Loooong weekend!

Friday:

1. Picked Ty up from school at 9:30
2. Took Ty to occupational therapy in Mesa
3. Had to have Mark pick up Jake from school and meet me in Chandler so he could take Ty back to school and I could take Jake to the hand surgeon to have a cast put on his broken wrist.
4. Picked kids up from school
5. Took Natalie for allergy shots (10 minutes late)
6. Fed the kids.
7. Got to go for a break with friends (dinner and movie)

Saturday:

1. Woke kids up at 8 to get ready for Mark's dad's funeral
2. Left for funeral at 10:30
3. Headed home about 4
4. Went grocery shopping
5. Friends came over to BBQ and help finish Kyra's room so we can get started working on the room that Mark's mom will be moving into.

Mark's brother,Scott, gave a beautiful eulogy and then all the grand kids sang "Families Can Be Together Forever" Two of my kids were crying so hard they couldn't even make it through the song. It was really heart-breaking.

Mark's mom's RS served a wonderful lunch and wouldn't let us help with anything. It was really sweet. We had some relatives from Utah come down for the weekend so after the luncheon we went back to Mark's mom's to visit for awhile. It was nice to see them since we haven't been up there for 4 years.

Sunday:

1. Overslept and missed church
2. Went to Mark's mom's house to start going through and packing everything and to have dinner and visit with family some more
3. Left her house around 7
4. Came home and moved Kyra's stuff into her new room

By this point my back and legs hurt and everybody was exhausted!

It was a very long and emotional weekend for all. But it was fun to be around family and see the love that surrounds this family. We are all experiencing financial and/or health issues right now. But when it comes to being there and showing love for each other, this family is NOT in short supply!!

So, over the next few weeks we will finish prepping Pam's room and packing some of her most treasured belongings, having a charity yard sale (selling almost everything else she owns) so she will have money to live on for awhile and moving her from her home to ours and moving Mark's sister into her new apartment....

Farewell and a birthday...

This is Mark's nephew, Vince. Sunday we went to his farewell party. This 'do' was one of his last freedom acts. He left yesterday for boot camp for the Air Force. We are all very excited for him! Despite how he appears in this picture, he is insanely smart and super sweet and we love him to death. Good luck Vince!!

And now on to Alaina--HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY!

Alaina Rochelle was born at 6:03 pm. She counts down to the minute every year. I can't believe how fast the past 15 years have flown by. It seems like yesterday I was getting frustrated because she had colic and Mark slept right through it.

Alaina did everything early.

She crawled at 4 months, walked at 9 months, spoke complete and understandable sentences at 18 months, started kindergarten at age 4, got her teenage attitude at age 9 but mostly outgrew it by age 12. Now she is trying to graduate a year early.

We are so grateful to have Alaina in our family. She tries so hard to do what's right and she can be very spiritual. She always thinks about others and does things without being asked. She loves to clean and organize which is nice since my other 3 daughters don't share that passion!

Alaina--you are awesome! Stay just the way you are, we love you so much. Happy Birthday,baby Llama.

Everything update...

OK. I haven't posted in awhile but that's because I've been waiting for Mark to download the pics from my camera cuz I still don't get it. (sad,I know!) But whenever he's home,I forget. So,here's yet another post without pics!

School started a few weeks ago. I thought I was excited to not have the kids home saying "I'm bored" 15 times a day.

I.was.wrong.

My schedule has been so insane,I can't think straight. So,here it is:

Kyra has been doing a little better this year at keeping up with homework and actually turning it in. Her attitude is getting better, most of the time. And after groundings piling up on top of groundings--finally after 11 months--she is free!! And hoping to stay that way so she's watching everything she says and does.

Alaina is still having alot of problems with pain from what we think is arthritis but they still can't find any proof that anything is wrong. The dr said it could be beginning stages but that could take awhile to show itself. But she is taking an extra class at school cuz she is trying to graduate early. She is very motivated cuz she wants to hurry and start college courses for fashion and design.

Jenna is still doing great in school. She is not as motivated as I would hope but we're working on it. But she's still as fun as ever and keeps the kids laughing (even during homework)

Jake has finally hit some growth spurts.He has complained for so long about being short and now all of a sudden I have had to buy him new shorts (twice in 6 weeks) new shoes and shirts cuz he keeps growing.He also has a love/hate relationship with junior high. He loves some of his classes/teachers. But of course there's some he doesn't like. Mostly he loves that he made the football team. Out of the 105 boys that tried out, only 32 made it and he was one of them! Daily practices are making him tired and he's trying to adjust.But he's doing awesome! His first game is today so we'll see how it goes!

Jaren is in 5th grade and that means he gets to play an instrument! He chose the alto saxophone and he loves it. He is doing better this year at being organized and getting things done.He has grown a little too.

Natalie is in 4th grade. She has had so many health problems this year, it's hard to be excited about school. She is having a ton of stomach problems and had to go through some not-so-fun meds and treatments. We are being told (if it's what they think) it could take 6 months to 2 years to get her back to normal. Long road ahead.....

Ty is in 1st grade. Back at his old school but with a new teacher. We've had some ups and downs but this new teacher is doing a good job to make sure there's more ups. He's still in self-contained but will be starting in with some mainstreaming soon.

Mark and I have had our own health issues to deal with. The scary job situation doesn't help the health situation much. But we are having faith that Heavenly Father knows what He's doing. I hope He does cuz at this point--WE DON'T!

I'm trying to end this on a more positive note....sorry....I just don't have anything right now.