Good Bye to 2009

It has been a wonderful year. Jay and I feel really blessed to have a growing business despite the economy and many other contractors in the area without work. I think we both feel the gratitude of our Heavenly Father who has watched over Curtis in Chicago serving a full time mission. We know he has blessed our family because of Curt's sacrifice. Chicago was not an easy place to serve. But I read letters, week after week, from a boy growing in stature as he got out of bed every morning and prepared himself to send the message of the gospel to any who would listen. I am so proud of his strength, determination and ability to push on, and sometimes dragging his companions out to do the work.

Chelsea, Zachary and Tami are busy working, or going to school or both to reach their goals. Our house is full of visitors and friends and music. The lives of our adult children keep Charlie active and listening in on a lot of conversations that most seven year old years don't hear. He has some serious wisdom for them at times though. I especially like it when he tells one of his siblings to, "Just do it because mom (or dad) said so and it is right!" Charlie has so much love for all of his brothers and sisters and loves each of them for their different personalities and time they spend with him. He keeps us all grounded and remembering the most important thing we can give each other is our time.

I have worked at John Hancock Charter School as the fifth grade teacher for 6 years now and love it. I have an absolutely great place to work and awesome people to work with. Our school is known throughout the state for its grades, innovative learning strategies and being on the top edge of new skills and ideas that create better learners. I love it. We are also known nationally as a Core Knowledge Visitation School. I like the atmoshpere and challenge!

I have been a little lazy this year keeping up on our family blog. And it is hard to write generalizations about the year, so I plan to do better and leaving my mark and quick thoughts here throughout the coming year. If anything, it is a great journal for me, and I like checking that off my to do list! Check in from time to time next year to see what I am thinking and what the family is doing. Good bye 2009!

Halloween Fun - In Charlie's eyes!

I hope you had fun at our Halloween Party! If you came. Thank you for coming. If you didn't come you should have come because it was suuuuuuuper fun. The only thing that was fun for me was playing with Kyler. Musical chairs was Ciarra who won. I ate junk and I loved Grandma's donuts and Grandpa's rootbeer. I liked having the party at my school because I was at my school. My school is haunted. My favorite costunme was Nick's. He was a king and Aunt Lynelle was his queen mom. Some people I didn't know. Mom says their names are the Green's. (Jeremy and Christianne) This is swiping out my brain to think about writing. I was glad Chelsea and Tami came because they are funny. I got to ride in Tami's truck and that was cool. Love Charlie

We had a great UEA break. Traveling in a motorhome, we drove to Mesa Verde National Park and took in the Anasazi Cave Dwellings I have always wanted to see. What an experience. Charlie was thrilled to climbed up and down cliffs and ladders and crawl in and out of holes and rocks and openings. I have always wanted to see this park so I was in heaven. I teach this stuff at school! From there we stopped at four corners, which is really not the true four courners, and had our pictures taken. Just earlier in the year we had heard news that the original four corners was not geographically correct, but that didn't stop us or the tourist trap! It is still there. I loved shopping in the indian trading posts. Did you know I was born on the Hopi Indian Reservation in Arizona, near the Grand Canyon? It was off to Arches, Natural Bridges and Canyonlands. We rented a jeep to see the sites in the back country! Loved it. Loved it.

The Last Grad - NOT!

Well, it was almost our last graduation. (Charlie will have one in 11 years so be ready for that party!) I remember being a young mom thinking about this day. I would be young and free. 43 years and no kids in the house. What was I thinking. First of all, they don't leave! The kids just stick around for more and more and more. But we love it! I have really enjoyed some one on one time with my girls lately. We have had giggles, gone shopping and played card games late at night and it has been fun. I sure love them.

I think a highlight for this year has been karate with my kjids. I have kicked up some good memories with Tami and Charlie this year. When I enrolled Charlie, a year ago, I didn't imagine that I would actually fulfill my life long dream of learning the sport too. So, we are blue belts, Tami is becoming an instructor and it is great morale for Charlie.

Chelsea has decided to not go on a mission which is fine with us as well. She is thinking about medical assisting right now. Her health has not been an easy road. But I see a strong woman who is ready to take on the world. I love her testimony and faith. She is going to be great at whatever she sinks herself into. Curtis is coming home in December with a scholarship waiting at Utah State and Zach is hoping to attend Dixie in the fall, Tami would like to put a couple years in at UVU before BYU. It all costs money! Man alive - having kids this close really tightens the belt. But despite it all, they keep plugging away at their goals.

It is all good. I love this time in my life? I hate this time in my life? I have mixed feelings about this time in my life as a mom? All of the above. So, I just go with it, day to day and make each day better than the last. One thing I know for sure. I love my sweetheart and everyday I am so thankful for his dying devotion to me as well. He has a big heart, a deep love, wide arms, and tons of hope for our next life! And he is one great gardner as well!

It has been Awhile!

Wow. I have really let the blog go. Just had a lot of other things going on I guess. So, Christmas has come and gone, new years and Spring Break! What have we been up to? I guess I could list all the events, but I would rather say we have been learning how to be a moving up and out kind of family. With Tami graduating this year, our home has taken on a different kind of life. Growing up just isn't what I remember it being like. The kids text each other, not call or talk in person. Dates, appointments and needs are met all on the internet. Even the Bishop has face book! Pictures are shared. After prom, I was at church and someone asked me if Tami went to prom the night before? I said yes, why? I guess All the other kids already had their prom pictures up and posted on their facebook. Crazy! You can do all of this from your personal phone too. I have an iphone and should be able to blog from there as well. I thought I might give it a try this weekend.

Marne and I spent a great weekend with D.J.'s family last weekend. Jaryn was in the play Beauty and the Beast and we went ot see it! We had an amazing time! The car ride to and back was hilarious and insightful and we did just what sisters do. Solved the world's problems!

Chelsea is preparing to go on a mission. Her papers are ready and waiting at the Bishop's office. She has been having a problem with her gall bladder or something. So, after she figuresit all out, or has surgery, she will send those in. What an awesome kid!

Tami is a full on karate instructor. The kids just love her. She was working as a hostess at a restaurant that had to close its doors due to Olive Garden moving in. She is getting ready to invest in college. I drop hints every now and then that she and Chelsea could be roomates, if Chelsea's mission doesn't come first.

Charlie has played basketball, practices piano with a smile on is face, climbs into our bed every morning after scriptures to snuggle, keeps dad reving up the 4 wheelers, sold fat boy ice cream to the neighbors all by himself, is testing for his blue belt in karate this weekend and pulled his own 2 front teeth after losing 2 bottom teeth as well!

I love spring. I also like the idea that school will be over soon. I always need a few months to fill my love bucket so I can go back and teach again! So, I can't wait to talk to our Elder this weekend. It will be the highlight of my week.