Wednesday, March 23, 2011

LHS

We spent the last weekend in February up at Lava Hot Springs with the"clan". Rock's parents, Bob and Karen, gave us a night at the Aura Soma Lava Convention Center as a Christmas gift to our family. We decided to buy another night and invite Rock's sisters and their families and have a huge cousin slumber party! It was a blast:) We played games, swam in the private hot pool on the property, ate yummy food and laughed until we cried. Definitely a do-over.

It snowed a lot the night we drove up there. We wished we had brought our snow clothes and boots so we could have built a snow cave and had a snowball fight. Instead, the kiddos got really hot in the pool and then had a "who can lay in the snow the longest in their swimsuit" contest. Ashlyn getting a big hug from Uncle Rock.
Mayflower, Kyle and his friend Kelsey.
All the cousins (and some tag-a-long friends) enjoying a hot soak!!
Playing games.

Eryn, Teran, Kyle and Dallin playing Just Dance.
I hope we can make some more memories next year:)

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Job Well Done


Due to chronic arthritis, a tooth abscess and cancer, our furry friend Milo was gently laid to rest at Li'l Dew Ranch last week. We are so grateful to Wildbound, Wildman and the kiddos for loving him, taking care of him and making all his herding "jobs" important:)

Dear Milo,

May the sheep be fluffy, plentiful and slow.
May the thunderstorms be muted and short.
May the rubber tires be forever detached from the lawn mower.
And may the Hands that scratch your ears and rub your tummy be gentle and warm.
Keep up the good work! We'll see you again:)

Saturday, January 29, 2011

What transpired at the lunch table.

Today at our lunch table (as opposed to the dinner table), the conversation went something like this...

Michex: (While eating a lemon cupcake) Hey. This tastes like Christian Bale.

The rest of us: Huh?

Michex : Christian Bale is lemon. If he were a flavor, it would be lemon.

Me (DB): Well, in that case, what flavor would Robert Downey, Jr. be?

Shematite: Dark Chocolate.

Me: Jude Law

Shematite: Caramel

Me: Who would be milk chocolate?

Shematite: Ryan Reynolds...with strawberries.

Me: How about cinnamon?

Shematite: Will Smith

Michex: Chocolate covered cinnamon bears!

All: Ya!

Harrison Ford?....Allspice/gingerbread
Clint Eastwood?....licorice
James Franco? Reese's peanut butter cup
Apple pie?...........Toby Mcguire!
Cookies & Cream?.......Zachary Quinto!
Gerard Butler?........ mint chocolate chip
Judd a.k.a. "Fabio" ( the newest winner of Survivor)......anyone? anyone? Pina colada!

Me: Okay girls. So who would be Rocky Road?
Shematite: (without missing a beat) ...Sylvester Stalone!






Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Family news in the traditional letter kind of way...


Here’s the low-down on the family for 2010!


Mayflower (12)~ Entered the Young Women program in April. Backpacked over 10 miles each way into the Grand Canyon to Havasupai in June with her mom, dad, grandparents, and various aunts, uncles, cousins and friends! Enjoys voice lessons, but has discontinued piano and tumbling. Loves roller coasters and skinny jeans. Hates to be alone in public places (won’t even walk to the next aisle in the store without someone with her). Likes to crochet and make friendship bracelets, but hates pudding, applesauce and pizza with sauce. Passed the Canyoneering 101 course designed by Rock by hiking, downclimbing, swimming and rappelling through Keyhole Canyon in Zion National Park. Performed in The Crucible this past fall at the Union Station under the direction of Aunt Chelsea and Uncle Caleb. Got braces on her teeth and helped her 7th grade girls flag football team win the 7th period championship! Likes banana bread, but hates bananas.


Michex (18)~ Graduated in May from Weber High School. Enjoyed all kinds of singing, dancing, performing and playing that came with being in Chamber Quire and Play Productions. Hated saying good-bye to lots of school friends, but loved being able to still go to girls camp as a youth leader and perform in the Arise Youth Spectacular. Has chosen to study Theater with an emphasis in technical design at Weber State University. That means lights, sound and cool stuff like that! Works part time at the local Arby’s, but will soon be joining our team at Dr. Major’s office as one of our front desk receptionists. Loves cheesecake, but hates confrontation. Continues to share her vocal talents with local sacrament meeting congregations. Loves soft pretzels, lemonade and banana bread, but hates bananas.


Scout (20) ~ Completed her 3rd semester at Dixie State College in St George (and just started her 4th). Enjoyed studying Art, Visual Technology, RA responsibilities and ninja skills. Promptly left the borders of the United States after spring semester to perform with her Dixie State Raging Red show choir in CHINA! Came back. Flew to Maine and worked/taught at Kamp Kohut for the summer as a camp counselor specializing in arts and crafts, outdoor skills and rock climbing. Loved the kids, hated the humidity! Loves taking friends hiking in Zion and hanging out with Aunt Bethany, Uncle Brandon, Kass, Mitch and the Coombs family in St. George, but hates pizza, gravy of any kind, girl drama (you know what I mean) and excuses. Currently is serving as the Relief Society 2nd counselor in her student ward. Likes bananas, hates banana bread.


Shematite (22) ~ Smashed the Terrace Plaza Playhouse’s previous attendance records by bringing the house down each night she performed as Milly in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers last winter/spring (a proud mother has the right to exaggerate to make a point). Discovered her green thumb and brought the flower gardens in the yard to life and new heights this summer with her meticulous, daily attentions. Enjoyed a couple of classes at Weber State University during the summer, but struggles with major depressive disorder and anxiety. Loves FOOTBALL and that means Peyton Manning, but hates it when the Colts lose and when her pants don’t fit right. Loves movies, but hates both banana muffins (especially if they have chocolate chips in them, because that is just taunting) and...bananas!


Rock ~ Finally got a new calling! Was released from the Elder’s Quorum and called to be the Teacher’s Quorum advisor. The fun is just beginning:) Instructs Fremont High students not only in Math, but driver education and tennis as well (which frequently adds up to 14 hour days). Continues his quest for his Master’s degree in Teaching with Technology. Says that there are too many things he loves to list here and too few things he hates to bother remembering what they are. Apparently has a beef with Associated Food Stores for their decision to discontinue the distribution of his favorite Brazilian beverage, Guarana. I must add my displeasure as well. Ran two 5k’s with his honey (Yep! That’s me!)...simply because he loves her- not running:) Loves both bananas and banana bread....and Hallmark Christmas movies!


Desertbound ~ Hmmm....what a year! I have thoroughly enjoyed my calling in the church as the Relief Society 2nd counselor. LOVED hiking into Havasupai and can’t wait to go back again. Loved trying a little bit of trail running and found what feels like a new lease on life with the increase in energy I feel. It also keeps me sane:) I have been working long hours and overtime at Dr. Major’s office trying to implement new electronic billing software as well as electronic medical records. A work still in progress. I hate the fact that I need sleep. I loved floating in the Great Salt Lake this summer, but hated the bugs. Loved making memories with my family and friends on various adventures, including hiking the Subway in Zion, hiking Ben Lomond peak and mountain biking in St. George. Hated making the change back to standard time and losing my daylight in the evening in which to run. But never fear! Daylight Savings Time will soon appear:) Oh! And I hate bananas, but LOVE banana bread!


Looking back at the previous year always helps me feel extremely grateful for all of our blessings. Even events or conditions that appear to be trials have helped us draw closer as a family and closer to the Lord. We see His hand in our lives. We know He lives. We hope this new year brings an uncommon sense of gratitude to you all. We are certainly grateful for all of you.


Sunday, December 19, 2010

Who'd a thought!


I feel a new blog post coming on...stay tuned...



Eh. No time like the present:)

I have never come into the holiday season feeling so emotionally drained. Luckily, I guess, that gives me the opportunity to really fill up my "bucket" with the wonderfulness of the season as well. I have been able to enjoy Mayflower's first junior high Christmas concert, make a gingerbread house with my girls, rehearse with my ward choir (performing our program on the 26th) and sing with as near to a full voice as I am able because of the timing of my latest Botox injection. Rock and I slipped down to the Ogden Tabernacle last Sunday and joined in the annual Messiah sing-in. Apparently with the remodeling of the Temple in the works, the Tabernacle may not be available next year and the organizers of the sing-in warned that this may be the last one for awhile. I am glad we went! I have also found new Christmas music favorites on Pandora radio. Who'd a thought! I have been blessed to go visiting with my RS presidency some of the sisters in my ward and have been truly touched and strengthened through them and their sweet testimonies that they have....And! Scout is on her way home from Dixie State as I type!
I have also had to learn the art of letting go of some things, which I may or may not elaborate on at a later time:)

But most of all, I hope.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Dang it!!

Well. The befuddled bafflement mentioned in my previous post has given way to ... hmmm... I really don't have any idea what. That is probably why I haven't posted any thing in weeks.
After 7 weeks and finally a round of antibiotics for what appeared to be a bad sinus infection, Shematite's physical symptoms have improved. Unfortunately, she had to drop all of her classes at Weber State. The mental and emotional struggle still goes on, however. I am grateful that we have at our disposal so many great tools, knowledge, understanding, support of friends, family and special visiting teachers and home teachers. I am grateful that Shematite is and always has been the BEST laugher at my attempts at humor. I love coming home from work and making her laugh. We talk lots. We cry even more. But most of all we are traveling through this life with the understanding that maybe we are here to help each other learn what we need to learn about compassion, empathy, judgment, mercy and TRUST. It helps me to think that the Lord TRUSTS her with the obstacles that are in her path. I am learning to trust her as well.
For some people, pain is a private matter. I've learned that it's pretty exhausting to maintain that all of the time. So if I seem to be telling it like it is, please forgive me. I'm learning to dang-well enjoy the dang journey...dang it!!

Friday, October 8, 2010

Baffled

Isn't it cool that the word "baffled" sounds like it means?

Anyway...

Other than the last 3 weeks of pregnancy, theses have been the longest 23 days ever!!!
Shematite has been very sick. Headache, body aches, sore throat, nausea, some abdominal pain, but most of all, overwhelming fatigue.
Dr. #1 - on day 8, Strep test...negative
Dr. #2 - on day 15 @ the Instacare...hmmm, " it's going around, here's an antibiotic and some cough medicine. Get lots of rest."
Dr. #3 - on day 20 ...Mono test...negative
Dr. #4 - is on Monday if she is not better
Dr. #5 - is on Tuesday to follow up on my one last hunch.

Please keep her in your prayers!