Living With Boys

I thought I'd be at a point in my life where it would be hard to surprise me. Where things that boys come up with didn't have as much shock behind them as they used to. I mean, I've lived with my husband now for 12 and a half years, had three boys of my own, and have had many of their friends who are all boys over as well. Being the only girl surrounded by boys, I thought I'd adjusted well to expecting the typical "Boy" around here. But there was another shocking "I can't believe he did that!" moment again around here today.

The closet in our living room where we keep all our coats, and sports equipment has had a funny smell lately. I was thinking we had a mouse die in there, or something like that. So finally I talked Jared into cleaning it out with me. (If there is a dead mouse, he is the one pulling stuff out and discovering it, not me! That's just gross!!) So he pulled everything out, and we didn't find a thing. I knew I wasn't crazy. Something was smelling in there. But what?!

After vacuuming it out, de-junking some of the old coats and equipment, we got it all organized again. But I still wondered what that smell was.

About an hour after putting it all back together, I noticed a vest was still out that was covered in mud. So I grabbed it, started cleaning out the pockets so I could throw it in the washer, and ended up pulling out a zip lock baggie with some mushy stuff in it. Immediately I recognized the horrible smell. And I mean HORRIBLE!! It about made me puke it was so bad. I started asking the boys who wore this vest last and what the heck had they put in the pocket. T.J. knew immediately and told me.

It was bait from when Cody went craw-dad fishing with Teegan down at the canal back in November.

Oh my gosh!!

Not only was it bait, there were cooked egg yolks in there he tried using.

It was horrible!! Cody immediately went on defense mode. Saying that because T.J. had thrown mud all over the vest, and then it somehow got hung back up in the closet, he forgot to clean out the pockets. I had to laugh at the same moment I was ready to puke. It was awful! We got that out to the garbage as fast as we could.

Once again I'm shocked at what happens around here in a house full of boys.

Heaven help me.

A Little Anxiety Attack

I just registered T.J. for middle school. Yep, you read that right. Middle School. Oh my gosh. I'm going to have kids going to two different schools next year. I'm going to have a kid who's school is more then .8 of a mile away. Yes, it's still close, but it's not walking close.

I'm having a bit of anxiety.

We met at the middle school tonight for orientation. And signed him up for his classes. He's only allowed one elective for 7th grade. He was mad he couldn't choose art for a full year. It's only offered for one semester. So as a second semester choice, he chose music composition. He was not happy about that. But it was better then choir, band, percussion, and theater for him. So he settled for that. We found out they have two art teachers who are awesome, so here's hoping the art class works out for him and they have enough kids choose it to fill it.

After turning in his registering card, we walked around the school. T.J. didn't want to. But I made him. And Hunter wanted to as well. Actually, he just wanted to see the boys locker rooms. Jared has told these boys about the showers in there, and now Hunt is worried about having to shower at school. (Sometimes Jared doesn't help the situation at hand. Ha ha.) Unfortunitely the locker rooms were locked. It was weird walking around that school. It has the exact floor plan of the middle school I went to. And Jared's as well. So I took him around and pointed out places. The only thing he liked was seeing that he can bring a $1.25 and get a shake at lunch if he wants to. I showed him where my locker was in 8th grade and told them about the morning I had just got to school and was standing at my locker when I looked down the isle an saw all the lockers moving back and forth. Turns out we had an earthquake. I showed him the choir room, science rooms, the main office, the gym, and lunch room. He was sick of walking around so we headed out. But we ran into an old friend and neighbor of mine from growing up. Turns out she was a counsler there. I've known her since I was about 7 years old and played with her girls. She couldn't believe I had a kid going to middle school.

I can't believe it either.

T.J. was quiet on the ride home. So I asked what he thought. Here's the whole conversation...

Me: "So, whatcha ya think?"
T.J.: "Boring."
Me: "Aren't you excited at all though?"
T.J.: "Gay."
Me: "Are you excited for your own locker though?"
T.J.: "I just wish we had only one room we stayed in. Instead of having to go to our locker, then bring another book to another class..."
Me: "I know."

And that was it during the whole ride home. Honestly, I think he's a little nervous. T.J. has a hard time with change. But I think he'll do good. I reminded him he also knows kids from other schools that will be there from football. But he acted like he didn't care.

It's crazy to think I'm going to have a middle schooler. He only has one more time to go off track during elementary school before he's never on year round again. He's growing up fast.

And I'm getting old.

Jared likes to point out that I'm the only one who's getting old.

Thanks Jared.

P.S.... Cody was super cute tonight. While I was gone, he put the dishes in the dish washer away, made my chair all cozy with a blanket over it, made me a huge fruit salad, and a grape drink and had it waiting for me when I got home. I guess I was a bit ornery before I left and he wanted to make me feel better. (OK, I was really ornery. I was super stressed and dinner wasn't going as planned.) Cody is always looking out for me. I sure love that kid! He's such a sweetie!

Finished... The Most Amazing and Inspiring Books I've Ever Read

Last year in February Jared and I were called to be a Ma and Pa on Trek for our ward. Honestly, when Jared told me we got the call, I was excited but very hesitant to say we'd go. I'd severely blown my knee out, have back problems from the epidural I had while having Hunter, and have issues with my feet which require a little surgery. (Just a lovely hereditary thing I was lucky to get.) So yes, I was nervous. I'd always wanted to go on a Trek, and four years earlier had had a chance to go, but that's when I ended up blowing out my knee so that idea came to a screeching halt.

I wanted to go.

Jared said I'd be ok. If the Lord wants us to go, it would work out. So on February 15th, he told the Bishop yes.

A little wave of anxiety and excitement swept over me. We were going.

Being a Ma and Pa required a lot of work. I started walking. A LOT. At first it was a mile. Then two. And by the time trek was upon us, I was up to five and a half miles at a time. At first my knee was not happy. But it got better and better. And my right foot, which was the worst, would hurt about the first mile, then subside. And I overall felt really good. I lost inches. And had leaner muscles which I did not complain about! (The only thing I wish I would have practiced... walking hills. We walked hill after hill. Some quite steep.)

It also required a lot of work spiritually. I began reading -after a friend told me about this book- Gerald Lund's FIRE OF THE COVENANT. It's about the Martin and Willie Handcart Company. It was amazing! I took every chance to read I could get. Most of the time was during feedings with my 3 month old niece whom I watched. Sometimes I read aloud to her. I couldn't get enough of this book. The stories -even though I was very familiar with them- were inspiring. I learned so much more then I had already known. And how the author put actual quotes in at the ends of chapters made the book come alive even more.

During trek and the spiritual thoughts we had, I took excerpts from the quotes he used to help the youth understand how spiritual of an experience this Handcart Company experienced, but also how very hard physically and mentally is was as well. It was amazing to see on the faces of the youth after reading these actual quotes, the signs of understanding just a little more what these pioneers went through. I thank Gerald Lund for putting these in. They brought so much more to this book.

I didn't get to finish reading FIRE OF THE COVENANT before we went on Trek. Life is so busy that it just wasn't possible. And with it being 762 pages, it's not the kind of book you read in a short time.

I finished it in August. And loved every minute of it. But honestly, once Trek was over, I started sinking into a bit of depression. I didn't know why or what it was coming from, but I knew something was missing in my life. And then I realized what it was. I had prepared for hours and hours spiritually, mentally and physically for Trek. I'd read and read so much for it. Got everything prepared for the spiritual moments we'd have up there. And couldn't wait for the experience of Trek to come.

And then all at once, it was over.

One of the hardest but coolest callings I've ever had was over. I missed the excitement in the air. You could feel it at church being around the youth. You could feel it as I went walking and people in our ward would stop and ask how far I'd walked that day to get ready for it. You could feel it at the Stake meetings with the Stake Youth Presidencies and see it in their smiling faces. You could feel it as we split into our Trek families, or as we talked to the youth about how their trek clothing was coming, about if they had their ancestor name chosen yet with whom they were walking for, and as I chose my own ancestor's names and stitched them into the skirt I made.

It was over. And I missed it, terribly.

Once I realized why this depression had come over me, I started to dig my way out. I believe, for the most part, depression is a choice. And we either find what is causing it and try to change it, or we let it win. I was going to win.

I finished FIRE OF THE COVENANT and found that Gerald Lund had also written another book on pioneers. It's about the Hole-In-The-Rock pioneers called THE UNDAUNTED. I immediately checked this book out at the library once I finished the first, and began reading.

Yes, this book again took me months to read. It was 802 pages. But I loved it. And it was just what I needed. I didn't have to be done with the whole pioneer experience once Trek was over. I had a whole other experience of pioneer struggles and faith to read about. And it was amazing.

This book is incredible. The story of the Hole-In-The-Rock Pioneers is absolutely amazing! I had no idea how hard it was for them to travel about 200 hundred miles in the dessert of Southern Utah to relocate their lives because of their mission call. I had no idea how absolutely horrible the actual Hole-In-The-Rock experience was for them, along with many other near-impossible trails they had to over come. I've never been down to see the actual sites, although I want to now, but to see pictures of the actual Hole-In-The-Rock sends shivers down my spine.

Here are some from various sites I found as I googled Hole-In-The-Rock Pioneers:

  Isn't this amazing! Look at the center of the photo. See the part of the mountain where there is a hole where it sinks down a bit? That's Hole-In-The-Rock. After blasting away at a bunch of rock to make somewhat of a road passage way, they anxiously started down. I say anxiously very lightly.
Men and some women drove the wagons down, while most others including children walked down it for safety reasons.

  Here it is up close. Can you imagine taking a wagon and a team of horses, mules, or oxen down this?! The first (I can't remember exact) about 300 feet was a vertical drop. They literally stood up on the sides of the wagon as it "fell" down the first of this hole in the mountain. The sides of the mountain held the wagons up so none could tip over. And no one was killed doing this, either. Animals and some people were hurt, but nothing very serious.

 

 I get anxiety just looking at this.

One of the most amazing stories of coming down the Hole-In-The-Rock is about Stanford and Arabelle Smith. I won't write about it here, as I tend to write too much anyways, but wanted to mention their names so I will never forget.

Here is looking at the canyon they entered into as they came down Hole-In-The-Rock. The Hole is way back there now, just off to the left of the top of the mountain. Once down the Hole, they still had obstacles to over come to get down. They literally built a road on the side of the mountain to get the wagons the rest of the way down; cutting wagon trails into the side of the mountain. Once down they crossed the Colorado River (which feeds into Lake Powell) and then onto Cottonwood Canyon where they camped for a few days. They loved it there because of the greenery and water around them. Honestly, there wasn't that much, but to them, it was more then they'd had in a long time.

 This is a picture of an actual wagon the came down Hole-In-The-Rock. Look at the wheels and how they are held together. It's amazing to me that any of them made it down without falling apart, let along continued on through more horrible pulls and drops they faced.

I couldn't even go 4-wheelin' in a truck up some of the hills they took because I'm so terrified of heights. I cannot imagine doing it in a wagon.

Other parts of this trek did cause some injuries and some animals died because of the complete hardship this trek took on their bodies, but in the end, they made it. What an amazing story.

And so, as I come to the end of these two amazing books, I am amazed and very humbled at the sacrifices these pioneers took because of their faith in God and the Gospel. I want to end with a quote I found at the end of FIRE OF THE COVENANT. And I want to thank the pioneers who thought to journal through their journey's on the trail. Because of this, we know more of what you went through and will always be inspired and humbled because of it.

Elizabeth Horocks Jackson (who lost her husband at Red Buttes and was with the Martin Handcart Company):
"I have a desire to leave a record of those scenes and events, thru which I have passed, that my children, down to my latest posterity may read what their ancestors were willing to suffer, and did suffer, patiently for the Gospel's sake. And I wish them to understand, too, that what I now word is the history of hundreds of others, both men, women, and children, who have passed thru many like scenes for a similar cause, at the same time we did. I also desire them to know that it was in obedience to the commandments of the true and living God, and with the assurance of an eternal reward-an exaltation to eternal life in His kingdom-that we suffered these things. I hope, too, that it will inspire my posterity with fortitude to stand firm and faithful to the truth, and be willing to suffer, and sacrifice all things they may be required to pass thru for the Kingdom of God's sake."

Cody's Football Banquet

Tonight was Cody's Football Banquet. We've been so excited for this to come. He's wanted his trophy since the Championship game was won. But at the same time, attending this banquet also means that Football Season has officially ended. And we miss it.

We went to Madeline's Steak House in Sandy. They reserved a nice banquet room. It was awesome to walk into our room. On the floor were 24 huge trophies - 22 and a half inches tall. All with their names and numbers engraved. Even the coaches got a trophy. We had a steak and baked potato dinner with a salad and rolls. It was yummy. Cost a bit more then I wanted to pay, but the banquet was really nice, so it was well worth it.

They started out by showing a movie made by Coach Parks to announce the awards. It was put together like a CMA awards  show is typically done.... they'd announce the award that was up and then either show pictures of those nominated, or a short film clip from a game. It was really neat how it was put together. Cody won the "No Quit Award". Once it was announced, Cody went up front while Coach Parks talked about why Cody won this. He said Cody was a determined boy. He wasn't the fastest on the team, but he always tried his best and finished what was expected of him. Especially on ladders. He struggled with this. He never came in first, and sometimes wasn't last, but he never gave up. And he never saw Cody cheat. I thought that  was neat that he mentioned Cody never cheating. Cody was so good to those coaches. He did exactly what was asked of him and never complained. Coach Parks mentioned that as well.

Once he gave all the awards, Coach Parks talked to all the boys about how well they did this season and really prepared for it. They ate healthier, exercised all the time, took better care of themselves, and made some really good friends on the team. He compared that to life and encouraged the boys to not quit what they've worked so hard to become. He talked about how they need to stay away from drugs, bad choices, bad friends, and things in life that can hurt them. It was really good! He is a cop. So I hope the boys really listened to what he had to say.

Then Coach Medina got up and presented the trophies to the boys. He called them up one at a time. He started with what he said is the most important part of a football team - the Line. Cody was second. Again, he talked about how Cody never gave up and worked hard on the line to help block and protect the Center. He also said as he gave the other "X" man his trophy that his only two "X" men (Cody and Shaneck), did really good to block, hit, and defend their team. He said he was proud of them.

Afterwards, all the boys were allowed to get their yard stakes and have their team sign them, like a yearbook. It was cute. They were all so excited to have everyone sign it. Cody asked me to sign his. It made me feel so proud. I wrote "Mom. Love you! Great job Trigger!" And then put little hearts all around. He didn't like that part too much because other boys would see it. But I didn't care. He got a few autographs on his jersey as well.

He had all the coaches sign, too. And we told them all thank you for everything they had done. Coach Smith was especially great with Cody, and told me he instantly took to him the minute he saw him. Said his cousin is the spitting image of Cody. I told him how much this season of football has really brought Cody out of his shell. And that we didn't realize how funny he really is. Coach Smith said he saw that, too. And then we exchanged numbers so the kids could play. That's one thing Cody asked me to do, was get numbers so he could still see all his new friends.

Coach Sohm told me as we told him thank you, that Cody helped him get through a marathon he ran. He said he was ready to quit, had about 3 miles to go and didn't think he was going to make it. He was ready to call his wife and have her come pick him up when the image of Morse popped into his head. He said he saw Cody and how much he struggled with ladders, and would even cry through them at times, but he never gave up. Coach Sohm said if Morse can do it, so can I.

I wanted to cry as he told me that.

Coach Medina is more shy and reserved, so when we thanked him, he kind of put his head down and didn't say as much. He just said 'the parents did more work with the boys then I did'. But we talked to him later on, and I thanked him again for how much he worked with the line. Because without a line, you don't have a good football team. He immediately said he didn't even work with the line as much as he wanted to, but honestly, I've never seen a coach spend as much time as he did with them. He spent probably 50 to 75% of practice with them. He'd go over everything. He'd literally walk them through individually showing them  exactly where and what they were supposed to do. They spent a lot of time just talking, but it paid off. It gave them the confidence and the ability to literally "see" exactly what they were supposed to do. I'll always be appreciative of this. Doing this made a huge difference in Cody enjoying football. If Cody knows what he is supposed to do, he does it.

I am so proud of Cody. I am so happy he was able to play this year. With all his medical scares the first 6 months of this year, we didn't know if he'd be able to play. But honestly, I think Satan was trying his hardest to keep him from playing. Because of football, Cody has more self confidence in himself, he smiles SO much more, is much more out going, is very funny!, and overall just plain happy. I will forever be grateful to his coaches who worked so well with him. Who built him up to believe in himself, and called him 'Trigger' when he excelled in hitting hard just so his coaches would call him that. I can't wait for next year's season to begin. 

We love you Trigger! 

Go Silverwolves!!!

(P.S....Six and a half more month's until sign-ups. I can't wait! )

The Little Stinker

Hunter cracks me up! Everyday I'm amazed at what this kid comes up with. Just once I'd like to get inside of his head to see how he views his 7-year-old world he lives in. Here's the newest thing I caught him doing this morning...

Hunter woke up at 6:20 this morning. He's had a stomach ache lately and woke up with it.

At 6:45 he finally got up. And seeing as it was still completely dark, he thought it was still night time but wanted to stay up anyways. So we put in Spongebob and he watched it for about an hour, while ordering me around with bringing him drinks, cereal, and such. (He was on his high horse this morning, that's for sure!)

Around 7:30, as it was starting to get light, he realized it was finally morning and decided he needed to put his socks on to get ready for the day. I looked down at him right as I caught him pulling out a pair of dirty socks from underneath the pillowed cushions of the couch, and then put them on. I was shocked, and started laughing. He told me he keeps his socks in there all the time. It's a lot easier, I guess, then to have to walk into his room and pull them out of his drawer.  What a little stinker!

I had to laugh. Then he had me look at his socks that he'd just put on and asked if they looked weird. He had one pulled all the way up, and one bunched down. He said, "I look like Moore's Dad." I laughed so hard. On T.J.'s team there's a Dad who has to wear a special circulation sock to help with medical issues on one leg. Apparently Hunter noticed this, and of course it bugges him, so he mimicked it. I wasn't laughing at the Dad's circumstance. Just the fact that my 7 year old noticed and decided to be him this morning.

I tell ya. I'm going to have a run for my money with this kid. I can't believe his sense of humor, the things he notices, and does.

And this whole sock thing. Who knows where else he hides his socks. It's no wonder I have to buy him a new bag of socks about every other month.

Once Cody and T.J. got up this morning, Hunter couldn't wait to tell them he'd been up since last night. (In reality, he'd been up two and a half hours.) Lol!

That kid.

The Embarrassing Second Day...

You know how normal kids are usually hoping their parents don't end up at school one day, doing something that completely embarrasses them?! Well instead of the kid being embarrassed today, it was his Mom. Here's the scoop...

It's my second day of working at the school. Today we're subbing in the classrooms teaching "Meet the Masters" art program. During the first part of the class, I'm in a room along with another aid, watching her as she teaches our two classes about the famous artist. Then we split and I take my class into their room so we can work on our art project. This time I have Hunter's class. He is so excited to have his Mom as a substitute teacher on Fridays, and then a regular helper in class the other days. Of course, he can't hold still for long today because of this.

So I'm explaining to the class how to draw something in a box that represents the word "dented". I explain they can draw a car that was just in an accident and received a dent from it. Or they can pretend they threw something at a wall, and put a big dent in it. Then I said, "Hunter's Dad once made a huge dent in our wall at home when he bumped something into it, and guess who had to fix it? Me!" The kids laughed. Hunter immediately piped up with, "Ya and guess what he did to my Mom... shot her in the butt with a blow dart gun!"

Let's just say I changed the subject as fast as I could despite the enormous bout of laughter that erupted.

I think this is going to be a fun, but interesting year. I'm so excited though to work in Hunter's class every day!

My Patriotic Boys

I love living in America. I love the freedoms we have here. Free to choose for ourselves. Free to practice our religions, and so on. I love the land here. Especially where we live, being surrounded with beautiful, tall mountains, lakes, and big western skies with gorgeous sunsets. And I love our flag. Especially being at a rodeo as they run the American Flag around at the start of a rodeo. It's very humbling and yet a very prideful moment for me. One of my favorite things to see is our American Flag blowing in the wind.

So to see our boys taking on the prideful spirit of being an American is awesome. For the last 3 years, Jared has been Young Men's President in our ward. And during certain months of the year, his group is in charge of taking the flag down at our church once all the meetings are over. Well, as it sometimes goes, there aren't always young men there to help. That's when Jared has our boys come to help him. He's taught them how to lower the flag and grab it before it touches the ground, and then fold it neatly so it ends in the triangular shape before returning it inside the church. It's been a good learning experience for them. At times we are taking it down after dark, on our way home from Granny's house, but since our time change with our meetings this year, it's been directly after church. The sweetest moment was three weeks ago, as I was walking out of our building, I turned and saw Jared-all dressed in his suit, with T.J. and Cody- who were also in their nice church clothes (wranglers and cowboy button-up shirts) taking the flag down. They seemed very still and quiet, Jared only speaking as he reminded them what to do, all three showing respect as they did it. I wish so bad I had taken my camera to church with me just so I could capture that moment. Cause you know with boys, there is hardly a quiet moment to find. But this time there was. It was like time stood still as I and a couple others in our ward watched on. Once they were finished, they turned and walked towards the church, Jared holding the flag in his hands. Then Hunter who had been playing down on the hill, saw they were done and ran towards the church, bring the everyday noise of a boy back with him. It was one of those moments that a Mom will never forget. And as an American, will never be more proud of.

Then there was this morning. Jared turned on the Olympics. It's the last day of the London 2012 Olympics. The U.S. men's basketball team had just received the gold medal and they began playing the National Anthem. Hunter sang right along with it, only stumbling over a few words. I was so impressed! He's only 7, and yet sang almost word for word our National Anthem. He had a big smile on his face as he finished, because he knew I was watching and was very proud of him at that moment.

Again, it made me smile to see how much American Pride our boys have.

And so, I will end this post with one thing. One of my very favorite pictures I have of our boys. This was taken at the Cedar Fort Rodeo 3 years ago as they were running the flag around the arena at the start of the rodeo. Look at the respect they have showing in their faces.

I'm so proud of these boys.

And so thankful to live in America.