We're Old!

We have a 16 year old! Kyra turned 16 on January 28th. We delivered a bunch of balloons to school (which she was hoping for so everybody and their dog would know it's her bday cuz Kyra is all about attention) and while she was at school we re-did her room. She is in love with everything pink and zebra right now. So, her new curtains and bedding are zebra and dark pink. She absolutely loved it. We also got her a monogrammed zebra umbrella and water bottle. The other kids wanted to do something for her so they pulled their money together for the curtains. Her sweet aunts from DC sent her some really cute cards and she was excited to get mail for her bday.Then (as per tradition) she got to choose anything she wanted for dinner and dessert. She chose stuffed baked potatoes and strawberry cheesecake. I never know what weird choices they will make so this was pretty tame. Kyra has come a long way in the past year and we are very proud of her. Happy Birthday Chicky!

Here we go again....

We made it through December--

• we moved
• Jake broke his toe walking down the stairs and is in a walking boot
• got through more testing for Natalie for her kidneys and bladder (still no news)
• celebrated Christmas
• had a New Year's party with friends

I thought once we got through December everything would settle down and we could breathe a little..YA RIGHT!

January is already filling up--

• 3 dentist appts
• 1 ortho appt
• I have surgery on the 11th (finishing off my hysterectomy and shoving me into menopause, yippee!!)
• Mark gets his tonsils out on the 20th
• other random check ups and dr appts along the way

So, here's to hoping that February will slow down. Although, Mark is seriously looking into going back to school and one of them he is looking at starts in February, so maybe not!

Happy Day!

After weeks of packing we are finally moving today.

But, even more exciting--

Today Mark and I have been married for 16 years!! It's so amazing how much we still love each other and how much fun we have. We laugh all the time. I'm so excited to celebrate this day, even though we are packing and moving.

Sidenote--this year on my birthday we were moving out of the old shop. This has been a year of change and I think I'm OK with that.

So, my dear sweet Mark--here's to the next 16 years and the eternities to come. I love you so much.

Updates....

Alot has happened the last few weeks:
Mark is being sent to a kidney specialist because he's having pain and his creatinine(sp?) level is really high.
I am trying to pack and keep up with all the dr appointments.
Kyra has had several choir concerts and is trying to get people to donate to the choir fundraiser that will help them get to Boston early next year to compete nationally.
Alaina is hyper as ever and is trying so hard to get ahead in school and adjust to the idea of moving.
Jenna is busy with friends and worried about moving to a new school but she makes friends pretty easily so I'm not worried about her.
Jake is very busy with cross country and working on a play for Christmas--he's "King Herod". Jaren is enjoying running club.
Natalie is also working on a Christmas play--she's "the angel to the shepherds" and she's going through more testing to find out why she is getting repeated infections and having alot of kidney pain.
This is a good time to add that kidney problems run in Mark's family--his sister is currently on dialysis and the transplant list.
Ty has started some new meds for ADHD and is doing so much better in school and is even spending more time in the mainstream classroom, yeah!!
And of course--we are moving December 5th! I am trying to pack up a house that we have lived in for 7 1/2 years and we have also gained 5 people since we moved in. That's alot of stuff! We are excited/scared. But it's a new adventure and apparently one that Heavenly Father wants us to experience because He is making it happen. So, even though we never planned to move--bring it on! New neighborhood, new ward, new friends, new schools, new experiences, new problems, new blessings. We have felt His hand in so many things in our lives lately. He knows us, He loves us and He knows where we need to be and why. Good thing, because I don't! I am so thankful to have an eternal perspective on things and to know that though I am not in control--I know who is and I know He cares.

The Bumm's are on the move...

As some of you may heard, we are moving. We found a great home. We are still in Queen Creek. Unfortunately, not in the same ward or stake. But we aren't going very far. It's only at Crismon/Ocotillo. Most of our kids will be changing schools at the end of the quarter. The house we are moving into is bigger and less expensive! It's in a great neighborhood with lots of kids (which we haven't had for almost 8 years) Our kids are excited to have other kids to play with. I'm excited to be on a real road so my car stays clean. We are close enough that we will see everybody quite often. But, we will miss the awesome people that have become extended family that we have become so close to in our ward these past several years. Thank you all for your love and help as our family has grown and changed. We will miss you so very much!

ALT FUEL SYSTEMS

We have had many questions recently about our business. So--here it is in a nutshell. Alt Fuel Systems is no longer in business. However, we have opened a new shop with a new name. Some of the same employees but some are gone. We are now "Green Energy Conversions" We do all of the same work--regular automotive repair and of course anything to do with converting/repairing propane and CNG vehicles. So, if you need anything done to your vehicle please give Mark a call. Our new business number is 480-709-6414. Thank you!