Class of 99 Gamblers

I forgot to add this into my rants and ravings of my high school reunion. But we had a raffle that you could buy tickets and all the money went into one giant jug. Then the winners of who had the most babies, who traveled the farthest, most education etc, they won a ticket to put in the raffle. Now in Utah you can have a raffle to win prizes but NoT to win money. Well that is exactly what the class of 99 did. They drew a raffle ticket and that person won the money. Daniel and I were shocked that they would do something illegal like this. So anyway just a little thought there about illegal activity and my non-participation.

A week in review...

Well I am sorry to be a downer...I have tried to as positive as I can while writing on this blog...because nobody wants to read about my sad sob stories...but unfortunatley...no matter how I spin this week in review...it's gonna be a downer.

Monday - McKinley had her 6 mos check up...yes I know...it's kind of scary that she is already 6 months old but she of course had to get shots...that was really tough. Jenn had a meeting so she took off and left all three kids with me at the Dr's office. Madison kind of struggled with her little sister getting shots, but otherwise things went fairly smooth. McKinley has a pretty rough time with her shots, it makes her pretty ornery so Monday night and Tuesday she was not in the bet of moods.

Tuesday - Sorry to get the downer period off to a quick start, but...I found out on Tuesday that my job position is being displaced through a reduction in force...that's just a lot of corporate speak for I'm being laid off. Woo hoo...I have one month before my last day and that's about it. I was told that the decision was made basically because I have just barely one year of service with the company and that's one of the first things they look at. So for those who don't know this is the second time in as many years. I was laid off at Citi during December of 2007, and American Express will be August 2009. I wish I could say that 2008 went smoothly, but I had to find a job, learn a job, quit that job, start another job, and learn the other new job. Along with that came all of the insurance changes and people changes and all that stuff. So it's been a rough couple of years. Moving on...

Wednesday - Jenn went to YW after I got home from work, she is pretty stressed out about Girls' Camp this year, because McKinley is still breastfeeding and will NOT take a bottle or eat rice or anything else. All of this sums up as Jenn will have to take McKinley with her to Girls Camp. We have been facing this possibility for a while, and at first there wasn't great concern. The Bishop and YW President simply told her to have someone come up to keep track of our cute little 6 mos old, and everything will be fine. Unfortunatley there aren't too many people who can give up 3-4 days to come up and sit around. Plus Jenn kind of got involved with girls camp fairly late so she is stressing about everything being ready.

Thursday - Not too much happened on Thursday, Jenn took off to get some things taken care of for Girls Camp and then went shopping with her mother for a baby shower gift. Well for those who know Jenn and Shelly you know what the baby shower shopping means...and for those who don't know them...it means that they left at about 6:30 and were gone for 3 hours. I can't say that I blame them, Jenn is home with the kids so much that when she gets out...it's usually for a few hours at least.

Friday - I am at work, trying to put together transition papers for all of my job duties (well and writing in the blog) and Jenn and the kids are on their way to the Oquirrh Temple openhouse. We might go up to the cabin this weekend (just for kicks and giggles) and then I'll be back to the daily grind.

Sorry again if this depresses anybody...I don't like to be negative, but...sometimes life forces your hand! Thanks!

Reunion and School

So last week, well actually 2 weeks ago I had my ten year high school reunion. So I am not ready to be out of high school for ten years...time flies so quickly...it doesn't feel like ten years but I can't believe I have a kindergartner. So they have their own blog and I could not believe it when they posted the price of $60 per person! When considering two years ago we went to Daniels' reunion and it was $60 total! So I posted a comment on their blog about my concerns with the price, obviously many people were upset with the price so they lowered to $45 per person...not great but better. With Daniels reunion we went to Maddox steak house in Brigham City and while we ate they had a slide show going of then and now pictures, which was great. They also did prizes...like they had people stand who had the most kids, the most kids in one birth, how much education they've received, how far away they came from, etc. and the winners got a $5 or $10 gift card to somewhere. Then they talked about missing graduates who had passed on, and at the end of the night we got a CD of the slide show.

Now two years later it's my reunion. Well since they cut back the price they had to cut back the d.j. and it was held at the Davis Conference Center. Not only were we having the evening dinner and celebrations, but we also had a picnic at a park that our kids could come to. They sold out of the tickets for dinner but you could purchase tickets for the park only which were $15 for a family of 4 but nothing was provided, you brought your own lunch to the picnic...so what are you paying for????
So on to the evening festivities. You signed in at 6pm and went into the room where we ended up waiting till 6:45 until we got our salad and started dinner (by that time my water was already gone). Our table ran out of ranch and one girl hadn't had any dressing on her salad, so she asked one of the waiters for some he told her that they were out...interesting. Also an interesting note we had about 2 tables that were empty so how did they run out of evening tickets? Then after our salad plates were cleared we waited about 10-15 minutes for our dinner, which was either chicken or pork. They bring out my chicken with a bone sticking straight out of it...(did not look appetizing at all I'm not into the fancy) my chicken also had a glaze on it which looked like they spread bright neon orange paint on top of my chicken. With this interesting looking chicken I had about a 1/4 cup of rice and 1/4 cup of mixed vegetables. (Now by this time both my water and juice were gone and I am parched!) Needless to say I was still starving.

While we ate we had to fill out a questionnaire about where we lived, what we were doing, etc. We then had a senior officer talk about how Northridge is a feeder school for Hill Air Force Base and they wanted anyone in the military to stand so we could honor them since they were the "majority" of our school. Well only 3 people were in the military. So after that 1/2 hour lecture we then had the senior class officers read EVERY PERSONS questionnaire. I was completely BORED out of my mind...and between each transition on what they were doing there was a pause like they had no idea what they were doing. So then I'm still hungry and very thirsty...(the waiters never came around to fill drinks) then we had cheesecake for dessert a very tiny sliver of cheesecake (pathetic). Anyway then we went out and had a huge group picture in poor lighting of all the classmates that came all maybe 80 of us out of a graduating class of 500 people. Oh and there was a "photographer" there...not even she was one of the class officers little sisters who graduated maybe a year ago. Then the night was over at 9pm when it was supposed to last until 11pm. And all we got out of it was a little baggy that had two Hershey kisses in it and two northridge chap sticks. Woo-hoo. What a pathetic evening...I could have gone to a really nice restaurant and a movie or even a hotel for $90. My best friend didn't even come, a lot of my friends didn't come probably because of the price, overall it was a very sad evening.

So this week Madison started school (again) but Tuesday was her actual first day of kindergarten. Madison had a hard time yesterday, she's been upset that she hasn't been the line leader yet, and that all she does in school is work. So when we got home she cried, and I tried to comfort her. So I was worried about going today..if she would be upset or not. Well I park the car and we cross the street and are in front of the building (the kindergarten classes are in the back of the building and you walk around the outside of the building to get to her class) So we start to walk around the building and she turns to me and says "I know the way bye mom" what? wait? you don't want me to walk with you??? and she replies "No I can go by myself, I know the way." I stammer an o-o-o-k and she cheerfully says bye mom and skips around the building when she gets to the east side of the building she turns around and sees me just standing there and she waves, blows me a kiss and then skips off. So there I am standing by myself, alone, in front of the school...my baby has just skipped off independently and cheerfully without me to go to school. Needless to say my eyes began to water and a couple of drops fell but at least it wasn't an all out cry or sob. I never thought this day would come until Jr. High because since I work at the elementary school I would be there and could always walk her to class. Well she wanted to and did go to class by herself. I'm pathetic. So we will see if this will be an every day thing only tomorrow will tell....so now it's off to bed to bring on a new day.

Goodnight!

A week in review..week of 07/25

Okay so I know that I forgot my 'week in review' last month, for this I sincerly apologize. If any of you out in cyber world actually read this, you'll realize that I am not very consistent with my posts...but I am trying to get better...my only option to do this consistently is to do it at work...and that just doesn't work all the time. If I wait until I get home there is just too much other 'stuff' that gets in the way.

Monday - Monday was fairly uneventful. I had to work that night...(for those that don't know I started a second job at Petco in an effort to get some extra money saved up and in the hopes of going to Disneyland). Jenn took her mother to Fat Cats in Ogden to go bowling with the kids and that was their family night. Madison's first day of school...I'll let you read about that on Jenn's post below.

Tuesday - I cant remember...I think we spent most of the day at home. Jenn went up to the camp where they are going to hold Girls camp this year. That's a story in and of itself. But I learned something about her that day...its something that I probably already knew, but didn't realize. Jenn is a very visual person. She needs to be able see what and where in order to feel confident about what she is doing. She had a hard time with a change of venue for Girls camp, until she went up there and saw what the new camp looked like. She came home with a different attitude.

Wednesday - I worked from home that day, Madison had her testing, Jenn was more worried than Madison. Jenn has this constant paranoia that Madison is not going to be as advanced as some of the other Kindergarten children. I keep having to remind her that Madison is very smart, and she is going to be one of the older kids in the class. She will have kids that are just 1 year older than Carter...What that also means is that Carter will be one of the youngest children in his class, luckily he is a big kid.

Thursday - Passed very uneventfully. Which is a good thing. Every once in a while you need one of those days where you don't do much...we watched TV for a little bit, got the house cleaned up had dinner, bathed the kids and went to bed...

Friday - Pioneer day...really this is what I wanted to write about...so this part of the post is going to be kind of long. I have had the rare opportunity to go on a Pioneer Trek three seperate times. the first time I was 14 years old. This time was okay I think I was too young to really appreciate what was being represented and what I was being taught...but...whatever. I didn't have a bad experience, plus, my Mom was in charge of food and made sure to give me extra if I needed it.

The second experience was very different. I was 18 yrs. old I had graduated from High School and was basically just getting myself ready to go on a mission. Girls were now a part of my real life (instead of just dreaming about talking to a girl at the age of 14) which made certain experiences different. Anyway the third time I went just as a member of the support crew, so I didn't experience the whole thing, but it was interesting to see things from a different perspective.

To get right to the point. I have a deep and unmoving respect for the pioneers that have come before us. I don't just mean those who made the long trek to the Salt Lake Valley, but also those who laid the foundations for this country. Looking back to our founding fathers, religious icons and revolutionaries like Martin Luther, John Calvin and Erasmus started the bug that forced the Pioneers referred to as the Pilgrims' who came seeking religious freedom. That led to this nation being born, and set the stage for me to engage in a pioneer trek celebrating my religion. I love this country, and sometimes I wish that I had served my country. Anyway...my hat is off (if I ever wore a hat) to those pioneers from centuries past, as well as all those out there who are pioneering right now. Thank you!

First Day of School

No tears were shed but it's not really not the first day of school. We got up early and got ready for our first day of kindergarten. We got to school at 8:30 and went to the activity center. This is where we met the principal, assistant principal, and the PTA president. It was a little long and not really attention grabbing for the kindergartners. But we learned the school rules, and had a cute slide show introducing us to Lincoln Elementary.

We then went to the library to meet Madison's teacher: Mrs. Jacobs. (Her first year teaching at Lincoln was when my little sister Karen had her for kindergarten) So I know she's a great teacher with lots of experience. After she talked to us about homework, testing, reading, etc. we were able to go to her classroom and look around. We signed up for a testing time. Madison goes back on Wednesday to get tested. Then on Tuesday the 28th is Madison's real first day of school. The day I actually have to drop her off and leave her to be all grown up and in school. Thankfully I work there so I'm just down the hall, so the separation anxiety for me won't be too bad.

After meeting her teacher and walking around the school we went out and played on the playground. She was really excited, but sad that she doesn't go back for a whole week. But we did get homework, a get to know you packet and a sheet that we color in apples for each day to count down until we go back to school. We then were done for the day. It ended up being a short hour and a half and then home again home again jiggety jig.

What a great first day of school! We'll see how next week goes for the real first day of school and how her testing goes...I'm more nervous about it than she is.

A week in review

So here it comes again...a week in review...

Nothing truly eventful took place during the week...it was a week like any other...Oh I started a part time job working at Petco by our house...just to get some money saved up for vacations and to get some other things paid off. I think it will be fairly enjoyable. It's one of those nice mindless go and just do the task jobs...it's kind of a nice break.

I have noticed a new development recently...by the end of the work day I find myself getting headaches. I think it's because the last optometrist that I went to tried to give me a different kind of contacts...I don't like them...He is also the only doctor that has stated that I have an astigmatism...Oh well...I guess there are things we sacrifice in order to bring home the bacon...

Well as mentioned before I don't have much to write about...I have been thinking a lot of about trying to get my dad's old motorcycle fixed up...On this dog summer days it would sure be nice to head home on a motorcycle instead of climbing into a hot stuffy car...especially since mine is black...

Horrendous Hives and the Weekend

So Daniel posted about last week and how he had hives, well they returned again on Thursday (July 2)....Full Force so he came home from work early and we couldn't get a hold of the doctor until 4p.m. He was absolutely miserable. itching, red and MISERABLE! The doctor was shocked that we were back, he was sure that they were an allergic reaction to something new that Daniel had encountered. They asked if we changed laundry detergent or anything different from our routine. Well the answer was no. So they did more lab work which I did not witness and it was a good thing because Daniel told me about it later and I was feeling light headed from just telling me about it...apparently the nurse had a hard time finding his vein, which resulted in fishing under the skin....(shudder) But I did have the pleasure (ha) of witnessing the butt shot of yet another syringe full of steroids. The needle was huge and I'm just a wuss (heavens I passed out when Madison was at the dentist and getting the numbing shot in her gums) ANyWAy back to Daniel and the Doctor, the doctor was stumped they did not know what was causing the hives. The physicians assistant Daniel went to even brought in his supervising physician to take a look. So they put him on prednazone, and an H2 blocker (histamine blocker). Well the family left for the rodeo with a miserable husband in tow. Well in and out of the canyon we get in and out of service, during a short time of service the Dr. got through to Daniel's cell and told him some very interesting information that caused us to leave directly after the rodeo to go home to the pharmacy. Daniel had....wait for it......STREP!!! He had a strep virus in his body that was presenting as hives. Phew! we finally knew what was causing his discomfort and hives. He didn't have any of the normal signs of strep...like strep throat...we believe this was a different strain. Which this did get pretty scary because Daniel was starting to become swollen, his fingers were plump and his throat started to swell and close off. But we came home and the Dr doubled the normal dose of ammoxicilan so he had to eat a huge meal to compensate for the medicine and it still upset his stomach, plus taking the steroids and H2 blocker. But we now have a week later a healthy happy daddy.

Here's a pic of Daniel's hives, he will HaTe me for posting it and say that no one wants to see a fat man's belly, but you need to see it to believe how horrid they were, and this wasn't when they were the worst.

Anyway off the hives. The weekend was great, the rodeo was a blast, sorry no pics, we were worried it would rain and have no protection for our camera. So I did post the rodeo link that you can see some of what we saw. Madison absolutely LoVeD the barrel racing, she had now decided that she wants to be a "super fast barrel racer" and she also enjoyed the bull riding which is a personal favorite of mine. We enjoyed the time spent at the cabin (yes Friday morning we went back up to the cabin) We had a photo shoot with the kids up in Kamas and Oakley and then we played on the 4-wheelers and went spot-lighting and Madison is the best deer spotter EveR! She rode in the suburban next to Grandpa and would spot deer that were on that sunny part of the mountain or look they are right there and oh they just walked into the forest....and on and on it was a hoot! We did spot two baby fawns still had their spots. It was so cool, they were so tiny. The kids thought that was awesome. Then Saturday we came home and went to the Clearfield fireworks! I won't miss them...seriously they are the best, and this year was no exception. And a first Madison actually stayed awake the entire time. Carter however was bored and kept asking "when fireworks be done?" McKinley stayed at home with B, we thought this was best because she didn't handle the loud noise at the rodeo very well so fireworks probably wouldn't be the best for her.

Sunday we sang the Star Spangled Banner as the closing hymn, which was quite controversial, because what do you do stand or sit? Daniel thought we sat but we stand for the flag, so I asked the Bishop he thought we sat as well but wasn't sure so he asked each member of the stake presidency. The second counselor said that it was the Bishops discretion, the first counselor said that we sat and the stake president said that during sacrament meeting you sit. So it comes time for the closing hymn and I stand up and was planning on having them remain seated when the decision was made for me because half of the congregation stood and then the remaining followed suit. It doesn't say in the music manual or in the hymn book. We asked our parents which both said that you stand, so then the question was asked what would Pres. Monson do? So I believe you stand.

Here's some pictures for your viewing enjoyment of our photo op of the weekend, we're trying to get our feet wet in the photography business. We will see....EnJoY!!!

Oakley Roughstock 2009 - Day 2 - Rodeo UP Video - Official Video Site of the PRCA

Oakley Roughstock 2009 - Day 2 - Rodeo UP Video - Official Video Site of the PRCA

This is the night we were there...it was awesome. The kids had a great time, I mean absolutely loved it. Except for McKinley she did NoT like the loud noise of the people whoopin' and a hollerin'. We have much more info to post about this weekend but it's late, so it'll have to wait until Sun or Mon. Happy Fourth of July!


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Sorry they are so long.

So I just realized that our posts are like a novel long. I know that sometimes it's hard spend that much time reading what someone else wrote (especially when there are so many things that don't have much to do with everyone who follows this blog). I don't think it's because we are long winded...okay maybe I am a little....okay maybe a lot. But I think it's because we don't write enough to keep up with our daily lives. But I mean seriously...if we wrote everytime to keep everyone updated on what's going on...we will probably be writing constantly. So I am going to start a 'week in review' post that I will post on the last working day of the week. Since I am off tomorrow I will post it today.

So it's been a long week. Not that there was much going on but I think because of the long weekend, plus Jennifer is out of school, it seems longer. But here is a breakdown of the week.

Monday - We had another little lying incident with Madison. We grounded her but unfortunatley everytime we ground her, something else comes up that night and I think we are sending the wrong message. The first time we grounded her, we were invited to go to the Roy Aquatic center for free. Yes I know free...well we don't have much money so when an opportunity like this comes up...we have to take advantage. This time...Grandma invited to take everyone to see a movie. So we did. Maybe it's our own lack of discipline that makes us cave, but she's too young to stay home alone, and it's not fair punishing everyone for her mistakes.

Tuesday - Not too much happened this day. I am starting a second job and this was my first day. Luckily I think it's a job I will enjoy so no worries. But this made for a long day for me.

Wednesday - Everything happened on Wednesday. I woke up with what I thought were spider bites on my arm...it's that time of year. Jenn had a girls camp activity that she had to run that night, and while I was at work I broke out into hives. I've had them before and have just left them until they went away, but this was different. My hand and fingers swole up to where I could barely bend them at the second knuckle, and my throat started to swell...I went to a doctor who gave me a steroid shot and they went away...Jenn had a successful activity.

Today - We leave for the Oakley Rodeo and the cabin for the rest of this week. We come back on Saturday because we can't miss the Clearfield fireworks (haven't missed them once since we've been married). My hives came back. I have never had that happen before. So as I sit at work, I am miserable, and I get to leave soon. Hopefully whatever is causing this doesn't follow me to the cabin.

Anyway...that's what happened this week. Hopefully next week will be a bit less eventful. I hope everyone has a good 4th of July weekend, and I remind you all to thank and pray for those who made the 4th possible, and who continue to secure our Independence during the weekend!