Week of Ups and Downs

Last Sunday was our annual dinner get together with the Shields, Watkins and Chris family.  We went to the park in Santa Clara.  Most of the adults just talked while the kids played on the playground or basketball.  That night we attended a fireside with Kevin.  He is a senior landscape architect for the church and works on the landscaping for the temples.  I had no idea what it was he did but he keeps lots of secrets lol.  He shared a couple of stories that he has experienced.  It was an awesome fireside and the spirit was strong.  The kids came with me and I think they enjoyed it.

Monday was just a normal day.  Colten had karate and I went to the single adult family home evening.  Tuesday was my last day of work this week.  I had saved up my PTO and was going to use it during the months that are short on time off lol.  Wednesday was my birthday :)  I had decided that it would be a self care birthday celebration.  I had a free pizza pie cafe buffet (for my birthday) and my mom invited me to go to do a pedicure (my very first) with Paula and Marilyn.  She had actually invited me to lunch as well but I couldn't pass up the free buffet lol.  So I shipped the kids off to school, did a little cleaning and I even got coached on something by Natalie Clay before heading out to lunch. I was enjoying my pizza when I got a call from my parents.  After some confusion, I found out that my Grandpa Chris had passed away and my parents were on their way to the assisted living home to find out more details.  I was shocked.  My dad had just moved him in there on Monday. I ate a couple more dessert pizzas before heading over there to find out more details and be with the family.  Before leaving though, I alerted my siblings, most of whom were just as shocked as me, and joined us at the home.  Apparently, sometime in the night, Grandpa fell face forward, knocked out two teeth.  They aren't entirely sure but my dad thinks he probably had a stroke or heart attack because any other time he had fallen was backwards or to the side.  Grandpa is happier being reunited with Grandma and I know that I will see him again.  Colten took it pretty hard when I told him.  Aspen did alright (I know she will struggle more at the viewing).  But we all have our way of grieving, just trying to help the kids with it.

Pedicures didn't happen on Wednesday...they might one day but yeah.  Wednesday was our ward's camp fundraiser dinner.  Aspen was glad to go help set up and then help with the auction.  It was definitely nice not to have to think about dinner that night. 

I actually took quite a few days off, 4 to be exact this week.  The kids get their break for Easter so I decided to join them on their break.  I took Thursday off just cause.  I decided I would try to walk to my parents to get my exercise in.  I almost made it lol.  My leg is just not holding up like it used too.  I probably made it close to 3.5 miles before my dad picked me up.  Then he helped me with my contract arrangement before heading over to grandpa's to get measurements and go treasure hunting.  Apparently the kids think that Grandpa has money hidden in his books.  We didn't have any luck but my dad went back to go through a few more books.


Thursday night the kids and I continued our Marvel movie quest.  I had the realization that the kids were extremely young when the movies came out and that is why they haven't seen them.  Aspen seems to be really enjoying them and is always asking when we are watching the next one.  Oh wait, I didn't finish the Avengers with the kids because I went to the temple and did a session with the single adult ward.

Friday the kids had fun hanging out with the neighborhood kids and did a lemonade stand.  Friday night Zac joined us and we got stuff to do homemade cheeseburgers.  Zac made some amazing patties and I enjoyed it very much.  The kids were down at the market when the burgers were finished so they got cold burgers lol.

Saturday was the St. George Art Festival.  After a trip to Boomer's, the kids, Zac and I headed out to that.  Colten started to whine within the first 20 minutes saying that his legs were exhausted.  Aspen loved seeing all the different art.  Zac loved all the wood art type things...as well as some of the art.  I loved seeing the photographs of the different places people had been, especially anything with trees.  Colten did get his face painted (Spider-man) and Aspen was going to try her hand at throwing pottery but the line was too long.  She ended up buying a coloring book of one artist.  Hopefully she actually uses it.

After the art festival, we headed home to get ready for our Easter down at Lytle Ranch with the Watkins.  I forget how long it takes to get down there and I forget that sometimes I have allergies.  And this was one of those times....my eyes were on fire and driving me nuts.  The kids had fun on their geocaching extravaganza with Kirk and Karston while the parents took care of Easter. 

It was nice to have Zac join us...he was able to get the baskets up in the trees/roof.  The kids had to get help to get their baskets lol.  All in all it was a fun day.  Oh and we finished it off with watching the first half of Iron Man 3.

Sunday morning we studied Christ's last week.  It was truly humbling to read through it.  The kids struggled a little but they don't quite understand (and I didn't either) the importance of this event.

Followed by a busy week

Well the week-part of it was actually slow but the weekend has flown by.

Colten continues his karate quest of learning the bo staff lol.  I love that he is learning all these techniques but knows he is not allowed to use them on other people unless he is needing to defend himself.  We had the kite festival yesterday and they had the blow up jousting thing and Colten really wanted to do it with Jeramiah.  So he did.  Darcee just made a comment that she knows Colten has been taught all of these skills but he never gets to use them (except in karate class) but she knows that if it came down to it he would be able to get out of trouble.  Colten has also enjoyed going to scouts on a regular basis.  I am not entirely sure what they have been working on in scouts because our Tuesdays are pretty full but I know he enjoys it.  He has also enjoyed playing outside more.  He walks in from school, gets a snack and then runs back outside.

Aspen has enjoyed her slower schedule since quitting gymnastics.  She loves and looks forward to her art class every other week.  She loves playing outside.  She loves reading.  Ok she would love more electronic time (and Colten would too) but she is happy with what she gets.  She is learning about liking boys at such a young age.  I am trying to guide her the best I can but letting her choose for herself.  She has experienced having a boyfriend and then a week later the boy says he likes someone else only to come back and say that he made it up.  The drama lol.  She is handling the best way she knows how and it seems like she is doing really well with it.

This past week I made the tough decision to follow my own advice and end the relationship with Zac.  We will hopefully still be friends but I need to get back to the work on myself I have been trying hard to do all year and he needs to work on some things from his past.  I really did enjoy learning more about myself and what I tend to do in relationships.

In other news, the kids and I will be moving :( Sad to leave but St. George is growing too fast and my income is not keeping up with it.  But in happy news I am moving into my grandpa's house.  He decided to help me out and is moving into an assisted living place, which will be good for him. I should be moving in the next month or so.  With this move (a mile and half up the road) the kids will be changing schools next year.  Colten is excited about that change because it means that he will get to stay on the same football team lol.  Aspen is sad about it but she has always been great with change.

Yesterday was the kite festival (only one more year yay).  We made it in time to see Jeramiah dance (he really is a great dancer).  Then all the kids played on the inflatables until it was time to go to Colten's first soccer game.  Darcee's family came to show support to Colten.  It has really been fun watching Colten get back to soccer.  He loves playing goalie and he does a pretty good job at it.  He is learning how to be ok with having goals scored on him (although he hasn't had too many of those).  Yesterday, there were 2 sick boys and so there weren't subs for most of the game.  But the boys fought back and won 3-2 (even though no scores are documented) . After the first game, I took the kids to Panda Express for an early dinner.  Then back to the soccer fields for Colten's second game.  He ate a little too much and sat out for a little bit in the second half but fought through and finished the game (again the team didn't have subs).  Colten actually scored 3 scores but only one counted.  The first goal was called back for offsides, second goal counted, and third goal crossed into the goal but the goalie grabbed it and the ref was too far away to really see.  I had told him that I would take him for ice cream if he scored a goal (and then changed it to played his best effort) so he chose Dairy Queen.  We tried the hot desserts ice cream.  They were both delish.  When we finally got back home the kids hurried and finished their chores and then we watched "Iron Man 2".  All in all it was a perfect Saturday and I would love many many more of those.

Slow week

Spring has finally arrived...weather wise that is.  Spring has been here since March but the weather has finally decided to cooperate.  While I am still busy with the kids activities, I took advantage of the nicer weather and walked during their activities.  It was so nice to be outside more, really does help make my day a little better.

Colten has advanced in his karate class.  While he hasn't earned a new belt, he is learning how to use a bo staff as a weapon.  With using this new weapon, he is required to be in the advanced class.  He still needs to keep up on learning some of the new forms, Master Judd has advanced him.  He is also keeping busy with scouts and soccer.  His game this past Saturday, he played goalie the first half.  The other team was much better than the last team he faced so he saw more action.  He had like 5 saves while allowing 2 goals.  The second half when he played offense, he had 2 assists.  Technically the league doesn't keep score but The Destroyers fought hard but came up short, 4-3.  Colten is really quite the player and runs all over the field.

Aspen has dropped gymnastics and now only has young women's and art class.  She looks forward to young women's every week as she does the same with her art class.  I am amazed at what she can do in 90 minutes with her art teacher.  She has also started to talk to a boy in the neighborhood.  I have reminded her that she doesn't date at age 11 but I do allow them to text on my phone when I am not using it.

I returned to work after my much needed spring break.  It is going to be a long two months until school is out.  Luckily I have saved some of my PTO and have like 5 days off in April lol.  I did make it out Friday night with some friends to the St. George Streetfest.  I learned that there were businesses in downtown St. George that I had no idea were there lol.

This weekend was conference weekend.  I used to enjoy these because it was a time off of regular church but now I have come to truly enjoy hearing from our apostles and prophet.  I have a friend that I met in the singles ward that does homemade cinnamon rolls.  I bought some the first weekend of soccer and handed them out as treats to the team.  She did them again this weekend and I totally bought another dozen for the my family.  They were even better this time.  I couldn't watch the morning session of Saturday due to the soccer game but was able watch the afternoon session.  It was amazing.  Afterwards the kids and I started a marvel movie frenzy but watching Captain America: the First Avenger and Iron Man.

Also this weekend was Home Depot craft day.  This craft was a little more challenging and it caused a little frustration in Colten.  Aspen just went with the flow and did the best she could.  She earned the 25 project pin as well with this one.  Colten was missing one so he'll have to get it next time.

Sunday the kids and I enjoyed the morning session and Zac joined us for the afternoon session.  Eight more temples were announced, including one in the Tooele Valley.  I can't wait for the talks to come out on the app so I can re-listen (or listen to) the talks again.