Catching Up

It has been quite some time since i've posted and feel like i need to catch up.  Life is always busy here in our home, there is always something going on, always good stuff!  I was called into the primary presidency and I love it, it's been so fun.  I pretty much am the chauffer, taxi driver of the family getting the kids to where they need to go.   Chris is busy with work, he is working at the temple on tuesday nights and teaching scouts on friday's.  He still enjoys his cactus farm and growing them as well.  Sydney is at Hamilton HS and is doing well.  She would much rather be at Perry HS with her friends but she is doing just fine.  She enjoys her seminary class with her friends and can feel a difference when she steps back into the HS.  She is in the Miamaid presidency as the secretary and is doing a good job.  Well yes we've gotten to this point in her life where she likes boys and by that I mean one boy in particular.  His name is Dallon Varney and he is a very nice boy and has a good family.  I don't mind them hanging out together as long as they are never alone, but I can say i'm not looking forward to her turning 16, yikes!  She tried out for the HHS girls soccer team and made it...yeah!!  She was so sick that week but she made it because she is very good and is fast!  She is loving soccer especially the away games when they get to travel.  Sydney is very good and I appreciate her and love her so much.  Zach spent the fall playing football on the Vipers team, he wasn't quite sure at first but he absolutely loved it.  He became quite good and made several touchdowns and tackles.  It was a loooong season, lots of practices and games but it was very fun to watch.  He is quite talented and is good at sports.  Zach is in 5th grade and is doing good, he really likes his teacher Mrs. Wong and his classmates.  He just finished up boy scouts and will be earning his arrow of light and his webelos badge, yeah!  He continues with piano and enjoys playing the trumpet at school.    Kyle is doing great, this fall he played baseball for CNLL and had a great time, he's a good ball player and is looking forward to playing on Chris's team in the spring.  Kyle is in 2nd grade and is doing good, he loves math the most but he doesn't like to read.... He turned 8 on Nov 8th and we went bowling for his party.  He was baptized on Nov 21, 2009 with Porter.  We decided that it would be fun to baptize the boys together, it was a great weekend.  THe girls all went to New Moon and then the baptism was on saturday and we had a big bbq at the park afterwards and just talked and enjoyed each others company.  What a great day that was.   I'm so proud of Kyle.  Keith and Pat, Jessie and Glenn came from Utah as well.  All my family from here came, it was a very nice day.  Kyle just started playing on a basketball team with his friends and he really likes it.  He is all about the friends and can't wait to finish his homework to be outside with them.  Chloe is our busy 4 year old.  She is in preschool 2 days a week and really likes it.  She loves to play and be with her friends Maya and Thea.  She is quite bossy for a 4 year old but loves to play with friends and be outside.   She enjoys singing and dancing and coloring/drawing.  Well its Christmas time and it's been fun buying for others and getting into the holiday spirit.  I ran my first 10k on thanksgiving day called the turkey trot.  It was so fun I wasn't sure at the end  if I was going to make it but I did and I was so proud of myself.  It's been hard to run lately because it's been so cold and dark outside.  I'm training for the Relay Del Sol in February though so I've got to keep going.  We are going to Utah for Christmas and I"m not that excited it's alot of work to get it all together, get the presents up there and make it happen.  I'd like to stop traveling past this year it's just too much.  I'll update again soon. I just took Sydney to meet her ride for school and there was ice on my windshield!! It's cold here on the desert floor.

Catching up

It's early on September 24th and I'm up because I get Sydney up everyday for school...for some reason that's not right but if I don't I'm afraid she wont get up for school.  So here I am at 5am everyday awake.  I actually love this time as I can do some quiet things, think without noise and go running after i drop her off.  I'm reflecting this morning on how truly blessed me and my family are.  The Lord has blessed our family so much and I'm so grateful for that.  Updates on the family now... Chris is busy with work, scouts, temple on tuesdays.  Sydney is doing well at school, she says she doesn't like Hamilton but i think it's okay, she just misses her friends and the boy she likes.  She is at a point in life where she likes boys and there is one in particular and I think she is pretty serious about him.    His grandparents are in our ward and his brother is on Zach's football team and she sees him at church dances, but i get nervous I remember how much i liked boys at this age and i hope she always chooses the right.  Sydney is a good girl, she is a good student and is loving seminary (yeah).  She is playing soccer for Santan  and on their first game she got the only 2 goals, and then she got another one last game as well!  She has done very well and we are so proud.  Zach is in football and boy oh boy is that team intense.  There has been so much drama from family disputes to coach arguments that it's sad to see how involved, maybe too involved some parents can be, they get very intense and like to yell at the kids and talk to them nonstop about what they could do better.....what ever happened to just playing football for fun and learning the game?  He is doing good in school and is learning the trumpet he likes to practice and he is doing well on the piano as well, Zach has so much potential.  Kyle is doing great, he is such a fun loving little boy who loves to play and have fun.  He is doing good at school we are working on his reading and writing but he excels at math!  He is playing the piano because he wanted to start and we don't quit although he'd like to sometimes.  He will be 8 this year and I'm so excited for him to be baptized in november!  Chloe is great she is attending preschool two days a week at Shirley's Sure Start Preschool, she is enjoying it alot.  She loves to pretend play and loves to smile and sing and dance, Chloe definitely knows how to brighten a room and make us all laugh and smile.  I got a new calling I am the 1st counselor in the primary and I'm loving it.  It has been fun and challenging so it's been good for me.  I'm busy working for John (redoing all the files), working for Couponsense when there is a 3 coupon insert I collate 400 coupons, it takes anywhere between 10-12 hours, and calling and making appointments for Best Team Builders.  It's busy work but manageable, I don't mind making the extra money.  I am so happy and love my life, my family is my greatest joy and I'm trying to enjoy every moment and tell  my kids how much I love them as often as I can.  

Zach's funny thought 8-09-09

Zach can be very witty sometimes and yesterday (sunday) he wanted to make brownies about 8pm....of course I said no because it was too late and to entice me he said he'll make with with a "cup of love", I thought that was cute from my 10 year old.  Then I told him he needs to go to bed, he asked my why and I said "because you need your rest to grow big and strong or do you want to be little your whole life?"  Then he said yes I want to be little and i'll be on the show little people in a big world"!  It's a show on the TLC channel.  It was just cute.  Today was a non eventful day, I tidied up the house, vacuumed the upstairs, dusted downstairs, paid a bill, made rice krispie treats with Chloe and helped her in her workbook.  Kids had homework and then Zach and Chris went to football practice. 

Update 8/7/09

I write with a heavy heart today as this past week has been very upsetting.  Last weekend Sydney adn i went to a baby shower for Josie Mckinnon it was so fun to see her get all of her gifts and be excited for her new arrival.  Then we saw the McKinnon family on sunday again as we went to the blessing of Cory and Ashley's baby  and then had breakfast with them.  On monday Josie was in a car accident and her baby passed away due to trauma and no brain activity.  They are devastated.... I have been so sad for them.  We went to the funeral last night and Josie just looked blank, only sorrow in her beautiful eyes.  Shane was holding it together and I was able to see beautiful Kalani with her dark hair and cute cheeks.  I hope so much that they feel the peace of the Lord right now as they struggle to face each day.  The real killer is that Christy Hatch had her baby the day she passed away and Tyler and Nikki had their baby yesterday.  It's very bitter sweet for that family and they are constantly in my prayers.  

I feel so guilty sometimes because i have 4 beautiful children and I can take them for granted or not spend enough time with them and then trauma like this happens and some don't have children or get to raise their child in this life.  It makes me want to do and be better.    The kids are back in school and doing well.  Sydney is adjusting to high school and Uncle Merle is her photo teacher, yeah.  Zach and Kyle both have wonderful teachers and so far so good.  ZAch has started football and it's very time consuming and very tiring for him, i have a feeling that this will be his last time playing football.    I was just called at the primary 1st counselor and i'm very excited and yet nervous about it.  I want to do a great job .  Chloe just told me that she didn't want to eat a banana because "they have polka dots on them", I don't blame her I can only eat bananas to a certain point and then they are too mushy.  She is so fun and I'm trying to enjoy every moment with her as she is my last child at home.  It makes me so sad that each day is closer to them being gone from me.    Kyle has been working so hard this week on his spelling words i hope he does well on his test.    This weekend Hayley and I are taking Sydney and 2 friends to the Arizona Grand resort for some girl time for her birthday party.  It should be lots of fun. I'll post again soon.

Update 8/7/09

Update 8/7/09

Update 7/27/09

Well it's been a while since i've written but it's been a good summer.  We had a busy June with grandma camp, girls camp, and movies.  Then we went to UTah except for Chris and Zach because Zach made the All Star team (yeah).  It was fun to go by myself, I surprised myself with how good i did.  I will post the info about the trip from the blog.  School started today Sydney is a freshman at Hamilton High School, Zach is in 5th grade with Mrs. Wong and Kyle is in 2nd Grade with Ms. Shaheen.  THey were very excited as was I to have a break from all the fighting.  I will miss them as they are very good kids and we had a fun summer together.    Chris is working at the temple on tuesdays from 3-9 and he enjoys that.  Zach is starting tackle football next week and I'm not thrilled about that the practices are not close and the games are even farther..... not excited but I hope he does well.  Sydney will be 14 this weekend, my baby is getting so big.  She is such a beautiful girl inside and out and I love her so much.

Here are my posts from the other blog about the summer:

Congratulations Zach on a great Season, his very last game was awesome as he hit a home run over the fence and brought 2 guys in and then was named the MVP!!  We love you and are so proud of you!

Our Trip to Utah

This year it turned out that our family vacation was just a partial family vacation.  Zach needed to stay here in Arizona to practice and play with the Chandler All Star team so he and Chris stayed here.  What a great time he had! Especially at his last game, he hit a home run (his first one over the fence) and helped bring in 2 other boys, then he was named the MVP.  We couldn't be more proud of him!     So Sydney, Me, Chloe and Kyle ventured up to Utah on our own as I needed to take Sydney to EFY in Provo.  We left on June 25th and Stayed in Cedar City and arrived in Pleasant Grove on the 26th.  We did many fun things like go to cousin Shelbie's baptism, swim at the Lindon pool a few times, hiked the G, got rained out at Raging Waters, saw lots of movies like Ice Age, Up and The Proposal not to mention all the one's we got from Redbox.  I was able to see my friend Laura and her 2 girls for an afternoon, we also went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house which was very beautiful.  Sydney was able to see her cousins from Oregon, they stayed in a cabin up Provo Canyon and had a great time.  Sydney said EFY was amazing and had a wonderful time and made lots of new friends. We will definitely do that again. Chris and Zach surprised us and drove up to spend the 4th of July with the family and we were also able to go to the Stadium of Fire in Provo.  That was soooo fun!! My brother in law got an email that said all police, fire and military could get in for free so we secured out tickets but didn't get to the gate in time and we thought that we wouldn't be able to get in, but after some searching and talking we got our tickets and we had such a great time.  Glenn Beck was the host and Shedaisy performed and then the Jonas Brothers came out and it was so much fun to see the kids dancing and laughing and having a great time.  The fireworks were so amazing and I've not quite seen a show like that before.  Unfortunately Chris's grandfather passed away while we were up there so we ended up staying until the funeral and Chris flew up the night before and drove back with the kids and I.    It was a great vacation but we were definitely glad to come home and get back to normal.  Here are pictures of our trip.

I'll write again soon.

Cute Sayings 5/31/09

Chloe has said some cute things lately and I don't want to forge them.  She was squawking like a bird in the car and it got a little annoying so I told her to stop and she said "mom I'm just trying to get the bird out of my mouth"!  Tonight she came in and told me that there is a monkey in her throat and I asked how she was going to get it out and she said through her ear.  She often tells me her eye is bleeding because it's red inside and she'll pull her skin down and show me.   She also says her heart is broken.  She loves to smile and just learned how to wink at church today.  One of my favorite things to do is tell secrets with her it's so fun and she says cute things.   

Things were a little busy last week, we had swim lessons with Chloe all week and then I went on Zach's field trip to CGCC to a water festival.  We saw Night at the Museum 2 on memorial day.  Then at scouts on Wednesday 5/27/09 Zach took his shoes off at the church to play kickball and he got his heel caught under the divider in the cultural hall and sliced his heel.  We went to Gilbert Mercy to get 5 stitches.  He also threw up and looked like he was going to pass out....probably not going to be a doctor.  He can't swim or run so he missed his first tournament game the next day and the team lost 11-2 so that made it even worse.  He's hoping to play tomorrow so we'll see. He also gave a good talk today in church on Baptism, Confirmation and the blessings that come from it.  Sydney finished up track and got an award and took 5th in the long jump out of 8 schools.  Kyle finished his baseball season yesterday and had a great time.  We are busy with scouts as well.  I'm a den assistant with Shelly Gardanier on wednesdays and Chris still has his scouts on fridays.  Exfuze is going great, I've had a lot of people I've given the drink to and I'm hoping for some great results.   School is out this week and it will be nice to not have anything to do.  I just need to keep the kids busy and happy.  We'll be heading up to Utah the end of the month which will break up the summer a bit.  I'm soooo dang proud of my kids for all they do and accomplish, they are the best!!  I'll write again soon.

05/19/09

Things have been busy.  Sydney went to the semi formal dance at santan with her friends and had a great time they went to a movie afterwards called 17 again.  Zach had a great baseball game on saturday and caught a dive ball and scored the winning run and had a triple.  He is a great baseball player.  Kyle has done extremely well  with baseball and has had a great season.  I have to write some of the things that Chloe says to me before I forget them.  "Mom, I ask you sonthing",  when she prays she says "Heddy Fadder",  one day in church she had flaky boogers coming out of her nose so I quickly got them and flicked them on the floor and she looked at me and said "you can't put boogers in Jesus's house"  it was so cute!  Taught me a lesson.  Work is going well for Chris well at least it's getting better, thank goodness.  We are getting ready to give our Pilot back and look for a new car, hopefully we can find something soon.  The kids will be out of school in a few weeks and we are gearing up for summer, it will be nice to have a break.  I'll write again soon.   

04/29/09

Today kids have been sick. Zach has a fever, cough, cold etc... and chloe decided to throw up today... so fun!  Sydney has allergies and Kyle is good, thank goodness.  We are busy trying to buy a minivan for our family as our Pilot lease is ending.  Daisy bit Mia on the eye  and totally jacked it up, it's so gross and I hope she will be okay and be able to see out of it.  There is a terrible swine flu going around the world and we are really trying to be careful to stay healthy (except for today) and hopefully they can get it under control.  Sydney took 2nd in the 2oo and 4x100 at her track meet yesterday, we are very proud of her.  She is a good girl and I'm just very nervous for high school and hope that she continues to make good choices and do whats right-high school is tough.  Life is good and busy and I love it.  Super proud of the kids and I love them so much!

04/20/09

We had a good weekend together as  a family.  Zach and Kyle had games on friday night they both won and then Chris took the boys to the Fulton Carnival and Sydney was at Megan Chapples Birthday party.  Saturday it was a soccer game for Sydney and Chris, Sydney tried to be goalie but didn't like it much so she went back to defense.    Julene Barth and I went shopping for the Silent Auction Basket for CNLL and then we were off to a Peleteros game. Zach pitched in this one and Chad and Randee and the kids came to watch , it was fun.  Chris and I then went to dinner with the Gardanier's and the Yocum's and then we went to the adult session of conference.  Sunday we went to Stake conference and they did it differently and had to broadcast to our church building so we didn't have to all cram into the stake center.  I love sunday afternoons when we can rest, take a nap, play games and enjoy each others company.  Kyle showed us his dancing side last night and did the macarena for us in his bedroom, he was very good apparently they do it at school alot!  I thought it was so cute.  Chloe has taken to the barbies and loves to play and make a huge mess with them!  This week Sydney is off to California with the band for the weekend, they get to go to disneyland (lucky).  I'm going to SLC for an Exfuze conference with Pat, I'm excited to see what they have to say and hopefully get her motivated and moving along in this business.  I'll write again soon.

04/07/09

We celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary this past week!  It was a normal day but it just felt special to me and I remembered our wedding all the events that went along with it.  That morning mom came for piano and she brought gifts, she likes to do that.  She brought a necklace for me from hayley, bed sheets, tie for Chris, book on cd for Chris, and she had our wedding video put on dvd which was so nice!  Mom and Hayley also did their dance for us again to the UB40 song and put it on you tube for us to watch, it was so sweet.  We had a game that night so on thursday the 2nd I got us a couple's massage and then we went to dinner at Hong Kong Bistro.  It was a nice anniversary I can't wait for the next 15.  Things are busy we had a super fun weekend.  Friday night Zach had a game and it was too cold for me to take Chloe so we just stayed home. Saturday we had Sydney's soccer game (they tied) then I had to go do taxes, then it was grocery shopping and home again.  Chris went to Priesthood that night (it was general conference weekend) and caught 2 guys looking into cars in the parking lot, I don't know what it is people always breaking into cars at our church's.  Then that night our neighborhood had their annual easter egg hunt, they were divided into age groups of course and they get their candy filled eggs to put in their baskets.  The fun part about it was that afterwards they showed a movie on a 16ft blow up movie screen.  They showed an easter show then the movie Bolt. It was so fun to get the pillows, blankets, sleeping bags etc... out for the kids and let them stay up watching the movie with their friends.  The Moore's and us had dinner on their front lawn and just talked, it was soooo fun!  I love our neighborhood and the great activities we do, it's a wonderful place to raise our children.  Today is tuesday and we have another one of Zach's games tonight I hope they win.  Kyle had one last night and they won by a long shot.  He loves to play.  Life is good, we are just taking things easy and being careful with our money as the economy is terrible right now and things are slow with Chris's job.  I'll write soon.  

15th Anniversary 04/01/09

Well we had our 15 year anniversary yesterday.  I woke up and made Chris breakfast in bed (omelette) and then mom came over for piano and she brought with her some gifts.  She told me to look on my email and there was something from Hayley, a you tube clip??  So it was  of them dancing to the UB40 song that they danced for us 15 years ago.  It was so sweet.  We got new bed sheets, I got a cute necklace from Hayley, Chris got a new tie and a book on CD and then mom put our wedding video, reception video, etc...on dvd.  It was so sweet.  We were grateful.  I can't believe I've been married for 15 years!  As i think back it's been a wonderful life.  We've definitely had our ups and downs and sorrows and happiness but we are so blessed and I wouldn't change any of it.  I'm very happy.  Kyle had baseball practice and Zach had a game (they came back and won 18-9)  We are actually celebrating today by going and getting  a couples massage-Yeah!! We could both use it.    I have an Exfuze meeting right after, hopefully it turns out well.  I went to the computer store to get an adapter for our old laptop so I could get the pictures off of it, it was so fun to look at them and see how much the kids have grown.  My goal is to get them all on disk and off the computer and put it on the mac.  

03/30/09 Con't

Today was quite busy I went and did taxes at John's today.  I've been doing taxes since January and it is helping me pay off my credit card-Yeah!  Then I went to the bank and then home to clean a bit and organize the toy closet.  It's always nice to clean and get rid of things.  Chloe loved helping me and she is so cute playing with her musical toys.  Then I took Sydney to the dentist as she has a gum infection and they had to do an extra good cleaning.  She needs to floss and rinse more as we all do.  I hope she feels better soon.  Zach is playing for the Peleteros team tonight and he's pitching so I hope that he does well!  

March 30, 2009

Well I've decided to start a journal blog so I can easily document our lives.  I feel I will do it easier on the computer rather than writing in a journal.    I feel like our lives our moving so fast and I dont' want to miss anymore moments with my kids.  I got up yesterday (Sunday) and started looking at the kids baby books and I haven't kept them up to date as much as I should have.  What a slacker I feel like sometimes.  The kids are doing great!  Sydney is in 8th grade at Santan Junior High, she plays soccer right now and Chris is the coach.  She's been very active this year and has gotten into working out and staying fit, I'm really proud of her.  She is in NJHS and has kept a great GPA this year, she's a hard worker at school.  Now if I can only get her to work harder at home.  She will do the stuff I ask but sometimes she forgets to clean up after herself and put things away, we'll work on it.  She was recently called as the Beehive President at Church I really think this will be a great opportunity for her to learn more compassion and how to deal with others.  Zach is 10 and in 4th grade at Fulton Elementary.  His teacher is Mr. Telford he's from England.  Zach is a good B student he most definitely could be an A student if he applied himself a bit more.  He is playing baseball on 2 teams this season.  I was a little upset at first because I knew of the time committment that would be involved but it's the way it is and he LOVES it so who am I to say anything?  He is a great first baseman and pitcher and he's always fun to watch.  Zach is also in scouts and we need to do more of that because baseball takes over most wednesday nights.  Kyle my sweet 7 year old is a player!  By that I mean he could play from sun up to sun down, friends are everything to him.  He would be out playing at 7am if I let him.  He is in 1st grade at Fulton Elementary and Mrs. Alaniz is his teatcher.  He is doing good and just enjoying the friends and P.E.  He is also playing baseball and loves it as well.  He got a great pop fly at his game on saturday.  I love to see my boys in their baseball uniforms.  Chloe is 3 and such a joy to have!  I can't believe I wanted to stop at 3 kids!  I'm so glad I decided to have one  more.  Chloe is so funny and independent, she loves to do things on her own.  She is very lovable and loves to hug and kiss me and follows me around telling me how much she loves me.  She likes to  play with friends as well her friends are Thea Moore and Mia Gibbs, they run around this neighborhood like the 3 musketeers playing and dressing up, it's so darn cute!  Chris is with Sagepoint Financial and the markets are crazy and stressful and I know he is stressed but we just take things one day at a time. We are in the 2nd or 3rd worst economic time right now in the history of life!    People are losing their jobs, losing their houses and money it's not good right now.  I joined this company called Exfuze and it's a network marketing company and I love it!  It has an incredible product Seven+ and the plan is unlike anything out there. I'm hoping to do really well.  I would love to be able to give Chris the financial freedom to do what he chooses with his job.  We are definitely doing it the slow way but it's my goal to get more people under me and make $ to help out with the finances.  

Today is monday and I'm going in to do taxes so I'll write later.