changes....

School starts tomorrow and marks the end of another summer. Dallin is starting High School tomorrow and Hailey is starting Middle School.....wow, how time flies!

August has been a busy month. To start the month, Derek received his endowments in the Las Vegas Temple. It was such a nice day to share with family and friends.

Ashley turned 21 on August 8th. Her birthday was on Sunday, so we didn't do anything too exciting, but we had a steak dinner and Marie Callendar Pie instead of cake. She later celebrated by trying a slot machine before she went on her mission.

We went on one last vacation before Ashley and Derek left on their missions. We went to Carmel and San Francisco. It was a lot of driving, but we had a great time and saw lots of fun places. We stayed in Solvang the first night and then drove to Hearst Castle and went on a tour. We all enjoyed it. In Carmel we visited San Lobos State Reserve and we hiked around and saw some secluded beaches and beautiful scenery. We also visited Big Sur and went to a beach there. We saw Carmel Beach and we went on the 17-mile drive and went to Pebble Beach. We visited Monterey and went to the Aquarium and to Pacific Grove. We also spent a couple of days in San Francisco. We went on a tour of Alcatraz and we saw the play "Wicked". We walked around Pier 39 and went over the Golden Gate bridge etc. Derek and Ashley even did a session at the Oakland Temple. It was fun to spend time together. It was also good to get out of the heat.

When we got home, we had a crazy week getting Ashley ready for her mission. We had to do laundry, shop, pack etc. Friday night we had Kelsi Eliason's bachelorette party at our house and then Saturday morning was Kelsi's wedding in the Vegas temple, then later the luncheon and reception. Sunday morning was Ashley's mission farewell followed by a brunch and later that night an open house. We basically had company from 10:30 am - 10:30 pm. It was a lot of fun, but we were worn out when it was over. Ashley got set apart at 8:30 pm. President Richards gave her a very nice blessing. I was proud of myself for not crying very much.

Monday the 23rd, we drove to SLC to take Ashley to the MTC. We all were pretty emotional. I basically cried on and off the whole way to Salt Lake. We had a good visit on the way up. We got there really late after stopping in St. George for a late lunch and telling the family good-bye one more time and then we stopped for dinner in Orem.

Tuesday we took Derek to Mr. Mac's to buy suits for his mission. We found that they had pretty much everything he needed for his mission all in one store. It was great, and their customer service was awesome. I found shopping for an Elder is so much easier than shopping for a Sister missionary! After the store, Greg, Derek, Ashley and I went to the Salt Lake Temple. We had a nice time together. I forgot how beautiful the SLC Temple is. Ashley decided it ranked #1 for most beautiful temple she's seen.....and she has been to seven temples this summer! We also had dinner and my sister's and one last trip to the mall.

Wednesday was the big day to take her to the MTC. I thought about it so much and worried about how sad I would be to tell her good-bye, I didn't think I could do it. I would cry just thinking about it. We went and took some pictures earlier and then went to Pizza Factory for lunch and then it was time to take her. It wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. We pulled up to the curb and got her luggage out and then we talked to her for just a minute and we all gave her hugs and then it was time for her to go. I was surprised, I barely cried and then I was fine most of the way home. I will miss her so much, but I hope she'll make the most of her mission and have many wonderful experiences. Now I'll just be waiting for letters! Only 5 more weeks and it will be time for round two.....taking Derek to the MTC! That will be another big change having him leave home. I don't do well with change, even good changes can be kind of bittersweet, but I wouldn't want it any other way. I so proud of both of them for making such good choices in their lives. I feel blessed to have such good kids.

Summer is going by way to fast!

I can't believe how fast this summer is flying by. It's been busy and fun and I'm not ready for it to end. To start the summer, Derek graduated from Shadow Ridge HS June 9th. He graduated with Honors and we were proud of him for that. His graduation was nice. We came home afterwards and had carne asada for lunch with the family.

(Grandma, Koni, Sandy, Derek & Jen)

(Greg & I with Derek)

(Ashley, Derek & Dallin)

After the graduation luncheon, we went to the temple with Ashley for her to receive her endowments. It was such a nice day. Derek brought the kids up to the temple afterwards and then we all went to Olive Garden for dinner. It was such a great day.

The end of June Derek went on a two week Church History trip for his graduation present. He submitted his mission papers right before he left. His call was supposed to get here Thursday, July 1st. I went and helped with a RS service project and then shopping. While I was gone, Ashley found a mail key in my dresser drawer that I didn't even know was there and she and the kids went and got his call out of the mailbox and hid it, so everyday when I checked the mail the call wasn't there. She had the kids practice lying to me about the call if I asked. On Saturday night we went to the airport to pick Derek up and she ran into the airport to see Sister Rasband and while she was there, she handed Derek his call and he put it in his backpack. When they came out to the curb, he pulled out a shirt he got me and his call. My kids are brats! I was happy that it was here though, and we went home and opened it. He's going to the Burmingham Alabama Mission and reports Oct. 6th.

(Derek w/ his call)

(Lots of friends over)

(Derek & I)

July 4th, LeAnn, Tyson, Ashley and I flew to Peoria, Illinois. We drove to Springfield and saw Abraham Lincoln's home, tomb and the State Capitol where he gave a famous speech & his law office. Then we drove to Nauvoo. We had a great trip. We went to the Nauvoo Temple, Carthage Jail, pioneer cemetery, the trail of hope, all the houses & buildings, and the Nauvoo Pageant. Me met the guy who made the windows on the Nauvoo temple, an artist that's doing a restoration painted and one of Joseph Smith's descendants. We ate really well and had some good laughs. We even found where our ancestor Francis Lee lived in Nauvoo. It was a short trip, but lots of fun.

(Steak & shake - really good!)

(Abraham Lincoln's Tomb)

(Nauvoo Temple - love this one!)

(Me & Ashley at the Nauvoo Temple)

(carthage Jail)

That about sums up the summer so far. July has been really hot, the only good thing about the summer ending is that the heat will end too. Other fun things we've done this summer is have Greg and Dallin both go to scout camps and they went to LA for a Dodgers game. We've had the Redfearns visit and we went to the Shark Reef, Bellagio and the Famous Las Vegas sign.

(I've wanted to do this since I moved here 23 yrs ago!)

How Crazy Life has been!

(Dallin, Hailey, McKayla & Ashlyn)

April turned out to be a crazy month. The first fun thing was Easter. We had Easter in St. George at LeAnn's house. We went to the Tabernacle and heard Jen sing with the Heritage Choir and then went and had an Easter egg hunt in the dark with the older kids. They used flashlights to find their eggs and they had a blast! What a fun new tradition we started! Saturday was General Conference, so we did our activities between conference sessions. We had a tea party at mom's and dyed eggs and had dinner. It was so much fun.

(Don & Carol Walker, Micquelle & Kyle Curtis)

The next fun thing was that Carol and Don's daughter Micquelle married Kyle Curtis in the SLC Temple. Our family went up for the wedding. It was beautiful. Greg and I went to the wedding at the temple and then we drove to Springville for the luncheon and reception. It was so nice and Micquelle was a beautiful bride. It was fun to see old friends.

(LeAnn & I ready to go out in the snow)

(LeAnn & I at the Marriott Center)

The next week was Women's Conference and LeAnn and I decided to go together. We stayed at Heritage Halls. The weather was crappy and Friday we woke up to snow. April 30th and snow, what's up with that? Anyway, the conference was wonderful and we had a great time. We ate at fun places and had fun shopping. LeAnn bought the same shirts and shoes I bought, as usual! LOL!

(Me & Buster taking a nap)

LeAnn and I went to SLC after the Conference was over. Saturday morning we were getting ready to go shopping and Hailey called me crying and told me Buster died. I talked to Greg and he told me what happened. I noticed he was having some labored breathing when I left town. I wondered if he'd make it because he's acted so weird lately. Saturday early morning he really started having trouble and Greg took him to the vet and found out he was having heart failure. He had to put him down. We had Buster for 11 1/2 years and he was a good dog. He loved me more than my family does. It's been sad and weird to get used to having him not around. I have to pick the food up off the floor that I drop and also I can't put leftovers in his bowl etc. I miss him.

(Ashley with her mission call)

Then first week of May was crazy, I had to work Monday thru Thursday in Hailey's class and I had stuff after school. Wednesday I drove the Activity Day girls to the temple for their activity and I was home 20 min. the whole day. Thursday I had to work again. Well, that's the day Ashley pulled off her Mother's Day surprise. The church just started letting the kids put their mission papers in 12o days out from their availability date. I found out that week when a member of my bishopric told me, so I'd know for Derek. Well, Ashley's bishop knew and we thought she couldn't submit her papers until May 8th. She turned them in the day we left for Micquelle's wedding. She got her call Thursday while I was at work. She drove down Wednesday night and stayed at Kelsi's house. She had Derek get the mail key out of my car and bring it to her. While I was at work, she and Kelsi and Derek got her call out of the mail and then put the key back in my car while I was still at work. After work, I took Derek to get bloodwork for his mission and apparently he's texting her the whole time telling her where I was and when we'd be home. On the way home, Kaylie Fritzler called and needed a blue card for a scout that was at her house. I ran one over, much to Derek's odd dismay. I then had about 40 minutes until I had to pick Hailey up at her friend's house, so I visited with Kristin Bushman (Her son was the scout). I get in the car to drive to get Hailey and Greg called and told me to go home that Ashley got her mission call. I didn't really believe him, so I called Ashley and LeAnn and started to feel like something was fishy. I came home and sure enough a bunch of cars were at my house. I was surprised, but then mortified that Ashley had people in my filthy kitchen I hadn't been home to clean! We moved to the living room and opened it. She's going to the Louisville, Kentucky mission Spanish speaking. It was pretty exciting. Katie Word got her call too, so we moved the party to her house and watched open her call. She's going to New Jersey, Spanish speaking. They both go into the MTC on August 25th.

(Sandy, Mom, Me, Ashley, Dallin, Greg, Mickell
Ryker, Halle & Hailey)

The next day was Ashley's graduation from Dixie. We drove to Utah for that. It was a whirlwind weekend, but so exciting. Most of the family was there. Sandy even came from SLC. The graduation was nice and we went to the Gun Barrel for dinner afterwards. The next morning, LeAnn had a breakfast at her house in honor of Ashley. It was so nice and yummy. After that we shopped for more missionary clothes.

April was so busy and May started out the same! Other than Buster dying life has been exciting! I also got a new calling at church. I'm now a Relief Society teacher. My first lesson is tomorrow, so now I need to go work on my lesson!

Wow what a crazy month!!!

It looks like I haven't kept my promise to Ashley to update my blog once a week! I've noticed she doesn't update hers much either. This month has been kind of crazy, with one announcement that will really change my year. It's all good though!

First we'll start with the youngest child. Hailey just celebrated her 11th birthday. My baby is 11 yrs. old! She will be finishing elementary in a couple months and moving on to middle school. Wow, does that make me feel old. I subbed her class on her birthday and she brought donuts to share with the class. That night she had 10 friends over for a party. About five of them spent the night. It was good to have survived. I think they had fun. I had had a crazy week and I felt very unorganized with the party, but I think they all had fun. She also just got another straight A report card. I'm glad I don't have to worry about her grades, but sometimes when she gets obsessive with it, it can be annoying. She just performed in her last spring showcase with the instrument ensemble at her elementary school. Their group did the Blue Man Group and they were the main part of the show. It was really fun to watch. She also got her braces off last month and already lost her first set of retainers for the tune of $260. Gotta love it!

Hailey blowing out her candles

(Hailey after her Spring Showcase performance)

One of the good things that happened this month was Dallin brought his progress reports home from school with all A's and B's. That's a big accomplishment for Dallin and I hope he keeps it up! Not too much is going on with Dallin. I signed him up for EFY this summer. He and his friend Kason Horlacher will be going in August to BYU. I hope he'll enjoy it as much as Ashley and Derek did. He will also being going on a scout trip in July. Dallin will be finishing up middle school soon and moving on to High School. Weird! I think he's finally as tall as me. He's growing up so fast!

(Dallin at Scotty's Castle)

Next is Derek. It's been a fun month with him. He was in the Mr. Mustang pageant at Shadow Ridge. The boys had to do a group dance, a talent, answer a question, tell a joke and say a pick-up line. It was hilarious. They also decorated cakes for the "Mr. Betty Crocker" contest. I thought Derek's cake was the best. His talent was hilarious. He sang "You're so Beautiful" by the Flight of the Conchords. It was really funny. He did really good on the dance too. He ended up being crowned Mr. Mustang. He won the ultimate prom package. Corsage, tux rental, tickets to the dance, pictures, dinner at an Italian restaurant and a helicopter ride over the strip. The other good news with Derek is that he just got a job at Fabulous Freddy's. He's worked there one whole week. I'm glad he will be earning some money towards his mission.

(Mr. Stud Muffin)

Then the biggest news of all comes from Ashley. She's decided to go on a mission. It was kind of sudden. She called me one night and asked me what I thought, then she showed up at home that weekend and we had a long talk about it. The next weekend I went to St. George for my mom's birthday, and we ended up talking with the family. Later that night Ashley and I went to Koni's and had a really great talk and I think she knew what her decision was. The next day when grandma gave her some money to buy herself a new outfit, she bought mission clothes instead a Buckle jeans, and she wanted to go to Deseret Book to buy "Preach my Gospel". It was a good weird. The next day she met with her bishop and got the paperwork started. She came home the next week and we got the dentist, doctor and blood work done. We also applied for a passport and she had my friend Patty take some pictures of her to send in with her papers. It was a crazy couple days, but we got so much taken care of. It helps that she and Derek both are current on their immunization shots and have had their wisdom teeth out already. I think this will be great experience for her, but it will be weird having her and Derek gone at the same time. I'm happy/sad, but I wouldn't want it any other way. I think it will be great for them to do it together.

Sister Gibson

As for me, I've kept busy being a mom and subbing several times. I've also been working on food storage and I made homemade bread for the first time in probably 8 years. This last weekend we went to Death Valley. None of us had ever been there before and we had a great time, but it was a lot of driving. The flowers weren't blooming yet, so that was disappointing. I did enjoy Scotty's Castle and Badwater and Furnace Creek. We saw the Ghost Town Rhyolite on the way and it was interesting. We all had a good day. Dallin, Hailey and Emily Tonks came with Greg and I. Derek had to work, so he didn't end up coming. That's the only bummer of kids having jobs....it cuts into family fun. I guess that sums up the month for me!


(Emily, Hailey, Dallin & I in front of the bottle

house in Rhyolite...it was made from 10,000 beer bottles)

(All of us at Scotty's Castle)

(All of us at Badwater Basin, the lowest point in

America, it's 282 ft. below sea level)

(All of us on the salt flats at Badwater Basin)

Painting Fun

As part of my New Year's Resolutions, I made myself a list of projects I was hoping to complete this year. Most of the projects have to do with de-cluttering and organizing. One of them; however, was to paint my laundry room.

Friday was the big day. Greg was in California and it seems to be my habit to paint almost every time he leaves town. I made the mistake of taking a job that day, so I couldn't start until around 3:30 p.m. I came home from work and started taping off the room. Four hours later I realized that I was insane for wanting to paint that room. There are so many cabinets and things to go around, and hardly any big walls to paint, not to mention moving the washer and dryer.

I got up early Saturday morning and started in. Hailey helped me for a little while and then I was on my own. It took FOREVER!!!! I worked from about 6:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. I did take a few small breaks....like running to Home Depot for paint etc. I forgot how much fun it is to paint with dark colors. Painting makes me realize just how anal I can be. Every white line drove me nuts, and I found myself re-taping for hours trying to touch up all the places that were making me nuts. It turned out pretty good for the most part.

I really missed Ashley. Most of the painting projects I've done, she's helped me with. There were no pictures of us working, & no "I love Dad" or stick people painted on the walls. It is way more fun painting with a partner, and sooooo much quicker. I'll have to keep teaching Hailey, so she can help me more.

Greg came home and was surprised to see what I had done. He, of course, was way excited to get another room decorated. He won't be going out of town for awhile, so after I finish the hall by the laundry room, I'll have no reason to paint. Now on to de-cluttering and organizing....maybe I'll even work on scrapbooks!

A Most Embarrassing Moment

Everyone has embarrassing moments they wish they could forget. Today was one of those days. My day started out great. It was raining (I love it when it rains), I got to go to my adult religion class, and then I had to work a half-day at school. I was subbing 5th grade in one of my favorite classes. It started out just great. The D.A.R.E officer came and taught for almost one hour while I surfed the web. Then I got to eat lunch with some of my favorite teachers. After lunch they had to take a math test. Piece of cake sub. job right? Well, that's when the moment in question happened.

The kids were all taking the math test. They're a really good class, so they were being really quiet and concentrating. Some of them had finished, so they were drawing or reading while waiting for the rest of the class to finish. While they were testing I decided to make good use of my time and balance my checkbook and write myself a little note of things I needed to take care of. Well, when I leaned forward to grab a sticky note, something unexpected happened....I farted. The problem was it had a little volume to it. I tried to pull off the academy award for best actress and not change my facial expression and acted like nothing happened. I wanted to burst out laughing, but I was able to contain it. I noticed one of the boys looked over my way. I'm sure he at least suspected it was me, but I was hoping he wasn't sure it was me, and hopefully he thought it was a fellow student. Anyway, I wanted to die. If only I could have a do over!!!

Anyway, embarrassing moments happen all the time, but today just happened to be my turn!!

Homework Horror

Most parents would love a kid who was self-motivated about doing their homework. I have one of those kids, but she takes self-motivated to a whole new level. The problem we're having is that she brings work home from school that is supposed to be done in class, as well as her regular homework. If the teacher tells them to get on Compass Learning once a week, she thinks she needs to get on it every night. This adds up to hours of homework every night. At first, I thought the teacher was giving an enormous amount of homework. Her teacher is my friend, so I talked to her about it, only to find out it was my daughter not the teacher which brings us to the homework adventure of the week.

Wednesday was the day........It was an uneventful day, that is until Hailey got home from school. Shortly after she got home, the homework marathon began. She was working on a writing assignment about trying something new. She wrote a rough draft and asked me to read it. When I read it, I thought it sounded like she had two subjects, so I made some suggestions to make it sound a little better, and that's when the meltdown started. She cried and argued longer than it would have taken to fix it. I guess I'm only supposed to say everything sounds great, even when I don't think so. I guess I shouldn't actually try to help her learn anything. The drama got so bad that I finally left the room and put myself in time-out. I figured that was the best way not to hurt anyone. I've been trying really hard to not yell (that was one of my New Year's Resolutions). I broke my Resolution. I was so frustrated.

About that time, Ashley happened to call. She was the queen of tantrums growing up. I've never seen a kid that could out do one of her tantrums. Since she perfected the art of having a tantrum when she was growing up, she seems to have the magic touch to get Hailey to calm down. I have to say it has been quite hilarious to me having Ashley give me advice on how to get Hailey to stop freaking out. Anyway, after talking to Ashley, Hailey calmed down, and finished her paper. She didn't change anything, but she finished it, and then proceeded to finish the rest of her pile.

The next morning, I went and exercised with my friends. Jackie was there. She is also a teacher and her son is in Hailey's class. I told her about the homework torture session I had been thru. She then told me the paper she was working on was supposed to be done in class. It wasn't supposed to come home. AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! It's bad enough just to do the homework that has to be done. I just don't understand why she wants to be such an over-achiever. It frustrates me and her teacher.

Anyway, I survived the week. I'm enjoying having a four-day weekend and a homework break. I can't wait to see what fun next week will bring. I can't seem to get Dallin to do his homework and Hailey can't seem to get enough of it. Oh the joys of Motherhood!!!! I can't wait until her next book report is due. I hope she wants me to read it!!!