Spring Break: Castle Rock

After Ammon left we kicked off our Spring Break.  I actually had a horrible spring break with all sorts of dental and medical issues.  I had appointments everyday and was constantly in pain.  We took it pretty east with only a few outings.  

One day we hiked Castle Rock with our good friends - The Barretts.

 I love Castle Rock becasue you can climb on all the rocks.

Megan is so funny - she likes to go off by herself and sit in quiet contemplation.  She is a lot like me.

I am so glad Jen faced her fear of heights and made it to the top with us!

Ammon's goes home

Ammon left us on Monday, March 20th to go home back to Utah.  It was very sad.  We still miss him.  We had a little going away breakfast for him with some of his friends he had made while here.  It was in the middle of Spring Break - so most couldn't make it - but we are grateful for the ones that could.

The kids made him this banner - I am sad you can't see it.  It said, "We love you, Ammon" and they all drew and wrote thing about him.

I loved having Ammon in our home.  I am so glad we took him in.  In the end it was harder than I thought it would be - I had to "mother" him more than expected - but I was happy to do it.  Having Ammon helped me to really know that I can love someone else's child like my own (which is good to know because we want to do Foster Care).  He also helped me to know that I have a lot to look forward to as my children grow up.  I don't think Ammon coming to our home the first year Madison went into Kindergarten was a coincidence - I think it was Heavenly Father's way of helping me bridge this transition and knowing that teenagers rock and are so fun - and still need a mother as much as toddlers do.  I am excited about the next ten years of mothering - when this year I could have been morning the loss of my last 10 years.

Also he appreciated me!  He has the maturity and wisdom to always be on my side when the other 4 have turned against me.  Example: EVERYONE would be complaining about what I made for dinner - Ammon said the dinner prayer and in it he Thanked Heavenly Father for all I do in the family and how hard I work to make wonderful dinners and to bless me for it.  FANTASTIC - he can stay forever as far and I am concerned!!!

The girls wanted a "girls with Ammon picture"

Madison loved coming with me everyday to pick Ammon up from High School - I am not being sarcastic - it was one of the highlights of her day!

The kids loved having Ammon around and he had a unique relationship with each one of them.  I think Brock misses him the most though - he loved having someone older to play with (and do the hard jobs).  We are on pins and needles wondering if he will come back next year - either way we hope to stay in touch forever.  We got to know his family really well and we just love them - it feels like we have always known them.  My kids think that Ammon's parents are like another set of grandparents and want to go stay at their house when we go to Utah - ha.

FYI - Jason was traveling when Ammon left so he didn't get pictures with him.

Ammon's Birthday

We got to celebrate Ammon's birthday just a few days before he moved back to Utah.  To celebrate we took him to Olive Garden - his favorite restaurant.  We also invited his best hockey friend and his mom, Pallen and Jodi - they took him to all his hockey practices and games - we COULD not have had Ammon at our home with out them. 

Ammon turned 16!

At home I had also made him a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting (his request) and got him a few gifts.  Happy Birhtday Ammon - we are so glad we got to spend the year with you.

Conference

A short pause in my updating to post about some of my current feelings.

General Conference was so wonderful.  I am so grateful for General Conference - an opportunity to realign my values and goals every six months - it is so perfect.   I needed it this year too - and I almost didn't want it.  This winter has probably been my hardest winter in a long time.  I still haven't figured out exactly why.  I almost always have a hard January or February - and in some years I have had both - but I seemed to have a hard January, February, and March.  Everything was just at an all time low.  Low on health, low on sleep, low on energy, low on happiness, low on joy, low on accomplishments, low on socialness, low on spirituality, low on desires.  Low everything.  About 2 weeks ago I realized that I needed to snap out of it so I could be prepared for General Conference, because even though my cup was empty - I didn't even really have a desire to have it filled - so it wouldn't have been.  I knew I needed knew desires.  It was kind of scary though because in the past once I am really done being "blah" I can usually snap out of it with my usual tricks.  But  this time around none of my tricks had a lasting effect.  I would feel better for a few hours - but never even for a whole day.


Well, now, after General Conference my compass is realigned.  I am feeling so refreshed and able.  I am confident in my abilities and I know in whom I can turn to for help and support.  I have a clear vision of where I want to go and what I need to do to get there.

Jason's Head Shots

Jason's co-worker offered to take some heard shots for him for his author page for his book.  I LOVE them.  

Jason's Birthday

We had a small family celebration for Jason's 32nd birthday.  It was the day before we left for Disneyland so we were all a little pre occupied - but I did manage to make him his favorite dinner and a strawberry trifle - his favorite.

One of the best things about Jason is how simple and easy he is.  The kids love him more than anything in the world and tell us (even me) on a regular basis that they like him more than me (not in a mean way - they always say they love me too - just him more).  It really doesn't bother me - I love him the most too!  He is a wonderful dad - he gives his whole heart and soul to his family.  Love you babe - Happy Birthday!

Pine Wood Derby

This was Brock's second Pinewood Derby and Noah's first.  Jason is an excellent Pinewood Derby dad - he deals with the cars in the same way he deals with pumpkin carving - he lets them make all the decisions and then helps them achieve it.  I have a hard time watching - I am too controlling - if it were me I would be watching you-tube videos and doing a bunch of research and make the cars the best - but his way is always better.

In the end giving the kids their agency worked out - Brock won third place in speed! (an Noah 4th but there is no trophy or announcement for that)

Our good friend David won first!

Noah was so sincerely happy for Brock.  Everyone was asking if Noah was ok that Brock won and he didn't - but never once did Noah express anything other than excitement for Brock.

I sure do love these boys and their amazing friendship - they really couldn't be more different - but their friendship is like something I have never seen.

Disneyland Journals

When we got home I had the kids make Disneyland journals.  This wasn't my planned intention but water got spilled on their autograph books and got ruined - Megan was pretty sad - so when we got home I copied all the autographs into a new blank book - then Jason gave me all the extra tickets for the fast passes - the journal just kind of spiraled from there.  We all worked on them one Sunday afternoon - I let the kids glue in what ever tickets they wanted and stickers.

I had a bunch of different "favorites" for them to fill in and then draw a picture.  I think they turned out so cute and the kids look at them almost everyday still.

I did my best to copy all the autographs exactly.