Wahoo!!

Jeremy's grades just posted... two As and one A-!!!! Amazing when you consider that he had to take care of me while I was on bedrest, had surgery, and was super sick; AND he reads to the kids everynight; AND he is working TWO jobs; AND he is Elder's Quorum President; AND Microbiology was a block class so it was accelerated. WOW!!

Although Jeremy is super wonderful, brilliant, and amazing... we must give credit where credit is due... Matthew always prays for Jeremy when he goes to take a test and I think there is some divine intervention going on there. BUT if ANYONE deserves help from above it is Jeremy.

The hospital pays him back for his tuition and books based on the grades he gets so we are HAPPY tonight! Yeah!!

One Down... Eight to Go

Friday night Jer finished his first semester of his new program. He took three classes and got two As and one A- or B+ (we won't know until next week). YEAH!!! It was definitely not easy on him, me, or the kids, but we survived and learned a lot and hopefully are adjusting to this adventure.

To celebrate the kids and I planned a "Good Job Dad" party after his test of Friday.

The kids all made "Good Job Dad" signs that we hung on the garage door so he would see them right as he pulled up."

Then, I asked Katie to make a list of the things that Dad would like to do to celebrate. This is what she came up with:

If you can't read the picture it says: Play with us, Read with Us, Eat Cake

Then the kids made a cake. Here is Will crying after I screamed "Stop!" when he dumped half a bottle of canola oil into the cake batter. Apparently, I hurt his feelings. He was even more upset when I dumped the batter down the sink and we started over.

Matthew and Katie working on the cake. They really pretty much did the whole thing themselves.

We let Jeremy choose what to have for dinner and he wanted to eat at the steakhouse in Manti. I was thrilled, the kids were not as much. BUT to make it funner for them, Jer read from Fablehaven while we waited for our food. It made the whole experience much more enjoyable. (And took care of another item on Katie's list.)

When we got home Jeremy and the kids played Monopoly Jr. (not Will... he fell asleep on the drive home), we ate cake and the party was over.

Saturday morning we had a garage sale. We didn't get rich, but we did get rid of stuff! Jeremy and I sold everything we wanted to except to end tables, but he really wanted to keep those anyway so it worked out. My mom still had quite a bit of stuff unsold, but it was mostly clothes which are going to the DI on Wednesday. Mission accomplished!

Saturday evening, as soon as Jer got home from the farm, we went down to the city building for Ephraim City Days where we enjoyed free hamburgers (served by the volunteer fire and rescue guys) and free ice cream (served by the mayor and city council, including Grandpa Cragun).

They had a police car, ambulences, and fire trucks open for the kids to explore. This was very fun. Actually, Will was a little nervous at first because he is scared of vehicles with sirens, but he wamed up.

Ashton especially was delighted to sit in the fire engines, look through the binoculars, and try on a fire-fighter hat because when he grows up he "wants to be a farmer and a fire fighter."

It was a super busy weekend, but very fun! We are really looking forward to have Jer all to ourselves this week.

Omnivore's Dilemma = My Dilemma

Today Matthew, Katie, and I ate Malt Shop for lunch. Sadly, instead of enjoying it, I felt sick and GUILTY... seriously GUILTY.

If you follow my sidebar you may be aware that I've been reading The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan for some time now. (I am one of those people that has at least 3 books in progress at all times so sometimes it take awhile to finish one... especially the non-fiction ones.) Charity shipped it to me in June because she had enjoyed it so much. (If "enjoyed" is the correct word... I don't know. Let's just say it is thought provoking. When I read passages to Jer he just gets mad and Richard Nixon and his agricultural policy, big businesses, and the world in general. )

FYI... The Omnivore's Dilemma is: What's for dinner?

Anyway... this book is really eye opening and makes me very grateful that I KNOW where my beef comes from, what it eats before I eat it, how the crops it eats are grown, etc. Sadly, I don't know the same thing about the poultry, fruits and veggies I buy. And this book made me totally disenchanted with the "organic" market. (As if being married to a farmer hadn't already soiled my view enough.)

Also, it has just made me more aware of our (meaning society as a whole, but also, especially me personally) tendancy to eat lots of processed food and not enough whole foods. As I prepare meals I am often taking stock of the ingredients and even the finished product themselves wondering if my great-grandparents would have recognized those foods. I read labels to determine whether the "ingredients in the ingredients" are created by God or chemists. Seriously... what I discover is disturbing.

So, today as I ate my lunch... and felt sick and guilty... I realized I MUST change. I can not in good conscience put junk in my body anymore. Especially for the next 14 or so weeks when everything that I eat is supposed to nourish my little guy too. (Note: This doesn't apply to Hershey's Bliss chocolates, my newest craving/addiction.) I can't feed my family that junk that our bodies were NOT made to live on.

Anyway... so now my dilemma is how do I make this change? What is for dinner?

Gratitude

Matthew gave me an important reminder last night.... The kids and I were reading and Jer asked us to pray for him and he then left to take a test. Matthew prayed, "Bless Daddy on his test. [Long pause]. Thank you for this wonderful day and all that we did."

After we all said "Amen," he turned to me and said "You should always say you are thankful for at least as much as you ask for." Yep! And I've been asking for a lot lately.

Oh and... Jer got 94%. He is pretty much acing Microbiology. :)

EXCITING!!!

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If you, or anyone you know, would like an additional $100-500/month, a fun night out of the house, the opportunity to promote literacy, or just lots of books, please let me know. I love Usborne Books. It has been a huge blessing in my life and I love to share that blessing with others.

If you would like more information you can visit this link or email me at: Jill@UtahUsborneBooks.com.

Have a great day!!

Perspective

So, I just read one of my dear friend's blog entries from yesterday and got some perspective. Can I just say, " I take it ALL back." (Well, all the complaining I posted yesterday.) I am SO blessed.

Sick and Tired

Okay... I will keep this brief and try not to whine too much, but I just have to vent... I am SICK of being SICK.

I am currently lying in bed with my laptop where, sadly, I have spent much of the last several months trying to recover from one thing or another... nausea and PAIN from a bad gallbladder, morning (all day) sickness, placenta problems, gallbladder surgery, pain from too-loose joints, and couple of regular old colds and flus.

But I finally thought I was getting back to normal life and catching up on things. Then last night (after fighting a terrible cold and cough all week and stomach bug all day Friday) I spent a couple of hours in the ER getting re-hydrated and drugged up with anti-nausea meds.

By the way, IV fluids and anti-nausea drugs are a WONDERFUL thing. Yesterday, I could not keep down 1 Tbsp of water or soda or even one saltine cracker before my ER visit. Today I have mostly kept down a dish of rice, two small servings of applesauce, a banana, a piece of toast, and 6 crackers, plus some water and ginger ale.

Which reminds me... I do have lots to be grateful for.

1. Modern medicine!! I love not having a gallbladder.
2. Jer stayed home with me yesterday to take care of the kids.
3. My mom took the kids today.
4. My kids have been so good to help me and each other. Seriously, they are great! Since Jer was home to feed them, they weren't put out at all by my most recent illness. In fact, the little boys found it quite entertaining to watch me throw up. The especially liked it when after 12 hours of barfing I started throwing up bile. (Sorry, that is gross, but they loved it.)
5. Charity and Samantha helped me get through my massive pile of clean, but unfolded laundry.
6. Pregnancy only lasts nine months (I'm hoping for 8 1/2 months), but a child is ours FOREVER. I'm SO thankful for eternal families and the joys that each member adds to our family.

So even though I had to give away a home show I was really looking forward to last night, and cancel my planned yard sale today, and find a substitute to teach "I Can Pray" in nursery tomorrow, life could be worse. It really, really could. I just need to keep reminding myself of that when I feel like complaining.

Celebrating Pioneer Day!

Last week was one celebration, special occasion, or other fun event after another! Here are some of the highlights: Swimming with the Cox cousins at Grandma's house
Jumping off a make-shift diving board.

Slip and Slide!!

Playing kick ball with the cousins

Last week of swimming lessons

Eating at a "real" restaurant TWICE. Once after Jer and I went to the Ogden temple with my brother Steve, and other family members. The next day, we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House. Of course, it was the visits to the temple and not the dining that were the REALLY special occasion.

It was a wonderful week and each activity, in a different way, reminded us about the faith of our forebearers and the sacrifices they made that have blessed our lives, and renewed our dedication to pass on a heritage of faith and obedience to our posterity.

Let's Party!!

I spent the last week in Oklahoma celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Usborne Books and More at our National Convention. It was amazing!! Some of the highlights (in no particular order):

1. Being whisked away from the airport in a limo. Here are me, Bobbi, and up-up-upline supervisor Deb Casey in the limo.

2. Enjoying a delicious steak dinner and a live, outdoor presentation of one of my all-time favorite musicals Oklahoma! as a reward for making the President's Club.

3. JIM TRELEASE!!! Have you read the Read Aloud Handbook? It is amazing and will make you a better parent. He signed my copy.

4. Not having to think about, prepare, or clean up meals and having my bed made everyday.

5. The Hawaii Celebration luncheon, team parties, late night "Name Game" sessions, and being with my wonderful friends (some that I only see 1-2 times each year).

6. Flying First Class from Atlanta to Salt Lake. Let's just say... I could get used to that! I did pretty much deserve it after Delta kept ruining my day and I spent 12 hours in airports due to their incompetence. They screwed up my flight from Rome too. Let's just say we aren't impressed with Delta at our house. First Class though... was great!

7. It is always fun to be recognized for your efforts. The awards I received were: Supervisor of the Year Honorable Mention, #3 Central Group Recruiting, #4 Group Promotions, #4 Personal Recruiting, #11 Central Group Sales, and #15 Home Show Sales.

8. Coming home to my family. The kids had cleaned up the house (in their way) and Katie had laid out my pjs and the stuff in the picture below.

What great kids!! Now back to reality...

Ultrasound Results...

And he's coming sometime by Thanksgiving!

What's More American?

The Fourth of July was a busy day at the end of a VERY busy week that ended a month of ball games, choir practices, cheer camp, surgery, booths, and overall busy-ness.

But it was a GREAT day. We spent most of the day in Manti at the park and the kids got to spend time with both their Cox and Cragun cousins. The day ended with a patriotic program at the stadium where Matthew and Katie (and their cousins Spencer and Cameron) performed a few songs with the Children's Choir.

Here are the kids and their cousins making rockets to shoot high in the air (with help from Grandma and parents of course).

Katie with her fourth of July hair waiting in line to shoot her rocket.

Ashton and Spencer discussing their rockets while waiting their turn.

Jer and Ashton waiting for the egg toss to start. Their partners were Matthew and Grandma Cox. Matthew and Jer did really well.

The kids with their cousin Jayme. They enjoyed the playground just as much as the planned activities (especially the little ones).

"What's more American than... Rock and Roll...

"... and mighty Superman!"

"I am! I am! I am!"

During the program, we watched the Boy Scouts and National Guard retire an old, huge flag. It was a wonderful ceremony. Today, Katie said, "When they were burning that flag last night I started to cry. I don't know why." What a great day to celebrate our country's birth!

Owwweeeee....

Will tripped and fell into my mom's ping pong table and cut his eye pretty bad. After he calmed down he said, "Take a picture of my blood." It actually looks worse now because in addition to the cut he has a black eye.

This is just a random picture, but too cute not to post. I came out of my bedroom and found Katie and Will in their room enjoying books. I had just added a new bookshelf and de-junked our books so they found many "new" treasures. Will made himself a little bed where Katie could read book after book to him.

Let's Hear it for the Templars... M.H.S!

Last week Katie and her cousins Ashley and Alex participated in Little Girl Cheer Camp. They enjoyed learning dances, playing active games, learning cheers and rhymes, and doing girly stuff. The performance is always so cute... the little girls do the cutest squeals and "eagles" at the end of each cheer. One day, while I was there waiting I thought about how when I was in high school no one knew what a Templar was (except people who went to Manti High School). We were constantly explaining to kids from other schools who the Knights Templar were. Now, thanks to National Treasure and the Da Vinci code Templars are well known and kind of cool. Just thought that was interesting...

In other sports related news, I am THRILLED to announce the end of the baseball and t-ball season. It was fun (kind of), but I am very relieved to have my Monday and Wednesday evenings back (as well as the hour I spent each Monday and Wednesday hunting down mitts and various pieces of uniforms).

Here is Matthew with his team, the Yankees, after their last game. They were all great kids and had WONDERFUL coaches.

Something I will miss... snow cones.

p.s. Matthew and Katie also had choir practice on Monday and Wednesday mornings and that ended this week too! And I thought summertime wouldn't be so busy.

Fun at the Pool

Okay, no one is looking at me. It is so hard to get a good picture when everyone is having so much fun!

Stuck!!

Jer picked up some gravel to make himself a little driveway for his farm car and save our regular driveway and garage from his stinky mud. Well, they gave him more than he ordered and the first time he drove onto it he SUNK. He and Levi spent an hour or two digging him out the next morning.