Im not good at this anymore...

But I thought I would write a quick little post.  School is almost out for summer...again.  My, these school years keep going faster and faster.  I love having all of my kids home.  I love having them all together.  Life is busy...but not too busy.  Every night that we kneel for family prayer I am so so very grateful that I have all of my kids home with me...under one roof, safe and sound.  I love them so much!!  I hope they know that. 

Jentry got a job at Kneaders and is doing great!  She finally got her licence and Ive actually let her drive to work a couple of times.  And take my car.  Please bless she does not wreck it.  I hold my breath the whole time she is gone. 

Brinley has done really great this year in school.  She has taken responsibility for her homework and I never have to ask her if she has it done.  She does get overwhelmed at times and I can when she needs extra help because she starts snapping at her brothers even more than she usually does.  I just have to sit down with her and we work through her projects and she calms right down.

Ty has really gotten into Pokemon cards this year.  You can tell every time you walk into the house.  They are everywhere.  He talks about them constantly.  His favorite past time is looking on Amazon for new cards. 

Chase is ALL boy.  That boy could play outside from sun up until sun down.  And he usually does.  It's hard work reeling him in for homework.  He will definitely enjoy summer!   

We have lots to do this summer.  I already feel like with all of our plans summer is almost over!  It will be fun though. 

Hanging with Teens

Jentrys summer crush was again in town last week visiting his aunt that lives across the street.  His aunt asked if Jentry could get together a few friends and hang out with him and do something fun.  Jentry got "a few" friends together and they all went ice skating.  They had such a great time!  I went to chaperon with one of the other moms (That I absolutely love, adore, look up to, admire... I really could go on and on about that lady but that will have to be another post).  It was great just being able to sit there and chat with her for 2.5 hours and get to watch the kids interact with each other.  What a bunch of fun kids.  I tried to get good pictures but I only had my phone to take pics with and its not that great when you are up in the balcony and they are zooming around the rink.

They had a great time. 

 (such a player) 

They have also gone laser tagging and sledding. 

Brinley got to go mini golfing while Jentry was laser tagging.  She loved it!  It was dark so this is the best pic I could get. 

I'm hoping to get them all together to go hang out at my old stomping ground... Classic Skating!   

Since Last Time

Where did we leave off?  Oh yeah, October...

Since then Jentry has turned 16.  *JawDrop* I cant believe I have a sixteen year old.  Where did the years from her being a fluffy, curly, blond headed girl that couldn't keep her power wheels jeep on the sidewalk to being a beautiful, smart, helpful, loyal, young lady that wants to drive my car down a street every chance she gets, go?  I don't know.  If I had to use one word to sum up Jentry it would be AMAZING.  I love her guts. 

Ty turned 8!  He is getting baptized this coming week and he is so excited.  He started scouts and he just loves it.  Looks forward to it every week.  He has gone to two pack nights so far and has earned his Bear badge.  He was very proud of that.  He cant wait to earn more.  I'm not much of a scout person but I have a feeling I'm going to have to be.  Ty is my super duper smart kid.  Everything he can read, he will. 

Brinley is anxiously awaiting her 12th birthday and starting Young Women's.  She has New Beginnings tonight and she is super excited.

Chase is Chase and is getting more attitude by the minute.  Which kind of cracks me up and kinda makes me mad.  That boy will do what he wants, when he wants and the only thing that gets his attention is when I threaten "Time Out In The Basement."

We had a great Christmas!  Got super spoiled by everyone but I felt like we were running from house to house and never had enough time to spend at each place.  I will have to figure that out better for next year. 

We are impatiently waiting for the weather to warm up.  We have lots of plans for this summer!  Spring break we are heading to Arizona to see my Best Friend and her family.  I have never been there and I am so excited.  She's only lived there for the last 15 years.... So I think its about time I go.  The day school gets out for the summer we are going to go to Lava Hot Springs in Idaho.  We are really looking forward to that too!  Warm weather cannot come soon enough!

This little piggie..........went home.

What a sad day for my Brinley.  She got home from school and went to feed her pigs and one was dead.  Let me tell you..this girl loves her pigs more than anything. (almost)..  They are her best friends.  She has had them for 4-5 years and Ive tried to prepare her that they MIGHT die one day.  But she wouldn't believe it.  I was down town and got the call.  Ty was crying so hard I couldn't understand what he was saying.  All I could make out was  "snifflecoughsnortcry died!!!" Freaked me right out!!!  I told him he had to stop crying and tell me again what he was saying as thoughts of family members, friends, people from school raced through my head.  He finally blurted out "Ravan died!"  My heart sank for Brinley.  I knew she was probably distraught.  And I was right.  She was WAILING in the backyard.  I'm surprised the neighbors didn't come to see what was going on.  When I made it home I went back there and she was under a blanket with her other pig sobbing.  It was the saddest thing you ever did see.  Her heart was broke.  After a long talk about Guinea Pig Heaven I went inside.  Her friend then came over.  I told her Brinleys pig had died.  Just then Brinley walked in and saw her and walked back out.  Her friend went out and comforted her.  Helped her decorate a shoe box and got Ravan out of her cage and put her in the box for Brinley.  Brinley couldn't do it...and I wasn't about to pick up a dead pig.  Ill be forever grateful to Erica for that!  She made Brinley smile again for a minute.  The next morning she came and cuddled with me in bed before school.  Tears were still streaming down her face.  I told her I was sorry and I knew she loved these pigs more than anything.  She shook her head no.  I said, "What do you love more than your pigs?"  She wrote with her finger on my back Y O U.  Aww....She's definitely my favorite child.  ;-)

Scott took her up to be buried in the Guinea Graveyard up at Scott's parents house.  (Bless his parents for having somewhere to bury our animals.)

The next day we thought we would be super nice and get  Brinley a brand new little baby guinea pig that looked like her old one.  Never have  I done so much scarring to a child in one week.  24 hours after we got Peanut she died.  Seriously.  Not again. 

 

I will not mention names but luckily this Petsma...Pet Store, I mean, had a 24 hour "guarantee" So back we went all the way to American Fork to pick out another pig.  To my surprise they only had one left.  (The night before they had at least 8... *fishy*fishy*).  We got her... even though I thought she did seem a little calm... but maybe that was just her personality.  I was wrong.  24 hours later I hear a scream and Brinley ran down the stairs with the pig in her arms yelling..."What is she doing".  My sweet reply was, "Aw Crap, shes having a seizure! Are you kidding me!!??!"  I told her to take her back upstairs...the minute she got upstairs she died and blood ran out of her nose.  Sick.  Sad.  And once again I killed my child a little more.  Brinley told me she didn't want another pig.  She couldn't do this again.  She would just play extra with her one pig (They should have a friend...they are not good alone). 

So, off Scott went back to PetDumb to take back Lilly.  They gave us our money back and said that they don't usually have  a problem with their pigs.  Uh, huh.  Sure. 

But that's not the end of the story. 

Scott went and got another guinea pig for Brinley at another pet store.  Because we wanted to see if we could break Brinleys heart one more time. I mean there are 7 days in a week... we had plenty of time.  LUCKILY this pig has made it!  And she loves it.  Her name is Paisley and we are hoping she is in it for the long haul....Scott's dad is sick of diggin holes.

6th Grade Field Trip

Brinley and I went on a Field trip the the Utah County Sheriffs....place.  I forget what its called and I'm too lazy to look it up.  Anyway, it WAS AWESOME! 
Our first station was the Bomb Squad where we learned about this little guy.  The price tag on him is a measly $250,000.  He is used to find bombs and pretty much do whatever the guy in the van can make him to with his remote. 

Then we met Aries.  The Bomb Sniffing Dog.  They took us out and showed us what she does when she finds a bomb (She lays down by it). 

Next we went to the SWAT Station.  I think Ill work here when I grow up.  They said its much safer than being a police officer on the street.  So that sold me.  ;) 

Plus, who doesn't want to use one of these to bust down a door! 

In the SWAT vehicle

This is the Woodland Fire Truck.  They take these into the mountains to fight wildfires.  I think he said it has a 2000 gallon tank and the kids had a good time playing with the controls that aim the water. 

The Tires on this truck are super cheap.  They deflate and inflate as needed for the terrain as they drive.  You, too,  can get them for a mere $3000 each and I'm pretty sure they sell them at Costco.

You can almost see Brinley in the back of this picture to the right.  Almost. 

Next Stop was Search and Rescue.  These guys had just returned from an all nighter  getting a guy out of Payson Canyon.  He started hiking at 11 am. and ended up getting lost.  He didn't have much with him and even less clothes since he thought he would only be gone for a few hours.  They did not expect to find him alive.  But they did.  He had severe hypothermia. He called his mom at about 8 pm and said HELP, right before his phone died.  Could you imagine being that mother?  I hope she slapped him.  After she hugged him.

This is the kids strapping Phoebe to the board.  Poor girl...I could see the fear in her eyes as they carried her around. 

Here is the whole 6th grade.  And once again you can ALMOST see Brinley in the very back with a black hoodie on right by the first metal box..  Almost.  (This girl does not like the be the center of any attention.)

Getting a Picture with the Sheriff.  He's kind of like a celebrity.  I've seen him on TV before. 

After we went to the park and FROZE!!  (oh, and tried to eat our lunch too). 

 

This was one of the funnest/informative field trips Ive been on.  And I tell you what...Ive been on a lot.  I cant wait until the boys get to go.  Hopefully they are still doing it when they are in 6th grade. 

 

Home Alone

So, I thought I would have a lot of time to do things around here with all the kids off to school all day... (Ok, lets be real, its only 6 hours).  But, I swear I don't have time to do anything!  I had a list of all the things I was going to get done while I had all of this "free" time and I don't think I have done even one thing on the list.  Oh wait, I cleaned out the Tupperware cabinet.  Go me! 

The kids are doing well in school.  Jentry has gotten the hang of high school.  Even though it requires more homework than ever before she is doing great.  Doesn't like Honors Math as much as she thought she would but who in their right minds likes math? ......

.....Brinley....Brinley loves math.  She is doing very well at it. Reading is another story...she could never read another book in her life and she would be ok with that. Which is so opposite of  Jentry.   She is really liking 6th grade and being the big kid in the school. (Literally, she is the tallest girl in 6th grade.) 
Ty is doing really well in 2nd grade.  Of course...that boy just goes with the flow and does well at whatever he tries.  He is so smart and loving.  He is always coming over to me and saying "I love my mommy!" and giving me a big hug.  I love it.  I do admit it might be a little creepy if he is still doing that when he's 14..but for now..I love it!

Chase is a TURD!!  He loves being at school....but getting him up and out the door is a whole other story!!!  He does what he wants, when he wants.  So stubborn.  His favorite things to say are "You are not the boss!" or "You don't rule my life!"  I must admit it is cute coming from a little six year old...but wont be so cute when he is older either. 

Scott is busy at work right now and trying to finish the garage so he doesn't freeze out there this winter.  He loves working on stuff (cars) out there and almost froze to death last winter so its been his project to get the garage insulated and finished.  He's almost there! 

Summer 2013

What a summer!!!  It went WAY too fast and I don't feel we did as much as we should have!  But we did enough....  I'm always always always sad when summer comes to an end and this one was no different.  I was dreading it.  I don't like my kids going back to school and I felt like we could have used at least another month.  But it is what it is...
Thank goodness for pictures because I have the worst memory.  If it weren't for pictures I would forget everything we ever did.  That's probably why I should use this blog more.  I do love going through my blog book and remembering everything. 

Anyway, on with the show...

Summer started out with T-ball.  Both of the boys were on the same team.  This is Ty's second year of tball.  I made him do a 2nd year so that I wouldn't have to go to two games.  Lazy? Smart?  I don't know which one I am.  They absolutely loved it and the first game was hilarious.  I guess we never explained to Chase which way to run the bases and that you didn't carry your mitt with you when you bat.  But it made for some great laughs. 

We painted the boys room and dug up the back yard...

 We had ourselves a staycation in West Valley at our neighbors hotel.  The kids absolutely loved it.  We were supposed to go to Lagoon the next day but got rained out.  We were super bummed about that.  :(

Jentry got herself a rabbit.  His name is Lasidopolus (Lassie for short)  And he is pretty cute.  He even comes up to you instead of running away...like the guinea pigs. 

 

 

Put on the Young Women's Yard Sale Fundraiser.  (Oh yeah, did I tell you I was called as Camp Director?)

 

 

Went swimming and to the Reservoir

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Jentry got some nerd glasses

Jentry went to Trek while the rest of us went to Yuba

Did Swimming Lessons

Put on Girls camp
 

Played at the Splash Pad and had cousin sleep overs
 

 

Sang for the construction workers at the Payson, Utah Temple

 

 

Started Braces on Kid #2

Lost First Teeth

 

 

 

And ended the summer with a little bowling...

 

 

Sorry if all the pictures are messed up but Blogger isn't liking me at the moment and I'm too lazy to figure it out.