Allen's New Job

Allen started his new job today with Qwest, it is going to be an adjustment for all of us. One of the best things about it is that I get to cut back on work and be home more with the family! I had last night off, so this morning I was able to get everyone up and going, usually that is Allen's job. After Allen left for work, I had to finish getting the kids ready and get them to school, again this is usually Allen's job. It is really strange to be doing all of this again.

Now it is just Rock and I at home. Normally about this time, I am falling asleep while Allen and Rock are doing their thing, but this morning it is just Rock and I - very strange, but fun. The kids aren't too sure about all this change. The other night at the dinner table we were talking about how I would be home more and Allen would be gone during the day. We asked Sam if she was excited and she said "not so much"!!

Allen is always so laid back and not much bothers him. The girls also have him wrapped around their fingers. But I am pretty anal about things and I guess not as much fun, according to the kids. Like I said, this is going to be an adjustment for all of us. Allen, especially, is having a hard time. He feels like Rock is going to forget all about him. He has been able to spend every day and night with him for the last year and today is his first full day away from him. He has also really enjoyed spending so much time with the girls and making sure they get to dance and activities on time. Before our move to Cache Valley he always worked and didn't get the chance to do any of these things. Now he is back to that and he is struggling with it.

All in all, I think it will be good for all us. I am excited to be home and do some of the stay-at-home mom things, but I still really love my work and am glad I am able to stay working at the hospital. It is also a good thing for Allen to get out of the house and be able to socialize with people his age. We just have to make sure our family time is now spent as quality time, since there won't be as much quantity. I really love my family!

Anniversary

 
March 21 was our 11th wedding anniversary, WOW! Some days it seems much longer than that and others it feels like just yesterday Allen was trying to hit on me and get me to go out with him :)

Actually, I was the pursuer. He was friends with my roommate's boyfriend and I happened to think he was pretty hot. I made Ashley and Corey set us up. He was an entire HOUR late to our first date. We went to "Fools Rush In" and just as I thought I was getting stood up, he walks in and sits next to me. Can you believe I gave him another chance? In reality, after that night we were always together, even though it took several months before we declared it "official".

So much has happened since that night; we have helped each other through so many different circumstances that I believe we can make it through whatever else comes our way. First, we had a baby born with medical problems, in and out of the hospital for years, not knowing if she was going to make it, financial struggles on top of that. Then, me finding out about Allen's drug abuse and dealing with a separation for awhile. Then Allen checked himself into rehab and we were able to work things out. Both of us went back to school at the same time with two kids at home. Then, Allen had to deal with me while I worked through some awful childhood memories that no one should have to endure.

Now we are so happy and have grown so much. We have 3 beautiful children, own our home, made some pretty good traditions and our next step? It may take awhile, but I do believe that we will make it to the temple. I love my husband and am proud of what he has accomplished after all that he has been through. I am glad that he has stuck by me through everything and am excited to see what life throws at us next.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Last week was parent-teacher conferences and we met with Danni's and Sam's teachers. My kids are so much like me...VERY intelligent!! Danni is in the 1st grade and her teacher, Mr. James, is amazing. He couldn't say enough good about Danni. His teaching style suits Bubs' personality so well. She is above average in all subjects and just keeps progressing. She even helps other kids in the class with their reading during group time. She is part of a reading group that works on reading the 2nd and 3rd grade levels. What a smartie pants!! Mr. James gave us some ideas and suggestions to keep Bubba progressing, so we will start working on those.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sammi is doing just as well. She is mainstreamed in the 4th grade and is in Mr. Rock's class. She also gets to attend sessions during the day with Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Carter, Mrs. Bodily and Mr. Bulloch. What a special girl that she gets so many amazing teachers!! The circumstances surrounding her liver transplant six years ago just made it so that she is able to work with so many special people in her education. As we met with her teachers, we learned that that she hasn't always brought home her paperwork, so alot of the assignments were being missed. This is something we are working on together. But she is definitely progressing in her knowledge and skills. She is extremely bright and just needs to be reminded now and then.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I feel that education is very important and really hope that I am able to pass that concept on to my kids. I hope that they will realize the necessity of a college-education and work towards that. For now, they are on that path and I'll do whatever I can to help along the way.

One-year check-up

Rock had his one year check-up a few weeks ago. He is still growing and seems to be taking after his mother...he is very good looking! He weighed 24.5 pounds, which is the 75th percentile; was 30.5 inches tall, which is the 75th percentile; and his head was 19.75 inches, which is greater than the 95th percentile - do you think he has a big head? He now has 8 teeth and loves to use them on any kind of food (especially scrambled eggs). He is walking almost like a pro now and is in to everything!! (He is teaching the girls the hard way to pick their stuff up!!!!)


He loves to remind us all who is in charge! The other day Allen was feeding Rock, but I guess not fast enough. He grabbed Allen's shirt collar, pulled him to eye level and screamed in his face. He wanted his food!! Another time when I was putting him down for a nap, I tried to get him to lay his head on my shoulder. He just looked at me, said "mama" and shook his head no at me! I couldn't help but laugh and give him a major loves. We all spoil him tooooooo much. I think it's because he is the baby, but also because we know that his is our LAST baby!!

Twilight

I took my lunch break at midnight last night to go to Walmart. I wasn't sure how big of a crowd I would run in to, but decided it would still be worth it. I was one of many to buy the new release "Twilight". Back at work, the girls and I watched it! What a great movie, I am so looking forward to it's sequel!!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

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Moose

I was trying out a new editing program a friend told me about last night which opened up all the pictures we've downloaded onto our computer. As I looked back through our pictures, I realized again that I have some dang cute kids!!! I found these pictures of Moose, a Great Dane puppy Danni got last year right after Rock was born. He was one of the best dogs we ever had. We had to give him to another family because of our allergies, that was one of the saddest days our family has experienced. Because of this, Bubba has decided that she gets to pick out our next family dog - years from now ;)!!

Family

This last weekend Grandpa Russ & Grandma Denise, Grandma Glenna, Katelyn, Becky & Randy and their kids came to visit. We celebrated Rock’s birthday and then went to a dance performance and watched the girls perform. First, we went to the Cache Valley Fun Park and let the kids play. It was very busy but they all seemed to have fun. We adults roasted in the crowded building as we all tried to keep an eye on the kids. We then went to dinner at Golden Corral – not my first choice (or even my second, for that matter), but the kids love it and really wanted to go. Once again the staff sang Happy Birthday to Rock and he just starred wondering what was wrong them. After the dance performance we had cake and ice cream and let Rock blow out a candle. Sam tried to stuff Rock’s face in the cake, but her plan backfired and she got frosting all over herself instead!! Grandpa and Grandma gave Rock a really cool little red car that he absolutely adores. He had a blast as all the cousins took turns pushing him in it. Now he’ll sit in it and expect one of us to push him around. Grandma Glenna gave him the Little People barn set – he loves to listen to all the animal sounds. Becky, Randy and family gave him a little remote control car that is VERY loud (Allen has said that in return he is going to give one of their kids a drum set!), but it is also very cute and he gets a kick out of watching it go all over. His sisters gave him a bunch of hot wheels and carrying case, I’m not sure if they picked it out for him or for themselves because they seem to play with the cars more than he does. Grandma Ruby sent him money which he very obediently put into his savings account. Aunt Kelly and family sent him some of the cutest clothes that make him look so grown up and a stuffed animal. He made a haul on this birthday!! Thanks everyone for all the gifts, he has had so much fun with all of them!!!!
Grandpa Russ and Rock

Zach and Rock doing the Wii Fit

Danni, Katelyn, Grandma Glenna, Sam and Rock

Zach, Sarah, Sam, Katelyn and Danni

Sarah, Sam, Katelyn, Grandma Denise, Danni, Zach, Grandpa Russ, Rock

I am very thankful for my own washing machine and dryer!!!

This morning Allen and I took a whole crapload of laundry to the laundramat because we have let it get ridiculously out of hand. We were so backed up and just could not seem to get caught up, I HATE laundry!!!! After 13 loads and $40 worth of quarters (can you believe how much it costs to wash and dry clothes?) we are done. Now we just have to put it all away, a chore all it's own. I've always just taken my washer and dryer for granted, but not anymore - I don't ever want to have to do laundry that way again!!! At least at home I can fold the clothes as I watch T.V.

Catch UP

I have been working a ton these last few weeks and have been too busy to post. I have become quite addicted to this blogging stuff, so I have made it a point to log on and see what everyone else is up to, just have not taken the time to post – I think I am what people call a “blog stalker”. I have had good intentions and have been taking pictures with the thought “I’ll have to post this later”, so here goes.

Two weeks ago, Allen bent down to pick up our “rock” of a baby and did something to his back. I was sleeping because I had worked the night before and was scheduled to work that night. He came gimping into our room and woke me up saying he needed help because he couldn’t pick Rock up. I made him go to Instacare and he did very grudgingly. Nothing major was wrong, just something with the muscle - he just needed some rest and heat to it. So I had to call in for 2 nights to help him take care of the kids. He is rather embarrassed by the whole ordeal but I think if anyone should be embarrassed, it should be Rock – what a chunk!!! The girls had a dance performance the next night that I would have had to miss due to work, but since Allen was still gimping around I got to go! They looked so cute and did a great job!! I’m glad they didn’t inherit my coordination and balance.



Friday the 13th was a Valentine’s Tea at school. Danni came home on Wednesday and was talking all about it. It is a chance where the girls and boys learn etiquette and manners. The kids dress up for school that day and the boys pull out the chairs for the girls as they sit and then ask the girls if they would like anything. Danni was soooo excited that she would get to sit by a boy :) Thursday night they picked out their dresses, made sure their Valentine cards were all together and put the finishing touches on their Valentine Day card holders. Later that night, Danni woke up puking. She woke her Daddy up to help her and puked another time or two. Needless to say, she stayed home sick and had to miss the Valentines Tea. Sammi was able to go and had lots of fun at her Tea and party.
Sammi all ready for her Valentines Tea
Sick bubba in bed the morning of her Valentines Tea

This past week I had to go the dentist and found out that I need two root canals and two fillings. I am not looking forward to the pain involved with the root canals. The only good thing I can think of is maybe I will lose a few pounds.

Finally, on Sunday my baby turned 1!! It seems like just yesterday I was pregnant. It is so sad to see him growing up so fast. We just did a little celebration with our family and will celebrate more with relatives coming from out of town this weekend. What is even more crazy is that Rock just took off walking on his own Saturday night!! We cheered for him so much that he kept doing it just to make his sisters and mom and dad happy. I can't believe how big he is!!!

Our family tradition on birthdays is that the birthday person gets to pick where we eat dinner. Since Rock is too young this year we took a family vote and ate at a Mexican place. This is Rock as the staff sang Happy Birthday to him in Spanish!

Happy Birthday Rock!!

I can see the snowflakes!!

Last week we went in for our annual eye exam. Allen and I have terrible vision and up until last week, we didn’t think our kids had been blessed with that flaw. The girls kept saying how they hoped they would get to pick out new glasses and Allen and I kept telling them how awful glasses were and that they should be glad that they don’t need them.

In 1st grade Sammi had to get reading glasses, but the doctor thought that she would eventually grow out of them and she did. At this last exam we found out that our poor Danni inherited our imperfection. She has never complained about not being able to see, so we never imagined that she would require glasses. So Danni got to pick out new frames and Sammi sat by and sulked that she didn’t need glasses. I told her over and over how she should be so happy about not needing glasses because they can get in the way of so many things. Then I had to tell Danni how she’ll be so happy with her glasses now because she’ll be able to see. Being a parent requires a lot of hypocrisy and secrecy at times. During each pep talk, I had to make sure the other didn’t hear me!!

On Monday we were able to go pick up Danni’s new glasses and she was very excited! She listened very attentively to all the instructions the fitter gave her about her new eyesight. She is soooo much like me, it’s crazy, such a rule-follower. As we left the office, it was snowing outside and Danni said, “Mom, I can the see the snowflakes!!” I felt terrible that her eyes were so bad that she couldn’t see the snow before and worse that she never told me about it!!

Doesn’t she look adorable in her glasses? Allen says she looks like a mini me.

Valentines

With Valentines Day coming up and all the school parties, the time has come to make Valentine Day Card holders. When I was little, we actually used to make the boxes at school, but these days elementary kids are too busy preparing for college to do something so frivolous at school! The girls and I went to Wal-mart to pick out the supplies along with their Valentine Day cards. Picking the cards is a very serious matter in the 1st and 4th grades, because you have to make sure not to get ones that the boys are going to think are too girlie.

After homework the other night we began working on their boxes. My controlling self was really trying to help them and tell them what to do, but they didn’t want to listen. Can you believe that they had their own ideas? Since nobody was using my ideas and because it looked like they were having so much fun,



I decided to make my own card-holder. I just hope I get some Valentines in them on Valentines Day!!

I guess I really am happy that my kids are willing to do what they want to do and not just follow another.

Sammi's Sunday

Just over two years ago, Sammi decided she wanted to become a member of the LDS church. We had gone to church on and off over the years, but nothing steady. Because of this, our bishop recommended that she receive the missonary discussions first. He also highly suggested that we listen to the discussion as a family, and so we did. A few months later Allen was ordained a priest and was able to baptize Sammi. It was a wonderful day. Her Uncle Randy did the confirmation.



She has been quite upset with me the last few months because I have not been able to take her to church. I work 12-hour night shifts and it is hard enough getting sleep on a normal day. But when church starts at 1, that means I would only get 3 hours of sleep before my next 12-hour shift, and it seems that I always get to work weekends :). Today she decided to go to church on her own. She got ready all by herself and Allen dropped her off at church. She found her class and went to primary all on her own. And when primary was over, she met Allen just outside the church house, again, all on her own. What a big girl!! She had a great time and was very happy that she went. She told us that she wants to continue going, even if I cannot take her. She definitely is growing up and has set an amazing example to our family. I am very proud of her and love her so much.