We went to Visalia in July this year so we could spend our annual week with Grandma Zonda. We had a great time. We did the usual stuff like we went in the hot tub, fed the turtles a lot, swam at the neighbors, went to the park. We also went bowling and went to Hanford to Superior Dairy.
We left Danny in Visalia to have a week by himself with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma is going to host each kid like that when they turn 12. Danny had a great time. He did jobs for Grandma and her friends because he was trying to earn money to buy a phone. They also went shopping for clothes, played basketball with anyone Grandma could set it up with, and went fishing with Grandpa.
My mom brought Danny back at the end of his trip and watched all the kids for 2 days while Bob and I went to St George for a late Anniversary trip. We stayed at Inn on the Cliff because our friends' parents own it. We saw Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor dreamcoat at Tuachann. It was so good. And we went on a hike in the morning and went to the temple and did some shopping. It was really nice.
We had another fabulous vacation to Lake Tahoe this year. The Smiths are always such wonderful hosts. We were a little worried because there was rain forecast all week, but it turned out great and only rained a couple times. Amanda had a great matrix set up for us. We went on a hike, to the bmx track, had a fun day of jet skis and kayaks at Sand Harbour, had a carnival, had a picnic and played at Donnor beach, and Amanda borrowed bikes for the adults and Danny and Rachel babysat while the adults went mountain biking. The Clarks went home on Sunday and we stayed 2 more days. We went to the bmx track again and went to Sand Harbour again with just our family and rented a stand up paddle board and did lots more crawdad fishing and Amanda took our family pictures at a great spot she knows.
Our family pictures worked out so well. We were nervous because it was raining as we got ready and drove to the spot. But it was our last night there, so we just really hoped it would work out. It stopped raining about 5-10 minutes after we got to the spot and the sun came out and the light was beautiful. Amanda did a great job getting us into poses and looking at the camera. Ruby was not super excited about smiling at the camera and liked to make crazy faces. But we got a great pictures to choose from with the 700+ she took! It worked out great because in our final family picture Aaron and Seth weren't looking at the camera so I photoshopped them over from another picture and I took out the towel we were sitting on because the ground was so wet.
We came home from Tahoe and had about a week and a half until school started. We were lazy a lot and did some school shopping. We did our second annual "buy dry ice and throw it in the pool" end of summer party.
The kids all had a great start to school. They were excited and a little nervous. Rachel was really excited about middle school. Seth was pretty excited about kindergarten. He's not super in love with it yet, but hopefully he'll get used to it.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
July 16, 2014
This summer has been busy. Danny is doing so much better, but just recently. It was a good 2 months of him really not liking us. I've asked him a little about it and he won't tell me anything. But during that time he pretty much got a girlfriend. He was texting her all the time. He got his phone taken away alot. But in the end he knew it wasn't right and we had talks about what a big deal it was. He agreed, but didn't know what to do about it. So we ended up just blocking her phone number and he was fine with that. He's been much better since that.
We stayed home for 2 weeks after school got out. We decided to move our trip to Visalia to July because the Deans were moving away at the end of June. So we had more time to spend with them. And because Danny had a basketball tournament in St. George. We played with the Deans as much as we could during those weeks. Then Bob and Danny went to Scout Camp. They did a driving tour of Nevada with RVs. They had a good time. Then I went to girls camp. Danny watched the kids in the morning and they went to friends' in the afternoon. It worked great. I had a good time. The Jovaag girls went so I was excited about that. They had a pretty good time, but they weren't excited to go again.
Then we left for McMinnville Oregon for a family reunion and Grandaddy Gene's 85th birthday. We took 2 days to drive there and stayed in Reno on the way. We stayed in a farmhouse that had blueberries all around it so it was fun to pick berries and eat them any time we wanted. We went to the indoor waterslides, and air museum that were close by. We floated in the river. Danny enjoyed fishing in the creek several times. We road a steam train along the coast and went to the Tillamook cheese factory. And did fireworks in the front yard. The weather was great and never rained. We stayed for 5 days.
Then we drove up to Vancouver, British Columbia. We went to sacrament meeting there. We were disappointed we didn't get to hear any strong Canadian accents during testimony meeting. Then we went to a little hike that crosses a wobble suspension bridge. It was so pretty, but raining, so the ground was all muddy. Ruby loved it and even stepping in the glacial river and didn't mind the wet feet the rest of the way. But Danny was worried about his nice white tennis shoes getting ruined. From there we drove over to Kitsilano Beach. It had a fun playground and a volleyball tournament going on. By then the sun was out. The kids loved the playground and throwing rocks in the ocean. Ruby loved to get dirty again and rolled around in the wet, rocky sand.
The second day in Canada we took the ferry to Vancouver Island and then the bus to Butchart Gardens. It was sunny again and a little warm. The gardens were gorgeous. I was so glad we made the trip out there to see it. The kids got a little whiney after walking around for too long. But we got ice cream cones and that helped and Ruby walked almost the entire time. It's awesome to not have to travel with a stroller. Then we went to the Butterfly Garden nearby. The kids liked that more. We had a really great Butterfly garden near us in Georgia that we loved to go to with Danny and Rachel, but this one was pretty good too. Then we caught the bus back to the ferry. We had a good talk with the boys because they were a little embarrassed we were taking the bus. Hopefully they have a little less judgemental opinion of the bus now.
Next we went to Seattle to stay with Grandma Monte and Grandpa Gene. They were so nice to let us take over their apartment. We went to see the Locks and the fish ladder. There were scientists there that day catching the salmon and putting trackers in them. It was fun to watch. We ate fish and chips nearby and then went to Pike Street Market. It was a little too crowded for the kids to like it much. But they got to see some fish thrown and we checked out a few shops. That day was Grandpa Gene's actual birthday and they took us out to their favorite local pizza place. The next day we went to the Seattle aquarium. And then over to a fun park near Renton. And then to Ikea where we met some of Bob's mission companions and had dinner. We loved getting to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa. And the kids loved using their pool and gym and basketball court.
We drove home through the night to make it go faster. It wasn't quite as great as I thought it would be, but Bob did most of the driving and it was nice to get home. We were gone 11 days. We've found that week long vacations feel too short a lot of the time, but by the time we get into the second week, we've had a great time, but we're ready to get home. So it was a perfectly timed vacation.
We're home now for one week and then next week the kids and I will go to Visalia. We're craming a lot of appointments and visiting teaching and helping friends who are moving into this week before we leave again. We're also going to the new waterslides tomorrow. That should be fun.
We stayed home for 2 weeks after school got out. We decided to move our trip to Visalia to July because the Deans were moving away at the end of June. So we had more time to spend with them. And because Danny had a basketball tournament in St. George. We played with the Deans as much as we could during those weeks. Then Bob and Danny went to Scout Camp. They did a driving tour of Nevada with RVs. They had a good time. Then I went to girls camp. Danny watched the kids in the morning and they went to friends' in the afternoon. It worked great. I had a good time. The Jovaag girls went so I was excited about that. They had a pretty good time, but they weren't excited to go again.
Then we left for McMinnville Oregon for a family reunion and Grandaddy Gene's 85th birthday. We took 2 days to drive there and stayed in Reno on the way. We stayed in a farmhouse that had blueberries all around it so it was fun to pick berries and eat them any time we wanted. We went to the indoor waterslides, and air museum that were close by. We floated in the river. Danny enjoyed fishing in the creek several times. We road a steam train along the coast and went to the Tillamook cheese factory. And did fireworks in the front yard. The weather was great and never rained. We stayed for 5 days.
Then we drove up to Vancouver, British Columbia. We went to sacrament meeting there. We were disappointed we didn't get to hear any strong Canadian accents during testimony meeting. Then we went to a little hike that crosses a wobble suspension bridge. It was so pretty, but raining, so the ground was all muddy. Ruby loved it and even stepping in the glacial river and didn't mind the wet feet the rest of the way. But Danny was worried about his nice white tennis shoes getting ruined. From there we drove over to Kitsilano Beach. It had a fun playground and a volleyball tournament going on. By then the sun was out. The kids loved the playground and throwing rocks in the ocean. Ruby loved to get dirty again and rolled around in the wet, rocky sand.
The second day in Canada we took the ferry to Vancouver Island and then the bus to Butchart Gardens. It was sunny again and a little warm. The gardens were gorgeous. I was so glad we made the trip out there to see it. The kids got a little whiney after walking around for too long. But we got ice cream cones and that helped and Ruby walked almost the entire time. It's awesome to not have to travel with a stroller. Then we went to the Butterfly Garden nearby. The kids liked that more. We had a really great Butterfly garden near us in Georgia that we loved to go to with Danny and Rachel, but this one was pretty good too. Then we caught the bus back to the ferry. We had a good talk with the boys because they were a little embarrassed we were taking the bus. Hopefully they have a little less judgemental opinion of the bus now.
Next we went to Seattle to stay with Grandma Monte and Grandpa Gene. They were so nice to let us take over their apartment. We went to see the Locks and the fish ladder. There were scientists there that day catching the salmon and putting trackers in them. It was fun to watch. We ate fish and chips nearby and then went to Pike Street Market. It was a little too crowded for the kids to like it much. But they got to see some fish thrown and we checked out a few shops. That day was Grandpa Gene's actual birthday and they took us out to their favorite local pizza place. The next day we went to the Seattle aquarium. And then over to a fun park near Renton. And then to Ikea where we met some of Bob's mission companions and had dinner. We loved getting to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa. And the kids loved using their pool and gym and basketball court.
We drove home through the night to make it go faster. It wasn't quite as great as I thought it would be, but Bob did most of the driving and it was nice to get home. We were gone 11 days. We've found that week long vacations feel too short a lot of the time, but by the time we get into the second week, we've had a great time, but we're ready to get home. So it was a perfectly timed vacation.
We're home now for one week and then next week the kids and I will go to Visalia. We're craming a lot of appointments and visiting teaching and helping friends who are moving into this week before we leave again. We're also going to the new waterslides tomorrow. That should be fun.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
May 18, 2014
Danny is being horrendous. It probably only started at the beginning of May. But it's so bad I can't really remember what it was like to enjoy spending time with him. He's so hateful and mean to me and all the kids. Luckily he still mostly likes Bob. I hope it'll clear up soon. Or at least if it doesn't get better soon I think the end of school will really help. Bob and I went to see Valerie Dimmick about 2 weeks ago. She said we need to be unemotional and set out all the rules and then when he breaks the rules or after 5 minutes of non-compliance we take away his favorite thing for 24 hours. He's currently lost his phone until his grades come up and he's lost basketballs for 48 hours.
Bob and I also talked to Valerie about us when we went there. It was really helpful. She told us how we process information is pretty much exactly opposite. I want to talk it out and he wants to think about it. I've felt for a long time that I carry most of the responsibility for our family and kids. So we got to talk about that. Since he doesn't want to talk about anything I assume he's not thinking about it. And he waits for me to tell him what to do most of the time. So we talked about how we need to set up times to have conversations and then we each take turns telling our view using only "I" statements and then we use all that information to make a decision. It's been really helpful so far.
Bob and I also talked to Valerie about us when we went there. It was really helpful. She told us how we process information is pretty much exactly opposite. I want to talk it out and he wants to think about it. I've felt for a long time that I carry most of the responsibility for our family and kids. So we got to talk about that. Since he doesn't want to talk about anything I assume he's not thinking about it. And he waits for me to tell him what to do most of the time. So we talked about how we need to set up times to have conversations and then we each take turns telling our view using only "I" statements and then we use all that information to make a decision. It's been really helpful so far.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
May 11, 2014
Today is mothers day. Bob made norwegian waffles and got me a gift card and flowers and all the kids made me cards. I was in charge of the YW fundraiser to sell mothers day corsages. So this weekend has been busy with that.
Yesterday Bob and Danny and I went to the temple to do some names Bob found. It was great.
Yesterday Bob and Danny and I went to the temple to do some names Bob found. It was great.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
May 4, 2014
Bob got called as the 2nd counselor in the Bishopric again today. We are heartbroken that the Deans are moving to Utah. He lost his job in January and has been look since then for a job and just got one in Salt Lake. So we've known it would be a possibility for a while, but I kept having hope that he'd just find another job here. It will be such a change for our whole family to have them gone.
Anyway, last Sunday Collin announced there would be a new bishop this week. When I heard that I felt like they might need Bob and I prayed and told the Lord that I'm ok with that even though it might mean that I will lose Young Womens. I feel like I can be a little too opinionated with my callings. I felt for a while that I might be the next young womens president. But then a year ago they started talking a lot in conference about hastening the work and I really felt like I wanted to and should be more involved in that. And Bob got called as the ward mission leader and that helped me too to get more involved in missionary work and trying more actively to help the missionaries and to look for people to talk to and befriend. That was exciting and I starting feeling like I would rather keep working on that than be yw president. I think I even prayed about it and said I'd do either, but I'd rather not be president so I could have more time to work on hastening stuff. Maybe I should have just been more obedient and not had an opinion about it or maybe it didn't matter. But I thought of that when they announced there'd be a new Bishop and I felt like I should pray that I wouldn't be so opinionated this time and I would be good with however the Lord needed us. So I wasn't too surprised when they called Bob in. They sustained him today. And he'll do an awesome job. I think it will be great. Our family is in a much easier position now without a new baby and I have kids who can babysit. So I think it'll be much easier this time. Hopefully.
I've been having horrible allergies this season. I've had a stuffy nose and sneezing for 2 months. This week my eyes got really bad. They're red and so itchy. I haven't been able to wear my contacts much. I hope the summer comes soon and that next season I can go back to normal.
Danny has been having knee pain. Probably overuse and some kind of tendonitis. We took him to a physical therapist last week. Hopefully he'll do better now that soccer is done and he's just doing basketball.
Anyway, last Sunday Collin announced there would be a new bishop this week. When I heard that I felt like they might need Bob and I prayed and told the Lord that I'm ok with that even though it might mean that I will lose Young Womens. I feel like I can be a little too opinionated with my callings. I felt for a while that I might be the next young womens president. But then a year ago they started talking a lot in conference about hastening the work and I really felt like I wanted to and should be more involved in that. And Bob got called as the ward mission leader and that helped me too to get more involved in missionary work and trying more actively to help the missionaries and to look for people to talk to and befriend. That was exciting and I starting feeling like I would rather keep working on that than be yw president. I think I even prayed about it and said I'd do either, but I'd rather not be president so I could have more time to work on hastening stuff. Maybe I should have just been more obedient and not had an opinion about it or maybe it didn't matter. But I thought of that when they announced there'd be a new Bishop and I felt like I should pray that I wouldn't be so opinionated this time and I would be good with however the Lord needed us. So I wasn't too surprised when they called Bob in. They sustained him today. And he'll do an awesome job. I think it will be great. Our family is in a much easier position now without a new baby and I have kids who can babysit. So I think it'll be much easier this time. Hopefully.
I've been having horrible allergies this season. I've had a stuffy nose and sneezing for 2 months. This week my eyes got really bad. They're red and so itchy. I haven't been able to wear my contacts much. I hope the summer comes soon and that next season I can go back to normal.
Danny has been having knee pain. Probably overuse and some kind of tendonitis. We took him to a physical therapist last week. Hopefully he'll do better now that soccer is done and he's just doing basketball.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
April 27, 2014
My mom stayed for Spring Break. It was so great. We watched movies at night and went shopping one day. She cleaned my windows. We went swimming. And it was just nice to have someone to do all my normal stuff with.
Thursday we left and drove to her house. Ryan and his family and Kristal came too. We went to hike at slick rock one day and and went to the park and dyed eggs and had an egg hunt. We had Easter at their house and hid the Easter baskets and had a nice dinner and then came home.
We organized a block party that we had yesterday. The weather got really cold and windy this weekend, but it got slightly less windy for the party. We had 5 families come to the block party. It was fun.
Thursday we left and drove to her house. Ryan and his family and Kristal came too. We went to hike at slick rock one day and and went to the park and dyed eggs and had an egg hunt. We had Easter at their house and hid the Easter baskets and had a nice dinner and then came home.
We organized a block party that we had yesterday. The weather got really cold and windy this weekend, but it got slightly less windy for the party. We had 5 families come to the block party. It was fun.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
April 13, 2014
My parents came Friday at lunch time. Danny is getting ordained today. It's been nice to have them here. Friday we went swimming. The pool was up to 85 degrees and watched Frozen and had pizza. Saturday we spent most of the day at games and then we went out to dinner at Outback Steakhouse for my dad's birthday and then came home and had cake and ice cream. My dad will go home tomorrow morning and mom will stay until Thursday when we all drive to their house to have Easter with everyone. It'll be fun to have my mom here for Spring Break.
Seth still concerns me a little. He's doing soccer and he's happy about it. But he doesn't pay attention well at all. He'll just stand in the middle of the game and watch people on the sidelines. Or he'll keep up ok if I'm constantly yelling to ask him where the ball is. And I thought we'd gotten him doing better at school but it's really not that much better. He worked really hard to not be the last one done with the assignment and did pretty well for a week. But there are usually two assignments and he's usually last in at least one. We're working on sight words and reading at home and it's so hard for him. Maybe he's just going to be slower or maybe my other kids are all just quicker to pick things up, but I keep worrying about it so after spring Break I'm going to start talking to people and figure out what I need to do to get things checked out. Maybe he'll be fine but hopefully I'll learn how to motivate him better.
Last weekend was general Conference. Kenton and his family decided to come visit that weekend on their way to San Diego. It was fun to see them. All the kids loved it. But we didn't get to watch conference on Saturday so that was a bummer. Danny went to his first Priesthood session though. Then we went and saw the Bellagio Fountains with them that night.
Seth still concerns me a little. He's doing soccer and he's happy about it. But he doesn't pay attention well at all. He'll just stand in the middle of the game and watch people on the sidelines. Or he'll keep up ok if I'm constantly yelling to ask him where the ball is. And I thought we'd gotten him doing better at school but it's really not that much better. He worked really hard to not be the last one done with the assignment and did pretty well for a week. But there are usually two assignments and he's usually last in at least one. We're working on sight words and reading at home and it's so hard for him. Maybe he's just going to be slower or maybe my other kids are all just quicker to pick things up, but I keep worrying about it so after spring Break I'm going to start talking to people and figure out what I need to do to get things checked out. Maybe he'll be fine but hopefully I'll learn how to motivate him better.
Last weekend was general Conference. Kenton and his family decided to come visit that weekend on their way to San Diego. It was fun to see them. All the kids loved it. But we didn't get to watch conference on Saturday so that was a bummer. Danny went to his first Priesthood session though. Then we went and saw the Bellagio Fountains with them that night.
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