooper and hiked a lot of the way carrying Nana.

We're almost there.




Time for a rest.



The hike took less than 2 hours round trip. It was great because the boys had been wanting to hike the Y all year. I just hiked it a few years ago when I was in college (try 20 years ago-math is so unforgiving!)

We went to their house for Thanksgiving later on. I took my camera, but totally forgot to take pictures. Sarah even agreed to let my kids sleep over so John & I could get up at 4am for the Black Friday sales.

Thanks for a great day, Sarah!

2nd Tag

6 TV shows I watch:
Heroes
Eureka
Bones
Stargate Atlantis
Ghost Whisperer
Smallville

6 Restaurants I like To Eat at:
Red Robin
Sizzler
Outback
Pizza Factory
Olive Garden
Chili's

6 things that happened Yesterday since it is kind of early today:
-Jonny and I both overslept and didn't get up until 10 minutes before the bus came, but he made it!
-Took M to her Dance class, she got to wear her Halloween costume
-Spent a lot of time getting ready for Pack Meeting & then went to Pack Meeting. I was sad that not all of the boys were able to make it there. We wore Halloween costumes.
-Handed out forms for Scout Re-chartering
-Jonny finished Breaking Dawn
-John did dialysis

6 things I am looking forward to:
Going to Disneyland to celebrate turning 40 years young in 2009
Paint instead of wallpaper
Curtains hung correctly
Getting a closet in the guest room
Getting shelves in the garage
Getting past the potty training stage

6 things on my wish list:
A kidney for John
A secure, well-paying job for John that he enjoys
Money and time for all of the Honey-do's and home improvements
A new Master Bath
A cruise
A personal chef so I don't have to cook anymore

6 people I will tag:
I think I'm the last one to get this tag.

1st Tag

Leslie tagged me about a month ago.

8 things I am passionate about...
1. My family
2. The Gospel
3. Cub Scouts
4. Boy Scouts
5. Being prepared
6. Reading
7. My nursery kids
8. Helping others

8 Words or phrases I use often...
1. What the...
2. A..J..C..M.. Whatever your name is...
3. I love you
4. Just a minute
5. Get in the van
6. We're late
7. Good job!
8. Dora and Diego

8 things that I have learned from my past...
1. Don't question what the Spirit has confirmed.
2. Don't focus on "if only".
3. Count your blessings.
4. I have good intentions, but lousy follow through.
5. If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.
6. God loves me.
7. I must like the way my foot tastes because I keep putting it in my mouth.
8. I am too independent for my own good.

8 Places that I would love to go see...
1. Hawaii
2. Alaska
3. Maine (again)
4. Orlando
5. Italy
6. New York City
7. England
8. Australia

8 things I currently need or want...
1. A kidney for John
2. Job security for John
3. My hair trimmed
4. More self control
5. More time to hang out with friends
6. More friends
7. The ability to slow down to my kids' pace
8. A vacation out of state (but #1 has to happen first)

I tag anyone who wants to play.

I didn't see this coming!


Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

Jonny and I have been enjoying the Twilight series. John's thinking about reading the books. He feels left out of our conversations and he wants to know why Jonny (who is NOT a reader) has read almost 2000 pages in 2 months.

Jonny will probably finish Breaking Dawn this weekend. He's more excited to see the Twilight movie than I am. I'd like to keep him reading. What should I recommend to him that will keep his attention, but be much more appropriate?

Pretty Girl

Friday night, while I was saying goodbye to my extended family, Micaela was making herself pretty. She helped herself to my long lasting lipstick. You know, the kind that prides itself on not coming off very easily.

My mom said I did something very similar when I was M's age, only I ruined a pillowcase. I told my mom that at least you can just throw out the pillowcase. I can't throw out the girl, I've got to clean her up!

Slip-n-Slide Summer Fun

The kids had fun playing on the slip-n-slide yesterday. It was a refreshing activity for such a hot Saturday afternoon. John even joined in. It was a good physics lesson emphasizing that the greater your mass, the longer you will slide.

Here was the next lesson learned.




We had no idea that a slip-n-slide could cause so much damage. Our next lesson will have to be on lawn restoration. We'll have to get a guest lecturer. Any volunteers?

Sauerkraut

Chris: What's that white stuff, Dad?
Dad: Sauerkraut.
Chris (puzzled): So it's sour and it's crap? (Wondering why Dad is eating it.)
(Mom's trying not to laugh.)
Dad: What?!
Chris: Well you said it's Sourcrap.
(Now Mom is trying to catch her breath from laughing so hard.)
Mom: No, Sauerkraut. (Thinking, Yes Chris you got it right the first time.)

The Next Merit Badge

I was having a hard time getting Jonny's attention when the TV was on. Chris said, "I guess Jonny hasn't earned the Listening Merit Badge yet."

Scouting Around

Hi, my name is Kristen and I'm a Scout-aholic. I am lucky enough to have friends who are in this with me. Our ward refuses to rehabilitate us and put us back in "normal" society.

All joking aside, I love scouting and I am lucky to have a supportive family. I put their support to the test the last couple of weeks. First planning and then executing a Ward PowWow for the Boy Scouts. It was 3 days of working on advancement and merit badges, campfires and camping. We were really blessed with a lot of support from many different people in the ward. The boys worked on Camping, Citizenship in the Community, Communications, Computers, Cooking, Family Life and First Aid merit badges. We were also able to perform a service for a member of the ward. It was such a great activity. Here's some photos.



Thanks to all those who helped make the Ward PowWow a success!

Spring Break

I have been looking forward to Spring Break: slightly warmer weather, more sun and all 4 kids. Besides no school and no homework, other things (clarinet lessons, 4-H, scouts, and Young Men) have been canceled, giving us more time together. I have planned activities and projects for each day. So of course I got sick. But I lived in denial first.

LAGOON
We went to Lagoon on Saturday for Adam's birthday. He said that even though it's his birthday, he'll let other people ride his rides. We have season passes (equal to the cost of going twice) and love to go pre-season. It was great weather and the lines were short.

Micaela and Adam love the little bumper cars. There's a new ride called OdySea that's fun for the whole family. It's an Octopus with big fish cars (adult-size) at the end of its tentacles. You go around and can control whether you go up or down. The fun part is that a whale, a shark and two dolphins are trying to spray you with water while you're going around. Since it's still chilly out we were trying to avoid them, but I know when it gets warmer we'll be seeing how soaked we can get.

I finally got to ride Wicked. Last year the ride either wasn't open or the line was too long. It's a roller coaster that takes you straight up and then straight down and then twists you all around and upside down. It lived up to its name--Wicked! Chris was brave and went on The Rocket/Blast Off with me. The line was too short for him to rethink his decision. Once we got strapped in, he started getting nervous, but then it started and was over before he knew it. The first thing he said when we got off was, "Mom, did you see that view from up there? It was cool!"

I promised myself that I would do a better job this summer remembering the sunscreen. It's a habit I never had to develop, due to my skin tone, and my poor kids have had to pay the price on more than one occasion. Well, I didn't even consider sunscreen when I was grabbing the jackets, so fair Micaela came home with rosy cheeks. But boy did she have fun! She woke up Sunday and the first thing she asked for was to go to Lagoon again.



MONDAY
The boys were excited to sleep in. When we finally got up and going and cleaned up, Dad surprised us. He came home with a 50" plasma TV which he had won in another contest at work. He had won a 32" LCD TV about 5 months ago. He gave that one to his boss after winning the 50 incher since his boss helped him qualify for the contest. Since the 32" TV had been in our bedroom and since we already have a big furniture-type plasma TV in our family room, we spent a good chunk of the day mounting the prize to our bedroom wall. Now it's like a drive-in theater!

When we showed the TV to the kids, Jonny scowled and complained about how we are cutting expenses and then we go and buy this. I realized I forgot to tell him about Dad winning it, but I couldn't pass up the chance to tease him a little. I told him we had to cut back on the kids' expenses so that Mom and Dad could get this nice TV. Then I laughed and told him the great news.

On Monday we also went to Deseret Book. I have been planning an art project for each of the boys to do and I wanted them to pick out their own picture of Jesus so that it would mean more to them. We still haven't had a chance for them to make theirs yet. I stayed up late and made mine so that they would have an example to look at. (I think if you click on the picture, you get a bigger view.)

TUESDAY
Tuesday was Adam's actual birthday. I had planned on taking the family swimming at the rec center some time during Spring Break. Then Chris said that it would be a good idea to go on Adam's birthday. They were so excited. Even after I told them that we wouldn't be able to stay very long since I wasn't feeling well. (At this point I was starting to admit that I might be getting sick.)

We had so much fun. Jonny and Chris enjoyed swimming in deeper water and diving for pool rings. Adam spent his time on the steps with his mask and snorkel, crawling back and forth and showing me how he could "swim". Micaela loved jumping in the water and going under even before I could get the water wings on her. She kept trying to swim out to deeper water. I had to keep pulling her back so we could stay with Adam.

Tuesday night we celebrated Adam's birthday with cake and presents.



WEDNESDAY
Wednesday I took the kids to the library. I wasn't sure how that would go over. We have so many books at home and they usually roll their eyes whenever I tell them it's time to read. So I was thrilled when we got there and I had to set a 2 book limit. Adam was upset that we were only borrowing the books. He wanted to keep them. I want to turn a patch of our back yard into a garden, but I don't know what I'm doing so I grabbed a stack of gardening books. (I could not hold myself to the 2 book limit.) Then I found some old Cub Scout Leader PowWow books that I could not resist borrowing.

THURSDAY
Today, I fully admitted to being sick. I postponed all plans and watched the kids play in the backyard. They were excited to get to play with their friends.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to take them all to Thanksgiving Point. We have a family membership and they want to go to the dinosaur exhibit. I would like to see the tulip gardens while we're there. We also need to find the classrooms because Jonny will be going back on Saturday for a merit badge class. (He does have homework during Spring Break.)

Thoughts from a New Mom

I'm struggling with the expectations I have for my kids. I expect that when I speak they will listen and respond accordingly. I think I have worked too long with adults. I am grateful for a loving husband who patiently reminds me that they are just children. (In all fairness, we actually have to take turns reminding each other.) I am also grateful for the talks in General Conference which reminded me of the great importance of being a mother and teacher. I also realized that if we, as adults, have to have lessons repeated, how much more children need lessons repeated.

I am also casually reading some books that John and I picked up at Deseret Book. ("Casually" meaning a paragraph or page before losing consciousness at night.) My thought for today comes from Before they turn Twelve, by Deborah Pace Rowley. It's actually just from the Introduction because that's as far as I've gotten.

A speaker once compared our children's lives to a basketball game. The children are the players; each parent is a coach. During the first eight minutes of the game, the opposing team is not even allowed on the court. Knowing these rules, wouldn't you have your players stand directly underneath the basket and shoot nonstop for those eight minutes? Potentially, you could be so far ahead after eight minutes that the opposing team could never catch up. . . . It wouldn't be very wise coaching to let the players spend those first eight minutes lounging on the bench, talking to friends in the stands, or dribbling the ball around midcourt. Sure, at the eight-minute make the score would be zero to zero. But it wouldn't take long to fall behind against such a determined opponent and losing the game would be a real possibility.

I know that this is obvious information, but the analogy really struck me. I think it sparked my competitive nature. Anyway, I'm really excited about the book because it has lessons and activities to teach younger children the 18 principles that are covered in For the Strength of the Youth.

I have a goal of teaching a lesson a day to my children. I know that there are teaching moments throughout the day, but I also want to make up for all of the moments that I have missed. These lessons are less formal than a Family Home Evening, but a little more than impromptu. I realized I needed to this when I realized that there are so many lessons I haven't taught them. I can't wait for the teaching moments to come, I need to make them happen.

Well, nap time is over, so I better stop typing and go back to loving and teaching.

My list about me

I am following after my friends who have commemorated breaking the century mark in their number of posts by listing that many things about themselves. Well, I think I only had about 10 posts before I stopped posting. So to celebrate my return I will make a list of 118 things about myself because that is how many days it has been since my last post.

1. I love lists.
2. I really love checking things off of my lists.
3. I have been married for 15 years.
4. I have 4 kids: 3 boys and a girl.
   
5. If my girl had come sooner, she probably wouldn't have all her brothers.
   
6. I worked full-time until December 14.
7. I now stay home with my kids.
   
8. I still work part-time (about 6-8 hrs/week) training my replacement.
9. I am so busy, I can't figure out how I was able to work full-time.
10. I haven't posted in so long that I couldn't remember how to sign on.
11. I like security, but I hate having to keep track of so many passwords.
12. On August 21, 2007, I joined Weight Watchers.
13. I have lost 55 pounds so far.
14. I like surprises.
15. I didn't find out the sex of 3 of my kids before they were born.
16. I found out with Adam. I was so sure he was a girl that I told the ultrasound technician to go ahead and confirm it. Oops.
17. I was born in Provo while my dad was going to BYU.
18. My parents got divorced when I was 6, my sister was 3 and my brother was just born.
19. I'm not as close to my dad as I wish I were. I was a jerk to him when I was 12. I thought I could change him if I said I wouldn't talk to him. That was dumb, but I was 12.
20. I grew up with my mom and grandparents in Dallas.
21. I was so lucky to grow up with my grandparents.
22. I have lived in Provo, UT; Edison, NJ; Hollywood, CA; Dallas, TX; Provo, UT and Orem, UT.
23. I have also been to Maine, Washington DC, Illinois, Maryland, Missiouri, Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho and Mexico.
24. I am half Mexican. I wish I spoke Spanish better than I do.
    
25. I like to learn things. Like a friend of mine, I like to learn by reading.
26. I like to read, but have a hard time starting a book because I know I lack the self discipline to put a good book down.
27. I prefer WordPerfect to Word, because I like to see the codes.
28. I hate Daylight Savings Time. Why do we need sunlight until 10:00 at night in June?
29. I like planning outings with the kids.
30. I get frustrated when things don't go as planned.
    
31. It doesn't stop me from making more plans.
32. However, I REALLY avoid taking the whole family to Wal-mart.
    
33. The last time I took all 4 kids to Wal-mart, I came home and lamented to John that "we're sealed to these people?!?"
34. Did I mention that I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
35. That reminds me of a song.
36. I like to sing. I make everything into a song. Micaela loves the socks and shoes song.
37. I like to shake my groove thing.
    
38. I dance to the music as the movie credits roll. Adam and Micaela will dance with me. Sometimes Chris still will. Jonny rarely will. John will if it's a slow dance.
39. I dance to the radio.
40. I even dance with Micaela to the "Backpack" and "Rescue Pack" songs on Dora and Diego.
41. I love hugs and kisses.
42. I love to laugh.
43. I miss sugar cookies with icing.
44. I like the quiet time when the kids are asleep.
45. I like helping people.
    
46. I am excited for warmer weather and coming out of our hibernation.
47. I miss talking to other women everyday.
48. I am constantly trying to find the right balance between my shy and goofy sides, so I can try to pass myself off as "normal."
49. I love Scouts! It appeals to #1 & 2.
50. I like organizing things.
51. I built shelves in my office closet so I could organize all of my craft supplies.
52. I have a lot of craft supplies.
53. When I was working and we had more money, I liked to buy supplies even though I knew I didn't have time to use them.
    
54. I still don't have time to use them. I'm hoping this summer, when my older two boys are home to help me with the younger two, we can do more crafts.
55. I like fixing things.
56. I am the one with the tools in the family. When Jonny was a baby, I asked John for a drill for Mother's Day. I got to pick it out myself.
57. Several years ago I asked for a BBQ for Mother's Day.
    
58. It broke last fall. I hope I don't have to wait until Mother's Day this year to get a new one.
59. I wish I hadn't waited so long to update my blog. I'm only half-way done with my list.
60. I have lots of project ideas for my home.
61. I'm still trying to find the balance between getting things done and spending time with my kids.
62. I like having a 2 year old shadow. I feel loved and important.
63. I don't think I did justice to #49. I know I drive other people crazy with my enthusiasm.
64. I am working on the Cub Scout Leader PowWow Book again this year. This is for the state of Utah, south of the Point of the Mountain (Utah National Parks Council).
    
65. I like to take pictures, but rarely do anything with them. They usually stay on my camera until I have to download them onto my computer. And there they remain.
66. One year, I got a call from my kids' school saying that my mother-in-law had called them asking them for pictures of her grandkids. How pathetic am I?
67. I try to do a lesson every day at dinner time to make up for all the lessons I missed while I was working.
68. I love listening to my 2 year old say her prayers.
69. I also love it when she says, "I love you so much."
70. I wish kids did as you say and not as you do. The best way to see your weaknesses is to watch your kids.
71. I make kind of a growling noise when I get frustrated. I didn't realize that until 'Caela started growling.
72. I miss peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
73. I love squishy white bread.
74. I have been saving up for tonight's auction with the hope that Becca will bring some of her Ward-famous homemade wheat bread. I have been wanting to try it.
75. I like solving puzzles. Jigsaw puzzles, word puzzles, logic problems, sudokus, and bank statement reconciliations.
76. I like trivia games.
77. I like DVD games, especially Scene It.
    
78. I like all things Disney.
79. I like Harry Potter.
80. Now you gotta know I have the Disney and Harry Potter Scene It games. I also have the Nickelodeon and Friends editions!
81. I have been stressing about turning 40 for a long time. (One of my favorite lines from When Harry Met Sally: Sally's crying, "I'm going to be 40!" Harry exasperatingly answers, "In 8 years!")
82. Two years ago I decided that we're going on a big Disney vacation to celebrate John and I turning 40 years young.
83. I've only got one more year to save up for it.
84. I don't know if this is making any sense. I'm not going back to proof read this.
85. I am scared about having a kid in junior high next year. I don't know who's less prepared, me or him.
86. I am grateful for prayer and the priesthood and the gospel of Jesus Christ. How do people live without the Comforter and personal revelation?
87. I believe in goals and breaking them down into baby steps. Jonny wants to earn his Eagle. I showed him the quickest he could get it would be the month before he turns 14, but it would be a lot of hard work. He got excited at the idea of getting his Eagle at the age of 13. We'll see if he still wants to go this quickly after a few months (or even a few weeks). I just want to keep him busy with constructive and fun activities without getting burned out. I want him to get it before he turns 16. Some of my friends in my ward growing up had the rule that they had to get their Eagle before they could get their drivers license.
88. I found a great meatloaf recipe that my family asks me to make every week. (Don't tell them it's a Weight Watchers recipe!)
89. I am so anal about laundry, that I won't let anyone help me. I've got to unclench so that I can teach my kids how to do laundry.
90. I have a hard time throwing things away. I really feel that I will need something right after I throw it away.
91. I am trying to clean out our junk room. I'm going to have to throw things away. I'm scared.
92. I watch too much TV. I am grateful for DVR, though. Now I just watch the TV shows I'm addicted to after the kids have gone to bed. I don't channel-surf anymore.
93. I am a sucker for kids' fund raisers.
94. I don't like sales people that call or come to your door.
95. I'm glad I was born in the Church because I think #94 would keep me from giving the missionaries a chance.
96. I married a salesman. Luckily, he didn't have to sell me on himself.
97. I love genealogy. I wish I had time to work on it.
98. I am grateful for babysitters.
99. I signed my husband and I up to be merit badge counselors.
100. I am grateful for spell check on computers and can't wait until it's on ball point pens too.
     
101. I have a testimony of being prepared. I put shelves in a storage room and each week I try to add something to our food storage.
102. When I was in junior high, my grandmother taught me how to make angel food cake from scratch. I wonder if I can still remember how.
103. I have gotten rid of 90% of the clothes that were in my closet 8 months ago.
104. I saved a "comfort" shirt. I wore it today and it's a tent on me now.
105. I am a hard worker.
106. I remember my dad telling me that when I was 16. I didn't think of myself as a hard worker. I just did what needed to be done. I will never forget that compliment.
107. Jane Austen is my favorite author.
108. I am going to keep re-reading Pride and Prejudice the rest of my life.
109. Other books I will re-read (other than scriptures, of course) are The Work and the Glory series, the Harry Potter series and the Twilight series.
110. Hmmm, apparently I have a thing for series.
111. I can't remember jokes. This means I can't tell jokes, but I can enjoy hearing them over and over again.
112. I like geography. I actually majored in Travel and Tourism at BYU because I thought it was a good application of geography.
113. I did an internship at a travel agency and found out it was not for me.
114. When I graduated, I got a job in the Reservations department at the Provo Park Hotel, which became the Provo Marriott. I was going to work my way up into hotel management. I transferred into the accounting department because it paid more. I learned that I love accounting and worked my way up to Assistant Controller.
115. I also learned that the hotel industry is not family-friendly employment. I was working 50-60 hours/week without overtime.
     
116. I was inspired to leave the hotel and find my job at Lindon City. Then 9 years later, I was inspired to quit that job. There is a time and a season for everything. I know the Lord guides my life.
117. After 118 days of no posts, I wonder if anyone is still checking this blog.
     
118. I don't think I fooled anyone into thinking I'm normal. Especially after they read this! This may be too much information!