Employment Update

Nathan is still looking for a job.  We have several, actually, but none of them come with a salary. :) We want the kind that does.  And benefits too.  Things are looking hopeful, there has been more interest in him lately, and some big construction projects have been awarded in our area, so we'll see.  I hope it comes soon, as we are weary of the situation and battle the depression demons and insecurity more than anything.  In all of this, we still have been greatly blessed.  This round of unemployment has taught us a lot about being on the receiving end of charity.  We have found so many loving people around us and we have been humbled at their goodness. We are thankful for prayers in our behalf, money left at our home and food from friends.  We are grateful for the things that we need appearing at yard sales or in bags of hand me down clothes.  I am glad for visits at just the right times or phone calls to listen and support us.  We feel eternally blessed by our families and friends.

Nathan is plowing through his master's program too.  That has been a stretch to go back to school, and I think he is brave.  He is also very excited about all of the things he is learning.  We hope it will be an investment in the future.

I am pooped.  I feel most days like the coyote on the roadrunner show as he falls off cliffs trailing little puffs of smoke or gets flattened by stray steam rollers.  The stress has affected my sleep, my waistline, my house, my interactions with the children and my marriage.  I wish it all over with.  But I know that all change, even good change, comes with stress.  There are debts to pay this time and the process of digging out of this mess will be long, no matter what.  We are changed by it all. I hope we will do good things with the change in perspective--that it makes us more loving and charitable too. There are direct debts of gratitude that I'm not sure we will ever be able to pay, but maybe sometime we can help someone else.

Rex

While Jake was gone this summer, I was in his room for something and noticed his year goals posted on the wall.  Goal #1 for 2010 was to "Sweet talk Dad into getting a dog."  I showed it to Nathan and we both had a smile.  But, after some communication, the thing is done.  Sweet talking worked and we are the new proud owners of a springer spaniel we found at the humane society.   We didn't think we would find a dog so soon!  But after spending a couple of hours with this sweetheart, we had to have him.

His name is Rex and he is about 11 months old.  He has some doggie manners to learn, but Jake's big desire is to train this dog, and so far, he is doing well.  Rex has a bunch of energy, but is calm around children and new people, no watch dog here, (well, he might lick you silly). We just feel very fortunate and excited.

I know this isn't a good picture with the flash, but if you can see the smiles on these faces, you know it was worth it. Welcome, hairy hound!

Labor Day Weekend

The children and I spent Labor Day at Jake's home away from home: Mill Creek Canyon. (Seriously, the guy knows it like his hand!)

The weather was gorgeous and the kids played and hiked and we ate a picnic lunch.

Playing in the creek.

Leslie

Seth--This is his "office".  His name for this spot.  He spent a great deal of time playing with sticks here.

Caleb

Miriam

Camille

Jake

Ethan

Jacob took Caleb and Ethan on quite the hike, a mile in, build a survival shelter, a mile out.  They were pooped!  And happy.  So often these go together with boys, wear them out and they are fulfilled.

We also had family here for a visit on Saturday and Sunday, Nathan's mom, my parents and Ryan and Natalie's family were here as Jacob was ordained a priest. This is a pleasant lunch with cousins!!! Cousins are one of our favorite things!

The Genius

Last week my microwave died.  Are you kidding me?  We cannot afford to replace my under the counter one right now, so I entered a plea on my local freecycle.  I had a call that same day, saying yes, there was a microwave available, come and get it.  I had quite the time finding the house.  It was on a road called Shooting Star Ave.   I found Galaxy Drive, and Comet Way, so I was sure I was warm, but no.  An hour later, I am still hunting for the shooting star and have to stop by a gym and ask for a phone book to look it up.  (All the while thinking how stupid I was to not have looked it up before I left home....) Finally, among streets with names like Thornbird lane and Elm street, I found the Shooting Star and headed back home, where I knew I was missing Caleb's end of summer pack meeting... 

The man that carried the microwave to my car told me it was easily as old as he was.  He looked about 28.  I told this to Leslie as pack meeting was wrapping up, and her first question was, "Is it wood-paneled?"  Yes.  Home to un-pack our free microwave and give it a home on the counter, we find it has a name.  Look closely:

The Genius.  It has become a new household joke.  Going to heat this up in "The Genius".   I love this quirky old thing for coming to save the day.  I love zapping and nuking my food.  It is fun when the blessings come with a bit of humor thrown in.

Check!

Yay!  Checking a couple of things off that summer list, and feeling so much better!  The children and I went to Bear Lake despite some serious opposition.

Thursday morning I bottled plum sauce, plum juice, and made pulp for jam.  Leslie picked the green beans and they were cleaned and put in the fridge for another day.  We took Jake to pick up his schedule and his retainer.  Camille attended "Sevie day" (for the 7th graders) at school, and we loaded the car.  Children were actually sitting in the car, when Leslie became sick to her stomach.  Please!!!!! Can this not be happening! (Stinkin' McDonalds).  We gave her stomach a few hours to settle, and then headed into the evening, Jake driving on the freeway for the first time, mom hanging on to the car door and her sanity for dear life!  Jake did well with the driving.  We stopped a couple of times for sick Leslie and I took the wheel to drive up Logan Canyon. (Now everyone else is hanging on to something...winding road through the dark, deer and cattle on it!!!!)  We arrived at 10:30, where Dave and Tiffany greeted us graciously.  Everyone crashed into bed and sleep.  But 2 hours later, Seth decided he was ready to go home.  Scared of the new surroundings,  he and I spent a very sleepless night, one I do not want to repeat soon.  But finally, Friday dawned.

The children played in the pool while we prepared for lunch and the lake, and then we spent one absolutely heavenly afternoon under the most gorgeous blue sky, playing in the sand and the water, hot-dogging on a wave runner and getting sunburned.  It was a perfect gift.  So needed, as I finally feel like I can let go of this summer and move forward.  We came home to a few ripe tomatoes too, so all is complete. They can go back to school and I will be content.

Caleb dug in the sand most of the day, an engineer with a medium to manipulate, he was in a state of bliss. Not in the photo, but usually by his side in all endeavors is his cousin Jonathan.  They are great friends.

Ethan coming back from a triumph on the wave runner, feeling like quite the man. Uncle Dave was the greatest to take Ethan to pick up the wave runner, thus being the first to have a turn. :)

Bathing beauty.

Miriam is playing dead on the beach.  Cousin Bethany is looking more alive.

Jake as a mermaid, note the tail and the clamshells :)  Cousins in charge of the art work behind are Naomi and Caroline.

Seth, on the beach, towing Jake in on the inner tube, Leslie in the background.  Leslie just lived in the water.  She is a fish and can't seem to get enough of it! 

Thank you, thank you, Dave and Tiffany!  We had so much fun!  And, of course, after wearing him out on the beach, and deciding the natives of the house were friendly, Seth slept for 12 hours the second night!  Phew!

Jacob drove us all the way home, through Evanston.  He even navigated Parley's Canyon with the semis.  Ohhh, I am going grey fast, but we are safe, burned, sleepy and happy.

Summer Summary

We picked Jacob up from the airport late on Aug. 6th.  The National Scouting Jamboree lived up to his expectations as a once in a lifetime opportunity.  We hear about it a little at a time, but he had a great experience.  He left us again to go white water rafting on Monday the 9th in the Tetons. Obviously he loved that too! It has been a summer so full of adventure for him, he really is having a tough time being home.  We like having him back, however. And tomorrow, he is scheduled to have his braces off!

We also just came home from our family camping trip for the summer, known in other circles as the Ward Camp Out. :) Gone for less than 24 hours, we still feel we had the full experience.  The kids got to pitch and sleep in tents, we played games, ate yummy hot dogs, enjoyed great company.  Nathan and I slept under the stars.  Well, we tried to sleep, anyway.  A few bug bites, Jake and kids caught crayfish and we arrived home pooped and dirty.  Also infected with a vicious stomach flu.  Ahhh, camping. :)

Now we are staring "back to school" in the face.  All of the children are anxious to get back to routine and friends.  I am fine with that, but all of the registration hoops have me hopping right now.  I also miss them when they go back!  This year it will just be me, and Seth all day. Wow, time flies.  Seth is enrolled in a preschool that will start soon too.  It is two days a week, about 3 hours a day.  I think it will be fun for him to have a school to go to too, as he feels a bit left behind.

I am running out of summer and I feel a bit deprived of some summer things.  Maybe I'll try to fit some of them in this week.  We haven't been to Bear Lake as a family, and Nate's school will mean that we really won't get there all together, but maybe the children and I will venture.  I haven't had one ripe tomato from my garden!!! Ugh.  And, we have not been to a rodeo.  Maybe we'll go to the one at the state fair.  I have sent children out on 12 different camping excursions, we have played in the pool on the front lawn, and a few times at the big outdoor pool, we have enjoyed walks in the sunshine and visits with friends on the lawn, we have shared some cookouts.  This summer has been full of good things, I shouldn't complain.

In fact, this summer has brought to pass one of my long term dreams!!!  I yard sale all summer to help keep us in clothing without the big price tag.  Last week, we held a yard sale and made $55.  I love trading old junk for money.  But the best part is, that around the corner from us, another yard sale was selling this:

It was $50.  I traded my junk for three burners + a side burner with a removable griddle, and it had a tank of propane already attached.  We brought it home and fired it up!  I'm in BBQ heaven!!! I have been looking for one of these for 4 years now! I'm feeling spoiled and blessed. :)  So, you know, back to school BBQ at my house!

Tonight's Dinner Conversation

Child 1: "Ethan, you don't even know what a hippie is!"
Ethan: "Yeah, I do.  They are those ugly guys that hop around alot!"

Sharing the smile.