Singing Sensation

I downloaded all the videos that were on my phone a while back, so, again, I'm playing catch up. Here is a video of Neta singing and then, not to be undone, Nate joins in. They would just start singing in the car and so when I remembered, I got the phone and videoed their impromtu songs. This was on the way to Aldi before picking up Graigry from school in 2010.

 

 

Here is another video, from May 2010. All the other kids were in bed and Neta was keeping me company while Eric was out of town.

 



Diamond in the Rough

I realized that I haven't shared my diamond story, except for a snipet on Facebook. For posterity sake, here is my "Diamond in the Rough" story. Hope it's of benefit to someone at some point.

So, in I think it was February, after waiting almost a month, I took Eric's ring to the jeweler to get adjusted; it had become an oval instead of a circle and was uncomfortable for Eric to wear. It also go polished. While I was picking up Eric's ring, I decided I'd ask the jeweler about my ring. The wedding band has not been sealed to the engagement ring and I wanted to know how much that would cost. I took of my ring for inspection and asked.

While the jeweler was looking at the ring, he noticed that the prongs holding the diamond were not exactly securing the diamond. There are six prongs and four had rubbed down so much that they were barely keeping the diamond from falling out.

"One good hit and this diamond is gone." The jeweler told me.

To get the prongs fixed and the band sealed would be about $350. I didn't have that much money (still don't) so I made a comment about saving my pennies and the jeweler said he would take that ring off until it could be fixed. I paid him $20 for Eric's ring and took the kids to the car.

I felt the diamond a little and could feel it move within the prongs. "It's been okay so far. I'll just watch it carefully, make sure it doesn't fall out." I told myself as I drove home. And for the first few days I was careful about where I put my hand. Then I became a little careless.

I believe it was in April, Eric and I both had to be in bishopric meeting on a Tuesday night; he's ward clerk and I'm Relief Society President and we were talking welfare. I had noticed my diamond at work and remembered seeing it at dinner that night, before bishopric. We had our meeting, came home, went to bed.

In the morning, as the family was eating breakfast, I realized my diamond was gone. It had to be somewhere between the house and the church, but that's a lot of space for a little diamond to hide. The kids looked after breakfast to see if they could find anything. I swept the kitchen carefully. I looked in the car, several times. Then it was time for school and work.

"Is it better to fix the diamond before it gets lost or replace the diamond?" Eric said to me. "You are never going to find it."

"You don't know that. Give me one day to look." I replied.

I saw the disbelief in his face, but I had to at least try.

I prayed on the way to work that we would find the diamond and I thought about it all day. When I got home the kids did some more looking in the driveway. Graigry brought me a little piece of glass that he thought might be the diamond. I could tell they wanted me to find it.

I had texted the bishopric to ask, IF they happened to be in the building and IF they happened to remember, could they please look around for a VERY small rock. Bishop Scott, I don't know if he was in the area or not, but he texted me later that afternoon that he had looked and didn't find anything. I thought that was very sweet of him.

When I drove to work that next day, I guess it would have been Thursday because the diamond got lost Tuesday night, I prayed again. I remember saying something about "I know it's not that important in the big scheme of things, but it would be really nice if I could find my diamond." It was during that car ride that the thought came: "Check your bag."

When I got home, after dinner as I recall, I got my black purse/backpack on the table and took everything out. Nothing. Then I got out my church bag. I took out the folder and the books and papers and then looked into the bottom of the bag with all the spare chain and other bits of trash.

"I FOUND IT!!!! I FOUND IT!!!"

I went into our bedroom which is right off the kitchen where Eric was lying down watching tv. I had the diamond in between my thumb and pointer finger. "I found it!" He smiled at me and said something like "I'm glad" or "Good for you."

I quickly put the ring and the diamond in my jewelry box for safe keeping until we have the cash to get it fixed (that won't be for who knows how long). I was one big smile. I had found what seemed impossible to find, but more importantly, my prayer had been answered because I had followed the prompting from the Spirit. Heavenly father will be involved in the details of our lives if we invite Him to be. It may not be very important in the eternal perspective of things, but if it's important to us, it will be important to Him.

Neta turns 5!

June 7th this year was the last day of school for the kids and Neta's birthday. Plus, that evening was mutual and a cub scout pack meeting. I got home from work, we ate hot dogs and fries like Neta wanted and then we went out the door to church. Grandma Hibbert's birthday package had arrived earlier and Daddy said it couldn't get opened until later. Neta was very anxious, so when we finally got around to presents AFTER the church meetings (about nine o'clock) she was quite happy.

Here are a few snapshots:

I was very creative & wrapped my gifts in plastic bags.

I love my hedgehog puppet!

Cinderelli, Cinderelli!

Daddy helps un-suran wrap the present.
Grandma is a pro with Saran Wrap!

A "Friends" lego set.
This is our first one. Kids had fun swapping hair out
with our regular lego people. 

We didn't have time for cake and ice cream on June 7th, so I made a cake on Friday. Neta and Ro helped with the decor.


The Lego polly is watching the horse corral.
I enjoy using leftover candy stuff to decorate cakes.

Smile for the picture!

Make a wish!!!
She didn't get all the candles out in one blow,
but oh well.

Neta played the "it's my birthday" card quite a bit Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Now she's got to wait another 362 days before that card is valid again.

I can't believe she will be starting kindergarten in July. Time goes by too quickly!

Random Pictures

Again, I'm behind. Working two jobs, plus relief society and me always finding something else to do keeps me away from the blog. I came back today and found a different format, which I'm not sure I like.
April, I thought I had more for that month, but obviously not. Kids have been plugging away at school. Eric has been gutting the most recent rental purchase, and I've been working at CCHA and doing scans. It's a fairly busy life, but that's the good life, right? Kids have just over a week of school left and then will be free from school walls until the very end of July.

So here are a few pictures from my phone, which again, are not the best quality. I need to see if there are any pictures from the camera from the last two months.

WET FUN!

Because our pool has massive holes in the liner and we've decided not to replace it this year, I bought a slip and slide for the kids to play with. Xela was at a birthday party and Aurora was somewhere, so the little three got the first slides. They loved it, but then, they love all kinds of water stuff.

Neta tip toeing through the sprinkler slide.

The next run, Neta couragously slid on down the slide.

Nate doing a karate kick slide.

Graigry Slip Sliding Away!

They had a ball! It was fun to watch them play and get wet. The lawn is going to take a beating when it gets really hot. I tried to upload some video, but blogger doesn't seem to like my videos or something, because I haven't been able to upload anything for a long time.

BIKES!!

Nate crusing & concentrating on the Pensy Trail.

During April, the boys learned how to ride bikes. Cousin Jayden was of great encouragement as the younger boy who could cruise without training wheels. He came over one afternoon and the boys decided they would try again. Then we went to the Pensy Trail behind the kids school one afternoon and nate really got going, not able to make small turns, but got the jist of it down.

They practiced wide turns in school parking lot, as there were very few cars there. Graigry could only make left turns, which I found interesting. He wasn't that interested in trying without training wheels in teh parking lot until Nate got a treat for doing so well. Amazing what a little sibling/cousin rivalry will encourage.

We've gone on several family bike rides and the boys are much better and more confident with their biking abilities. Neta has a Disney Princess bike that I found at Goodwill, training wheels included and she will cruise with us on that or on the extra wheeler. I can't wait to take them on the Monon trail for a "real" ride.



Easter 2012

It's only the end of May. Thought while I'm waiting for things to scan, I'd add a few picture from our Easter Egg Hunt. It was a busy Saturday, with the Pinewood Derby. Patrice came down with kids so they could hunt together, kind of.

Eric hid the big girls' eggs first, they hunted and then, with the time it took them to find everything, and still not find everything, we had to leave for the derby.

Eric loves hiding eggs in the pool.

Eric hid one in next to the gas tank.

Left no stone, or wheel barrel, unturned.

They were hidden in all parts of the deep grass.

They looked hard for about 30 minutes and then it was time to go. Aurora didn't find all of hers. The last one was found, by Eric, about a week later. It was behind a shovel by the back door. How we didn't see it going in and out of those doors, we don't know.

when the Pinewood was winding down, Patrice and the big girls left before we did, so they could hide the 8 and under age group eggs. Everything was ready for us when we got home.

Xela and Ro helped hide the eggs.
They were placed in slightly easier spots.

Nate on the prowl for more of his eggs.

"Is this one mine?"

"I FOUND ONE of MINE!!"

"Now how am I supposed to get up there?"

A jump and a miss!

"There has got to be one for me in here somewhere."

"Maybe in the garden."
(Graigry, go look behind the light pole!)

A well camoflauged egg.
Or is it a Sunkist can?

Counting her spoils

Almost there! Go go Gadget Arms!

That is a very determined look!

Nate getting a slightly higher perspective

Looking from higher ground paid off!



It was a good day and the kids enjoyed their chocolate and fun with family.

Pinewood Derby - Saturday April 7

This year was our first year for the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. Graigry and Eric created a car and learned some things that they can do better next year. Graigry had a good time racing his creation down the track.

Ready to roll down Track A.
Graigry's car preferred Track B.

Each scout got to have two turns to run, and each turn got one run down each track, racing against another car. Track A made Graigry's car wobble which slowed it down. When they were doing final runs for trophies, they did 2 out of 3 runs and luckily, Graigry's car started on Track B. Thanks to that fortunate placement, Graigry took fourth place.

Graigry with his trophy

Pinewood Derby Trophy holders 2012

We came home from Pinewood Derby and the three younger kids got to do their Easter Egg Hunt in the backyard. Saturday was a fun and very busy day!

Friday Fun and Farewell to Florida

Friday was only a half day in Florida. I did the final packing of suitcases while the kids and Eric helped finish the wood pile for Uncle John. Eric enjoyed using the gas powered splitter to cut up the wood; something routine, controlled and mind relaxing. Every time Eric sees a wood pile, he wants to be back in Florida and cutting wood.

After some final helping, John took the kids for a final spin in the tractor. They, of course, LOVED it!

Start your engines!
Gotta be fun to hear and feel that engine beneath you.

Rolling down the driveway!
Xela was nervous, but did a good job,
considering it was her first time driving a tractor.

Why walk, when you can ride?
Mommy got in after taking the picture.

Ready, Steady,

WE HAVE LIFT OFF!

We came home, had lunch, each kid got a turn playing a game on the Wii, we packed up the van and headed north. We headed for Tennessee and after a 10+ hour drive, with a stop to clean up motion sickness pink puke, we arrived at the Walkers. The chicken pox plague had passed and so we were able to stay Saturday and Sunday with family to enjoy each other and General Conference.

Daddies dosing during Conference.

It was a wonderful conference and a wonderful spring break vacation. We got home at six am Monday morning. We slept a few hours and then had a day to readjust to reality. Kids went back to school on Tuesday and I returned to work. Florida is always such fun, Nate has already declared that we will be going back next year for spring break.

We'll see!

Boating and Beaching

Happy sailor

Thursday was our last full day in Florida. Uncle John has a small river boat which is fun to go on, we we spent about two hours riding around the river. Crystal River, Florida is a nature preserve, so there are all kinds of birds that have made their nests in the marshy land islands on this river. We saw lots of turtles sunning themselves on rocks and even caught a glipse of an alligator in the water.

Using their Sea World souvenirs to enjoy
the sights and sounds of the river.

Heading up the river

John let each of the kids, and myself have a turn to drive the boat. Brave man!

Neta the naval navigator.

Nate did a pretty good job steering the boat.
He had to stand up to see over the gauges,
but that's okay.

Graigry does a little directing on the river.

Aurora almost ran us into the lily pads
and an unseen rock. Uncle John shut it down
and put it into reverse. All little too much power turns
for the little boat.

Xela was smooth and steady.
Neta is sitting in the little bit of shade
sipping a juice box.

This was much easier than driving a car.
So relaxing with a light breeze. Perfect.

We drove home and on the long driveway into the house, John stopped the truck and we got out to see the...

TURTLE!!!!

John tapped it's shell and the turtle pulled right in.
The kids each got to pet the shell
before he was put back on the ground.

We ate some lunch, played a little Wii and then packed up for a few hours at the man made beach. It was on the Gulf of Mexico, and we didn't get to do a beach last time because our trip was shorter and it rained. The kids enjoyed playing in the water and sand and searching for shells (which they suprisingly found a few).

We worked hard to build a sand something,
but the sand was hard to work with and
the tide came in after a while & washed half of it away.

Water was a little chilly, but they all had fun.

Goofing off in the Gulf of Mexico

Nate in the sand.
This sand was harder to manipulate into anything.

Beached Momma

Kids tried to cover me up, but the water wouldn't allow it.
Later I found sand in spots where sand ought not be.

Neta the sand mermaid
(You can kind of see her tail on the right side)

Eric spent his time under an umbrella
reading a book and he still got burnt.

Nate had a fun time chasing these birds around.

Sibling bonding in the water.
I hope their relationship strengthens.

Their sand creation.

Killing the creation.

Xela backing on the sand.
Her shoulders matched her swimsuit pinkness.

After a few hours, we were burnt but had a good time. We got home and then sanded off in the pool while dinner was being prepared. My kids don't get sick of the water.

When Xela got out of her swim suit, she was CRISPY. It was hard to see until you had the rest of her skin to compare it to.  She and Ro got burnt, all the other kids, who I sunblocked, were a little red in the face, but not too bad. It was a good day and they were all very, VERY tired by scripture time.