What we've been up to!

My blog has been out of commission for a while but I think I finally got the problem resolved after wasting too much time reading some forum's on how to fix it.  But, I guess it's not a waste of time if I've got things up and running again, right?   Anyway, I started this post sometime last week so I'm just picking up where I left off. 

I stink at blogging these days. I'm blaming it on my sick computer that severely needs medical attention (or maybe it's the user that needs medical attention:):) Thank goodness for the ipad or I'd be completely sunk.  Life continues to be crazy busy and I'm just wondering how it could possibly be March already. Did we not just celebrate Christmas?? Seems like all we do around here is run around in circles and somehow make it home to put our weary heads on our pillows. Last night was a rare night where we actually got to be home snuggling on the couch reading our library books that have been gathering dust.  Oh well, it's more fun to read a stack of 35 books all at once than to spread it out, right? (not really, especially if you are like me and you can't keep your eyelids open longer than 2 minutes:):)   That's another story.  I'm old.  Or, just tired.  Or both.  Either way, I still don't find it funny that I'm pulling out more and more gray hairs and I'm covering up more and more wrinkles on my face.  Darn kids.  Just kidding. I totally love my kids but I make sure to blame the gray hairs and wrinkles on them daily!
Okay, enough of that.  Here's a run down on the last couple of weeks, we'll start with DJ because the poor guy deserves some credit for all he's accomplishing.  His Doctorate program is kicking him in the pants, actually, he's doing awesome but it just might kill him off.  He spends hours upon hours reading, studying, posting on forums, writing papers, etc.  He rarely makes it to bed before midnight and is plagued with insomnia because of all that he has to tackle.  Poor guy, too bad I can't understand a lick of what he's studying or I might be able to be of some assistance. :(:(   Thank goodness we had our fun family ski trip a few weeks back on his B-Day which was just what the doctor ordered.  We had a blast spending time together on the slopes and skiing is something he absolutely loves.  I love that he gets on the slopes and forgets about everything that's weighing on him and just has a great time.  I'm so thankful that DJ's parents are willing to help with the little ones since they aren't ready for full day skiing yet.  But, I think they'll be there next year.  Porter was actually really getting the hang of doing "S's" down the mountain as long as he had someone to follow. Kami is not far behind.  We took Jordyn and Kaleb on some pretty challenging runs this time around and they did awesome except for the time when Jordyn decided that she'd ski "full bore" down the face of the mountain, just to get it over with.  DJ and I were more than panicked so DJ skied like a mad man after her and cut her off which ended in a pretty amusing crash.  I say amusing because DJ was not happy and Jordyn thought he was being mean when actually, I'm pretty sure he saved her from having an ugly crash with a tree.  After we explained his intent and she calmed down, she was quick to follow his simple instructions to do S's all the way down the mountain.  Anyway, Regan is getting to be an awesome skier.  Her form is beautiful and she's willing to try lots of different runs including some pretty challenging ones. She couldn't wait to get up and go everyday and she'd see how many runs she could squeeze in before and after lunch.  Morgan loves the sport as well and is pretty confident in her abilities.  She loves a challenge and loves to be the first one down the hill.  I, on the other hand, am completely satisfied to be the last one down the hill for two reasons, I ski for the scenery, not for the challenge, and I'm kind of a chicken so I have to take it slow or I'll freak out.  At any rate, it's such a fun family sport and I love the possibility of all 8 of us being on the mountain at once next year!! 
Anyway, Regan has two b-ball games left this season.  She's enjoyed it and she's learned lots sitting on the bench:):)  Thankfully, she's played really hard when she's had the opportunity to get in and actually scored the teams only 2 (3) pointers of the season!!  She just needs to play with more confidence which can only come from time on the court.  I think it's been a good experience and she's made some more good friends along the way.  Track starts in another week so she doesn't have much down time before she'll be off and running again! 
Morgan has been tearing it up in soccer this season. I'm so proud of her and her willingness to get out and work her hardest at the games.  She scored 2 goals last game and her coach & DJ said she played her heart out. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the game, bummer!  She'll finish indoor soccer in a few weeks and then have a small break before she starts in to spring soccer. 
Jordyn is still enjoying clogging and is preparing for her spring recital where they'll be performing pieces from Mary Poppins.  She has music in her bones and seems to really love clogging but I'm sure it has something to do with the time she gets to spend with some of her best buddies:)  Don't know if I mentioned that she got glasses a couple of months ago.  She's far sighted in her left eye so she has a cute little pair of pink glasses that she wears while she reads.  She also participated in the school science fair and won a 2nd place ribbon for her project titled, "Polka Dot's and Color Blots."  A perfect project for our budding artist!:)

Kaleb started wrestling again and seems to be enjoying it much more than last go around.  We finally figured out that it was the meets that were terrifying him and causing him such anxiety.  It turns out that he actually loves going to practice and he works his tail off the entire hour and a half he's there.  For now he'll just do the practices and then somewhere down the line we'll start doing the meets again.  But for now, I'm just glad he's not crying and miserable again.  He had me laughing last week at practice because one of his little friends ran up and excitedly told us that his mom ordered him a new singlet and some head gear.  Kaleb looks at me and says, "can we order me some head gear?"  I said, "sure, if you plan on doing the meets."  He quickly said, "never mind, I don't want any head gear!"  The kid just makes me laugh all of the time!
Porter and Kamryn happily (well, not always happily) accompany me to all of the kids activities.  The good thing about dragging them along is that maybe they'll have somewhat of an idea of what they'd like to participate in since they've pretty much watched it all)  They talk non-stop about being in Gem State Track which all 6 kids will participate in starting in May.  They think they love to run and frequently ask if they can get their "runnin' stuff" on and go run up and down the street.  I'm pretty sure it has something to do with stopping to see their buddy, Larcen, along the way:)!  Anyway, I'm constantly grateful that that Porter and Kamryn have one another.  They are best buddies and I just get the biggest kick out of listening to them converse with one another, especially when they seem to always know what one another is thinking. 

Other happenings:
Morgan & Regan both got to participate in the Idaho Falls Music Club Centennial Celebration Concert held at the Colonial Theater a couple of weeks ago.  Their part of the program was a mini monster concert where they each got to perform one song with a small group of kids.  Morgan played a song called, "Balloon Pop Polka" and Regan played "Whistle Stop Junction."  The whole program was so enjoyable and I'm thankful that the girls are given opportunities to perform at things like this!  Thanks to their wonderful teacher, Ellen Knapp! 

I finally got around to fixing the van windshield which Porter managed to crack with his head on Christmas Eve.  Imagine me telling that story to the insurance company and to the guys at the shop.  They were all snickering under their breath.....I bet they've never heard that one before:):)  I also decided that while I was fixing up the looks of my van it could use a nice detailing inside since it's never been done in the almost 4 years we've had it.  I feel like I'm driving a completely new van and I'm driving the kids crazy because no food is allowed in the van for at least a month just so I can savor the "new car" smell a little longer.  The kids think the smell is disgusting, evidently they prefer the smell of stinky socks and french fries better than the new car smell. 

I had the scary experience of speaking at our Stake Relief Society meeting a couple of weeks ago.  I teased the kids that for an ice breaker at the beginning of my talk, I grabbed the beautiful vase of flowers sitting on the pulpit and took a drink of the water:)  They believed me for a minute and then we all burst out laughing.  Wouldn't that have been funny??  In all seriousness, it was a great experience for me for lots of reasons.  I learned that I can actually prepare a talk that is longer than the usual 5-10 minutes.  (I had to speak for 25 minutes)  And, I learned that I can do hard things.  This was extremely hard for me and way out of my comfort zone but Heavenly Father definitely helped me through it and I felt extremely calm the morning of, where usually I would've been a nervous wreck.  I think this experience also helped me not be so nervous about having to do sharing times since my new calling is Councilor in the primary presidency.  I'm not near so nervous for my Sunday responsibilities as I once was. 

Last Tuesday we got to have all of the Young Women come to our house to make spud nuts with the Bishop. I think Regan must have put them up to it knowing that her dad loves to make spud nuts on Christmas.  We managed to make over 150 spud nuts with lots of help with the girls and I think they ate all but 30 or so......amazing!!!  Our kids were in hog heaven, not only because they got to eat yummy spud nuts (not just at Christmas time) but because they had lots of cute girls paying close attention to them.  I was just happy that the dough cooperated and managed to rise just right before the girls all arrived.  Kaleb could sense that I was nervous and offered to say a prayer and ask Heavenly Father to help the dough rise....he was so happy when we got home to find the dough overflowing in the bowl and said, "mom, my prayer worked!!"

Last Saturday my friend, Holly, and I took our girls out for a fun night of food and entertainment.  We took the kids to eat at Johnny B Goode's which is a 50's themed restaraunt in Pocatello with really yummy and greasy food.  Holly and I laughed our heads off listening to the conversations of two "13" year olds, two "9 year old's and one "8" year old.  Girls of these ages are particurlarly entertaining:)  I think we were accused of being old because we were enjoying the music:):)  Anyway, after dinner we headed over to the Mystique for the show.  Seriously, if you haven't been to the Mystique before, you must go!  And, Saturday's Warrior, in all of its cheesiness was so entertaining and fun and I would recommend it to anyone!!

The girls participated in piano festival last Friday evening at the piano gallery. It didn't go as well as they had hoped because they both froze and forgot parts of their songs....bummer...I felt so bad for them both but Jordyn didn't seem too bothered by it and said that she just made up a bit of the song and then skipped to the part she knew.:)  Morgan was pretty disappointed because she'd played her songs perfect for my friend right before we left to head over so she took it the hardest. Anyway, they are both just glad it's over and Regan is dreading having her turn here in a couple of weeks.:)

Last but not least, Regan had a complete blonde moment that I must share even though she'll probably be ticked!   I had washed her basketball uniform the night before her game and hung it to dry and when she got up to pack her bag, it wasn't quite dry.  While I was making breakfast I could hear the blow dryer going and then suddenly she comes running out of the bathroom holding her shorts yelling, "mom, I'm such a dummy."  She got the brilliant idea of blow drying her nylon shorts and burnt a nice whole right through the shorts.  Hmmmm....normally I probably would've flipped out but I couldn't help but laugh at the situation.  I'm pretty sure she'll be paying for the shorts and I'm pretty sure she won't do that again.  Funny girl!