FIFTEEN!

The best three days of my life are...
1. My Wedding Day.
2. The Birth Days of my children (it's a 4 way tie).
3. The day I won a game show (some day I'll put it on YouTube).

Yes...it was our 15 year anniversary this week (feels kind of strange!), and my wedding day will always be number one. The most spiritual and in love high. Russ and I were in such la la land though that we were in our own world. We honestly had no idea what was going on around us because we were in the clouds. We drove everyone crazy. But the Spirit was so very strong bearing witness that we were making the right choice. We were charting the course for the rest of eternity with endless hopes and dreams and possibilities ahead.

And 15 years later, I am still happy to say that I know why it was the best day of my life! Russ is amazing and we are a great match. My weaknesses his strengths and his mine. He loves me just the way I am. He has never criticized me once ever (and there is a lot he could!). I catch him staring at me all the time and he tells me how beautiful I am. This always makes me blush. He opens doors for me. He holds my hand. In crowds he always puts his hand on the small of my back to keep me close. He always calls during the day just to say hi and that he loves me. He supports me in all I do and lets me spend what ever I want. And his body, geesh. He is only getting hotter with age. He always wants to do what is right. He is a man of perfect integrity. But best of all, I love laughing with him. Laugh laugh laugh. I could do that all day!

So Happy 15th to us and may the next 15 be just as great but with many more laugh lines added to our faces! Thank you for loving me.

Houston, I Have a Problem...

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My problem is...why are you SO far away from family? Would my kids ever play outside? The guy on the plane said it was too hot in the summer even to swim. What???! Would we have LDS friends on our street or neighborhood? Would my kids have many choices of friends with their same standards???

The other problem is...the food is so good, you have no choice but to dress up like this and gain 5 pounds a month. And the shopping is amazing. I'm sure the wallet would need a padlock.

The problem is...it is so beautifully green and lush, but I never saw any children playing outside?!!!

Not a problem, flowers year round like this.

A big problem... my hubby would have to live on the freeways in traffic up to 2 hours each day.
Another problem...I would miss my hills and mountains. It's flat flat flat. But the wildflowers can make up for that.

Why aren't the kids swimming? It was such a beautiful day!

The BMC campus. Houston reminded me of a cross between LA and Florida. The dozens of 12 lane freeways and speghetti bowls that stretched for hours and hours was like LA. But it felt bigger than LA because it's more spread out and no hills or mountains to chop it up. And there were clusters of skyscrapers scattered everywhere! Not just downtown.

I'd miss the lakes, but maybe the beach would make up for it! The sand was soft like silk about 40 yards from the shore, but hard and compact when wet.

Another problem...Russ wouldn't get in the water because there were dozens of jellyfish all over the beach. People were still swimming. Hopefully that is seasonal. I liked that the water was warmer than LA beaches!

The wildflowers at the beach were GORGE!

The houses were huge. But the problem was they were smashed together with NO yards!!! I had to take a picture in this neighborhood because I was shocked to see such a huge yard. Of course, they were pricey.

The grass in Houston is like crab grass but hard and crunchy. Nothing I've ever seen before! It was really gross.

Overall, the Houston trip was awesome. The people are amazingly nice. I do think we have a better quality of life here. But if Russ' boss (who took us to dinner and was just the nicest ever!) wants us to move in 3 months, we'll make it work.

Russ is very excited. Loves his new job so far. Loves his boss. Is so positive even though the vertical learning curve of a new and very technical industry makes my head hurt!

What kind of Mom...

makes a birthday cake out of carefully arranged Debbie Cakes? (When Ava saw it she screamed so high..."That's A-MAY-ZIIIIN!!!!!!!!"!)

The same Mom who stuck some matches in a push pop for a "birthday cake". (Sometimes you just get really busy.)

Also the same Mom who sent her child to school like this.
(Yes, that is her big toe wearing a red sock and from now on she is riding the plasma car in her bare feet!)

A 180 and Spring Break Part 1

Alyssa and Me at her Writer's Celebration and Before the Craziness Began

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First, the 180. We were moving to Houston. We spent 3 days getting the house ready to show. Organized every closet and drawer...my pantry even looked like something from a magazine. I SO do not live this way, so it was exhausting getting it this way. Little sleep. No time to sit down for a break. Sarah was my hero! And she earned herself a new dress for her selfless help. However, my theory that you can have happy kids or a clean house but not both was validated. Kids need their mom more than a closet does! Somehow after all this work we still had to "rescue clean" (my sister's term for throw everything you see in a box) the girl's room and my office because we only had 30 minutes left until the realtor came to discuss listing our house.

Right after the realtor leaves, Russ gets a phone call from the new boss saying he can stay in Spokane for 90 days and then they'll decide if he can stay here for good or needs to move. Then a potential buyer knocks on the door and would like to discuss making an offer on the house! All within a few minutes of each other! Can it get any crazier?!

Surprisingly, the kids and I all felt a little let down that we were no longer moving. What in the heck??? Well, we had pumped up the move so much! Even though we had wanted Spokane all along, really. I'll be flying out to Houston in 2 weeks to check things out anyway. I can't imagine staying here being good for Russ' career in the long term. We've already been laid off twice for living here in paradise.

Now to Spring Break...

Russ took Alyssa boarding. Awww. This TOTALLY made up for all those naps he took during our cleaning spree. Alyssa did awesome and speeds down that mountain straight down! Then crashes and repeats.

At Mom and Dad's, Mom had to work a night shift so just Dad and I stayed up until 1 am talking. Talk, smile, talk, laugh, hearts beaming. I love Mom and Dad so much...my best friends. Dad and I shared all sorts of stories about growing up including stories about how we are confident God wanted us to live because we came so close to death (the time I spun out on the freeway going 80 miles per hour, the time he almost got kidnapped, his car accident, etc.).

Then the next day on our walk, Ava almost died in this very spot. Beyond that bar is a steep cliff. It all happened in a millisecond and I was RIGHT there. A dog jumped up on her pinning her to this bar and if she was one foot over she would have fallen straight through! I'm so glad it was not her time to go!!!! It may have been the scariest moment of my life, but I feel overwhelmingly grateful and thank Heavenly Father that she is safe and sound and I can enjoy her long life to come!!!

Alyssa gathered sticks.

And our house stayed clean!

Do I Have To?

My Home

Do I HAVE to make a new post? If I do the picture of my stick-straight new hair cut will no longer greet me as I pull up my blog. And it is very fitting now that I have to kiss my straight hair goodbye! We're officially moving to the suburbs of west Houston, and the humidity will force me to have big crazy afro hair.

Russ accepted a job offer with BMC Software. A total career change. A huge leap of faith. Leaving my family, the trees, the lakes, the rivers, friends like family, a dreamy neighborhood and everything we love and cherish. What in the heck are we doing?????? I could kick myself in the bum.


I have been in such a state of gratitude for SO SO many years now. I could live and die with my dated kitchen with the teapot backsplash. I am just so grateful for it. I love my home. I need nothing more. I was planning on raising my family here.

Today I have mentally checked out. Already downed a huge bag of popcorn staring off into space and took an accidental nap on the couch with 8 children swirling all around me. I've never done that before! I've got to get with the program because my to do list is so long I wonder if it is achievable. Mom and Dad have helped so much...they have saved me!!!!

For now, I will choose not to think about it because denial is a great way to keep back the tears.

WHAT'S NEW...

A NEW 'DO

I got my annual haircut. Yes...once a year.

Chad: "Wow, Mom! You look like a supermodel. You look like Brittany Spears. Wait, is she pretty? Well, what I'm trying to say is you look stunning."

Alyssa: "Mom, I NNNNEEEEVER thought I'd say this, but you look hot."

A NEW BOOTY.

A NEW TEENAGER! Went boarding for his birthday and got...

A NEW AIRSOFT GUN.

There is nothing soft or airy about it! This thing can do some serious damage. He is happy to now be a winning competitor in the airsoft wars in the fields by the house. 8 guys from church played for 4 hours last weekend. They are having the best childhood running through the forest!

A NEW RANK

He planned the whole court of honor where he received the Star scout rank! I love when the boys have to pin the rank pin on the moms. It reminds me of prom or something!

A NEW ITEM ON MY TO DO LIST

Russ totally upset: "Why did you throw the rock at the window?!"

Ava feeling justified: "I thought I could throw it OVER the house."

A NEW PROUD MOMMY MOMENT
Alyssa's school worksheet: "What would you do with one hundred dollars?"
Her answer: "I'd give it to my sister, Sarah, so she could buy a new bike."
Made my day.
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A NEW JOB OFFER.
Coming soon...
Can't think about it or it makes me cry. We love it here.

My Husband is Great

I know, I know. Everyone that knows Russ, knows this. But I just am so grateful for him lately. He loves to take the kids snowboarding. I mean, how cool is that? He and Sarah both went for FREE this week! 6 hours of memories with your Dad...very cool.

As I type, he is reading scriptures to the kids. The discussions are always interesting. Chad is devastated to learn that there will be work in Heaven and not a bunch of video games. And in learning about the spirit of discernment, Chad was sure that the bishop would know if Chad wanted a Krispy Kreme donut or not. And when the topic of polygamy came up, Sarah felt incredibly jipped that women didn't get lots of husbands. Anyway, so scripture study has ended, and now he's reading a book to Sarah like he does every night. I don't know how his voice doesn't get worn out!

I was totally flattered when he asked me out on a date Saturday night. Just the way he asked made me feel like a school girl being asked out by her crush. He always makes me feel beautiful and desired. We went to his favorite place with all you can eat freshly grilled made to order steak. He's known to down 5 steaks in one sitting!

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He was invited to be the speaker at the Families for Conservative Change meeting this week. I heard he rocked it. He's SO well read. Always reading. Loves the founding fathers. Loves The US Constitution. People said he should get into politics, but he'd rather teach US History and coach basketball. However, his wife wants him to make more money than that pays. Poor guy! Some day.

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He also can restore order to a wild and crazy home. My house is very loud. The kids are wild and crazy. They fight, they play, they whine, they laugh, they scream, stuff is flying everywhere. When he woke up from his nap today, the kids immediately started behaving and peace was restored. He's magic! Or just firm and consistent. Russ can save the day.

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And I can't forget to mention his eye-candyness. All of that weight lifting has done a body good!