Tuesday, June 30, 2009

California

The beautiful sunset on our way home to AZ


Sharon, Joon and sweet Jada


The clan plus the clan!


My family.. Mathew, Jacoby, Sholann and of course an extra one.. Jada

My Big boy Jacoby
Making sure Sholann stayed in the water!

Jacoby introducing Sho to the Ocean..

Then running out leaving her screaming..

Mathew and I took Jacoby and Sholann to San Diego to Sea World..... The foster children went to Respite.................. We were not dragging 3 little ones around! Sholann was a pain as she didn't like this and didn't like that.. Could not go on the rides so one of us had to stay off. She HATED the ocean totally!!! What were we thinking...???
OH we were thinking that since this past year had been somewhat rough, we would go as out own little family to create memories for our children, Heaven forbid Mathews cancer came back!
The weather was awesome though I must admit the humidity is NOT for me.. Give me this dry heat anyday... Sea world was great and the rides especially Journey to Atlantis was a blast!!!!!
Apart from the one time Jacoby and I got stuck on it for 1/2 hr when it broke down!!! lol lol
We loved Shamu and the otter and sea lion shows etc etc.. One night we sat in the soak zone and YES we got soaked to the bone!!! FUN!! The things we do for our kids..
Sholann cried! Jacoby loved it...... Our kids are very different...
We took the kids to the beach on the last day and Jacoby introduced his sister to the Ocean..

Ummmmmmmmmm... she hated it... Complained that the water had salt in it.. hee hee hee
Jacoby being the brat of a brother decided that after taking Sho into the ocean ..... running out and leaving her there was a cause for laughter.. It was kind of funny.. Mean but funny..
We met with our friends, Sharon and Joon and their beautiful daughter Jada before we came home.. It was a perfect end to our vacation..
The journey to and from CA was great.. no mishaps and no being held up at the border.. Needless to say I did NOT speak for fear they keep me.... I did have my greencard with me though!!!!
All in all, a wonderful trip that I think we ALL so needed and deserved....
Thanks to our Respite families for taking care of our 4 children who sadly got left behind!!!

Roll on next summer.. Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

and life goes on.......

RYAN's 9th birthday
The Turcott boys
Uncle Rusty, Aunt Connie cousin Alisha and our gang..
My 9 yr old blue eyed boy!!
Sholann had FOUR shots today at her 4 yr check up and
did NOT cry.. She got 2 stars for her chart!!
The pool kids...

My handsome healthy looking hubby Mathew..
Things could have been so very different this year but thanks to chemo and meds he is in remission.... Way to go Babe!!



Daddy pretended to TRIP into the pool to get a laugh out of the kids.. NOT!!
They should stood there in disbelief... hee hee hee
This past week as much the same as last.. Nothing grandeur happening but RYAN did have a wonderful vacation with his brother and foster parents who were sweet enough to take him..
We celebrated his 9th b'day on Sunday with his cousin and Aunt and Uncle.. The Turcotts came over also... We have thoroughly enjoyed having Ryan in our lives these past 6 months as he is such a positive child and upbeat.. Always willing to do anything for you.. My blue eyed boy!!!
Jacoby hit his 60 star mark which allowed him to choose a restaurant of his choice to go to with just Mommy and Daddy!!!! His choice was The Golden Corral...... apart from the many obese children and adults there the food was scrummy and he devoured several goodies.. A little at a time because I cannot stand to see piled high plates of food!!!
It was so nice to have one on one with our Son .. We even paid for Sholann to go to daycare for the day so we could just be with him alone..
The other 2 kids Ryan and Brianna are closing in on getting their choice of restaurant to go to.. and share one on one with Mommy and Daddy..

The star CHORE chart has really helped as there has been hardly any whining at all about doing their chores.. GREAT!!!!

We took the children to Brimhall last Saturday to swim and it was wonderful as there were hardly any people there.. So glad we went and we all had a very fun time... Sholann and Christopher are learning to swim.. YEA!!! Savannah just hangs out in the zero entrance part kicking at the water and pretending to be a shark!!!
I am loving the summer break as it gives us opportunities to have some fun and spend time together..
We wish you all a very fun and safe summer...

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

weekly update

My clan
I am REALLY slacking here!!! Sorry... Mind you, no news is good news..!

School is out and there is swimming, summer school, daycare, sleepovers and tomorrow

RYAN goes to DISNEYLAND.. his brother Max's foster parents asked if they could take him with them.. How could I say no?? He's all packed and ready to go..

The funny thing was I asked him if he wanted to go to Disneyland with Max and his new foster parents...... His reply was "yeah ok"... Um if someone asked me if I wanted to go I'd be running around shouting with glee.. lol lol.. He told me he was scared he might get lost there.. It feels weird having him leave without us.. afterall he IS MY SON!!! foster or not I will worry about him until he comes home safe!

Have a fandazziduzzi time Ryan...

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Gratitude..

How often do we think about WHAT WE HAVE?...
Today, I was thinking about this past year and all it brought into our lives.. Did it build me up or knock me down? I would not change this past year apart from losing people close to me yet remembering how GRATEFUL I am to still have Mathew here with us..
We play pool and go shopping together. We take time out to just be US sometimes by watching a movie while the kids are in bed.. Silly things that just bring us closer together..
We have wonderful family and friends.. We have the Gospel and callings... OH actually Mathew needs a calling now he is well.. HELLO BISHOPRIC!!!! lol lol
Our neighborhood is fantastic along with our school that the children love attending..
Food on our plates and beds to sleep in.. We are trying to teach our children that when they say their Prayers to make them full of gratitude rather than asking for this and asking for that..
These are troubled times but we can feel safe no matter what so long as we are prepared and doing all that we should be doing.. There should be no fear..

Enough said...... Mathew is on a "one on one" with Jacoby getting free root beer floats from Sonic.
THANK YOU Sonic.. see......... another thing to be grateful for... lol

Monday, June 1, 2009

Great meeting with my Scouts!!








We had a day camp with the Webelos (10 yr olds) and we had a blast.. This is perhaps one of the most fun callings to have..
We made our Profile scrapbooks, soap, string art, firelighters and clay models...
7 boys and alot of fun.. Rebecca who is my co-aide is amazing and "so with it".. Makes teaching these cub scouts a joyous job!