First Day Of School 2009....AGAIN!

Todd and Landon finally had their first day of school yesterday! It was quite the day for me, I tell ya what!!! I don't know why, but sending my kids to school has never been an easy thing for me to do. And yesterday, I got DOUBLE WHAMMIED!!! I had to send my very nervous Todd to his first day of Jr. High, and then I had to send my baby to kindergarten.

I wanted so bad to take Todd by the hand and be with him, to comfort and console him, and to reassure him that it would be OK. Could you imagine the humiliation for that poor boy if I actually did that! Not that I could have done it, but I really wanted to. He was so nervous that he wouldn't be able to find his classes....even though we did several practice runs last week. I gave him a big hug and sent him on his way with his friends, Sean and Travis. Luckily I was able to hide my tears from him, but the dam broke as I watched him disappear down the street. I was nervous for him :) I'm finding it very hard to detach a little and let him do this on his own, but do it, I must. I've got to let him have this independence, but it's coming with some growing pains for me that I didn't expect. What can I say, I don't want him to grow up!!!!

I had enough time to recover from the tears that fell when I sent Todd off and then it was time to take Landon. At least I COULD take him by the hand and walk him across the street to the school. I could even hug him and kiss him!! And yes, I cried! Like a baby! The great thing is that I had lots of support! Three of our neighbors were there, doing the same thing I was! Landon was so happy that he has friends he knows in his class. It helped ease some of the nervousness he was feeling. Last week during his testing session, his teacher gave him a bracelet that said "BE BRAVE". She told him to wear it the first day so he would remember that being brave would be his first job in kindergarten. Especially because mom would probably cry. Yea, she knows me! She taught Todd, Emily and Dylan as well. As the kids al lined up to walk into the school, one of the parents noticed that the class was mostly boys. Mrs. Lauritzen (the teacher) turned around and told us that there are only 3 girls in the whole class....and 18 boys!!! WOW!

So here are the pictures I took. I have LOTS of Landon - because I could. Todd, on the other hand, well, only two. My very favorite one of Landon is the one where he's showing me his BE BRAVE bracelet. It absolutely MELTS my heart....and makes me cry!!!!

First Day Of School 2009

It's hard to believe that a new school year is upon us!! Seriously, I can't believe it. I decided to start blogging a year ago, with the 1st day of school being my first entry!! Really, where does time go? It flies past me so fast now days that I can hardly believe it's real.

This year, only Emily (5th grade) and Dylan (3rd grade) started school today. Todd's first day of Junior High isn't until next Wednesday, and Landon doesn't start kindergarten until next Monday because the first week of school is all testing for them.

I took Emmy and Dylan outside for their traditional 1st day of school picture and started laughing as I realized that they were color coordinated, but opposite, of each other!! This wasn't planned....I promise!! They chose their own first day outfits. I had nothing to do with it, but I thought it was funny that even their shoes were opposite.

I hope in a few months from now, they're still just as excited and enthusiastic about going to school as they were today!

Just One More Reason....

In our neighborhood, we're pretty much known as the family with, what we like to call, "The Fleet", of junker cars/trucks sitting in our driveway. Mind you, they're ALL functional vehicles. They're just old! Our newest one is the 1997 Grand Caravan. Chris' "testosterone challenged" truck is a 1993, and our "Big Blue Whale" (that we paid a WHOPPIN' $500 FOR) is an '87!!! But guess what??? Thanks to my AWESOME, self teaching husband, they all run perfectly!! They don't just clunk their way from point A to point B. They really do run top notch.


NEVER, in the history of our marriage, have we paid a mechanic!! Chris has never taken shop classes, he just bought the Chilton manuals for each vehicle and taught himself. I'm so grateful that he's so willing to do that! He has saved us THOUSANDS of dollars.

Our latest issue is the van. It just quit one day...totally dead. He did some diagnostic tests and figured the problem to be the starter, which he replaced only a few years ago. A little stumped as to why he'd have to be replacing the starter again already, he took it out to replace it. But rather than just run to Checker to buy a new part ($60), he took the old one apart to see if he could see a problem. The fix ended up being quite simple. The contacts that the current runs through to engage the starter were REALLY grimy, greasy and dirty. So he disassembled it, cleaned it all up with rubbing alcohol, made look all shiny and new, and wouldn't ya know......it worked!!!! What seemed to be a horrible problem because the van wouldn't start AT ALL, ended up not costing us a penny to fix!!! So, as he finishes up ANOTHER auto job on one of "The Fleet", I just had to snap this picture!! This is just one more reason why he is my HERO!!

14 AMAZING years!!!

Today, August 5, 2009, I am celebrating 14 AMAZING years of marriage to my best friend, my soul mate. Chris, you are my EVERYTHING. I am so blessed to have you. I could not have wished for a better husband and father. I truly appreciate all you do for us, for your hard work and dedication to provide such a wonderful life. All my dreams came true when our paths crossed. It's been an amazing journey! I'm so glad I had you by my side, holding my hand and supporting me through the ups.....and the downs. Neither one of can ever deny that we were meant to be and that is the BEST security one could ever have! Let me share a story with all who read this.........
While we were dating, Chris and I, on more than one occasion, felt the spirit testify that we were on the right road. There was one night that Chris pulled out a bunch of slides that had just collected dust in the basement since his parent's divorce. We set up the screen and started looking at the pictures on the slides. I will NEVER forget that we were eating Bagel Bites and just having casual conversation about family and how important it was to each of us. He was telling me about each picture and talking about random things in the pictures….nothing too intense. I specifically remember that we were looking at a picture of Chris, as a young boy, gathered around the table with his family for Thanksgiving dinner, when out of nowhere, the room was filled with the sweetest spirit I have ever felt. Not knowing whether or not Chris was feeling what I was feeling, I didn’t dare look at him as my eyes began to fill with tears and my heart started to swell with so much love and joy. I realized in that instant that he had quit talking. Our eyes met and he said in a soft, cracking whisper, “Do you feel that?” At that point, the dam broke and the tears fell. All I could do was nod my head. Once we were able to regain our composure, we talked some more and we KNEW, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that our decision to be married and start a family was the right choice. Not once did we pray to ask if it was right. We didn’t have to. We just knew because of the awesome things that were manifested to us through the Holy Ghost. Although we had several other experiences similar to that, the one I have shared is the one that truly solidified our decision. Our experiences were so UNDENIABLE that there was NEVER a question or a doubt in our minds or hearts.

The rest is history.............still in the making :)