Hellooooooo Out There!

Hey-just saying "hi" to all the people who apparently read my blog! Who knew my life was worth reading about by those other than my good friends who feel obligated! ha! While out last weekend with some good friends and some casual friends (not as in they dress casually, but as in we know each other but don't make it a point to hang out together...), someone who is more of a casual friend said that she had found out I was pregnant from someone in the neighborhood (whose name I know, but who I have *never* met), who found out from a blog. Well, I'm guessing that would be my blog unless someone else is bored enough to gossip about my latest addition. I mean, I know we live in the middle of nowhere, but I'm sure there are more things to blog about than the neighborhood mom who just won't stop having kids!

So-to all those who stop by-be brave enough to say hi sometime! I know the excitement of lurking, I do plenty of it myself, but I'd love to know the real scope of just how many neighbors and acquaintances are peeking in!

Goodbye President Hinckley

I'm sure that countless blogs belonging to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be about President Hinckley in the coming days or weeks. As most of the world knows by now (ever heard of a mormon calling tree? lol), he passed away last night.

The news actually came to us from out home teachers. Bro Bolli and Bro Vanderhoef came to visit last night and after coming in and sitting down, Bro Bolli said "I don't know if you heard yet, but President Hinckley passed away about an hour ago." Being the jovial guy that he is, his face still looked happy. Since he still looked happy my first thought was "well that's not very funny. Really, it's kind of a sick joke-what is he doing??" (Sorry Reegan!) I realized within a matter of seconds that he obviously wasn't joking. I think it was just a shock more than anything. President Hinckley has just always been around, and it just kind of felt like he always would be around. I suppose the other side of the shock was that he was kind of "my" prophet. We all have favorites, or those that we feel more connected to for whatever reason. Little things always made me feel just a bit more connected with President Hinckley. I grew up with his grandkids (and President Faust's grandkids as well actually) from Kindergarten all the way through High School. My elementary school and jr high were built on land that was his family's orchard/farm that he told stories about....where he spent his summer's as a child. I grew up attending church in the stake center that he built, where he was the Stake President. When it was remodeled when I was a teenager he came back to rededicate it. He also created and dedicated the Stake in which we now live. He lived in the same building as my grandparents and attended their ward (on the rare occasion that he was in town). I remember as a kid often thinking "wow, when only __ more people die, Jessica's grandpa will be the President of the church!" I remember when President Hunter passed away and I realized that President Hinckley was next in line.....I was excited for their family. In High School we had a big seminary fireside each year and each of the three years I was there we had a member of the first presidency speak. Turns out I also went to High School with one of President Monson's grandsons. How blessed we all were, and I'm sure the majority of us teenagers took that for granted.
I guess I'm mostly rambling here now....

Anyway-last night it didn't really hit me that he was gone I guess. My first thought was that he finally gets to see his sweet wife again. He has missed her so much! He spoke of her very frequently, I can only imagine what a joyful reunion that must have been. He has lived such a wonderful and full life, and it's not like he's dying young-he was 97 1/2! : ) I very much look forward to President Monson leading the church, he is such a wonderful person. I absolutely love listening to him speak, especially listening to him telling stories. I will miss President Hinckley very much. I realized that as I drove into town today and saw the flags flying at half staff. It was then that it really sort of registered that he is gone. What an amazing legacy he has left behind.

So-in memory of dear President Hinckley, my challenge to you who may read this (and to myself of course) is to work even harder at doing the things that he asked us to do. To be better people, better neighbors. To be better examples and more kind to all of those around us. To have family home evening. To attend the temple more often. May we strive to follow his example in working each day to be more like our Savior; to be better people and do as He would have us do.

Carpet!!

Aaron thinks it looks "white trash", but whatever! We have carpet on our floors downstairs! Hallelujah! After finishing all of the walls and all of the painting, we have been anxious to start getting full use out of the basement. But with just concrete floors, it's a bit tricky. Not to mention FREEZING! We were so blessed to have been offered a roll of carpet this weekend (thank you feecycle!), and it just happened to be exactly enough to cover the basement! Well, except the hallway, but hey, beggars can't be choosers. And quite frankly, I don't spend much time living in my hallway so I'm ok with that! The person who offered us the carpet told us that it was "nearly new" but had been sitting in their garage for 5 years. Apparently they bought it for their basement, but decided not to put it there after a flood, so they just kept it stashed away in the garage. The carpet was still wrapped up with the tag! It looks perfectly new, and isn't even too dusty. ; ) While Aaron is not a fan of berber, and it's not actually installed, just cut and laid out on the floor, we could not be happier! The roughly $4000 it will cost to do the carpet we really want isn't in the budget this year, so it is such a blessing to have all of this and make the basement really functional. The kids can't get enough of it and have spent every possible minute downstairs since the carpet was thrown down. Good times!

And the very best part? The toys are now downstairs instead of in my living room, dining room and kitchen! Woo-Hoo! Now, if Aaron will just get home so we can get the TV out of the living room too.....

Are you in there little Fetus?

In nine months will you come greet us? I will buy you some Adidas....



Surprise! Yes folks, for the two or three people left on the planet who have not been within earshot of my kids over the past few days (they're a little loud!) and thus do not yet know, Lucky Seven is on the way! (debating the name Seven...anyone?)

This is from yesterday, baby is measuring exactly to date, 12weeks! Yay second trimester! Now if I can just start feeling human again. And stop scaring people at church and in he neighborhood too. Right....eventually the real me will come back, I promise.

One more picture for good measure-always my favorite one-the little hands and feet. Could it get any cuter than tiny hands and feet?!?

Just how OLD are you?

Each semester Aaron and I have the opportunity to speak for an Adult Roles class at Oly High. It started out years ago as us being a part of a panel of guests to speak on marriage. After a few years it evolved into just us coming and talking for over an hour! What a shock, huh? Well, we missed out last semester since the teacher was having some surgery and some of the things that typically get discussed in a class full of teenagers can be iffy. We weren't about to tackle "iffy" in a public school without someone who knew us well backing us up just in case. And of course, with us there is ALWAYS a just in case....

So this morning was the beloved class again. I'm sure there is nothing more fun to a group of 20 teenagers than "adult roles and responsibilities" at 7:30 in the morning. Which now that I've typed that and read it is quite profound; most adults I know don't typically enjoy having to fill their roles and responsibilities at 7:30 in the morning! : ) Actually the hardest part of this morning was the hours before 7:30. Getting 6 kids dressed and ready for the day and OUT the door by 6:30 is a bit of a challenge. Who'd have thought? Thankfully Aaron was still home to make sure everyone was sitting up and eating breakfast before he left at his usual bright and early hour of 5:45. FUN! It was definitely an early morning, staying up until midnight (WAAAAY too much fun last night!!), and getting up by 5, but hey, we'll just hit the hay a bit earlier tonight!

Thankfully we made it out the door, just 10 minutes late, with everyone looking decent, and 7 dozen cinnamon rolls. Hey-bribery is a good thing. Especially with teenagers. Especially early in the morning. And we made it to class roughly on time. 10 minutes late counts as on time, doesn't it? : )

Class was a blast as always. There were some really fun kids this year who actually had questions and comments, which is always much nicer than us just blabbing away and crickets chirping when we are waiting for any sort of response (while kids drool on their desks as they sleep). The highlight though is the age question. Someone asked how old we were in each of the two classes we had today. Before Aaron answered, he had them guess. First class, some kid guessed Aaron was 50. FIFTY! ACK! YUCK! No offense to anyone who is 50, but when they were guessing me within a year of my age and someone guessed him that old, well, like I said, yuck. "Not that there's anything wrong with that!" The second class guessed us both within a year, so that made him feel a bit better. And really, let's face it; how accurate is a 16yr old boy really going to guess? I'm quite sure he was just throwing out a number! (at least I REALLY hope so!)

So-to the "not that there's anything wrong with that" comment. Someone better know where that's from. I know at least you will Kelsey!! I said that, twice, and they all stared at me. NO idea what I was talking about. We even asked, who's watched Seinfeld? Um, not one person. I AM NOT THAT OLD YET! At one point I used the term "scamming" and again, no idea what I was talking about. Ok then. Way to make me feel old. Thank you! I AM NOT THAT OLD YET!! Although it is kind of frightening to think about the fact that I was already a teenager when most of these kids were born. yikes.

Apparently I'm getting older than I thought. It's entirely too soon for that. 30 did not feel old to me until this morning. Scary. (and just for the record, NO I'm not 30 yet! I still have 9 months of 29 left!)

Thankfully the kids were amazingly good, possibly due to the fact that they were all still half-asleep! Or at least that the oldest three got to skip school this morning to tag along with us. Nothing like being stuck in an office to watch movies while your parents discuss things with teenagers. Things they don't want you to overhear and ask about just yet!

Looking forward to next semester. And maybe we'll drag another couple along with us next time to really liven things up! ; )

Um, OK

I've decided to just not bother with trying to post dozens of entries to catch up on the past few months. I'll do Alaina's bday on her half bday (which gives me another few months to do that!), and for those who wanted to see pictures that have missed them, check Celeste's and Ashley's blogs. Oh, and Rheanna's too! www.mcmillermoments.blogspot.com, www.ashhanksfam.blogspot.com, and www.thedowfamily.blogspot.com I hope you ladies don't mind me posting the addy's, but I figured since they are linked up in our little cirlce o' blogs that they'd be ok to share here. Some killer pics from Halloween, Aaron's bday (thank you Celeste!!), and New Years too!

So-a fresh clean start for those whose lives are boring enough that you want a peek into mine! ha! I promise to keep it more up to date, especially since big news always brings reason to post more, right? ; )