This weekend

Wow what a week and weekend we had.  First off Scott was on an 8 day break and was off work from Sat the 18th until tomorrow, Sunday the 26.  That is a lot of time off.  We are still getting used to his schedule.  It has been a year now and I enjoy it, but seriously have a weeks paid vacation off every month is crazy.  We feel like we need to do lots of stuff to make up for the time he is at work, so the time can get hectic.

The Ball:

So a few months back we found out it was time for the annual Lords and Ladies ball for Our Own Quiet Way Charity.  So we got together with 3 other couples and bought some group discount tickets with Tamy and Rick and started to get ready.  I have wanted to go to this ball for the past 2 years and finally I just got the tickets and said we are going.  Scott had to work but once he saw how important it was to me he traded his shift :)  Thanks Honey!!!  So he was off for work this week and decided he wanted to make his own costume, so Tuesday night we headed to Joann and went through pattern books and found what he wanted, it was a complicated pattern and he picked a very complicated fabric to work with, but he was not dissuaded.  We borrowed my mother's sewing machine (thanks mom) and started to work.  Now everybody I am very clear on this, I did NO work on his costume.  I cannot sew, my lines are crooked and I always, always mess up the machines and I also am a horriable pattern cutter cause my lines are never perfect.  So I sat back and cleaned house and silentely watched him lay out his fabric and cut and then sew.  In 4 hours he had an entire coat made.  A gentleman's coat.  It was beautiful, and people who know how to sew can appreciate that Scott is tall and has long arms so he had to alter the entire pattern for his height and it turned out perfect.  Seriously he didn't unpick anything, the first time and teh entire thing was great.  I guess my contribution was running to JoAnn to get stuff we needed.  I posted pics below but you can see how neat he looked. 

Now for my dress, well I picked out a dress pattern, a difficult one so I am told, and found a seamstress to make it for me.  I loved it!!  It was civi-war era, reminscent of Scarlet O'Hara and I am seriously in love with it.

So we could safely say there would be no one else dressed like us at the Ball, and boy were we right.  Tamy and Rick had beautiful outfits, so did the other couples in our group, but we stood out, and that was mainly cause of Scott.  Not only was he one of the tallest there, except for the stilt walkers, BUT he was so bright and dressed up from head to toe you couldn't help but notice him.  We had a great time and the weather wasd beautiful, especially since we were outisde most the time.  We ate food, watched ballroom dancers, magicians, acrobats, belly dancers and stilt walkers, oh and there was also a couple who were ghosts who would go random places and just freeze, I have a pic of them also.  We took pics and walked around for 2 hours and then it was time for the awards and promanad.  So 2 members of the committee came up to Scott at different times and asked him about his costume, where he got it, how he chose that and so on, and he told them he made it and he was having a great time.  Next thing we know another guy comes up to us and tells us we were selected for the Most Spectacular couple at the ball.  Another couple in our group, Dave and Amy, were also selected for Most Outrageous so we had an AWESOME group to hang out with.  We then danced........I was in heaven.  I did not attend prom while in High School so this was my dance.  Scott does not like to dance, so we never have.  It was great.  It was dark, nice music and an awesome looking man.  We swayed and held each other, but no kissing, really.....look at the pics his nose is huge and he NEVER took his mask off until we left.  Oh well :(

I wish I could put into words how much fun we had.  We are already planning for next year and will deffinately be regulars at the ball.  Please enjoy some of our pics.

Life as normal

So nothing big going on here.  Scott works and works and then when he has a day off, he works more, I am grateful that he works so hard for our family but sometimes I wish he could just slow down and enjoy the moments, I am hoping and praying this time comes soon.

The kids keep us busy with football, dance and scouts.  Mason is at that wonderful age that requires preschool but I can't find a good one near my home and I do not wish to drive him all the way into town to go home to just have to go and pick him up, that is almost more work that keeping him with me.  So a few days a week he goes to his old babysitter's house on Cliffside to play with his frineds for a few hours.  It seems to keep him happy and he doesn't feel left out with the school activities.  He is my only child not able to attend Head Start cause we are over income, oh I wish he could attend it, I loved head start.

Scott has to work Friday, Saturday and Sunday then he is off for 6 days and we get to attend the ball.  I am excited, and he is excited to not work for a bit.

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the fall weather.

Today......Tears

Hi Everyone......

Well I woke up today knowing it would be a hard day.  Knowing DeLoy died today and I figured I could hold it together, but I expected today to be an emotionally charged day and it was.  I was on edge most all of the day and cried at the drop of a hat.  Actually I started crying last night in bed.  What a boob.  So got up this morning and called Jenny and she wanted to go to lunch so got it all arranged with the family "girls" for lunch.  It was nice, but Jenny and I cried when we first got there, she gave me such a sweet card, I just love her, and then we both cried as we left.  I felt bad cause the people at Olive Garden kept asking what we were celebrating and we didn't know what to say, we weren't really celebrating more than "remembering" and it was a nice time.  Grandma said we would make this our own Memorial Day and hopefully keep it up for years to come, I think that would be nice.  Then I made it home and was upset, but not really, funny thing is I was upset at things that would normally not bother me at all, but I think cause of the day I let it get to me and I cried most afternoon.  I cried to Grandma, I cried to my mom, I cried to my hubby, and my sisters via email, see big cry baby.  Then I went and got my ball gown and it is beautiful and she is just making a few alterations, but I took my new cell phone and snapped some photos to share only to find out later I can't text them, have to put them on the internet and I don't pay for that, so no way to get pics off my phone so what did I do?  I cried again.  Now I have a headache cause I cried so much.  I went up and visited DeLoy and cried more, OH then I got an personal email from Dallas and just sobbed over that.  See I cried all day, now dinner is done, my head is throbbing and my legs are sore from a long 4-wheeler ride yesterday, so hopefully I am out of tears and going to have a calm night.

No pics but a funny story...

So we have a 4-wheeler in our family.  It is our newest addition and we LOVE it.  For Mason's birthday in June he got a little 110 4-wheeler, well he is afraid of it, so the other kids ride it and it is the perfect size for them.  Everyone was having so much fun we wanted one for ourselves.  So there happened to be a firefighter who had a nasty divorce and needed to get rid of his machine so Scott traded some shifts w/o pay for the 4 wheeler.  We have had it for about a month now and are totally in love.

So....we live at the mouth of Millville Canyon and we go up that canyon all teh time cause it is close, so after chores today I took Colton and Mason up the canyon about half way, it was a beautiful warm day, and about 3/4 of the way up the canyon I felt this bumping against my back and couldn't figure out what it was then Colton told me that Mason had fallen asleep.  Sure enough, that boy of mine had fall asleep in the middle of a 4-wheeler ride on a very very bumpy road :) I was shocked.  So we woke him up cause I needed to go back down the hill and needed him to lean back cause it bugs me to have him bumping into my back, and that little stinker refused to wake up.  We went down, down, down Millville Canyon with him asleep and bumping into my back the ENTIRE way, then if we woke him up he would scream at us, silly boy.

No you are not imgaining things.

Well so I ready Kristie's post the other day and I feel the same way.  I need to blog, I need my records and this is the best way for me.  After DeLoy's death I just had a hard time doing it, then I lost my job and I didn't want to do it and had so much crappy stuff that I didn't really have anything good to write about so I didn't.  I am going to spare you my summer drama....crap....I mean life, and just pick off right now.  All the kids are in school Bowen 7th grade, Colton 4th grade, Rainee 3rd Grade and Mason in preschool.  I actually get some "alone" time now and it is lovely, turns out I somewhat like doing housework more when it is quiet and I am alone.  I am sure I will NEVER enjoy cleaning house, but it doesn't suck as much when I don't feel pressured and I can listen to whatever music and loud :)

So Grandma and Grandpa Elder are looking to buy a home in Arizona and grandma wants and Ipad to take with her to read blogs.  They play on my Ipad a lot and think they are ready for their own.  So when she told me that I also thought i needed to blog again so she has something to read and see pics of my kiddo's.

This Sunday was a nice day, but I had a bad day at church and I came home crying and sobbing like a baby with my feelings hurt and a headache and feeling crappy, so after everyone else got home and I had sterilized my bathroom Scott wanted to go for a drive up Providence Canyon.  It was nice and we made it up to the 2nd gravel pit.  Up there is a nice waterfall.  The kids and Scott climbed up but Rainee had on flip flops and could not keep up, I teased her that she kicked in her 4-wheel drive when she had to climb with all 4 while the boys could do it just on their feet, poor girl :)  So here are some pictures, I hope you can get the idea of how large this waterfall and how steep it is and the fact that Scott and the boys made it to the top, even little Mason with the help of Daddy.  Hope everyone has a great Fall :)

Update

So I know you are all wondering, so i'll tell you.....Yup, I am still unemployed.  Sucks huh?  OH well. I am still getting unemployment, and the only reason I point this out is that my employer actually challenged my unemployment.  What?  Can't believe it huh?  Me either.  I was fired, blindsided, just so that the previous bookkeeper could have her job back.  Want to know what sucks even more?  She lives in my ward.  She got me the job cause she went and bought a business, so she was too stretched out on time and couldn't do it, so she actually recommended me when I moved into this ward in Millville.  Well her business wasn't as good as she had hoped so she asked for her job back.  So now why would they even try to contest my unemployment?  Well that was the same question the judge asked and then ruled in my favor.  So guess I am unemployed and legally getting unemployment since they did a crappy thing.  Oh well. 

I have been applying all around, at least 2 contacts a week is what is required from Utah State.  Unfortunately I am, in some instances, required to apply for jobs that I am grossly overqualified for, but it's the system right?  I had 1 job interview for Cafe Ibis which would have been fun if you could get over the constant smell of roasting coffee.  I made it to the final 3 but they offered it to someone else, which was fine with me.  I do have another interview tomorrow with Specialized Pest and Lawn Care (SPCLA) for their office manager.  It is full time from March - October, and then part time in teh winter months.  I think that would be great cause then it is more time at home over the holidays.  The ironic thing is I was their assigned bookkeeper while at my accounting job, which shall remain unnamed.  So they were totally excited I applied and wanted a interview immediately.  Tomorrow at 4:00.  So I will update after that.

I have been spending the past few months (wow it didn't seem that long) since I lost my job assisting in tax preparation for Grandma and Grandpa.  I have also been doing DeLoy's taxes for him and Elder Auto and for Cody and Dallas also.  Needless to say it has been a long long project.  Grandma and Grandpa switched accounts are are now at Jones Simkins.  This has been crazy but it has been good.  We are actually addressing issues that should have been addressed 20 years ago.  It has been funny cause I have been spending so much time at Jones Simkins we joke that it's just like I worked there again.  Now there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I can't wait to call it done.  Next year won't be bad cause now we have it all set up, but what a process!!

Scott is still working away at Ogden City as a Firefighter/EMT and he LOVES it.  He may be exhausted, but he is happy.  He enjoys serving the people down there and will be there for a long long time.  Even if he had the chance I doubt he would work at Logan cause it isn't as much action as Ogden.  He is also teaching a first responders class here in Logan and volunteers on the Nibley/Millville EMS squad.  He is the only working EMT on the crew so it is very beneficial for the area we live in.

All the kids are doing great.  Rainee got baptised in January and Bowen turned 12 in February and is now a Decon and passing the Sacrament.  I still can't believe it.  They all started snowboarding this winter and LOVE it.  We are now a winter sports family.  I can almost snowboard and will continue my education next winter.

Well that is us in a nut shell.  Busy busy.  Hope you all are doing well.

Guess I needed something to blog about.....

Yes it has been a long time.  Did you miss me?  Probably not.  Well this last week has been soooooo much fun I just wanted to share.  I know this is going to be long, but hang in with me ok?

So Scott started 8 day break last Sunday.  I know 8 days, it was AWESOME.  We did "Spring" cleaning in February.  Who knew we had so much junk, i mean stuff, that needed to leave our home and find a new one via the DI?  Wow!!  Anyway we spent 3 days sorting and organizing and going back and forth to the DI, then on Thursday we went snowboarding at Beaver Mountain cause it was Bowen's 12 birthday.  I have a 12 year old, how crazy and surreal is that?  Anyways for his bday he got outfitted for snowboarding.  He got pants, a cool coat, a used snowboard from a pawn shop and used boots from the DI.  He loved it.  So Thursday we took our kids and a friend and a niece to Beaver Mountain.  What a beautiful day.  I even hired my private instructor to teach me how to snowboard.  According to Scott we paid him to hold my hand for 2 hours, but I disagree.  By the end of my 2 very tiring hours (legs are out of shape) I am able to snowboard down Little Beaver backwards (on my toe side).  Yes I said Backwards.  I am all kinds of messed up, but in a short explaination my calf muscles are stronger than my quads so I am unable to stand up facing forwards on my board when I fall down.  I am only able to get myself up without help from my toes, so that is why I snowboard backwards.  I fully plan on torturing my quads into shape for the next few weeks so when we go again for Scott's Bday (in March) I may be able to actually see where I'm going.

So Friday we recover from Thursday cause I am sore.  I fell a lot but I took a few "flyswatter" falls on my bum and bruised both my right and left cheek (TMI I know) .  So Saturday rolls around and I am SUPER excited cause this is the day we leave for Wendover. 

Back in December Tamy decided for her 30th birthday she wanted a party with her family and friends in Wendover.  So she booked rooms and set the date.  I have been looking forward to this for sometime, and saving up for it.  So our day started with packing for our 1 night trip, but since the kids were going to Grandma Kathy's we all had to pack.  Then we dropped off our kids, waved goodbye, and very happily turned up the radio and left Cache Valley.  We stopped at Maddox for lunch, can I just say YUM, cause I knew the casino food sucks, and we were throughly stuffed and sated for our long drive.  Then we stopped at Amber's to see her.  She had surgery on FRiday and she was also in possession of the gift we bought Tamy.  We filled up with gas in Layton then we're off.  It was a beautiful day and we had a blast with that time to visit and talk like grown up's are suppose to do.

So we are literally just 1-2 minutes behind Tamy and Rick, but we never caught up.  Dang BMW is faster than our Tahoe.  We go to check in together to have the hotel not find our reservations.  SO while Rick is working that out we sat and just chilled.  Finally they found them and we were off.  Our rooms were nice and ours was very very purple.  Tamy's was teal, i am not sure which one was better, LOL.  Then off to the floor to play while we waited for dinner at 7.  We went to the Nugget and signed up for the poker tournament.  THat's right you all heard me POKER TOURNAMENT.  This is what I had been looking forward to.  One small fee gets you lots of chips and hours and hours of competative poker.  But first we had to have our birthday dinner.  RIck had reservations for us and all 25 people at the cafe with Rick once again picking up the bill.  THANKS RICK.  Scott and I had to leave a little early to get to our tournament on time.  We checked in and there was 75 people and only 3 girls!~!  I was a little nervous but once I got started I was unstoppable.  I took out so many guys it was almost laughable.  I even made it to the last table.  Now Scott was trying his hardest but only made it to the 3rd table.  So I am playing and having a blast.  It took over 2 hours, but I ended up coming in 6 place.  I can't believe it 6th place!!  The bummer is they pay $$ to the first 5 places, so I was soooo close to getting some extra moola, but not quite.  So just to quote my brother-in-law Rick "I am still a looser" but it was sooooo fun loosing.

Scott and I hung around and played real poker until after 1 AM and then we hit our totally uncomfortable and lumpy beds.  I did win more and was up $100.  Here comes morning and it's breakfast with the group and then we go back to the Nugget with Tamy and Rick where Tam and I play Blackjack while Scott plays Poker until it is time for checkout at 11.  Tam was low on chips so I kept her in teh game for a while, then we both had enough to keep going.  Overall it was great.  Aside from the smoke, which made me cry the entire time, it was a great weekend.  THANKS TAMY AND RICK.  We will always remember the adult weekend.

So there, I had someting to blog about.