Sunday, August 29, 2010
Random Pictures
I have a friend who has the most amazing back yard..... I snuck in (okay - with permission) and took some pictures. The only thing that would have made it more perfect was spa music playing in the background!! There are three water features, one of them being a pond with fish and water lilies. Serenity describes this little slice of heaven! It backs the golf course and there is no traffic noise, only quiet. The gardener is one fantastic lady!! That night I also took some pictures of the moon. Came up with some of my favorite pictures (other than the ones with my kids!).
First Day of School
The first day of school is always exciting. This year I have five kids in school. One of those, 'where did the time go' moments! Ryker was so excited to start kindergarten. All day! Scary! The other kids were excited too! Monica is going to be a freshman - not sure how I got old enough to have a freshman..... Jaxon is starting 7th grade (also at the high school). Gunnar is in 4th grade and Jerrick is in 2nd. Poor Cannon still has 4 years before he goes to school - which we figured would be the year that Monica goes to college, he'll go to school. Interesting comparison! Then I will have to admit that I'm getting older!!
This year is going to be a great year for everyone! Jaxon was able to sign up to be a lunch helper - which means free lunch and extra food! It was his idea and he is LOVING it! I really love it since school lunch in high school costs $2.75 each day. Five kids in school will kill me just for lunch. Elementary school lunch is $2.50 per day. So, $13.00/day or $65.00/wk can buy some pretty great stuff for cold lunch! Which is what the option is going to be for the younger ones.
Monica tried out to be a cheerleader at the end of last school year - and she made it! So I now have an official cheerleader at my house! Which comes with it's own drama. Although it hasn't been too bad yet! Maybe part of it is being 14 - but there has to be a part I can blame on being a cheerleader! She cheered her first varsity game on Friday night. She was nervous and excited and did a great job! It was fun to see her cheering.
This year for the younger boys is going to be great! I know each of their teachers (well, getting to know Gunnar's) and I know what great teachers they are. All my babies are growing up.....
This year is going to be a great year for everyone! Jaxon was able to sign up to be a lunch helper - which means free lunch and extra food! It was his idea and he is LOVING it! I really love it since school lunch in high school costs $2.75 each day. Five kids in school will kill me just for lunch. Elementary school lunch is $2.50 per day. So, $13.00/day or $65.00/wk can buy some pretty great stuff for cold lunch! Which is what the option is going to be for the younger ones.
Monica tried out to be a cheerleader at the end of last school year - and she made it! So I now have an official cheerleader at my house! Which comes with it's own drama. Although it hasn't been too bad yet! Maybe part of it is being 14 - but there has to be a part I can blame on being a cheerleader! She cheered her first varsity game on Friday night. She was nervous and excited and did a great job! It was fun to see her cheering.
This year for the younger boys is going to be great! I know each of their teachers (well, getting to know Gunnar's) and I know what great teachers they are. All my babies are growing up.....
Salt Flat Pictures
I've wanted to take pictures out on the Salt Flats for a while, so the boys and I (Jared and Monica were gone (work and California), headed for a little family home evening excursion. The boys had a great time playing on the flats and I took some fun pictures. We met someone traveling from Illinois who was a helicopter pilot in the airforce and Jaxon had a great time talking to him about 'army' stuff. He also had two dogs that had a great time playing with the kids. It was the pefect time of day and I took some pictures of the sun setting. We finished our evening with sundaes from McDonalds. Nothing says I love you - like ice cream!!
4th of July
I'm a little late - life is crazy and it never seems to slow down. 4th of July this year was VERY low key. I loved every minute of it. The last few years I have helped with the City's celebration - this year I got the year off! The city had several events, although I was out of town on Saturday and on Sunday, we celebrated by having our own small fireworks display Saturday night. Jared was working through most of the fireworks, but showed up for the grand finale (well, as grande as it got!). Luckily Jaxon and Trevor were very happy to light the fireworks while I supervised the large group that gathered!! On Sunday we celebrated by going to church and then going to see the city's firework show. Sadly, now that I know how much it costs to put on a 25 minute fireworks display, I'll probably never enjoye them quite the same...
It seems as I get older the years seem to go faster. The more I want to squish in a day, but seem to get sidetracked with the 'not really important stuff'. This 4th of July was all about my family - the MOST important stuff! :)
It seems as I get older the years seem to go faster. The more I want to squish in a day, but seem to get sidetracked with the 'not really important stuff'. This 4th of July was all about my family - the MOST important stuff! :)
Monday, August 9, 2010
Monica's Travels
**Disclaimer** I believe myself to be a good mother. What I am about to relate, will probably prove me wrong - BUT, I love my daughter and feel absolutely horrible.
Flying is an exciting thing. Something I didn't do until I was 19. First time, didn't think it was all that great - well, except to get from here to there relatively quickly..... Not so for my kids. Not only have they loved air travel, they don't get sick and find the whole adventure lots of fun!
My sister graciously invited Monica and Jaxon to come to California to visit her and her family. Jaxon went first and his travels were uneventful. The only thing that made me laugh really hard from his trip was his comment, "Mom, I owe Melissa $7.00."
Me, "Why?".
Jaxon, "Because I have to pay her a quarter for every time I say 'I know.'"
Me, "I'd be rich." Walking away laughing.
Jaxon flight came in on Saturday around 3:30. Monica's flight was supposed to leave around 4:30. Monica and I drove in, did a little Sam's Club shopping (10 gallons of milk are MUCH cheaper at Sam's Club), then headed to the airport. We checked Monica in, went through security, walked the two miles (maybe not quite that far) to Jaxon's gate. Picked him up. Walked the two miles again to Monica's gate, seriously, couldn't have been much further apart. Said our goodbyes - headed out with Jaxon. Here's where the disclaimer comes in. Had I have known what was going to happen, I would NOT have left her. But, since she's flown before (okay - never alone), but she knew what to do, I left. The reason why - no babysitter at home. Gunnar is responsible, but not for three little brothers and an extended time period. I needed to get home so there wasn't much time from when Jared went to work and I made it home.
5:15 - Monica calls, I'm half way across the flats. She says they've delayed the flight. I tell her, no problem - keep me updated..... flight is schedule to leave now at 7:30, 7:30 comes and goes..... now they're talking about an 8:30 flight. She had a connection in Vegas. No connecting flight out of Vegas after 7:30... Hmmm, being stuck in Vegas, waiting at Salt Lake airport for mom.... No brainer. Flight gets cancelled. Melissa tries another airline. They have a ticket - but won't let her on without my signature releasing her to fly. Nothing but being there in person will work. Flight leaves. Oh, luggage is already on it's way to San Diego. Now it's 10, the power in Wendover is out. Cell phone reception is terrible. Nothing going through....
I have to admit - for being 14 she held her composure and took everything in stride. Until she realized it would be another two hours before I could get there. No flight, no luggage, leaves secure area, everything closed - can't even buy food..... now the breakdown begins.
Thank goodness for friends (another sister!). My other sister named Michelle was in Salt Lake with her two girls. 20 minutes away from airport. YEAH!! They picked Monica up, took her to Ogden, spent the night and delivered her the next day for a flight that actually arrived in Orange County!
Luggage was located in San Diego - flown to Orange County, everything there, although had a sticker that said he had been searched. I kept telling Monica it will be a great story in the future. Probably not now.
Monica was amazing. She managed a situation that most of us would have fallen apart in. She handled herself well and made very smart decisions. She really is amazing and I am very proud to call her my daughter. (She's probably not so proud to call me her mom, since I left her, but hopefully she'll forgive me!). She's probably saved all her receipts and I'll have to reimburse her for 'unplanned expenses'!!
Flying is an exciting thing. Something I didn't do until I was 19. First time, didn't think it was all that great - well, except to get from here to there relatively quickly..... Not so for my kids. Not only have they loved air travel, they don't get sick and find the whole adventure lots of fun!
My sister graciously invited Monica and Jaxon to come to California to visit her and her family. Jaxon went first and his travels were uneventful. The only thing that made me laugh really hard from his trip was his comment, "Mom, I owe Melissa $7.00."
Me, "Why?".
Jaxon, "Because I have to pay her a quarter for every time I say 'I know.'"
Me, "I'd be rich." Walking away laughing.
Jaxon flight came in on Saturday around 3:30. Monica's flight was supposed to leave around 4:30. Monica and I drove in, did a little Sam's Club shopping (10 gallons of milk are MUCH cheaper at Sam's Club), then headed to the airport. We checked Monica in, went through security, walked the two miles (maybe not quite that far) to Jaxon's gate. Picked him up. Walked the two miles again to Monica's gate, seriously, couldn't have been much further apart. Said our goodbyes - headed out with Jaxon. Here's where the disclaimer comes in. Had I have known what was going to happen, I would NOT have left her. But, since she's flown before (okay - never alone), but she knew what to do, I left. The reason why - no babysitter at home. Gunnar is responsible, but not for three little brothers and an extended time period. I needed to get home so there wasn't much time from when Jared went to work and I made it home.
5:15 - Monica calls, I'm half way across the flats. She says they've delayed the flight. I tell her, no problem - keep me updated..... flight is schedule to leave now at 7:30, 7:30 comes and goes..... now they're talking about an 8:30 flight. She had a connection in Vegas. No connecting flight out of Vegas after 7:30... Hmmm, being stuck in Vegas, waiting at Salt Lake airport for mom.... No brainer. Flight gets cancelled. Melissa tries another airline. They have a ticket - but won't let her on without my signature releasing her to fly. Nothing but being there in person will work. Flight leaves. Oh, luggage is already on it's way to San Diego. Now it's 10, the power in Wendover is out. Cell phone reception is terrible. Nothing going through....
I have to admit - for being 14 she held her composure and took everything in stride. Until she realized it would be another two hours before I could get there. No flight, no luggage, leaves secure area, everything closed - can't even buy food..... now the breakdown begins.
Thank goodness for friends (another sister!). My other sister named Michelle was in Salt Lake with her two girls. 20 minutes away from airport. YEAH!! They picked Monica up, took her to Ogden, spent the night and delivered her the next day for a flight that actually arrived in Orange County!
Luggage was located in San Diego - flown to Orange County, everything there, although had a sticker that said he had been searched. I kept telling Monica it will be a great story in the future. Probably not now.
Monica was amazing. She managed a situation that most of us would have fallen apart in. She handled herself well and made very smart decisions. She really is amazing and I am very proud to call her my daughter. (She's probably not so proud to call me her mom, since I left her, but hopefully she'll forgive me!). She's probably saved all her receipts and I'll have to reimburse her for 'unplanned expenses'!!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Pictures
I love photograhy - I just need to find a little more time in my day to pursue another hobby. Luckily pictures include my kids, which makes it a pretty good hobby! Cannon has become an escape artist. He can open the doors outside and loves to be outside with all the kids, even when no kids are around to watch him. It has caused a few panic attacks as we have realized he is not where we thought he was. He's quick! I spent tonight outside with him and my camera. Lots of pictures of my flowers (trying to hide the weeds) and a few of the baby!
The other night we had a nice thunderstorm, I had Jared take me up above Anna Smith and I took pictures of the lightning storm. I took lots of pictures, but only a few with lightning... you have to be quick! Luckily I came away with a few good pictures.
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