Stranded in BUCKEYE...NO MORE

One month down-11 to go...

2012-02-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe we are already over a month into 2012!!! Already this year has been a busy year for our family and if it continues this way then maybe...just maybe this year will go by fast!! Which by the way I'm hoping for cuz then Josh will be in high school and maybe life will be a little bit less stressful and crazy for him...oh wait, poor guy, hes my son...life will always be crazy and stressful!!

The month of January had DJ having surgery (he recovered just fine, so no need to worry about him), me heading to Disneyland with my Aunt and cousin (fun fun fun), pinewood derby for Seth (might I add his last one!!), I think 4 maybe 5 major projects Josh needed to do for school (over kill if you ask me!), issues with our truck and the engine we got but now need to return, which now makes us a one vehicle family. Plus Scouts (they seemed to have something every time we turned around, merit badge stuff), cub scouts (that in itself is a very long story but one I don't think I'm ready to share yet), long work outs with Teresa and it seems like tons of other stuff! This was just the month of January! Crazy busy month!!

It really seemed like something everyday and every week during January. I'm telling you if the rest of the year is like this...I'll be happy that its going by fast...but at the same time I will be stressing wishing for a time to slow down!!

Heres to February!!! BRING IT ON!!! I just might of dug my grave with that statement...oh well...BRING IT February!!!

2011 Christmas Letter

2011-12-20T07:44:00.000-08:00

DearFamily and Friends December2011

Youknow it happens every year & this year was no exception…The Holidays kindof snuck up on our family!! Every year we say it’s not going to happen &BAM!! Here we are half way over with December already!

Thisyear seemed to be a more trying year not only for our family but for many ofour extended family and friends. Butisn’t it funny the blessings that come from our trials and tribulations. As we approach this coming year, I hope weremember those blessings.

Thisyear seemed to be a busy year for us and the kids…and when I say kids thatincludes Cayla and Craig. BetweenChurch, work, sports, scouting, military, school…oh and moving, it’s no wonderthe year flew by! And that was only mentioning a few things.

Yes,it was that time again…time to move. Wefind ourselves in Goodyear, up in the Estrella Hills. This meant a new school for the boys and anew Ward for us for church. We arereally enjoying the area so far. It’s avery active community. Everyone enjoysbiking and running. Our family has takenup biking, which we are loving. Suzi hasstarted running, which she hates but it helps her in training for her vertical marathonsshe does every year. DJ has always been active so this area is great forhim. The wild life up here isamazing…both good amazing and bad amazing! So far we’ve seen it all (in our neighborhoods I might add)…rabbits (inour yards even), ground squirrels, woodpeckers (which Suzi has a love haterelationship with), raccoons, ducks, turtles, come kind of giant lizard,tarantulas (yes that’s the BIG spider), coyotes, bobcats(living inneighborhoods), mountain lions, and Suzi’s biggest fear of all time SNAKES!

We weren’t the only onesthat moved this year. Cayla and Craigmoved to Tempe to live closer to the college and to work. They have the cutest little apartment. They love having their own place. Both ofthem are working hard in school and enjoying married life. It’s hard to believe that in November theycelebrated their 1 year anniversary. Bothof them work for ASU so living right next to the college makes it easy for themto get to work. Cayla is also teachingdance, which she loves and helping a family friend who takes professionalphotos. Both of them are currently serving as Ward missionaries in theirward…it seems they can’t get away from that calling. They had it in their last ward also, but theyreally do enjoy sharing the gospel with others!

The boys, Joshua (13) and Seth (10)started a new school this year. Josh isnow in the 8^th grade and Seth in the 4^th. Both of them seem to be doing well. The school they are attending has a lot ofafter school activities for the boys so they are very busy with those. Seth just moved up into the Webelos in cubscouts. He really enjoys cubScouts. For the last few months his momhas been his Cub Scout leader and he’s really liked having her as hisleader. Josh is working hard in theScouting program. This past summer Joshwas selected for the Order of the Arrow and went through his Ordeal in thefall. He’s also a member of the Jr. National Honor Society at school and worksreally hard in that. Both the boysreally enjoy sports and keep mom and dad busy when they are playing games.

DJ is still a Detectivewith DPS and for the last two years has been serving as the First Sergeant inhis National Guard Unit. He also teachesa class at one of the colleges here in town. He’s currently serving as a member of the High Council for our Chruch.Between all of these he’s pretty busy but still finds time to get out and gohunting. This year he was able to go outand he got his Elk which really made him happy!! DJ got to go to scout campwith Josh for the first time. He moved up to the Brotherhood in the Order ofthe Arrow. When Josh completed his Ordeal, DJ went and had them use the sash hegot when he was Josh’s age for Josh. He’s getting ready the first of the yearto have surgery on his left knee…he forgets he’s not as young as he use to be,so his body keeps reminding him!

Suzi just finished doinga vertical climb for the American Lung Association in November. She cut almost 2 minutes off her time fromlast year. She works hard at trying to keep everyone’s life as normal aspossible. When we moved into our newward she was called to serve as the Bear Leader in the Cub Scout program. As always if Suzi’s life wasn’t crazy andbusy she wouldn’t know what to do withherself. But sometimes she dreams of aless stressful life!

As always we hope thisnext year is less stressful for everyone. We pray the Lord will bless your family and watch over you always. Fromour house to yours we hope you have a Merry Christmas and May your New Year beFun and Happy!

AllOur love, DJ, Suzi, Joshua and Seth Hansen

A day feeding the ducks...

2011-11-15T18:50:00.001-08:00

We live in an AMAZING place...people riding bikes everywhere, people walking, running, you name it! But one of the coolest things about this area is the two lakes we have...North Lake and South Lake. At North Lake you can take small boats out on it and at South Lake you can walk around the lake, fish and feed the ducks...and thats what we did. We met up with our best friends the DeGraffs and took a walk, played catch and feed the ducks!

Seth and Syd'a are best friends...

They can just sit and talk for hours...

They talk about EVERYTHING...

They follow each other everywhere...

Josh being a pill and chacing the DUCKS...

Fly away duckies, be free...

The kids found this tennis ball while we were walking

and decided to play catch, right over Teresas and my head!

We feared for our lives many times and the ball came sailing at us...

Josh thought it would be fun to throw it right at me...

Austin throwing the ball...

Brenna getting ready to catch it...

Then the keep away game started...

Teresa proves MOMS are QUEENS of the WORLD...

Its the most wonderful time of the year...

2011-11-14T07:54:00.001-08:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again, (I sound like Popeye the Sailor), but I really do love this time of year...Starting in October till December. Life does get crazy but its so much fun! I love decorating my house for each important holiday!!

I love dressing my kids up for Halloween and doing our traditional night. The day starts with cooking the traditional meal...Stew and dinner in a pumpkin! It cooks all day! Then at around 5:00 its time to get the costumes on and any scary make-up that needs to be added. (Yes, I put make up all over my boys)! Then its dinner, in costume cuz people might knock on the door while were eating and you have to be ready! Then its off to trick or treat! We have so much fun going around as a family! After trick or treating we head home and its time to sort the candy, and of course eat some! HELLLLLOOOOOO thats the whole point of trick or treating...the CANDY!! While we are doing that we watch Hocus Pocus!! We've been doing this since Cayla was little and its all the kids have ever known!!

The next day its up with the Halloween decorations and the Thanksgiving ones! And of course its time to start listening to CHRISTMAS MUSIC!! And watching CHRISTMAS MOVIES!! I'm not trying to leave Thanksgiving out but there just really isn't any songs or movies that go with the holiday!

The day after thanksgiving comes the funnest day of all...BLACK FRIDAY!!! Now I don't go crazy spending money, but I love it cuz I'm with my friend Teresa having a blast...years ago I use to go with Kimmy when we went up to Idaho and it was a blast...when I stayed in town, I'd go with mom and again, had a blast!! I just love spending it with crazy, fun people! Oh and best of all "people watching". Black Friday is the best day to people watch! Just saying!

Then when I get home and I'm tired and worn out, its time to put up the Christmas decorations!! I love decoration my house at Christmas time! I watch the same movies over and over and I listen to the same songs over and over! ITS GREAT!!!

For the last 10 years or so we've been taking the kids to the Forgotten Carols. Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't go! Its like not having Christmas Music and Movies...and anyone that knows me knows I love my Music and Movies during this time of year!

Then Christmas eve comes...all the family at my house for the biggest feast you've ever seen! Just looking at it you'll gain 20lbs but oh is it sooooo good!! And of course the traditional one gift that you get to open that night and as always, since I was a little girl, its PJ's! After everyone leaves its time to set the goodies out for Santa. Sometimes our family gets a little crazy and we leave things like Rootbeer floats and things like that for Santa. Don't think he gets tired of milk and cookies all the time!

But then the part I hate about Christmas...some how I always have good intentions but I don't get the gifts wrapped so I'm up till sometimes 4 in the morning wrapping gifts. I know you'd think I would learn by now, but I haven't! Someday!!

Then Christmas morning. The kids are always up by 4 or 5 (sometimes I would worry that they would catch us taking gifts down, but so far they haven't). But they get up and they are allowed to open their stalkings! Then they can play, watch TV or fall back to sleep till DJ and I get up around 6 or 7.

Then its time for me to get the traditional breakfast cooking, cinnamon rolls and monkey bread! Then while thats cooking off to open presents and trash the already trashed house!

It takes days before we recover from this mess!

Then its New Years Eve! Something we started with Cayla and have just kept going...we prepare a meal, like from Christmas eve, with chips and dips and crackers and cheese. Put a blanket out on the floor in front of the TV...get some movies and we stay up munching and watching movies till after midnight! What a great night we have! Its fun to see who stays awake til midnight...then at midnight we pop the sparkling grape juice and toast the new year!!

Then the sad part really comes...its time to take the tree down (Forgotten Carols)...I try and hold out for as long as I can...maybe even til Feb 1st but I do try! I just love my tree so much I don't want to take it down!

It really is the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!!

Why Women Cry...

2011-11-04T10:43:00.000-07:00

A little boy asked his mother "Why are you crying?"

"Because I'm a woman," she told him.

"I don't understand," he said

His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"

"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.
Finally, he put in a call to God.

When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"

God said, "When I made the women she had to be special. I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort. I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children. I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining. I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her badly. I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart. I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strength and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly."

"And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed. You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a women is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a women must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart -the place where love resides."

Let November be a NEW START...

2011-11-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

I don't want to complain...(NO laughing- I NEVER complain - I just voice my opinion, LOUDLY!)...because I know what happens when you complain about the trials in your life...they get worst! Yes I said it, so I guess I'm in trouble! I know the Lord isn't doing it to be mean, its to teach us something!

But October and September were kind of yukky months for our family! So November is a BRAND NEW MONTH and things have to be better, RIGHT?!?!? (Humor me, ok)

I mean really, still no fixed truck, hubby was in TWO...count that...one, two car accidents this month, things going on with the military (don't worry he's not going over seas), another kid possibly might have Asthma now (not sure yet) but hes been sick and coughing like crazy (I think his lungs might fall out), plus lots more...............BUT I'M NOT COMPLAINING CUZ I KNOW HOW THAT WORKS!!!

Training Time...

2011-09-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

Teresa and I have been training for the Vertical Marathon again...or its real name~"Death to your body". We started biking everyday at 5:30 5 miles...sometimes more! Not just biking but biking the major hills around Estrella. They are so big. I LOATH these hills!
We are kind of like the little train that says "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!" Then when we reach the top and we coast down we yell "I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could.!"

This is so hard but we are sticking to it...we might die doing it!!! The other day we saw a coyote that could have eaten us and last week we saw a scorpion (SCARY) that was so big...DJ was driving by and saved us!! We have heard a pack of coyotes as we ride by an area barking away! One day we ran into some scary guys...but that was the day we cut 3 minutes off our time...those guys were scary! There are always a ton of bikers and walkers out...and they don't seem to be having any problems...but not Teresa and I, we've had our chains come off both our bikes (different times of course) during the hardest part of the ride...up that stupid hill!!

My body may not survive (every part of my body aches...even my butt...I know too much info but you need to know all the gory details) but so far we've biked OVER 100 miles...it may not seem like a lot to all of you BUT that's a ton...hey we could have been to Gilbert by now!!!

Summertime SO FAR...

2011-09-15T11:39:00.000-07:00

This was written back in July but forgot to post it til today...so sorry!!
I guess at times this summers been slow, sometimes crazy, sometimes stressful (most of the time), sometimes dull...so far!

So we started out the first week of summer by moving and we did it with the help of part of our family! I know ask for help...well we did sort of. Like I said some of the family was out of town so we turned to my daughters in-laws...LOVE THEM!!! But you see we did most of the moving during the week...so HELLO, most of you work so we didn't ask for help...DON'T be mad at us for not asking!

There are some things that we like about our new home and some things we hate!! BUT as always I guess I'll have to work that out! Lets hope we do!

The first weekend in our new ward Josh got asked to go to scout camp with them...ONE LITTLE CATCH...They were leaving the next day! Good thing we had everything he needed to bring. He was really nervous about going but we encouraged him too cuz they were going to Colorado! Very cool and very fun. So we packed him up when we got home from church and the next morning at 5 sent him off with a bunch of people we didn't even know. Now I feel really bad for the men that we sent Josh off with...you see we didn't prepare them for Josh! While he's a very good kid, very helpful (which all the men told us when they got home) we didn't prepare them for, well, Joshuas little problem...he puts his all in all into things, you know, goes all for it and well, he gets hurt a lot. Josh came home to us BLACK AND BLUE!! I'm not kidding. We needed to take him in for a physical for another scout camp he was going to and we had to wait a few weeks cuz we didn't want the Dr to think we beat the kid! He could hardly move for a few weeks. I guess he took a spill on a Diggler, its like a skateboard/scooter on big wheels, that they took down a ski slop...yep my kid did that! But he had fun!!

While Josh was gone, DJ, Seth and I spent the week unpacking the house. Well, Seth went to his grandmas for a day. Plus during that time my Sister came into town and we had her boys stay for a few days...following that my Sister-in-law came and we had her son stay. It was a busy few weeks.

BUT the coolest part after moving in was Stake Conference in my dads stake...We all got to meet D. Todd Christofferson of the twelve and LeGrand R Curtis of the Seventy. Both of these brethren stayed at my folks house...how cool is that!!!

Of course we had a ton of Birthdays during June...Cayla, my dad and Josh, plus a few others and July was just a busy with birthdays...Craigs, his moms, my sisters and my sister-in-laws plus some others.

We are getting settled in to the house and waiting for school to start. Josh is getting ready to head to another scout camp. But neither of the boys want summer to end. I think they are nervous about starting at a new school. I think they'll do fine...well that is if Seth can think before he speaks!

The other night I had a NIGHTMARE...

2011-09-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

It was the craziest and scariest dream ever, I must say!! It started on a Monday...Well, maybe even earlier than that cuz we were given the info that started this Monday dream earlier, I think. Anywho we were told that our engine in our truck was going...Not a good thing. The poor trucks lived a long life, almost 200 thousand miles, dealt with 3 kids and their friends, hubby's road trips and our family trips, for over 11 years, so I guess it was NO surprise...BUT UGH, RIGHT!! So DJ's trying to figure something out and I'm thinking what kind of luck - cuz it was at the beginning of the year that we replaced the engine in our car!! No one has 2 engines go our in one year!! Well we do!! DJ gets a call from his dad who once took a mechanics class and made a suggestion, which brought DJ to tearing the engine apart on Monday. In my dream he worked all day, Until he realized that he needed to lift and pull the engine. One problem - No lifty pully thingy - so he makes calls and finds one but its being used! So its time to put everything back together. Once done he realizes a disk has slipped and the truck is leaking some kind of liquid. So now we are to Tuesday...apart comes the engine, fix the disk - oh and a worn out hose. But now the truck smells when its driven. And I'm told to only drive it around my neighborhood!

But then my dream changes. DJ asks me on Monday to remind him on Tuesday about having to go to court on Wednesday and to take his suit. So I did! Well that was a BIG waste of time - his court got changed to Thursday at 2.   So he says to remind him to bring his suit Thursday.

Now in my dream DJ's suppose to go hunting on Friday. Well one problem with my dream - we weren't sure how DJ was going to go hunting...truck engine dying - REMEMBER!! We came up with a plan, I decided that I don't need my car over the weekend, he can take it hunting. See it has to be a dream - ME WITHOUT A CAR FOR 6 DAYS - THAT'S CRAZY!! But the saying dreams can come true comes into play - WELL, sort of...I have an Uncle James...proof right there that this was a nightmare, my uncle was in it (luv ya James), anywho he lent us his big pickup truck. Problem solved! DJ could go hunting and I can have a car!

Well Thursday came- 2:00p.m, DJ shows up for court and waits and waits and waits ( I don't know much about the court system so I imagined all the detail I got in this dream). Finally someone comes out and tells DJ that the county Attorney is finishing up her questions and the Defense will cross exam and then it will be DJ's turn. So not much longer. Now this is a murder trial so the Defense gets up and takes forever cross examining the witness. Asking some ridicules questions. Finally at 4 they call DJ...One problem- court ends @ 4:30. DJ starts with some of the evidence and the judge stops him and asks him if he has to do the same thing with each piece of evidence, he says yes and the judge decides to adjourn court til Monday Morning at 10:15- DJ's first on the stand...REMEMBER DJ suppose to be hunting til Tuesday Morning! Not happening - NOT happy!

Now for a bit of comic relief in my nightmare. So everyday that I'm dreaming about I have these two pesky woodpeckers who keep showing up at my house...30 to 40 times a day!! Trying to pick or believe it or not steal dog food!! Woodpeckers don't eat dog food (or do they), they eat bugs and peek holes! Every time I hear it do its call, I jump up either grab Josh's air soft gun throw open the door and try to shoot it (don't worry it wont kill it), or open the door screaming like a made woman trying to scare the dumb things away!! UGH!!

So back to the nightmare part to this stupid dream....

Thursday night, DJ gets home from work and starts to load up James' truck. Everythings loaded and hes ready to go...except, he can't get the beast to start!! UGH. So he calls James...its like that car from Back to the Future...theres a trick to starting it and you would only know about it if it was your truck. SO James shared the trick and slowly but surely DJ was off!

Every mornng at 5:30 a.m in this nightmare (5:30- I know its scary), my friend Teresa and I have been waking up and riding bikes 5 miles up one of the longest hills ever!! You would have to be out of your mind to ride first that early and second these hills...(I just want to wake from this dream but I can't). Friday morning I come home and it looks like we've shaved 10 minutes off our bike time from the rest of the week (heck maybe my nightmare is starting to change...wrong...its about to get worst!!)

As I start to get things ready for the boys to go to school, I look out and see Mia (our crazy dog) sitting, starring. I look out on our patio and see Mickey, our 19 year old dog laying, you know he likes sleeping, only this time he wasn't! I kept looking just to see if he was breathing and NO breath!

I wont go into much of this part of the nightmare except to say that in it DJ was gone, my dad was gonna be gone, so my mom and I wrapped, drove and buried. Even in nightmares moms always come to the rescue. I didn't tell the boys before they left to school cuz I didn't want to upset them!

I'm telling you this dream was all night long!! The next thing I remember is getting a call from DJ after I sent him a text about Mickey. When he got to his camp site the night before he said it felt like the truck was running low on gas so he changed tanks but when he did that it acted even more strange so he flipped back to the other tank and got to his site. Then in the morning he was planning to run into town and get gas but when he started the truck it went a few feet and died and wouldn't start again. He killed the truck! See these have to be nightmares cuz what kind of people can keep killing vehicles in the same week!

As the dream progress on - I'm loading up the boys in the car, callin people about some cub scout activity I have the next day to make sure they can handle things and off we go to help DJ cuz remember hes got to be in court on Monday. James told me a few things to tell DJ to help it start.  I also loaded up the gas cans just in case. So here we go...We get on the B-line highway and a rabbit runs our in front of me and you guessed it...I killed him!!

What a dream!!

We reach payson, not much more to go, maybe 30 minutes. Its about 8:10p.m. Now the last time I was up there driving to the site, it was light NOT dark, so needless to say I got lost!!  Really lost! After about an hour I asked someone for directions. Something I would never do if I was awake. So I got to the right area, finally! BUT not to the site. That took another 2 hours. I followed DJ directions, but in the dark, I still got lost and drove around forever. Was just about to give up when I found it. DJ was out on his mountain bike looking for me but we never saw each other. It was about 11:15 when I finally got to the site. What a nightmare. We got things unloaded and went to sleep.

It got pretty cold up there cuz did I mention, there was rain, lots of it and it started all night long. But it stopped just in time for DJ to go out at 5 to hunt for his elk. He was going to come back to camp at around 10 to work on the truck so when I got up I drove into town and got gas, plus a new pair of jeans for Josh...ready for this, I would normally check the kids stuff that they packed but for some reason I didn't this time...see dream...so Josh got his stuff all together, hes old enough, except for he hasn't worn his jeans all summer...they didn't fit. He couldn't even button them. So gas, jeans and PJ pants, cuz the boys brought shorts to sleep in up to the mountains. I get back to camp and we wait for DJ.

No DJ still, the boys are having fun shooting the air soft guns, pellet gun and bow and arrows. But still no DJ. Finally he comes walking into camp right before lunch...and I could tell he got his elk! And a bit of good news it was only about a mile away! Bad news...DJ had ordered a bike tailer for his bike to haul the elk back...it was shipped on the 31st of Aug...well we didn't get it yet. So that meant DJ was going to haul it back on his back. He had already carried most of it up from the valley it was in. Well we decided to make it a family haul and we all went with him. He took his big back pack but when we got there he realized he wouldn't be able to fit part of it, so Josh and I came up with an idea. We got a long piece of wood and tied the two extra pieces on to it and we would carry it on our shoulders. It worked through the rough part but it was hard cuz Josh and I are not the same height. Josh was having a hard time and so was I so I decided to take it all and carry it on my shoulders. Josh and Seth stood on both sides of me and stopped the elk from hitting my side and we carried it to a trail. There DJ took the elk from my shoulders and hung it in the tree cuz we were to a point that he could ride back on his bike. We finished hiking to the camp. Hung the parts of the elk DJ had and back he went. By this point my body is killing me. I don't know how the women of old carried water jugs that way!! But DJ got his elk.

So after awhile we went to work on the truck. He put gas in it and did all kinds of stuff and still nothing. Then he decided maybe the battery need to be charged to. We charged that for over an hour on my little car. Then back to trying to start the beast. IT started. DJ decided to drive it to town, put gas in it and kind of recharge the battery. Things are looking up right!

That night we are around the camp fire have smores (you can't camp without them) when it starts to rain...we have stuff all over the camp. The boys run one way gathering stuff and putting it under tarps, I go the other and DJ another. We got everything put up and into the tent we go. I get the sleeping bags out when I realized the floor of the tent is damp. I'm thinking water some how got in. No biggy except during the night when, as its pouring cats and dogs outside, Seth says hes cold. So we get up to make sure he's covered and you guess it, his sleeping bag is soaked. The water is only on his side of the tent. We have him come over and he gets in with DJ and starts to warm up. You would think in my dream I could keep my pour kids warm. By 5 the rain stops and we get up at around 6. Spent the morning packing things up, playing on some rope hanging from a tree, shooting the bows and pellet gun.

Then at 11 we went for a hike. We came across sooo many different types of mushrooms I've never seen before. It was crazy. Josh and Seth ran to old dead trees and pushed them over. I was actually enjoying this part of my dream, that is until we came to a dirt road and decided to cross. We head a vehicle coming so DJ and Josh ran across the road while Seth and I waited. As the truck drove by, Seth says that looks like our truck, I looked at the back and realized IT WAS OUR TRUCK...someone had figured out how to start the "Back to the Future" starter and was driving away with all our stuff we had packed earlier. DJ takes off running down the road, getting ready to pull his gun and shoot out the tire if he had to when the truck pulls over and turns around...It was my uncle James. Can you say HEART ATTACK!!! My aunt and him and driven up the night before, just in case we didn't get the truck started again. Yes we had a good laugh but oh my heck was our hearts pumping.

We got back to camp and we were visiting and while James and DJ worked on the truck and the end the trip right, it starts to rain. So we loaded everything up and headed back home. The truck had terrible gas mileage so it took a lot of gas to get that beast home...and it didn't like the hills at all. But we finally got home, unloaded, and then returned the truck to James at around 8:30. Back home for a nice long shower.

During that day DJ got a e-mail on his phone...remember the elk bike trailer we were waiting for...It arrived!! A little late ya think!!

We did it, we got DJ to court Monday with no problem!!

THEN I WOKE UP...AND I REALIZED IT WASN'T A NIGHTMARE...ALL OF THIS REALLY HAPPENED...AND MORE!!

Yes, I'm complainng again...SO SORRY...

2011-07-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

Have you ever said yes you'll do something cuz you've always been taught to say yes to certain things...but, you didn't either feel right about it or you are upset about being asked to do this certain thing or well...whatever! Well that pretty much sums up how I feel about something I said yest to this week. I know I'm a bit vaig on what it is and I'm sure some of you know what I'm talking about...BUT....Well, we will leave it at that for now. I just hope things will change...preferably my mood and attitude...cuz right now its not very good (big shock for some of you who know me)! I'll do what I said I would do and know one will be able to tell how upset I am while I'm doing it but heres looking for my attitude to change soon!

Mia, Mia, Mia...

2011-07-15T14:27:00.000-07:00

If you don't know...Mia is our puppy we got last summer. She really is a cute thing and funny...BUT she's crazy (I really think her father was a cousin or her mother was an aunt or something). I've blogged and FB about how crazy she is before...BUT not only is she crazy...she's nuts...and so far un trainable and we do try and work with her but to NO end. WELL, I guess thats not completely true. If she is on a leash she does ok walking with you, I guess...But other than that she doesn't listen at all. You try and call her and she thinks your playing and runs around like shes a wild animal and you can't catch her. She jumps on you any time you go outside and will scratch the tar out of you if your not careful. If you let her in the house she NEVER stops running around...shes like the energizer bunny...she just keeps going and going and going. Mickey, my good old dog of almost 19 years, walks around for a bit and then settles down and goes and lays on his bed in the laundry room...BUT not Mia, she thinks its play time and runs around for hours, NEVER SLOWING DOWN...really HOURS. The other day when she was in, she went into the Living room, which we've tried to teach the dogs if off limits, and got something off the book shelf and started caring it around the house...REALLY off the shelf. Then when I tried to get it from her she thought we were playing! AND today she started jumping on my furniture. WHATS UP WITH THAT!!! Oh and the ender of all enders...which got her sent outside...SHE PEED ON MY FLOOR!!! She never let me know she needed out!!! Plus she still does her excitement pee...if you look at her there she blows!!
She's driving me CRAZY and yes we all know I didn't have far to go! I don't know whose going to survive her puppy years...me or her!!

Just a short note...

2011-06-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

Well I call it a short note and we'll see if it is by the time I'm done typing, cuz with me you never know. Sometimes I can be a little long winded....

Some of you may notice and some of you may not...BUT the name of by blog..."Stranded in BUCKEYE" has changed...to "Stranded in BUCKEYE...NO MORE".

This does come with some bittersweet feelings we are sadden to leave some of our friends that we have made in Buckeye. BUT we are still in the Buckeye Stake for church. AND we haven't moved THAT far away... We've moved to the Estrella Hills in Goodyear.

There were many reasons for our move and I'm not going to go into all the boring details for all of you cuz I would really hate for you to fall asleep while reading my blog and never come back to read more. BUT the Lord still has plans for us in the Buckeye stake...hence the reason I'm still keeping the stranded in Buckeye name...plus, I kind of like it!!! It was the start of my blogging. It has sentimental meaning to me.

But now here we are in the Estrella hills, for really who knows how long...I guess, until we feel the need to move again...and with us that could be in a few years, or in 10 years, you never know, I'll just put this out there...DJ could retire in 2 years, so who knows what we'll do...maybe move to Gilbert, to be by Jerrae, or Tempe to be by Cayla, or Utah to be in cooler weather that DJ dreams of everyday, or up to WA to by my brother, who knows...its a big world out there! BUT for now we are HERE!!

Sprinklers and A Game of Froger...

2011-04-06T15:49:00.000-07:00

Yep, thats what it was...a day of "Sprinklers and a game of Froger".

Yesterday marked the first game for Joshua and the Jasinski Jaguars Baseball team and even though they got SQUASHED LIKE A FROG, they did really good. It wasn't entirely there fault...the game had some...how shall I put it...mishaps to it.

It started out to be a descent game. All the families sitting there watching our boys...cheering our boys...yelling at Seth and the other kids to settle down and to stay out of the way cuz they were crazy, rolling down the hill and running around...when...BAM...on came the sprinklers! Are you kidding! And of course everyone went crazy!

Well lucky for us they didn't come on in the field were the game was, but they did come on were we were sitting! The game was able to continue on! BUT the sprinklers did reach were our boys were sitting in the dug-out! UGH! They boys on our team had no where to sit! SO the families picked up our chairs and moved over a bit...NO BIGGY, right...WRONG!

About 10 minutes later another set came on...before the first set turned off, NO WARNING...are you kidding me...so we moved a little bit more. THEN, another 10 minutes...ones behind us turned on...this time hitting us in the head and in the faces...WE ran and pressed ourselves against the fence until we could make our move and then RAN to a dry spot. If we could have taken pictures of each other...One of us was using a chair to try and block the sprinklers from hitting them in the face...that one was funny cuz they couldn't figure out why they kept getting hit until they realized it was going through the mesh part of the chair...a few of us were trying to press ourselves further into the fence...while the people on the other side of the fence, who were safe from the water, were dying of laughter. Then we made the move to safety!

THEN the phone calls were made...because you know what happen NEXT...yes you guess it...sprinklers came on in the field and stopped the game! We called the maintenance guy for the school, we called the receptionist, we called anyone we had numbers for...IT PAYS TO KNOW PEOPLE IN HIGH PLACES AT THE SCHOOL!

I can tell you the coach for our team was NOT happy....

Then I look back over at the fence...UGH...my youngest child...I truly do love his pointed head...he left his chair against the fence...I needed to go and get it cuz we needed to leave soon...so it was time for a game of LEAP FROG...could I make it across without getting wet...My friend did not think so...but I thought I could...so it began...I ran to the fence and waited for the first sprinkler to go, then I ran...stop...go...wait...duck...go...jump...press against the fence...really against the fence...RUN...grab the chair...NOW BACK...NOT ONCE GETTING WET....

I'M GOOD....

WELL, after 25 minutes of NO PLAYING...the district maintenance guy shows up...he finally gets the sprinklers turned off. Well by this time, I have to leave. I get up to him and he gives me this run around that they aren't even suppose to be on this field playing...funny thing how both schools ended up on this same field and how he was glad it didn't stop their playing for too long...ummmm heeeellllloooo...it was 25 minutes and there really isn't much light left...you goof!

BUT all in all, it did make for a funny story with
"SPRINKLERS And a GAME OF FROGER"

Football and Baseball...

2011-03-31T12:21:00.000-07:00

If I didn't think life was crazy before...WELL...it just got CRAZY NOW!!

FOOTBALL and BASEBALL season just started...ugh. Don't get me wrong, I like both, A LOT, but not when your son...yes, that was son, not son's, decided he wanted to play BOTH. And which sweet son was this that wanted to see how crazy he could drive his mother, well, that would be Joshua. And here I thought he was my reasonable, thoughtful, loving, smart and considerate son. Boy was I wrong!

So, here is whats happening. Josh wanted to play football, so we signed him up with a football group called Elite. They practice during the week and then have games on the weekend...no biggy, except we didn't know when his practices were, YET.

Then right before spring break, he decided to try out for the school baseball team, and try-outs were right before break and he made it! Those practices go til 5:30 with games on Tue/Thur. But we still didn't know when football would be. Ugh.

Lucky for us, the Football couch was willing to work with us and made practices start at 5:45, so we pick up Josh and his friend Austin and off we rush to Indian School rd and Falcon Field for Football practice...but wait, lets not forget that on Wednesdays, Seth has his piano at 4:30 to 5:00...I'm just glad Seth's finished with Soccer...cuz then I'd really go nuts.

Lets see if we can keep football and baseball up for 2 months. I guess its good he's young, but I don't know about me. Plus we have Scouts on Tuesdays and whatever else I decide to add with Seths life.

I LOVE sports season!! And I love those CRAZY BOYS OF MINE!!

I stole Joshua's THUNDER...

2011-02-12T20:45:00.000-08:00

So, we are on Day 2 of 3...

...of what...

...Well it's called a "MUA" and basically, to put it in my language and where its easy to understand...Some Doctors knock you out and stretch you like a rubber band...

...and well, thats whats being done to Josh right now!

Yep, he's being stretched like a rubber band!

You see, Josh's tendons are WAY to tight and it prevents him from bending like a normal person or from running like a normal kid. They pull and tug and cause him a lot of pain...But we all know, Josh isn't normal so I guess its ok!

He seems to be doing ok with it. Each morning we go and they knock him out and then the do whatever it is that needs to be done...One problem on the first day when they tried to put the IV in they had a hard time so he got stabbed 3 times. Once in each hand and then finally in his arm. Poor kid, maybe next time he'll listen to me when I tell him to drink more! So because they had such a hard time with the IV they are keeping his IV in his arm...it really bugs him so after tomorrow he'll get it taken out, which should make him a happy camper.

BUT...

You all know me...I can't let it all be about Josh...I mean REALLY!!

So Friday...Day 1...

I got up at 5:30 to get ready when...oh wait let me back up a day...Thursday I was sick all day running a low grade fever and having a really bad head cold, I even took Drugs before going to bed and I HATE taking meds...so now back to Friday...

So I'm getting up to get ready when I started to feel light headed...yep those of you who know me, well you guessed it...I passed out-

WAIT, not just once but TWICE!! See I had a head cold and I just wasn't doing well.

DJ was suppose to go to drill that morning, but plans where changed and he ended up taking Josh for his first treatment...He was afraid I would pass out while driving him. So he took him while I tried to get back to normal...well what I would call normal!

After Josh was done, DJ headed out of town for guard. He really didn't want to leave us but he had too!

So I couldn't just let it be all about Josh. I need to be the one who is front and center as always! UGH!

The Holidays came and went...

2011-01-28T15:17:00.000-08:00

Well December came and went and lots happened during it.

The month started with decorating the Christmas tree. With all the craziness going on in our lives I really didn't think it was going to happen but low and behold it did...but don't tell anyone...January is almost over and it's still up!!

This year Joshua joined the Jasinski basketball team!!

If I do say so myself, he was a pretty good player!!

Next came our trip to Disneyland with the DeGraffs. This was our 2nd year going with them and celebrating Seth and Ryans(the DeGraffs dad) Birthdays...Seth turning 9 and Ryan...well who knows...we just know that he acts like hes Seths age.

It rained on us the whole time we were there. We LOVED it and had so much fun in the rain!! There were a few days we had to go back to our hotel and change our clothes and shoes and then back we went to Disneyland! It was funny cuz there were places at Disneyland that there was NOBODY at...it got kind of SPOOKY!!

If only all the gold was real!

DJ and Ryan at the Haunted Mansion in the rain!

Syd'a, Seth and Brenna sporting the latest in rain gear!

Josh and Seth showing off their rain looks!

Seth and Syd'a were always together under the umbrella!

Hansens and DeGraffs in front of the castle at night

We are all wet!

The kids looking good!

After Disneyland came Christmas Eve and the opening of the Christmas PJ's!

Christmas Morning

Passing out the gifts

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas if Cayla and Craig weren't there

DJ had to work Christmas morning so he headed out around 11 :(

Santa gave us a trip to his WORKSHOP for Christmas. So the day after Christmas we headed up to Greer, AZ were Santa has a portal to his workshop.

On our way to Santa's shop

Santa's work bench

DJ helping Santa make toys

The boys helping make toys

Seeing Santa at the North Pole

Having a snow fight

Seth and Mrs. Claus

In our Cabin

This was our own personal cabin

This lake was frozen! The boys were trying to break it but couldn't.

Its TAX time again...

2011-01-08T16:35:00.000-08:00

I don't know about all of you but I really hate TAX SEASON...I don't know why but I do!! The funny thing is I have a GREAT tax guy!!! He has been doing taxes for years...I know this is going to sound funny, but for anyone that knows him, knows he is GREAT...but my TAX GUY is my dad.

My dad is expanding is business and is looking for new clients. He has been doing Taxes for over 20 years...so if your tired of the stress that Tax season brings...or you want to try and maybe save a little money...or you just don't have the time...Give Ron Waldron a call...602-750-1943.

Don't say...What else could go wrong...

2011-01-08T14:08:00.000-08:00

I will NOT say "What else could go wrong?" Cuz you know when you say that, thats when more stuff happens! But I will say...This year has not started out on the right foot for our family...OK, it pretty much sucks. But I guess if it starts out as a bad year, it surely has to become a better year, RIGHT? Oh heck, who am I kidding, this is my family and we really do have rotten luck with stuff! But hey..."IT'S ALL GOOD!"

Lets re-cap the year so far...And while I re-cap I'll sit here eating my chips, drinking my water, and having a really good laugh...cuz thats about all one can do!! NO, really everyone...

"IT'S ALL GOOD...LIFE IS GRAND!! YOU JUST HAVE TO LAUGH AT IT ALL!!"

Well...to be honest, most of this stuff is happening to DJ, but there is stuff happening to me and the boys that I wont put down just yet!

SO...

January 1st...HAPPY NEW YEAR...2011...Everyones happy...You stayed up late to celebrate. Well not us. You see DJ had to work (just like on Christmas Day...joy be), SOOOOO, we called it an early night, but the boys and I still were up at midnight, they watched a movie and we said our HAPPY NEW YEAR...and then it was off to bed for them. Well camping out in the toy room that night. DJ got up at 4:30, thats a.m. and left our house and headed to the stadium for work. At 5, again, thats a.m. my cell phone rings...nice guy, he didn't want to wake the boys, but had not trouble waking me. Anywho, as he was driving down the road the oil light came on and then the check engine light came on and then the car died...dead...no longer running. The engine seized. About 9 miles from home. So up I get, and off I go to pick him up and take him to his job. Then back home and of course I can't go back to bed. UGH!! That night I pick him up and we tow the car home. It took us almost an hour to tow the car home going 15 miles per hour. NOW THAT WAS FUN!!

January 2nd...DJ spent the day eating peanut brittle and that night I made a ham. No reason for making it other then I felt like it. After dinner DJ was de-boning the ham (which means he was eating most of eat) when he comes and tells me, "I think I broke my tooth, yep, I'm pretty sure this is half of my tooth." He bit into a piece of bone that he thought was meat and broke half of his back molar. FUN!

January 3rd...School starts!! Now most moms JUMP FOR JOY on this day, but I'm just as bad as the kids when this day comes! WHY? Cuz I'm at the school almost as much as they are! Plus, right now, I just don't like their school, so UGH...SCHOOL!! Whens the next break!?!?!?!

...Called the Dentist and they get DJ in and inform that he broke it all the way down to the bone! I mean really if your going to break something you might as well do it good!! And well, he did!! So they have to pull it! It took over 3 hours...why, well, while they were pulling it, the tooth kept falling apart and pushing into his bone. Finally the dentist stoped and ended up leaving some of the tooth in his jaw and said if he messes too much with it there might be nerve damage done, so he needs to show the ex rays to the oral surgeon...NOW, I would have been ok with his nerves being numb in that area cuz then I could slap him silly! Now that would have been FUN!

BUT, while DJ was at the dentist I got THE CALL!! What call you ask...well we had the car towed from our house to our repair guy. So thats the call and we were so hoping it wasn't that bad but it was...We had lent our car out for a long while and it had an oil leak and oil didn't get put in and the car was bone dry. So when DJ got the car a few days ago, the oil light came on, he checked it, and put oil in it and got the oil changed...all well and good, but a little to late.  They had been driving with no oil for who knows how long! Oh well, life goes on...SO NOW, I get THE CALL, the call telling me the damage and the among...over $2,000...ugh...I just wanted to cry...oh wait, I did! So much for catching things up for the new year! Oh well thats life!! But I thought life was suppose to be FUN!

January 4th...DJ's been having some pains in his feet (probably from kicking me all the time), so off to the foot doctor. I take him cuz I KNOW WHAT THERE GONNA DOOOOO...Inflamed nerves...Cortizone injections, in BOTH feet!! Yep, thats what they did...FUN FUN FUN!!

January 5th...There was a BIG and when I say BIG mix up at work...I can't really write about it...but its pretty serious!!!  This was NOT FUN!!

January 6th...Poor Poor DJ...Off to another Doctor. I'm telling you, you don't want to get old. He has a cyst on his back. He's had it for awhile, no biggy, but lately hes been having headaches. Well this cyst is right at the base of his neck, so it could be causing them. So he goes hoping to have it removed...NO good...it might be attached to something so next week he gets to have surgery! Also he mouth started hurting more so he looks in at where they pulled that tooth and notices something...he can see his JAW BONE...yes his bone sticking up. So he calles the Dentist and back in he goes.  And yep, thats his Jaw bone! They called it something but I don't remember what. I really don't think he is having very much FUN right now!!

January 7th...7a.m the phone rings and its the Dentist office calling...The oral surgeon can get DJ in to remove the rest of that tooth and grind his jaw bone down at 10:30...Now that sounds like a lot of FUN, doesn't it.

The sad part is next week really doesn't look much better...Its really FUNNY when you can look at the next week and can tell that things are already going to be happening.

During all of this week, I had Doctors appointments that we are trying to shuffle around DJ's times so I can drive him.  Josh and Seth had their appointments and scouts and all that stuff. Plus all the stuff we are dealing with the school. And we have put our place up for rent and looking for a new house...shesh...Can we just say this NEW YEAR HAS BEEN LOADS OF LAUGHTER AND FUN in our family! But I wont say...WHAT ELSE COULD GO WRONG...Cuz I'm afraid of what would!!

Its one of the worst I've been in...

2010-12-13T16:19:00.000-08:00

Now I have to warn you...I've been a really bad mom, cuz my kids have moved around a lot...been in LOTS of school districts! I know thats really bad!

By the time Cayla was in 8th grade she'd already been in 8 or more schools. I know PRETTY BAD! But she always managed to do good! It was because we lucked out and got great teachers! I loved getting teachers that we got really closed with and that really wanted to work with us!

It was the same with Josh...Hes been in 5 school, Not as many but still....

All these school have been in different school districts...Most of them NOT very good districts, Cartright, Pendergast, Littleton, Tolleson...We are talking some pretty bad districts.....

WELL NONE OF THESE COME CLOSE TO WHAT THE BUCKEYE DISTRICT HAS...

It is by far the WORST district my children have EVER been in!!!

I know I'm venting...but if I can't vent here where else can I vent...oh to my hubby, to my mom, to my friend Teresa, to all my other friends, to my family...well I guess I vent a little tooo much! Oh well, you all can just deal with my venting.

But really, this last two years in Buckeye district have been unbelievable. I can't believe some of the things this district allows. If you knew what I knew you'd been in an uproar!

I always thought that schools and districts where suppose to have the well being of the children at hand, not there own, but I'm learning first hand that thats not the way it is here. They don't want any negative publicity so they don't do anything that might cause it...like fire teachers if they can avoid it, or take care of bullying issues! They have NO problem interview children with the police without calling the parents to notify them about it (yep happened to my kid when he saw someone selling drugs last year...thats only one things thats happened). I'm telling you this district is messed up! But I'm sure I don't have to tell most of you!

Ok, I'll stop my venting, well for now! But I'm sure I'll write more later, cuz I always do!

Thank you EVERYONE!!

2010-12-03T10:29:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to Thank everyone who helped in one way or another with the Wedding....
It turned out to be a PERFECT DAY with your help!!!

Some of you helped with sewing the dresses...A HUGE thank you to you all!!!!

Some lent us items for the reception...it would not have turned out as beautiful without your kindness in letting us borrow things...Thank you to you!

Some helped in Serving and cleaning up...Again, freeing me to be the mother of the bride!...

A Thank you to you!

And a Thank you to everyone that came to BRIDAL SHOWER...it was crazy and fun with all of the support Cayla received that day...Thank you everyone! (But you all didn't eat enough food!!)

And then Thank you to everyone for picking up the slack since I've been a CRAZED MOTHER lately! Your all wonderful to help in one way or another....

And the BIGGEST THANK YOU of all is to ALL of you who have had a hand in helping me raise such a perfect daughter!!! She is who she is today because of all the wonderful people she has had in her life!!

Thank you EVERYONE!!!

The Wedding....

2010-12-03T09:48:00.000-08:00

Well the marriage between Cayla Janay and Craig Gassaway went off without a hitch!

Everyone looked beautiful and the weather was perfect!

Mr. & Mrs. Craig Gassaway

Its nice to know we can all clean up and look nice once in awhile!

Cayla made the perfect BRIDE!

My little PILLS are growing up!

The wedding party

Yes, that is my little baby girl...all grown up and getting married!

Lets show a little SASSYNESS!!!

She just needed to sit down, so she did!

In about a week or so you can go on line and check out more pictures from the wedding...just go to Kissablephotos.com. In fact you can check out there engagment pictures now, if you'd like to see more!

Thanks to EVERYONE who help make this day happen...without friends and family it never would have happened! Thank you, you're all AMAZING!!!!

We did it...we did it!!!

2010-11-14T20:42:00.000-08:00

One of two buildings we climbed

Katie, Teresa, Me and Windy

SO last week was the BIG VERTICAL MARATHON

for the American Lung Association...

and since I'm blogging about it...I must of lived...BARELY!!!

It was a very close call...whether I lived or not...that is!!

The vertical climb was CRAZY!!! We did Great!! Me, Teresa, Katie, and Windy!! We worked hard and we finished something BIG!! 53 flights of stairs and OVER 1200 steps...now thats crazy!!!

Our team name...

VERTICALLY CHALLENGED....

Yep...that was me and Teresa...we were vertically challenged...Don't laugh, it was true. We just knew that one of us would fall and drag the other one down with them. It was just a matter of who was going to do the falling.

With that in mind, we started training for this a few months ago....

BUT now its back to the gym to train for NEXT year...Anyone want to join us...it was a lot of fun...for a worthy cause....

I know...

WE'RE CRAZY...

BUT WE HAVE FUN DOING IT TOGETHER!!!

View from the top

WE DID IT!!!

One daughter...Two boys...THANK GOODNESS....

2010-11-14T18:18:00.000-08:00

(photo by Chris at kissablephotos.com)

Its November and the STRESS LEVEL is about as HIGH as you can go right now...no joke it really is!!! We are going 90 miles an hour at our house, as I'm sure everyone is at this time of year...cuz after all, just in case you didn't know...IT'S THE HOLIDAY SEASON!!!

But lets take the Hansen's craziness up one more level and add Cayla & Craigs wedding!!! And WOW...My life is MORE NUTS then it already is...yes I know its hard to believe!!

At this point I can tell you that I have gotten the flowers done...good thing...and all the invitations are done and in the mail...if you didn't get one...I AM SOOOOO SORRY, after all this is my mind we are dealing with and I can't remember my name let alone everyone else....BUT after the flowers and the invitations, I'm just not sure what to do!!! It's all kind of a BLURR!!! I'm not sure what I have and what I don't have...heck, maybe I have nothing...no joke!

Yes, can we say stressed out about reception and food...YEP...that would totally be me!!!

Thanks to everyone whos offered to help, but to be honest, with school, church, marathon, and everything else (long story), I'm not sure about how it's gonna look!

If anything---Cayla will look beautiful...and the flowers will look SO-SO and well...everything else will be...ummmm....well....Just there =)

I'm just glad I only have one daughter and two boys...Thank goodness!!!

Bridal Shower for Cayla...

2010-10-25T21:56:00.000-07:00

We're just weeks away till

CAYLA JANAY

becomes

CAYLA GASSAWAY...

Join us for an

OPEN HOUSE BRIDAL SHOWER

CELEBRATE

her BIG DAY!!!

(photos by Kissablephotos.com)

November 20th

From 10:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m

At the Hansen Home

24754 W. Jones Way

Buckeye, Az

(photo by Kissablephotos.com)

Come and laugh, eat and spend time with Cayla before her BIG day!!

(photo by Kissablephotos.com)

Hosted by: Jerrea Wilson and Suzi Hansen

Registered at Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond!

Twilight Zone...

2010-09-29T20:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the TWILIGHT ZONE day....

These stories are real, the people in them are real, the faces are real.

You are now ENTERING THE TWILIGHT ZONE....

If it could happen...it happen...and I don't mean in a good way!!!

So it started out as a typical ordinary day. I woke up, got the boys up, got dress to go train for the vertical marathon that I'm training for in November...yes, I am really crazy and have lost my mind!!...and headed out the door!!

At the gym, Teresa and I start our stair climb. You see that's what a vertical marathon is. 53 flights of stairs, 1,272 steps...and we are doing this for the American Lung Association...yes we are CRAZY! BUT we have made it to 74 flights of stairs...1,5000 steps...oh yeah baby!!! WE ROCK...and we both have BAD knees...she has had hers re-done and I've broken mine...so if we can do it anyone can...so enough on that...well maybe not...but for now!

So we are at the gym and while we are working out we are talking about all the problems we are having with PTSA...it always seems like we have things happen on Tuesdays and it drives us crazy. Teresa informs me that we got a bunch of bounced checks back from our fundraiser...ugh...teachers are wanting things about our up coming carnival...ugh...our t-shirt guy completely changed the design we wanted for our carnival t's...ugh...just everything was going wrong...but we were taking time for ourselves and working out!

So we finished early on Tuesday so we could go and order our bountiful basket...cuz the run out fast in Goodyear...then I go and shower. After I shower I was heading over to a friends to discuss wedding stuff, was running a few minutes late and when I got there she wasn't home...ugh...my bad...but while I was there, I get a call from Naomi at the school...Josh got hurt, again, in PE (it's always PE), and they wanted to let me know, cuz it looked kind of bad. He jammed his finger. So I told them I wasn't in the area, so could the tape it, ice it, give him drugs and see if he would be ok. And there you have it. Off he went to class. Well I headed over to the school and the called him up front and while I was looking at his finger it doubled in size...it was kind of cool...I called my resident DR...aka...Teresa (flight medic) and she said if it swelling still I should take him in, better safe then sorry. So off we went to Urgent Care.

After x-rays...he broke it...not jammed it like I thought, right above the growth plate, in the joint at what they call at 30% brake, which means...we need to see a specialist...so much fun!

Then, Cayla shows up that night to pick Seth up from Cub scouts and drop Josh off at scouts cuz I have meetings and she has a heating pad on her neck and informs me that she hurt herself at work while playing...ready for it..."Duck, Duck, Goose"...she got "Goosed"...she works at a place called the "Little Gym" and when you get "Goosed" you do a roll out and when she did her neck locked up and she couldn't move it and she said it was the worst pain she ever felt...she wanted to scream and cry at the same time, but she was being evaluated and could stop or do anything. It was pretty bad.

But to add to the whole twilight zone night. My friend Teresa...She was at football practice for her soon Austin with all her kids when her daughter Syd'a fell riding her scooter...no biggy until later when she tried lifting her scooter up and she couldn't...Teresa and Ryan (dad) looked at her wrist, cuz she was crying at this point and realized that she might have broken it! At that exact same time another parent came up to then and said hey your son Austin just got hurt, he jammed his finger. They ignored the finger, thinking it was no big deal. So they took Syd'a to the Drs and yep...its broken and they have to see a specialist...then they got looking at Austin and decided to take him in and guess what!! Thats right...its the exact same break as Josh...so yep...they have to go see as specialist.

Well, that leaves two of our kids...Seth and Brenna that didn't get hurt yesterday! We really feel the need to rap them in bubble packing tape and lock them in a padded room so they wont get hurt.

Poor Josh, today at school, hit his finger and head and felt it pop...went to the nurse and got more drugs and ice...then tonight...oh boy did he done do it good...I'm thinking they might have to take more x-rays...his whole hand is big now...and he can't even move the tip of his finger now...Seth hit his hand and it took him down! Oh boy was it bad!! Josh screamed and Seth felt bad, everyone was crying...Josh is hand is now purple! Tomorrow at the specialist should be interesting.....

Then I went to church yesterday and...thats a whole nother story that I really can't share...BUT I will say...it's a good thing...THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!

And you have now LEFT...THE TWILIGHT ZONE!!!

Funny thing...

2010-09-26T09:55:00.000-07:00

DJ comes in this morning and tells me that while he was working the ASU game last night, as a cop mind you, something funny happened...And let me tell you while he was telling me...I did laugh!!

So he's standing in the street, directing traffic, watching people leave the game...and he notices that some girls are going the opposite way of traffic, back towards the stadium...NO BIGGY he thinks, their not doing anything wrong.

A few minutes later...he has a college student kind of leaning against him...and she looks up at him and asks..."Are you married?" Of course he answers right away "AH YES!!!" She says, "thats too bad cuz your really cute!"

Insert me laughing so hard..."laugh*laugh*laugh*laugh"...wait one more laugh..."laugh!!"

DJ says he looked a little shocked that a college student was hitting on him...and then she walked away!

After my initial laugh...I said at least my hubby still has it! Really after all these years, college girls are still looking at him...or was she dared...lets just believe that my hubby still has it!!!

Have you ever noticed...

2010-09-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

...Or maybe you haven't and it's just me (more then likely thats it)...

but have you ever noticed that when your unhappy with yourself...your unhappy with the world!

Well, I have cuz thats the state I've been in for a while!!! Somehow I need to work on my own happiness so that I can find joy around me!

Easier said then done!!!

I really hate being in this funk and I'm sure I'll get out of it...just need to find a better way to deal with my stress then the way I've been dealing! Cuz the way I'm dealing with it, is why I'm unhappy right now with myself!

I'm sure everyone gets this way at some point...But then again maybe not...but this is my time (again)...just gotta work my way out of it somehow and work on my self esteem...cuz right now, it's petty much gone!

Thanks for letting me have myself pity party...needed to get it out and now I'm good!!

Remember when...

2010-09-25T22:56:00.000-07:00

...the Prophet said to plant a garden...and remember that is what we did...

Well, here are picks of a garden...I was so excited to get all the food...and we still are...Summer is over and its still going...I LOVE IT!!! Can't wait til its time to plant again!

We had cucumbers growing out of our ears....

The pumpkins were growing in the yard...it was pretty cool!

Isn't that the cutest little pumpkin you ever did see!

We had every color of pepper you could think of growing...this is only two types...it was a rainbow of colors!

We're all together...

2010-09-25T22:45:00.000-07:00

Its been a few years since the whole family was together....

Theres been times that everyone was up at Kims...except us...

or Kim was down here in Phoenix...but no Dan! Or visa versa...

So even though it was a sad thing that brought us all together...

It brought us all together!

Dad, Mom, Kim, Me, and Dan!

Wish I could see them more...all of them!

The new addition to the family...

2010-09-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

...NO, I'm not pregnant!!! Are you crazy!!! How could you even think that.

Well for those of you that know we have a dog, a black lab...his name is Mickey and well, he's getting pretty old...almost 18 years old. He's still alive and kicking but we do worry about him....

Soooo we decided to get a second dog...We've always had a lot of dogs until a few years ago, so Mickeys been kind of lonely...now he has a play mate...

Her name is Mia...you see we name all our animals from Disney characters and Mia is from Princess Diaries....

She is a little cutie...but I don't think she will ever learn ANYTHING...She drives me batty...oh wait, I'm already batty!

Don't let her cuteness fool you...shes CRAZY and WILD!!

Big Papa!!

2010-09-25T20:33:00.000-07:00

Another major event that took place this summer was in June...My grandpa, the kids great-grandpa past away! James Carroll, know by everyone as Jim past away on Wed., June 2. The kids have always called him big papa and he was always my boodia. He was an amazing grandpa who loved his grandkids and great-grandkids to death. When little kids saw him they always thought he was Santa Claus cuz he had the big beard and even bigger belly.

His funeral was very special...we got to see something that not many people get to experience...a 21 gun salute...Grandpa use to be in the Navy, so my mom was able to arrange for this to happen.

Here is my Uncle Denny, Uncle James, my brother Dan,

my cousin Anthony, DJ, and my dad.

It was very hot and bright out...but I think the

glasses help hide the tears.

Ok, I know hes sideways, but I didn't rotate the pics before I added them...sorry!

The playing to Taps!!!

Here they are explaining the purpose of the 21 gun salute

Again I didn't rotate...sorry

The 21 gun salute

The folding of the flag

Presenting it to my Grandma

Now I don't recommend having funerals to anyone...

But it was a very nice family reunion...

just about everyone in the family was able to come and

say one last good-by to boodia.

Grandma and Uncle Denny. Denny came down from VA

Aunt Carrie (down from WA), grandma, Aunt Stacy, Mom and Uncle Denny...

Uncle Mark and Aunt Robbin couldn't make it...they were missed

Josh and Tristin...

Josh has taken grandpas passing very hard...

He still gets upset every now and then.

Kim was able to make it down from ID

Seth and Caleb

Grandma with best friend Dawn

Two sisters...stricking a pose

Kim with her favorite neice...wait isn't Cayla her only neice on this side of the fam...hummm

Mom and dad...

Mom was so stronge during these last few months with grandpa.

It was a very hard time for her.

Trish, Caleb and Dan were able to make it down from WA

Ahhh, I really do love my baby brother....

Caylas Graduation...

2010-09-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

As I look back over the last few months that I didn't up date this BLOG THING...I realize that a few key events have taken place and I should put some pic up for everyone to see...that way ya'll will stop askin me to send you copies since all you have to do is log onto my wonderful blog that I work so hard at and see them...I'm just kidding...don't take me so serious...you never have before so why start now....But it is a wonderful blog if I do say so...again...just kidding!

So the first major event...well that I can remember, I'm sure there were others...was Caylas graduation and the party after...

Enjoy the pictures!

Cayla was one of two speakers that got to talk at Graduation...

We always knew that Cayla had the gift for gab....

Up on the BIG TV at the University of Phoenix Statum!

Receiving her diploma...Wooohooo!!

She DID it!! At the top 1% of her class...Way to go baby girl!!

Cayla best friend since 8th grade...Geoffrey Smith!

He did it too!!!

Cayla and her uncle James...

A very proud daddy!

Mommy and daughter!!

Caylas other dad...her non-daddy-daddy, Russell

Aunt Sandy and Uncle Ron along with the graduate

Grandma and Grandpas first graduation grandchild!

Cayla and Samantha...sisters forever!!

Cayla with her big sis Jerrae and mom

This was an AMAZING cake we had made for her!!

The dance pictures on it are really pictures of Cayla!

Cayla opening gifts at the party...

Everyone came out to show their love and support to her...

Thanks everyone!!

She made it!!!

Gremlins...it must be...

2010-09-24T16:20:00.000-07:00

So I am convinced that my house must have little GREEN and BLUE GREMLINS...

WHY-you ask...well I'll tell you....

This has happen more then once..it happens all the time...If it was a one time occurrence then I would think its the family...

BUT...

Sometime during the night...little GREMLINS must have broken in (or they just live here) and trash the house!

It's the only way I can explain why my house is always one BIG TIME mess! I'll work hard and get the house, well, semi-clean...go to bed...AND the next morning its a mess!

I'll ask the family what happen and AMAZINGLY enough...none of them know how the house got trashed. So I have come to the conclusion...

it's the little Green and Blue Gremlins!

What a terrible mom I am...

2010-09-19T08:02:00.000-07:00

Have you ever have something happen and then you feel like a TERRIBLE MOTHER? Well, I have those moments ALL the time. It's at those moments I wonder where I was when they handed out the manuals on how to take care of kids...cuz I sure didn't get mine!

So yesterday, Seth started saying his throat hurt...well it is that time of year when allergies start acting up and you get drainage down your throat. But you have to understand something...Seth is my DRAMA QUEEN...ok at some point all of my kids have been DRAMA QUEENS, but yesterday was Seths day!!

I really didn't think too much about it, cuz Seth always says he doesn't feel good and then 5 minutes later...hes running around driving us crazy...then when he has to do something...like chores or homework...he doesn't feel good again...STRANGE how that works!

But he was acting a little quieter then normal...not much mind you. Sooooo we get home from the Primary Activity (Sooooo sorry to all ya moms that had kids there, but he did stay to himself for the most part...well til the end of the activity), he went and layed on the couch and just watched movies all day. He ate lunch and dinner just fine and then back to laying down. He would say every now and then that his throat would hurt when he swallowed.

So we got a flash light and looked...it was barely pink...really nothing...

UNTIL....dunt dunt dooooon...

Around 2 Josh comes in and says that Seth has been crying and wont stop. Go in and check on him and he says his throat really really hurts...Poor little guys! We get the flash light and in just a couple of hours...flaming red!

After some medicine and a blessing...everyone goes to bed and gets some much needed sleep.

Then in the morning all the craziness starts. I have a Primary Program going on and DJ has a talk he has to give in another ward...Cayla has to work today at 1...and we need to take Seth to Urgent Care....

What do we do?

Again, I really am a terrible parent...Cuz Cayla was having to work today (she normally doesn't work on Sundays), she had planned on going to our ward. But she offered to stay home with Seth...however I needed her help at church since DJ wasn't going to be there. I had to be up on the stand during the program and couldn't go set up the primary room, so I thought Cay could do it. So we decided to see if Josh would mind staying home with him till DJ finished his talk and could take him in...SO THATS WHAT HAPPENED! What kind of mom would have another child stay home and take care of her sick baby...ME I guess!

After a trip to the Urgent Care...its confirmed...STREP THROAT! Poor little guy!

I survived...

2010-09-18T19:40:00.000-07:00

Well today was our FIRST Primary Activity as a new ward and believe it or not...

I survived!

For those that don't know, when our stake changed the wards a few months back and made my ward, I was called as the Primary President. I had a few feelings go through me at that time...

One, I have done this before...BUT it was 17 years ago!

Two, I have also done the stake President thing...BUT again, it was 14 years ago!

Third, is the Bishopric NUTS!!...ok I'll admit that was running alot through my head!

Forth, PANIC...it's a BRAND NEW WARD and we have nothing...heck we don't even have that many adults in our ward!

I could keep going on and on and on about everything that went through my head those first few days...

But putting all that aside...I got a great presidency called and we went forth...getting our teachers and two weeks ago...we became fully staffed...yeah! Well at least for another two weeks when one of our teachers is moving...boooooo...but its ok!

So as we were setting things up as a presidency, we tryed to find a date for our primary program. The programs are normally done in Oct or Nov. No biggy right...WRONG....

My councilor who is mainly over Activities and the program is due to have her baby in October and our chorister is due in November but sometimes goes early. UGH...when do we set the date...September!

So here we are in September...we had our first activity and we lived. We did a pancake breakfast...food will always get people to come. Then we went and practiced the program. And after that we went and played games. I don't think I've ever seen so many kids competitive about Simon said or Duck Duck Goose!

But you know its a good sign when kids don't want to go home from their Primary Activity cuz they were having so much fun!

Oh and did I mention that 90% of my primary is under the age of 8. WHOOOOHOOOO!

Ummmm Blessings...

2010-09-17T22:21:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when it rains...it truly does pour!!!

Have you ever noticed that when something goes wrong in your life~everything does....Ok maybe not in your life but most times in mine it does!

Now for those who know me, know that I'm not very good at hiding my feelings...I know what a shock...happy, sad, annoyed, angry, frustrated...etc...you can see it all on my face...DARN FACE!!! Stop giving my feelings away.

You also know I'm the type that see the glass half empty...NOT half full...never have...never will!

I truly need to follow the example of one of my friends...when she was having a bad day...she complained (she had every right...it was a bad day)...but later she felt bad about complaining so then she counted h er blessing and had a change of heart!!

Don't know if it would help but lets see...

One...ummmmmm

Two....ummmmmm

Three...

Ok so it's harder then I thought...

...plus we all know that I do find joy at times in complaining and just being plan miserable!

All smashed up...

2010-09-17T22:02:00.000-07:00

(This is our GHETTO car...what do you think)

Wednesday morning, I'm up getting the boys ready for school, when DJ calls...

He knows we are going crazy and rushing from here to there in the mornings...we're running around like chickens with our heads cut off!...SO why on earth would be be calling to slow us down...Well to tell me that Cayla was just in an accident!! Yep, that's right an accident! Are you kidding me!!

She was getting off the freeway when a lady hit her from behind!!! The lady just wanted to exchange info and leave...but Cayla being the good daughter called daddy! DJ says "OH NO!!" she needs to stay and I'll send someone out to do an accident report. Well the lady wanted to leave cuz she knew she would get a ticket...which she did...hello she hit our car from behind!

Cayla had Tom and another friend, Blake, with her and so far...knock on wood...They are fine! Cay was saying he back was sore and that her head hurts...so we will see...sure signs of whip lash!

But I'll tell you, nothing gets the heart pumping faster then your hubby saying..."The kids are fine...BUT they were in an accident."

Howdy Cowboy...

2010-09-17T21:30:00.000-07:00

I know everyone would agree who lives in Az...Summer was LONG and HOT!!!

But, the end is insight...We are in the 90's and low hundreds...Where else would someone be excited about the low 100's then here in good old AZ!!!

With it being so hot during the summer, I can understand why DJ, Cayla and Josh looked for as many opportunities to leave our wonderful HOT valley.

This summer they traveled all over the state and out of the state! There was 2 girls camps, 2 scout camps, military duty in Flagstaff, a trip to Utah and New Mexico with friends and the military!

BUT that left poor little boogier Seth home, board all summer long with mom....

SO thats why we put Seth in for horse riding lessons...Very Cool (well not really-it was HOT out side) but cool for him to be a cowboy!

It was very cute...he had to have cowboy boats and a riding helmet! And he took to it like a fish to water...HE LOVED IT!! Even though he was suppose to be focused on riding, he still managed to talk his instructors ear off...True Seth all the way...BOY did he talk a lot!

Engagement Day

2010-08-16T10:51:00.001-07:00

Craig is asking Cayla to marry him...

will she or wont she...

that is the question...

I think she said...

YES!

THE KISS....

Craig and Cayla....

It's official!

Mark your Calendars...

2010-08-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

She's 5'4 1/2 and he's 6'5...but they fell in love...

and now they are

ENGAGED!!!!

SO...

Mark your calendars for November 27th...yes we know its Thanksgiving weekend, but we like to keep you on your toes and join us for when Cayla Janay and Craig Gassaway get married!

I'll tell ya'll about their story later! So tune in next time...same bat time, same bat channel!

Lots of big changes...

2010-05-16T18:26:00.000-07:00

...And still more to come!

So last night was our Stake Conference and there were a lot of changes made and still a lot more to come!

Last night they re-aliened all the wards (ok not all the wards, but most of them), in our stake...and they created two new wards...the West Park ward and the Sundance Ward. We will meet in two weeks and the new Bishopric will be called and possibly all the other callings.

Our family has mixed feelings on the changes, as do many members in the stake. Its not like we haven't been apart of stake changes before. Really it seems like every stake we move into, they change the wards...I'm beginning to think it might be us!

We will be in the West Park Ward...some of our old Ward is there and then a lot of new members...so a lot of new changes to come!

There will be families that we will miss in our old ward and other reasons for our nervousness with the change that I really can't say right now but we know this is what the Lord wants and you know we are a Church based on change!

And lets remember...The Church IS STILL True!

Four of them...

2010-05-15T05:06:00.001-07:00

Well, Prom season came with a BANG... and went at our house ...with a BANG...and can I just say...WOW, AM I GLAD THEY ARE OVER!!!

You might think thats a strange comment coming from me since I didn't go to the Proms, Cayla did. BUT it was a crazy time. I thought last year was crazy when she ended up going to 3 Proms but this year...Well, she ended up at 4...yes that is the number between 3 and 5. And 3 of her dates ended up picking her up at her grandparents house, which meant I had to be there to help her get ready!

Two of the Proms were on the same weekend...talk about crazy! But she had fun at all of them for different reasons.

The first Prom was the YSA Prom and she went with LaGrand Shumway. It was pretty cool. It actually started before prom...when he asked her. He sent her a carrot cake with a poem on it and then she had to take the cake apart to find out who asked her to prom...how did she answer...by doing the same thing back. The date started right after school and LaGrand and the Laytons picked Cayla up and they went and played laser tag...pretty cool. Then they dropped Cayla off at my folks so she could get ready...Do you know how much time she had to get ready before dinner...ONE HOUR. Do guys not know how long it takes a girl to get ready...lucky for them...Cays fast. She managed to get a shower in, hair curled and put up and make up on. You talk about fast! Then it was on to the Prom. Caylas one complaint about the night...she could wear heels and she LOVES heels. She wore one inch shoes and it was so hard for her to walk...ha ha.

The next night was just as fun for her! Maybe even a little special. She went to the Youth Prom with Tom Gassaway. But it just didn't start at the Prom. Tom had a plan. They were going with another couple, so the plan was for me to talk Cayla into inviting Arial over to get ready...Easy job, no problem. Then I set up the front room like a Restaurant...The table was gorgeous if I do say so myself...and I do! During the day the number of people that were coming for dinner went from 4 to 8. No biggy, we had it covered and plus I wasn't cooking the dinner...Nope, Nope, Nope...Tom and Fonzie were! It was so cool. I kept the girls upstairs while the guys came over (without the girls knowing) and cooked dinner. Pretty cool. Then the girls were ready and the other couples showed up. Down came Arial and the Cayla. If I might add, Cayla and Tom looked pretty good together. It was really cute. So the boys and I hung out upstairs in my room watching TV while the guys served the girls dinner. Very nice.

Off they went to prom and Cayla said she had a blast. From prom they ended up at the Gassawasys and watched a movie and then it was home where she and Tom talked for almost an hour. I think she had fun!

(Ok maybe I should fear for Caylas life...Tom looks a little scary here...I thought he liked Cayla and yet he's trying to cut her throat!)

Her next Prom was her school prom and she went with Jake Harmon. It was so funny cuz he called her during the day asking if she would be ok with flowers that he picked from his yard, cuz he didn't get her any. Well what he did he show up with...a corsage made from palm trees and weeds. It was priceless. Of course it was a joke. Then he went back out and got her real flower. Jake and Cayla were both nominated for Prom King and Queen. It turns out on Monday, Cayla found out she should have won...the person counting the votes picked her friend to win...nothing they could do about it now...Oh well, Cays a Queen to me...(boy did that sound cheesy). But Cay said it was a good night. Oh I almost forgot... one of the funniest things of the night...Josh was teasing Cayla...no shock there...I can't say what about, but Cayla in her pretty dress and heels...TOOK OF RUNNING after her brother. This was a good 10 minutes she was chasing him...Mind you this was right before Jake got there to pick her up. I think Josh was shocked that she could run in heels, but all I kept thinking was with all the rocks in the back yard she is going to fall and break her neck.

Her last Prom was with Stanley Frydiashack (yes Cayla I know I spelt it wrong) (get over it). Anywho. She went with Stanley last year to prom and it was one of the best times she had, so she knew this year would be fun too and it was. They went to the Melting Pot for dinner (I haven't even been there yet and shes gone twice...so not fare). By this prom Cayla was getting a little tired of taking pictures. Shes really lucky for all the proms, I didn't take as many as last year...so there.

Anywho, we added two new dresses this year and used two from last year so we had the dress department covered. Now all I have to worry about is her going to YSA Proms from now on and with that...she can re-use these dresses!

One side note...You know what made the prom with Tom Awesome...Her grandpa, my daddy, danced with her! He doesn't like to dance, but he did with his grandbaby girl! That totally made her night!

And now we move on to graduation (which I might add,Cayla is speaking at)...WHOOHOO!

I don't want to...

2010-04-09T16:34:00.000-07:00

...and you can't make me~SO THERE!!!

Well, DJ's off to Utah for the Military for a couple of weeks and when that happens I know it's time to get down to business. So I look around to see what I have to get done while hes gone...I really don't like what I see!!!

MY LIST

(yes, I'm a list maker~I don't always follow it~But I ALWAYS make them)

1. CLEAN MY ROOM...(But I don't want to Mom...isn't that what we always say and then we play with our toys...WELL, my toys have changed, I have a TV in my room now, not toys, so maybe I will clean my room while I'm watching TV~Thats something to think about...Hmmmm)

2. CLEAN MY BATHROOM...(Again, I don't want to...why do I ALWAYS have to do it! Oh I know why cuz if I don't it will get really really gross and creepy crawly things might grow and you could do a science experiment in there...Thats why~SO I think I'll Clean. BUT, on the plus side, I can still see the TV from my room!)

3. CLEAN MY CRAFT ROOM...(This ones a so-so on if I want to clean it or not...most times its clean except when I have to do a rush project for the kids, if I'm working on stuff for me, then it's fine and stays clean, so maybe I'll clean it)...cuz...of # 4

4. THE TOY ROOM...(WAIT, it's clean, cuz I already cleaned it and bless my boys pointed heads, they've been keeping it clean...well so-so for almost 2 weeks now...thats a record in our house!)

5. THE BOYS ROOM...(Again WAIT...already cleaned it, so I can mark that one off my list, but I can give the boys a little credit...they've sort of kept it clean for a week...it's a miracle!)...BUT NOT #6

6. THE KIDS BATHROOM...(I think this one is beyond help...I clean it, Cayla cleans it...I've even had the boys clean it...so they say...but I think its time to bring in the military, the FBI, the CIA, the whoever is anyone that can do anything, cuz that room SCARES me...how two little boys and one teenage girl...well not so much the girl, but she does use the bathroom so I have to group her in that room...can cause so much damage...even after it's been clean, so fast, is beyond my understanding...amazing!)

7. CAYLAS ROOM...(Where to begin...I can't...)

8. MY OFFICE...(Thats another room that every few months gets cleaned out...Its the drop everything in it room...which is pretty sad...BUT I've got to get it cleaned out again)

9. After all the rooms are cleaned out I need to vacuum and carpet clean the carpets (why cuz mom wants my cleaner...shes been asking for a while and I need to get her the cleaner but I REALLY need to clean my carpets, so now its being added to the list...its a must get done thing.)

10. Of course theres the normal stuff, like the kitchen, downstairs bath and the laundry which I'll justs lump on one line cuz I do these things EVERYDAY. They NEVER seem to go away, I wonder why that is! No matter how many times I do them, they still are there, like a kid, they just stay around! Strange!

So theres my list of things to get done while DJ's gone....

Do you want to know one of the main reasons to get these things done while hes gone...Well over the years we've talked about it...So I work and get the house perfect while he's gone and then he walks in and its so nice and clean...and...well...the first thing he does...drops all his gear and junk on the floor then walks to the coach and drops more stuff and sits down tired...goes upstairs and drops more stuff...goes and looks through the mail and makes a mess there...looks through what the kids have done with their school work while hes been gone and leaves it a mess...YOU GET THE IDEA...We've decided that I work so hard to get the house clean so that when he comes home he can mess it up all over again! AGAIN...it's the CIRCLE OF LIFE!!!

Hard to BELIEVE...

2010-04-05T17:21:00.000-07:00

...It's hard to believe that there is only SIX, yes, SIX weeks left til the end of the school year! This last six weeks marks the LONGEST six weeks for every child, teacher and parent....

WHY you ask....Well, for a few reasons! The next week we have AIMS and Terra Nova for our kids (so much fun...sorry teachers...you really don't get to teach any more, you have to prep for the test so that our children can make our state look good...HaHa sometimes I make myself laugh, make the stake of AZ education look good, sorry if I offend).

Then comes the last few weeks for NO DAYS off from school (just stress the NO DAYS OFF FROM SCHOOL). This is were the kids, the teachers and the parents all get STIR CRAZY! Everyone becomes like a BIG POT ready to BOIL over, just waiting for something to set it off...

it only takes one thing...

what will it be...

I really can't wait to see what and who will be the first...

The Student, The Teacher, OR The Parents! HUMMMM!

Its a NERF WAR...

2010-03-31T14:59:00.000-07:00

What happens when you get four 11 and 12 year old boys together?

I'll tell you...

The upstairs of my house sounds like a WAR ZONE and the ceiling is going to cave in from them running and jumping around. The screaming, laughing and yelling can be heard for miles. The NERF bullets are flying down the stairs. There are bullets EVERYWHERE upstairs. I open my linen closet to put laundry away and find a boy hiding. I open the boys walk in closet to put clothes away and find a boy hiding in it. I go to put towels in the bathroom and well, you guessed it, I find a boy hiding in it! There seems to be boys hiding everywhere and really there are only 5 boys at this house right now...like I said four 11 and 12 year olds and one 8 year old! Boys are coming out of the walls!!!

BEWARE when you walk upstairs you might get caught in the cross fire! Every time I walk up I say...Cease Fire! Neutral Person coming! Don't shoot the mom! If you shoot me...there will be NO FOOD FOR THE MEN! And they all STOP FIRING! Do I know the way to a kids heart or what! FOOD!!!

But it can be hard for one kid to balance 3 different types of friends. Josh is having to learn young to keep his patience and learn that you have to keep everyone happy when you invite others to your house and that sometimes it's harder than you think. Everyone is different and sometimes Josh really finds it hard when some of his friends get together. But you know everyone has to deal with it in life. He's finding it harder then he thought it would be to keep his cool with some of his friends. But he will learn! It's just the way of life...or how does the song go...it's "THE CIRCLE OF LIFE"!

But they are having fun, MOST of the time! I just hope my house can stand up to all the craziness that's going on upstairs. I'm kind of worried that after today, I wont have a two story house any more, I might have a one story! Scary! BUT I really like my TWO STORY HOUSE! I think I will miss it! Oh well, no more having to carry the vacuum up and down the stairs once the upstairs in my down stairs!

It's happening...

2010-03-24T15:22:00.000-07:00

It really is. They said it would. We just had to do it! And we finally did! I just can't believe it! It's soooo cooool!

Oh~What?...you ask? Our garden...IT'S GROWING! It's so cool! No~Really it is!

From our window we can see that our tomato plants and bell pepers have already grown quite a few inches, so I decided to go out with DJ and as we look, I could see my beets, my cucumbers, my pumpkin, my artichoke, my lettuce (I think you get the idea, everything), growing. They was something sprouting out of the ground and guess what? It wasn't weeds. Thats right it was FOOD from my garden.

Then last night I looked out my kitchen window and you know what? Yep, I can now see the lettuce from my window. Its grown that much. Everything is growing. (Cayla had a good laugh at me cuz of my reaction.)

In case you can't tell, I'm a little excited about our garden.

Of course the flowers we planted are growing like crazy, along with my grass (which needs to be mowed again)! Everything has new growth on it! All the colors are so pretty! Pretty~pretty~pretty!

But how cool that our garden is already growing. Just so you don't think I'm strange, my kidos were all excited about it too!

WE HAVE A GARDEN GROWING! Whoo Who!

Prophet said...

2010-03-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

...To plant a garden...SO that's what we did!

Saturday, DJ, the boys and I spent all day working on the back yard. I wasn't really sure it was going to happen cuz DJ was suppose to have Military Duty, but it got cancelled...WHOO WHO!

We ran to Home Depot and Lowels and then to Lowels again...Can I just say I really don't like Lowels...it's a girly store and Home Depot is a real mans store. Lowels couldn't help DJ with some things he needed last week so thats why we ended up a Home Depot and YES they were able to help (I just LOVE Home Depot). But I do have to give Lowels a little credit...which again confirms its a girly store...they had a much better flower selection then Home Depot.

Anywho, while DJ fixed a pipe, the boys and I had the fun task...pulling weeds, picking up dog poo (not ME, thats one of the boys jobs that of course they've been slacking on. Who would of thought that one little old dog could make SO MUCH Poop!), and mowing and weed eating the backyard. Which while I was mowing, the lawnmower DIED!! (I killed the pore lawn mower while DJ was making yet another run to Lowels, so I thought). It didn't blow a fuss it just stopped. DJ looked it over and well, a part got fried! (Good new...I didn't do it...it just wore out from time). Which meant a run to checker for the part!! But DJ fixed it cuz he's the man but I MOWED the lawn CUZ I'm the WO-MAN!

Our next task was adding in planting compost to all our dirt. Again I had the fun task of doing that while DJ was putting in new tubing where we wanted to plant flowers and veggies! Can I just say my arms are killing me. Great work out I guess!

Now, after all the hard work, we have pretty flowers planted and my herb garden is in along, with 3 different kinds of squash, pumpkin, watermelon, beets, carrots, lettuce, cucumbers, broccoli, LOTS of peppers, and LOTS of tomato's, plus a couple of other things, that I just can't remember off the top of my head. We still have a few things to do on Monday but in a few months all our hard work will be worth it...and can I just say my back yard is SOOOO green! Now for the WEEDS in the front yard! (I just know I'm going to get a notice from the HOA...but this Saturday is the day for pulling the weeds in the front yard, I promise!)

OOPS...I did it again...

2010-03-06T21:13:00.000-08:00

What did I do again...well, I'll tell you....(and it wasn't singing a Britney Spears song either).

If I thought it was embarrassing the first time (ok, maybe it wasn't the first time it happened), then I was WRONG! This time has the last time beaten hands down!

Remember awhile back I wrote about my little passing out adventures I had at the school...NO, I didn't pass out at school again...NOP, this time I passed out at my home (which I've done before)...NO BIGGY right~WRONG!

The door bell rang, so I got up and walked over to the door, it was our bug man. As we were talking, I got that feeling again, yep that feeling that everything is closing in and starting to black out. I know what that means, so I start to sit down...WELL, I guess I didn't make it.

The next thing I know, the bug guy is asking if I'm ok and Josh had a phone in his hand. I guess I passed out and the bug guy asked if any one was in the house. Josh came around the corner and saw me passed out and ran and got the phone and called 911. However, I started to come to, so he hung up the phone.

Of course a few minutes later 911 called back to make sure everything was ok. I explained the situation and thought that was the end of it. NOP, I was wrong.

The bug guy made sure I was ok, and started to spray outside. About 5 minutes later the door bell rings again. This time it was the POLICE! YEP THE COPS!

Because I had told them I was ok, they sent officers to make sure someone didn't force me to say that. So the officers asked if I was ok, who was in my home and if I felt I needed to go to the hospital. Then they had to do a walk through the house, just to make sure someone wasn't forcing me to say I was fine. Of course TODAY the boys and I were going to clean the house and it was a mess. I guess that will teach me to make sure the house is ALWAYS clean.

A few hours later, the bug guy called me to make sure I was still doing ok. WOW, passing out was bad enough but doing it in front of a stranger and then having the cops come to my home...Ya that was really embarrassing. At least when I did it at the school last year I was around people I knew...oh well life goes on!

THE COPS and the BUG GUY...sounds like a movie title.

College...

2010-02-28T18:25:00.000-08:00

This is crazy...

Caylas getting things ready to figure out what college she wants to go to. No biggy, RIGHT? WRONG!

Shes gotten a nice scholarship, but of course you need to have more money now adays then what they give you...IT'S CRAZY! Especially if she wants to live on campus, which I think she does...anything to get away from her crazy brothers!

She keep applying for scholarships, but of course a lot of them she doesn't qualify for a number of reasons...which is kind of a bummer for her, but shse keeps applying, at least she has the big one... (Time to find another job, Cayla...good thing she got offered one yesterday, now if she goes back and takes it)

So now she is applying for some other things, and they want to know EVERYTHING! Honestly, I don't remember it being this hard when we were filling out stuff when DJ was in school. But we all know that my kids have sucked my memories from me and I'm lucky if I remember what day it is...Sunday, RIGHT?

It's nuts all the stuff and info they want. Let's just say I'm glad that I have a daughter that is on top of all of it! Cuz really, it would drive me NUTS to fill out of these forms all the time. It's like buying a house when it comes to all the paper work.

But hey it's just college...gee what do they want my first born...Oh wait, they are getting my first born....

She just can't WIN...

2010-02-26T16:25:00.000-08:00

Poor~Poor Cayla...For reals this time. I'm not being a brat and making fun of her (ok maybe a little I am), but really poor little girl!

So Monday she had a surgical procedure done to check her acid reflux plus to see if she has GERD. No biggy really, she had this done a few months ago...this time there was one more test and she had to have this device on her for 48 hours to measure her PH balance. It was just bigger than a cellphone, but to here talk about it, the thing as HUGE! (It wasn't really that big, again about the size of 3 pagers put together).

Well this happens on Monday, oh wait last week we took her in for her knee, which she hurt at cheer. Now she has to have physical therapy done on it. That is if we can get her into the place, they can't see her for another week or more. Nice!

Then Tuesday she hung out at Jasinski helping in a 1st grade class. You see Cay wants to be a teacher after college. She's always wanted to work with kids. And she thinks she wants to work with 1st grade, so she got to sit in on a class. She LOVED it! But of course she would, she LOVES kids!

Then Wed. she started to not feel good. She thought she was getting a head cold. She wasn't feeling good last week, but just kind of pushed it aside. But this wasn't going away. By Thursday night, I couldn't even understand the kid when she was talking to me on the phone. I finally told her to stop talking and go and blow her noise. It just kept going and going and going. Boy did she have a lot of snot in her...but it makes sense cuz shes a little snot (oh wait did I just write that;D) !!

Friday was not a good day for her, (wait thats today, so I guess you would say todays not a good day), she had to go and drop off part of her Senior paper at school. So she called DJ and told him her throat was bad and she felt really bad. (You see thats WAY before I get up!)

He called me and said he wanted to get her in to the DR. I agreed. So by 9:00 he was on his way to check her out of school and off to the DRs.

What did the DR have to say...She has STREP THROAT! You see strep is going around right now and if anything is going around, leave it to Cayla to catch it. And now she has exposed all her friends and everyone at school! (GOTTA LOVE IT when a kids sick with one thing and you think its another...oh well, at least we have DRUGS now!)

I'm telling you the poor kid is going to be in sooooo much trouble when she goes of to College...What she going to do without her mommy and daddy to take care of her?!?

It was a BLONDE moment...

2010-02-19T13:22:00.000-08:00

...And I'm sure I'm NOT the only one to have these!!!

Ok so here is what happened...Yes, sit down, stand up, whatever you do when your getting ready for a good laugh, cuz thats what you'll have, at my expense! (and its ok, go ahead and laugh, everyone else has).

So yesterday Cayla had a Doctors appointment and after it was over we went to the store. No biggy so far right? Well, when we got to the store, DJ called. He had been in classes all day and wanted to know what had happen at the Doctors. So I was telling him about it. Then of course we started talking about other things, while we were walking in the store (I know how rude...talking on a cell in public, in a store...I'm one of THOSE people, what can I say). Cayla was putting her two cents in during the conversation, no biggy. And all was good.

As I was talking with DJ, my cell phone was up to my ear (don't forget that part-it's important to remember)...I all of the sudden had a panic attack. You see, I felt my front pocket where I keep my phone, IT WAS GONE...Then I checked my back pocket and my sweater and then my purse...There was NO PHONE. I even said it to DJ, I can't fine my cell phone.

Remember, I was talking to DJ on MY CELL PHONE. Cayla was DYING at this point. So was the lady that was walking past us. Right then I realized that I was on my phone. Later, in the store when we saw that same lady, she couldn't even keep a straight face as she walked pass me! Oh well, at least I gave someone a good laugh!

Yep, I was having a BLONDE MOMENT!

A Seth REVIEW....

2010-02-17T15:58:00.000-08:00

I mentioned these events before so I thought I would post some pictures of these events...(better late then NEVER)

SO LETS REVIEW whats happened to Seth during December and January...

That little boy had a busy two months.

Lets start with his 8th Birthday. We asked him a month or so before..."Would you rather have a birthday party or go to Disneyland?" Well, my little man, being raised by a mom who LOVES disneyland, said he wanted to go to Disneyland...Little did he know...Thats what we were planning for his 8th birthday...

We really do love spending time at Disneyland during Christmas time and it's GREAT that Seths Birthday is right before Christmas. It puts our whole family into the Christmas Spirit and then we are ready for the Christmas season.

This was the best part...while we were at Disneyland, we ran into our friends the DeGraffs. Ok so I knew they would be there at the same time we were going. Seth and Sydnie are best friends and all the kids get along great, so it really made the trip fun. It was kind of funny...when we wanted to spend just family time together, the kids kept asking when we would get together. And you talk about oppsites...We are light and blonde hair, they are dark and black hair. Everyone thought we were trying to still children cuz I had their kids and they had my kids, it was kid swaping time. It was a sight to see.

Seth had a fun time at Disneyland for his Birthday. I think if he could choose that every year he would. He's a kid after my own heart. The next big thing happened two days after we got back from the big D. Seth went to his first REAL Cub Scouts. You see he went to pack meeting the month before, but he didn't have the uniform...THIS TIME HE DID!

Isn't he cute....

After Disneyland and Cub Scouts, both within a week, came Christmas Eve and Christmas!

And from there...

Next came Seths Baptism...That was a BIG day for all of us. Of course it was Seth's Big Day, but for us as mom and dad, it was our last baby being Baptized. WOW~ hard to beleive...DJ must be getting old cuz I can't be that old! But then again...sometimes this family of mine makes me feel like I've aged a hundred years!

The our last two things...Seths very first Pinewood Derby and he recieved his Bobcat!

Way to go Seth Michael!!! He really did have a busy few months! Heck so did I! But that's ok, it was all for my baby boy, whose growing up!!

Flowers...JUST BECAUSE...

2010-02-13T20:18:00.000-08:00

Can I just tell you something...

I know a lot of you know this but I want you to know that I know it!! (And I do!)

That my daughter is AMAZING...AWSOME...And well...PRETTY SPECIAL...and I just LOVE her more than I can explain!!

So the other day she brought me home flowers...why...just because! Yes, me being the suspicious mother, was wondering what was up or if she was needing to pass some goal off or something, but NO, nothing. She just bought them with me in mind!

She knows that I'm having a lot going on in my head right now and she felt I needed a little cheering up. It wasn't much, BUT IT WAS EVERYTHING TO ME!

Can I just say...

...I TRULY HAVE THE BEST DAUGHTER EVER!!!

What a MONTH...

2010-01-30T09:58:00.000-08:00

(PICTURES TO COME AS SOON AS I DOWN LOAD THEM...SORRY, I'm LAZY!!)

January proved to be a JAMMED PACKED month of things happening in the Hansen household.

If it wasn't one thing...it was another. Of course I need to start the month off with what is the BIGGEST thing of ALL...Well maybe the BIGGEST MIRACLE of ALL...

...Seth's Baptism!!

Yep, he made it! I know some of you had your doubts, ok-ok, mainly his father and mother, that this day would come. that he would even survive to the ripe old age of 8~BUT he did and on Saturday Jan 2, 2010, our last baby was baptised by his dad (tear~tear)... it was a nice day. His grandpa Waldron spoke and after, all his family and friends got together at our house for a 6 foot sub. And of course the traditional gift of scriptures was given (boy are we so predictable as parents).

With Seth turning 8 he started scouts and on the 5th, Seth had his very first Pine Wood Derby. This was Crazy. NEVER send an 8 year old up to his toys and say "go look at your cars and pick one you want to copy." He came back with one that was the sleek sports car. Dad was all over it, of course the design got modified a little. Oh and talk about giving mom a HEART ATTACK!! So "THE BOYS" are out side working on the car with the dremel tool. Theres noise going and everything ~ still noise going when DJ comes in and sits down. Did I mention there is noise going. All of the sudden I realize that the noise is STILL going on and DJ IS IN THE HOUSE. SETH IS OUTSIDE WITH THE TOOLS, that are making noise! I look at DJ and say are you CRAZY!! He says Josh is out there and he has the on/off switch in his hands...like thats suppose to make me feel better! SCARY!! Anywho, Seth had fun at his first pinewood derby. He didn't win, but he didn't care and that's what its all about!!

Josh got to go on his MAKE-UP hike this month. You see a few months ago the scouts went camping and were going to go hiking, which they sorta did, but they sorta got rained out. He looked like a drowned rat when he returned home back then. So this time the weather was perfect and he had fun with his dad. He also had his Induction ceremony on the 10th into the National Junior Honor Society. It was short and to the point, which I liked! Josh was really on a roll this month, cuz he made Honor Roll (get it roll and roll... ok so it wasn't that funny...give a gal a break already)! (He really is a smart kid, when he wants to be, he just hides it well). Right now he's off playing Boy Scout at a day camp earning, I hope, lots of badges!

Cayla's life has been crazy this month, but looking at her life, it's crazy every month. The last few weeks she's been going over to a friends house who is currently taking the missionary discussions. Which is pretty cool. Earlier in the month, the cheerleaders had to go and cheer for the P F Changs Rock N Roll Marathon...oh my heck, you should have seen the outfit she had on, I wish I had gotten a pic of it, it was unbelievable! She's had SAT Test this month and Scholarship dinners, Student council, dance, plus cheer and YW's, speaking at other schools for NHS...and so on and so on and so on. Right now she is up in Prescott at a POM competition. Really how does she fit it all in, cuz you know I haven't figured it out yet, and she still manages to get to seminary. Well, it's no wonder she is sick all the time!

Now for all of your sports fans this will be cool to you but for those of you that don't care for sports or should I say football then you just wont care!!! DJ's month was busy with Football games!! Not like what you think. Yes he watched some but his was mainly working them. And of course he worked the BIG one for AZ -- THE FIESTA BOWL!! He was put in charge of protecting one of the coaches and was right there on the field.

But as Football came to an end, other things came forward. The Military got their paper work together (FINALLY) and made him First Sergeant. So now he's the BIG GUY in the unit (He's already one of the oldest...;D) It's extra work but it's what he wants. More power to the old guy! So he had that, THEN we get a call...the Stake President wants to meet with him...BUSTED! Well, we knew something was up. It could be good, it could be bad~ Well, we haven't decided yet. His new calling is to the Stake High Council. So this is either...3rd times a charm or strike 3 your out! We will see!

But amongst all of this DJ's been having A LOT, I mean A LOT of pain in his leg. Not his knee where he had surgery but his leg. After an MRI...drum roll please...THE RESULTS...STRESS FRACTURE! He has to be off his leg for 6 to 8 weeks (maybe more). What's that mean for a police detective...LIGHT DUTY! You can't drive your work vehicle cuz you can't carry a gun cuz you can't fight bad guys! So whats that mean in our family...WELL...3 drivers~2 vehicles...one driver has to drive to 19th Ave everyday at 5:30am...2nd driver has to drive to 91st ave at 5:25 am and then to 115th Ave at 7:00am everyday...3rd driver is NOW STUCK AT HOME without a vehicle until either one of said drivers decide to return home...in case you can't guess...I'M THE 3rd DRIVER! NOT FUN!

Mixed in with this month was things I had for school, my grandpa's 82nd birthday (which we had a small party at the hospital for him), and lots more. Oh and who could forget ALL THAT WONDERFUL RAIN! It was soooooo COOL! I wish we could get more. It was nice while it was here!

Those were just a few of the major highlights in January believe it or not! SO, SO MUCH MORE HAPPENED, but I figured your getting sick of reading my blog and it's time to move on.

With that said, Here's looking forward to February...cuz it's looking a bit jammed packed!

Roller Coaster Ride...

2010-01-24T19:56:00.000-08:00

My life's been a bit complicated lately...and anyone who knows me knows thats SO normal and your saying "What else is knew."

It's like I've been on a roller coaster ride lately- up & down - down & up -side to side - round & round-loop to loop - back & froth - then back again! Really that's what life's been like lately and I'm sure most of you can relate to what I'm talking about!

Lately our family has been faced with some VERY difficult decisions (which I'll keep to myself right now), and we are really having a hard time with those decisions... sometimes I wish I could be 7 years old so my Mommy could make all my decisions for me! I'd be loving life then. Oh plus she could come and clean my house...that would be SO sweet!

Anywho- you know you want to do whats right and whats best...but the question is...WHAT IS RIGHT?

So you pray and your not sure if you get your answer cuz if your like me your stubborn and pigheaded (you all can stop agreeing with me so quickly...try to act shocked when I say things...where is the love). Of course as a parent you want to do what's best for the family.

Have you ever wanted something so bad - so bad that you dreamed about it --- You just knew it would happen. It had to happen...RIGHT? Well, sometimes the Lord has other plans for you. Even when you argue with Him - Yes, I do argue with the Lord, sometimes...not all the time. It's in my nature to argue...don't know why...you'll have to talk to my parents, I blame them for it ;)...But I do often argue even though He's always right. You see I generally know what the answers are before I get that full answer feeling. I just don't always want to hear it.

Then theres dealing with the effects of others and ho you interact with them after they have treated you a certain way.

I know...none of these makes any sense to you all...but what do you expect...it's the ramblings of a crazy women...ME;)!

When all is said and done...I still don't have the answer to my question and my life is STILL complicated! GOT TO LOVE IT!!

So here I go again...UP & DOWN - BACK & FORTH! IT'S ALL GOOD!

Its time for the stress wagon to set in...

2009-12-21T06:55:00.000-08:00

The Holiday shop is OVER...THANK GOODNESS!!! Like I said before...It was CRAZY! It made Black Friday seem mild. Those kid's were CRAZY!! TRUST ME...I saw it in their eyes!!! They were WILD EYES!! The kids wanted EVERYTHING!! And there was ONLY Teresa and me working ALL week (and due to an emergency for a while -just me)! It was a MAD HOUSE!

BUT because of the Holiday shop --- I LOST A WEEK -- A WHOLE WEEK!! Do you know how much a week is during the holidays...it's a life time!!

I'm so far behind! In fact other than shopping, I've gotten nothing done!! NO WRAPPING, NO BAKING, NO CLEANING, NO NOTHING!!!

And I only have part of this week left because I lost this weekend, cuz, well we took the kids to DISNEYLAND for Seth's 8th birthday! It was a BIG surprise for the kids! And what a better place to try and get into the Christmas holiday then at Disneyland! Did you know they make it snow there? We soooo LOVE Disneyland!! More on our trip another time, with pics!

But because of the trip, which I'm sooo glad we took, our family really needed it, I'm going to lose A LOT of time getting things ready for CHRISTMAS! So this next 4 days will be crazy. Plus today, Seth has an appointment in town at 1 and then there is Christmas lights tonight...then Wed we are going someplace, can't say where yet, cuz we are taking my mom and dad, and well, mom reads this and then she will know where we are going. She probably knows where already but, I'm not going to say just in case! But the Christmas Eve party is coming up and I have to be ready by then. So much to do, and so little time.

I'm starting to look like one of those crazy women runny around with wild hair and bulging eyes!! Well, I'll some how get it all done...I don't know how...STAY TUNE!

Hansen Christmas Letter

2009-12-16T09:24:00.000-08:00

Dear Family and Friends, December 2009

We know we say this every year, but its true…it amazes us when Christmas comes around because we really can’t believe that another year has passed. BUT here we are at the end of 2009, with Christmas fast approaching. There is so much to get done with all the hustle & bustle of the season but we wanted to take a moment & pause to celebrate the birth of our Savior. This year has found our family a little stressed but as we look back we realized that we have been so blessed with His love & we wanted to express our gratefulness for the blessings we have received.

We hope that as you are reading this you & your family are well &in good spirits. DJ, Suzi & the kids, Cayla (17), Joshua (11) & Seth (7-8 on the 17th of this month) have kept ourselves sort of busy this past year. We are still out in Buckeye watching it grow everyday. Like we said its been a busy but quiet year for the Hansen Family. The kids however, have kept us running from one place to another.

In 2 weeks, Seth will turn eight. Its hard to believe that he has survived this long without some major incident happening…you know, like mom trading him in for a nice quiet chinchilla...just joking (maybe). Really, he is a very loving, but very talkative child, he NEVER stops, EVER! But we love him! Next month he’ll get baptized for our church. He’s really looking forward to that. He’s also getting ready for Cub Scouts, which he is SO excited about. He’s been watching his big brother do it for 4 years now & he can’t wait. He’s working hard in 2nd grade, where he has his own little group of friends…most of which are girls, they adore him (it’s that smile)! They want to play anything he plays…even if its Indian Jones or Batman, the girls will do it, if Seth says so. It’s so fun to sit back and have him read books to us now, its kind of cute watching him sound out words. He’s still working hard on his speech & trying to stay out of trouble (that’s a hard one).

Joshua is our funny child. He’s such a cute kid. But he’s tricky. He has you thinking he’s such a quiet & shy kid & then BAM!! He shows his wild & crazy side. This year he has had a lot of changes in his life. He moved up from cub scouts into 11 yr old scouts & he is loving it. Right as he was moving into scouts he received his Arrow of Light which is a big thing in cub scouts. His first scout campout, Josh had so much fun~they got poured on (who would of thought it would rain in AZ)! He thought it was GREAT!! 6th grades going pretty go so far for him. He’s starting to come out of his comfort zone (alittle). He’s playing football & basketball & my shy kid has joined student council. This requires him to talk in front of others…kind of a hard thing for him to be center stage. Oh & he was asked to join Jr. National Honor Society this year. He’s been such a help to his mom when it comes to helping with Seth & things with School. We think he’s a pretty good kid.

Now for the busiest of our three, Cayla. She’s still juggling EVERYTHING in life! How she manages, I really don’t know. Her Senor year has proven to be busiest year. She’s balancing cheer, dance, school, NHS, Pom, student council, church, trying to find a college, family, lots more, & oh yes, can’t forget BOYS, BOYS, BOYS. At the end of her Jr. year she ended up attended 3 Proms, good thing we had 3 prom dress’(we love a good sale). This year Cayla was elected to the Homecoming court and ended up coming in as first runner up, Homecoming Princess. Cayla is still actively involved in her dancing & this year she has done so much singing for our church. She really does have a beautiful voice. She is working on her second YW’s medallion & should have it by Feb 2010. We really don’t know how she manages all of this & maintains a 4.4 grade point average, but she does. She is her biggest critic; if she doesn’t feel like she has given her all at something then she is the hardest on herself than anyone else is. That’s a hard thing at such a young age. She continues to be a help to her teachers, friends & family. She can be such a good example to us all with the amount of love she gives to others.

Suzi is working on keeping the family together. Keeping everyone’s schedule straight gets a little hard sometimes. This year Suzi’s spent most of her free time at the boy’s school working with the PTSA, where she serves as Vice President & Treasure. This really keeps her busy. She enjoys being at the school with the boy’s & having an active involvement in their lives. She continues to serve as Laural (16-17 yr old girls) teacher at church. Cayla enjoys this cuz she gets to have her mom as her teacher. We are grateful for all the balancing acts Suzi does for our family and we love her for it.

DJ is starting his Christmas off with an early gift, he just received word this week that he was made the 1st sergeant of his military unit. This made his year! He’s been keeping life busy between family, church, work & guard. He still enjoys teaching the Gospel Doctrine class at church. He kind of got depressed this year cuz he didn’t get drawn for elk hunting which ended up being a good thing, according to Suzi, because during the summer he hurt his knee & last month ended up having knee surgery. So it all worked out & there is always next year. We’re just grateful the surgery went well.

From our house to yours we hope you have a Merry Christmas and May your New Year be Fun and Happy!
All Our love,
DJ, Suzi, Cayla, Joshua and Seth Hansen

Ok~Ok...

2009-12-05T07:09:00.000-08:00

I know~I know...Don't get on me like ugly on a frog!! I've been a SLACKER...AGAIN!! No surprise there~RIGHT!

But what can I say~Life's been~well~NO I WON'T SAY IT... we all have crazy busy lives, so I wont use that excuse... so let's just say life's been life, according to my definition of life!

BUT...I will say I SURVIVED BLACK FRIDAY!!! With all the insaneness and wildness (yes that would be my life, not just black Friday), I managed to get 90% of my shopping done!! (I'm so awesome if I do say so myself...now Suzi get off your cloud!)

The day was HILARIOUSLY INSANE if I do say so, and I do! The sales weren't really all that if you ask me! It was what I did and who I did it with that made it a FUN day/night! (yes that was the word night in there).

Thanksgiving Day...we spent it at my moms this year instead of home or at Disneyland (yes we go there a lot on Thanksgiving, its so fun) or at Kim's, cuz, you see my grandpa's in the hospital. We all needed to stay close so we could go back and forth that day. More on that another time, maybe....

So Teresa, my friend (yes I really have one, mom :))~I've talked about her before...anywho, we decided to be a little shall we say mentally ill. We went out Thanksgiving night at 11:35 pm! Yes, that wasn't 4:30 am like most sane Black Friday shoppers, that was 11:35 pm, the night before. Other than the first store we went to, where we had an hour & half wait, the rest of the stores we had NO~ yes NO wait ~ in and out in just a few minutes! We did decide that the mall was not worth going to! That's where we had the long wait! After we left the store and started walking around we were laughing at all the people in some of the lines that went the length of the mall (sorry if that was you). Then, as we were leaving Old Navy at around 3:30~4, we were laughing at the people at Best Buy camping out at their doors in Tents with little grills to keep warm! It was so funny (again if that was you sorry, and I know my laughing is going to come back and bit me in the darreair~it always does), but we were in and out with all our stuff with in 20 to 30 minutes, come on is that shopping or what!

At JC Penny's we had to have one of the guys help us out with our stuff & when he got to Teresa's truck he started laughing. Can you believe that...he laughed at all the stuff we had. Teresa had to buy for a lot of family. When we went to Target a guy was pushing in carts, looked at the back and just walked away laughing at the back of our truck!

Teresa and I got home around 11 or so still full of energy and then I turned around and left again with DJ and didn't get home till 5:30 or so. We went out looking for things for Cayla, came back empty handed! I hate shopping for her!

The two bad things out of all that is...I still have NO idea what to get Cayla other than clothes~ugh! And now I have to wrap the gifts! Stupid Teresa already has hers wrapped!!

LET'S REVIEW BLACK FRIDAY...

~The deals this year were SO-SO (at least I thought so)

~Got 90% of my Christmas shopping done~yeah me!

~Teresa & I had a BLAST!

~Sleep is SO over RATED!! You should try going a few days with out it!

OH and GUESS WHAT...

CHRISTMAS is COMING!!!!

Poor~Poor~Poor Cayla...

2009-10-22T06:39:00.000-07:00

You got to really feel for the kid...NOT!!!

When the poutty lip comes out and the sad, sad eyes and then the "it's not right, it's just not right!"

WHY...You ask? Well, I'll tell you...

See Cayla has a few friends that, well, will text me and ask me questions, or that I'll text and ask questions (What can I say...I'm a cool mom...hey don't laugh...let me live in my own little world and think my own little thoughts, ok!). Now I'm sure there are some of you moms out there with teens that do that. Now, it just so happens that some of our conversations will go on and on and on for a while and maybe those conversations will be about...well I don't know...about Cayla...just maybe... and maybe, she happens to be sitting right in the same room with me or with the friends at the time...and maybe, just maybe neither one of us will tell her what were text. I'm just saying MAYBE!

OH BUT DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR THE EVIL CHILD!!! Yes, I said EVIL. That poutty lip will change, the whinny and complaining will change and the EVIL EYES come out...the STARE STARTS. She will walk around and JUST LOOK into your eyes... You moms KNOW what I'm talking about...BUT NO...SHES EVEN MORE EVIL...SHE ATTACKS...THAT'S RIGHT...YOUR READ IT HERE and YOU READ IT RIGHT...she went after me around the kitchen table (after the cell phone...it might of been cuz I said do you want to read what we've been texting...oops, I deleted it...ha ha ha) and I'm not ashamed to say I ran to DJ and hide, but then...she came after me!!! That little pill, how dare she and started to try and tickle me and take the cell phone. DJ had to protect me. What a hubby he is!!!

All this cuz I text Geoff about his new dogs name (which I wanted him to name Cayla's nick giggles and he said NO WAY...You can't have two weird crazy females name giggles :))... and about whatever else we could think of about Cayla (heheheheheheheheheheheheh)...and it just went on for a long time...WE JUST DID IT TO BUG CAYLA...CUZ WE CAN! ;) LUV YOU BABY GIRL!!!

Where or where is my PURSE...

2009-10-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

I really miss carrying my purse right now...

You see ONLY 2 DAYS TIL THE CARNIVAL
...WOW...CAN'T BELIEVE THAT...

I have to carry so much junk...oh WAIT...it's not JUNK...it's important PTSA stuff (right Teresa)...that it wont fit into my purse so I have to carry a bag, a big bag full of everything, papers, money, checks, notes, documents, things you write with, gum, water, t-shirts, tape, calculators, EVERYTHING under the sun...HECK IF YOU LOOK, I BET THE KITCHEN SINK IS IN THERE SOMEWHERE...I WANT MY PURSE!!!

I keep forgetting stuff...example yesterday...What did I forget...my drivers license so I couldn't cash one of the checks we needed to write for PTSA cuz I don't have my Lic number memorize...come on, what more do you want...thats too much for my head to remember~numbers!!! REALLY...if its not your socially security number~who has it memorized...obviously I DON'T!

Your killing me here people, just plain old killing me!!!

I'm going crazy...AGAIN...

2009-10-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

I think I just might be going crazy!!! They say that happens when you get older...I did just have a birthday this last week and so somewhere along the way the years did start to SLOWLY creep up on me and as Cayla occasionally reminds me, well she reminds DJ more than me, we are getting older. BUT I think with my old age, not that I'm saying I'm old, I think my mind is going~Oh wait I NEVER had a MIND!!!!

But some of you might be asking why I think I might be losing that thing in the upper part of my head...well it's that time of year again...

NO...Not Halloween!

NO...Not Thanksgiving!!

NO...Not when the weather guy says that we will have no more 100 degree weather and then we do

NO... No Christmas!!!

YEP...you guessed it...IT'S the Jasinski FALL CARNIVAL!!!!

JUST KILL ME NOW!!!!!!!!!!

You would think after what I put my body throw last year, I would have learned and NOT do it this year...well that would be a NO....

And guess what...it's even BIGGER...yes, you read right...that was the word BIGGER this year. And there is really only 2 of us running around until the day of it planning it. AUUUUUUUGGGGGG. Really I AM CRAZY.

BUT IT'S GONNA BE FUN! Ok...Shameless plug...you all should come...you know I'm just a shameful person...if you are anywhere in the valley, you should come. Its cheap and safe...Heck it's in Buckeye!!! Ok, so it's half way to California if you live on the other side of the Valley, but thats ok, just make a trip out of it;)...hit the carnival first and the drive to California and watch the sun rise at the beach, sound good (you know I'm just kidding, its really not that far, people~20 minutes, 15 if you drive like me, cops plug your ears)

Heres some of what you'll get...Shameless plug time...50ft zipline (you have to be 48inch tall to go on this ride)~ it's called the survivor...it looks so cool (it takes its own crew to put this one together, its so big), a video gaming trailer with 14 plasma TV's, a gyro, swing n spin, a 58 foot slide, a train, games, food and lots more.

Its not as bit as the state fair, its not as small as your normal school carnival, but hey its OUR school carnival. And I have to put the word out there some how...RIGHT?!?! And what better way then my blog. SO, with that said there it is, plus, I had to put something on the blog, its been awhile since I've put anything on and right now all I eat, sleep, drink and dream is this carnival. Its crazy.

Once the Carnival is over will life slow down...NOP the next week, we start right into the book fair...NOVEMBER 2 to the 6th. I really think I am going CRAZY!!!!

Check one...

2009-10-06T07:52:00.000-07:00

CHECK ONE...Coughing...(Late night~ALL RIGHT~NO SLEEP...again!!!!)

CHECK TWO...Fever...(Cool shower and meds to bring down)

CHECK THREE...Throw up...(Time for GOOD OLD Mr. BUCKET)

~~~WHAT'S NEXT ON THE LIST...POOR SETH!!!

WELCOME FALL BREAK!!!

This is for MOM...

2009-09-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

This is for my mommy...CUZ she informed me the other day, AFTER I sent her an e-mail that I needed to update my Blog. You see at the end of my e-mails it says to visit me at my blog. Mom says, "I do visit and its the same, it NEEDS to be UPDATED!" Whatever, MOM!

SO FINE, MOTHER!!! I'm UPDATING just for little OLD you!! :) Love you mommy!

Well, as many of you know from reading my facebook...oh you didn't know I was on facebook, well, I am, check me out on facebook (so is DJ and Cayla). Anywho, I love how my mind just wonders around, need to stary focused on my task at hand.

But back to my topic...as some of you may know, Cayla was nominated for HOMECOMING Queen. How cool is that and boy was she shocked!!! Well, I thought it was pretty cool in deed. Well alas (what a funny word to use), she did not win, BUT she was runner up and because the queen did not, yes that was~ did not go to the Homecoming dance, Cayla started the dance with the king. Have you ever heard of such a thing, not going to your Homecoming dance when you just won Homecoming. Crazy if you ask me. But Cayla did get a crown out of it and a sash. And out of all the girls in the school she was 1st runner up. Shes a princess in our books. Way to go baby girl!

Also, are you ready for this one, Josh, my sweet quite but sometimes crazy middle baby is playing football. Did you hear what I typed...FOOTBALL. Yes, the sport where you can break you body. Isn't bad enough that I have Cayla who is a walking advertisement for a physical Therapist, that now Josh wants to get all beat up. Its just too funny though some of the things that have happen.

So he comes home from school and he gets this cheesy grin on his face and he says "mom what do you think if I want to play football?" The kids never showed an interest in football before, basketball, yes, baseball, yes, football, never. I just kind of laughed and said I don't think so, you would die and break all your bones. So he asked again. This time I knew something was up. The school was starting a team and he wanted to play. He'd been playing at lunch and I guess he really liked it. I told him he'd get all beat up and he says...NO I WONT. Let me tell you what happen the next day when I went to check him out of school early. Hes sitting at the front office waiting for me, with a bag of ice on his chin, bruised. He GOT KICKED IN THE FACE. MOMMY ALWAYS KNOWS! Told him he'd get hurt!!! He got kicked twice in the face. Its not the only injury he's gotten. Oh don't get me wrong, I don't care at all that he's playing, I just wanted to pull his leg, but I KNEW HE WOULD GET HURT...I ALWAYS KNOW...I'M THE MOTHER!!! He is having fun.

Then of course Seth...Seth...Seth...What to do with that kid. Do you know how many people have asked me where he has gotten his accent from. I just don't know about that kid. His new thing is to talk with an English accent, that on top of his already natural accent that he has that you can't understand. He comes out and says "Ello, Gevonor." Strange kid. Wonder who he belongs to?!?

So Mom, sooo sooo sorry that I've failed you as a daughter at keeping up on the blog and the facebook. Life has been a little crazy as of late. Don't feel guilty cuz you pressured me into updating at all. It needed to be done. I will try and be better at my responsibilities at getting on to the computer and down loading pictures too. I know I am failing in the department also. Oh just go ahead and disown me, I'm not even worth it!

Hey mom, YOU SHOULD START A BLOG!!! LUV ya LOTS!!

Sometimes Mickey...

2009-09-07T08:17:00.000-07:00

...I outta...if it wasn't for the fact that Mickeys so darn CUTE and a 16 1/2 year old black Lab dog, I'd, well, I don't know what, BUT I WOULD!

In Mickeys old age he's gotten, well, a bit senile...and when it storms with lightning and thunder, he goes CRAZY! Over the the last few years he's eaten, and I do mean eaten our house...stucco, metal, concrete, wood, you name it~he's eaten it. And its not just the storms...he has what we now call (its a scientific term~well one we made scientific), SUNDOWNSINDRUM...when the sun goes down, he goes CRAZY and starts knocking at the door trying to come in. What a MENTAL case!

He was NEVER like this before MEG. Who is Meg...Meg was a German short hair dog we found years ago. She was afraid of ANY loud noise~even the ice maker...She was NUTS~I tell you, just plan NUTS! Sometimes I though she was going to brake our sliding glass door down trying to get into the house...and now shes passed this unto Mickey!

A storm comes...he goes crazy...and that's what happened Saturday! We were trying to get ready to walk out the door to Caleb, my nephews, baptism. We're dressed in Sunday clothes, dress and heels ~me and Cay, shirts and ties ~ the boys. DJ's already left cuz we had to take two vehicles cuz he was working the ASU game later that day (figures he ALWAYS misses the craziness in my life). Oh and I'm fighting the starting of a whooper of a migraine. (So much joy in my life).

Anywho...I could see a storm was coming so I decided to be nice and let Mickey in. That will teach me ~ trying to be nice...when will I learn! SO, he comes in...we had the front door open cuz we were getting ready to walk out. Infact the boys were already in the truck. They were just waiting for me.

Mickey makes a b-line for the font door and I told him go lay down, which he did! (Mickeys NORMALLY pretty good about listening when we tell him to obey something...kids should follow his example! Well until....) Then I turn around and before I knew it...he was up and out the door. I was yelling "Mickey, stop!" (I really think in his old age hes going deaf cuz sometimes he doesn't hear us and we can walk right up to him.) He normally will stop right at the door...he'll sit and just look out, we always leave the door open...BUT NO, not that day...out he goes...I take off after him in 4 1/2 inch heels, mind you. I kick them off and take off IN THE RAIN, IN A DRESS, trying not to fall cuz I kept slipping. Cayla comes running and then Seth. We get Mickey cornered down the road at one of the houses. Then Josh comes running down the street, in the rain, asking "Why is everyone running down the street?" (Nothing like being a day late and a dollar short.) Of course the dumb dog didn't want to go back...HE'S CRAZY!!! I really don't know what his problem was, hes usually a really good dog! I'm telling you~HE'S CRAZY!

Needless to say...we got him home...put him in the laundry room where his bed his...got wet skid marks all over my tile floor, cuz I had to drag him...Now I have to mop...got wet from running in the rain...My hair went flat from the rain (perfect for pictures after the baptism)...my migraine started to get really bad at this point~stress ya know...hit a pretty big storm driving to the baptism, which slowed down our driving time...couldn't see the roads~NICE....and was 5 to 10 minutes lat for the baptism....

All because an old dog is scared of thunder and lightning!!

BANG~CRASH~BOOM...

2009-09-04T20:38:00.000-07:00

...thats what I heard at 7:45 in the morning, while I was getting ready to take the boys to school. Josh, Seth and myself had the jeepers scared out of us!!

Here let me paint the picture for you:

I'm in my bathroom, putting make-up on (trust me, you don't want to see me without the stuff...its pretty scary whats under all of it...sometimes I even scare myself), anywho, I'm putting the much needed make-up on when...I hear this loud noise coming from somewhere in the house. NO JOKE...it sounded like someone crashing into a wall with their car. It was so loud it scared the jeepers out of me!! I go running out of my room and start yelling..."Are you guys ok...what was that sound?"

Josh answers and says "Seths dresser fell over". I run to their room and see poor Seth almost in tears. I ask are you ok and he says yes as he sits down. I ask did it hit you and he says yes on my leg and foot, but I'm ok. At this point I'm holding him and before I know it he starts to cry. Poor guy, his leg was really hurting him and he was trying so hard to be brave. I checked his leg and it has some cuts and busies on it, so did his foot. (He looks like I beet him to death)

When asked what happened, he wasn't really sure. He says he was looking in his top drawer and then it fell. Mom being Mom, put two and two together. I asked if he climbed on it and he says "no I'm tall enough to reach", but I still figured it out. You see he is tall enough but barley, I'm guessing he stands on his tippy toes to see inside, pulling on the top shelf to help him see better. So being the Sherlock Homes that I am...I'm guess he did this and the poor dress just couldn't take it and down it went...scary the jeepers out of the boys, oh and me.

Poor guys, Josh was scared to death. Then he started looking at the dresser...of course the drawers broke but that wasn't the worst part...they have a lot of knick knacks on their dressers and the ones on Seths are now in a million pieces. Josh got really upset and started to cry (I think mostly because he got scared, not so much the broken pieces) then I told him I'd rather have broken stuff, then two broken boys...oh wait I had one a couple of years ago:)

What away to start the weekend off.

A Summer of Fun in Pictures...

2009-08-31T16:57:00.001-07:00

I know, I know...all these pictures are a little late, but what do you want from me...I'm lucky I remember my name and address...WAIT~whats my name....

Anywho, these are just a few of the pics from all we've been doing since May...

ENJOY!!

OK...Can I just say...Sea World with Josh, sleeping there, being in the place after hours...SO COOL!!! Don't you just love our LOVELY GREEN SHIRTS!!

(Of course here is Josh and me...and our good friends, Austin and Teresa...I tend to get into a lot of TROUBLE with Teresa....)

Hes just SOOOOOO cute!

The newest Temple in UTAH...Oquir Temple (yeah I know I spelt it wrong, but hey what do you expect from someone who hasn't been in school in (blank) years!)

(good friends the Bowkers...Love them!)

(Mary Fielding Smiths home)

We went to the "This is the Place" in Utah...TWICE! (This is where Brigham Young said the saints needed to be...its a pioneer village) The kids had so much fun the first time and we didn't get to see everything (still didn't)...that we met up with our very good friends the Bowkers and spent another day there!

(Salt Lake Temple)

OK...this was SOOOO COOL! And I have so many more pics I could put, but this is the cemetery where the prophets of the church are buried (well all but 3). We walked all over, in the rain. We got a good work out that day. VERY COOOL!
We went to a museum and then afterwards, we just vegged for a while at the park. All of us had fun...running and playing! It was a nice park...could have taken a long nap if I had a blanket!

At the museum, Cayla found this frog prince and she was hoping that it would be like the story...If she kissed him ~he would turn into her PRINCE CHARMING...Yah~NO...it didn't work...shes still looking!

On our way back home~in the middle of NOWHERE...we found this fort...COVE FORT...that President Hinkleys great grandfather was sent to establish for the saints to rest and get supplies while they where traveling to their destinations. It was really neat to visit...I highly recommend it to EVERYONE! (Plus its a nice little place to stretch the old legs and to take a break from the KIDS!)
Now summer is over and the NEW school year has begun! Can't we just skip everything and jump to summer...it really was WAY too short!!

This is a little late...time to catch up~SO MUCH TO SAY...SO MUCH TO DO...

2009-08-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

...And so little time to do it ALL!!! (This ones a long one, sorry all)

That's really how I feel. Where to start? Lets start with the end of May the first part of June...

We went to Utah for a site seeing trip (sorry to all the family we didn't see but we wanted to go see all the sites we miss when we go see you normally~you understand...if not...oh well...life's rough sometimes). Anywho, we did stay at DJ's folks house~Thanks for the room (its always nice to know we have a place to put our heads at night!)

We got kind of worried about our trip...got a late start. Was waiting for some meds to get filled that I dropped off, but there was a mistake in the perceription and they had to wait to hear back from the Doc. I thought we would NEVER get that call saying the perceription was ready for pick up, but by 11 (yes that was 11 in the morning, not 6 like we wanted), we were off! We hit rain and lots of it in AZ, that ARIZONA you know the DESERT, where it NEVER rains, well we drove in it for a while up north~CRAZY! The kids were pretty good on the drive...didn't drive us too crazy and we got up to his folks at around 10:30 (AZ time)...11:30 (UT time), not too bad at all.

The next morning we were off...ok not really, we kind of had a slow start. WHY~ well Cayla trimmed my hair, we ate, we just kind of did whatever...heck it was our trip. Finally we were ready to go...BUT WHERE TO... The decision was made and we went to a place called "THIS IS THE PLACE". Its the spot where Brigham Young said Utah was the place for the saints to be. Its a really cool place to be (except for the snakes). If you've NEVER been, you need to go and if its been years, go again, they've added a tun more stuff. IT WAS SOOOO COOL (except for the snakes)! Infact it was soooo cool we went again on Tuesday and still didn't see everything. (More on Tuesday later)

They have all kinds of old pioneer homes and things from when the saints where around during Bringham Youngs time. Some of them originals and some of them copies...It was really cool. You can interact with them and do crafts, play games and things. It was a lot of fun (other than the snakes we saw~not so fun)

Sunday we spent the day with his parents and went to their ward. They really have a nice ward. Lots of members walked up to us and introduced themselves to us...one of the friendless wards I've ever been to...It was kind of nice.

Monday was pretty cool. We got up early and headed over to the town of Jordan where we got to go on a tour of the new temple that was built there...the Oquirrh Mountain Temple (remember if its spelt wrong, I just can't spell). Its Gorgeous! Now if you can believer this, Seth was very good when we went on the tour! One because we threaten him with an inch of his life and two because you can't help but feel the spirit. After the tour they take you to a reception area...oh my heck, you talk about fancy. It look like a wedding reception. They had beautiful seats and tables and paintings of Christ and a beautiful piano. WOW! After that we headed over to the Museum of natural history. The kids had a lot of fun looking at the dinos and frogs there...but it was after that that they had fun. We went across the street and they ran around the park for a good hour or so. From there we went to Temple Sqair!

Our last day in town was really fun! We met up with our friends the Bowkers at the "This is the Place" Park and just hung around for the day! A few things happened during the day. We decided that Seth, DJ and hammers just don't mix. Seth was hammering, DJ was holding the nail for him...well you can put two and two together...lets just say there was blood involve. DJ and Angela introduced me to Farrs ice cream~I guess its the greatest ice cream around (it was pretty good). Seth did something~none of us are really sure what but he ended up falling straight back on his head and hitting it really hard (ok I tried not to laugh but I did and he was crying so hard he tryed not to but it was funny), left a pretty good KNOT! At the end of the day we said our good bys to John and Angela and started to head over to the beehive house but got side tracked...

This was soooo cool, but in a morbid way (well maybe to some...we thought it was cool)...EVERY HEARD OF THE LINE...I SEE DEAD PEOPLE...Well, we kind of walked on dead people....So we were driving a long and ran straight into (not really ran into), the Salt Lake Cemetery. Do you know whats there...Well I'll tell you...All the prophets are buried there but 3 well and our current living one. It was the coolest thing ever. It was so old looking. It was after 5 so we couldn't ask where things where, so we drove around and the first one we found was President Hinckleys then after that we just drove and walked. We walked all over, this place was so BIG. They had pioneers every where. We found Joseph F Smith, Joseph Feilding Smith, Heber J. Grant, David O. McKay, Wilford Woodruf, Spencer W. Kimble. We also found a few apostles and a few 1st and 2nd councilors. It was really cool. We want to go back, because it started to rain really hard so we needed to leave. Infact it rained every night on us while we were in Utah.

Wed. we headed home. Again we got a late start cuz DJ wanted to visit with his dad for a few minutes before he went to work so we weren't in any hurry. We got on the road at about 10:30 (UT time). However we made a few pit stops on the way home. DJ's sister told us about a candy story that was about 10 miles off the freeway in Alpine so we made a stop there, it was a cute drive, the candy stop was so-so. Then when you get in the middle of NOWHERE land in Ut there is this Fort~Fort COVE. We drive by it all the time when we go up to UT. I'm sure you've seen the signs. Well, DJ said hey lets stop, so we did. WOW! Its ran by the church and little old missionaries (they were so cute~I love little old missionaries). It was a fort that Brigham Young asked President Hinckleys grandfather to go out and build so he did. It was so neat. You really need to stop there. The kids had so much fun and so did DJ and I.

Over all I'd say we had a lot of fun. Did we do all the things we wanted to do this trip, NO but who cares, it was a kind of whatever happens~happens trip. Its nice sometimes just to go and not really have set things. We had plans just not set in stone. We weren't in a hurry to go places, we just had a lot of places to see.

Infact while we were there we got to see the Bountiful temple, the Tepanogus Temple (I know its probably spelt wrong) and also some really old people that DJ knew when he use to live there in the 80's (you know that means they were really really old cuz DJ's really old). Oh and lets NOT forget Caylas fav of all...WE GOT TO SEE WHERE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL WAS FILMED!!! The REAL EAST HIGH!!! After about the 20th time of seeing it~it lost its thrill!

We LOVE visiting UTAH~ we just NEVER really get the chance to see everything cuz were are spending it with the family...and by GEORGE...this time we wanted to!!!

My observations about the place in the summer time...
~Lots and Lots of Roses
~Lots and lots of Flowers
~They need to re-pave all their roads, way too many pot holes
~They streets are too narrow
~EVERYONE rides a bike
~There was this green stuff everywhere...DJ says its called grass
~And this other green stuff in the sky...again hubby says they are called trees
~Way too many hills to drive...don't think I would enjoy driving them in the snow
~Just about every house looks different than the house next to it
~Again Roses, they are everywhere

(I'll put the pics in later, sorry they aren't in now)

My man ROCKS...

2009-07-14T16:35:00.000-07:00

I know at times we all think that our hubby's are the best and ROCK...but can I just say at times...mine really does ROCK!!!

As most of you know, at times, I can be...well how shall I put it...a little high strung...ok just plan crazy...AND hes the BEST, he puts up with it all.

And he puts up with EVERYTHING I put him through. I know everyone of us gets a calling and our spouse gets the calling, but not like my hubby. I put him through ANYTHING and EVERYTHING I can. I EVEN make him do stuff for PTSA and for my Family (and most times I don't even ask, I just volunteer him, I'm so bad, I should really say sorry and feel bad for the things I put him through...maybe when I have time;-) naaa)...thats right...hes the MAN!!!

So this last week I was at girls camp and I asked DJ to change his days off, work Monday and take Tuesday off so that he could drive up to camp and pick Cayla up and drive her to Flagstaff so that she can compete in a Cheer competition.

Well, silly me didn't think things through, like always, BUT he did. Heres what was going on. See on Friday DJ was going to be leaving out of town for the next few weeks for Military Duty and really didn't want to miss too much work, so he was going to work all week except for when he was taking Cayla. One little problem in the plan...the boys (yes mom was going to take care of them, but they wanted to spend time with dad before he left and could do that if DJ was working all the time)....

My wonderful hubby, said "Family First" and took Monday and Tuesday off and went into work late on Wednesday...WHY you ask, cuz he took the boys camping and fishing while Cayla was Cheering.

He drove up to Strawberry on Monday, set up camp, took the boys out hiking and fishing. Then bright and early Tuesday came into LoMia to get Cayla and drove her to Flag were he spent the day with the boys. Left camp set up in Strawberry cuz it was 11:30 by the time they dropped her back at girls camp. DJ and the boys spent the day hiking and fishing...of course the only thing they caught, which didn't make me too happy, was a SNAKE!!! Ok for that, he gets knocked down a few steps off his pedestal!!! I DON'T DO SNAKES!!! (I've got a pic that I'll put on later for all of you to see...my heart skipped a few beats when I saw it)

Anywho, the next morning, they were off, back to Phoenix, dropped the boys off at grandmas and then he was off to work!! Sometimes he really can be the BEST!!!

He really does ROCK!!

Girls Camp...just a few hightlights...

2009-07-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

Well, I can say I survived...I didn't die...I didn't get sprayed by a skunk, didn't get eaten by a mountain lion, didn't get bitten by a snake and I didn't fall off the side of the mountain!!! I LIVED through GIRLS CAMP!!! YEAH ME!!!!

NO...REALLY, it was questionable...but camp went well...sooooo many people said this was one of the best camps they've had in Buckeye in a long time. Way to go Tiffany and Katie...you guys did good!

NOW, you know me...I'm not gonna lie to you...there were some major ups and some major down. AND NO!!! Don't ask...I'm not going to tell you what they were, that would be wrong of me to tell you that would be gossip and as we learned the first night at girls camp...GOSSIP is WRONG:) (little plug for everyone that was at girls camp) But I don't want to be Little Miss Pious and be all Holy now!!! It was fun wearing a formal and Terra at camp!!!

I was really happy that Cayla was at camp with me this year. I don't know if she'll go to camp next year or not, but at least she went this year, good or bad. She LOVES camp...heck shes got to...shes gone twice this year. And both camps had there moments for her. She will make an AWESOME leader someday!!!

One of the funnest things was also the coolest things. It was when we had deer come into camp. And when I say come into camp, I mean we walked right up to them, just a couple of feet from them (too bad I didn't have my camera...I know...don't yell at me...gesh, I can't have it with me all the time.) Anywho, I was with three girls from my ward and we were laughing so hard cuz one of them was doing what we now call, well, the matting call and run. It was so funny, and those deer just didn't run away. Crazy animals, and I'm not nessarly talking about the deers.

We did the iron rod program and it was both funny and spiritual. Of course this wasn't without some problems, but as always "Its all good". I was stationed right next to where the girls got brought if they let go on the iron rod and can I just say...I wanted to laugh and cry for these girls. Cayla kept bring girls because someone told the girls "don't trust anyone except for Cayla". So when they got to her, she said that they needed to go over to a different area, and the poor little things bought it and let go. Cayla was bring girls left and right. Then it was even sadder...They would get put back on the rod in front of me and I would tell them that they got put on in the wrong spot and needed to move them and you guessed it...they let go AGAIN!

I love camp...BUT...I'm glad its over. I think Caylas kind of glad its all over too. Long days and late nights, makes for a VERY grouchy Suzi!

The UPDATE...

2009-07-04T12:02:00.000-07:00

I am going crazy...can I just say, we got the new modem the other day and the Internet worked great as soon as we hooked it up, that is for a day and then it all started all over again, the static and everything.

Seriously, the static on the phone is enough to drive me crazy! Others may not hear it when I'm talking to them, but I CAN hear it and I'M going CRAZY! I really CAN'T hear anything anyone says...WAIT maybe thats a good thing.

When the box came with the new one in it, it was all banging around, loose inside the box (nice packing job) and everything. SO back to the drawing board we go! DJ will give them a call this week while I'm at camp and try and get it fixed. Who knows, maybe it will never be fixed and I'm doomed to have STATIC in my ears forever and my Internet turning off and on all the time.

I WANT to KILL my COMPUTER....

2009-06-30T06:25:00.000-07:00

A few months ago Qwest changed our Internet. They went to something that was going to be faster and all that.
NOW...we didn't get a choice in the matter, it was change or you have NO more Internet. SO, with the option at hand, we changed. Really it was no biggy. Infact, according to DJ it was going to be a better deal anyway. We were upgraded to a faster modem and everything was ALL GOOD....

OK NOT REALLY!

Didn't really put two and two together until a few weeks ago, but here's whats been happening. Ever since they switched us we have had some static on our phone line. At the time I really didn't think much about it. Until it started getting worse and I mean really really worse! To the point sometimes I really couldn't hear what people were saying (ok so the truth came out, I never knew what any of you were saying half the time, I just agreed to it all, ok, deal with it).

Then the next thing started happening, our Internet started to really slow down. Whats up with that. Its suppose to be FASTER. Now if you haven't learned yet...

Suzi is not a patient person...

I know, this might come to a shock to some of you...but yes it is true...I have NO patients!

It was driving me crazy. Then the Internet started to freeze up! NOW I'm mad.

Not only is it freezing up once in awhile, its happening ALL THE TIME. So DJ calls Qwest. They have him do something, saying it was the problem, yeah~no! Still static and still slow Internet!

DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. Infact its getting worse by the minute.

Do you all know what time it is right now...ITS CAMP TIME...The time I need my computer! Yesterday was the worse day of all. It wouldn't let me on the Internet but for two seconds here and two seconds there. It was driving me batty...(no commits...I know I'm already half way there).

Anyways...DJ makes a call, I'm telling you, I know these Qwest people sit at there desk just dying of laughter at some of the stuff they know they are making people do. They had us running around our house, moving beds, taking panels off walls to get to wires, climbing over stuff, it was crazy...and what was all this for...just to find out that it was our modem and not our phones or our phone lines that what bad. I could have told them that. The problem started when we got the NEW modem!!! Now I have to WAIT (and everyone knows I don't wait well, maybe thats were Seth gets it from). A new one should be here today or tomorrow or the next day. The crazy part it...it works just fine first thing in the morning and late at night. DJ gets on it last night and has NO problems at all. FIGURES!!

What a GOOD LOOKING KID!!!

2009-06-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

Ok so I know I'm his mom, but can I just say that I think that my son Joshua James is the best looking kid around! AND TODAY IS HIS BIRTHDAY so I think he got even better looking when he woke up this morning! Its hard for me to believe that he's 11 today! I know I had a hard time excepting Cayla turning 17 a few weeks ago (ok, not really, but moms are suppose to have hard times when their kids grow up right?), Your kids are growing up and somewhere you missed the memo...I don't know.

(Isn't he SOOOO CUTE!)

But LOOK...Josh went from my cute little boy into a really GOOD LOOKING KID. Let me tell you about this good looking kid!!! Some of you have been deceived by my sweet Innocent little, ok not so little, boy...you see, he may look and sometimes act all calm and quite...

BUT...

Underneath it all...HES JUST PLAN CRAZY!!! NO!! Really he is, just ask anyone in the family, they will ALL tell you the truth, the kid is NUTS!

Hes a good kid...like every kid, hes got problems... and as a mom, of course I want to try and fix them all, but I can't ~ I haven't figured out how yet. BUT I'll keep trying for him and the other two rug rats. Out of my three rug rats, Josh is the most complicated to understand, I think, well sort of. Hes a really funny kid a times. Can make you laugh your head off. Other times, I think hes just plan sad and I really don't know why.

Hes a funny kid~ loves watching the Discovery channel and the History Channel. He LOVES everything to do with WWI and WWII and Vietnam. He likes to invent things. Watch out or else one of these times you might end up in the little boogers trap.

Lately hes been getting into basketball. Kind of felt bad for him the other day... He got a new basketball for Christmas and someone at the park stole it while he was there, (little brats...oops guess thats not very nice to type, but really stealing from a kid).

(Josh and Seth get a long really good...sometimes Seth does drive Josh batty and Josh wants to kill him but its all brother love, right?)

I know sometimes being the middle child is rough but Josh does ok. He causes trouble when he can. Beats up on Seth every chance he gets...Teases Cayla about her bugs all the time (only cuz its easy to do) and trys to get the best of mom and dad, when he can!

(Cayla and Josh are really close...Cay thinks Josh is soooo cute. When Josh was little he didn't have a problem giving his his sis a kiss but now he runs anytime she trys and give him a kiss...the tables have turned)

So for Josh...I hope he has the BEST Birthday today. We love him very much. We couldn't be happier to have him in our lives. He makes life fun for us!!

(Josh with his closest friends...acting NORMAL?)
HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY JOSHUA!!!