Muddy Roads Take Me Home…

I think it’s funny that the one time that my blog has hacked, what I had written under “What Have We Gotten Ourselves Into” was erased.  We thought we were in over our heads when we added a puppy to our family, that has nothing on what we have been up to since the last time I blogged.

A quick update for those who haven’t been following along on Facebook… Erica and Eric turned out to be super allergic to the dog.  We moved into literally our dream house (5 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths, Theater Room, Huge Scrapbook Room, etc).  We were happy.  Blissfully happy.  And then Heavenly Father sent us a new unexpected plan.

I have to give our out of town summer guest partial credit at least.  He moved in with us during the summer, and his girlfriend/to be fiancee lived in Gallatin.  It was close enough for him to be able to go visit her, but far enough away that he could learn from Eric and get his business going.  Well we went out to Gallatin to meet her family and fell in love with them and Gallatin, and we felt an unbelievable feeling to move there.

We decided when we were looking that we would take a journey and step down and humble the girls a bit.  We figured perhaps we had spoiled them too much when they complained about cleaning their rooms before the housekeepers arrived and they wanted to know how much “we” paid them.  We that is, including them I suppose.  We figured it was time our girls learned what real work was.

So after cruising the Gallatin homes for sale online, we found one that fit what everyone wanted down to the greenhouse in the backyard.  After a looky loo, we knew it was the house and property meant for us for the time.  So within a month, we were packing up and moving out to the country.

It has definitely been a journey.  We inherited 2 horses, 1 dog and several cats.  Everywhere we looked, the house was yearning for some tender lovin care, and everytime we took 2 steps forward life set us back 1.  We’ve had the cows across the street trample through our gardens and 20 acres more times than I have fingers and toes.  One of the horses was escaping several times a day.  Had a close run in with coyotes.  The list goes on and on.

But with the trials and unexpected surprises, we love it here!  We love the people, we love the Branch we are in, we love that small town feeling, and I love that Erica has spent more time playing outside here than she had her entire time growing up in the city.  I love looking out the window and Jackie has taken initiative and is either mucking the stalls, clearing a pile of brush of pulling some weeds.  I love that Ally has made so many new friends and she is so involved with FFA through school.

So for the next 3 years, we’ll keep giving this home some tender loving care and then build our dream house again.  But this time on acres.  But until then we will have taught our older girls especially some life lessons that they really needed to learn.  We will hang on for the ride and know that this is the place where Heavenly Father has led us.

First, a quick recap of my last couple of great days…

Thursday was a great day.  Golf lessons and swim lessons for Erica and then I was off to lunch with friends from church.  It was so great getting to hang out with them and enjoy a great meal.  Then a quick run to the park to pick up Erica from her afternoon with Pappa, a few moments helping her to continue cleaning out her closet and then I was off to dinner with GNO church group.  We got there at 6:30 and just about closed the place done when we left at 9:30ish.  It was such a great evening.  Such a great way to get to know each other better.

Yesterday, golf and swim for Erica again.  Then later the three of us went to the driving range to hit balls.  It was then that I really realized how completely tired she was.  Poor girl fell into a pool of tears right there on the driving range, because she was having such a hard time hitting the balls.  But she wanted to be there so bad and would not let me remove her.  So Eric came in with the Daddy touch and smoothed it all over and she did pretty well.

Afterwards we met the Patillos for dinner at Red Wok, my favoritest chinese restaurant (obviously as I had been there two nights in a row for dinner).  It had been almost three weeks since I had had a chance to talk with her.  We each had been so busy with our kids since school let out, we hadn’t really had much of a chance.

But the best news of all…  The girls are home from Girls Camp.  I had missed them so much, and knew I had, but didn’t realize how much until I saw them.  Jackie went straight for the showers, but Ally has been hanging out with us since she walked in.  She smelled so good.  Like campfire.  Upon sufficiently wetting her sweatshirt with happy tears, I found out that not only had my little girl turned 13 while she was gone, (she’ll kill me if she knew I posted this) but my little girl transformed into a young woman yesterday.  She said she cried about it when she realized what had happened.  And she was especially bummed as she was about to go swimming.

Anyway, Eric and I hadn’t bought her a present yet and she was noncommittal about what she wanted.  And since I’d heard the Jonas Brothers were coming to town, I knew that was something right up her street.  So after talking about possible gifts, new bike, DSi, and Jonas Brothers (which her eyes totally lighted up at the last choice).  We hadn’t bought tickets, but I knew they were still available but didn’t want to buy them until she showed interest in really wanting to go, we threw her off by telling her we didn’t think they were available.

So after her reaction, I went online and bought them.  Not the greatest seats in the world available, but she won’t care.  She’ll just be so excited to be there.  Anyway, we’ll take her to dinner, somewhere not too nice like her favorite, Ruth’s Chris, as I know there will be a scene.  We’ll put the tickets in a card.  And hand the card to her and tell her as she can tell by our pick in restaurants is not the one she would want to go, so things are tight and this card was all we could do this week for her birthday.  She’ll look a little bummed, but she’ll put on a brave face and say that’s okay.  Then she’ll open the card, see the tickets and then there will be much happy sounds and possible jumping up and down her seats.  At least that’s how the scene preplays in my head right now. 

Seriously though, I am really excited about it and can hardly wait to see her face when she sees the tickets.  Oh! I better remember to bring my camera.  Now to figure out where we’ll take her for dinner.  Should make it one of those places where they make a big scene about birthdays. 

I almost got everything done I set out to do yesterday.  Still need to get Erica golf clubs, Jackie golf bowls and those little stick things you put in the ground (hopefully both in pink) and I didn’t get to making dinner.  And I did it all with almost keeping my sanity in tact. 

Erica has been extra, what’s the word, spunky lately.  She won’t take a no, non stop chatters (very loudly), wants everything she sees at the stores (she was my companion to both the grocery store and Target) and has become very strong willed and defiant.  So needless to say I decided after calling Eric from Target and stressing out about what on earth a stinking triangular bandage and not finding anything that sounded like that on the shelf I came home for moral support. 

She gets me so stressed out lately that she literally makes my stomach hurt.  Which kills me, because I love that little nut so much, and it really is bumming me out.  I blame it on all the years that everyone has given her her way almost every time.  Erg!  Oh well.  She’s at least spent the last seven days in a row in her very own bed at night.  I had bought a couple of toys a couple months back that were really, really clearance, but toys she would love for when she accomplished such a task.  She found them in the cupboards in the scrap room a week ago and I told her what they were for and she was psyched.  So she was so excited when she woke up this morning as Mrs Easter Potato Head was finally hers.  And even better, it wasn’t 6am that she woke up this time either!

Ah, and it’s the first full weekend of the month, which means I get to spend today and tomorrow scrapbooking!  I am so ready for it!  Not only am I needing to be with friends right now, but I am so excited to get some of my own scrapbooking done.  I’ve been getting my pictures printed lately as I’ve uploaded them to the computer.  So I’ve got pictures matched up a few layouts and hopefully if I get my act together, maybe pull some things together to do one I thought of on my very own!

So I’m off to go check out blogs, check my email, switch the laundry, run my head under water (I collapsed into bed last night with my hair still wet) and my scrapping things that I’m going to need packed up. 

As I’ve got a whole bunch of these getting to know you things that I want to fill out, I will leave you with this one today:

1. Do you like Blue cheese dressing?     LOVE it!

2.. Have you ever smoked cigarettes?   Sadly yes.  I tried them when I was in tech school in the Air Force because hey everyone else did.  Stupid, stupid, stupid.  That’s exactly what all my smoker friends told me to.  So after a couple of hours, I gave it up.

3. Do you own a gun?  Eric does, so does that mean I do as well?  Actually I would really like him to buy me my own and take me to a shooting range and let me try it out until I’m comfortable with it.  It used to scare me to have a gun in the house until Eric showed me how to use his, and now I worry about if I’d be able to remember all the steps and be able to cock it back to use it if heaven forbid I ever needed to.

4. What flavor of Kool Aid was your favorite?  Tropical Punch

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?  yes

6. What do you think of hot dogs? Prefer them grilled, if they aren’t not really excited about them.

7. Favorite Christmas movie?  Christmas Story

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?   Ah, there is nothing like the burn of a cold Diet Coke first thing in the morning.  But I really am trying to cut back on how much pop I’m drinking.  So now it’s bottled water.

9. Can you do push ups? This was Paula’s answer.  I think I like that one best, although they make them in chocolate, so I’d have to go with those!  – Sure….I prefer the orange flavored ones….. yum!  

10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?  My wedding ring.

12. Do you have A.D.D.?   I don’t believe so.

13. Do you wear glasses?   No.  But I really wanted to when I was younger.  I also thought they made people look smarter.

14. Middle name?  Marie

15.Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: 1) I really need to get off this computer and get going  2) I really need to figure out how we are going to celebrate Ally’s 13th birthday.  Her birthday will be during Girls Camp, so we are thinking we will have it the Friday after she comes home from camp.  3) Glad I’ve got the girls all packed for girls camp as I’ll not be able to do it today or tomorrow and we need to have it dropped off Sunday evening.

16. Name 2 or 3 drinks you regularly drink?  Water, Crystal Light and Diet Coke

17. Current worry? How long is this thing?

18. Current hate right now? Being ignored and being talked back to.

19. Favorite place to be?   Scrappin’ with friends!

20. How did you bring in the New Year?  Nothing major.  Here at home with the girls.

21. Where would you like to go?  On another cruise, but not now, I don’t do heat very well.

22. Name three people who will complete this: Anyone with the time

23. Do you own slippers?  Yep.  Two pairs.  And I don’t wear either.

24. What color shirt are you wearing? White

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?  no, they move around too much.

26. Can you whistle?  Yes

27. Where are you now? On my bed on my laptop.

28. Would you be a pirate?  What kind of question is that?  No.  Sea sickness, not really into being on ships that long or sailing around and stealing things.

29. What songs do you sing in the shower?  Hmmm…  You know it’s been awhile since I’ve sung in the shower.  Sometimes I find myself every once in awhile singing, “I’m Going To Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair.”  Not something I intend on doing.  Just seems like the appropriate place to sing such a thing. 

30. Favorite Girl’s Name?  Jacquelynn, Allison, Erica, Emma, Chloe, Elizabeth, Samantha… 

31. Favorite boy’s name?  Jonathon, Richard, Alex, Alan

32. What’s in your pocket right now?  No pockets

33. Last thing that made you laugh?  Something Eric said last night.  It was pretty funny, I just can’t remember what it was though.

34. What vehicle do you drive? Black Cadillac Escalade

35.  Worst injury you’ve ever had? I guess I’ve been pretty lucky in that department.  If I had to come up with one I suppose I’d say when I was about 9 or 10 we had high ovens, and I took a roast out of the oven and tipped it towards me too much as I was stepping down from a chair and spilled all over the front of me.  I still have a scar on my chest from that.

36. Do you love where you live?   Absolutely LOVE it!

37. How many TVs do you have in your house? Two.  We will probably add one more in the mix soon. 

Okay, so it’s been literally almost forever since I last posted to my blog.  I can’t even begin to come up with a decent reason in why.  Other than the fact that I’ve pretty much taken a vacation from my computer.  Oh sure, I’ve gotten on the computer here and there, but I’ve really been trying to limit how much time I’ve spent on here, as I can get sucked right into cyberworld, and then it’s hours before I realize how much time has past.

But I really am missing reading everyone’s blogs.  And blogging has been a really nice way of keeping my family updated on our daily going ons.

Here is a real quick photo recap of what has happened in the almost last three months:

We went to Nauvoo, IL over Spring Break.  It is always such a peaceful place to go to.  For those not familiar with Nauvoo, it is a really big history site for our church.  When the LDS people left Missouri, they built this amazing city out of this swampy land of nothing.  With the exception of food and lodging, everything in historic Nauvoo is free and is ran by the senior church missionaries.

Here are the girls and I with our “Prairie Diamond Rings” made from horseshoe nails in the Blacksmith’s Shop:

Here are a few pictures from Easter of each of the girls:

On Tax Day, we went downtown to the “Tea Party”.  It was quite the experience.  The first protest or rally I had ever been to, or you know I would have whipped out a pretty nifty sign myself.

Ally’s last Orchestra Concert for the school year.  Most likely her last one.  She didn’t quite care for the daily practice and such, so she didn’t sign up for it next year.

Then just a few days after was Erica’s big Spring Recital.  This was her second year.  And I was surprised to find myself crying again.  She just looked so grown up on the stage.  And the whole class was really, really good this year.

And by the week’s end, my baby graduated Pre-K.

Then two days later, the last day of school, which was Field Day.  I got lots of great pictures and lots of pictures with her friends.  But as I’m not sure how other parents would feel about their child’s picture out in cyberspace for all the world, I am really trying really hard not to post some of those great pics with her friends.

And alas, after being asked at least on a daily basis when the pool was going to open back up, Memorial Day weekend came, and we braved the very, very cold water and hit the pool.  Jackie wasn’t too thrilled with the idea, so she stayed home instead.

And I went to a Scrappy Sisters crop and I was blown away by my friend Vickie and how much she got done with pictures on it even.  So I decided to quit being so hung up on being caught up, I’m going to start taking more everyday pictures.

Now my only problem is that the older girls are less willing to dress up as princesses or go for a spontaneous photo shoot.  So I’ve got to figure out how to not have a billion more pictures of Erica than them.

So that’s been our life for the past couple of months.  With the school year ended, I now have a girl going into Kindergarten at the brand new elementary school, a 7th grader at the middle school and a Freshman going to the 2 year old high school.  It will be a crazy year next year.

But thank goodness I should be half crazy by the start of the school year with our summer schedule.  Erica will be doing dance, junior golf camp and swimming lessons.  Ally will be doing Girls camp through church and summer school.  And Jackie decided she wanted to be on the golf team next year, so her summer is filled with Girls camp through church, Golf camp, private golf lessons once a week, and golf with the team once a week.

Jackie had her first golf outing with the team this week (and mind you she has no experience) and the coach recommended she hit about 10,000 more balls.  Hmmm…  Not quite sure how to take that.  Is she beyond hope, or with practice stands a chance?  And if it is the latter, which I really hope because she really enjoyed it (in spite of getting hit on the shoulder with a stray ball, sunburned and carrying the bag of clubs through the back nine), then how many balls a day does that work out to through the summer?….