Jake plays again

Jake and his friend decided to play for the 6th grade talent show (with a little persuasion from their teacher and parents). I think they did a great job! Jake's friend actually plays the guitar too, but they thought it sounded better with him playing the drums, he just started playing about a month ago--I was very impressed!

Accomplishments

I ran a 5K today. A year ago, I didn't think I could run more than a mile. I don't aspire to run marathons, but I did want to do this, a 5K and possibly a 10K. It is not much for many, I see lots of friends and family running lots more than that all the time. But it is a big deal for me. I am not fast, I don't even aspire to win any races, simply to finish, and I did. And I felt great. The last couple of years have been hard for me and there has been far too much "food therapy" going on. Exercise is a different way to combat my challenges, a better way. I have very long way to go still, but I am moving in the right direction and it feels wonderful. Why is it so hard for some of us to do something good for ourselves sometimes? My life revolves around taking care of my family, but I need to be taken care of too, that is such a difficult thing to do sometimes. I needed to "tweak" a few things, and hopefully everyone will be better off because of those changes.

Camping in Moab

We have always heard that Moab is great. When we drove from Texas to Utah last summer, we drove through and the boys made us promise we would make a trip back. So we said when they were off track in the spring, we would go. Last week we made it back to Moab and were able to find a fabulous camping site near the Colorado River--it was wonderful! We went with Rick and his girls and really had such a great time. We were able to hike in Arches National Park and we found another hike up Negro Bill's Canyon to see one of the largest natural bridges in the world. The kids hiked almost 10 miles total over just 2 days--they did awesome. And I just have to say, I love Moab! What a beautiful place! Everywhere I looked there were more beautiful rocks and trees and flowers. Our kids were absolutely filthy by the time we left, which for me equates to them having a fabulous time. I was a little embarrassed when we stopped in Price to grab some lunch and my kids really looked neglected--I wanted to put a sticker on each of them that said "Had a great time camping in Moab". But I figure I'll never see those people again and it is good for others to have compassion for the needy, right?! :)

We are doing good otherwise. Brian just finished his course work to get his real estate license and he and Rick are still working on the property issue up in Heber. But we are really trying to not put all our eggs in that basket just in case it doesn't work out. We sincerely hope, but that doesn't always do the trick. Brian feels a bit like he has a little black rain cloud over his head, he gets discouraged and I don't blame him. This has been very hard for him, but he is an eternal optimist, so I think even though he sees the cloud over his head there is still some silver lining left.

The kids are doing great. Kash finished preschool and can't wait to start kindergarten. The other kids just can't wait to be done with school. We are excited that all of them were accepted to a charter school down here so we can at least be sure their class size won't be out of control next year and they will be on traditional schedule--both pluses.

No other news to report, we are all healthy and happy and that is enough.

April...so far

Sunday was Kash-man's birthday. I am so in love with this boy. I know I have said this before, but it still holds true, so I will say it again. I am so in love with this little boy! He has the MOST sparkly eyes and wonderful smile. He is snuggly and gives the greatest hugs. When I look in Kash's eyes, I see unconditional love and trust--that is a lot to live up to. He makes me a better mom. He was SO excited to turn 5! My mom called a few days before his bday and asked if it would work out to have a boy's sleepover. I thought it was fine, but realized Kash would then wake up at Grandma & Grandpa's instead of with us for his big day. I explained to him how it would work and then left it up to him. I will admit, there was a part of me that hoped he would want to be here with us, but not after I saw the look of pure excitement on his face as he considered the possibilities. Needless to say, he woke up in Cache Valley on his birthday! We drove up after church and celebrated with as many cousins as could be there for cake and ice cream, collected our boys and drove home. Kash had a FABULOUS birthday! He is already talking about "when he turns 6". It is so nice we can do things like this again!

Yesterday, I took Kash grocery shopping with me and I felt obligated to participate in Happy Hour at Sonic--I love 1/2 price! This particular Sonic employs many Spanish speaking people--I think I have only been there once when a ESL person didn't help me. Well, yesterday the cute girl helping me spoke very good English but had a very strong accent. After I was done ordering all the drinks and I was pulling up to the window, Kash said in a very impressed voice, "Mom! I didn't know you spoke Spanish!" Oh, how I wanted to run with that one--I am always looking for ways to make my kids believe I am as smart as I tell them I am! But I regrettably had to explain she was speaking English with an accent and that no, I don't speak Spanish, but wish that I did. Kash asked if I knew any Spanish words so I told him the few I remembered from high school. He didn't seem as impressed anymore. I remember as a missionary in Boston, I went out with the Spanish speaking sisters a few times. One particular time, I was really struggling to stay awake. The Puerto Ricans we were with kept their home VERY warm and I didn't understand a THING they were saying except for a word here and there. The sister missionary I was with could tell I was going to sleep and she called on me to share my feelings about Jesus Christ. I was so caught off guard, I didn't think about the fact she could translate for me and I ended up saying, "Jesus Christo is muy bueno." They all nodded politely. She never asked me to do that again--phew!!! And there you have my Spanish abilities in a nutshell! I will have to find other ways to impress my children.

Things here are going. We are on hold with the business because of some zoning issues. The dream is not dead, but waiting until the property owner can get the zoning changed permanently to commercial. It's a long story, not one that I care to elaborate on at this time. Right now, Brian is working on his real estate license. We have a few other things out there as well that we are hoping will work out, but I am not going to curse any chance of that. So I will post about anything AFTER it happens.

I will be honest, it has been a challenging few months. But we are doing fine. We are all healthy, we like each other, and I can still go to Sonic for Happy Hour. Once again, I will commit to doing better with the blog. We will see!

Conversations at our house...

Ben is always hungry, Brian is a smarty pants and Jake always has something clever to say, it lead to this conversation yesterday.

Ben: "I am hungry!"
Brian: "Nice to meet you, Hungry." "I am Brian."
Jake: "That seems to be a pretty popular name."
Brian: "Yep, Hungry really is a popular name."
Jake: "Especially in third world countries."

I laughed pretty hard, we all did.

No news is good news?

I guess I figure that no one really checks here much anymore, but if there are some of you out there, I need to do better.

Nothing much has changed here. This whole "starting a business" things has been a roller coaster ride. Brian and Rick have everything in place to start the business, three banks were willing to loan them money, all said it was one of the best business plans they had ever seen--kuddos to the boys. Anyway, all they are lacking is a location. Twice we have had leases fall through. Brian had pretty much given up and had started looking for another job, but Rick went up to Heber one more time to see if there was anything they had overlooked. He found a property and then took Brian & John up to look. Brian was actually really excited again. Like I said, a roller coaster. So we are in the prelimiary stages of discussion with realtors and property owners once again. We are just praying this one works out. Any extra prayers would be so much appreciated. I would really love to see this work out for these Owens boys--I just love them all so much--being especially fond of the oldest one! :)

The kids are all doing really well. I still don't like year round school or the prospects of school in Jordan School district. They are talking about 10,000 more students next year with no increase in budget. The kids will be in classes with up to 40 kids. SOOO dysfunctional!! So if we have to stay here another year I am desperately hoping the charter school works out. But I really hope we move. I have never felt so disconnected from a school, the communication between teachers and parents is almost zilch and we have been told our kids are in one of the best schools in the district. It has been crazy. I can't help but think the teachers are overwhelmed and burned out with the number of students they are trying to teach--like I said--I hope we don't have to deal with it next school year. Hard for me to even believe Kash will be in kindergarten next year--Ruby and I will miss him terribly! But enough ranting, we have wonderful neighbors and the kids have all made some very nice friends. Jake continues to play guitar and dream of cars he and his dad can fix together. Ben continues to grow faster than I can keep up with. He LOVES Harry Potter and is just about done with#7. Sally is looking grown up with more permanent teeth now and loves her iPod, Taylor Swift, and having a room to share with Ruby. Kash loves Iron Man, John Deere Tractors and his bike. He is in constant motion and is usually singing or driving a car on the kitchen counter. I am totally smitten by him, he tells me I am beautiful when I get off the treadmill, how could I not be? Ruby is our resident dictator and true to that role, throws a horrible fit when anyone has the nerve to tell her no. She is super sweet the rest of the time and is talking more and more every day. I knew when we had Ruby she would be our last, so I didn't want her to grow up too quickly. But I have no control over that as much as I wish I did. So getting my head around the fact that May 2 she will be 2 is hard! I am grateful for the sleep I get these days, but fight the hard truth that I don't have babies anymore.

I am doing well. Just plugging away at the same old stuff. In spite of all the changes and craziness in our lives lately, the laundry still has to be done and dinner still has to be made. So we just keep moving on and hope we are going forward.

Books and just stuff in general

I guess I will start with the general stuff. We had a wonderful Christmas and New Years. We spent Christmas here doing all our traditional stuff and and the kids were thrilled with Santa (he gets way too much credit!) as well as the few other things they found under the tree. We spent New Years in Logan at my sister, Katie's, house. She has lots of room, which is required when my family gets together. We were entertained by all the kids performing for us, lots of good food and just getting to spend time together. What a treat for me and Brian and the kids to get to do this again! On New Years Day, we went tubing on the hill behind my parents house--so much fun! I do love the seasons--snow this time of year just seems right. Jake and Ben got to spend a few days at their cousins--they stayed up half the night every night playing XBOX--so of course that was a highlight for them when discussing their Christmas break. It really was a fabulous holiday season.

As far as other news, we FINALLY sold our house. We closed on Dec. 30 and couldn't be more thrilled to be done with home ownership in state where we don't actually live. That was gift right there for Brian and myself.

On the business front, I will say it again, things are moving slowly. But they are moving and in a very positive direction. Things are falling into place and we should know by the end of this week if we have a place to lease and can get up to Heber and get going. It has all been such an adventure. Some days we feel so excited and other days are discouraging and we wonder again what in the world we have done. But really, overall it has been a great experience and I continue to feel like we are where we need to be and things will work out.

I have been reading the "Fablehaven" series the past few weeks. They are fun books although I would like to kill Seth at times (for those of you who have read them). Anyway, I really do love to read, I always have a book and when I don't, I get fidgety until I can get to the library. Well, I think Fablehaven is getting to me, I have started dreaming of large amphibians that bite and multiply quickly, all very strange. I need to hurry and finish #4 so I can move on to something a little less fantastic (not fantasy). Ruby also loves books. She has taken a fancy to Sandra Boyton--I might have something to do with that. Anyway, one of here favorites is "Moo, Baa, La, La, La". In the book it says, "Cows say moo, sheep say baa. And three singing pigs say la la la. No, no you say that isn't right, pigs say oink all day and night." I did that from memory, are any of you impressed? I should think not since I have been reading that book to my kids for 12 years now. Anyway, I just had to explain so when you watch this little video of Ruby you will understand why she thinks pigs say no no no. I do love books though, even if they do affect us in wacky ways.

The Season

Thanksgiving was wonderful. It was so nice to spend Thanksgiving with family. The kids really do love being with cousins and I love watching them. I will admit that not living in my own house for the first time since Brian and I have been married has had it's challenges. But I feel so grateful to Kathi for letting us "borrow" her house that those challenges seem very insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

We had Grandma Sally's 86th birthday party/Christmas party here this past weekend. There were 30 + people here, lots of food and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. I actually left because I had tickets to attend the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert. Natalie Cole and David McCullough were the guest performers. When I knew the tickets were going to conflict with the party, I wasn't sure what to do. But I went to the concert anyway, not with Brian and the boys like I had planned, but I got to spend the evening with friends I hadn't spent time with in forever. I must say, as much as I know I missed a great party, I am so glad I went. I am such a HUGE fan of David McCullough and the concert was fabulous. And catching up with friends was great. Sitting listening to beautiful music, seeing the lights on Temple Square, being with friends (and family later), all made me appreciate what this season is all about. I am constantly chasing the "magic" of the season for my children in an attempt to recapture it for myself. But I have discovered that the magic is really all about the innocence and wonder. I sometimes wish I could feel 5 again this time of year. I wish I didn't have to worry about all the things adults worry about and just be amazed by the feelings, sights and sounds. I keep trying...

This year, things are as different as they could be from years in the past. We have tried so hard to make sure our kids don't feel the stress and pressure that Brian and I are dealing with while we work through the changes that have happened. But they know. They are so perceptive while we continue to try and be deceptive. I hope we have given them enough information to understand but not enough to worry. I want to feel awful that we haven't sold our house and investors for the business continue to fall through, but while it is certainly discouraging, I feel tremendously blessed. We have our families who love and support us, we have 5 healthy children, we have a warm house and enough food and I continue to have faith that all this will work out. I can't imagine living without hope. And yet I know there are so many who do. So this Christmas I am wishing for faith and hope for all those who are without. I hope all of you that I love and miss all over this beautiful country are warm and happy and surrounded by those you love most.

Princess Sally "Way" Snaggletooth

My Sally is growing up. All this is evident by the number of teeth she has lost in the past month or so and the fact that she is finally starting to say Sally Ray instead of Sally Way when she says her name. I have been worried about Sally learning to say her r's, it has started to affect her reading and writing especially. I am so proud of her for working so hard to say things the right way, but there is something so endearing about those "weally" cute r's. Since she was 2 and really started to talk, her r's have been w's. I know it is time for her to grow out of it--actually way past time--but it just means one more little marker on her way to growing up. My kids are getting big. I get a little sad, but excited about the future as well.

Brian has such an imagination. He is a product of Dr. Suess. He can make up nonsense words that make sense, he sings songs and tells stories to the kids that he makes up as he goes along and I have no idea where he gets such fun and clever stuff. The other night, I wanted to take a picture of Sally's toothless grin, but she was worried she would look funny. So she wouldn't smile for me. So Brian told her (and all the other kids plus George who enjoyed it as much as any of them) a story about Princess Snaggletooth. We were all laughing so much, Sally couldn't help but smile. Brian really should write children's books--he has missed his calling in life. Anyway, the following pictures are from that night. I love these people. I feel tremendously blessed.

Isn't that grin priceless?!

A few random things and just info in general

I haven't done just a general update in a while and Kash has said a few very funny things lately that I really don't want to forget to share, so here we go.

Just a general update on the business front. In one word, S L O W!!!! But other than that, good. Brian and Rick have been chasing down information, filling out forms, creating reports and spreadsheets, and talking to all kinds of helpful people in an effort to FINALLY get the paperwork turned into the bank so they can start processing (and hopefully approving) the business loan. I have truly enjoyed having Brian around more, but I know he is going a little nuts. It is so nice to leave during the day and not have to always take the kids and just having Brian with us more. I know he has decided that working from home cannot work on a long term basis unless there is a designated office from where to work, and I know he feels a little insane not having a "job" to go to in the morning, but I also know he is excited about the business and can't wait to get things started. Things really are going well, I just think Brian thought it would all move a little quicker than it has. Partially, the slowness is due to all the new paperwork and information banks require for a loan, so different than a year ago. Our timing is always a bit off, but things seem to work out still in the long run.

Our house in Amarillo still has not sold. This is probably the biggest frustration and worry for us right now. But it just has to work out somehow--I am still holding on to that.

The kids love having their cousins around and seem to be adjusting well. Once again, Jake's teacher wants us to look into the honor program for next year, and Jake once again is telling us he doesn't want to because that would require some effort on his part. Ben and Sally both seem to be doing great too, but honestly, I am hoping to get all the kids into a charter school next year because of the schedule. Next year, Jake would be on traditional schedule, but the other kids would be on the year round schedule. There is a new charter school close by that is K-9, so I could have all 4 of my kids at the same school and on traditional schedule--I am REALLY hoping that works out. My kids aren't thrilled about changing schools again, but I am not thrilled with a lot of things, not just the schedule, so I am willing to try something different for many reasons. I MISS TX and NY when it comes to school! I am trying to adjust, just like my kids, but it has been hard. The kids go off track for the first time next Friday, they are all pretty thrilled about that. I hope I can keep them "entertained" for 3 weeks!

Kash continues to keep me completely entertained here at home. The other day, he told Rick that his new sneakers had a "lift" in the back. I loved that, everything in Kash's world has some reference to trucks or tractors. John (Brian's brother) killed an elk and it was hanging in the garage here. Kash was fascinated with the whole thing and really like being out in the garage with all the guys while they were cutting it up. (Sorry, that really is all sort of disgusting.) Anyway, he had a soda he was just finishing. As he drank the last little bit, he held up the bottle in one hand and the cap in the other and declared, "I just drank the hell out this!" What?!!! Where did he get that?! Seriously, Brian and I do not say stuff like that, but he certainly knew how to use the word correctly and unfortunately, Brian and I can only laugh.

Ruby is BUSY!!! I think I missed the update that the new 2 is really 18 months. She has colored all over the walls twice (thank goodness for Magic Erasers), dumped tampons all over the floor twice (I finally got smart and put those in a high place), she found hot cocoa and dumped it all over the floor, and a few more things have been dumped. She eats out of the garbage and scowls at us when we are not doing our best to make her happy. And yet, she is the cutest little girl ever! She says "tank oo" and "peas", and give the sweetest hugs and kisses. I don't know if my kids have gotten progressively busier or I have just become so tired that it only appears that way. Either way, I love them all more than chocolate and that is saying a lot!

This past week we celebrated birthdays just about every day. My birthday was Monday, Jake was Tuesday, Sally was Wednesday and Kathi was Thursday. We had a week of parties combines with cutting up an elk, Young Women activities, scouts and lots more. Then Sunday, Jake was ordained a deacon, so we had a big dinner with lots of family here after church. It was so nice to celebrate with lots of family around. It was a busy week, but all good. I can't believe my kids are growing up--I still wish I had a pause button--that would stop all my grey hair and keep my kids just where they are. But I know that isn't going to happen--especially the hair thing--so we just keep moving forward and try to enjoy all where we are and all that life brings. So far, so good...

Pretending it is still October 25th

October 25 is John's birthday. Since he is my MOST favorite brother, I feel badly that I didn't get something written for him on his actual birthday. Does it help my case of behindness that I have had 2 kids with strep in the last 4 days? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, I am here today to write a bit about my brother, John.

I sometimes feel badly that John is the only boy. He was mothered more than he probably wishes, smothered is probably a better way to describe how we cared for John as he was growing up. We styled, dressed, teased, and questioned him WAY more than boys care for, but he was always so good about our type of "love". I guess to end the year of birthday tributes, I want to do something a little differently for John. I have a few favorite memories of John that pretty much sum up everything I love about him. But if my stories (and they may be a little lengthy, so be prepared) don't express how I feel about my brother, John is truly one in a million. That may sound trite, but it it honestly the truth. You will see what I mean...

As you can imagine, John would get bored with all the girls at our house and would be a bit desperate for someone to play with at times. He knew I would agree to play with him if we played the "torture game". (This says so much about him and so little about me!) I would stuff him in a hamper and sit on the hamper, make some kind of concoction for him to drink--the base was ALWAYS pickle juice--and then lock him in a room until he drank the whole glass. All kinds of horrific things that I thought were so funny and clever. He would just play along and be glad for someone to play with--he is ALWAYS a good sport about whatever his sisters have in mind.

When John was 12, I was 17. We were having a Halloween dance at church for families, so even the 12-year-olds were allowed to come. John and some of his friends weren't asking anyone to dance and spending way too much time at the refreshments table and drinking fountain. I told them there were lots of girls who would be thrilled to dance with any one of them. Next thing I know, John has asked a little 8-year-old girl to dance--very safe move. I told John that although I was proud of him for asking her to dance, I was thinking of all the girls holding up the walls who were closer to his age. Finally, he and his friends started asking some of the girls to dance and they were all having a good time. True to any dance, there were more girls than boys, so there were always a few of the girls not dancing. On the very last dance all those boys went and got all the girls and they all danced together in a big circle. It looked pretty funny since it was a slow song and I got quite a laugh out the whole thing. As John and I were leaving, I asked if he had fun. He said he had and of course I told him it was all thanks to me since I "strongly" encouraged him to dance. I then said something to this affect, "What was the deal with the last song?" "The idea is to dance with just ONE girl, not all of them." John replied, "Do you remember the Campbell's Soup commercial where the little red head girl goes home from the dance early because no one asked her to dance?" I said I did remember. And then John said, "I just didn't want any of those girls to feel like that, so we decided to ask them all." I remember being amazed that this boy would even consider something like that at his age. But that was so typical of John. I remember him spending his own money on earrings for my birthday because he was sure I would love them.

Just before I left to serve a mission, my life had gotten a little complicated and messy because of choices I had made. I was confused about my future and what I wanted and didn't know what direction to take in many ways. I came home after classes at USU (Go Aggies!) one afternoon and I was crying--a lot. I left for work a complete mess. I got home around midnight and could hear John's alarm going. I went in his room and he was sitting up in his bed. I told him that he had set his alarm wrong and that I would reset it for him, to just go back to bed. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and said, "No, I meant to set the alarm for now." "I knew you would be getting home from work and I just wanted to make sure you were okay." I still get teary thinking about that one. That meant the world to me. I needed to know that in spite of the craziness I had created, someone was still there to make sure I was going to be okay.

When John was about 13, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor called a calcified blood vessel. He had started having seizures and was put on medication to control the seizures. This maintained things quite well for several years with just minor breakthroughs occasionally. John was pretty quiet about all of this, very few of the kids he went to school with even knew what he dealt with. The end of his junior year, he decided to run for SBO. During his speech he had a petite mal seizure. When this happened to John, he would just mumble and his leg or arm would shake. All the kids in the auditorium watched it happen. But because not many of them knew about John's seizures, they all thought that John was being funny and they laughed. John won the election and I don't think he ever told many people what had actually happened. He didn't complain and ask for another chance or ask for anyone's sympathy--he just moved on. Things got A LOT worse and John finally had surgery a while after he got home from his mission. He had wires connected to his brain and had his head cut open. He was so full of faith and hope through it all, he truly inspired me.

John just finished his class work for his MBA this month and will graduate with his Master's Degree in December. He married the most fabulous girl and has two beautiful daughters who adore their Dad. The feeling is quite mutual--John is a great dad--I love watching him talk to his girls. And who better to be a dad to little girls?! John is patient, kind, helpful, sincere, smart and wonderful.

So I hope you all have a glimpse of why I love John the way I do. I think Heavenly Father only sent one boy to our house because he would have been the favorite either way, no reason to ruin some other boys life, right?

Love you, John.

Kash-isms

Yesterday Kash & I were discussing an episode of "Little Bill" he had seen. Little Bill thought he had broken his baby cousin when the baby spit up. Kash told me that he thought he had broken Ruby when she was a baby. I told him I didn't remember that, but I did remember when he bent Ruby's finger back really far just to see what would happen. Kash's responded, "Yep, I was pretty mean in the 80's, wasn't I, Mom?" I just laughed. Then later that day I noticed that Kash's sneakers were really wearing out and the inside of the sole was worn enough that his ankles were turning. So I told him we needed to buy him some new sneakers. Of course this turned into a conversation about his old sneakers. Kash said, "I remember when we bought my other sneakers back in the 60's." He is TOTALLY serious when he is telling us all this. I just love my little boy. By the way, he LOVES his new sneakers! I just wonder which decade he will remember this purchase taking place...

Octoberfest

We went to Petersboro this weekend for the annual Octoberfest. My sister, Wendy, started the tradition a few years ago, but after we had moved away. So this was our first fest and we were not disappointed. The kids got sufficiently sugared and had such a great time with all the cousins, games and crafts. And it is always nice to spend time with family. My mom and I took the kids to the last Saturday of the Farmer's Market in Logan that morning, what a fine time that was as well! I love the booths with all the veggies and homemade goods. But the greatest part was running into Peg, someone who has been part of my life for more years than I think could really be possible. I had thought earlier as we were walking around, "This is something I am sure Peg likes!" And then, there she was! I love Farmer's Markets anyway, but getting to see Peg made the morning especially nice.

It turned out to be a fabulous fall day--perfect for all the activities and fun. This really is the best part about being back in Utah, getting to spend time with our families and knowing we don't have to fit a million things into a few weeks. here are a few pictures from the fest...

Ruby was a spider

Sally, my pretty witch

Jake was Buddy Holly

Ben, our hippie

Kash, the Power Ranger

Kate's Birthday...

Yes, two days after Malayna's birthday, it is Kate's turn. I wrote before that October would be "tribute month", 4 out of 6 kids were born between October 14 and November 2! Anyway, today is Kate's birthday and it was wonderful to be in the same state for a change so I could go to the little surprise party Kade planned for her. I love being closer to our families! In January I posted a few things I loved about Kate when we were celebrating our "Praise to Jen & Kate Day", so I copied and pasted some because I still love Kate for all the same reasons. But I have added a few new ones as well. Anyway, here's to Kate!

1. Kate can always make me laugh. Stories she tells or silly things she does--she just makes me laugh. And everyone knows laughter can help you live longer! One of my favorite "laughs" about Kate...in high school she was working on a group paper. Someone suggested they do the report on euthanasia. Kate's response was, "I think we should do the paper on Youth in America, not Youth in Asia!" The greatest part, she was TOTALLY serious. And she will be the first person to laugh at herself. Like I said, always good for a laugh.

2. Kate is always up for anything, "Sure!" I can hear her saying it now!

3. She is a great Mom, whenever I talk to her on the phone, she and her kids are up to something--the latest was caramel dipped pretzels--her oldest is 6 and youngest is 9 months. She is SO brave! :)

4. Katie is kind to everyone, she can make anyone feel like he or she is her favorite. She is just one of those people who everyone wants to be around.

5. Kate was "the baby", I have always thought she was fabulous.

6. Katie is beautiful, like all my sisters, it comes from the inside and just keeps going.

7. She could spot a jerky guy when I brought them home long before I could & she let me know. Not always in the most tactful ways, but she let me know. Once she left "For the Strength of Youth" on my pillow because she was concerned about some of my activities--I love that one!

8. She is amazingly athletic, something of which I am a tad bit jealous. She could not run for months and then decide to run 5 miles & I believe she could! I always loved watching all my sisters play volleyball. I cried when I had just had Jake & couldn't go watch Kate at the state finals.

9. She has made some very tough choices in her life, but she knows what is right and she does it.

10. She is just plain fun! She laughs easily and lots--I love that.

Happy day, Kate! Thirty looks totally fabulous on you! :)

Happy Birthday, Malayna!

Today Malayna turned 40! My mom is 20 years older than her and Kate is 10 years younger. They make it very easy to keep track of ages--you can do all the math if you want. But today I get to celebrate my only older sister. So here is my birthday list for Malayna, a few reasons I think she is great...

1. Malayna always made it hard to be the 2nd child. She was SO good at everything. She is athletic, smart, beautiful, talented, and good. I remember all of those things making me crazy at times because I was not like Malayna in so many ways. But I remember having someone in middle school make the connection that I was her sister and oh, how that made my life easier. I was given a few free passes because she had been so good that others just thought I was having an off day when I wasn't. I decided then that all her good qualities were a good thing--they couldn't curse me forever.

2. Malayna was and is such a good example. The oldest child is given a lot of responsibility without asking for it. I think Malayna set such a great example in so many ways for the rest of us who came after her and she still does.

3. Malayna is SO honest in such a tactful way. I think this is a really amazing ability. To be able to tell someone exactly what is what and do it in a way that they still like you afterwards.

4. She doesn't let the unimportant stuff get in the way of what is really important. Malayna can see what needs to be done and is able to sift through the nonessential and get a job done well.

5. Malayna graduated from college. That may sound silly, but it was always a goal for her. It took her a little longer than she intended, but she did it. And I think because she did, she showed the rest of us it was possible. I was so proud of her.

6. She and Marty have great kids. And I know behind most great kids are great parents. I don't know all their secrets, but they are doing lots of things right. So like I say about all my sisters, she is a great mom.

7. Malayna used to get mad so easily and had quite a temper. I should know, I was the family button pusher. I especially loved to bug her and Wendy. But I have watched over the years, and Malayna has totally changed that behavior. I obviously don't try intentionally to bug her anymore, but I am sure there are others who have taken my place. And she handles difficult situations with such grace. I am constantly impressed by this.

8. Malayna is so kind. She has such a good heart and really wants to help others. But she does all of this very quietly without much fanfare, which makes me admire her even more.

9. Malayna is a true friend. She makes and keeps friends forever. I am not good about keeping in touch with people, so I really admire this about her.

10. Like I mentioned in #1, Malayna and I are very different in most ways. We fought A LOT growing up and I honestly thought we would never get along. Then I started high school as a freshman when Malayna was a senior. Some older sisters pretend like the younger sister doesn't exist--especially when they are a little dorky like I was. But Malayna was SO good to me. She would take me with her to games, dances, all kinds of things. I did have to start her car in the morning during the winter if I wanted to ride with her ;), but it was all worth it. During all those car rides between Petersboro and Mountain Crest, and lots of other things she became my best friend. I adored her. I cried for days after she left for college. I was thrilled to have my own room finally, but I missed her like crazy. I had some pretty terrible experiences in middle school with friends, but I had Malayna to show me what a real friend was like. I don't think I would be who I am now without Malayna being the friend she was to me then.

I love you, Malayna. I hope you have a fabulous day.

A Great Book

For those who know me, you know I love to read. I am always on the lookout for a good book and I am never without something to read. I don't like to watch a movie before I read the book and I don't usually like to read the book if I have already seen the movie. For this reason, I have never read "Little Women". I know, I know, a classic. But I loved the movie so much (the more recent one with Wynonna Ryder), all the Massachusetts scenery that is so wonderful and the story. So I thought for sure the book would be too much of a repeat and wouldn't keep my interest. How wrong I was!!! The book (as usual) is so much better than the movie. And I was sad to find out how much Christianity was totally removed from the movie--I didn't say surprised--just sad. I am still not done with the book, but I wanted to share a few of my favorite quotes. Inspirational! Now I would just like to go to Concord again and enjoy all those lovely places once more...

"It was easier to try for your sakes than for my own; a startled or surprised look from one of you, when I spoke sharply, rebuked me more than any words could have done; and the love respect, and confidence of my children was the sweetest reward I could receive for my efforts to be the woman I would have them copy."

"If I don't seem to need help, it is because I have a better friend, even than father, to comfort and sustain me. My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning, and may be many; but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthy one. The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you will feel to Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of life-long peace, happiness and strength. Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother."

"I want my daughters to be beautiful, accomplished, and good; to be admired, loved and respected; to have a happy youth...with as little care and sorrow to try them as God sees fit to send...My dear girls, I am ambitious for you, but not to have you make a dash in the world, --marry rich men merely because they are rich, or have splendid houses, which are not homes because love is wanting. Money is a needful and precious thing, --and, when well used, a noble thing, --but I never want you to think it is the first or only prize to strive for. I'd rather see you poor men's wives, if you were happy, beloved, contented, than queens on thrones, without self-respect and peace."

"Then let me advise you to take up your little burdens again; for though they seem heavy sometimes, they are good for us, and lighten as we learn to carry them. Work is wholesome, and there is plenty for everyone; it keeps us from ennui and mischief, is good for health and spirits, and gives us a sense of power and independence better than money or fashion."

Lazy--not really

My mom thought that something was wrong with her computer because she hadn't been able to see any recent updates on my blog. I guess I should take that as a hint that I haven't posted much lately. I would like to say I have just been lazy and enjoying the wonderful weather while sitting on the back patio reading a book. And while I have done that once in the last couple of weeks, it is not the norm. We have been staying busy getting settled. Just an update on the Tahoe--as of this week it is running well. I almost hate to write that sentence for fear of cursing a good thing. But wait, the Tahoe is already cursed, so I guess I don't have to worry about it! We were just very grateful the work done on the Tahoe was covered by the warranty--that was a huge blessing.

The kids are starting to like school a little better. I hate to complain, we had such GREAT schools in NY and TX, this has been a bit of an adjustment for all of us. I am not saying schools in UT are terrible, but I will say they are lacking. I guess if we had never moved in the first place I wouldn't have known the difference. But we are making the best of it and I try hard not to complain in front of the kids--it only gives them license to do the same.

On the whole work front for Brian: He and his brothers are working hard to get the business plan put together and get it presented to some banks by next week. So far everyone they have talked to at different agencies and banks have been very positive with what the boys have so far. But that is not to say there won't be glitches once they finally submit everything and actually need someone to give them money. Brian is still very positive about everything and we both still feel like we are where we need to be. We are freaking out a bit, our house in TX hasn't sold yet. Our realtor said everyone who looks at it loves it and has actually had 4 people want to make offers but when they go to the lenders they can't get the financing. That really stinks for us because it is no fun to be making payments on a house we aren't even living in. But we are hoping the right person comes along very soon and it will all be fine.

So that is about it in a nutshell. I will try and do better...

Update

We took the Tahoe to the local AAMCO to have it looked at. It was the transmission that failed. Fortunately we had that totally replaced before we left Amarillo and it had a 100,000 mile warranty on it. Funny that it failed before it even had a 1000 miles, even more funny that it happened to THIS Tahoe. Brian says we need to have a Priest, Bishop, and a Rabbi over to "exercise" it. Maybe we should just sell it...anyone want a Tahoe? :) We still have to fix the flat...maybe THEN it will be okay! Oh, I just about forgot! Tuesday morning Brian had a police officer stop by wanting to know who the Tahoe belonged to. When Brian told him it was his, he wanted to see license, registration, etc. Apparently the 2 license plates on the Tahoe were different. Just one more thing...it really is SO funny...it just doesn't stop!!!

Trying to do the right thing

Last year when we moved to TX, we decided that we would just be a one vehicle family until we saved enough money to buy a 2nd vehicle. We thought that was more in line with "living within our means" and we really didn't want to have 2 car payments. So we waited. Man, it was killing me! We had sold Brian's car before leaving NY thinking it would be easier with a new baby to all be in one vehicle while traveling across the country. I thought it was a good idea until I was going crazy not having my own vehicle. But I really wanted to wait and save the money, so I tried really hard to not complain too often. Thank goodness for friends who would haul us to the park and such places in the mean time! ("Ya'll" know who you are :)...)

So in the spring we decided to start looking. We found an older Tahoe that Brian really liked and I told him to buy it. But he waited too long hoping the guy would drop the price. So we started looking on eBay. We knew others who had bought vehicles there and had a good experience. We found a Tahoe in Houston that looked great so we bought it. And here the story really begins...

The guy told us he could get it shipped to Amarillo for $225. It ended up costing $100 more and he said he would give us the extra $100. Never happened. The Tahoe finally showed up 3 weeks late. Now you have to know that the description said "new brakes, new transmission, new shocks, new fuel pump, A/C works great and all power options". Here comes the fun part. Brian couldn't get the Tahoe out of 1st gear and then he about ran through our garage trying to stop. When we tried to get it to the shop to be looked at, it wouldn't start. It was that "new" fuel pump. It had to be replaced just to have the transmission looked at. We had to have a brand new transmission put in (luckily eBay covered this). When we had the shocks looked at, they were the ORIGINAL shocks--they needed replaced as well as the brakes. The A/C never worked. While the Tahoe was at the AAMCO getting fixed, it was broken into and the stereo (the only nice thing that worked) was stolen. Are you laughing yet? Brian and I just keep laughing. So we thought we were good, but needed to get an alignment before we left. I was just waiting for the guy to call and say there was something else wrong. Sure enough, he called and said we had to have something else done before the alignment could be done. So instead of $70 it cost $370! Oh, did you remember that Brian at this point has NO job? What can we do but laugh? So FINALLY we have everything set and we head out for UT. Brian calls me while we are driving through Green River, WY and tells me to turn around and come find him, the Tahoe has broken down. Yes, I am serious. It is either the transmission or the transfer case (whatever that is). So we were on the side of I-80 for almost 2 hours getting things arranged and situated so we could get to UT. I asked Brian what we were to learn from this Tahoe experience and he said he had learned to jump at a good thing when he sees it and not to wait anymore. So here we are in UT, "jumping", hoping and praying this whole business thing works out. In spite of all the trouble we have experienced over the past couple of months we continue to feel so blessed. What an amazing blessing that the Tahoe broke down close enough to UT that Brian's awesome brothers could (and were so willing) help us get the Tahoe to UT. Oh, I forgot! When they got to the Tahoe, it had a flat tire too! Too much! Just gotta laugh! We have amazing families and super friends who are so supportive and helpful. So we just laugh a lot, pray more, and feel grateful every day. Just be careful if you ever buy a vehicle on eBay--it could cost WAY more that you think! :)

News at our house

So we are moving. We are headed back to Utah after being away for 7 years. It is hard to believe, I honestly never thought it would happen, but here we go! I will try to be brief in my explanation of what has happened over the past few months...

Most of you know that when Brian took this most recent job, he worked in CA while we lived in NY for almost 9 months. Then we were in UT last summer and moved to TX in August last year. Even then, Brian was still doing the long distance commute until the plant here was built. In just under 2 years, he helped fix the plant in CA (they were so in love with him then), and got the plant here up and running and accomplished their 5 year plan is less than one. I would say pretty impressive. But Brian has been miserable for the past few months. His idea of management/leadership is far different than what he was experiencing from the top. When we left for UT in July, we really weren't sure what was going to happen when we got back. Brian had a meeting with his boss and they mutually agreed that it wasn't going to work out any longer. So Brian's last day of work was Aug. 14. They were good to us and gave us a decent severance package which makes things a little easier while we figure things out. We were really trying to make choices that would be best for our family and give Brian a chance to do some of the things he has wanted to do for years. We knew it was time to be closer to family, but weren't sure how it would all work out. A few weeks ago, Brian's brother called with a plan. He has wanted to open his own trailer/welding shop for some time, but lacked the business knowledge to do it. He is truly one of the best at what he does, but needed some help with the business. So Brian and I really thought and prayed about it. Honestly, it sounds like the craziest thing we could do, to just pack up and move like we are, but we feel great about it. Brian and Rick are such hard workers and if anyone can make this fly, they can. So for now, we are going to move into Brian's mom's house for at least a year. Kathi has been so supportive of her boys and is so willing to do anything to help make it happen. We are keeping all our options open at this point, but we are headed to South Jordan for now to help Rick get the shop up and going. I am so excited for Brian and just hope we can sell our house REALLY fast! :) So that is the "low down" on the Owens family. We are leaving in less than 2 weeks so the kids can start school out there. It is going to be a crazy few weeks, but we really are so excited about it all.