A new puppy

So, we got a puppy.  A Griffon.  They are awfully  cute as puppies, but man as grown adults, they are UGLY!  But Hunter is thrilled because he now has a hunting dog that he can train for bird season.  Jethro is beside himself because he is so old and has so little energy, but I think he likes having the little fella around (Joe is his name).  The kids love him until he acts like a puppy and nips at them and then they freak out- well Dallin and Tyler freak out, Gwendalin can get him calmed pretty easily and Hunter handles it just fine.

Double the Wheels

The kids all got rollerblades a few days ago and boy are they loving them!  They are on them every second they can be.  Tyler thought it might be a good idea to ride his bike while wearing them…so he did …successfully….until I told him that might not be a good idea.  And they recently got plasma cars that they love as well.

Hunter tried a razor scooter on a skateboard a few years back and it ended very badly. 

I do love that they are playing outside and being active and if I can help them along that path I will….even if it means buying rollerblades and plasma cars (also a very fun new toy that we have).

Eyebrows and Haircut

So my primary president that I work with, Danae is very talented, she and her husband own their own salon.  I made an appointment with her on Thursday morning last week at 5:30am to have my hair cut and colored.  She did an amazing job.  I love the cut and the layers she put in it. Victor waxed my eyebrows and they turned out great as well, problem is, my skin is not awesome and half my skin came with the wax….so I walked around work and in public with crazy eyes for 2 days until it started to heal better and look normal.  I loved the 5:30am appointment because I was done and at work by 7:30…no time away from my kids when they needed me.  Bonus!

Mowing the Lawn

Travis spent the morning with Hunter teaching him how to use the zero turn riding lawn mower that he used to use when he had his lawn care business.  Hunter went amazingly slow but caught on very well.  He has since mowed the lawn a few times and done a great job with it.  Bill, our neighbor, even asked him to do it twice for him while he is out of town on vacation.  What a great little business it could be for him if he kept with it.  Our other neighbor in our old house also asked Hunter to mow for him the rest of the mowing season because his allergies are so bad….Hunter is thrilled with the opportunity to be able to earn some extra money and buy himself a bow to go hunting with Travis!

Scout Camp

Travis is the counselor in YM over the deacons.  He went to scout camp all week last week and took the little boys with him in my parent’s 5^th wheel.  They had the best time.  Dirt, sand, sticks, it was boy paradise!  Hunter invited a new neighbor kid that just moved in (nonmember) and he went too….and got 6 merit badges.  Hunter came home with 11 merit badges!  What a good camp.  I think Travis enjoyed it and the adult company of the other leaders that were there too.  It’s amazing what happens when you do your best to serve – somehow the Lord just manages to help you balance everything even when you are ridiculously busy with work, family, life, etc. 

Hunter invited our new neighbor to go (he is not a member of the church) and he went and had a great time!  I was proud of him for inviting him.

While they were gone, Gwennie spent a lot of time at Trish’s with McKenna and we took one night and went and got our nails painted.  She had a pedicure and a manicure…it was fun and good to spend time one on one with her.  Plus my nails look hekka good.  I love the shellac/gel polish.

Fishing @ Our Pond

 We have a pond in our neighborhood it has fish in it.  Hunter and Tyler (and many of Hunter’s friends) spent hours at the pond the other day.  They were catching fish like crazy and loving every minute.  I love that we have such great access to that kind of activity.  It’s good for them to learn those skills and be outside enjoying nature.  It was catch and release and they probably caught the same fish a few times, but it was pretty neat that they had the opportunity.

Work

So I have been rolled over at work as an official employee of Plexus.  We now have health benefits - $385/month and they are soooo good!  Hunter is getting braces this month or early next month and this insurance will cover $2000 of them!  Our other coverage we paid $850/month and didn’t even have dental and the medical was junk!  Travis and I are both super excited and I finally feel like my working has a purpose….since that is the sole reason I went back in the first place.  Don’t get me wrong it’s still so hard to come every day and many days (without telling Travis) I still long for the time at home with my kids during the summer and the quiet of home during the school year.  But it is what it is and I believe that Heavenly Father put me here for a reason so I will trust Him and let Him continue to guide my path, and hopefully I will hear His promptings and go where I need to be. 

It’s been a challenge that’s for sure, I am back on anti-depressants (it’s been over 10 years) and I have anxiety attacks way more often than I have in the past….I have to be extra careful about getting enough rest or it just compounds and gets worse and worse.

I have a friend here at work ( much older than I) who has become very dear to my heart in a very short amount of time.  She is having a very hard time right now…there is so much going on in her life that just happened overnight….It has been really hard on her and actually it has only been a week since it all changed literally one day.  I have been able to be a sounding board for her and just a friend to talk to that she knows is a safe/confident place to spew everything she is feeling.

Mother’s day was a challenge for me – all the talks about moms and their influence and I sat there and thought, I don’t have that anymore, I am forced to work.  I know it was the adversary, but I let him in anyway and felt sorry for myself.  There are more days than not that I feel like that.  I don’t know quite what I’m doing working – I like it while I am here (most of the time) but then there are times ( a lot) where I would love to deep clean my house, weed my front yard, do laundry, organize my junk drawers, etc.  And definitely play with my kids during the summer…there’s just no time by the time I get home at 5:30. 

I try not to lament over what I cannot change and I try to still hold out hope that I can be home again someday.  Someday…

Too tired Dallie