New projects

Becky and I have been working on some new projects recently which have turned out to be a lot of fun. Becky got her ears pierced for Christmas and has therefore been very interested in earrings. A friend of hers made her a pair of earrings and so she wanted to try making some. The following photo is one of all the earrings she has made - plus the one pair her friend made. They turned out nice.

And to hold her fun jewelry, we made a little thing we saw on the internet. We used an old frame, added plastic mesh for earrings, added a few hooks and knobs for necklaces and bracelets, and a ribbon to hang it with. And Becky added stickers so it would be more decorative. It turned out pretty good.

I have been wanting to try sushi for a long time so I finally got the chance on mine and Richard's anniversary. It had cooked meat, not raw, and was very delicious! Then, the next day, I tried some raw sushi. I just can't get past that fishy smell or taste. I think I'm going to have to stick with the cooked stuff. But, it is expensive so I have been making my own the past few days. It's fun! Don't know what my favorite combo is yet, though! I've got lots more to make before I can decide what I like the best.

Richard and I celebrated our 12th anniversary this year. Can't believe it's been 12 years. It seems to have gone by so fast! With each passing year I find myself more and more in love with him! He is just the best!

My girls love to dress up and pretend to be spy kids lately! It seems to be their favorite past time! Emma always has a new name she'd like me to call her and Becky is always coming up with creative inventions and new gadgets for them to be the most effective spy kids!

Laughter is the best medicine...

I just spent an hour looking at funny signs and pictures with my daughter and laughing quite a lot. Some of our favorites were:

Interesting

I have decided that on days when I am sad or very stressed, I should never visit Facebook. There is always someone who is worse off than I am, someone who needs prayers or help, and lots of someones who are in bad moods. It makes me more sad, more frustrated, and more stressed out. I want to comfort all the sad people, help everyone that needs it and...still not sure what to do for those who are in bad moods. But as only one person, I can't do much - nor can I fix everyone's problems. Facebook is definitely not a place to find comfort when sad or stressed. I think I shall go snuggle with my children and be happy!

Halloween

I haven't posted anything in forever so I figured it was about time!

For Halloween this year, Becky went as a super spy. She even wore little black fingernails with red hand prints in the center of them (which, unfortunately you can't see in the picture). Jared hates dressing up so we found a Cookie Monster T-shirt that he liked and dressed him in that. He was happy. Emma went as a little magical witch. Out of all the costumes, she liked that one the best and even carried a magic wand along with her broom. They were very cute!



Richard didn't shave all of his facial hair off the other day and was told that he looked like Johnny Depp. So that's who Richard dressed up like for Halloween. And I must say, it was an amazing resemblance!





I will have to work on a costume for next year for me. Ran out of time. So, I dressed up in my dad's old national park uniform. It was quite large, but still fun!





Jared just turned 8 this month and aside from starting cub scouts, not much in his life has changed. He is still a very happy young man! He still loves to draw all the time and was so happy when we gave him a ream of paper for his birthday that he just hugged it and said how much he loved his paper. It was very cute!

Vit D

I have learned that in order to keep myself happy, less depressed, less moody, etc., I need a lot of Vitamin D. And holy cow what a difference it makes! I really like feeling happy! Richard was telling me that in the ER when people come in that they give them a shot of like 100,000 units of vitamin D no matter who they are. Also, when I went to the doctor, she told me, Vitamin D is a huge deal! All kinds of things don't work right in your body when you don't get enough Vitamin D. And for my body, she is definitely right! I notice a difference within a couple days. It's good stuff. I don't take 100,000 units of course, but about 10,000-12,000 a day, and that works well for me!

I also just learned that due to my bad back and hip issues there will be no more jogging for me. Not sure how I'm going to get my weight down now because that's the way I've always done it in the past, but I'm determined to figure it out. I still walk because that is good for my back and all of me. I fast walk and have added weights. I have also added a little weight training with that. We'll see what happens. My goal is to keep going strong until my birthday, evaluate where I'm at, and then move forward with what works and add more things that work until I can reach my weight goal. :) Next year I plan to go to the Fit Expo with Richard, only this time, I plan to be in shape!

Personal Progress

I have started the Personal Progress program over again because I found I was lacking in my own personal progress. I have a number of goals and things I want to accomplish but just had not put them into action. I started the program over again this month. It is now open to all women in the church 12 years and over. Also, it's hard for me as a teacher to motivate the young women on the importance of the program and not making it part of a checklist when you're finished, if I myself am not actively involved. And so I have become actively involved in the program again. And I'm loving it! My goal is to finish the whole program again by the end of this year. I'm off to a good start, so we shall see. I hope I can also encourage the girls in my class to be motivated to finish theirs or to move on to the honor bee. And one of the coolest things - you can track your progress online now - you don't even need a personal progress book. Awesome!

I found after the deaths in the family last year that I was sinking into depression. I started gaining weight again and am back to unhealthy. I know I'm supposed to be happy for those who have passed on because this isn't the end and I'll see them again. But I miss them terribly and their loved ones are still suffering on this side. It's not as easy to get through as people think. I also felt guilty because I know the gospel - I have a very strong testimony - I know my dad is around because I feel him around on occasion - and I know he's happy. But I still get really sad sometimes. It is getting better with the passing of time, but every now and then reality hits and I realize he really is gone and I won't be seeing or speaking with him again for a long time. I still worry about my brother and his wife all the time too because of their losses. I'm sure time is healing them as well but time only softens it doesn't stop the pain.

Anyway, I've realized I really need to get out of that sadness and move on because I know my dad would want me to and so does my Heavenly Father. And so I have started. I love feeling closer to Heavenly Father, studying the scriptures, doing more with my family. It is what makes me the happiest. I still have my days, but they are getting fewer and fewer and I'm finding I laugh a lot more often than I used to. Things are looking up.

Quotes

I saw a quote today that was nice - I liked it. It said, "God's NO is not a 'rejection'. It's a redirection." So true. I didn't want so many of my family members to die all at once - at all - but it happened. I have learned lots from the experience, have become closer to my family, have a better understanding of people in my family, and have a greater understanding and appreciation for the atonement of Jesus Christ. Sometimes in our darkest and most difficult moments we find our strength; we grow; we progress; we come back stronger than we were before.

"No's" aren't my favorite, but I am grateful for what I learn from them - even if it hurts a little - because I know the hurt will pass.

Busy, busy, busy...

It has been a super busy year so far and it's still at the beginning! Crazy!! I have not blogged in a while and lots has happened so I'll see if I can catch up a little.

I just changed out all the pictures of Jared's art work in that section of our website for all new ones - there's over 200, I think, in there now. He has been drawing a lot more often and just whips them out like his hands are on fire. He comes home with 10-20 drawings daily from school and adds about that many more to his day in the evening. So, trying to keep up with photos of them and posting them has presented quite a challenge for me. Anyway, they're up and I'll change them out more often.

Becky has had 4 new additions to her bottle caps collection which have been added to the bottle caps section of our website. We are looking forward to summer when we can go out hunting for more!

Jared has started baseball season again. So much fun! He is on the Cubs team this year and he likes it and looks forward to the games. We're making progress - hooray!


Becky just completed a project at school on 'water survival' - the dos and don'ts in water to keep you from drowning - and she got an A+. This week, for her book report she had to make a movie trailer about her book. It turned out great! If I can figure out how to put it on here I will.


Emma is definitely one of a kind! She just had her third birthday last month and is as independent as ever! She has a wonderful imagination and makes us laugh all the time! She just recently decided that she liked the song 'Following the Leader' on Peter Pan but didn't know the words so she made up her own. When the chorus says, "Tee dum, tee dee, a teedle ee do tee dum", Emma says, "To dee to blop, a dee a dee a blop". We love it! She probably gets sick of us asking her to sing it over and over again, but it's just so cute!! I'm going to post a video of her singing (again if I can figure out how).





My girls decided they needed crowns the other day so we made some fun crowns and they dressed up as princesses and queens. It all started with needing a crown for King Lee - Becky's newest addition to her stuffed animal collection.


School will soon be out! I am really looking forward to summer break and warm weather!!

Squirrels

One morning, last week, when I took the kids to the bus stop, there was a chubby squirrel that had, I believe, fallen to it's death. There was no blood or anything so I think it must've fallen from the telephone pole or had a run in with the electricity from the power lines they like to run on. Anyway, regardless of how it died, it fell on it's back and looked as though it was sleeping. Our son was very concerned. Every squirrel he had seen dead before had been gone by morning. Well, this one wasn't. It was there every day last week and he became more and more concerned. He was in charge of the lesson for family home evening on Sunday and he wanted to discuss the squirrel. So, we talked about how when we die, our bodies stay here for now and our spirits go to heaven with Heavenly Father and Jesus. We even showed and example of a squirrel and a squirrel spirit to help him understand. So, on Monday when it was time for school we walked to the bus stop and the squirrel's body was still there. Jared was very concerned and seemed somewhat confused and sad. "It didn't go up with Heavenly Father," he said. So, after the bus left, I walked back over and removed the squirrel. Yuck!

Monday night as we watched scriptures (it's more effective for us to watch the scriptures as a family than read them - for the sake of my son) we learned about Jesus and how he was crucified and then resurrected. A picture of Jesus came up on the screen where he was ascending into heaven and the painter of the picture had painted one hand up in the air, which was off the screen. I said, "Look Jared, it's Jesus and he's going up to heaven". Jared looked very closely at the picture and then said, "is He holding the squirrel?" (It obviously was still a great concern for him!)

So, this morning, we went back out to the bus stop and, of course, the squirrel was gone because I had removed it the day before, but Jared didn't know so he had to go look. He walked around the telephone pole and saw the spot where the squirrel was and that it was gone and he looked as though he had the most overwhelming amount of relief just flood over him. And he said, "The squirrel is gone. It went to heaven." He was so happy.

I hope I NEVER have to touch a dead squirrel again - eww! - but for the joy and relief it brought my son to know that it was in heaven it was worth the few seconds of eww!

Stuff, stuff and more stuff

I am so proud of my son. He is learning to read. I know this may not be that big of a deal for some but for him it's huge! Every day we read with him but now, with very simple books, he is reading back to us. It is awesome!

My kids' favorite movie lately is Despicable Me. My son tells me all the time, "Mom, I need to go to the moon", or, "Mom, we need to make a rocket", and sometimes even, "Mom, YOU need to make a rocket". If I had the ability, I'd make one in a heartbeat!

I found it really interesting that in the last two major children's movies (that I know about), Despicable Me and Megamind, the villains become the good guys. Interesting.

My son also lately has wanted my husband and I to "hug him up". That means he wants us to lift him up as we hug him. But I like 'hug me up' better. It sounds cuter that way.

I had to go to the doctor's office today because I've got a cough that just doesn't want to go away and is causing some serious pain in my lungs. I've been prescribed an inhaler and some stronger cough medicine. If those don't work or my symptoms get worse over the next few days, then I'll have to try an antibiotic. In other words - 'we don't know why you still have a deep cough because you're otherwise healthy'. So frustrating. I've never had to use an inhaler before. The doctor told me it would give me the jitters a little. A LITTLE???!! Yeah! Not my favorite thing. But it is helping open my airway so that it's not so hard to breathe. That's nice.

Long time

It's been a long time since I blogged. Guess I should. Things have been busy as always. I can't believe there's only about 3 more months until school is out! I know Baby Son is already looking forward to it! And, of course, the baby can't wait to go to school. Time just seems to be flying by lately. I wish I could slow it down sometimes and other days I wish I could speed it up!

The kids have been all into the Wizard of Oz lately - it's funny. They go around singing the songs and laughing about the silly parts from the movie. It's great!

I am so thankful for my little ones - especially lately! They have really helped to lift my spirit! They are wonderful little people! I just love 'em!

Christmas and other things

Christmas was so special this year! Funds have been low due to so much traveling for funerals and such that we were going to have a very small Christmas. But someone in our ward family found out and got a number of presents for our children and even some for Richard and I. I felt so overwhelmed with gratitude! I cried off and on most of Christmas! We have been so blessed this year!! I hope in the upcoming years we can do the same for others! We were so so grateful!!

(Richard got me a puzzle for Christmas this year. It was fun to put together!)


Well, a couple days after Christmas, one of my friends from high school lost her father to pancreatic cancer. My heart aches for her and her family! I am so thankful they got to spend one last Christmas together! What a blessing! I remember my friend often telling me throughout high school all the things her father used to teach her and the things they would do together as a family. She knew the scriptures inside and out. I always thought it was so neat that her father taught her so much about the gospel and that they had such a close relationship! I hope she is feeling peace at this time! I wonder if my father got to be there to help Brother Wright transition!

I talked with my mom a couple days ago and she wondered if my father was happy. I haven't felt anything but happiness from him since his passing. He is out of pain and has so many less limitations. I still miss him like crazy, though. My sister said this morning "I didn't know crying could go on for so long". Boy, no kidding!! I got one of his books in the mail today - a signed copy - and I just held it and cried. And my brother made a memorial video of my father that was really beautiful! I cried through that too! I miss him so much. I know the pain will fade in time, but for now, it's still hurts!

I have decided to make some changes for the new year and set myself some really good goals! I have lots to work on! I'm looking forward to a new year!

Time of Year

I know this is supposed to be a joyous time of year, but I'm really having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit. My dad always made a big deal about serving people at Christmas time! I miss that! And I remember the first year that my brother and his wife sent us the Christmas story they had created about their little Lili. I still have it saved on my computer so I can look at it. And I'm certain this has got to be a rough Christmas for Uncle Jim's family too. And just today I learned that a friend of mine from high school is losing her father to pancreatic cancer. It is hard to find joy and happiness when such sadness is hanging about. I am trying, though. I have decided to try and enjoy one blessing at a time, one joy at a time. To help, a friend suggest that I make angel ornaments with the faces of my loved ones lost, to hang on my Christmas tree. And oddly enough, that has really helped!

It is also the time of year for colds and flu - bleh! Emma has had trouble sleeping the past couple nights because she's got a croupy cold. I'm grateful for Christmas break and that I don't have to get up really early. That has been a blessing. I will certainly rest easier when she's better, though.

I had the worst realization a couple days ago when I received a Christmas card from a cousin. All three of her girls have grown up, graduated, and moved out of the house. I remember all of their births. Time really is a fleeting thing! It won't be long before all my little ones will be grown and gone too. And for as much sleep as I haven't had over the past few years, and the worries, and frustrations - it won't be long before they're gone and I know I will miss this time. I'm trying to make more of an effort to enjoy the little things and not worry so much!

Snow, Tooth, and Balloons

We got a lot of snow the day before yesterday - somewhere between 8 and 10 inches. I spent the better part of the day shoveling our walk way and helping 4 of our neighbors do the same. It started snowing Nov 30th and snowed all through the night and most of the next day. We built a snowman and half of an igloo (plus shoveled the walkways and driveways) before my back couldn't take any more. Jared was soaked from head to toe - but he had a lot of fun. The girls came out later than him and played for a couple hours. We all had fun!

They declared a snow day here yesterday so the kids didn't have to go to school. Most people couldn't even get down our street. I watched the neighbors (4 of them) struggle to move their truck from the driveway to the street corner - about 40 feet. It took them about a half hour. And on the news they said that just for the morning commute alone, yesterday, there were 45 accidents and slide offs. I'm so so very thankful I didn't have to drive anywhere yesterday and neither did Richard!!

Jared lost yet another tooth a couple days ago. We were brushing his teeth and brushed it right out. It flew out, landed on the floor and bounced into the hallway. Much excitement and joy followed this!

Emma is learning so many new words - her newest: Balloon...