Ok, we've moved. We're no longer in California...paradise. We're now in Tennessee...a very different kind of paradise. It is so beautiful here. Picture lush dense trees, green hills and valleys, fire flies, clean air, a bit of humidity, rain, amazing neighbors...put it all together and that's what our experience has been so far. We miss so many wonderful people: family, friends, teachers, playmates. But we look forward to getting to know more friends and playmates. The neighbors already invited us over for dinner the day our stuff arrived. We were able to chat with them and our neighbors on the other side of us, also. Both of these neighbors have children, so that makes for a much easier transition for the boys. They were bugging me all day if they could see if they could play with their friends and I had to keep telling them that they would come over if they could play (they were told this by the step mother of the children). But they couldn't contain their excitement to play...it was cute.
I'll have more to update later...I really need to get to bed. But I thought a little glimpse as to what's going on in our life might be nice. I have a lot of unpacking to do...so who knows how long it will be before I update again...but it will be done at some point. :) I still have yet to share our vacation to Utah and northern California...lovingly dubbed our "Guilt Trip" by my sister, since we were moving so far away from all my family.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The Prodigal Kitty Returns!
Real Quick! I just wanted to tell everyone that Angel has returned. She was waiting for us when we got home from vacation. Need to get going, will update more later. Love to you all.
Monday, June 9, 2008
In Memory
Well, I'm afraid I've come to the conclusion that our sweet cat, Angel, has joined the angels up above. I haven't seen her for at least 4 days now and I've stood at our back door calling for her more than I ever have before. My heart is so sad. We got her in October 2006 at the animal shelter. She was a feral kitten, but when Will picked her up she just laid in his arms, calm as could be. We knew she was the kitten for our family. It took her a long time to get the wild out of her, but she became the most loving and calm cat. I even loved her after she had lost control of her bladder (peed on me) on my head while I was sleeping at 5:30 in the morning. Now that's love!
This hurt brings other hurt up in my mind, too. This is the second cat we've lost out here at our house (coyotes). Chai, a strangely wild cat we took from our great friends, Krissy and John, also went missing after escaping out of the house. She had just started coming around to me, being more loving and calm. I may have been the only one in the family sad to see her go, but I was sad. Both these sweet cats went missing right after we spent a good amount of money taking them to the Vet for a sore (both of them had something wrong above or in their eye). I even said while at the Vet with Angel that she'd better not disappear after taking her there, after that had happened with Chai. At this point, I blame the Vet. Well not really, but it would be nice if there were someone to blame. Adding insult to injury, when we were selling our house in Utah, before moving here, we had to find homes for our 4 cats. One cat being the most wonderful cat you will ever come across, Muffin, who found a home with KC and Sarah (KC had once said that if it was possible to clone a cat, he'd clone Muffin and I totally agree with him on that one). I love cats so much, and I have a amazing connection with them. I feel that some day I'll be an old maid with tons of cats hanging around. Like I said, my heart is hurting for the most likely loss of Angel. I just want her to come home!
This hurt brings other hurt up in my mind, too. This is the second cat we've lost out here at our house (coyotes). Chai, a strangely wild cat we took from our great friends, Krissy and John, also went missing after escaping out of the house. She had just started coming around to me, being more loving and calm. I may have been the only one in the family sad to see her go, but I was sad. Both these sweet cats went missing right after we spent a good amount of money taking them to the Vet for a sore (both of them had something wrong above or in their eye). I even said while at the Vet with Angel that she'd better not disappear after taking her there, after that had happened with Chai. At this point, I blame the Vet. Well not really, but it would be nice if there were someone to blame. Adding insult to injury, when we were selling our house in Utah, before moving here, we had to find homes for our 4 cats. One cat being the most wonderful cat you will ever come across, Muffin, who found a home with KC and Sarah (KC had once said that if it was possible to clone a cat, he'd clone Muffin and I totally agree with him on that one). I love cats so much, and I have a amazing connection with them. I feel that some day I'll be an old maid with tons of cats hanging around. Like I said, my heart is hurting for the most likely loss of Angel. I just want her to come home!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
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!!!!
(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!!!!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Blast to the Past
Can anyone tell which one of our boys this is?
#1
How about this one?
#2
I can't believe how much they have all grown up!
Kaleb, Tyler, and Derek in the basement of our house in Utah. They have always loved playing together. One good thing about having them so close in age is how well they all play together. But, also looking back, I can see why I was going crazy so often. :) It was tiring, but so rewarding.
This is the boys at the Madonna in our first summer in San Luis Obispo. I can't believe Logan wasn't even a year old when we moved here...he's now 3 years and 2 months old. Time has flown by here. We love being here. We love having so much of our family (and miss all the other family we aren't near) so close, we've made so many wonderful friends, and we have such an awesome Ward...we are so blessed.
#1
How about this one?
#2
I can't believe how much they have all grown up!
Kaleb, Tyler, and Derek in the basement of our house in Utah. They have always loved playing together. One good thing about having them so close in age is how well they all play together. But, also looking back, I can see why I was going crazy so often. :) It was tiring, but so rewarding.
This is the boys at the Madonna in our first summer in San Luis Obispo. I can't believe Logan wasn't even a year old when we moved here...he's now 3 years and 2 months old. Time has flown by here. We love being here. We love having so much of our family (and miss all the other family we aren't near) so close, we've made so many wonderful friends, and we have such an awesome Ward...we are so blessed.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
I've got a mustache
Will and I watched this on a friend's blog page and had to add it to ours. We watched it over and over and kept laughing harder each time...we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Quote of the Day...
This one actually came from me...I was talking to my good friend, Krissy, and managed to blurt out, "I had a great day with the kids...until I got out of bed!" The delivery was excellent and when I was saying it I didn't really think of it that way.
Here's where this comment came from. I was in my room until about 11 this morning working on Primary stuff. The boys were in and out of the room, but I hadn't emerged at any point until 11. Then once I had taken care of lunch it was time to get some cleaning done...and the crap hit the fan! Holy Cow, I never realized how much my children argue with me and merely ignore anything I tell them to do. We have got to get this under control. I never would have even thought about talking to my mother the way my boys talk to me. I looked at Kaleb and said, "If I ever came even close to talking to your gramma that way grampa would have been beating me so bad!" (Side note...I never was beaten by my dad nor would he have ever beaten me, but Kaleb doesn't know that.) I would have had a stern talking to and plenty of time to think about what I had done...and I just really wasn't that kind of kid.
Here's my question...how far is too far when it comes to a child talking back? I know you are supposed to pick and choose your battles...is this one I should battle? It seems like a losing battle to me. The respect, or should I say lack of respect, is sickening to me. Not just from the boys to me, but from me to the boys. How far is too far when it comes to saying, "Because I said so," and "If you don't knock that look off your face, I'll knock it off for you." :) These boys really test the waters and push the buttons to get me going. I have been trying to let things roll off my back, but they seem to just keep pushing further and further. Dang, if I could only be a "perfect mother" (like they even exist). I was a perfect mother...until I had children. :)
I think I may have answered my own question...don't ignore it, send them to their room, calmly, and have them think about what they had done. And as soon as they came out they have to come apologize to me, or to William. I love the way my parents parented me...maybe I need to think about how they would have handled the situation more often. Don't over talk it. Don't intimidate them into being respectful (that will never work). I tend to over talk everything that happens. I think I need to re-read "Love and Logic". It's a great book, just another one I have a hard time implementing.
So, that’s what I have to say today. Thanks for letting me talk through my issues. Sometimes it’s just nice to get things out on paper so it all makes more sense. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why we’ve been told to keep a journal. Huh.
Here's where this comment came from. I was in my room until about 11 this morning working on Primary stuff. The boys were in and out of the room, but I hadn't emerged at any point until 11. Then once I had taken care of lunch it was time to get some cleaning done...and the crap hit the fan! Holy Cow, I never realized how much my children argue with me and merely ignore anything I tell them to do. We have got to get this under control. I never would have even thought about talking to my mother the way my boys talk to me. I looked at Kaleb and said, "If I ever came even close to talking to your gramma that way grampa would have been beating me so bad!" (Side note...I never was beaten by my dad nor would he have ever beaten me, but Kaleb doesn't know that.) I would have had a stern talking to and plenty of time to think about what I had done...and I just really wasn't that kind of kid.
Here's my question...how far is too far when it comes to a child talking back? I know you are supposed to pick and choose your battles...is this one I should battle? It seems like a losing battle to me. The respect, or should I say lack of respect, is sickening to me. Not just from the boys to me, but from me to the boys. How far is too far when it comes to saying, "Because I said so," and "If you don't knock that look off your face, I'll knock it off for you." :) These boys really test the waters and push the buttons to get me going. I have been trying to let things roll off my back, but they seem to just keep pushing further and further. Dang, if I could only be a "perfect mother" (like they even exist). I was a perfect mother...until I had children. :)
I think I may have answered my own question...don't ignore it, send them to their room, calmly, and have them think about what they had done. And as soon as they came out they have to come apologize to me, or to William. I love the way my parents parented me...maybe I need to think about how they would have handled the situation more often. Don't over talk it. Don't intimidate them into being respectful (that will never work). I tend to over talk everything that happens. I think I need to re-read "Love and Logic". It's a great book, just another one I have a hard time implementing.
So, that’s what I have to say today. Thanks for letting me talk through my issues. Sometimes it’s just nice to get things out on paper so it all makes more sense. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why we’ve been told to keep a journal. Huh.
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