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 :)

A new family member!

Today my parents added to their family! They adopted AGAIN. This time it was an awesome 14 year old boy named Boston Carter. I have a new brother. In the past year they have gone from 6 kids (3 of each) to 8 kids (4 of each). He's fun and he adores me :) Can't ask for more than that!! Welcome to the family Boston,we are blessed to have you!



This me me with Boston, my little sister Madison
that they adopted last year and my older sister Becky.

Just me and my brother

I'm fine! We're fine!

I think my last post sounded a little like a downer! I've had a few people worried about me since they've read it. I was jsut venting. Alot of this blog is for memory sake (for me) not for pity (from everybody else)

Anyway..yes,money is tight,our job situation sucks! But..we are fine. We are hangin' in and praying and hoping.That's been our constant for 2 years. It just seems like lately it's gotten even tighter than it was so it's been a bit scary.

But..we have a home (for now) we have great kids who understand and try not to ask for too much and are willing to earn money to pay for their own extra stuff (which is a good learning experience) we've all learned to stretch a dollar and be grateful for what we have.

I actually feel our family has grown and become closer going through this. So,It's not all bad.

we.are.fine :)

September

It's almost the end of September. I feel like we just moved (which happened in December) I'm still missing a few wonderful people from the old area but am loving this change that was forced upon us. We are surrounded by very caring, sweet and (I have to add) talented people. I have found myself reminiscing a little lately.

Missing the home that we worked so hard on. Missing my trees that my grandchildren were going to climb on and have picnics under. Missing the playhouse that we put so many hours into and the kids helped paint with their hand prints even after they were told not to. Missing my huge back porch.

But I need to stop looking back and look at the present...

We live in a fabulous neighborhood with actual roads so my car stays clean. With lots of kids so my kids are entertained and not getting sick of the constant noise of each other. With 2 fabulous parks containing volleyball courts, basketball courts, a jungle gym and a huge field for the kids to play football (sometimes tackle!),soccer or any other thing their hearts desire. A feeling of safety so I can go running in the evening by myself for a moment of peace. A MIL who lives with us and helps to cook,clean,shop,run kids and be an extra shoulder to cry on when mom and dad are doing "everything else" My parents (though they drive me crazy sometimes) are still alive to talk to when I want to. I have some amazing friends to keep me sain and have GNO's or couple date nights. I have a truly awesome husband who makes me feel like I'm the most important being on the planet at any given moment.I have 7 kids who love me, respect me and entertain me!

And to look at the future...

There will come a day when we can actually pay the bills without stressing, get the kids what they need and then what they want. There will be a regular income to depend on so we can take a vacation with lots of laughing, good food and pictures. We will go back to having weekly date nights if for no other reason than to get out from in front of the TV and stare at each other enjoying the quiet.

It's almost the end of September. Getting very close to the holidays. I love this time of year because of the weather, the smells, people going out of their way to serve others. I also dread it because my kids love Halloween and I can never think of costumes. Thanksgiving is hard because we have to decide..his side,my side or stay home and somebody always feels unloved because of the choice made. And Christmas...will we have $$ for presents this year? Will the kids understand if we don't? Can I be creative enough to make the $ stretch? Can I help my kids remember that it's not all about presents and it's OK if there aren't any?

So,we just keep living. Doing what's right and having faith that because we are, everything will work out fine.We don't need a job and money to be happy. We just need to help each other get through it with as much laughing as possible.

I really should be putting this in my journal. But right now I think it's important for others to see..you aren't alone in this. Alot of people are suffering and understand and it's OK to say it out loud! I love you.

The end.

Love

Loving that my kids are back in school. Loving that they are excited about a new year and new start. Loving my quiet days to do whatever I want. Loving the bits of rain we are getting. Loving my hard-working, ever-worrying husband. Loving my new calling at church and the awesome people I get to work with. Loving life.

Recent activity

We had a hair day..we went to my friends house and she did 5 hair cuts and 5 dye jobs in 7 hours! All that with 5 little kids running around needing attention!!

I forgot to get Jenna in her foils and there's no way I was going to post me in foils..but we all turned out super cute..what happened to the after pics??

Kyra and Jenna did a benefit concert to raise awareness for foster care and adoption. It was an amazing night but somehow this is the only pic I have!

My daddy :)

Not a great pic..but..this kid will be my new little brother in a few months!

My parents are adopting again, he'll make child #8!

Natalie at her end of the year awards assembly..she got highest honors

(all A's and B's for the whole semester)

Great job girlfriend!

Snow Trip (playing catch up)

Mark had to work up North for the day in December so we all hopped in the car and went with him! He spent a few hours working while the rest of us hit Wal-Mart for snacks and Big 5 for sleds (on clearance woohoo!) We finished right when he did and then we hit the slopes (the big snowy hill we found)

Ty with Mark's help
Jake at the bottom of the hill

Jaren,,posing

Such a good daddy

Sweet Natalie

Me and Ty enjoying the car ride

more car fun..they're so cute!

these 2 love each other..so cute!

We didn't get a pic of it but on the way back to the car..Alaina slid on ice right into me.We both hit really hard! It was hilarious!! Love fun little day trips with the kids!!

Bored kids

Kids have been getting bored and using the camera to entertain themselves..

Alaina

Kyra


Alaina and Kyra on the staircase

Kyra and Jenna in the street

At least they're using their imaginations!

INSANITY

I have been doing a new exercise program for almost 2 weeks..It's called INSANITY!

It fits the name!! So stinkin' hard,,ugh!!

My friends Nick and Cortney (who are hot) turned me on to this program.

I wanna be as hot as they are, so I'm doing it!!

I totally forgot to measure myself at the beginning (finally did it today) but I've noticed a difference so it's ok if I don't have "numbers"

But I did weigh myself at the beginning and I've only lost 1/3 of a pound. BUT--my pants fit better, my shirts that were tight are no longer tight, and I'm starting to like the way I look! So I'm ignoring the scale for now. My husband keeps asking me if I've lost weight so it's not my imagination!! :)

My MIL and my husband and kids are being so supportive and congratulating me for keeping up with it even though "it looks so hard" and none of them can do it,,even my "fit" kids.. hehe!

It's a 60 day program..I WILL stick with it and I will post my results so you know if it's worth your effort! Wish me luck!!

A Little Late

We had another birthday in our family but with sick people and tons of craziness there was no time to post. But, I'm sitting here at 11 pm with a house full of sleeping people and no desire to go to bed. Soo, it's getting done.

Happy 15th birthday Jenna! We love you!!

She got the one thing she's been asking for....a phone. She freaked!

On another note..
Alaina has taken the drivers permit twice, flunked it twice. She gets one more try and then they make her stop, so they tell us. Let's hope that Jen does better when she can take it in 6 months.

Oh, the crazy that goes on around here..Today my mom told me she never knows when to call...in her words..in the morning I'm getting kids off to school, during the day I'm either doing Ty's home school or running errands, after school I'm helping with homework/chores, then it's dinner and the bedtime routine (which can take up to 3 hours)then the kids are in bed and I'm either doing laundry or exercising or watching one of my shows on TIVO. Sometimes I forget to shower or eat. Anybody else have that problem??

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!