Oh the Changes That Happen

I have taken over the blog for one night (I don't think that I could get away with too much more than that). I had to rebel a little bit today. They asked me to speak in church, so I wore my BYU shirt and tie. I have not shaved since Wednesday, so I shaved all but a goatee (like three of the former EQPs in the ward have done) and told the Ward that I was very happy with it all. (even the Stake Presidency thought it was funny). Now that every one knows I have become a "free agent" they are all asking what my new calling is. I have to tell them that I will see what our new Bishop has for me. Yes, we signed papers for the new home. We are moving without having the house sold (yet). Talk about ulcers for cheap! I will just say that it is truly a leap of faith. After signing and putting our initials on something like 2,000 papers (okay, 20) and feeling as if my blood was being drained from my body slowly, I felt a peaceful feeling. It was okay. Now the stress of changing our address in somewhere around 50 places, getting new carpet in the old house, and moving can set in. Really, if you know anyone that would like a good home, fresh paint, new carpet, great shade trees, big backyard, wonderful neighbours, etc. let them know. we can get you in touch with our agent and work it out. (Now that I don't have to plug for Home Teaching to get done, I have to plug for something.) We hope that you are all well and having a great week. Something tells me that I won't get this opportunity very often. TTFN Paul (the not so cute one)

A Move in the Future?

Anybody looking for a nice, freshened up house in Layton? It looks like we have decided to list our house at the end of the month and try to move on to different things. Bigger and better is not really where we are headed, just more suited for our current needs, like a smaller yard, but a great room rather than a basement family room. We have found a house we like, but who knows if it will be around when ours sells. But there are other options, so we are going to list it and try. I think one of the "final straws" was Paul being released as the Elder's Quorum President. Maybe the Lord is telling us it is okay to go. So we are painting, carpeting, fixing the small things that you never get around to, and listing it. Wish us luck.

Vacation

Our vacation was wonderful! I highly recommend Disney Cruises. If you love Disney, you can see characters and shop for Disney stuff. If you don't, it still is amazingly clean (no lint on the coin changer machine in the laundry room clean) and clean (all the plays are rated G and the movies are PG13 or better). In order to not have too long of a blog, I will do a few pictures at a time.

Our ship.

Amy, being "kidnapped" by Trevis, one of our servers.

The service staff follows you on your rotation from restaurant, so you have the same wonderful staff every night. Trevis would bring our drink orders for dinner right when we sat down, we didn't even have to order after a couple of nights.

Our Family in the Atrium with Grandma V...

and Mickey Mickey loves Grandma at our character breakfast.

Everyone gets a morning to have a character breakfast, Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale, Donald Pluto and Goofy all come around for pictures. No lines to wait in.

Jaredd and Amy in the Mickey pool.

There were three guest pools on the ship, the Mickey pool and Goofy pools for families and a quiet pool just for adults (although Amy did get in with her cousins). The Mickey pool even has a waterslide, held up by Mickey's hand. Jaredd's favorite part was all you can eat chicken and fries (or burgers or hot dogs or just plain fries) from about 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. The other kids enjoyed all you can eat soft serve ice cream and fruit from Goofy's galley.

One of our AMAZING desserts! It tasted as good as it looks!

Cabo San Lucas from our stateroom. Beautiful water despite the opressing heat.

Paul and "Watermelon Man." (Who is scarier?)

Jaredd and our head server Andrea (who Jaredd wishes were his fiancee).

She was the sweetest to him. Not only did she arrange for special dairy free desserts for him every night, she would cut his meat and dote all over him. No wonder why he fell in love.

More to come.

Bring on the rest of summer because I'm blogging May, June & early July

Since Paul is helping me, I can put photos on the blog.

We had Aaron have his birthday today since we will be camping on Tuesday. He loves frogs, so I made him a frog cake. It is "iced" with candy melts and filled with frosting and marshmellos. Yummy. Happy 9th birthday Aaron.

Caramel playing in the water, her favorite summer activity.

We went to the Bees game on Monday night with Grandpa and Grandma G., Meggan, Daniel and Michelle and their kids, and Heather and Trever, Ava and Terry. The kids had a blast and the Bees won.

Jaredd was so happy he got to meet Bumble.

And now long over due pics of the recital (I'm still waiting on some from my friends, and the professional ones look great). Ask us to show you the DVD.

The boys in some of their recital costumes. Rob had a tap and a tumbling costume as well and Aaron had a tumbling costume after tap.

Amy's class warming up. She is second from the back.

We've had a great summer so far and we know the best is yet to come. Camping, trek and Mexico!

Summer Update

1. My van is back. All better. And his insurance company paid for it all (except the stuff that went wrong on the way down to the repair shop that there was no way to "prove" was caused by the accident) including the rental without a fight. Yeah.
2. Summer is here. The kids have been pretty good. Amy is away at girls camp. Summer dance classes have begun with tumbling and tap for the boys and ballet for Amy. We have been slowly making Amy clothes for trek. Her bloomers and skirt are done, so we still need to finish a blouse, apron and bonnet. Rob and I have been piecing him a quilt top. Yesterday we did some much needed deep cleaning in the kitchen. Slower lazier days.
3. The new school building is up. The roof is on and windows are going in, so the inside can begin to be sheet rocked. As soon as I get back from LA is August, helping with furnishings (desks, chairs, bookcases, textbooks, etc.) will be my life until school starts.
4. Only 34 days to go until we leave for LA. We are all so excited to go on our cruise. The kids and I will stay the extra week and Paul will fly home for a week of work and then back to LA to drive us home (my back only lets me drive for about an hour at a time).
All in all it has been a great summer so far. And the best is yet to come.

Picture Day!!!

I am finally sitting down after being on my feet all day long. Today was the first picture day at the studio. Tommorrow is the second. I don't have to go in until 4:oo p.m. Thank you Erene (my boss). I survived! Tomorrow should be easier for me because the kids will only be there for a little while. I think that I will survive and will recover enough for the recital.

OUCH!

The pictures say it all. Thursday morning on the way home from kindergarten pickup after waiting for a Frontrunner train, a 16 year old young man decided that I was not starting fast enough. It sounded like an explosion with the crunching and the glass breaking. Since he was in a large Ford 350 truck, jacked up, the tailgate took all the force. Fortunately, only my van is really hurt, not me or Jaredd or his friend Hunter. So I am grateful for booster seats, driving a larger vehicle, and that I am an experienced enough driver not to start going right after the garbage truck in front of me started or I would have ran into it. I don't know yet how his insurance is going to play this out yet, but a van is only a van and money is only money, so I am truly grateful today.

P.S. Windy, I know you tagged me, but it will have to wait until June. It is recital month!!!