Happy Surprise!!

So my husband loves me, and I know that...but he's not so much into the whole romance side of things. So I always know he puts a lot of thought into things when he does them. That and he loves to research things to death...

So, he tells me he is planning a little weekend just for us for our anniversary. He was feeling bad because we had originally planned to do a BIG trip for our 10 year. I had been saving and planning for 2 years! But I got to move to Canada, so I was ok. But he de decided we needed a little something, and I was excited! No kids for 3 days! (I won't tell you how I cried right after we left...)

So we drive to Kalispell, and I think that this is it! Great! Relax in the mountains with no kids! Then he pulls into the airport, " You wanna go to Vegas?" "You dork! Turn around before they charge us for parking!" He just grins and parks the car. "We're going to Vegas!"

No wonder he made me pack in a little bag!!

So we went to Vegas for the weekend...I feel fancy saying that..."I go to Vegas on the weekends!". But, really it was so fun...busy because of the things we wanted to do with no kids, but fun!

We walked the strip at night and didn't worry about bedtimes for kids (though in all honesty, 11 is getting way past my bedtime!) We ate at real restaurants, we slept in, we went to shows WE wanted to see...like PHANTOM!

I have wanted to see Phantom of the Opera for sooo long. I quite enjoy live theater and I was always a little jealous of Dust that he had seen it as a kid. So I was super pumped that he had gotten us tickets. It was amazing! Loved every minute of it and would see it again in a heart beat. The only problem is that now I just want to see so many other productions!

It was such a nice get away for us. We have NEVER left the kids, so I missed them, but it was really nice to have some alone time with my sweetie. And to think he planned it all himself! I am so grateful for him in my life. He is my best friend, my sanity, my rock. He makes me laugh and makes life fun, but is still there to make everything better. He is amazing...

I love you, Dustin and I can't wait to see what the next 10 years+ has in store for us!

Ball Season 2011

Since I am little behind... I'll show you some pics from this year's ball season.

Gracie played Bobbysox again, in the 8u division. So she learned to steal and really get into the game more. She made a bunch of good little friends too!

This is Jessie, she was in Silvercreek Ward with us. She is such a character!

This is my little girl holding her trophy. I got to help out with the team this year which was a brand new experience. The girls were a lot more vocal with many new chants and cheers to go along with it. 13 girls in a dugout is LOUD!!

There's my girl!

She wasn't always so much into the game, though...

But their team did great and they got first place in their division!!

Go ORANGE CRUSH!!

Brody got to play Coach Pitch this year with Ryan and he really liked it! He made alot of great friends too! Here he is with Ryan, his brother and sister and friend Aiden!

Batter up!

He became quite the little hitter...

SAFE!! Our little ball player sliding into home...

He really liked playing catcher...

He is becoming a good little ball player, and he can throw both Left and Right, though he prefers Left. He said he can't wait till next year!!

So...I'm a little behind!

Just a few catch up posts. Probably not a lot of writing, but a lot of pictures...

A picture speaks a thousand words though, right?!

So, my Brody graduated Kindergarten this year...which I kind of refuse to accept, because it just means he's getting bigger, and older, and pretty soon he'll think he won't need me...

and then I'll be super sad, because he's what we've labled as 'The Good One'...

But he did graduate and my camera has the proof!

Here he is with Tacoma, his buddy from church. Tacoma got to walk with us to school every day, so that was pretty neat. Corbin and Cooper had to jump in there, too!

Here is our favorite Kindergarten teacher, Mr. Hall. Brody wasn't in his class, but he still goes out of the way to make my kids feel special...

Grad Shirt! with all the signatures from his class mates!!

Our little family, minus Gracie, she still had to go to class that morning!!

This is Kercie. According to her Mom, Brody showed her that not all boys are gross, and that Kindergarten was not so bad with them there...

This is Mrs. Rude, our second favorite teacher! Unfortunately, she got very sick this year and had to go on leave in October. She will always hold a special place in Brody'e Life!

The Three Musketeers, and Cooper! These boys were practically inseparable! Ryan and Elijah were such good friends for my boy, I am so glad he had them around!

Of course, a boys best friend is his brother!

Oh, my Brody! I can't believe you are going into Grade 1!

I hope they're ready for you...because you are going to knock 'em dead!!

Mixed Feelings as my life is crazy right now...

My life could not be more crazy and feel more out of control than right now...at least I don't want to know if it could because I don't think I could handle another bump in the road right now.

We've really enjoyed the time at home, lots of fun and happy things to blog about and I promise I will get on that, but with everything happy, everything else seems to be crazier on top of it. Do you understand what I'm saying? Good. Because I don't half the time either...

When we decided to move here, I knew it was the right thing to do. I knew it with all my heart. And every time I started to doubt, I would just say that little prayer in my heart, remember what made me so sure about this decision, and I would feel better. Even as hard as it was to leave my house and neighbors and friends, I still knew it was right.

My faith is wavering a lot lately.

As ashamed as I am to admit it, I am having a hard time remembering that 'so sure' feeling. Especially when things in our lives are flowing at almost a standstill now a days. I cannot plan for anything, and I do not function well without a plan. I hate not knowing...

Dustin's license info FINALLY came from California and he jumped right in and applied for a couple of jobs, had an interview, and...

we are still waiting...

We haven't heard anything. His brother said he knew of a job in Grande Prairie as a Nurse on the rigs. He would work 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. But those 2 weeks on, he's 10 hours away. I don't know how I feel about this. Yes, its a job, but not what he wants, but can we really be picky right now?

Without a job, we can't get a Credit Card, we can't get a mortgage and we can't even rent. So we are still in Dustin's parents basement. Which they have said is just fine, but I am still so worried that we will really wear on their nerves with my 3 crazies running around. At the same time, the built in Babysitters are wonderful!

So we're stuck. Waiting.

I don't know if you know this, but I am not a patient person. I don't like waiting. I need a plan. I like to know what's going on with my life today, tomorrow, next week, next month. But right now, I am having such a hard time with this waiting, that I am having a hard time just living for right now and not worrying so much. Because in a small corner of my heart, I still know that this is what we need to do.

I'm reminded when my kids can ride their bikes across town to a friends and I don't worry (too much). Or when they go to swim lessons by themselves, or when my child is lost and someone finds him and knows exactly where he belongs, or when my kids are so excited to sit in Grampa or Grammas lap to watch tv, or when I know that I get to see my new nephew when they come for a visit...I don't have to wait almost a year.

So I will keep nudging that small corner of my heart. Poking it awake to help remind me of how sure I was that this is the best thing for my family. I know there is a plan for us...

I just wish I would be let in on the design of the whole thing...

My kid ran away from home...

Well, not really, but I'll fill you in. I know its been a while and we've got alot to catch up on, but that will have to come another night. Its late, and I REALLY need to write this one down...

Only Cooper...

The boys decided to play 'Man Tracker'. And by boys I mean the brothers and the nephews. And by Man Tracker, I mean the Canadian TV show about glorified hide and seek, where the Man Tracker has to catch the two other guys before they get to the goal...actually pretty creative on the kids part to come up with it, to play on their bikes, I think.

Anyways, they are outside playing Man Tracker, which we think they are playing in the yard. Then, as we are gathering things up to take the Nephews home, we realize Coops isn't around. Not in the house, not in the yard and the kids have no idea where he is. I run down to the 'Bike Path' which is a little paved trail the kids ride sometimes, but no Cooper, and I start freaking out. Because even though I know we live in a small town, My mind is still running California, and all I can think of is :

"He went to the Fish Pond and fell in"

"Somebody pulled over and picked him up"

"Somebody ran him over"

All of which I know could still happen here, but less likely.

But where could he have gone, it had only been about 10 minutes.

So I start crying, and Dustin is on the bike ready to patrol the neighborhood

when they get a phone call from a neighbor down the street...

They have Cooper.

I am still so scared and relieved and feeling so overwhelmed at this point that I am actually hyperventilating. I actually don't know if I want to kill the kid or not, but when Dust brings him into the yard I just go and pick him up and squeeze him tight and Thank my Heavenly Father that he is all right. I think Coops thought I was a little weird for crying, he seemed fine.

But he did give his Mommy a big hug too.

I guess he figured I needed it.

So, from his side of the story and what we figured happened:

The boys took off on the bikes down the sidewalk, which they are allowed to do. They ride down to the Post Office and through the alley back home. Well, Coops started out on his scooter and just couldn't keep up, so he abandoned it at the edge of the yard and took off on foot. But apparently he missed the part about turning. So he got to Main Street and we asked him if he pushed the button (for the pedestrian sign). He said no. "I see the car. And I told it to wait. Den I run Weely Weely Fasth. Den I told it to go." He kept going and that's where the neighbors found him. They asked him his name and he said "Cooper." They knew he didn't belong there, but weren't sure where to look first. He told them he lived at "Gramma and Grampas" but they couldn't get another name out. Then another neighbor asked if he had another name and he said "Cooper Godintin." And so they knew just where to phone.

Thank goodness for small towns and everybody knowing everybody!!

So my first child to run away from home, and it scared me to death! Even if I shouldn't have been that worried, I guess. And I never thought I would be. Sometimes you wonder how you will react when things like that happen. I guess I pictured myself being strong and sure and in control, ready to fix the situation. Apparently, I just lose complete control, can't think straight and pretty much freak out...

I guess I love the little monster more than I thought!

Though, if he threatens at 10 or 11, I probably won't want him to come back so readily!!