Spring Break 2009

Wow, we just finished up one of the best spring breaks ever.  No, we didn't go to Disneyland.  It was just as enjoyable though.  We kicked it off on Saturday by heading down to the Medford temple.  Some ward members joined us and some other ward members were kind enough to sit with the kids in the church next door so that we could be there as a family.  It was a great trip for all (approx. 1 1/2 hrs. each way) and Richard took us all out to dinner at the end of the day.  So fun.  

Monday Richard and I slept in.  Mid morning the kids and I did a lot of cleaning while Richard put together a new trailer that my grandpa purchased to haul the canoe around.  It was a lot of work for him but very satisfying to have done the entire project on his own.  We all enjoyed a movie that night.

Tuesday Richard and I slept in.  We had some friends over for lunch and got to chat while the kids played outside.  The weather was really nice.  We also took our car in for repairs and I got to go all by myself to the dentist.  It was actually quite relaxing and NO CAVITIES.  That rarely happens to me.  I attribute the lack of cavities to diligent flossing and no pregnancies.  Richard and I started an A&E miniseries called Horatio Hornblower.

Wednesday Richard and I slept in and all day we relaxed.  We finished off the evening with another Horatio Hornblower movie.

Thursday we slept in again.  The kids and I went to the track to watch Richard coach.  So fun.  Another movie that night.

Friday we went up to Falls Creek Falls.  It was a "moderate" hike, one mile each way.  Perfect for little people.  Wow!!  We were not prepared for how beautiful it would be.  The vegetation and beauty along the way were just as beautiful as the falls themselves.  We couldn't stop taking pictures, but the pictures don't even capture a fraction of the beauty that surrounded us.  The great thing is that this was one of 15 falls along the highway that heads east from Roseburg.  So much more to explore!!

That night and the next day we did some prep work for our garden.  Richard tilled the ground and the kids eagerly raked out the weeds so that we can plant soon.  We are hoping the plants will survive the deer and wild turkeys that come around.  

Now why, you are asking yourself, does Julienne think she had such a good spring break?  Well, I will tell you.  Did you read anything about driving kids to dance, or gymnastics or basketball or scouts etc. etc. etc.  Did you notice how every second of every day included Richard (my best friend.)  Did you notice how many days I did not answer to an alarm clock in the morning and never worried about how late I went to bed.  Oh, a little taste of Summer.  I CAN'T WAIT!!

Nice Hair Mrs. Primary President

Last weekend daylight savings started.  I think everyone in our ward remembered except for us.  We realized our oversight five minutes before church started.  We had kids in the tub, I had just gotten out of the shower and yeah, it was a real mess.  We got dressed and were in the car in record time.  

That would have been the end of my story if that day hadn't been the day I was sustained as the primary president.  We missed my sustaining by minutes.  I was already a little overwhelmed with the whole idea, but to add to it, I was so self conscious because I hadn't really had time to do my hair.  It was a mess and no matter how many times I ran out to the car to try to fix it, it never looked good.  So there I was in a new ward having people come up to congratulate me and probably thinking, doesn't this lady take care of herself.  Not my proudest day.

Today was my first day on the job and I am proud to say that my hair and makeup looked very nice.  

P.S. This picture of my mom and me has nothing to do with my story, I just liked it.  Don't we look alike?  

Baptism

We had a wonderful baptism weekend for our first daughter.  We had Richard's mom, Richard's Dad and his wife Brenda, my mom and my niece come for the occasion.  

A little girl in our ward waited a few weeks to be baptized so that she could share the occasion with our daughter.  Our family's parts in the baptismal service included Brenda (Richard's dad's wife) giving the prayer, Richard's dad leading the music, my mom playing some beautiful arrangements of hymns on the piano and Richard's and my mom doing a piano, violin duet for the musical number.  We had a lot of people from both our old and new wards show up and felt a lot of support from them.  

All in all it was a wonderful weekend full of fun family meals, stories, walks around the neighborhood and college and lots of great conversation.  Thanks to our parents for making the sacrifice to be here!

Citizen of the Month

Our eldest was awarded Citizen of the Month in February.  I have to be truthful here, I cried when I got the letter.  There is nothing more rewarding than to have someone see what you see in your child and recognize them for it.  We are so proud of our boy.  Here is what his teacher said (I am, as usual, omitting his name):

Although, he is a fairly new student to our class, he has certainly been a positive role model for his peers.  One of the many excellent qualities we see in him is his politeness and how he is courteous to everyone.  He always remembers to say please and thank you.  We are extremely happy to have him at our school and in our class.

Our oldest also had a great experience with his basketball team this weekend.  They were in the championship tournament and after triple overtime in the final game the team pulled ahead by two points and won the championship.  The boys were so excited.  Our eldest wore his medal around all day.  

Eight is Great

Our second turned 8 in February.  The fun started with a trip to Claire's for an ear piercing job.  Then we planned a super fun party with all kinds of girl things like painting nails, making bracelets and going on a treasure hunt.  We even sent the boys and baby away for the occasion.  

Then we started planning her baptism.  A friend waited a few weeks to be baptized with her.  We took a picture of the two for the program.  We girls have so much fun!

Didn't Your Mother Ever Tell You NOT to Drink the Bath Water

We have a flock of wild turkeys that live in our neighborhood.  One day I caught one of the Toms standing on the bird bath drinking.  By the time I got out to take his picture he was on the ground again.  I would say that bath is just the right size for those thirsty birds.

We get a kick out of the turkeys.  The Toms are often strutting their stuff with their feathers all out.  They run so funny and make really goofy noises.  

We also have deer that come around, but a true Oregonian curses the deer because they poop in your yard, eat all of your expensive plants, flowers and grass, and trample things.  I am apparently not a true Oregonian yet because I still enjoy watching out the front window as they come walking by.

So, I would say we have a plethora of wildlife here.  When the kids complain that we haven't any pets I remind them about the turkeys and the deer.

Richard is 34

Shhh, don't tell him I posted his age in the title.  Hee, hee.  I only put it there to brag because he doesn't look his age at all.  

He is loving his job teaching the 8th graders math at JoLane middle school.  He started coaching the Roseburg H.S. track team this month and has some great athletes with some real talent.  He does the horizontal jumps (long and triple jumps.)  Those are his events from H.S. and his triple jump record is still on the wall of the high school.  His mission is to train an athlete well enough to crush his record.  

In church he teaches the 16-17 yr. olds.  He really enjoys it.  There are a lot of great kids in his class.  He was also called to help plan Aaronic Priesthood camp.  That, I believe, is his dream calling because he learned and grew so much from his experience as a young man at that camp and is now given the opportunity to help other boys in the same way.  

So, overall, Richard is LOVING Roseburg.  He wanted so badly to move here and he has loved every minute of it.  I have too and I can't stop feeling excited when I see him come home from work happy in every way.  

Our Baby Turned Two

Party time.  Our youngest celebrated her second birthday on Jan. 31st.  We went to the museum and did some excavating in the children's section.  We had cake, opened presents and had a fun time making a fuss over our new two-year-old.  

I have noticed that the terrible twos have really surfaced with her.  We have to work hard to keep her calm when she doesn't get what she wants and she throws more tantrums in public than I care to remember.  I am always worried that security cameras will catch me hauling a screaming baby out of the store and forcing her into a car seat.  Can I be convicted for that?  At least I know at this point in my life that it is a phase and it will pass.