Still posting...

I hope you're keeping up with me. I have been the worst blogger and I'm still catching up. I'm sure I won't include everything that has happened lately, but I guess I do have a lot to share! 

One of our most recent activites lately had been basketball! Last year we got off scott free because no one wanted to play. Hunter had a rough year the year before with a coach that thought only his son should get to carry the team. After talking to Hunter and prodding him that he could do anything he put his mind to, he decided he would try it again! He has done awesome, and really shown how much he has grown up! He has a coach that has really tried to teach them the rules and techniques of the game. They have quite a few "plays" they have been perfecting. Hunter has even gotten control of the ball and really done well with it!

They are always on the move, so it's hard to get a good picture. Here is Hunter shooting his foul shots! Go #20!

This one cracks me up! All the boys look like they have to pee, but it's actually one of their plays. It keeps all the defense team on them and keeps the court open to bring the ball down and right to the basket. Maybe they'll learn to put their hands somewhere else. :)

Hailey also chose to play this year! She has done so well with it. Their team hasn't quite learned all the rules yet. But they are definitely making progress, and it shows every week! She has enjoyed being active lately and its definitely given her a boost of confidence. We love our Hailey!

She really gets in to it!

They do a lot of running back and forth!

I hope Tyghely will make her mind up on an activity to go with. But so far she just enjoys hanging out with Mom and Dad. I think she is just waiting for something unique and special to do!  Either way, the kids have been keeping us very busy and we are so impressed with the people they are growing up to be!

Growing up...

On July 27, 1993 my very first neice was born. Though I was only 13 at the time, I felt elated! I wish I had some pictures of Ashley's younger years. Unfortunatley she grew up mostly in Oregon, where I didn't get to take many picutres.  However the last few years she has done quite a bit of growing up! Including graduating from high school this last summer and now getting married. She is such a sweet person, and has probably had to grow up faster than most. But she has handled herself with grace and integrity and I hope she will be very happy in her new life with such a nice young man!

She was sooo beautiful!

The wedding was very nice, and put together so well. I think you can always tell when things haven't been organized very good. Ashley did a phenomenal job!

Okay, I'm a little patial to this one!

Ashley and her little brother Kyle. She has always been the best sister to him. He is so lucky to have her!

The last of "Flat Hailey"

So for the 3rd and final day of flat Hailey, we decided to make a meal just for her! And what could you make but MINI pizzas???

Complete with Mini pepperoni!

And for dessert...

Chocolate Chip cookies that Hunter and Hailey made together!

It was a fun few days with mini hailey, but I'm glad to see her go on another adventure.  She will be taking a trip to New Mexico to see Blue Grandma. I'm sure she will have plenty of things to do there. She might even make something fun! We can't wait to see what memories she can make with Grandma.

To go along with the last post of Hailey's "flat" person, here are a couple more pictures of her day 2.

Hailey had just got out of the shower, but her flat hailey was getting ready with her.

She spent the day at school with her.

Then they came home and put together Valentine's for school. They turned out really cute!

Here is the finished product, minus a small piece candy that will go on the blank red square.

Playing catch up...

So since I got back into posting, I realize I have a lot to catch up on. I started downloading all my pictures and organizing them into folders. Of course there are probably way too many so I will start with a few of the most recent.

Hailey has a school project which includes a "Flat Hailey". It's supposed to be a replicate of her. She has to take it with her everywhere for 3 days. So we tried thinking of a few fun things to do.

First she took her to her basketball game.

Then we went to Sam's club and got dog food.

Then we had lunch at Chick-Fil-A.

And finally we got frozen yogurt at Orange Leaf.

All in all, we had a pretty fun day!

Happy Feelings

Last winter while I was laid off, I really got faithful at working out. This year, not so much. I have found that my mood is directly related to my financial status. I know it sounds stupid, and I'm not poor by any means. But if I am crunching my money, or pulling in the reigns, I feel too lousy to work out. I know that exercise helps my mood. So I decided to get back into it! One of my most favorite things to do is Pilates. It makes me feel strong and alive, and for one reason or another I don't feel like it's a dreaded thing to do. Running...I hate running. It is so boring to me! Forcing myself to get on the eliptical or the treadmill, just is not what I want to do. I don't feel like it challenges my body the way it should. Now I know I need to get some cardio in there, and I am going to try and work on it. But I just cannot express my love for Pilates in a way to make you understand. So I'll leave it at that. Not to mention, I got to reconnect with one of my favorite people!!! It was an all around happy dayand made me feel happy!

Family time

A couple weeks ago we were able to go spend some time at our friends cabin in Island Park. The kids had a great time sledding in the snow since our neck of the woods seems unable to get any. It was a great time! I'm always so amazed at how quiet the woods can be. While we were there our friend took some pictures of our family. We definitley weren't looking our best but it was nice to capture the moment. We played some games, watched movies and enjoyed talking til 1 a.m. with our friend. And we definitley hope to do it again soon!

He took quite a few, but we always have to get a crazy one in there too!  That's just how we are.



Missing...

Do you ever have a time when you are looking back on memories and realize there are things missing in the present?  Although there are many good friends I have now, I feel there a few that I have drifted away from, and really miss. One person in particular. I secretly keep up on her blog and try to think about something I have done to offend. There are a few reasons I can think of. But after much thought I realize there is nothing more I can do that I haven't already done. I have apologized and come to the conclusion that this person must just not like who I am. But I cannot change for one person. I can only be who I think is right for me. So I will continue to follow this person and hope that one day she will like me for me and not dislike me for something that someone else has done. Happy thoughts...

Drama Queen

Hailey signed up to be in the end of the year PTO play. This year it was titled "Got To Be Seussified". She received one of the leading roles for the third graders. She was Sheila McMonkey McBean, who is the character in the Dr. Seuss book called the Sneetches. They practiced twice a week after school for a month and a half. I have to give her credit, because she was so good about being to every practice. I didn't realize what a big deal the play was until it was time to perform. She was very nervous the first night and forgot one line. But the show went on and no one even noticed. She did awesome! I'm so proud of her for sticking it through. For her it's a big deal. :) So maybe one day she will be my little actress and make millions. And if not, she is still the best actress I know! Great job Hailey! PS, the pictures are off of my phone so they may not be the best.

Getting older...

This last week was graduation for all the surrounding schools. My oldest niece happened to be one of them. Can I really be old enough to have a niece graduating from High School?? I guess the answer is obvious, but I sure don't feel like it. It feels to me like it was just yesterday that I graduated! Anyhow, Ashley is a beautiful young woman now, and it's sad for me to see her all grown up. But congratulations to her!

Just Deal With It!

This morning as I was dropping the kids off at school I got thinking. It has been a whole year since Keith has worked. When it first happened I thought how in the world are we going to survive. But in the end I realize you just figure it out. We tightended up on everything! There has hardly been any extras or fun activites. Definitly no movie night, no expensive dinner dates, no shopping sprees, you get my point. And when taxes came in, there were no big purchases, like a new deep freeze and cow that I wanted so badly to get. It was all catching up on bills and staying that way. And today all I could think was how lucky I am that I didn't have more things to worry about. My kids are all healthy, I have a roof over my head, basically everything I need to survive. Sure I would love a new outfit, and maybe some steaks for dinner. But I have had a year to get used to the idea of hotdogs and casseroles. I used to love to go into town for a day of splurging 20 dollars here or there. Now the idea stresses me out! My kids have done well with all the adjustments. Sure Hunter needs baseball cleats and some baseball pants, and Hailey could use the same and then some, Tyghelyn seems to always be happy with what she has, so all in all I'd say we are just fine. I think we sometimes think we have to have more than we need. I'm fine with having the necessities. But now things are turning scary at work for me! I have the next two weeks off because there is nothing to do. Normally we would just work with another crew or stretch out what little work we have so that it lasts till the next job. But anymore things are being cut back and we aren't able to do that. I'm worried for my job and what it will bring this year. I have no ideas or prospects for anything else. I dread the idea of sitting at a desk answering phones, or god forbid flipping burgers! But if that's what it takes I'll do it. So here's hoping that things will start looking up! And if it doesn't, then guess what, we'll just deal with it!

Mother Trucker

So just to recap...For the last month or so since I went back to work, I have had to face the fact that I am required to get my Commercial Driver's License (CDL) for work. This has been a HUGE challenge for me. I've had to study a book about things like air brakes, tankers, general knowledge, and trailers. Things that I couldn't give two craps about (sorry for the pun)! It has been one of the most challenging things since High School that I have had to put myself through. Needless to say, I had to figure out how to study and absorb useless information again. It makes me feel sorry for Keith having to enroll in college! But after all the reading, I passed the air brakes, tankers, and general section the first try. The part about the trailers took three tries, but I made it through that. Then there was the driving test. I was sick for two weeks over it! Finally Friday night at five o'clock I passed with flying colors!! I'm so glad it's over with and really feel proud for being able to do it!

Cabin Fever

So it hits again... Every year I get to be laid off in the winter. I say "get" to because after working almost twice as many hours as a normal person during the summer months, it's usually such a nice reprieve. This year however has been a little harder. It may just be my frame of mind, but I have been bored bored bored this year. I know, "Find something to do you say!" Well I have done a few things that I have enjoyed. First off I did work longer than usual, which was a really big help! But I made a commitment to myself to make a conscious effort to hit the gym. After all, I pay for the membership year round and don't use it at all in the summer. (Which I have also made a goal to continue going during the work season.) I haven't made any weight loss goals. I know I'm a few extra pounds more than I should be. But most importantly, I wanna feel good about myself. I wouldn't say that I have low self esteem, but I want to be an example for those around me with it. I'm trying to show that there is something you can do about it. There is no point in moping around feeling sorry for yourself. I really dislike self pity.
Anyhow, besides going to the gym, I have really tried to do a few more things for my kids. For Christmas I sewed Hunter some Pittsburgh Steeler drapes. He has a newfound obsession of football. Especially for the Steelers. He hopes to play this coming fall. I think that is one of those steps as a mom where I have to step back and let him do his thing. It mortifies me that he will get hurt. What's a mom to do. He is my special boy, and I get to be a little protective of him.
For the girls I have just tried to spend more one on one time with them. A couple of weeks ago I had some grocery shopping to do. Not the funnest thing, but I had just Hailey come with me. We did the grocery shopping as fast as we could, and then we shared a fun lunch together. One of my favorite things are sweet pork burritos from Cafe Rio. They are GIANT! So Hailey and I shared one. We got to talk about things she's doing and other girl things. It was special for me and I hope she liked it just as much.
Tyghelyn and I shared a day of reading and hanging out last saturday. She earned a reward from school for meeting her reading goal, and got to get a prize out of the treasure box at our local King's. We made caramel corn and watched a movie. I think we had a blast!
I have really tried to be a home body this winter. I usually find a part time job to go along with my unemployment. But this year I really wanted to show to myself that I don't HAVE to go to Idaho Falls everyday. I don't know that I'm a compulsive shopper, but if I do go to town, I spend money. So in the long run, I'm spending a lot less by not having a job. It may not make sense to anyone else, but it does in my little head.
Keith is still without a job, but desperatley looking. I admit I get frustrated, but I see him trying and he is making steps to move forward. We have started the process for him to go to school. I hope he can stick with it and be something important when he grows up.
As for everything else, we have spent a lot of time with our best friends this year. Tyghe also works for HK and gets laid off in the winter. We have watched their little one year old several times. She is so full of energy and is a bullet, shooting from one thing to the next. Her mom says she is a mix of Evel Kanevel, and Dennis the Menace. But we really have fun with them! My patience is soon to be tested again. They are leaving on the 17th of Feb. to go to Hawaii, and we are watching their two girls for 9 days. So we will have 5 kids. Wish us luck!
As it is, I can't wait to get back to work. I love love love my job! I'm looking forward to getting back to work and doing something productive. I never thought I could like going to work so much. I learn something new everyday. I'm good friends with all the guys I work with and we all get along so well. I think that's another part of why my job is so fun. Enough for now, I will post again soon....

Whistling... Thursday???

I was sitting here coming up with a song for whistling Wednesday, and it hit me. Today is Thursday! OOPS! Well here it is anyway. This week is Shontelle. She isn't real popular and her songs seem to all be love songs. But what the heck... I'm feeling in love this week. :) Maybe I'll try something a little more daring next week. Enjoy...

After having one of the best days ever on Saturday, I realized what I do when I'm in a good mood... COOK! I love cooking. And for some reason when I'm in a particulary good mood I cook sweets. This really isn't very good for my figure. But I never realized how little I had done this lately. Keith will ask me if we have anything "good" to eat. (meaning sweets) And over the past several months the answer has been "No" a lot. So Saturday I baked several things! Banana bread, one of our favorites. Fresh apple cake, homemade salsa verde, and regular salsa. It was a good day, and now we get to eat sweets for a while!

Good days coming to an end...:(

As you know summer is so close we can taste it.  But for me it is meaning misery is about to begin. Yes, I am again having to work out of town. Last year I thought it would be something new and adventurous. This year however, I am aware of how it's all going down. Work, Work, Work, sleep a little, come home for barely 24 hours, Work Work Work. Well you get the idea. This week has been awful. The stress of how its approaching so fast even put a lovely coldsore on my face.  I am really dreading this year and hope it will be the last that i have to work out of town. Otherwise I am completely willing to quit and find something else. I just wanted to let those of you that help our family out so much in the summer, know how grateful we are to you. We know we inconvenience a lot of you and appreciate the time you take to make sure the kids are taken care of and that Keith doesn't starve inspite of himself. LOL Thanks again, and Hope everyone has a lovely summer.

Knowledge is Power...

In dealing with some personal issues this week, I decided that I needed to direct my attention elsewhere. So I took up my other new hobby, reading! As I was reading some personal accounts of a certain fellow. I discovered something. Knowledge is definitley power. Of course I've always heard this growing up but somehow it never clicked for me, until now. Even if I don't share this knowledge with other people, it makes me feel much more secure in my own self. Knowing that I have the knowledge inside myself to use whenever it is needed. I guess you could say it was an AH HA moment for me today. Now if I could just be sure I won't forget it in an hour that would be even better. :)

Savory Saturday!

It may be 8:30 at night, but it's still Saturday. So here is the menu this week. Keith chose all the recipes which made life sooo much easier! He found them all in a recipe app on his phone. So if any look appetizing or interesting and you would like to try them, just hit me up and I will email the recipe to you! Bon Apetite!

Sunday- KFC Fried Chicken, and Sweet Potatoe Fries

Monday- Crock Pot Potato Cheese Soup, and Bacon Roll-ups

Tuesday- Seafood Gumbo

Wednesday- 5 Layer Burritos

Thursday- Crock Pot Italian Beef and Potato Casserole

Friday- Leftovers

Saturday- Seafood Kabobs and Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Whistling Wednesday!

Okay, I'm kicking myself for missing last week... But the other day I went to lunch with Keith and this song came on the Jukebox. It has no real meaning, but it is just kind of a feel good song. I never went along with the whole boycotting of the Dixie Chicks. They simply stated their opinions of things and that's okay by me! So for this weeks whistling wednesday I thought it would be fun to hear a couple songs I haven't in a LONG time. Feel free to crank it up and ENJOY!!

Savory Saturday!

After missing last weeks savory saturday, I firgured I should make this an extra good one. Keith even gave his input on this one! And you'll notice there is chicken 3 times this week!! I got all of my recipes this week from My Kitchen Cafe. The link is on the side of this post.

Sunday- Pork Roast, Mashed potatoes and Gravy, Deviled eggs (which will probably be all sorts of crazy colors from dye)

Monday- Meatball Marinara Sandwiches

Tuesday- BBQ Chicken Pizza

Wednesday- Black Bean Enchiladas, Corn and Bread

Thursday- Basil Pesto Pasta and spring Veggies

Friday- Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Saturday- Lefovers