BIG changes!

Lots has changed since I last updated the blog.  We moved to Dallas!!!  Craig was looking for a different job in Kansas and wasn't having much luck.  We thought of going to Phoenix, but again nothing came of that.  I kept mentioning Texas to Craig but for some reason he wasn't crazy about the idea.  He went on his hike to Washington and said he felt like he should look in Texas after all.  He got a job offer from Peterbilt in the Dallas area and he accepted.  It has been so good for him!  He is not as stressed and his commute is only 20 minutes!

We moved here at the beginning of December.  Right before a huge ice storm hit.  Apparently, the whole city shuts down when there's bad weather.  It was all new to us.  We were able to buy a house in Justin.  It's a small town about 45 minutes north west of Dallas.  The schools are really good and we like the community.  It is a lot more diverse than Louisburg.  The kids are still trying to get used to the bigger schools.  I hope they make friends soon.  It still feels weird being here.  Unfamiliar.  I suppose it will take some time before it feels like home.  But overall we like it here.  The weather has been a lot warmer than in Kansas.  It has the same ups and downs we experienced there.  It is sunnier which I LOVE :)

The 3 little kids have started baseball.  I HATE it!  There's a practice everyday Monday through Friday.  And we have to sell raffle tickets.  Hope the season goes by fast.  It should be over by the time school gets out, so that would be good.

Another exciting thing that happened is that we got a dog!  It was Cooper's Christmas present.  We got a beagle and he is pretty dang cute.  His cuteness is the only thing that saves him some times!  We're still working on getting him potty trained.  I cannot have the house smell like a dog lives here!  We may have him be an outdoor dog, we'll see.

I've been trying to get decent pictures of the kids since before we left Kansas and I have been unsuccessful.  I can't get good smiles out of them!  I will keep trying.

This and That

Things heard around the house.

Jorge: Caleb let me play with his clay.

Me: what did you make?

Jorge: a butt

***

Chuckers: the lunch boxes at Walmart are horrible!

me: who told you that?

C: nobody, I just seen them (yes, he said seen. We've been in Kansas too long!)

***

The summer has been pretty uneventful.  June was really busy with baseball and all kinds of camps.  In July we had nothing!  It was kind of nice not having to be anywhere.  We spent most days at the pool.  Lauren and Adam were brave and went down the slide! Craig got them to one day when he came to the pool with us and they never stopped.  We went to St Louis for a couple of days so Cooper could get some driving hours.  Here's some pictures from the trip.

We went to the arch and Grant's Farm.  The kids really liked the arch.  Adam was a little worried and scared at the top but got over it quickly.  Grant's farm was so neat!  They had a bird show and an elephant show.  They also had camels, lemurs and some beautiful clydesdale horses.  They were HUGE! It was fun to get away for a couple of day before school started.  

Things heard around the house...

Things heard around the house...

***

Me: in my bathroom with the door locked after taking a bath.  I hear, knock, knock.  I open it to find Adam standing there with a confetti shooter 3000 that Caleb made, turned into a gun, that he's put through his belt loop.

Adam:  I'm a really good police officer.

Me:  Oh yeah? Is everybody behaving.  

A: Well, some people aren't.  Leaves and comes back a few minutes later.

A:  Maybe I should put Cooper in jail.

Me: ok, go tell him

A: I don't even have a police cah! (car).  Maybe I should call the real police.  But I don't know their number.    Or I could drag Cooper there... Leaves.

Me in the bathroom and he knocks again.  Yes, I say.

A: I shot Cooper.

Me: is he ok?

A: he's still alive

***

Adam:  We should move to an empty house.

He and Lauren and Caleb go play outside and they all come in very excited.  They grabbed a flier from our neighbor's for sale box.  Their house is 2 doors down.  In our cul-de-sac.  They have the EXACT same house as us.  Their plan is reversed.  It's the "ALC" house.  Adam, Lauren and Caleb house.  They want the house to themselves so they can have their own room.  They wanted to earn the money to buy it!  When we told them that wasn't happening they said they're now earning money to have a tv in their room.  Good luck with that!

Life Lessons

Every once in a while I will be talking about something, more like venting, and I will tell the kids, "never..."  and I lay upon them my new found wisdom.  At least I think that's how I see things.  A few days ago something like that happened and I said, "Life lesson!" and continued to tell them whatever it was that was bothering me.  So I decided to write these down. They will be in no particular order.  Some will not even make sense, it will be Sandra's crazy thoughts.  Most will be based on what I've experienced in my life.  But I hope the kids will get something out of them.  So here it goes!

***

NEVER be late to ANYTHING.  It is rude.  If you know for a fact that whoever you're meeting is going to be 15 minutes late, so you show up 10 minutes late, that still makes you late.  Have the decency to show up on time.

***

You don't have to say yes to every calling at church.  I used to believe that.  But as I've gotten older, I've come to see that there's only so much we can do.  Sis Hinckley has a quote that I absolutely LOVE:

I especially like the part where she says to move along at a pace that is comfortable for us.  I know my church leaders aren't aware of everything I'm going through so if a calling comes along that I just don't think I can handle I will not do it.  Maybe I don't have enough faith that the Lord will help me fulfill that calling, but those are just my thoughts.  If I know I can handle a smaller calling and do it well, I would feel right about doing that.  With that being said, do a good job with your calling.  Don't go overboard though.  Less is more.  Simple is best.  Sometimes the mormon culture tends to go above and beyond when it's really not needed.  Don't be a flake when it come to your calling.  Follow through.

***

You don't have to say yes to anything.  This doesn't have anything to do with callings.  And it's mostly advice for women.  We get asked to help ALL the time.  I have a hard time saying no.  So I end up saying yes out of guilt.  There are times when I know I should help a friend and I do my best.  But if there are times when you just can't or are feeling overwhelmed, there's nothing wrong with saying no.  No explanation necessary either.  A lot of times I feel like I should have an excuse, but that's not true.  "I can't" is enough. 

***

Be helpful.  I know I just said, you don't have to say yes all the time, but when you can, be helpful.  It doesn't have to be a big thing.  When I had 2 little ones at Aldi one time, a lady offered to unload the groceries on the belt, bagged them and put them in the van for me.  That meant so much and it didn't take too long.  I promised myself that if I ever saw a mom that needed a hand, I would help. Just make sure  you offer to help with the groceries or whatever the case may be.  Sometimes people get leery if you ask to hold their kid or something!

***

Have good manners.  This can cover so many things, but the basics are good manners to have.  Please and thank you ALL the time.  Hold the door open for people.  Let others at the store go ahead of you if you see they are holding a few items and you have a full cart. 

***

Don't marry anybody from Utah and don't ever live in Utah.  The mormon culture is very different there.  Craig and I hated living there.  It's a beautiful state, but the members are their own breed.  We felt like members took the church for granted.  You're not special there if you're LDS.  Enough said!

***

Don't marry a girl that does photo shoots of herself a lot.  A senior picture photo shoot, ok, I get that.  More than that and they're just plain vain and full of themselves.  You don't want a girl like that.  I don't see this being an issue with boys, but just in case, girls, same thing goes for you.  Don't marry a guy that's full of himself.

***

When you get engaged and you go register at a store, do NOT register for extravagant things.  When I registered, it was for dishes, towels, that sort of thing.  We didn't even register for a vacuum! Now couples register for $600 vacuums, several sets of dishes, $400 sleeping bags, TVs.  I think it's tacky.  You should register for the basics and get the rest on your own.  And do NOT set up one of these honey moon funds so people can contribute.  Again, tacky!

***

When eating out with people, ALWAYS wait until everybody has their food.  Circumstances may be that they say go ahead, so then you do what you think is best.  But if at all possible, wait.  Chew with your mouth closed, put your napkin on your lap, be courteous to your server and tip well.  Unless you get awful service. Then maybe you can speak to a manager.

***

Take pictures with your kids.  I have a handful of pictures with my mom and wish I had more.  I grew up in a culture where pictures weren't as big of a deal as they are now though.  But just make sure you hand somebody the camera every once in a while if you usually take them.

***

Parent your kids!  I see so many parents that are afraid to be a parent.  They want to be a friend.  Don't do that.  Teach your kids how to behave for crying out loud.  Teach them how to behave in public.  If you're at a restaurant there is NO running around.  You sit and eat.  Just like at home.  If you have a baby that starts fussing there's nothing wrong with taking them out of the chapel or store or restaurant.  PLEASE do. It is disruptive to others and very rude.  DON'T take babies to the movies.  Unless it's a kids movie, and again, be prepared to take them out if they cry.  But never take them to an adult movie.  People pay good money and they don't want to hear a crying baby or whiny kid.

***

An awful day

On Friday, December 14, a disturbed and evil man went to an elementary school in Connecticut and shot 20 precious children and 6 adults.  He killed his mom first, drove to the school where he opened fire, then shot himself.  The kids were all in 1st grade I believe.  Lauren's age.  I have shed so many tears over this tragedy. How could somebody do this?  I can't imagine what those families are going through.  I've read and heard stories of the adults that lost their lives protecting their students.  What a horrible sight that must have been for law enforcement.  I have found comfort in prayer.  And in the knowledge that those people are with Heavenly Father.  I have to believe that.  I feel awful for the families that lost somebody and that they have no knowledge of this.  They have no knowledge that they will see their daughter, son, mom, sister, or spouse again.  Maybe they have some hope of this.  I hope so.  I have hugged my kids a little tighter since then.  Still can't wrap my brain around this.  But this brings me peace and comfort...

Day 29 & 30

Day 29:  I am thankful for the Christmas season.  I love decorating for it.  The music.  I love how almost everybody seems to be a little kinder.  It always seems to go by too fast.  I wait as long as I can to put away the decorations because I know when I do, sadly, the magic is gone.  I wish more people would keep that feeling all year long.  But still grateful for Christmas. 

***

Day 30:  I am thankful for my hair.  Yes, my hair.  I know it seems trivial, but I really am grateful for it.  It's naturally curly, thanks to my dad (and I think my mom too).  It is so easy to maintain.  I have started getting my hair cut by a lady that specializes in curly hair and she makes it look so good. I am starting to get gray hair though :( but I found out it's easier to hide in curly hair.  I'm glad my hair is one less thing I have to worry about.

***

That's the end of my thankful month.  It was harder than I thought.  Maybe that's a sign that I need to look harder for the little things that bless my life daily.  Glad I did this and will probably do it again next year.

***

Day 27 & 28

Day 27:  I am thankful for Florence McWhorter.  She is in the Paola Ward and I LOVE her.  I wish she was my mom.  She cracks me up.  She watches WWF and just recently discovered she's a Justin Bieber fan.  She has 'Bieber Fever' and she's a 'Belieber,' her words.  She told me this in primary where she plays the piano for us.  I started laughing so hard!!  I first got to know her when she asked Carolyn Beattie to help decorate the stake center for her daughter's reception, and I helped.  She told me that night how her new son-in-law was ready to leave the reception to get on with the 'festivities' while rubbing her hands together.  HILARIOUS!!!! She brings a smile to my face and I'm so grateful to know her.

***

Day 28:  I am thankful for the stage I am at in my life.  I love the kids ages.  I took Audry and the three munchkins grocery shopping and they were a big help.  I can remember going with babies and how difficult that was.  I am so glad to be out of the diaper stage, the bottles and baby stage altogether.  I watch my neighbors kids every once in a while and I forget how busy they keep you.  They get into EVERYTHING!!! I can't leave them alone for 1 minute.  I don't know how I ever did it with 5 kids, especially with the 3 little ones since they're so close together.  Glad I got through it and I'm really enjoying this stage :)

***