We're still alive

The saying goes, "no news is good news" right? Well, that's the way it is here. The boys are done with school, we're on our second week off and Kaleb and Tyler have Cub Scout Day Camp this week. They are loving it! I helped out all day Monday and will do so again tomorrow. It's fun to be with the boys (I'm with Kaleb's group) and to watch them learn all the new things they are experiencing. This camp is well organized and is helping them pass off LOTS of requirements.

Other things going on: Logan is trying to learn how to ride his bike without training wheels...a bit more practice is necessary, but he'll get it soon. Derek is about ready to lose his 3rd tooth - top right, and is very trepidatious about having it pulled. Tyler is learning how to swim on his own...a few more "lessons" and he will be on his way to pool freedom. Kaleb is also learning how to swim, he may be ready a bit before Tyler to have some pool freedom. Only those two have had true lessons before and that was when we were in Utah...many years ago in accordance to their lives. I am enjoying the summer so far...I love taking the boys out on adventures and activities. I'm hoping to get some good educational things in to broaden their horizons. William is ever so close to seeing a huge success with TurnItUp Media...we are keeping the faith and praying hard every day for someone to come along and act upon their initial reaction of, "Holy Cow! This site is AMAZING!" and not just say that and then say, "Well, good luck and good work." Ugh. It will come, when the Lord wants it to come.

Enough talky, talky, now time for a few pics...
The boys painted these at a Park and Rec painting class in April. From left to right: Logan's, Derek's, Tyler's, Kaleb's



We loved decorating







Easter eggs this year.







Only Derek and Daddy







like to eat them, though.







Logan needed a pic for Mommy's day for preschool...this is what we came up with.

February to March Happenings

Logan and I took a trip to San Luis Obispo, California the middle of February so I could get my eyes re-lasered. It went well and we had a great visit while there.

Logan turned 4! We had a great celebration and can't believe our baby is 4 already.

Kaleb and Tyler had their Pinewood Derby, they both did great and Kaleb even won the whole event! Way to go Kaleb and Will!

Two of the kids favorite places to go are the Nashville Zoo and the Adventure Science Center. We've been fortunate enough to go to both places many times already and they never get sick of either place. I love the learning opportunities at the Science Center!

All three boys got awards at their 3rd quarter awards assembly. All grades have a different time for their assembly and I only had the camera for Kaleb's. They all did great this last quarter!

That's it in a nutshell, other than William's business going live and them working through bugs before it gets too big! :) You can visit TurnItUp Media to see what it's all about. I think you'll love what you see!

TurnItUp Media

GO HERE to see what brought us out here to Nashville! William has been working non-stop on this business for a few years now and it's all coming together! TurnItUp Media (I came up with the name) is going live and strong! It's a place you can go to download free music. I've become addicted and it's still not even what it's going to be in a few months. Eventually you will be able to watch usually 2 adds to earn enough points to download a song. It's DRM free, which means it's an MP3 and you can load it onto, burn it onto, do whatever you'd like with each song. You can also complete offers to earn points, and eventually maybe even complete surveys within the company to earn points. I personally have about 65 songs in my queue, and I'm earning one a day, which is the limit right now as they are still trying to get all their ducks in a row. That will change hopefully soon and you can watch as many adds and download as many songs as you'd like each day. You can also, if you're already rolling in the dough or don't want to take the time to watch the adds, purchase points through paypal. You can do that right now and start to get all the songs you want.

I am so proud of my man and I'm grateful for his brilliant mind that comes up with these amazing ideas. I've known since we've been married that one of his businesses was going to be successful, and here we are, looking at success straight on! Right now he's at a country music convention talking with all the mucky mucks that will help his company go so many places. I don't know how he keeps his cool talking to some of the people he's come in contact with. I'd be stammering over myself and a brain full of jello (what else is new, haha).

I'm so grateful the Lord lead us here, even if it did take me away from my most favorite place to live. I know the business would be nowhere near where it is now if we'd stayed in San Luis. It's amazing all the people we have crossed paths with here and how many have come into the business with as much enthusiasm as we have for it. They have worked long and hard on getting this company to where it is today. TurnItUp Media is successful because of everyone's hand that has been in it...including the Lord's. To all the wives of the men who've been involved in this endeavor...thank you for your sacrifice! I know it's hard to be without your husband most evenings and I appreciate your faith in the cause as well. I love you all!

To all my other friends and family...check out the website! You'll be amazed, I sure am! Just keep in mind it's still in it's beta stage and they are trying to work out all the kinks at the moment. Any issues you find you can email them at "contact us" and they will work on fixing what you may find. I hope you all find it as awesome as I do!

Check out this shot!

That's Clayton Osborn...he was just as surprised as everyone else.  It was made during one of his games at Lipscomb University.  I never thought that white boy was that good! :)

Tyler's Report

Tyler gave an oral report a couple weeks ago on Stick Bugs and I wanted to put it up on our blog since he did such a great job...and because Will is so far away he wasn't able to be here for it.

(To be added once I finally get it in the right format to fit in here)

I am so proud of him and how much he has grown in the last couple years. When we moved to California from Utah he was so shy and timid it's almost like he's a new person. He's outgoing and willing to get in front of people. He even sings during sacrament meeting performances! He used to always just stand up on the stand and not sing. It's been great to see him flourish in his confidence.

I mentioned that Will is so far away...he's in Tennessee working on TurnItUp Media, and things are going great! It looks like he's going to have a launch date within the next month and a half for the site to be full blown. We are so excited to see this business flourish. He's such an entrepreneur that it's been hard having him put so much effort into so many wonderful things and we are still waiting for one to succeed to more than we could ever imagine. It's great to see it happening after so many years of effort. I'm so proud of him, and miss him terribly! The boys have been great, but definitely miss their dad! I think we will all appreciate each other a lot more once we are reunited. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder!

We are in the last 2 weeks of school. The day school is out we are taking off for Utah to visit K.C. and Sarah, Tammy and Chad, and many other friends we haven't seen for over 2 1/2 years. We'll then travel home via Northern California and visit my Sister, Carrie, Bro-in-law, John and their four children. I'm so excited to see everyone!! I can't believe that 2 1/2 years have gone by since we moved here. Time has flown by, and we love being here!!!!

Exciting news in the News!

William's business is being broadcast over distant communications. There was a news report that included information about "TurnItUp Media" in the UK and now is on YouTube. It's such a strange thing to hear something that has been such a long time dream to come up in the public eye. We thought we needed to share our excitement with everyone we could. It's toward the end of the clip, be patient, or skip half way through or so. Here's the video!



And some final fun information about me, Alison. I've been released as the Gospel Doctrine Teacher (very sad! really, see previous entry "a crazy idea" in 2007) and called into the Primary Presidency as 1st Counselor (with a little trepadation and lots of excitement at the same time). I'm excited to be working with great friends, Jodi Kondo (Pres) and Krissy Belissario (2nd Couns), in the Presidency and many other wonderful teachers I call friends, too!