There are things and then there are THINGS!

So, in the last month, there have been doings. Many, many doings. And goings on... (note: I wrote this June 6th or something and forgot to post it, sorry...a newer post will be coming along soon).

Todd came home from Texas on May 1st. We were so excited to have him back! We still are, actually....

In addition to his coming home, he brought with him some great news. He has landed an IMA (full time reservist) job at Hill AFB with the A-10 Depot (A-10 SPO) working to make sure that each and every A-10 in the entire Air Force fleet (that's about 390 jets folks!) are uniform in terms of their software, navigation, displays, GPS, etc, etc. This is a really big job and a great opportunity. He only has the job funded for the next 120 days (think early October) but it looks like days will be added and added as funds come available following this fiscal year until he's either a permanent military addition or a permanent civilian addition. How proud I am of him to know what his calling is in life, to feel so guided and blessed in what he does, and to be so committed and happy while he does it. If has been said, to follow your bliss...Todd does best when he follows his. I got to spend about an hour with four-star general Hoffman's (commander of Air Force Materiel Command) wife a few weeks ago talking about what things are "really" like for those of us in the lower levels of the Air Force. While I'm not sure she'll get to do much about any of it, I'm impressed at her willingness to listen and to do what she can. It is women who support their families and communities and who work hard to turn their "position" as the spouse of a leader into leaders in their own right who I admire. I know that if the world were full of such bravery, it would be a safer and cleaner place. Where do you get to own your leadership?

The boys are right smack in the middle of baseball season. Todd and I are coaching their teams with the much needed assistance of my Dad Bruce. Todd took on Jackson's t-ball team and has a great time yelling, "Run, no, that way! Now, stop!" and "Catch it, okay don't all jump on it! Now, throw it to first base. No, that way!" every Tuesday and Thursday.

I have to admit, Jackson is pretty bored with it. He's ready for coach pitch and is biding his time until next year. My dad and I have resumed our dream team coaching staff as we work to coach Jeffrey's 3rd grade machine pitch team. We have so much fun working on teaching these boys "the fundamentals" of America's Favorite Pasttime. Honestly, they don't really know much. There are a few boys who have obviously spent some time "having a catch" with Dad but, for the most part, they are babes in the woods. What we teach them will be long remembered and, heck, we're winning most of the time. So, I can't really think of a better way to spend this early summer. Jeffrey is loving baseball (now that he understands it and knows how to "be a hero"). Baseball ends in two weeks and we will have a VERY short break before football kicks off at the end of July. We're going to enjoy our weekday evenings and our weekends until then.

I got spoiled rotten on Mother's Day and feel so blessed to have such an appreciative husband and gaggle of children. The biggest presents were the boys...who've come in succession, 1999, 2003, and 2008. I am truly rich in love always. Todd's birthday was May 22nd and we video gamed, enjoyed the kids' field day at school, had breakfast and lunch out, and enjoyed X Men Origins: Wolverine, that evening. Todd always gets some awesome movie for his birthday. How cool is Hollywood to him?

Todd went to their first "Father - Son Campout" with the ward on May 13th at City of Rocks in Idaho. They had so much fun hanging out with all the awesome dads and kids (of all ages) of our ward. We live and worship with an awesome crew of people and I'm so grateful Todd and the boys feel at home with them and enjoy spending time with them. They created forever memories and I'm so grateful that Todd is a Dad who is not only willing but excited to create such experiences for his boys. The neighbors boys caught a passel of lizards and instilled them around the neighborhood when they got home. I hope they aren't too out of sorts in our garden. I hope they can stay away from the cats as they settle in...

We managed, shortly after my last post, to find a forever home for our foster dog Roxy. We now have "Louie" who is looking for a forever home. He's had a rough time of it. He's been a little abused and is afraid of the mischief he often finds himself in the middle of. He's happy to have other dog friends who respect him and a home full of people with love and soft hands...he'd be even happier in a home where he would be king of the hill. Louie struggles with seasonal allergies and is 10 years old. But he's a young 10 and loves to play fetch. If you can think of anyone who might want a good buddy...send them my way. Louie is a great dog and is ready for his home. We want to help as many dogs as we can, and we can only help one at a time...so the sooner we find Louie the perfect home, the sooner we can help another dog who is waiting to be out of the rescue kennel and into our warm environment.

The boys' last day of school was May 29th this year. They are home now. We have to get out once in a while and enjoy summer. If only this rain would stop...

Now, those are all of the "things" that I mentioned at the beginning of my post, ...now for the THING that happened this past month...

Lily Mei Solomon was born on May 11th at 7:03 pm and weighed in at 7 pounds 9 ounces (same as our Logan) and 19 inches long. What a beautiful and delicate face she has with a head full of sweet black hair. Lily came into the world to such a happy pair of caregivers in her mom and dad, Jeff and Jen. Jeff and Jen are smitten and will forever be changed. It is so much fun to see them fall into this role that they are so prepared for. I know that they sometimes doubt whether they are up to the task, but they are great! I watch them and am so impressed at their wisdom, patience, and intuition. They make it look easy! Jen was such a trouper during delivery and Jeff was a great coach. We got to see her shortly after her birth and she just hollered and hollered as everyone fawned over her sweetness. Once I saw her fingers and toes I knew she just HAD to be a combination of these people. With Jen's delicately beautiful face and Jeff's long LONG fingers and toes...her parenthood is obvious. I try to see her once a week (at least) and to be there to spell when I can. Anytime I get around her is precious and I am so happy for Jeff and Jen, they truly deserve such a miracle.

We spent last weekend at Hill AFB's air show enjoying the Air Force, it's accomplishments, it's mission, and it's prowess and I know that Todd and I got to revisit our own "new to the Air Force" awe as we watched our boys goggle from underneath the wing of a C-5 as the dogfighter planes flew overhead. We had so much fun reacquainting ourselves with what we've known and loved for years and, can I just say, it's nice to be back in the fold. I'm sure we have many adventures ahead and I'll have to make sure we keep you posted. Have a great summer and stay tuned, I'm sure there will be adventures galore!

Much love to you all!

Saffron goes to Rainbow Bridge and Babysteals.com comes through to save the day (again).

This gets it’s own post for several reasons. One of the biggest March events was the loss of our sweet dog Saffron. Now, while it seems like I’m teeing you up for a super sad post and a whole lot of grief, hang in there for one of the sweetest things that has happened to me this year. It seems that when we lose things that we love, we manage to be surrounded with some of the sweetest things that life has to offer in the face of our loss.

Mid-March, our 9 year old Golden Retriever Saffron was looking at 3 months of fighting sores on her skin that just weren’t healing. I was realizing that the “beginning of the end” had arrived and that I needed to watch her closely. I was afraid, but I’m not 100% sure, that her chronic hystiocytes had become cancerous and thus would not heal. However, she was still happy, still eating, and still, ultimately, Saffy. We decided that we would just take things one day at a time and that we would enjoy every minute we had with her until we knew it was time to let her go. After about a week and a half, Saffron started to avoid eating. She snorted and snuffled and wasn’t breathing easily through her nose anymore. Mouth breathing isn’t really an option for dogs. You probably think dogs mouth-breathe because they pant, but they don’t. For dogs, panting isn’t breathing, it’s air conditioning. We knew she wasn’t doing well. I tried a new round of antibiotics and beefed up her steroids but it wasn’t helping. We knew we needed to ready to let her go and then, she tanked in two days. Todd and I looked up and realized it was time. We made the decision and she was gone in 2 hours. It was so fast. While we’d been building up to it for a week and even, if you consider her illness, 7 years, it was very sudden. All of our plans went on hold. Everything got dropped.
Those of you who know me well know that the loss of one of my dogs feels the way I imagine it would feel to lose a child. I don’t mean to diminish the pain of losing of a child. I can’t even imagine losing one of mine. I don’t know what to say to explain, I can’t really, except that it is losing a member of the family. I love my dogs SO MUCH. They are so important to me. Saffron had been a member of our family since 3 months before we had Jeffrey! She was a long-timer. We would miss her dearly. However, I have told myself, life goes on. But I was having a hard time getting my crap together. I couldn’t seem to remember the errands I had to run. People who wanted to buy eggs were put off and forgotten, family was ignored, I wasn’t sleeping.

Meanwhile, my dear brother Jeff and sister in-law Jen are expecting their first and long-awaited baby girl on May 15th. This baby is to be celebrated after a long and painful infertility period of 6+ years and then successful invitro fertilization treatment last August. In my excitement to celebrate her arrival, I was preparing for her shower by making her burp cloths and hooded towels. I also found the cutest blanket sleeper on my friend, Jana’s website, which is babysteals.com. Jana and I went to high school together. I am so proud of what she has created! I didn’t really find it until about 6 months ago when I reconnected with her and, until recently, haven’t really seen anything that I NEEDED to “steal”. However, with the impending birth of this baby girl Solomon, her haute parents with their impeccable taste, and my love of blanket sleepers, babysteals.com saved the day! I was able to “steal” the cutest pink and brown polka dotted blanket sleeper (regularly $40 or something, only $13.50 on babysteals.com) to add to my homemade gifts for the April 4th shower.

I had managed to keep my “steal” even more criminally inexpensive by opting for “pick up”, thus avoiding shipping and being able to set up the opportunity to see, if not Jana, then her husband (also a high school friend) Eric by going by his office to pick up my adorable blanket sleeper gift. I had set it up with them via Facebook and was set to pick it up on March 25th, a Wednesday.

As it worked out, that was the day we had to put our Saffy dog down. I couldn’t do it. I didn’t even remember I was supposed to. The shower was quickly approaching; I didn’t have time to screw around. I couldn’t imagine not having that blanket sleeper but I also couldn’t seem to get myself together for another trip to Salt Lake before the shower.

The evening of March 25th, we got home from our trip to let go of Saffron and cried and cried. We fed the kids, put them to bed, and I settled down in front of the computer to check my email and my Facebook. Distraction computerized. I mentioned, in my status on Facebook, that I had put my dog down and, almost immediately, received so many loving thoughts and condolences from friends and family. I guess more people know about my “animal ways” than I had previously thought. I was so comforted.

One such message was from Eric Francis, my friend Jana’s husband. Jana of “Babysteals Mom” fame. Eric mentioned that he wondered where I was; he was going to message me to ask and, when he got online, he saw that I had put my dog down earlier in the day. He mentioned that he and Jana have a Golden Retriever like my Saffy and that he couldn’t imagine how sad he and his family would be if they had to say goodbye to their family pal. He mentioned what a good playmate their dog is and how their kids love him so much. I was tearing up all over again. Eric said that he knew we must be so sad and so overwhelmed. He said that he and Jana decided that I didn’t need to bother coming to get my blanket sleeper. That the least they could do to support me was to send it to me, free of charge, and that they hoped that it would help a little at such a sad time. I was so touched! How thoughtful that these, my friends from high school that I had connected with sporadically off and on, and had been so ingenious as to devise a business that brings beautiful quality baby items to needy moms worldwide at a “steal”, would remember our roots and reach out to me and make an effort that, while not very business-wise, was very heart-wise and would help me and my family at such a sad time. It may seem small, but it isn’t. It made all the difference and managed to extract even more tears.

I got my blanket sleeper two days later and opened it up to find the cutest item EVER! I wrapped it up with my homemade hooded towels and burp cloths and took it to the shower. It was a hit! In fact, my SIL Jen was telling me just last night that she thinks it will be a great thing for the baby to ride home from the hospital in. Not too much, not too little for spring weather, just right! Among the other things people did for us in our grief were to send lots of loving messages and phone calls, a bouquet of a dozen colorful roses, and some handmade frames for the boys to put her picture in so that they will always remember her.

I picked up Saffy's ashes a few days ago. The tears flowed again so freely as I thought about how we’ve missed her spirit these past weeks and how it is amazing that her once bouncy and beautifully red body fit into such a small box. We will never forget her. In her memory, we now open her “spot” in the family to foster golden retrievers who are looking to be adopted through Utah’s Companion Golden Retriever Rescue. A week after sending Saffron over “Rainbow Bridge” we took in “Roxy” who is a 10 year old Golden with more spunk than most puppies have. She is learning rules, getting lots of love, and waiting for her forever family. When we find a home for her, we will take in another, and another, always filling Saffron’s “spot” with compassion, love, and patience for a dog who didn’t have the family that Saffron got to have until we are able to find one who does.
I am so grateful for the Francis’ love and compassion to help me get my “steal” on time for the shower despite the sadness I was experiencing. I realize that it really doesn’t seem like much but it is something I will always remember. I also find that I am more eager to learn about the daily steal now. Maybe in hopes of being able to give back to them by supporting their business while keeping the babies in my life outfitted and supplied with the best items available to steal on the web every day at 9:00 am MST. Check it out, http://www.babysteals.com/

Happy birthday Babysteals.com and thanks to Eric and Jana for being great, compassionate, and understanding friends at such a sad time in our lives. May your Golden Retriever have lots of years left to romp with the kids and shed in your home.

Parenthood, gardening, and schtuff...

Hello Everyone! It's been forever and that's so unforgivable. I've been super busy. Too much to say or do in one post, yet an attempt at an update is warranted.

Todd's been in Texas for almost all of April. He comes home this Friday, May 1st, and I think his plane lands at 11:30 pm or something. Slumber party in the car! I better make sure we're stocked up on Spongebob movies and juice for Jack. Todd's been doing some training for his new job with the Air Force Reserves as the Operations Officer for the 419th AMXS here on Hill AFB. I think if we lined up all the training Todd has had for jobs with the Air Force, it would be taller than 18 semi trucks stacked on top of each other. He's worth millions to them at this point. I would think...

Being a single mom isn't all it's cracked up to be. I have no idea how "they" do it! I truly deliver my respect. I have thought a little bit about this and I know that, to some degree, it's about bucking up, not giving up, taking things one day at a time, and realizing that failure is not an option. I've definitely been applying all of those principals this last month. Even when I wanted to cry "UNCLE!" because yard work was inevitable, I made it happen. I also think my kids have "two parent syndrome". This is a good syndrome to have. Don't get me wrong. They deserve to have "two parent syndrome". I'm grateful I could give it to them. "Two parent syndrome" is a syndrome that is derived from a child having an "intact family" where they can take for granted that all things adult (and even some things not) will always be handled by one parent or the other at any given time. This is because both parents are regularly on the spot and have their "personal" stuff handled to the degree that they are "on top of" the family as a unit. Now, just because a family is "intact" doesn't mean that their children will end up with this syndrome. I think it only happens when both parents are actively involved with the children, the household, and all other family dynamics on a regular basis. Who knows? Maybe my kids have an especially "severe" case because their dad has been around a lot more than the average dad this past year plus? It's just a theory people. Ultimately, my point is, that my children do not behave like the children of a single parent. My children are a little bit "spoiled" because they just spend most of their time being kids. They don't worry about helping unless they are asked to. Unless something has become drilled into them as a habit (i.e. my kids make their beds every morning right after breakfast because they've been hounded so much about it, it has become routine) they don't think to help or assist unless they are asked. If you combine this with my ridiculous lack of talent in asking for assistance you have one wiped out mom and three confused and helpless kids. So, what we've been working on this month is helping them learn to be aware of their environment. I've been working with Jeff to realize when something "extra" needs to happen. He's learning to look up and realize that the baby needs juice or the dogs need to eat and I can't be expected to ask him to handle it because I don't know about it or because I'm otherwise occupied. I think that children of single parents are a bit more independent. They tend to realize that their one parent can only do so much at one time and so they either develop extreme patience (not a trait of my kids) or they develop the ability to take care of themselves (to a degree). As I said, it's just a theory. But I realize that if we were this way (sans Todd) for the long term, my kids would get to shift. They would get immediate occupational therapy for their "two parent syndrome" and they would become more mobile, more self-starter-y, more independent. The thought, while comforting, is also terrifying. Anyone who knows Jeffrey knows that he would be hell on wheels were he more independent.

Other activities this past month plus are that Logan has developed, along with the ability to run and climb, an extensive vocabulary. He's now saying the following: "mommy", "daddy", "monkey", "dog", "Jack", "Je-ree", "kitty", "more", "yum yum", "bird", "horse", "bye bye", "night night", says "gook!" for drink and food, and makes monkey and kitty noises. He's also giving kisses with a "smack!" and blowing kisses when he says bye bye. He's wonderful! What can I say? His "Crazy Larry" hair is back and I need to cut it. I'll get around to it before Todd comes home. Maybe this afternoon?
Jeffrey tested in the top 10 percent in the NATION in Social Studies on the IOWA test. What a smart cookie! I'm so proud of him. He's unstoppable. Jackson just got an award for reading 200 books this year at school(and we've still got a month of school left). He's one of the top 3 readers in his class and we're so proud of how hard he's worked to learn and grow this year in Kindergarten. It seems that, considering their performance at school, my method of less television and video games is working. Hmmm, good to know.

My yard is rockin'. As soon as Todd's insurance settlement comes in, I can complete the project and finish the easement and rubber mulching but it's nearly there! I planted 250+ bulbs last fall and they are coming up so cute! My cherry trees are rocking and so beautiful with their flowers. The Forsythia are gorgeous this year and my flowering crabapple tree popped blooms this morning. My perennial garden is going to be amazing this year because everything is mature now. The little Killdeer family is back this spring, making their nest in my burm and raising their brood. I love them so much! I am loving all of it! It reminds me how much God loves us. If He didn't, we wouldn't have such rocking biology!

Easter was short and sweet. We participated in the Easter Egg hunt at Hooper Park. It started at 9:00 am and ended at 9:05 am. Jeff and Jack got tons of loot, of course. Logan was hilarious. He took off to "hunt" and just sort of wandered around. At some point, after passing many pieces ofcandy and a few colored eggs, he found "it" because he stooped down and picked up a tiny green tootsie roll fruit roll. He dropped his basket and took off. It was if that is what he had been searching for his whole life. At that point, the hunt was over. He did, later, pick up a small leaf and put that in his basket. He didn't "need" anything else. What a man.

Todd's parents came up for a few days and we had lots of fun with them. They took the boys golfing and spoiled us with some dinners out and "Monsters Versus Aliens". It was very helpful and a lot of fun! I am grateful for their support.

This next week will be my last as a "single" mom for a while. I'm glad. I'm tired. While we've all survived, there is no reason to believe that we need to continue to do it and I'm certainly clear on the reason for the Lord's plan with regard to family. I love Todd. I am grateful he is such a great husband and father and I wouldn't trade him. Not for the single life and not for anyone else. He's mine, I'll keep him. I am grateful for the work he has with the Air Force. I know he loves it and that he feels like he's completing some of his purpose by being able to serve our country. I am grateful for the income and the stability the Air Force provides. I am willing to pay the price of being an occasional single mom so that we can have those things. I just don't want to do it anymore RIGHT NOW. Give me a few months to get my feet back under me again, then we'll talk.

I love you all and hope you're well!
HUGS.

Winter Doldrums...or not.

Hello, hello everyone.  While it's been more than a week, it is less than two and so I'm not perfect, but I'm getting better (go ahead, think Monty Python, that was my intention).  There just hasn't been a whole lot going on this past week and a half.  I guess that isn't completely true.  Just not much picture-worthy, not much exciting, not much astounding.  We've been living along though, and with life, has come growth, experience, and something new every day.

Last week was a busy one.  Todd was working, working, working.  Over the weekend (prior to Valentine's weekend), he was full-time Captain Hardy at work with the 419th Maintenance Squadron here on Hill AFB.  The base was having a readiness exercise and it's a lot of work when you're martialing active duty guys around who work with their equipment and status every day of the work week.  Imagine, preparing guys to deploy to war when they only think about the military 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year!  While I'm sure that these guys and gals would be great in an active theater...getting them there is another story.  They aren't used to having their equipment prepared, their records updated, or their bodys in the right place at the right time.  Todd was ready to blow a gasket every time I talked to him all weekend long.  It wasn't just the reserve troops he was struggling with either...the active duty folks were making things doubly difficult because they are used to having immediate access to all military personnel whenever they want them.  Apparently reserve folks aren't always that accessible.

All in all, he was a great leader and got things done.  However, it wasn't without some yelling, goose-stepping, and threatening.  He didn't have the nickname "Ray Liotta" in Basic Training for no reason.  In addition to his UTA work on base, Todd has been pouring, shooting, and testing body and vehicle armor for the newest Phoenix Alloys project.  They are working with two big armor contractors to land sales contracts or maybe, even limited partnerships, to work this armor.  This stuff is pretty amazing.  It's stronger (by far) and a third lighter than anything our military and/or law-enforcement personnel are using right now.  We are anxious to get it out the door and into practical use.  Not just because of the money it will bring in, but ALSO and EQUALLY important are the lives it could be saving this very day.  Keep your fingers crossed and say your prayers...this stuff is miracle stuff, I'd love to see it get out there on our real life heroes.

Todd, Jeff, and I all had the (in)famous Blue and Gold Banquet last week.  With Todd as Cub Master, me as Bear Den Leader, and Jeff, our token scout, it was a family affair.  I had no idea how much time and attention it would occupy.  Luckily, my mom and dad watched Logan and Jackson while we scurried around, decorated, and ran the thing.  We had so many big to-dos that night!  Four boys received their Arrows of Light, not to mention plenty of awards in the Bear and Wolf dens.  Thankfully, we had lots of help from the other cub scout leaders and from some parents.  At the end of the night of "Presidential Celebration and Learning", we knew a lot more about our past and current presidents, had bellies full of lasagna, garlic bread, and salad, and a bunch of happy scout families.  Can I just say I'm so glad it only happens once per year?  What an ordeal.

With Todd running around like crazy working several jobs (how many does he even have now?), I was re-living my days as a military wife/single-married mom.  Only, I never did do that job with THREE kids.  Three is hard.  A lot harder than two and vastly harder than one (not even in the same ball park).  As a friend of mine once said, "When you have three kids, you switch from man-to-man defense, to zone."  No kidding.  I have two eyes, two ears, two arms, two legs, two hands...when what I really need is NOT three but at least five of each!  These boys are all over the place all at the same time.  It has been an adventure but not one I wish I could change.  I am growing into a better mother (I hope) and have spent a lot of each night evaluating how to be a better parent.  It is going to require my growth and adaptation as our family makes this next transition with Todd gone most of the time.  One thing is for sure, Jeffrey is going to have to step up and be the oldest (and most helpful) child.  I do enjoy watching him embrace his role as biggest brother.  He is a mother hen to Logan. He follows his around way of his risk-taking and

worried about catastrophe.  He enjoys watching Logan learn new things and develop new skills but he's just certain that each risk he takes will be his last.  As a result, Logan refers to Jeff as "No No!".  That's what is always coming out of Jeff's mouth at him, "No, No Logan!"  I think it's really funny.  Jeff walks in the room after returning home from school and Logan smiles and yells, "No No!" and points at Jeff.  Snicker, snicker.  The joys of parenting abound.

As far as Logan is concerned, Jackson's name is "Jack!"  Both brothers have earned exclamation marks after their names.  That is how Logan says them.  His two big brothers, "Jack!" and "No No!"  We also have "Da!" (Dad), and "DoG!" (the dogs) who also often get told "Go!" when he says their names.  As in, "DoG!  GO!"   Shouting all the way.  He is now asking for more of any snack or drink by saying "Mmmmoe" which I think is adorable.  We have been working on that for a while in order to curb the screaming he WAS doing.  Some times he screams a little and then remembers and says, "Mmmmoe".  No exclamation.  "Mama" doesn't have an exclamation either.  I prefer to believe that is because he has tenderness in his experience of me.  Just let him have it.  Let me have it.

Logan is walking.  He doesn't walk ALL of the time, EVERYWHERE but he does really well.  He can walk several dozens of steps at a time, catch his balance, and change direction.  He has trouble when his giant head gets behind him and sends him onto his bottom.  Most often, whether he walks depends on how safely he wants to get to where he's going.  He's equally fast at crawling and walking, but his walking style is pell-mell and results in occasional big crashes.  His walking, however, is becoming "more controlled" and it won't be long before crawling goes the way of the dinosaur for him.

Both Jackson and Logan were sick last week.  After fighting off a cold (colds?) for more than two weeks, we had two sleepless nights, lots of sadness, and one fed-up mom.  I took them to the doctor on Friday last week and good ol' Doc Eberhard determined that Jackson had an ear infection, a sinus infection, and a bronchial virus.  Logan had infections in BOTH ears, a sinus infection, and RSV.  Needless to say, we filled the Amoxicillin and spent Valentine's Day, President's Day, and the Sunday in between, at home.  Jackson was pathetic.  He didn't even care that he missed his first Valentine's Day party at school.  Jeff brought his Valentines home for him and he spent the weekend reading (and eating) them.  He carried a particular Spongebob Valentine around all weekend.  How cute!  He loves Spongebob.  I guess that's okay?  Spongebob is weird but oh well.  They are both much better today and Jackson is outside with Jeff as I write this making a huge snowman in the massive amounts of snow we have been getting.    Logan is currently chasing "The Girls" (Saffron and Daisy) around the living room with a lawn mower walking toy my mom gave him for his birthday yelling, "DoG!  GO!"  Oh, they love it.  Trust me.

I have a new job.  It is something that is, I am sure, an answer to a prayer.  I have often felt frustrated this past year and a half at being a stay at home mom. I think that this is partly because of the years I HAVE worked out of the home and because I am uncomfortable not contributing financially when we really could use more.  I felt particularly frustrated earlier last week and then an opportunity fell into my lap as I met a dear friend for lunch.  I will be working for a company called My Veterinary Career

doing what we call "Match Making" for veterinarians and hospitals nationwide.  I will begin by helping the company recruit hospitals for us to take under contract.  Sort of a "let us be your matchmaker" kinda gig.  I have such a passion for the veterinary industry.  I have, as most of you know, worked in that industry for a great deal of my adult life.  I worked as a technician for nearly 7 years and have many long-term relationships with veterinarians across the western US.  I also have a very special sisterhood with a veterinarian on the East Coast.  The industry, while critical to so many of us in the US, is way behind schedule and is due an upgrade.  I will be working from home about 2 hours a day, 5 days per week, and will be able to make a significant contribution to the veterinary industry as well to my own sanity and our family's financial coffers.  I am really excited!  I will finish training this week and should be hard at it by next week.  I will have to update you on my progress.  If you have questions, you can visit the website at www.myveterinarycareer.com and I would be more than happy to answer them as well!  It is such an opportunity and, as I said earlier, an answer to a recent prayer.  Wish me luck!

Well, even though I said that not much was happening, you can see that there has been a lot going on.  This week promises more growth as Todd pours more metal on Thursday, enters negotiations with Winchester about the development of "non-lead shot", and prepares for another exercise on base.  I will continue my training with My Veterinary Career and will be the best mom I can, and the boys will be boys...I'm sure they'll do something raucous.  I will be hosting a bachelorette party for my friend Andrea this weekend.  We're planning some good clean fun, I'm sure to have more pictures next week.

Love to you all!

Oh my gosh....where did the time go???

So, even though I made a commitment to post once per week...I haven't this past 6 weeks.  I have posted twice.  Not twice a week, twice in the whole last six weeks.  Dreadful me.  Bad, bad word-breaking liar.  Oh well.  I am a legend in my own mind and like to think that you all just wait on baited breath to read my blog each week anyway....but you don't all.  I have to harrass my parents just to get them to read it.  I don't really even think my Dad does.  I think he acts like it when I ask, but the genuineness isn't really there.  I've decided to stop asking him...ha ha ha.  Save myself some approval cup drainage.

To update you all, you can be assured that even though I haven't been posting, we've still been living.  We've been super, super busy kids.  After going to Nevada to attend Todd's sweet Grandma Hardy's funeral and connecting with lots of family and cousins, we came back to the routine that is our lives.  A routine with lots of kinks, additions, snags, and surprises.  Over the course of the last 6 weeks, several things have been going on.  To list them they are:

• Todd's attendance, with my Dad, at the "2009 Annual Shot Show" in Orlando, Florida for Phoenix Alloys.
• The celebration parade for the University of Utah's Football team, fans, and undefeated season/2009 Sugar Bowl win.
• Logan's 1st Birthday!  Yay Lo lo Bear!
• Jeff earning his Wolf badge in Cubscouts.
• Jackson becoming a kick butt reader.
• Saffron getting so sick she might die and then miraculously (with antibiotics) perking up and becoming a pain in the butt again.
• The chickens producing a million eggs.

There are so many other things that have happened.  So many details I am leaving out.  I hate to do it.  I brings me pain to list just those above life events in such a blithe way.  As if they are ho- hum, as if they don't warrant a blog each, as if they aren't monumental in one way or another.  All of them are SO monumental.  If I did do much more than list, this blog would be 9 miles long, if not longer.  I will say a few short things.

At the Shot Show, Todd and my Dad got some great interest and leads in their alloys.  They came home with renewed faith and vigor.  They have a new project they are working on with

excitement, partly because of great interest on the part of First Choice Armor and partly because they both feel passionately about it.  They are developing (have developed?) an armor (for use on body and vehicle) that is lighter and stronger than the stuff our law enforcement and military members are using now.  It could mean everything in so many ways.  GO GUYS!

The celebration for the U football teams was so fun!  13-0 and Sugar Bowl Champs.  We couldn't wish for more.  The boys and I went to the parade and pep rally in downtown Salt Lake with my Mom, Jeff, and Jen and had such a great time!  Go Utes!

Logan was so fun on his birthday!  I swear he knew it was a special day for all of us because we got to re-live his birth and celebrate his life.  He was happy all day long (even when he was tired).  We took him to a toddler soft play land at the mall, rode some quarter rides, gave him real chicken (not baby food) and ice cream.  That night we had a small family party with dinner and cake and boy did he love his cake!  He was so much fun.  He still plays with his birthday toys more than any others and enjoys his new skills.  He'll be

walking in a matter of days and often stands alone for long periods without sitting down.  He has taken up to 6 steps before falling.  He now has 8 teeth and is always looking for ways to escape out of the play area we have created called "The Arena" by Todd and the boys.  Go Lo-Lo!

Jeff earned his Wolf badge for scouts this month.  We are so proud of him!  Just in time to turn 9 and go into Bears.  He worked really hard on it and earned it honestly.  He loves scouts and with parents who have callings in scouts, even if he didn't love it, he'd get to do it regularly.  I am so glad he does like it though.  Scouts is very important.  It teaches valuable skills and lessons, and is critical in the endeavor to raise our sons

to be contributing human beings.  I love it, love it.  Go Jeffrey!

The lights have come on for Jackson.  He can read like nobody's business all of the sudden.  Blending sounds, remembering what

 sound each letter makes, and combining words to make up sentences that he understands, are all skills he wields every day.  I am so proud of him and his success.  He is quite proud of himself.  He was getting frustrated but he soldiered on and is glad he did.  Go Jackie!

Saffron, who suffers from a chronic and congenital skin disorder that results in massive and multiple hives all over her body, is starting to head down hill...unfortunately I don't know how long we've got her.

To make a long story short, she is on several medications to try to control her symptoms.  She used to go into remission but doesn't seem to be able to do that

anymore.  She is coming up on 10 years old this summer and so she has had a long and good life with us.  However, I don't know that we'll see her 10th birthday.  She gets sores now that don't heal well due to her medications and she often gets infections.  I give her antibiotics but that won't last forever.  She became quite ill this week, she wasn't able to eat or anything.  I thought we might lose her but she rebounded with another round of antibiotics.  We bought some more time and she is happy again.  As long as she is happy, I will keep her around but if she gets depressed for too long and I'm unable to revive her, we'll have to send her to Rainbow Bridge.  That's the bad news about our pets....rarely do they outlive us.  That's one reason we have a parrot.  With a 70-80 year lifespan, he may make it beyond our years.  I don't know that I like that he's yelling "Grandpa Bird!" at the top of his crop right now, but oh well.  The rest of the animal farm is great and is scratchin' around with fervor.

The chickens, while bound in their wire coop/yard, are at it.  They are so self-important it cracks me up.  I can't get enough of it.  I watch them strut around and cackle and they just think that the world revolves around them.  Maybe they have something.  Maybe they are secretly geniuses and can solve the world's problems but no one will give them a chance?  NO...that's not the case.  I'll tell you a secret...they are the STUPIDEST animals on the place.  That's why

they think they are so great....they have NO idea.  Now that the days are getting longer, they are starting to lay eggs again with regularity.  With 12 hens, we are getting 5-9 eggs every single day.  That's a lot of eggs.  What happens when it's summer and they are all laying?  Please buy eggs people...I promise you'll love them.  They are yummy!

So that's 6 weeks in a (relatively) short post.  I will post again next week.  The hard part is getting back in the grind.  I'm there now...so you can count on me.  Ah, I'll probably just be here by myself.  Reading and laughing at what I write.  Getting a bigger kick out of it than anyone.  I'll make Todd read it....but that's enough for me...I guess.

Love to you all!

2009, What's New!?!

Happy New Year everyone!  I knew I wouldn't be blogging during the holidays.  Too much going on to take the time to sit and do it, along with everything else.  I don't even really have a lot of time today, but I thought I would squeeze in a quick note about our holidays, along with some new pics, so that I don't have this nagging at me.

The Monday before Christmas, we took our family's annual trip to Temple Square to see the lights.  What a beautiful adventure this always is.  The children really enjoy the festivity and they are also always keen to talk about the Savior's birth.  I am happy we have this tradition and that we are blessed to live so close to Church headquarters so that we can do it every year.  My camera didn't have a memory card in it so I wasn't able to get pictures for you all.  I guess that means we take some next year.  I really am such a dork.

Christmas was wonderful!  We had my parents, sister Denise and her family, and brother Jeff and his wife Jen for Christmas Eve dinner and we had a great time opening presents, eating Honeybaked ham, and reflecting on the year together.  There were some really funny moments of note.  Denise's boy Roman, who is 7 weeks older than Logan, is just getting good at walking.  Logan is getting good at cruising.  So, while Roman struggled to walk around, Logan struggled to use Roman as an object to cruise on.  Sort of a mobile cruising device, if you will.  Watching the two of them struggle to remain upright and balance each other was a lot like watching a couple of Navy guys on shore leave coming out of a bar at the end of the night.  "Hey!  Hold me up man!"  "I am holding you up, hold me up!"  It was pretty funny.  Very cute too.  I hope my little analogy doesn't turn into a reality for those two, they are close in age and I am afraid that they could end up being partners in crime down the road a few years.  Logan, of course, was fascinated with wrapping paper.  He spent most of his present unwrapping time playing with the wrapping...

After Denise's family went home to see what the Elves brought them in jammies, my mom and dad, Jeff, and Jen, and the rest of Me Hardys found Elf gifts in our beds!

 After opening them to find a haul of awesome pajama wear, the boys bathed and showered and went off to bed and we stayed up a while playing Texas Hold 'Em and watching Jeff kick our butts.  Jeff and Jen stayed over Christmas Eve and we woke up early Christmas morning (the older boys were up at 5:00 am but we made them wait until 7:15 am) to fresh snow and Santa's haul!  Grandpa Bruce and Grandma Dorothy joined us for the festival of present opening and "passing out" because the gifts were so good.

They moved on to Denise's to witness her present festival around 9:30 am and we cooked a big breakfast and spent the rest of the day playing with new gifts, reorganizing old toys, cleaning up wrapping paper, and contemplating the Savior's birth.  

I love our family traditions because each Christmas Eve night we watch a short video on the Nativity and read the passages in Luke that describe the circumstances of Jesus' humble birth.  What a story!  To think that the greatest human being to ever live, and our personal Savior was born, like we are, to a woman, in a stable and slept in a manger of straw.  I'm sure it wasn't hay, hay is much too scratchy...unless it was grass hay, then maybe.  Anyway, somehow, for me to consider His birth in such a way causes me to feel hopeful that maybe I may be able to be more like Him.  Such a time of hope Christmas is.

After Crazy Christmas, we settled in for the 3 day preparation for Jeff's 9th birthday.  I can't believe my child is 9 years old.  He's super tall too.  He's up to my shoulders these days.  How in the heck did that happen?  Jeff lost the opportunity to have a big friend-invite birthday due to some behavior issues at home and school but we had lots of fun anyway.  Todd's parents (Nana and Papa, Lorna and Rick) came up to visit just for Jeff's birthday and what a great time we had!  After Jeff went scrambling around opening his multiple gifts (and "passed out" some more due to their fabulousness), we had a big breakfast at home and then went to Fat Cats for pizza, bowling, and arcade gaming.  Jeff went crazy.  I bowled the game of my life.

It was a good birthday for both of us.  Jackson is quite the bowler too...who knew?  Logan doesn't do so well.  Actually, he kind of sucks.  After a while we took off his bowling shoes and took the ball away and occupied him with other pursuits.  I'm kidding...Logan didn't bowl.  The afternoon of Jeff's birthday involved going to Barnes and Noble and picking out some new books (he reads at a 6th grade level) and going to dinner at Tepanyaki.  He loved it!  We had a great time.  My parents were there, Todd's parents were there, and there were the Me Hardys.  It was so much fun!  A more apt celebration for a special 9 year old boy was never had.  We love our Jeffrey and are so grateful for him.  I am sure, after his birthday celebration, there is no doubt of that.

We took another quick trip to see the Zoo Lights at Utah's Hogle Zoo on December 30th.  We went with Nana and Papa.  We all had a great time seeing the animals in fresh snow and marveling at the great job the zoo does making this event one we are definitely going to add to our yearly holiday traditions.  Rick and Lorna had recently been to San Diego Zoo and, if you've been you know that it is the BEST ZOO EVER, but I think Hogle Zoo impressed them with the Zoo Lights.  Way to go our little zoo!  In addition to this event, Logan got his first hair cut, and his first "being mobile" war wound.  You can see both here...our poor little carpet-rashed baby!  He's gonna be walking in days.  I am terrified!

New Year's Eve was spent at a party with our neighborhood plus at our dear friends' Brad and Stacey Jackson's home across the street.  We had so much fun eating grilled Bratwurst and Chicken and playing Texas Hold 'Em.  It was a lot of fun to ring in the New Year with neat friends and their abundant children.  At midnight, we set off some of Brad's impressive collection of illegal fireworks.  We brought 2009 in with a BANG!  It was funny to note that my horses are all completely conditioned to the fireworks now.  Living across the street from Brad has made the well-prepared for hunting, bombing, strafing, and general war use.  What a bonus!  I don't think any of them even opened an eye to see what the noise was about.

As we moved into the New Year, our beloved University of Utah Utes beat Alabama (yes, ALABAMA!) 31-17 in the 2009 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on January 2nd.  This means that they end their season 13-0, undefeated, and some of those games were against super tough teams.  We are so proud of our Utah Utes and await the verdict...will they get the #1 ranking they deserve, being as they are the ONLY undefeated team in the nation?  It's not likely, but it may, at least, cause the "powers that be" to reflect upon whether the current system for Championship College Football is working...I can only hope.  It was a great game and I love my Alma Mater!  One last note, Utah governor John Huntsman Jr. declared January 5th Utah Utes Day here in Utah.  How cool is that?  BYU doesn't have a day...  GO UTES!

Today, as I sit and relay the highlights of the last two weeks and our holiday and birthday celebrations, I have one last bit of not so good news.  Todd lost his Grandma Mary Lou Hardy this morning.  She has already been fighting off several different ailments over the past year and has been gradually deteriorating in her health.  It has been hard to watch such a strong, independent, and vibrant woman struggle with the ravages of time.  The day before Christmas Eve she suffered a fall when visiting Todd's aunt and had a serious head injury as a result.  Since she was in Salt Lake when she fell, we were able to see her regularly through out the holiday weeks as she struggled with her injuries and existing conditions.  Unfortunately, her health was poor enough and her injuries severe enough that she wasn't able to fight off a serious lung infection and ultimately passed with pneumonia.  We are so sad to see her go.  She will be greatly missed!  It is times like these that I am so grateful that we have the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that we know our families can be together forever.  I have no idea how people get through these times without that knowledge.  We will  be attending her funeral in Alamo, Nevada sometime within the next week.  I ask that you consider Todd and his family in your prayers and that you all remember to enjoy your loved ones while they are here for when they are gone, they will be missed!

Well, that's it!  I hope you are all having a wonderful New Year!  I hope you enjoyed Utah Utes Day and that you realize what a great team they are and that you just go ahead and join the fan club!  My New Year's Commitment this year is to get myself back in shape.  I am physically stressed with post-baby weight (and then some), too much worrying, and yummy (yet not so good) food.  I commit to get my body back to healthy and liveable and I challenge you to take on growth yourselves in this new opportunity 2009.   May you all be blessed with health and abundance this year!  Much love to you all!!