Ty's Halloween Program

Ty had his Halloween program today. All of the AM Kindergarten classes performed "What is Halloween?" It included group speaking and singing of Halloween songs. It was really cute and I was smiling the whole time.

One Kindergarten teacher accompanied the children. She was the Tooth Fairy. You can't see it here, but she has coins tied to her front and a molar in between her wings in the back.

Ty was so funny. Most of the songs he didn't know. . .but he was having fun. Rashad is the singer: belting out anything from Primary Songs, Hymns, Hiphop or 80's music. So funny. Ty is more quiet and docile. Preferring instead to observe and listen.

I love this video. I hope you do too!

School Festivities October 27th

The boys and I decided to brave the 30 degree weather and attend the parade of Halloween for grades 1-6 at Sage Creek. I'm so glad that I took to the time to put my children in SWEATS. There were seriously children freezing their hind ends off in short sleeve and light fabrics. Move from California to Utah much?!

Rashad's preschool teachers. Dorothy even brought her CUTE little Yorkie puppie!

Rosalie's teacher.

Ty's Kindergarten teacher with her PM class. AM didn't get to join in. :(

Darth Vader choosing his next victims. . .

I personally liked the Christmas present and the Cereal Killer.

Ty and Rashad waited patiently in the snow flurries to catch a glimpse of their sister in the Halloween Parade at the school that they ALL attend. Shaddy's in AM preschool, Ty AM Kindergarten and Rosalie is in 2nd grade.

Rashad was so happy we went back for his helmet. It made him very proud to be Dark Helmet!

Ty was more than a little miffed that the kids in the parade all shouted to Darth, but some ignored him. His feelers were kindda hurt.

He was so happy that the older kids were "afraid" of him, that he would chase the kids in the parade, and giggle like a little girl.

I personally blame Rosalie for the weather. . .after all. . .she is Storm from X men.

Rose was in hog heaven. . .when she walked into her classroom after Mom helped her change, all of a sudden she was very popular with the boys and girls alike in her classroom. The smile says it all. You can tell when she knows she's beautiful.

Springville Utah Fall Leaves

On Friday our yard was full of beautiful orange colored leaves from our maple tree. Darin had been fantasizing about raking for about a week, but wanted to wait until the maple was further along in the shedding process. It was about1/3 done at this point.

I thought, why don't I clean it up and surprise Darin at how helpful the boys and I can be with the outside chores. Ty and Rashad were great help! The boys loved raking and working, they couldn't wait until Dad saw how much they had accomplished.

I raked with my right hand, as my left wrist was out of commission. It was tricky to maneuver the rake, but it was a beautifully chilly day and the sun was shining. It was awesome! In about 20 minutes we had all of the leaves in our front lawn raked up. Time to play!

The boys took turns jumping into the large pile and completely disappearing. Ty begged that I let him go change into his swim suit to make it even more fun. When that idea failed, he asked if he could take his socks and shoes off. It was about 50 degrees, heck no!

When Rosalie came home she helped me scoop the leaves into pumpkin bags I had purchased at Sunroc here in Springville. It took about 10 scoops of the snow shovel to fill a bag. She too was so excited and willing to help.

My children are awesome, and if I have enough patience and time to teach them, they will help with any chore. They love it!

Rosalie's Baptism

Our good friends Bambi and Chad and their two children Tennis and Penelope.

Our good friend and neighbor Jeanine Thurman with husband and kids Hannah and Kate.

Rosalie wore Marissa's dress that Marissa was baptized in in August.

Princess Rosalie Sariah

Mindy took pictures and sang with Teresa and Mom "I Believe in Christ"

The new (and old) Dixon Family

Princess Rosalie Sariah

We were so appreciative to those who made the baptism a priority. Grammy and Teresa front row. Gines' and Thurman's second. Atwood's third. Morse Family and Gramma Dixon fifth. Poulsen's and Cathy Smyth sixth. Elder Quorum President Nesbit and pianist wife. And ward mission leaders and new neighbors in the back right.

Mindy took pictures of everyone while I helped Rosalie change so that we could remember those who made it in love and support. Ron Thurman second row with daughter's and wife.

Daddy and Princess Rosalie Sariah.

We experienced such an outpouring of love and support from our close family and friends during this exciting time in our lives. Thank you to everyone who believed in us and our children, and thank you Bishop Nelson for laboring into the night and morning to make sure that our records were received and that the baptism and sealing could take place.

It's official!

The adoption went fantastically! I will write more about it later, but I wanted to take the opportunity to post some pictures. We head to Rosalie's baptism in about an hour and 20 minutes. The day was perfect and everyone involved was so loving and supportive. . .thank you!

Adoption

This time tomorrow this blog will be singing with pictures of my "legal" children. Anyone who reads this blog is welcome to attend the adoption at Matheson Courthouse, 450 South State Street, SLC. The adoption will take place at 9am.

We will then be meeting at Golden Corral in Orem off of University Parkway right after adoption & pictures before making preparations for Rosalie's baptism tomorrow night at 7pm in the LDS chapel behind Brookside Elementary and right by Kolob Park.

We will be sealed together for time and all eternity in the Provo Utah Temple @ 11:30am Wednesday October 14th.

More pictures and celebrations will be listed and posted!

Tooth Fairy

Ty lost his first tooth yesterday! He mentioned to me a few days ago that one of his teeth were loose. I encouraged his to wiggle it often. I have some proud pictures of Ty and his tooth, but won't post them for another two weeks. Hurry up adoption!

Last night Darin and I were painting our master bedroom, and I completely forgot about the Tooth Fairy! This morning, Ty lost his tooth (again), it fell out of the tiny plastic Rubbermaid it was in. I told Tyriq I would try to find it while he was at school. I did, to my eternal relief.

I picked up Ty from Kindergarten and told him that I found his beloved tooth. I asked him if the Tooth Fairy came last night. I asked if he had put the container under his pillow. Thank goodness, he didn't. Easy explanation for me!

It's one of those "mother milestones" that reminds me I'm on the right path, and I love my existence as a beloved wife and mother!

True Love, some thoughts. . .

It's the truest friend that sticks by you and loves you when no one else will. In your darkest moment when everyone has turned against you, it's the ones that still love you despite your faults, that are the truest of friends. I'm very blessed to have those truest friends in my life. I wouldn't get through it without them!

Our New Home, a few finished areas!

What a dream come true! I absolutely love our new home!

Now is such a good time for us to make this investment. And a great time for anyone to make this investment. In answer to questions regarding how Darin and I, of all people, are able to afford such a thing, I'm inclined to produce my answer: we worked our butts off.

I took on a second job (my first job being a full-time mom), Darin led the war against our debt (mostly credit card) for the better part of a year and a half, and we stocked as much money as we could spare into savings for down payment and closing costs.

We did without Gap and Old Navy clothes for ourselves and our children, shopping instead for $1 items at Wal-Mart and Deseret Industries. I tried very hard not to go into Bath and Body Works or The Body Shop and buy more lotion and soap that we didn't need.

It took discipline and it took doing without. It was especially difficult for me, being the selfish shopper that I am.

We didn't take vacations that were planned. . .staying instead in Utah and camping for free or cheap. We stopped going to movies that weren't at the dollar theater in Provo. We didn't make trips out of state unless it included some kind of a major event ie. death, marriage, birth, harvest ect. . .

So you get the picture. We didn't make a foolish decision and get into something that we can't afford now, or won't be able to in the future. The great thing is that all of the pieces in our life are falling in place. Our home, the adoption of our beloved children on October 13th, and recently my husband was offered a higher paying position that allows me to stay home from Wal-Mart permanently, if I chose. We've been very blessed and we are grateful for the worthier spirits in our lives that have offered up prayers to heaven begging for these things to come to pass. Thank you! We couldn't have done it without you!

Enjoy the pics of the decorated and spotless areas of our home so far. I would send more pics, but it would just be of boxes and clutter!

Sookie Stackhouse Adventures: Dead Until Dark ect. . .

After finishing the book, I've decided to withdrawal all of my previous posts. I could stomach the sensuality in the first book, however, the second book, Living Dead in Dalls, just kept building from where DUD left off.

What a disappointment.

Without the ignorant language and Rated R sensual scenes that develop in the last 1/4 of DUD and then continue to get worse in LDID, I would have advertised the Sookie Stackhouse story to no end as the perfect vamp lover tale.

Not sure why Charlaine Harris needed to include the language and smut, but whatever.

Sorry if you've already read it on my suggestion, it just gets worse though. Sorry.

Letting Go

Well Folks,

I've finally let go of all the craziness that has happened to me this past month. I'm totally ready for the future, a thing I've been cringing at for a long time, not unlike a dog that's used to smack for no reason.

But in order to really let go, here's a recap:

July 31st: Van transmission rebuild start.

August 1st: Missed ten year reunion, extremely upset and disappointed.

Later that week: Missed spending time with the Washington Kestners and Dixons b/c I wasn''t in Washington. Words don't even begin to describe the loss I felt.

August 8th: Ruined cell phone by forgetting it was in the back pocket of my board shorts when I went for a dip with Deb's and my kids in the Lazy River at Seven Peaks.

August 10th: Purse stolen out of a church parking lot as I dropped my daughter Rosalie off for a week long camp. 3 hours late to work.

August 10th: Criminal made a fraudulent purchase at a 7/11 for about $25.

August 10th: Criminal made a fraudulent deposit into our account and received $700 back in cash. Didn't find out until 15th.

August 13th: Stress at Wal-Mart. My first migraine, but not the last.

August 14th: Prepared 6 pallets of freight in one day, to be shipped to Orem Wal-Mart (average per week is about 2-3). Worked from 7am on Friday to 2am on Saturday.

August 15th: Went into our bank to change checking account due to fraud, only then finding out about the fraudulent deposit and loss of $700 cash from our account.

August 18th: Although working alone and overtime the week previous, my Wal-Mart supervisor called me at home and let me know that the Co-Manager found three mistakes in my 3 pallets of regular weekly returns and that I must come in and be trained again, for the 3rd time, from 7am to 11am. This meant my children would be placed in daycare, again.

August 18th: Called in sick to Wal-Mart with horrific migraine.

August 23rd: Almost complete emotional breakdown. . .migraine.

August 25th: Didn't close on home. . .migraine.

August 25th: Found out some disturbing and confidential issues with my family. . .migraine.

August 27th: Requested formal leave of absence from Wal-Mart.

August 28th: Didn't close on home. . .migraine.

August 29th: Bought 3 pairs of Dansko shoes for $40 through ksl.com. . .migraine wanes.

September 2nd: Formal breakdown. . .migraines continue half strength.

September 2nd: Darin and I realize our issues are out of our hands. I think Darin knew all along. I put my trust in God once more and feel little stress. I fell in love with Darin all over again for being the rock in my life, thank you God!

Hello there! I'm back! I'm happy and ready to cement my relationship with my husband and children. I've been extremely distant from them for the past month due to stress and emotional issues.

I love my family! I love my life! I am ready to make God proud of me once more. The MVP is back in the game!

Cats

Why do cats have to be such finicky snots?

I love my two beautiful kittens and adore them with all of my heart. Arwen is probably three although I'm uncertain because she was a stray that we rescued. And Sinatra (a girl going by her name before we knew she was a girl, for her blue eyes) is two. Sinatra is Arwen's daughter, by the way.

They've been my babies before I had my real babies. I must say that they adore me too. I earned their trust slowly and deliberately. I made a point to step slowly towards them, paying attention to their frightened body language and giving them their space until they trusted me to walk right up to them, millimeters from their paws and tails. Most cats as well, don't like it when you grab their paws or pet their paws. It's instinctual I'm sure, their paws being their most used defense. But again, I carefully and deliberately touch their paws and hold them in my hands until they're comfortable with me and my gentleness.

They have always avoided Darin, he's too loud and steps too quickly and unthinkingly towards their sensitive paws and tails. It is smart for these furry creatures to avoid him, because he really doesn't care if he does step on them. He believes like many, that it's a result of the cat's own fault for being in the way. However, he does get properly incensed at them when their indignant wailings scare the crap out of him.

This is my problem with my little kitties lately:

My children have lived with us for six months now, and Sinatra isn't anywhere near letting my children love on her. She sprints under our bedroom bed and won't come out until the children have been laid down for sleep. I'm not sure how she knows when it's bedtime for the kids, but immediately she will show her face.

Arwen is barely better. She wants food too much to let her hide out under the bed if she's hungry. But she allows only Rosalie to touch her and hold her, and not for long.

What's up with my cats? Will it ever get better? My children love these furry little snots, and the cats won't ease up one bit.

On one rare occasion, Rashad cornered Sinatra under our dining room table. He grinned at me and said, "Mommy! Sinatra likes me now. . .see?" I watched as he leaned over to pet Sinatra under the table and was surprised when a horrible hiss errupted from her mouth. I had to laugh a little.

My solution:

When we move into our new home this next week, we'll be adopting child friendly rabbits. One for each of the kids to manhandle and love. Animals have such a way of being a friend and supplying comfort to kids. If any kids need that, mine do with what they've been through.

My sassy little snots might just stay here when we move. . .okay, probably not.

Sympathy

After the hell they've put me through and acted like devils, it's extremely astonishing to have my beautiful babies act so wonderful the last week or so.

I've been suffering from migraines (probably due to an old neck injury and loads of stress) for the past week and a half. It's not been fun. This past week I've been completely debilitated. When I'm awake, the only relief I felt was laying down in the dark asleep or just laying down with my eyes closed.

I've had bad headaches before. . .I had a migraine associated with a sinus infection from a infected tooth about 9 years ago. I remember how Tylenol #3 didn't even touch it. But most other "head aches" I'm able to cure with caffeine or Excedrine. Not so this time.

Not having Tylenol #3 to test it out again, I suffered for a week and a half before I realized I needed to go to work and to pack the rest of the house for the move next week. I couldn't afford laying in bed in pain.

I went to my doctor's PA (I have only had good experiences with PA's - with one exception - and I personally love and admire two in my life) and he prescribed me a common migraine med that took the sharp pain away almost immediately and took the rest down to about half. Thank goodness! There is never such a wonderful feeling as when a painful feeling finally gives up the ghost.

After I was coherent enough to be a part of my kids' world again, I realized that they've been absolute angels. Angels, not demons!

They have worried about me, given me extra kisses, helped around the house, tried their hardest to be quiet and whisper (not alwasy successful - but trying none the less) and expressed to me for minutes at a time how they wish I would feel better and my head ache would go away.

My personal favorite when they remember me in mealtime and nighttime prayers. There's nothing quite like the feeling of a little 3-year-old boy with a lisp asking God to make his Mommy feel better so she can play with him and take him to Seven Peaks. It didn't matter who said the prayer, they always remembered me, and always asked that I feel better.

Rosalie has been a wonderful helper to her brothers, Ty has been surprisingly not whiny, and Rashad gives me extra massages and physical loves and encourages the rest to do the same.

I'm so blessed to have such wonderful, sympathetic children. Perhaps Heavenly Father gave me this migraine only to remind me of the sweetness and potential of my sweet, sweet children. They are truly sent to me from God and I'm eternally grateful for them.

ryansajerk.com

So, my old boss and now semi-friend took a look at my blog and came up with this doozy. I really want to stab him or bring him pain in some form, but I thought I'd publish it for kicks and giggles. Apparently I was too proud of my 17-year-old self to realize the resemblance. . .

"OK...
So it took me a while, but I finally figured it out. I knew that I had seen that classic look somewhere before, and since we've only known each other for a couple of years, I did some research.
Damn!
SPOT ON!
yep, some days I even impress myself.

may the tree that you climb, not be on fire,
Ryan"