To Virginia and back

I spent the best week in a long time (I think since staying with Kates boys) just relaxing and having fun. I first rode the shuttle from Pocatello to SLC and was just a bit nervous because we were supposed to get to Salt Lake at 3:30 and it was 4:20 when we finally got there and my flight was at 4:50. All because the driver waited for over a half hour for a guy to show up for the shuttle. I got to the gate just as the last call for boarding but then we sat in the plane for about 45 minutes before we actually took off. I flew to Virginia which is about a 3 and 1/2 hour flight which I love. I had a book and because the flight wasn't full I had a whole row to myself right behind first class so there was more leg room. I got to Virginia at about 11:15 but by the time we actually got off the plane and I got my luggage it was midnight so about 12:30 when we got to Kellies. We stayed up and talked until 2:00 and then decided to keep Brendan home from school and go to a park that Kellie knew of that is past the temple so that we could come back and see the temple as it appears in front of you as you are going down the freeway.

There was a great climbing wall at the park that Andie was determined she was going to climb. She would get to the top but wouldn't go over and let Kellie help her. We then went for ice cream and found this great carousel so took the kids for a ride

We then headed back home in time to avoid the 5:00 traffic and all of a sudden the temple is right in front. John was right and it is awesome to see. It would be great to see at night

It was a very fun day just playing with the kids and visiting. We stayed up and watched the "Cutting Edge 2" movie and I can tell you to not waste your time with it.

Friday morning we got all packed up and ready to go to Williamsburg. I am so thankful for mapquest that tells us exactly how to get places. It took us about 4 hours to drive down there with a nice break for a picnic lunch. When we got to Williamsburg we went to the visitors center but decided it was too much walking with 3 kids and too expensive for our time frame. We went and drove around the town and saw some of the buildings and then just ended up in the modern part of town where we waited for Shawn. There is no place better than a bookstore to wait for someone and Kells was lucky enough to find a copy of Celia Garth which she wants to do for a book group. We then went to Chili's for dinner (with a minor stop to get Brendan a cheeseburger from Wendy's). Then on to the hotel where we got the kids set up in their pillow pit for bed. We had a nice big suite with two double beds and also a couch but they wanted to sleep on the floor. We played "Bang" with the kids before bed and then after getting them into their beds Shawn and Kellie left. I can't stay in a hotel room without watching tv so found some trading spaces to watch but fell asleep before I saw how they finished up.Saturday I got the kids up(or rather they got me up) and after getting ready we went for our continental breakfast which the kids really seemed to enjoy. There were two old ladies there who were getting such a kick out of Andie as she chattered away. Shawn got there before long and we took the kids to a park to play while we waited for time for him to take the kids to lunch where they were meeting Kellie. There was a merry go round of sorts that Shawn got going very fast and the kids loved.

To be continued...

A new back or same back no problems.

After seeing the chiropractor for several appointments both in Rexburg and Pocatello my back is finally feeling good. I even went to a place while I was in Salt Lake and used their Migun massage bed which also seemed to help. I went to the chiro in Rexburg on Thursday the 3rd and felt completely normal again. Of course then I helped Kimber and the kids with a very big moving project and was a bit sore after that but still not bad. I saw the chiro in Pocatello on the 9th just before I flew to Kells so my back was in great shape when I got there. I found that walking all the places we did didn't hurt my back but standing really did. The day we went to D.C. to the Archives was the hardest day because we took about an hour reading all the documents. It is so good to feel normal again and not hurt all the time. I am going to keep up with appointments on a more regular basis and not let it get so bad. Life is much better when you don't hurt.

This has been a very busy month. I was able to be there when Hyrum was born on March 23 which was such a beautiful experience. I know Kimber doesn't think it went fast enough but it sure seemed to me that it did. He came so fast and is so darn adorable. I loved the whole atmosphere of a home birth. Rilda is such a kindred spirit and just brings a calming influence with her. She has such a love and admiration for Kimber and it all came through in her taking care of Kim and the baby.

I was also able to go to Salt Lake and spend a few days with Kara, James and Max the next week. Kara is a natural mother and Max is so adorable. I loved seeing James being a daddy. He even told Kara she was a sloppy swaddler because they taught him how to do it in the hospital and he is very good at it. Max is such a calm baby but coming from such calm parents what else could he be.

Getting the Tag done

Kellie tagged me but I have been having too much fun with new grandsons to do it but I have a few minutes before work with nothing much to do-haha.



A. Post The Rules (Are there any??)

B. Answer the Questions about yourself

C. After posting, tag 5 people by going to their blog and leaving a comment.



1. What were you doing 10 years ago?? Ten years ago I still had 4 kids at home which is probably the biggest change to now. I was working on the Bookmobile which I loved.

2. 5 Things on my To-Do List Today...-

Get well check-done

Send invoice on things I sold(had to go to the Post office to learn shipping amount--done
Renew books-done
Call Dr. office about insurance-they are gone to lunch
Work--at 2:00

3. What snacks I enjoy....jicama, whoppers, hot tamales and licorice.

4. What would I do if I were to suddenly be a Billionaire?
Get all of my kids and families together at a resort where we could all play, spend time visiting, be together and apart.
Buy a new house,
pay off everyones mortgage
Travel, travel travel--even more than I do now.

5. 3 Bad Habits...
I am the worlds worst or best procrastinator
I don't make phone calls when I should which sometimes makes for messes.
I hate to go to bed. It is such a waste of time.

6. 5 Places I've lived
Monticello, Utah
Logan, Utah
Wellsville, Utah
Lewiston, Utah
Arimo, Idaho

7. 5 Jobs I've had..
Telephone Operator
Secretary
Bookmobile
Vista Volunteer
Cashier
Incredible Mom to incredible kids

8. 5 Things People don't Know About Me...-

Kellie must have gotten her dislike of vaccuuming from me. I would rather mop floors.

I have had some interesting surgeries.

I had a four year full tuition scholarship that I kept for 4 years--Two quarters short of finishing college. Biggest regret of my life.

I helped start and danced in the original Foreign Dance club at Utah State University.

Everyone on my blog list has already been tagged so I can't tag anyone. My life is so limited-sigh.

Last weeks lesson

Our lesson last week in our class was on Faith. We talked about the four levels of faith. Every level has the same components. They are a desire, action and then knowledge and we all have trials in each level. We start out with a feeling or desire to know something or gain a testimony of a principle and then as we take action we gain the knowledge. The first level is that of the investigator. Then comes conversion and testimony followed by Power Faith which is doing Gods will such as Nephi building the ship even though he had never done anything like it before . It is know ing what God wants done and doing it. This level is where we should really try to be each day as we work towards the fourth level which is Calling and election. It is hard to convey the feelings and the spirit I feel in each of these classes in just giving a synopsis of the lesson. This class always gives me such a boost.

Grandpa Jemmett

Grandpa Jemmett died this morning. He has been in a care facility and finally just wore out. He had made his wishes very clear as to not having a funeral but just a "celebration of his life". They are just having a get together where anyone who wants to can tell a story about Grandpa. Please send me any memories you might have of him. He was the best kind of neighbor anyone could want. I am sorry that I didn't make more effort to visit him but when I did he was so understanding. He always ask about you kids especially the older ones down to Kellie. I guess we were more neighborly when you guys were younger. He always told wonderful stories.

Another catch-up post

Korben crawling through the baby chair.
Korben's very favorite pasttime. He loves this "piggie" book
At the kiddie park which both of the boys loved. I even went down the black slide.
Just before leaving for the airport.
Landon eating breakfast.

After reading Kate's blog about the cruise I can tell you that while she got to have that kind of fun I got to bond with some wonderful little boys. While it was a whole "going back in time"week and I am so glad I had my kids while I was young, I am grateful that I got the opportunity to spend that time with the boys. They were such good boys the whole week. We had a few moments of unhappiness but for the most part it was just a positive time for me. I so remember looking forward to naptime and nighttime when all the kids would be in bed so there was some "me" time. Kate and Mike have such a good tv/movie set-up that I spend nearly every evening catching up on the tv shows I have missed or don't get at home and watched some movies. It was fun to have Landon there for the four days and get to know him as well. The time I had the three of them when Autumn was gone and before James got there was a deja vu moment because they are just the same distant apart as my first three kids and I looked at having a two year old, one year old and four month old and I must have been crazy. Of course I was much younger then. I especially loved disposable diapers and wonder how I managed without. Count your blessings.

I also got to spend some time with Joyce Call and even though we didn't do anything fantastic we always have a good time visiting. We did go to Claimjumpers for lunch which was wonderful. Thanks to Jessica for watching the boys so I could have the time out.

Since getting home I have just tried to catch up on laundry(while Jared does his own laundry Dad obviously has too many clothes because he hadn't washed while I was gone and still had things in his closet to wear), work, talk to my kids, go to the chiropractor and do the "time and talents" thing.(Relief society). Our German exchange student go here Wed. night but I haven't seen much of him. They were gone when I got home from work and he is still asleep now. Thank heavens he didn't bring chocolate. He brought a lot of gummie things which I am okay without. I have now lost 17 pounds and want to keep going which with German chocolate in the house is very hard to do.

Some very exciting news!!!! With our tax refund we were able to pay off one more of the medical bills. Woot Woot!!! I love seeing the debt get paid off. I know that those things keep coming up but it sure felt good to pay off that one.