How We're Doing

Well, it's been an interesting summer to say the least. We're adjusting to a whole new lifestyle over here. The summer started out okay, but the kids are getting worn out from going from place to place all the time. They spend their days with one of their grandmas when I'm working (oh hooray, hooray for grandmas!!!) and then go to Brian's every other weekend. My work days are very long so it seems like at least one day a week is spent just getting caught up. Christopher spent most the morning sleeping yesterday, he was so tuckered out. It's just not restful when you can't be home.

Leaving my children all the time has been extremely difficult for me too. And the long days are taxing.

For that reason, I'm looking for different employment. The job I have now has been a huge blessing. It practically fell into my lap earlier this year, for which I've been extremely grateful. However, I'm looking for something that will help me pay my bills better as well as give me summers off to be with the kids. The grandmas can't do this forever. Neither can my kids. Neither can I.

I've recently applied for some jobs with the schools. There are several secretarial/admin. asst jobs that are just during the school year. I'm also keeping my ear to the ground for virtual assistants. I hear tell these are growing in number. So if you know of anything... ;)

Other than that, I've been trying to make sure we're doing fun things this summer. We've seen a few movies at the dollar theatre (How to Train a Dragon is totally cute - Diary of a Whimpy Kid I could've lived without) and found our way into several pools (the water park at Anthem wins the prize).

I actually pulled my camera out for our excursion to Kartchner Caverns. Talk about a fun trip. I blogged about it over at America Jane awhile ago, but I'll put the family pictures here.

Getting these guys to take a serious picture was next to impossible:

Too funny. :)

At the Discovery Center:

The boys looking at a little friend they found outside:

When Ben kneeled down to take a closer look, this little guy turned to take a closer look at Ben.

"How cute," I thought.

Then this cute little guy opened his mouth wide and started raising his body up and down, up and down. I don't speak lizard, but I know a menacing stance when I see one. I told the kids to back off and I gotta say, they hustled to obey.


I also thought I'd share pics of our prayer flags. These were supposed to be prayer chains (again, from a prayer FHE I wrote for the America Jane blog), but we cut the strips too small so we had to improvise. Our flags got a little messy because the stapler doesn't reach as far as we wanted it to. It was a funny evening.

Ben declared my flag messy, so I made it official.

Then Chris decided his was "nedis." That means "neatest" in case you didn't know.

These flags were only semi-successful. They helped the kids remember morning prayers for awhile, but before they were half-way done with their flags they kept forgetting about them. Ah well.

Quite some time ago I made these little appetizers using zucchini from Kathy's garden. They were delicious. I took pictures so I could post the recipe on the AJ blog, but then realized I have no idea how to take good pictures of food. I've been seeing how Pioneer Woman does it. Need I say more?

Oh! But speaking of food. One of the many interesting things I've learned how to do at this job is make beautiful fruit and veggie trays and cheese and nut trays. We make these for our clients who are in town to observe focus groups and what not. The assistant manager happens to be the queen of these things.

The absolute QUEEN.

Her trays are unlike anything I've ever seen. And it took a bit of training for me to get the hang of it. Mine still aren't what she can do, but I did put together some trays I never could've done before I started working there. They were quite pretty. I was really wishing I'd taken pictures. Crappy camera and lack of photography skills aside, I would've posted those babies.

I'm looking for a reason to put this skill to use in my normal life. Surely I have some upcoming event that calls for fancy cheese trays. Surely.

On another note, I want to give an update on Christopher's heart. We haven't had any complaints from him since his big growth spurt in May. After school starts I'll take him in for a check up to see if maybe he's out grown it. Wouldn't that be awesome? But if not, that's okay too. He doesn't have side effects from the medicine and it doesn't bother him to take it, so if he has to stay on for awhile longer that's okay. He'll be fine either way. :)

Lastly, I just have to say that the support we've received from so many people has been huge. We've had a great home teacher take care of various fix-it type jobs around the house, a generous mechanic who has kept our van running, and several people who have helped with the upkeep of the yard. I'm grateful for good friends who lend a listening ear, for priesthood leaders who give blessings whenever they're needed, and for peace and comfort from the Lord. There have been difficult moments, but it seems help is never far away.

So, that's about that. I've been sporadically following everyone's blogs in my Google reader (private blogs have been completely neglected) but I haven't had time to comment. I just want you all to know I miss you and still enjoy reading about what's going on. Until next time...