Junior and Senior Prom and Senior pics

Kyra had her senior pictures done by a sweet friend. I think she did a pretty good job! We are proud of you Kyra!!

Then she got to go to senior prom with Vernon...he seems super sweet and she had a lot of fun. This also happened to be her very first date!

Alaina got to go to junior prom and also had alot of fun with her group of friends. The mothers of the guys in the group put on a fabulous dinner for them before the dance and then they hung out afterwards.

It's so fun having girls! Next year I will once again have 3 in high school and it will be Alaina's turn to be a senior! She is so excited and has plans to be a nurse. Kyra will be joining the work force and is interested in attending culinary arts school...she's amazing in the kitchen!

Wow! I feel like I just graduated a few years ago and now I have kids graduating!! I could be a grandma in a few years.That's kinda creepy but exciting too :)

Date nights and such...

We started a new family tradition. The first Friday of every month we take a different child out to dinner. Just mom,dad and that child. So far we did Ty in March and Natalie in April. Said child gets to choose the restaurant and dessert place. Ty went to Panda Express and decided since it was his night, he got to choose what we eat and the conversation. We all had orange chicken. We talked about Ty's future career choices...fireman, policeman, car fixer guy. All of them, that's not the options, that's the way it is. Then to Baskin Robbins for ice cream and more "Ty" conversation. On the way in, we had to hold hands and do the "1..2..3..swing" that we did when he was a toddler. Fun night, fun conversation! Natalie had us go to Olive Garden. She had to order off of the adult menu so she would have leftovers to extend the date as long as possible. When the salad came, she picked out all the olives. Our waiter noticed so he brought her a whole plate of olives. She was telling me about her awesome score on her test at school and in the midst of our high-five..she spilled her coke in my direction. I have quick reflexes, she has a cute laugh! After dinner, we headed to Baskin Robbins for ice cream :) and then to pick up other kiddos from a track meet. I'm loving having these special times with 1 child at a time. Since we have 7, it's hard to get alone time and have a conversation. A conversation about them, for them, with them. Amazing! We will continue this tradition as long as we can and wish we had started it years ago!! We have also had 2 birthdays in the last few weeks. Natalie turned 11..1 more year until mutual and girls camp and personal progress. They are all growing up faster than I can handle! Jake turned 14! He's a teacher! No more fast offerings, no more passing sacrament (unless there's not enough deacons) And he gets to go on the "cool campouts" He went on his first one the week of his bday. It got cut short because 1 of the boys got lost for 20 hours. He was found and fine but it was so crazy that they came home. But he can't wait for the next one!! Jake also got braces. He will get them off in 2 years right before he's old enough to date. Date?? What?? Ugh, he'll be in high school next year! I planted my very first garden and already have tiny green tomatoes and strawberries..so freakin' excited! Life is fantastic! I feel good enough to exercise (that hasn't always been the case). My kids are (mostly) healthy, happy, smart and just all together awesome! My man is losing weight, working hard and treating me like we just got married even though we "just" got married 17 years ago :) I'm happy and hoping and praying that all my dearest loved ones (if you're reading this you are included in that) are also so very happy and enjoying all that life has to offer..the little, big, bad, good and great..that life has to offer. We have to remember to be grateful for the bad times too because they are also blessings!! They make the sweet times sweeter :)

For Mark...

OK--this is day #3 that you've been gone. We miss you terribly. Natalie had to sleep in our room last night cuz the house isn't safe without you here. I don't know how we will survive "the long trip" But we are so very grateful that you are willing to leave your comfy bed and sleep in a truck, leave your private shower and get clean in a public one and leave your "hot" wife and look at "lot lizards" all the time. Oh, and not to mention the whole not eating thing...

Anyway--update!

Natalie got an A on that project that she has been working for a month on :)
100% the topographical map (the thing with the clay)
91% on her powerpoint
90% on her oral presentation
plus she got an extra 2 points for having the display board

Kyra had an ortho appt today and guess what---ya, she 's NEVER getting them off!

Jake and Alaina seem to be feeling better. And as I speak (type) Natalie is getting attitude with...everybody!

Ty had a fabulous morning. He got ready in 30 minutes. Plus, he had a great day at school.

That's about it for now. But it's only 4:20 in the afternoon. There's bound to be much more excitement happen today but I'll fill you in on that tonight during our "before bed chat"

Love you tons and bunches and can't wait til you're home on Friday!!

Times...they are a changin'

It looks like I'm going to be a part-time single mom!
Mark's new job is taking him for at about 2 solid weeks per month!
He will be a transporter.
Picking up and dropping off vehicles between here and Florida and here and California.
The FL trips take 10-14 days, the Cali ones are only about a week. So,I'm left here with 7 kids, 7 daycare kids, a calling in young womens and all that goes along with all of that. I'm a little overwhelmed at the thought of it all but I know I have a good support system and great kids.
So, I'm going to try to keep up better on our day to day activities and craziness. Mostly because Mark will be missing out on our family life and that's the only way to keep him up on it all.
So,feel free to peek in once in awhile and share in the crazy that is us!
Mark, please check in here and there while you're on the road so you don't miss everything. We love you tons and bunches and will ache for you to be near!

Quick update

We moved January 1st! We got the house we wanted (I will spare you the horrid details) so we didn't have to change schools or wards! And it's in our price range (because of the horrid details) I found 7 (yup,I'm crazy) kids to babysit. That means after school there are 14 kiddos in my house! I look forward to summer break,haha. Mark's business is still struggling but he has a few things coming up that could be awesome financially,more prayers needed. But for now my babysitting is helping.

Despite all the changes and uncertainty, I'm feeling very blessed and loved right now. We had a ton of help with the move and lots of concern (I have felt the prayers)

Anyway,things could be better but they can always be worse! I have enough people around me struggling with health issues and worse financial issues that I count my blessings everyday!

Plus--I love my sweetheart and my kids are pretty awesome (and forever entertaining)

OK...back to unpacking/sorting/organizing

P.S. We are selling some appliances and furniture...if you are close and need stuff contact me,we need to get rid of stuff!

On the road again!

The house we have been renting for almost a year is being sold!
We had such a hard time leaving our old ward after 8 years and the schools we thought we loved. But, we are loving loving our new ward and everybody is doing so much better in their new schools.
Then we got the news that since our lease is up next month, they are gonna go ahead and just short sale it!
UGH!
We were planning on signing a new lease and just hangin' out here for a few more years. NOPE!
So,we've been on the hunt for a new place.
Priority #1..stay in the same schools...Priority #2..stay in the same ward...all while trying to find a big enough house for 10 people that is affordable.
Again,UGH!
Then last night our sweet Bishop called telling us about an elderly woman in the ward who is moving to UT to live by her kids and wants to rent her house out. It just happens to be a 6 bedroom which is almost perfect but better than anything we've found and we would hit BOTH priorities!!
So,here I sit,waiting to hear from her on how much she wants for rent and how soon she can move.
Also, I am desperately trying to find kids to do daycare for so I don't have to go to work and leave my kiddos. So,if anybody knows of anybody lookin' in the Gilbert/QC area...please pass it on. I really really wanna be home for my kids!!
Also,pray with us that this lady will make the rent be in our budget (she has the house totally paid off so she can charge whatever she wants)
And pray that Mark's business will do better so I don't need to work at all.
We need all the prayers we can get right now!!
Love you all :)