JUST THE 4 OF US

Derby and the Airport

2012-01-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that January is over already didn't it just start?

This month has been a very busy one and Aiden had his first Pinewood Derby. He has decided to attempt doing scouts in both my ward and his dads as he loves scouting that much. His dad and him worked very hard on putting together a mini replica of his dads semi. He took 6th out of the 14 boys that were there that night. They have already started planning the next one, that according to them is going to go very very fast, that one he will race in my ward in March.

We got a major treat this month as Logan came home for a visit from Arizona. Aiden and I braved wind, extreme rain and snow to get him picked up from the airport in Salt Lake City. We got there with enough time to stop by a local Walmart and Aiden had me make a sign so Logan would know that we were there to pick him up. While we were waiting at the airport Aiden could hardly sit still waiting for his plane to get there and then once it showed it had

landed he kept asking when he was going to come down the escalator. Lets just say he was very antsy and I got quite the workout running back and forth from Aiden over to the board that showed his planes status. When Aiden saw Logan coming down that escalator the grin that showed up on his face was so priceless. It is amazing how much you know you miss someone but don't fully realize just how much until you have them back home. Logan was only here for about 4 days and I know we will get to see him in 2 months when we go to Arizona for spring break and then he will be home for good about a month after that but it seems like that is an eternity away.

Here is the full sign that Aiden had me make for Logan:

Disclaimer: Aiden is the one that chose what the sign was going to say. I had a good little chuckle when he told me what to write because I'm thinking like Logan wouldn't know that's why were there and we sure didn't drive all this way in the crappy weather just to leave him with no ride :)

What a blur.....

2012-01-06T17:42:00.001-07:00

Sorry I have not posted for almost a year and a half. We have been busy (not that that is an excuse) with life and it has flown by. I am still taking online classes and so far have been able to pull good grades while working full time and being a single mom :)

Logan moved to Phoenix Arizona last April and has been working for a company called Southwest Metal Smiths, they do decorative metal, and he has learned to weld. He is dating Taylor Rogers, who is an absolute darling, wonderful young lady, for almost a year now and I just love her to pieces. He has decided to move back to Idaho around the end of April to be closer to family and go to school.

Elyssa is in her senior year of high school and is counting down the days until graduation. She has become an avid photographer and is wanting to pursue that in college. If you are a facebook user check out her page at Elyssa Ottley Photography. She has also been dating someone for almost a year now. Marty Munoz has become a fixture at our house and has help ease the hole Logan left when he moved.

Aiden got baptized this last September as he turned 8 on the 28th of August. He is in 2nd grade and loves his teacher. He is my right hand little man as the older kids are well older and busy. He is always willing and loves to help me make chocolate chip cookies (his favorite). Aiden also loves to play video games and is really loving the Kinetc Santa brought them for Christmas.

As for me like I said I have been plugging away at school and made the mistake of taking a psychology class and loved it so now I have a raging internal debate going on about switching my majors....ugh!! Here I am almost 40 and still don't know what I want to be when I grow up...lol! This last October I met a most wonderful man who has filled a hole I had forgotten needed filling. He has made me laugh again and well I think I really kind of like him ;)

So lets see if I can be a better blogger this year and keep the family chronicles a little more up to date.

What did I get myself into?

2010-06-18T12:12:00.001-06:00

So I got the bright idea a few months ago to attempt to go back to school while working a full time job and running a household as a single mother.....I am now wondering what I was thinking!!! Don't get me wrong I am very happy to be back in school but man summer school may have been the wrong semester to start back up in as the class time is shorter and I am attempting to do all my classes on line. So if by the end of July if I have no hair left then you will all know why! LOL!!!

So on another note....The kids are all doing great!!! Elyssa and Aiden have been doing summer baseball again. Aiden's league just entered into their tournament. They had their first game last night and came back from being 7 points behind in the last inning to win it by 2!! They were really excited and it was fun to watch them get a win!! Elyssa still has a few more weeks of baseball but by the 4th of July we will be all done with summer ball. This is the first time in years that we will be done that early. It seems really weird not to be watching Logan play ball. Logan has been keeping himself busy doing construction work. There are days he comes home and looks so tired!! However he amazes me that no matter how tired he is when he comes through the door if a friend calls he is headed back out the door....oh to be young again...lol!

Logan trying to get rid of his tan lines that he got at work...

WOW!!!

2010-04-16T00:27:00.000-06:00

Okay so I know that it has been months since I posted on here and once again I am sorry and promise to be better....yeah I know that I have said that before so....Okay so lots has happened in the last few months. Logan moved back to Burley and is going to go to school here at the local 2 year college. He has been living at home but him and a friend are looking at renting a house as they are both wanting to get out from under their parents roofs. Elyssa got her drivers license, went on her first date and to her first school dance all in the same week. It is hard to believe that she is growing up into such a cute young lady. Aiden is counting down the days until summer vacation. He loves school but is wanting to stay home and play outside all day long! He is just starting spring soccer and then into baseball we go. It is weird that we are not already into baseball full swing as the last 4 years we all would have been sitting on cold bleachers drinking hot chocolate watching Logan play. Well I hope that all is well with everyone and I will post again soon! I promise :)

Christmas season is here again....

2009-12-15T07:54:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that it is Christmas time again. Wasn't it just yesterday that it was July and we were suffering through the heat? Oh to have those days back again...lol! It has been cold so far this December, although we are in a mini heat wave at the moment with highs close to the mid 30's! YEAH!!! This is the first time in many, many years I have had to leave a steady little stream of water going at night so that the pipes don't freeze. BURRR!! I have also come to realize that I am glad that I don't live where it is colder...my little cold toes could not handle it.
Logan has made it home for the Christmas break and it is so nice to have him in the home again. I knew that he was missed but until his wonderful sense of humor and love came back into the home I did not realize just how much. It will be hard to let him go back to school after the New Year. The only thing making it easier is knowing that he is in good hands with Farahlyn.
Elyssa is counting down the few days of school that she has left with much eagerness. I think more for the fact that she gets her cell phone back then that she is out of school for 2 weeks. It is hard to believe that she is down to 2 1/2 years of school and then she will also be headed out into the world. Man where does time go? They were both so little and it seems like it was just yesterday.
Aiden is very busy filling in Santa's beard with a new cotton ball each day in his count down till Christmas. This time of year is so fun to see through the eyes of little kids. Yesterday Aiden and I had to run over to Rupert and as we walked into the building he had to walk on top of the piled snow from where they had cleared the walks. After we got back out into the car we attempted to leave only to discover that the way that the street department had cleared the roads had made it so there was a ton of snow where my tires were and my car could not get any traction. GREAT!! Well after much reversing and going forward we were able to get one of the tires up on the sidewalk and that gave us the little bit of traction that we needed to get out of the wonderful snow! Poor Aiden thought we were going to be stuck there for quite some time, while I have the humilitating thoughts going through my head of, 'Here I am stuck on a main road and I am going to have to ask to be pushed out of a little mound of snow!' So note to self no more parking the car in mounds ot snow, even if they are little.
In closing I would just love to let everyone know how greatful I am to have you in my life. It is sad that it seems that we only say it during this time of year as we should let everyone know all the time just how great they are. Oh I also promise to attempt to update this thing more often but as I still don't have my computer fixed yet...we will see.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Halloween 2009

2009-11-05T03:30:00.002-07:00

The kids and I went to Farahlyn's house this year. Both to do Halloween fun with her and her family and to see Logan (as we miss him dearly and I am so glad that my sister is taking such good care of him for me...THANKS!). Here are a few pictures from all the fun that weekend...

I also still have to say I am sorry about not being more current with what is going on in our lives. My computer is at the neighbors as I am typing this and I am hoping that he will be able to get it up and going for me. Once that happens I promise to get all current with everything....Thanks :)

I know! I know!

2009-10-10T19:58:00.002-06:00

I have been such a slacker (again) when it comes to blogging and for that I appoligize. Tons has happened in the last few months and I promise a big post w/lots of updates is coming! I would have been better but my computer hard drive went down again....ugh....I know! I wish Brian was closer and could come and fix it for me.... :) Well I hope that this finds you all well and getting ready for the holiday season that is going to be upon us before we know it.

9.3.....say what....MILES????

2009-07-04T10:18:00.005-06:00

Can I just say as a mother that this morning as I watched Logan and Farahlyn (yes I know I am not your mother but big sis counts right?) cross the finish line after running 9.3 miles how much love and amazement I felt. It is always wonderful to watch your kids grow and accomplish new things but I can honestly say that running almost 1/3 of a marathon was not one that I would be a witness to. About 2 weeks ago Farahlyn talked Logan into running the Hyrum 4th of July run with her. Let me tell you that Logan's training is pretty much just the running that he has been doing in baseball this summer and Farahlyn said that her training has not been near what it should have been (I think she said that about a week ago she ran 4-5 miles). So to watch them finish with the times that they did was just awesome. Logan had a time of 1:21:33 and took 23rd in his age group of 15-19 and Farahlyn has a time of 1:18:00 and was 17th in her age group of 30-35. Overall Farahlyn came in 191 and Logan was 236 out of the 528 people that ran the race. Logan said after that he will 'never do this again' with a smile on his face so we will see if Farahlyn will be able to talk him into another one or not....
Logan at the finish line

Farahlyn high 5'n that she is done!

Logans Graduation May 20th

2009-06-08T13:41:00.003-06:00

Well this was a day that I have thought was so far into the future that when it got here I was shocked that all that time had gone so fast. It seems just like yesterday that he was going to his 1st day of kindergarten and now he is done with high school and will be headed to Utah State in a few months. Here are a few pictures from the big day...

Now a peak at what Elyssa has been doing....

2009-06-08T13:31:00.005-06:00

Elyssa is also playing ball this summer. She has a real good team and they are undefeated so far. She is also keeping busy with a history class that she is taking. She will be in the 10th grade next year and is looking forward to it. I think she is more excited that once Logan goes to school she will get to take over his room as she has the smallest one in the house right now.

Lets see what Aiden has been up to....

2009-06-08T12:31:00.004-06:00

Aiden has been very busy. He finished preschool and keeps asking if today he gets to go to Kindergarten, I am just hoping that his enthusiasm for school lasts a long time. He has also jumped right into T-ball this summer. He is my little ham and is always ready and willing to strike a pose for the camera.

Where or where did it all go?

2009-05-02T21:53:00.005-06:00

About a month ago one of Logan's friends and fellow teammate Garrett Lyons was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He had been complaining of a pain in his side and they went to the Dr. thinking that it was only a broken rib but found out it was so much worse. Well on Thursday at a school assembly the whole baseball team (even the coaches) shaved their heads in support of Garrett as the Chemo is starting to making his fall out. Logan had the rest of his senior pictures scheduled for Friday night so we shaved his head after he was done. He decided that he did not want to go clipper short but razor short. So Elyssa ran the clippers and he shaved the front of his head and I took care of the back where he could not see. This is the first time in his whole life that he has had this little of hair. Here is the video of him loosing his hair...

Using the Razor to make it baby smooth

Ta Da!

He just had to keep his sideburns.

Prom 2009

2009-05-02T21:38:00.009-06:00

Here are Logan's Prom pictures...Mom :)

Logan & Jenna

Group Photo

Varsity Baseball Players

Logan had his Sr. Prom on April 18th and Jim and mom came up and made a wonderful dutch oven dinner for him and his group of friends. They had a ton of fun and the food was great!
Here are a few highlights of the night....

Baseball update...

2009-05-02T21:30:00.006-06:00

Well High school ball is almost over as the boys are headed into districts. They had a fair season but Logan did awesome on defense in right field, there was hardly a ball that got by him.

He caught the ball in right field and gunned it to the 3rd baseman to keep the player that was on 2nd there. It was an awesome play!

Notice the yellow arm bands that the boys are wearing. They say 'LIVESTRONG' & 'GL #5' in supprt of Garrett

Easter '09

2009-05-02T20:39:00.004-06:00

I know that these are really late in coming but here are a few pictures of dying eggs and the big Easter egg hunt that Aiden & I had....well Logan did hide the eggs again later that day for Aiden outside while Elyssa slept through both of the hunts.

Where has March gone?

2009-03-29T15:27:00.002-06:00

It is hard to believe that this month is in its last days. It seems just like yesterday it was my birthday and now here it is Sean's tomorrow....Happy Birthday!!!

This month has been busy with baseball getting into full swing, band concerts, and just life in general. Logan's ball team has been doing very well and he has been AWESOME in right field. There is hardly a ball that gets by him and I just wish I had some pictures of some of the ways he has had to sacrafice his body to make the catch!

Logan & Elyssa also had their spring Pop's concert for band. They love this concert as the kids get to have more of a say in what they play and it is usually current music. This year they went with a movie theme. Aiden's favorite part was the king Kong theme as there was a slide show that went along with it.

As for me & Aiden we have just been hanging out. Me working and him going to school and after we are both done with those then it is usually a game or two on the Play Station or Wii. We are currently trying to find the last few items on Lego Indiana Jones and then we have the game totally done...I believe we are about 96-97% done.

Well I hope that this post finds all of you in good health and if you are like me counting down the days until spring...Mother Nature keeps teasing us here in Southern Idaho with a warm day or two and then some snow and freezing weather.

Here are a few pictures from the last month....

Baseball is here again!

2009-03-14T19:19:00.003-06:00

Yes it is hard to believe that it is this time of year again as it is still only in the mid 50's on a good day here in Burley. I go into this season excited yet sad at the same time knowing that this will be the last year that I will be at the ball park this early freezing in the stands with the other dedicated parents. Maybe I should be excited about that!!! :) Logan has been counting down the days to opening game and yesterday it was here. They played Madison (Rexburg) and split a double header. I missed it due to a work scheduling conflict and the fact that they were unable to play on their home field and had to travel to the neighboring school. I kept tabs on the games though and really wished I could have been there, but hey the paper had a great article in it today and an awesome picture of Logan (see above). Here is the article from the paper if you would like to read it.

http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2009/03/14/sports/local_state/157179.txt

911 ~ Does the public have the right to know?

2009-03-06T07:37:00.002-07:00

I saw this on a friend's blog that is a 911 dispatcher in Northern Idaho and had to steal it. I don't talk about my job on this blog very often but after reading this I had to steal it from her and put it out there for you to read. Taking some of the calls that I do are hard enough for me to listen to and get through. Usually about 30 minutes after you are totally done w/the call you get your Adrenalin dump and you realize what kind of call you just handled. There are calls that I took years & years ago that I can still her the voices on the other end of the phone. I cannot imagine if I had called 911 at my most desperate time in my life having to listen to it over and over again on the T.V. I am not trying to push CNN's views but this makes you stop and think...

Commentary: The Public's Right to Gawk? By Bob Greene CNN Contributor(CNN)

-- There is a sound we have come to take utterly for granted, as instantly recognizable as the reliable resonance of baseball games on the radio, or the timbre of the television weather caster telling us whether it will rain tomorrow morning.

Bob Greene asks whether it's right to intrude on the anguish of people calling 9-1-1 in an emergency.But the other sound that has become a part of our lives is considerably darker than those.It is the sound of 911 emergency calls -- the desperate voices, the tearful pleading, the agonized cries for help.

It's a sound that is routinely played on television and radio newscasts, local and national, as soon as the 911 tapes are released, as they almost always are.Listening to those tapes is something we somehow have learned to accept as our right.And maybe the time has come to ask ourselves: Should we really be doing this?A person who calls 911 usually does so at the most emotionally naked and raw moment of his or her life. The person may be terrified; the person may be injured. The person may be in the initial throes of the worst kind of grief. A loved one has been shot; a parent is unconscious; home invaders have broken in.The person has only one place to turn: the 911 operator.

When a person makes that call, he is not voluntarily speaking into a live public microphone; when a person makes that call, she is not thinking that her voice will soon enough be played for the amusement (in the worst sense of that word) of strangers. The person on the phone is begging for help. If ever there were a moment that should qualify as private pain, it's that moment.But soon enough there is nothing private about it. The tapes are released, because they are legally considered public record: The caller has placed a phone call to a government agency (the police, the town emergency center), and so, under most interpretations of the law, the call is public property.Which means that it won't be long until people at home or on the highway -- casually flipping through channels, having a beer and a sandwich in front of the television set, stuck on the road in rush-hour commuter traffic -- will be presented with the sound of the panicked citizen's voice.And somewhere out there -- if the caller to 911 has been fortunate enough to live -- he or she may have the bad luck to be watching and listening too. And realizing -- perhaps numbly, perhaps with a sense of shame -- that, without having granted permission, he or she has become part of the community's, or the nation's, entertainment mix.Talk about being violated -- talk about being victimized twice.

You can make all the rationalizations you want about this being a part of the people's right to know. What this really is, in too many cases, is the people's right to gawk. And there is something about it that borders on obscene.Is there a difference between the dissemination of these tapes and, say, news photographs of crime scenes? Isn't the basic reporting of crimes, and their impact upon the victims, often seen as intrusive and cold? The answer to both questions is yes.Travel the country, and listen to the 911 calls as they are played on local newscasts, and it's impossible not to feel that an invisible line is being crossed again and again. You hear it in the tone of those voices making the calls for help -- the voices, you sense, have a sound to them that even their owners might not recognize, because never before have the owners of those voices found themselves in such a position. Maybe that is the most powerful argument for restraint here: Those voices, in those terrible moments, are, indeed, owned by the callers who are seeking salvation. And the question becomes: Should we, the curious public, be so quick to usurp that ownership? It is unrealistic to expect that 911 calls will ever be considered by the courts to be private communication. They are, and should be, available to prosecutors and defense attorneys when criminal cases make it to trial, and when that happens, they are as a matter of course released to the news media, too -- open court is open court. But basic compassion -- basic decency toward victims -- argues that we should show a little discretion about the decision to use them so casually, especially in the days immediately following the crime or accident.No person in sorrow and torment should have to hesitate for even a second before picking up the phone to call 911 -- no person should have to weigh whether to make the call, knowing what may come later.What comes later, increasingly, is the airing of the tapes not only on news shows, but as part of the proliferation of true-crime documentaries in prime time. Now those anguished 911 calls are played over and over again, year after year in reruns, in steady rotation on commercial non-newscast television. What do we owe these people -- what consideration is due to the humans behind the beseeching, agonized voices? Perhaps just the occasional thought that, except for the grace of fate, it could be us making the call -- perhaps just the recognition that not everything need be considered grist to be shared with the world.There are exceptions to this, and you've probably already thought of some of them: controversial crimes involving public figures, cases in which it turns out that the person making the supposedly terrified call had another agenda entirely, crimes in which the police need the public's help. The argument here is not that laws about the release of 911 calls should be changed; the information contained in the calls can in some cases help explain the story, even serve a role in righting wrongs. Yet too often the playing of the tapes feels as if it's done only because of the ugly melodramatics inherent -- only because of the voyeuristic titillation.

We ought to admit that to ourselves Most people calling 911 are not auditioning for a reality show; most people calling 911 are not doing it because they have any choice. The least we can do, the next time we find ourselves blithely listening to a tape of one of our fellow citizens in the most awful moments of suffering he or she will ever face, is perhaps to quietly ask ourselves:Shouldn't we be better than this?

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bob Greene.

Lots of posts...

2009-02-21T14:29:00.005-07:00

Okay so I finally have my computer back and it is running at 1/2 speed. My wonderful neighbor at the other end of the block was so nice and looked at it for me only to discover that one of my things of ram had gone bad. It was not making all the connections that it needed to make so it was not even turning on, so here in my little non-computer world I thought it was my monitor as it was giving me the 'power save mode' message. Needless to say he gave it a temporary fix and ordered me some new ram, that I am hoping will get here soon as I am not patient enough to have my computer run so slow, and I am able to get some things updated and I got my taxes filed...YEAH!

So please endure the slew of posts that I have put on here today with the knowledge that I promise to never get this far behind on blogging again.

Aiden and I waiting for Chuck (our favorite show) in 3-D to start....

Logan headed to his preference dance this year....

the theme was 'A Blast from the Past'

ISU Jazz Festival 09

2009-02-21T14:04:00.010-07:00

For the first time in Logan's high school jazz band career I was able to go and watch one of his jazz festivals. I had the weekend off and it was actually close. So him and I ventured to Poky together (he wanted to stay and play in his church ball tourney that morning and not ride the bus). They performed at this amazing place and I thought they did really good. Logan, the ever hard critic, said that they messed up royally. I will let you be the judge...oh, Logan is in the back row in the very middle playing his trumpet.

Church ball is upon us again

2009-02-21T13:47:00.003-07:00

Yes it is that time of year again that the men young and old put their lives on the line and play church ball. We were combined again with the 11th ward this year and they did really good. They came in 1st place in the stake this year and put up a really good fight in the multi-stake tourney but were eliminated by a ward from Acequia.

Wax anyone....

2009-02-21T13:33:00.006-07:00

During our Christmas escapades we went to Idaho Falls to see dad & Kay. While there I got my hair cut (it is actually in a style ... Thanks Kay!) and while at the beauty shop we talked Logan into getting his eyebrows waxed. I recorded the removal of the wax on the first brow that she did. My only regret was that I stopped the video too soon as the really good reaction was delayed. Here it is for you to get a good laugh at and enjoy his pain...lol!

Here are a few shots of the new hair do. I have learned how to work a round brush really good but I am still on the hunt for a nice flat iron. So if you have any ideas of where I can find a good one please let me know.

December Activities...

2009-02-21T13:12:00.004-07:00

I know they are really late but here are a few pictures from our whirl wind month of December....

NO I AM NOT DEAD!!!! ....lol...

2009-02-03T07:06:00.003-07:00

Okay so I had grand plans to sit down this last weekend and get my blog all up to date (as it has been 2 months since my last post...I know it is sad). Well as you can see that did not happen. I am not sure what is wrong w/my computer at home but the monitor won't switch out of power saver mode. I have no idea if it is my monitor going out, there is something wrong with the power cord to the darn thing or if something is wrong w/the computer....ahhhh....they are so frustrating!! Elyssa said it was working fine Saturday morning and when she went to get back on later that afternoon it was not working. So if any of you have any ideas please let me know. Then at least I may have an idea of where to start.

Turkey & Farewell

2008-11-30T09:07:00.004-07:00

This year Thanksgiving was spent at mom's and as usual the food was wonderful and too much was eaten. We missed Sean & Katie and their kids and hope that they had wonderful turkey as well.
The next morning we had to say farewell to Brian and Jenny who started on a new journey in their life and headed out to North Carolina. It is exciting and sad at the same time to see my little brother leave home and know that he is not just a few hours away. Good luck and have a fun time guys! Hope the ride there was not too long and that everything went okay!

Veterans Day

2008-11-11T06:47:00.005-07:00

Last year after the Veterans day program I found out that Logan, Lucas & another boy had played Tapps for it. This year Logan & Lucas were asked to play it again. So in honor of those wonderful men & women that have fought to keep our freedom & dreams alive...

THANK YOU!

I also found this picture of Logan & Jenna from election day when they were working the exit poles for their Government class...

Mr. BHS 2008

2008-11-11T06:38:00.005-07:00

Last night was the MR. BHS competition and Logan was one of the 10 boys that was picked from the Senior class to join in the festivities. It was a fun night that raised quite a bit of money for the Special Olympics program for those kids from Burley that need it. I learned last night that Burley will have a representative at the World Special Olympics this year that will be trying to bring a gold home in alpine skiing....GO Jill!!

Here are a few short videos from last night...enjoy!

Talent...

Modeling Sportsware...

Ask me any question...

Going to the highest bidder...

OH that would be Jenna! Make him work hard girl!! After all you did plunk down $250 for him :)

Happy 15th Birthday Elyssa! ....sorry I'm a day late...

2008-11-04T08:03:00.004-07:00

It is so hard to believe that it was 15 years ago yesterday that my baby girl entered into my little family. Here are some pictures of my little girl through the years...

Oh My Snow!

2008-10-11T17:58:00.002-06:00

Today we woke up to a winter wonderland. It had started snowing just before 6 am and by 8:30 we had close to 4 inches. It has been snowing all day, at times heavier then others, but we are now approaching the 10 inch mark. Aiden is loving it as he is making snow angels and sliding down the slide into a landing of white, all you can see is his head it is so deep. My Halloween spider webs have not fared so well in this wonderful white stuff and Aiden asked today if we could put up the Christmas tree...if I did we could say that we actually had a white Christmas. I hope that all the rest of you out there are having a wonderful Saturday!

Homecoming Pictures

2008-10-08T15:20:00.005-06:00

Here are the official pictures for the Homecoming dance...

Logan & Jenna

Logan & Jenna ~ John & Jessica ~ Jared & Whitney

What a Senior Night!

2008-10-08T08:56:00.006-06:00

Friday October 3rd was Logan's last home football game so that made it senior night! And what a night it was! The team played great ball and gave us our first win in 3 years! We played Wood River and the score at the end of the game was 20 to 6. Excitement was everywhere but you could just see it flowing off of the boys.

When Logan was reading the article about the game he made that comment that 1-4 looks so much better then 0-5.

The band marched again at half time and they did their whole competition routine. One Saturday they ventured to Caldwell for a competition and took 2nd. I am going to have to go to one of their performances so I can get Logan marching with his trumpet. Here is their routine.

Sorry about it getting shaky in parts, Aiden was trying to help.

Homecoming 2008

2008-09-28T17:30:00.004-06:00

Last night was Burley's homecoming dance. Logan and Jenna looked so cute. They went with Logan's best friend John Cummings and his girlfriend Jessica. Jared Byington and his date also went in the same group with them. John's mom was so nice and let the kids all eat at her house and she even made lasagna per Logan's request. Here are a few pictures of the evening...

Football is here again...

2008-09-28T16:51:00.002-06:00

Well high school football is in full swing again, in fact we are 1/2 way through the season. Burley is doing better then last year in the fact that we are at least scoring in each game so far. We still have no wins but it is not for lack of trying on the boys part. Here are a few highlights of the games and Elyssa playing her trumpet in band @ them.

Kitties & Swimming

2008-09-17T14:53:00.005-06:00

So as I was uploading pictures to get this blog updated I realized that I forgot to mention that we have had 2 new additions to our little household. They are Miley & Indy. They are the cutest little things and are so much fun to just watch as they attack and chase each other all around the house.

Aiden also took some swimming lessons in late August. One of Logan's good friends Kim was his teacher so he had that much more fun. The day he went off the diving board all by himself I had forgotten the camera...dang it! But it was so exciting as all the other times he had to have Kim jump in with him. I think his favorite thing to do at swimming was playing 'Mr. Shark what time is it?'

I love my family

2008-09-16T07:10:00.002-06:00

I just want to say thanks again to my family for helping me through my rough patch and letting me know that you are always there for me in anything that I need. You all will never know how much I appreciated all your support and prayers. I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Aiden goes to preschool

2008-09-16T06:52:00.003-06:00

Aiden started his many years of school as he is in preschool this year at Dawn's Learning Center. He loves it and is always asking do I get to go to school today? Which makes it so much easier on me, now I just have to figure out what to do with myself in the time he is gone. Any suggestions? I know I should go home and take advantage of the time and clean but that is NEVER fun to do. I also know it is only two hours but it can seem like an eternity. I am just used to having him there when I am at home. I honestly think that this transition has been harder on me then on him.

1st Annual Family Reunion!

2008-09-16T06:39:00.004-06:00

This year Farahlyn and I decided that we needed to start having a family get together with all of us kids and their families. So Labor Day weekend was agreed upon as the time we would start this tradition and just continue with that weekend every year. We had originally thought about going camping but there are little babies in the family so we then thought about heading up to Bear Lake and renting a cabin...a little too pricey...so we decided for the first year we would invade Farahlyn and JD's house. They were so gracious and we had so much fun. We all stayed there, even those that were close to home. We really missed Sean & Katie & their kids, it was just not the same without them there. Next year guys! We did have an extra person with us as Logan brought his girlfriend Jenna with him. I think she was a little overwhelmed but seemed to have a good time and fit right in with us crazy people. Here are a few pictures of the weekend....

Logan & Jenna battling it out in boxing

Logan's last...

2008-09-16T06:29:00.006-06:00

So I have decided that this is going to be a tough year for me as there are going to be so many lasts when it comes to Logan. I fully realized this at the parade in August as I watched him march by with the band and thought next year he won't be in there. Not that I won't have another face to watch for in the band as Elyssa will be a face in the sea of green in next years parade.

The kids are back in school and both Logan & Elyssa are at the high school, the last time they were in a school together Elyssa was in kindergarten. They are both loving it. Logan more then Elyssa I think because he know that he only has 8 1/2 months and he won't have to come back. The second day of school he came home with a form for me to fill out for his graduation stuff that we have to order from the school...ON THE SECOND DAY!!! I about died! I know that this year is just going to go by way to fast and then he will be gone. I am just hoping that he stays a little longer than I did after graduation...I think by the weekend after I was out of school I was gone, Sorry Mom!

I AM SUCH A BLOG SLACKER!!!

2008-09-15T10:02:00.003-06:00

Okay so I have been the biggest slacker lately when it comes to my blog! I have to apologize as there has been quite a bit happening in mine and the kids lives. So I promise that when I get home from work I will sit down and fill everyone in on all the new adventures that we have engaged ourselves in.

5 BIG ONES!!!!!!

2008-08-28T08:22:00.004-06:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AIDEN!!!!

It is hard to believe that 5 years ago my baby was born. In some ways it seems just like yesterday but in others it is hard to remember life without him. Aiden mom loves you and I am so glad that you are part of our family!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN!!

2008-08-15T12:56:00.003-06:00

It is hard to believe that it was 17 years ago at 5:02 am that Logan entered my life. They say that time goes fast but I swear it was just yesterday I brought him home from the hospital. Here is a taking a look at Logan...

I LOVE YOU LOGAN!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Winning Season

2008-07-20T07:19:00.006-06:00

Well Logan is done with season play for Legion Baseball. Next week we go to districts and hopefully will move on from there. The boys have been playing such good ball this summer it is really sad to see it coming to an end. They finished the season in 6th place overall in the district (I believe there are 16 teams total). The last week has been amazing though as they have won 5 of their last 6 games. I believe for the season they are 22 and 11 (don't quote me on that) which is tons better then last year when we won like 7 games all summer. Logan did end up with 2 home runs this summer, neither of which I saw but at least one was in Bear Lake and Mom & Jim and Farahlyn, JD and all the kids were there to see it. I guess Farahlyn got an awesome picture just before he smacked the ball...which I am still waiting for...lol! He also did a great job in the field with tons of cool catches (which I am sure I will never get all the grass stains out of his pants from, but hey they are worth it and well earned). Here a few pictures of his season...

Prepping the field

Up to bat

Pitching

Flippin Fun!

2008-07-17T14:40:00.005-06:00

I have had this video for awhile (since the beginning of June) and have been meaning to get it put on my blog, but since I have been a major slacker in that area here it is now. Aiden has taught himself how to do flips on the trampoline. He is so proud of himself. Me on the other hand about died the first time I saw him do this only because I have no pads on the tramp and of course my first thoughts were of him landing in the springs. He is really good about staying away from the edges...thank goodness.

Happy Birthday lil Sista!

2008-07-13T08:15:00.005-06:00

I just want to shout out HAPPY BIRTHDAY FARAHLYN!!! I know that I am a day late but hey I hope that it was a fun one ~ even though you were baking your brains out at a baseball game (thanks again for going). I LOVE YA! And I am so glad that you were blessed to be my sister...lol! No I am the one that is so blessed for our relationship and for all you have done for me over the years. There will never be any way that I will be able to repay you for everything.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISTA!!!!!!!!

Happy 4th of July!!!

2008-07-04T17:16:00.003-06:00

I hope that you all are had a wonderful 4th and have a night full of fun with lots of ohhhhh's and ahhhhh's!

New Do's

2008-07-04T17:00:00.002-06:00

Logan got a new hair do and so Aiden decided that he needed one too. Here are the new looks....

Check it out!!!

2008-07-04T16:20:00.007-06:00

Well last weekend both Aiden and Elyssa finished up with baseball for the summer. The T-ball players all got a trophy! I have never seen so many excited kids.

Aiden getting his trophy

Team Photo ... Aiden is the 2nd boy from the end ^

Elyssa tagging a girl out at 3rd

They had a fun time but they are both glad they are done for the year. Logan is still in the middle of his baseball season and we have about another month left until post season play. They are having a really good season and having lots of fun.

Elyssa's NY trip

2008-06-07T12:29:00.005-06:00

I have yet to sit down and have Elyssa go through her pictures with me but I thought you might like to see a little of what she did in the 12 days that she was gone.

The pictures include: The Sacred Grove, Lake Ontario, Niagara Falls and her goofing off with her cousins Katie and Vrena. So Enjoy the slide shows....

She had a great time and lots of fun and I thank her Grandma Ottley and her Aunt DeAnn for giving her the opportunity to do this, showing her a great time and getting her home safe. Thanks again!

Female Power

2008-06-07T12:21:00.008-06:00

Elyssa had her 1st ball game since she got home from NY on Thursday and you never would have known that she had not been playing for almost 2 weeks. She had quite the hit out to right field. It was a double w/2 RBI's! The team that they were playing beat us the last time we played them so it was fun to see the growth of our team since that 1st game. Her team won 13 to 9. Here is her big hit...

A game of Drunken Sailor anyone?

2008-06-07T11:45:00.010-06:00

It amazes me that kids ever learn to play baseball when they are so young and have what seems to be no attention span at all. Aiden had his 2nd game today and I think he played more 'Drunken Sailor' then ball. I had to try real hard not to laugh at him but he was so cute! Here is part of the show he put on for everyone...

I do have to say that he hit the ball quite well but the excitement came as he got to 1st base...

and here he is coming home (notice the other player hot on his heals) Run Aiden Run...

It was a fun game and he had a great time.

Excitement

2008-06-03T06:53:00.003-06:00

Elyssa is headed home today!!! She flew into SLC late last night and they stayed at her grandma's sister’s house. I cannot wait to see her! I have missed her so much! I will get a post and pictures about her trip up ASAP.

On another note...Yesterday Logan had a ballgame in Twin Falls and all day long I debated on whether to leave work a few hours early and go. In the end I decided not to as gas is so expensive and there was a light rain. Well, he calls me after the games and informs me that he jacked one over the fence in his first game! I am so disappointed that I missed it. This is his 2nd homerun in baseball (the other was on a little league field when he was in all-stars in July 2004) but his first on the bigger field! WAY TO GO!!!

Aiden loves Indy

2008-05-24T06:21:00.006-06:00

On Thursday I took Aiden to see the new Indiana Jones movie. He was so funny about the whole experience. We went by the box office and got our tickets early and as we are pulling away he says, "Mom we have to go back and wait for the movie to start." I explained to him that we had a few hours until it started. He promptly started to pout as that was an eternity to him. So for the rest of the day he kept telling me that we needed to leave to get to Indy on time. When we finally got there, 45 minutes before the show started so we could get a good seat, he was almost jumping up and down with excitement and wanted the movie to start right then.

Well it finally started and I looked at Aiden and he gave me a 'thumbs up' with a big grin on his face. The movie was good (a little far fetched but hey all of the Indy shows are) but every time I looked over and saw that look on Aiden's face along with another 'thumbs up' he would give me it was the best show in the world.

Elyssa is in New York!

2008-05-22T17:52:00.002-06:00

Elyssa flew out of Salt Lake this morning at 07:30 had a lay over in Chicago and finally landed safe and sound in Rochester at 2:10 our time. She was so excited to go yet a little nervous for the plane ride. She called this morning at 6:45 while she was waiting in the terminal, when she landed in Chicago at 10:30 and again when she landed in New York. She only left yesterday after school but I miss her so much already as the house is very very quiet without her here. I hope that she has a great time but I cannot wait for her to come home on June 2nd. She is there with her Grandma Ottley and her cousin. They are staying with her Aunt DeAnn and she has planed all kinds of fun things for them to do. I know that they are going to Niagara Falls and to a ballet. They are also going to see all kinds of church history sites and go to the Palmyra Temple and do baptisms for the dead. She has promised to take all kinds of pictures and when she gets home I will make a slide show of her trip.

Dance recital 2008

2008-05-22T17:47:00.005-06:00

Elyssa had her dance recital on the 17th. This year she decided to do a different class, she just wanted to dance and have fun instead of doing all the competitions (which made my life a little easier). She did a Hip Hop, Jazz and Lyrical number. I attempted to record her dances on my camera as I forgot the video recorder. So here they are a little fuzzy and wobbly thanks to Aiden helping me with the recordings but I hope that you enjoy them.

Brian & Jenny's Wedding

2008-05-22T16:05:00.004-06:00

On the 9th my baby bro got married. It is hard to believe that he is old enough to take the plunge but hey my oldest just finished his junior year of high school so I guess I am in denial of how old I am getting. Here are a few pictures from the day...

and here are a few from the reception that night...

CONGRATS BRIAN & JENNY!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

More ball...this time on the girl side

2008-05-13T06:29:00.005-06:00

Elyssa had her first softball game last night. She was nervous as this was her first game in the fast pitch league but after the first inning you would not have known it. Heck during that first inning you could tell all the girls on her team had the jitters and that this was the 1st game of the year. The age range for the girls in this league are from 14-17 and there is a big difference from a 14 yr old throwing the ball at ya then a 17 yr old. Elyssa was walked on her first bat but when she got back up to the plate in the 3rd inning (they only played 4 last night) she hammered one to left field that went way out there and was placed perfect just inside the foul line for a wonderful double. After the inning Elyssa told me that she should have ran faster and not watched the ball to see if it was going to be fair or not and she bet she could have made it to third base. The only thing we were wishing was that there would have been a few other girls on bases when she did that then maybe the loss would not have been so bad at 11 to 4. Way to go Elyssa!!!

Aiden's first T-ball pratice

2008-05-07T21:22:00.004-06:00

Tonight was bitter sweet for me as my baby had his first of many ball practices. Here is a glimpse of how he did...

Thanks Sis for the Tag!!!

2008-05-04T06:45:00.003-06:00

Sister I don't think there is any beating you on that last answer of yours but here are my answers to those wonderful questions...

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?
I had only been dispatching for 3 months. Seems like it has been a lot longer then that and on the other hand it seems like just yesterday.

2. 5 things on my to do list:
Laundry
Clean my toilets
Get my garden spot ready
Fix my front porch
Prune my Raspberry bushes

3. Snacks I enjoy:
Diet Coke!! Popcorn and Milk Duds.

4. What would I do if I were suddenly a billionare:
Get a new house and car! Invest some and pay back my sister for everything her and JD have done for me the last few years....wait that may take all of it because I feel there is no price for all the love and support they have given me and my kids! Thanks again Farah!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!

5. 3 bad habits:
Eating to much
Not exercising
Watching too much TV

6. 5 places I've lived:
Burley, ID.
Logan, UT.
Declo, ID.
Salt Lake City, UT.
West Bountiful, UT.

7. 5 jobs I have had:
911/Police/Fire Dispatcher
Scentsy Consultant
Detention Officer
Burger King (Official Whopper Flipper)
Gas station attendant

8. 5 things people don't know about me:
I am a Diet Coke addict…okay that one you may know
I have had braces twice in my life (the 2nd time was only for a week after a car crash)
While at work one day I got laughing so hard that my orange soda I was drinking came out of my nose…burned like no other
On my visiting teachers suggestion I drank caster oil to get my labor started w/Logan
I refused to kiss my Jr Prom date because I thought he may be gay…turned out I was right!

I don't think I will officially tag anyone else but Katie I would love to see a new post from you so if you feel up to it answer away!

Baseball update...

2008-05-02T19:47:00.004-06:00

Okay I know that everyone is probably sick of hearing about baseball on this blog of mine and I have tried to not blog too much about it, but here is the latest update. Logan has started into districts, they lost their first game and play again tomorrow morning. It is a double elimination so I am hoping that they have a better game then they did yesterday or we are done for a few weeks. They were playing a team that they had lost to and also won during the regular season but for some reason they just didn't seem like they wanted to be playing ball until it was too late. Logan did have an awesome throw to 3rd base from right field to get a runner out. I had to laugh at the JV team members that were sitting behind me when he did that. They were all saying stuff like...I thought he was going for 2nd and just over threw it then I realized that it was 3rd he was going for...Man that was an awesome throw...(and my personal favorite) Man Logan has a gun on him! I was only wishing that I would have gotten it on video.

Another thing I am sure that you all are sick of is prom pictures but I have one more that I just could not resist posting. This is 8 of the 11 guys on the varsity team. I guess when they did the picture the other 3 guys had forgotten their gloves or hats or something and opted to not be in the picture.

Back row left to right: Garrett Lyons, Stephen Beck, Marcus Hoskins, Logan
Front row left to right: Sam Harris, Michael Durfee, Tyler Owens, Seth Koyle

Official Prom Pictures

2008-04-25T14:03:00.006-06:00

Here are Logan's pictures from prom. All the guys looked so nice in their tuxes and the girls all were so beautiful. In the group photo from left to right are Stephen & Katelyn, Garrett & Klysa, Tyler & Paige, Logan & Jenna, Sam & Carli, Edgar & Emma.

JR PROM!!

2008-04-12T19:17:00.005-06:00

WOW! There are some good looking kids. Logan had his Jr prom tonight and looked so handsome in his tux. His date is Jenna Smith and the other couple is Stephen Beck and Katelyn Lyons. They were also going with 4 other couples but were not meeting up with them until dinner (will have to post a big group photo later). I was at work when they came by so I could get pictures of them. Logan would not let me put hondcuffs on them and take their picture (party pooper...what better way to remember prom then being cuffed to your date?). I have to say that I loved Jenna's dress. Lots of sparkles and a big flowing skirt, every little girls dream. They all looked so good.

My baby is getting big!

2008-04-06T12:11:00.003-06:00

So I am writing this with very mixed emotions as yesterday I signed Aiden up for T-ball. I know that you are more then likely thinking 'It's only t-ball, what's the big deal?' It is just that he is my baby and this is such a milestone. I remember signing Logan up (just yesterday it seems) and now he is playing high school and legion ball. I guess because Aiden is my baby everything seems to hit me a little harder with him because these are firsts and lasts. It will be his first time and a last for me as I don't have another little one to sign up and experience all of this again. It doesn't only have to do with ball, I am going to feel the same way when I take him to his first day of preschool and when I sign him up for kindergarten. As he is doing all of these firsts Logan will be doing some of his own, like starting his last year of high school and going to college. I guess it just really makes me stop and think about how fast time goes and just how little of it is spent at home as a child. I have now lived just as long outside of my childhood home as I did in it. It's crazy how fast life comes at ya and at times runs you over like a Mack truck...lol! So for now I just am taking it one day at a time and trying not to think about it too much.

Coming soon.....

2008-04-05T08:57:00.011-06:00

Okay so I am messing around on the computer this morning and come across 12 Top Games of Spring 2008 on Yahoo and this is what I find....

Here is a link to a preview of the game http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=6924873
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures! It comes out on June 3rd. I am excited because maybe then Aiden won't only play Star Wars...ha ha ha! I am also looking forward to the new Indy movie that comes out the end of May, it looks like it is going to be a good one.

What a hit!

2008-04-02T23:23:00.009-06:00

Burley played Wood River tonight in a double header and won them both. This is the 3rd straight game in a row that they have won. Last Saturday they beat Preston 15 to 12 in a really good game (so I hear as I was at work). The first game tonight was 7 to 5. Logan played in right field and had some good catches in both games. He also had a beautiful bunt that was very well placed and even allowed him to get onto base and advance everyone so that the bases were loaded. But (now here is the mother in me bragging) he totally rocked in the last game at his last at bat. The score was 10 to 2 with 2 on and Logan up to bat. Here is what happened.....

Logan got a triple (his best hit yet this year) and 2 RBI's with it! It was close but the 3rd baseman didn't have the ball in his hand so he was safe (he picked it up off the ground after Logan was already there). They called the game after that as we were in the bottom of the 6th and had just 10 run'd them. It was awesome!

Easter 2008

2008-04-02T14:47:00.004-06:00

As I have been such a bad blogger the last few weeks here are a few pictures from the day. Thanks Farahlyn for letting us invade your house, we had a great time.

Aiden and Lego Star Wars

2008-04-02T13:43:00.007-06:00

For the last month Aiden has been playing Lego Star Wars on the PS2. He has become quite good at it and I am starting to think that I may need to send my 4 year old to gamers anonymous or possibly do an intervention of some kind...lol! One thing that has been nice is he sure hurries and gets stuff done so that he can play his game. One night I fell asleep while reading and when I woke up at about 3 am I realized that the Star Wars music was still going. I went into the other room and found him fast asleep holding the controller.
Then a few nights later I was cleaning up after dinner and he was in his room (as the playstation is now in there so I can actually watch tv) waiting for me to come and get him into bed and when I walked in this is what I found. Yes I am thinking that an intervention or something maybe in order.

Another trip to the ER

2008-03-21T10:50:00.004-06:00

It has been awhile since Logan was in the ER but Wednesday night we were back in there. He had cut his finger at baseball practice (on a broken bat of all things) and when he came home he asked if it needed stitches. I looked at it briefly (while I was making dinner) and said no. At the time it only looked like a little more then a paper cut. Well a few hours later he asked again if I was sure it didn't need stitches. This time he pulled it apart and I then realized just how deep it was. Well we decided that we had better at least have it looked at. We got to the ER at about 9:40 had the pleasure of sitting in the waiting room with all kinds of sick people for an hour. They then came out and got us and stuck us in a room where one of the EMTs took his vitals and we then got to wait for about another hour and a half and they moved us again. By this time it was getting close to midnight. As you can see he was just thrilled to still be there.

Logan and I had been having a conservation about the shot he was going to have to get to numb his finger and he tried to tell me that he didn't need a shot because he hates needles. So I asked him if he would rather have 1 poke or 6. He thought about this for a minute and then decided on one. When the nurse came over to ask a few more questions she overheard our conservation and told Logan she would make sure that the Dr. used the biggest needle that they have. Just after that Logan declared that in 5 minutes we were leaving and that he was wrong to think that he might need stitches. Well the 5 minutes passed and he told me that it was time to leave. 2 minutes later the Dr. finally came in, he thanked us for being so patient...at this I had to laugh because Logan really didn't want to be there anymore. He looked at the finger and said that yes we need stitches. He then pulled out the needle and the stuff to numb it and Logan saw it and said, "That is HUGE!". I was lucky enough to have my camera in my purse and thank goodness for the video option on it as I was fortunate enough to record Logan getting his shot. So here is my big tough 16 yr old getting a little shot in his finger....

He ended up w/3 stitches. I was hoping to get it all on film but my batteries pooped out on me. So here is the finished product.

Logan's Pop Concert 2008

2008-03-13T09:03:00.011-06:00

Last night Logan's high school band had a concert and it was AWESOME! They had all kinds of lights going along w/a smoke machine and the kids played almost in the dark. I put a couple of songs on here and there is no way you can even see Logan in the big band as he is in the back playing his baritone. I did get him in the jazz band on his trumpet and then after the concert was able to get some pictures of Logan being Logan and Lucas (his best friend) doing the same. They were funny when they were looking at the pictures after I took them talking about how sexy they look. I don't think I have to worry about his self esteem at all! Sorry that you will have to scroll down and mute my music player but enjoy the songs that are on here....
2001 Space Odyssey/Star Wars

Phantom of the Opera

Tijuana Dance

I have decided that I need to invest in a tripod :) Sorry it was so wobbly in parts.

Baseball has begun

2008-03-07T21:08:00.006-07:00

Today was Logan's first baseball game and I am just so thankful that it was not snowing this year. They played Madison which is the high school from Rexburg. They were able to hold them for the first 2 innings and then they got one in on us during the third. We scored 2 right away in the first inning and didn't get another one in until the 7th when Logan had a very nice RBI. I am sad to say that Madison ended up winning as they scored 2 in the 5th and 3 more in the 7th. Final score was Burley 3 Madison 6. The boys didn't look to bad for a first game in the freezing Idaho weather. Logan started out in right field and during the 3rd inning when our first baseman got ejected from the game for running over the catcher on his way home they put Logan at first. He stayed there for a few innings and ended the game out in left field. The game was supposed to be a double header but due to our lighting situation at the field they were only able to get in one full inning before they called it due to darkness. Logan was the starting picture and did quite well for the one inning that he had. The score of that big game...lol...was 0 to 0.

Popovers!

2008-03-07T20:54:00.003-07:00

For my birthday I made popovers for breakfast. The first batch popped up ok. I had just enough batter left to do 6 more and WOW! They were huge. I had forgotten that I had taken these pictures and when I saw them I just had to share as I know that they will never get that big again.

Stitch free at last!

2008-03-05T13:51:00.003-07:00

I am so excited that I finally have those awful stitches out. I still have to wear my glasses for a few more days but I can live with that. Those stitches itched so freaking bad it was driving me crazy. I am now hoping that there is not to noticeable of a scar. But hey a scar is better then the bubbles and way better then the stitches. So the Dr. was not able to guarantee that they would not come back but was able to tell me that I will have eyelashes again where they cut the cysts out...YEAH!! I just have no clue as to when they will be back. I can just say that I hope to never have to see that Dr. again. He was nice enough but that was just not fun and I hope to never have to go through it again.

Lordy, Lordy 4 Years from 40

2008-03-01T13:03:00.002-07:00

It is hard to believe that another year has passed and I am a year older and wiser...that is what I have to tell myself so I don't feel too bad...lol! I decided for my birthday this year I was going to take it way easy and have a total goof off day. So here it is after 1 pm and I am proud to say that I am still in my jammies and have been playing PS2 with my kids all morning...we will defend the galaxy and beat Darth Vader in Lego Star Wars! I did do a little work and make some popovers (or as Aiden calls them pop pies) for my birthday breakfast and at some point this afternoon I think we will attempt to make it to the bowling alley and see if mom can fall on her butt again while bowling. It is hard to believe how much my life has changed in the last 4 years and in 4 more I will be the big 40. Seems like yesterday (okay it was 20 years ago) that I was only 16 and now I have a 16 year old. CRAZY!!! Just Crazy!

Well I hope that you all have a wonderful March, it is the best month after all. Here in Idaho it appears to be coming in like a lion as it is trying real hard to snow, so Sean by the time your big day gets here at the end of the month it should be pretty nice weather.

Yellow!

2008-02-29T19:05:00.001-07:00

What's Your True Color?

My Result: Yellow

You're yellow, the color of joy and energy — two things you definitely bring to everyone around you. It's hard for anyone to be sad or lonely in your presence; your sunny disposition and cheery outlook just won't allow it. The warmth of your personality shines through in the kindness you show friends and family (and strangers, too). Always ready with a lighthearted joke or heartfelt compliment, you know how to make people feel good about themselves, so they can't get enough of you. Yellow is a warm and inviting color for a warm and inviting person — you!

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=colorogt&c=50652

Farahlyn had this test on her blog so I thought I would take it too. What do you think? Am I a yellow??

My bright red eyeliner....

2008-02-29T18:32:00.003-07:00

So today was my first day back to work and everyone had to comment on my nice red eyeliner...only it isn't eyeliner. My eye from the surgery on Tuesday has bruised and I have this nice red streak that runs right along my top eyelid where your eyeliner would go. I have some pictures that really don't do it justice but thought I would still share them with you.

I am so ready for the stitches to come out so that I can rub my eye and wear my contacts again. And there is also the fact that I cannot wear any eye makeup on that eye so that means none on the other eye, unless I want to look really special....oh wait maybe I will try it you never know I may get a man with that look...lol!

Logan's Pref 08

2008-02-28T15:06:00.005-07:00

Thought I would just stick Logan's pref pictures on here. The dance was on February 9th and as you can see he went with a very large group of people. I am not sure who everyone is so I will have to update that later.

Logan's date is Emma Sagers. She is a cute girl and I had to laugh when he told me that she had asked him because from kindergarten till I think 4th grade they were always in the same class.

Cyst free!!

2008-02-27T03:23:00.003-07:00

I finally had those 3 little cysts that were in the corner of my right eye lid removed. I now have wonderful stitches, have to put up with wearing my glasses for a week and a nice swollen eye for the effort.

I keep telling people that Logan hit me because I told him he couldn't do something but after their look of shock I start to laugh and have to tell them the uneventful truth. The truth being that I almost chickened out in getting it done. I show up for my appointment at 11 am and the Dr's office lobby is full. So after sitting there for 40 minutes the girl finally comes and gets me and we go back to a room where I inform her that I seriously thought about leaving...hahaha! So I then get to sit in the chair of pain (this is what I am going to think of it every time I go have my eyes looked at from now on) for another 15-20 minutes before the Dr comes in. Well when we finally get started I sit back and close my eyes because I so do not want to watch or see anything sharp coming close to my eye. The doc informs me that he will be giving me some little shots to get the area numb. Little prick here and there and then he pries my eye open and I see the wonderful needle across my eye and he is injecting the stuff into the corner of my eye lid....OMG!!! OUCH!!!! Made me almost lose my breath! OKAY! The worst is over I am all numbed (felt like your lips do when you come out of the dentist only in my eye) and now I have to listen to the sound of the little scissors cutting away pieces of my eye lid & then there was the wonderful searing sound of what...I have not a clue...ever he was using I think to help w/the bleeding. Really was wishing I would have taken one of the kids IPODS with me. But hey it is now over and I am thinking why didn't I do it years ago when there was only 1 cyst and would not have been so bad. Note to self DO NOT PUT OFF THINGS LIKE THIS! Easier said then done I am sure.

Indy's back May 22nd

2008-02-18T07:18:00.003-07:00

Okay I maybe crazy but I cannot wait to see this new Indiana Jones movie. I still watch the other 3, now I just need to find them on DVD.

Church ball

2008-02-12T09:06:00.000-07:00

Logan just finished up with the first round of church ball. He was the only boy from our ward that played so they put him with another ward in the stake. Their team was undefeated until the very last game that decided who took 1st and 2nd and the Spanish branch beat them in a very close game. So enjoy the slide show of Logan playing church ball. He is #33 and has the shaggy hair do. Here ya go....

Weather/Blog

2008-02-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

I have been so bad about keeping up with the blog. It just seems that time gets away from you and then POW! the month is over and we are almost 1/2 way through the next one. Work has kept me busy with all the snow storms that moved through. I personally was very greatful that a) most people finally learned that they cannot go as they can on dry roads and b) that the interstate was closed as long as it was. There were lots of upset people sitting at the rest area just into Idaho from Utah. I cannot believe that some of them sat there for over 12 hours waiting for the road to open without turning around and going around through Pocatello, but hey were they were sitting it was 'sunny and the snow was melting off the trucks'! Didn't matter that about 10 miles down the road there were whiteout condidtions and big huge drifts in the road. I had one trucker call on 911 and ask when we were going to be bring them food as they had been there are long as they have. Told him, 'First of all you need to turn around and go back' he then asked, 'Where am I suppost to go?' 'Back to Utah and you can go around through Pocatello'. Hello people use your brains! I know I sound harsh but after call after call of this for 10 hours it got old. That and where they were stopped at was not even in my county but because of this nice mountain we get the calls and not the county that they are in. Okay enough of that.

We have also been passing the wonderful crud back and forth and 'knock on wood' have finally stopped doing that. It seemed like there for about 3 weeks one of us was sick. So now that the weather and sickness is no longer plagueing us I will hopefully be better at keeping you all informed as to what is going on with us here in good 'ol Burley.

President Hinckley Tribute

2008-02-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful loving man, who will be greatly missed.

OH MY SNOW!!

2008-01-31T17:13:00.000-07:00

You have just got to love winter. When it decides it is going to snow it snows. All winter long we have hardly had any snow and on Monday it started. We had a one day break on Wednesday and today it started up again worse then it has all week. It has snowed all day and the wonderful Idaho wind has been blowing. I am so not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. In fact I don't know if I will be able to get through the drift that is as high as my front bumper in the morning.

I may be calling work to have an officer come and pick me up! All I can say is that our prayers have been answered and I hope this helps with the water for the summer. Everyone drive safe and keep it slow!

New Do

2008-01-18T06:26:00.000-07:00

Okay so I finally committed & actually took the plunge...in my new choice of hair do's that is. I have been wanting something different for quite awhile and have been shopping around, so to say, for that one that I thought, "Okay that is it. I want that look". After not having bangs for over 8 years and deciding that I will layer the old mop on my head and put some fringe over the ol' face it has been quite a change. First of all my hair is so used to being pulled back that even my little bang fringe wanted to go that way. So needless to say that they like to stick pretty much straight out from my head...quite funny looking let me tell you. I also am having a very hard time with the feeling of something on my forehead. So for the last few days by late afternoon I have ended up pulling them back into a clip so they are out of the way...which also does not help in the sticking straight from the head thing. So as the days go by and I train myself to not pull them back and attempt to corral them into a look that is not too shocking to the eyes. Well here are the results of my efforts to have a more up to date do...

Sorry it is hard to tell what exactly it looks like because the pictures are so dark :)

What side do you fill up on?

2008-01-12T06:30:00.000-07:00

The following is very interesting! This is good to know especially if you happen to be driving a rental car or a borrowed car.

One would think I would have noticed the little secret on my dash that was staring me right in the face the whole time.

I didn't...and I bet you probably haven't either.

Quick question, what side of your car is your gas tank?

If you are anything like me, you probably can't remember right away.

My solution is to uncomfortably stick my head out the window, strain my neck and look.

If you don't do this in your own car, you definitely have done it in a borrowed or rental car.

Well ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to share with you my little secret so you will no longer look like Ace Ventura on your way to the gas station or put your neck at risk of discomfort or injury.

If you look at your gas gauge, you will see a small icon of a gas pump.

The handle of the gas pump will extend out on either the left or right side of the pump.

If your tank is on the left, the handle will be on the left.

If your tank is on the right, the handle will be on the right.

It is that simple!

I don't know how you feel right now but when I found out this morning I felt cheated!

Why don't the dealers share such important information with car buyers?

I don't understand why this isn't in the drivers ed manual?

I don't get why any mechanic I have ever been to or know has even thought of mentioning this to me?

The only possible explanation can be that all these people probably don't even know!

Go out and share the worlds best kept auto secret with your friends as this is information is way too important to be kept secret

NOW GO OUT AND CHECK YOUR CAR LIKE I DID!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!

2008-01-01T08:59:00.001-07:00

As I sit here and reflect on how fast the last year has gone it is just mind boggling. I swear just yesterday it was the beginning of 2007. There have been many changes in the last year especially with the kids. It always amazes me the changes that each one goes through in the span of a year.

Logan had a great time playing baseball. From when high school ball started in February to American Legion ball ending at the very end of July, somewhere crammed in the middle was also city ball, it was lots of fun at the ball park. The day after his last game he told me that he was ready to start it all over again. The boy lives and breaths baseball. Well don't think that he got much of a rest because the week after baseball finished he had a marching camp for band and then the next week football started. This was his first year playing high school ball as he had not played the last 2 years. After the first week I think he was questioning whether he had made a smart choice in playing this year as football is quite a bit more physical then baseball. All I can say is that he loved his coaches and the boys on the team and had a great season...well not a winning one but a fun one. He is now just busy with band and playing at the basketball games. That and hitting on the ladies as he tells me...teenage boys what can I say.

Elyssa also had a fun time playing ball this summer with the city. She has decided to continue dancing this year. She cut back on what classes she is taking and is not on a full competition team but seems very happy with her teacher, last year we struggled with that. She is going lyrical, jazz and hip hop all her favorites. She was really really excited that there was no ballet in the forecast for this year. She also decided to switch band instruments this year. So she gave up the clarinet and is now also playing the trumpet. She is much happier about band and will actually practice...YEAH!! She is still my sweet little girl, even though she is turning into a teenager more and more everyday. I keep telling her that she is giving me grey hairs and she needs to stop it! She laughs at that one. I am however working on how to get her to keep her room clean...a never ending process I am afraid.

Aiden is getting bigger and bigger everyday. My baby is not too much of a baby anymore. I keep telling him that he needs to stay little and he informs me that he wants to be a big boy but that he won't get any bigger then he is now. He is such a sweet little guy and I am so blessed to have him in my life and in our home. He is my sanity in this sometimes crazy life of having teenagers. With him it is still cool to hang out with mom and give her kisses and tell her that she is loved. I cherish those moments as I know they won't last forever because he will one day also be a teenager.

As for me and this last year I was called to be the Young Women’s secretary in June and have loved the calling. I just wish I could make it to more church meetings then I am able to. I am still working in dispatch and love everyday as each one brings on new calls and new stories to shake our heads about, some in a good funny way and others in a sad way. So I have also decided to make a few resolutions for this new year and I am hoping that they will all be attainable:

1~ To hug and kiss my kids everyday and let them know that I love them

2~ Be happy, think positive and just smile more

3~ Enjoy everyday and have fun

4~ Start working on my scrapbooks, instead of just buying stuff for them

5~ Start exercising and eating right

6~ To only compare me with me

7~ Attend as many church meetings as I can and pay a full tithing

8~ To get my lawn and yard back in order

Have a wonderful 2008!

Invasion of the birds

2007-12-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

I just had to post these pictures and they don't do what I saw any justice at all.

I heard this squeaking sound and got up to investigate and in my back yard there were probably 50 plus birds along the fence and on the power lines. By the time I grabbed my camera they had moved along to the neighbors yard.

All the little black dots that you see are really birds. They were about the size of a crow. I have never seen anything like it in my 11 years of living in this house. Farahlyn told me not to go outside as I was being invaded by the birds like in the old Hitchcock movie.

Christmas

2007-12-26T23:57:00.001-07:00

Christmas was so fun this year as I got to spend it with family. It has been a long time since we were with Grandma & Grandpa Robinson on Christmas morning and even longer since Farahlyn was present (I think it was before she got married and we were at home still). I am glad that Logan asked if we could go spend it with them this year. We were busy from the day that we got there until we left. Between the new National Treasure movie, which was very very good, letting the girls go ice skating, sledding, playing games and staying up way way to late it was a blast. The only thing missing was Sean & Katie and their kids. I had the chance to meet Brian's fiance Jenny and she seems very nice. Hey little bro don't blow it...lol!

The kids got spoiled by Santa and heck so did I (thanks again little Santa...wink wink). Logan got a new snowboard. Elyssa got some clothes and a PS2 game. Aiden got a new bike and loves it, he was sad that there was snow on the ground and could not go outside to ride it. So he has been riding it around the house and it is fun to watch as there is not quite enough room to turn around (as the house is so small) and he has to do at least a 5 point turn. I got a new mixer from the kids and a bunch of food storage, a purse and a new Sensy warmer and some scents from Santa.

Aiden & Grandpa playing in the snow

2007-12-26T23:47:00.000-07:00

My little snow boy had such fun playing in all the snow this past weekend. I just have to say that it was nice to have a white Christmas, even if we did have to travel for it. While we were at Grandma's house Aiden and Grandpa got into a snowball fight. It was so fun to watch them and all I can say is that Grandpa is such a good sport to act wounded when Aiden's little snowball would hit him. After their snowball fight they decided to build a snowman. Grandpa told Aiden that it had a mustache instead of a mouth. When we went to leave to go back to Farahlyn's house he was still in the backyard playing in the snow. I called and called and he would not come. I finally walked around the house to see why he was not coming and he had knocked down the snowman that they had just built a half hour before. I asked him why he did that and he told me, "I was beating it up!" Poor snow man...

FIGHT!!!!

2007-12-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

Okay so I just have to say that teenage boys and defending the honor of a girl are such a funny thing. On Friday night Logan told this 18 year old high school graduate to leave one of his friends (who is only 16) alone. I guess he has been harassing her for quite some time. Well the guy didn't like being told this apparently and took a swing at Logan. I guess me missed and Logan grabbed him and threw him to the ground. On the way down the guy did end up elbowing him in the head and Logan's face hit the pavement (I believe). I guess that is as far as the fight got before it was broke up. Logan said it lasted like 20 whole seconds. So I just have to show you his battle bruise.....

Teenagers what can I say.

Sadie Hawkins Pictures

2007-12-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

Logan finally got his pictures back from the Sadies dance that was last month. I don't know all the kids in the group picture but his date is Nikki Warrell, she is such a cutie and they have been friends for years.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

2007-12-11T06:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we got our first real snow storm of the year. I am so not looking forward to working today as I am sure once the traffic gets moving in little 'ol Burley the accidents will follow. It amazes me that people forget how to drive in the snow from year to year. But hey today is my Friday and so I just have to make it through one more day and then I get my 3 days of freedom!

So last night Aiden informed me that because it had snowed Santa Claus should be here as it is now Christmas. I had to explain that Christmas is still 2 weeks away and when Santa does come we will be at cousin Gabe's house to which he said, "Lets go to Gabe's house then." Needless to say that when I get home today we are going to make a Christmas chain so that he will be able to see just how much time is left until the big day.

Happy Holidays

2007-12-02T08:52:00.001-07:00

I just love this time of year! Everything is decorated so beautifully and the spirit of the season is getting stronger and stronger as each day comes and goes and the big day draws near. If only that spirit could be here all year round.
The kids are getting excited for Santa. Aiden and Elyssa emailed their letters yesterday, Logan who I think feels he is a little old for the whole Santa thing has promised to email his today (we will see if it happens).

This year we are not going to celebrate Christmas at home. This will be a first for us. Logan suggested we go to Grandma's house for the part of the holiday that I have them. Aiden is excited as he will get to play with cousin Gabe for many many days. Elyssa is having mixed emotions as she is excited to see everyone but really is not looking forward to the not being home for Christmas, I think she is not one that embraces change too well.

First Snow of the Season

2007-11-29T05:31:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday morning we woke up to snow for the first time this winter. Aiden was so excited that it was all I could do to get him to eat some breakfast before he was out the door and playing in the wonderful white stuff. I believe that this is his favorite time of the year as he played out in it for hours.

At first he didn't really want to have any part of coming in the house as he was busy having fun with anything he could find in the yard but I kept promising lunch and us watching a Christmas movie and I was able to finally bribe him back into the house.

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T13:51:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take a minute on this holiday and let everyone know just how much I love them and how thankful I am that you are all in my life. I wish I could be with the family today but as I don't have the kids this holiday I chose to work so that the girls that were scheduled could be with their families. That and honestly it is still hard to do the family thing when you have a family and they are not able to be there with you. So I hope that you all ate some turkey and a piece of pie for me and had a great day! LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

YAHOO!!! New Legs!!!

2007-11-10T06:52:00.000-07:00

Okay so I told Farahlyn I would get some pictures of mom while she was in the hospital. You cannot really see all the machines that she is hooked up to because of the blankets. Under both of her legs she is on these machines that move them like she is walking. She is also hooked up to so many IVs and there are these tubes coming out of a cooler that put cold water on her knees and other collection cups that the excess blood that they are pulling off of her knees goes into. These pictures are taken the day after her surgery. Her legs are still all wrapped up so I will leave the picture taking up to Farahlyn to get some good ones of her legs (ohhh to see the scars) after the bandages come off in the next few weeks. Mom is doing really good now. That third day was not a fun one and I hope that she does not have a repeat of it. Yesterday she was able to make the loop around her area of the hospital with very little help. She also told me that she saw her legs unbandaged for the first time and that is so excited at how straight they are. Heck anything is better then they were before! They were so bad!! She is also unhooked from all the IVs, the machine that was putting cold water onto her knees and the blood collection cup is also gone! They are saying that if things keep going how they are she will be home Monday or Tuesday. Way to go MOM! WE LOVE YOU!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELYSSA!!!!!

2007-11-03T08:52:00.001-06:00

Here are a few pictures of Elyssa through the years.

It is hard to believe she is 14 years old, just seems like yesterday she was coming home from the hospital. I love you sweetie!!

Playing in the leaves

2007-11-01T10:15:00.000-06:00

I just love this time of year and thought I would share some pictures of the kids enjoying it as well...

Halloween

2007-11-01T08:45:00.001-06:00

Well another night of trick-or-treating is in the books and Aiden made out like a bandit and it only took about an hour. Our ward for the first time did a trunk-or-treat, I only have to wonder why it took them so long to do one. Before we hit the ward party we took about 45 minutes and walked through the neighborhood that is right next to the church. By the end of the night his bag was over flowing with goodies. He had a great time and that is all that matters. The only bummer of the night was after Elyssa got done handing out treats from the trunk of the car she accidentally shut the car keys in the trunk and all the doors were locked. So we had to interrupt Logan's night of flirting with the girls to come and let us into the car.

Aiden went as his favorite hero...BATMAN!!!!

Elyssa as Hilary Duff....

I kept teasing her last night that she was a Hollywood diva. She said that if she had had a blond wig then she would have gone as Paris Hilton.

Elyssa's annual scary party

2007-10-28T09:19:00.000-06:00

So my baby girl is getting ready to turn 14 on the 3rd of November (where do all the years go?). For the last 3 years she has had a Birthday/Halloween party the weekend before both of these events. This years is the first year that I have heard scream after scream coming from the basement...guess the movies were better this year then the last 2...lol! Logan and some of his friends even got in on the fun and scared them so bad they came running up the stairs for safety. I am not sure how much sleep they got Friday night but they all looked very tired on Saturday morning....

Aiden's pumpkins

2007-10-28T09:04:00.000-06:00

I have lived in this house for over 11 years and this is the first time that a squirrel has ever helped us carve our pumpkins. I was only able to get a picture of the damage after it was done. Although I have attempted to get one of the squirrel while he is actually eating the seeds and all you can see is his tail sticking out of the pumpkin, but I am beginning to think that he is camera shy. By the time I am able to grab the camera he is long gone.

Aiden thinks what the little thing has done to his pumpkins is quite funny. In fact the day that we discovered the damage the brazen little thing got a seed and then came and sat on the front steps and ate it while Aiden was watching out the screen door. He just stared into the house while Aiden thought it was so cool that a squirrel was eating his pumpkin on the front porch. I am excited about the whole thing because this little animal is working on gutting it and taking all the gross work out of pumpkin carving for me. Yes it has limited what we can do as far as the design, but hey I think I can live with that.

So when I came home from work today I was finally able to get a picture of the pumpkin eating squirrel.

Jazz in the Park

2007-10-17T10:08:00.000-06:00

I was going through some files on the computer and found this, it is from the annual Jazz in the park back in May. Logan is in the back row playing his trumpet. This is one talent that I am so glad he has. There are times looking back that I wish I would have developed a musical talent. Logan started playing the trumpet in 6th grade and for the next 4 years, along with learning the trumpet, also learned how to play percussion, valve trombone, baritone (which he still plays in concert band) and last year for graduation the sax. He plays the trumpet for marching band and jazz band but says the instrument he sounds best on is the baritone. I have to apologize for the grainy feed, I had the video camera set on the wrong thing, but it still sounds good. You will have to turn off my music player to hear it (sorry).
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