Jason left again today. He was gone for a week and home for a day and a half and now he is off again until Friday. It hasn't been easy getting everything done without him here. I really depend on him a lot. Last week we had a few bumps. The kids were fighting and it seemed impossible to restore peace. I realized it was the adversary attacking our family. It was clear to me that those are weak areas for me and having so much contention was bringing an awful feeling to our home. I tried to point that out to the children, but they were laughing and it made it even harder. We read about contention in the scriptures but Colton and Whitney kept making each other laugh. I got up from the table and went to my room and locked the door. I was upset, frustrated and uncertain of what to do next. I was praying when Sarah began knocking on the door. When I came out Whitney had finished clearing the table and was trying to get the little ones to put their things away. She came up to me an told me she was sorry. She started to cry and I gave her a hug, we cried together. I told her that is very hard to take care of everyone's needs by myself and that I needed her help instead of her teasing and mocking. In the end it turned out well. It was certainly difficult night.

Jason had to leave before church was over so he came and said good-bye in Primary. I walked him out to the car, fighting the tears. It was hard to change the thoughts in my mind so I wouldn't cry. I just wanted to go home but we were not done yet. So here goes another week, hopefully better than the last, but at least now I have a sense of what to expect. The kids really miss their dad. I noticed that Sarah has been more clingy than usual. I guess they really do recognize these changes in their routines. He got great pics from the East coast up in Maine so I'll post them, when he gets them downloaded!

Funny thing: Sarah just came in wanting me to unbutton her dress so she could change..."mom can I take my "ilons off?" For those who don't know ilons are a three year old's "nylons or tights." I love my kids, they always make me laugh!

My friends son Ethan.

I Love Sarah, the flying girl.

Ethan and his shoes on the wrong feet, luv that age.

Jason had taken the day off to go to the Temple with me, however, he noticed the night before that his recommend had expired. He was suppose to renew it when the Stake Pres. visited our ward last month, however, our Stake Pres. was extremely ill and had to leave right after Sacrament Meeting. We forgot about his recommend. He offered to watch my friends little boy and drive us down so we could go to the temple. He ran errands with the kids. They look like they could be syblings.

Sarah in her make-shift snow gear - rubber boots (too big), 3 gloves and two hats. It was sooo cold.

Colton and his friend Cole. Can you tell who hunts?

Luke on the lawn-mower sled.

Great looking guy!

Luke and Sarah climbing the drifts. The wind blew so hard that some places ended up several feet deep while other areas were bare grass or sidewalk. You have to understand this area only gets snow once or twice a year. It doesn't stay, nor do they have plows to clear the roads when it does, so school gets canceled if even a little falls.

Sarah on the sled. (Boogie board from the beach, hasn't seen much beach since CA but, guess it can work on snow)

The crazy wind blew this snow drift two feet from the fence, it made a great snow fort and was about 3 feet high. Luke loved climbing it.

Luv 'em!

That's the back patio, covered with a funky slope!

January 30, 2010

Just a photo to help us remember Colton in his tough macho state. A few weeks ago he was boasting about being such a strong tough guy at school...I just couldn't resist humbling him a bit...YES! I won. I told him some day he could be as strong as me, if he worked out. I don't think he realized that hefting babies for years and as they grow up does work the arms a bit.

Jason took the youth down to the temple for baptisms. It was Colton's first time as a young man. He had a wonderful time. Mostly cause they ate Chinese food and he scarfed down 20 or more fortune cookies, my son is insane!

Bro. Hansen, Johnathan, Bro. Weldon, Kyle, Bro. Layton, Bro. Rich, Colton, Talon, Bro. Petersen.

Yes, this is our YM's group. Our YW's is even smaller with two girls.

Jason started his first week working from home! It has been great so far. Some of my friends expressed concern about how soon I'll be eager to have him go to a separate location to work. After the first two days I don't think I'll have anything to worry about. I'm more worried he'll be eager to get into an office ASAP. Though I do think he likes not having to get all dress up to go to work. He has made it pretty nice, he's watched Sarah (which isn't too hard as she plays contently by herself most of the time) he's done laundry and helped with some errands. It's been a big help to me not having to hire a sitter to do my jobs once or twice a week. I think I like this work from home thing! And no there is no news yet on any office locations...they have so much planning to do first!

Remembering My Brother...

Thursday is my brother Darin's birthday. I miss him very much. I worried that over time I'd forget his mannerisms, his smile, laugh and the quirky things that made him who he was. As I read through a family book my parents gave us, I realized I hadn't forgotten. In fact, as I think about him it makes me smile remembering the nicknames he gave to all of us, especially his smile and laugh. He was the 2nd child born to our large family of 10 kids. Some of the things I remember most about him are...
*he loved to work on cars, it was him. He could see a porche in an old beater.
*I loved to hear him speak in Swedish.
*I loved hanging out with him, always make me laugh.
*I loved that I did the paper route with him at 3 in the morning...lots of talk time. Not that i loved it as a job, but now I treasure that time with my brother.
*He loved Chevy's, country music, his Trans Am, Taco Bell burritos and AZ warm sun.
*He ran the St. George Marathon with my dad and he placed 7th in his age division.
*He loved his family. He was married in the AZ Temple to an incredible woman. I know he loved playing with his boys. If he could have he would have stayed home and played with them all day, never having to go off to work.

He wasn't perfect, he had his own flaws; but don't we all? I do miss him. He was 30 years young when he died in a freak accident on May 19th the year my 1st son was born. At that time I wished more than anything that I could take his place so he could raise his boys. It broke my heart to see them without a daddy.
My sister-in-law, Joni, has done a remarkable job holding them together. I can't imagine that any part of it has been easy as she remarried some time later and then lost her second husband to cancer 2 years ago. I have never seen a stronger woman. I love her for what she has done to care for her boys. They are an amazing bunch!

This was the last visit to Darin's grave in AZ, 2 years ago.

This is his youngest son who was only 6 months old when Darin died. I can't wait for the day he can meet his dad and know that he has been watching over them all along. I think they will be amazed how well they know him when they see him face to face.

Maybe this is why I've felt so blue that last few days. They say time heals all wounds, but they forget to mention the scars that are left when the healing has taken place; thus we never forget. I love you Darin.

"Santa Sarah" (she went around telling everyone she was "Santa Sarah, ho ho ho, Merry Christmas!")

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope this brings many wonderful surprises for you all. We are playing the waiting game, waiting to see what happens with the job change for Jason. As soon as we know anything we'll pass the word along. I can't believe I've miss updating this so my new years goal is to keep it up. I like FB but it doesn't allow for sharing stories and funny things so I want this blog to keep going at least for my own record of our families happenings.

December was very busy with my Christmas Exchange and making stuff to Jason's work (Santa pillow.) I enjoy doing those things I just need to start sooner so it doesn't take my life away. I also put together gift baskets for some Dr.'s and they turned out really good; it was a big relief for me, I wanted to make sure they would be appropriate for the recipients. I heard many good things back so they must have been a hit! I'd love to move to a larger area so I could get this little business off the ground, but here in nowhere land it wouldn't be sustained.

Some of our highlights were surviving the Ice Storm, Colton becoming a Deacon. Sarah getting potty-trained, Luke making it through another year with Diabetes and starting preschool. Whitney excelling in school with her math facts. She did great. Had learned her times and division and was a month ahead of all the other 4th graders. Some of my favorites sayings from the kids: Sarah - singing "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the ear" and Luke trying to tell us he was scared (nervous) and said "mom, I feel nerbo." It took us a while to figure that one out:)

I'll post some Christmas pictures soon! thanks for your patience, love to you all - Melanie