Homesick

I hooked up one of our old computers and found a bunch of pictures that didn't transfer when we moved all of our stuff over. It made me homesick...for a home. Our own home. This summer and past 9 months have been much better than we expected, but I miss gatherings like this...

And my kids riding down the streets like this...

And these guys hanging out together....

and parties like these....

and this one.....
There is just something great about neighbors that can come out at any time. Visit, hang out, always knowing there will be some kind of block (or in our case, street) party going on, especially at the holidays. I miss the girls night in, and the buckets of kids.

Like I said I miss all those things, A LOT! But this summer hasn't been all bad, in fact it's been quite nice thanks to some awesome kids (and their mom's) who live just around the corner and have kept us all entertained from dusk 'till dawn. Who have provided us with playmates on the holidays and not holidays. Life has been in fact...good. I just miss the old. So much is changing and will keep changing. Many of those fun friends don't even live on that street any more. But they are still good friends to us.

Todd has an interview on Sept. 13th with a company call American Eagle. We are really praying hard for this one to work out. It pays better than Colgan and would probably put us in a much better location than Colgan. If things work out than it will for sure mean change by Jan. But, one step at a time.

Ok, time for me to stop reminiscing, the kids will be home soon and it will be time for homework and after school chores...something that I am sure will never change no matter where will live or what new friends we have made.

A list.

The boys are back in school now. The house is pretty quiet. Things stay clean. The boys like their teachers and are excited for math (who knew) and I'm happy. So who knew you could get SO many things done during the day when your not checking on 10 other kids...not that I have that many but when you combine all the neighbor kids...Well here's a list of things I have managed to accomplish in the past 4 days since school began.

-cleaned the house by 9:30 am every morning

-all the laundry caught up, and staying that way for 2 days now

-cleaned and organized 2 filing cabinets

-organized and cleaned entertainment center

-cleaned and organized white cupboard

-clean and organized 1 desk

-tried out a new store. Winco- results good.

-gone grocery shoping 2x's. Each trip taking less than 45 min. Nice.

-helped with homework

-got 4 parties with Pampered Chef set up

-dealt with one sick kid

-2 dr appointments. just check ups for Tobyns preschool

-answered "are my brothers home yet?" about 500 x's

- watch a few episodes of my new favorite show, Bones.

-cleaned the bathroom (deep clean, not just normal wipe down) 2x's

-organized my room

-washed sheets

-organized movies

-cut hair

-cleaned kids room

-gone for a run 3x's. One of those might have been combine with a really good walk ;-)

-gone swimming

-gone on a date with my hubby

-updated the blog a few times

and this list doesn't include all the normal day to day stuff, fixing lunch, dinner and breakfast, getting kids ready for school, me ready for the day, ect. Man, I will have one clean house in a few weeks. The time is nice though. I miss the kids a little , but it is SO nice to have things in a good routine again. I am working on some hobbies to fill my time so I can have my time also. I am sad to see summer go, but excited for the things school brings.

Swimming

Last week Connie promised the boys that they would go swimming with some friends as the last sha-bang before school started again. The day the went the weather did cooperate and there were thunderstorms all over so the pool was closed. They were supposed to go with the Hessing family.

It got moved to last Saturday and I got roped into going. I like swimming, but I like to go swimming when there is a cliff to jump off, rope swing to swing off, old boat house to ride a bike off (ah...the good old days), bridges and trees to jump out of, and boats or other fun things to ride in the water.

Getting to the point, our boys are fish and love to go to the pool. I don't really like the pool. While we were there, TC and Titus and their friends were over at the diving board, so I went over to see what was going on. I got challenged to dive off because some other old guy had just done it. So I did.

They were all blown away that I could do a swan dive. Next I tried to talk the boys into doing a flip. they all backed down with embarrassed "No's," and "I can't, I'll land on my back." Needless to say, they all got shown up by the old man...yep...I still got it. ;-)

Tate came to me not to long after that and was pretty upset about not being able to swim yet. He was embarrassed because he didn't want people to make fun of him for the fact that Tobyn was better at swimming then he was. He really wanted to go of the diving board like his brothers.

We spent a good half hour practicing how to swim to the surface once he jumped of the side. By this time he was getting really good and Tobyn showed up and wanted to go off the diving board too. They both practiced some more and got to the point that they could jump in the water, swim to the top, then swim 4-5 feet to the side without help from dad.

Now the both though they were ready for the big, bad low-dive. I talked to the lifeguard and got permission to be in the water to help to the side after they jumped in. They were both ecstatic with the news that they would get to go off the diving board. Tobyn was up first (only because he couldn't hold back the excitement and butted about 5 people.)

He climbs up the steps bouncing with joy, yelling at the girl that just went off to hurry so he could go. He comes strutting out to were the rail ends and stops, fear stricken and panicked. I tell him that he has to jump off the end and I'll help him swim to the side when he come back up. He gives me the look of death and turns around and gets off. Tate is now not sure what to think, Tobyn, fearless little brother Tobyn just came running back. He walks out the were the rail ends, same look as Tobyn and asks if he can jump into my arms? I told him he couldn't, that he'd have to jump off the end.

Unfortunately the line was building up behind him, and he decided not to jump. If the line wasn't so big I could have talked him into going off. They didn't get to go off the diving board, I don't think they were to bummed, but I loved spending the time with both of them practicing and would go every time to the pool if it helped them build their confidence levels.

First Day of School!

Happy First Day of School boys!

TC- 5th grade, Titus 4th and Tate 2nd

*picture was taken on my phone...really hope Todd gets a good idea to get me a DECENT camera for my bday...just hoping that's all...

Biesinger Family

This is a big part (several couldn't make it) of the Biesinger family. Thanks Julie for taking such a great picture of us. I'm so glad to be a part of a great family like this!

School starting soon...

So school will be starting in 3 days. As sad as I am that "summer" is coming to an end, that our relaxed days of staying up late and sleeping in are a thing of the past...until weekends. I am a little sad that my days won't be full of kids running in and out of the house, bbq's and other such sounds of summer.

However, I am a little exited that my house will stay clean for a little longer than 5 min at a time, that routine will once again come into play, and that I will have some spare time for me. A little time for quiet. Time to focus on my new project of Pampered Chef and some crafting projects I have wanted to work on. All these things sound wonderful.

It is also a time for a little frustration that nothing, as far as the job front goes, has changed. For only wanting to be here 6 months, it's been almost a year. We were hoping that Todd would have a job by now and we would know where were headed and getting ready to settle down and plant some roots.

*sigh* but we are where we are and are trying to enjoy the journey. Finding pleasure in the little things, like school starting and a little peace and quiet for a few hours a day....

Happy Birthday Titus!

Titus turned 9 on Aug. 5th! It was a quiet birthday. This year is an odd year, so we just had his favorite breakfast, Pancakes, while he opened some presents.....

Went to Grandma Christensen's and celebrated with the aunts and uncles....It was all about Legos this year! He got 3 lego sets and a Bionical, oh...and money!

We also went to Jump on It and the boys played till their energy was spent!

To end the day we went to a good bye party for our friends the Lara's, from our old neighborhood. It was fun to see everyone and I think Titus enjoyed playing with some old friends.

I say it all the time and mean it, we are so happy to have Titus as part of our family. He is a fun kid and trys to keep the peace (a lot of the time) with his brothers. Love you Titus!

A new adventure...

I have started a new adventure! I am now a Pampered Chef consultant! I wanted a hobby and a way to make a little extra money. I also love to cook and love Pampered Chef products. So why not? I think it will be a lot of fun!

I would LOVE to do a show for you and your friends. They are a lot of fun and you get free stuff. Send me an email if your interested in hosting a show!

Hair Cuts!

Nows the time for school to be starting and kids need hair cuts! If you or your kids need hair cuts, I am more than happy to help out. I will come to you so your kids can play while they wait to get their hair done. Give me a call or email me. I've got times open from now 'till school starting!

$5 for boys

$7 for girls

Thanks!

A few thoughts...

I want to just reminisce about the past couple of week and put in a couple of random thoughts. Two weeks ago we went camping with some of my family on my mom’s side. I like hanging out with that side of the family, they know how to have a good time.

My uncles took me and three of the boys fishing. I never really learned how to fish from my dad, what I do know, which is not a lot, I learned on my own. We never really did that kind of stuff growing up. My dad worked really hard to put food on our table and a roof over our head.

While in school I noticed that I was headed down the same path of always working, going to school, doing homework. I didn’t want to be like that, to be gone all the time, never spend dad and son time together. Don’t get me wrong; I love my dad so much. He taught me how to be a hard worker, how to fix things, how to pickup rocks that grew in our back yard ;-). I learned from him the kind of man and father I want to be.

Okay, back to the fishing. Titus, Tate, and Tobyn had a blast fishing, and I did too. I don’t really like to eat fish, but I would like to get into fishing and hiking and camping with the boys to build that father son relationship to be even stronger.

I love being a dad! On this same trip we went to some lake called “Joes Lake” and was proud of my brother Nic for jumping, cause he doesn’t like heights since he fell on the garage when he was little. TC went with us and I had to drag him off the first rock that was about 6-7’ high. Then I talked him to jump off the 10’ rock by himself. Then I had to bribe/drag him off the 20’ rock, and when he came out of the water he said, “That was awesome! But I let go of my lifejacket and it hit me in the face.” I tried to get him to do it again, but he was done.

This last weekend we went to the Biesinger reunion, we were at Heber Valley Camp that the church owns were we did some challenge courses. One of courses was a big net ladder, followed by a 2x4 horizontal ladder, ending with a zip line. I was so proud of Connie for over coming her fear of heights and go on this thing, she was even the first one! Titus went next and he was a little monkey. Tate was to short so he was kinda bummed. TC tried too, but his fear of heights got the better of him.

I had to talk him into letting go of the rope ladder to hold onto the harness rope. He was deathly afraid to do it. It took a little coxing to get him to do it, but in the end he finally trusted his dad and let go of the rope.

I have been thinking about that experience and how it is like the relationship I have with heavenly father. Ever since I started school I have been coxed to let go of the rope and trust that everything will be all right. Now that I’m done with school and looking for a job, I have the same coxing feeling to just trust and have faith and things will work out, so that is what I have trying to do even when I’m scared to death to let go.

Reunion part 2

So after breakfast, skits, and pictures, but before lunch and the lake, we went and did some confidence courses. They were a ton of fun! The pictures are a little out of order. We first went to one where there was wire hooked from tree to tree and we had to cross on the wire without touching the ground. It took a little while and we had to try a few times with tips from the worker but we made it.

Next we did the zip line. Then we gathered around a rope that hung down from two trees. We had to pretend that we were on a sinking ship and we had to cross acidic, shark filled water to get to an island for safety. The island was a door mat, and we all had to fit. It was a lot of also. The big men in our group caught the ones who came across and only a few of us lost our feet :-)

This was the zip line. You can sort of see the ladder on the left side of the pic. It was a rope ladder that you had to climb up then walk across the boards and meet the girl waiting for you. Then she clipped you onto the zip line and down you go. Here's a tip about me I am SUPPER afraid of heights. Not pass out or throw up afraid, but huddle up in a corner and cry my eyes out for my mommy kind, I almost did just that. I was so slow going up. They all kept asking if it was hard to climb the ladder and I said not physically, but about 3/4 of the way up I started shaking, big time. I didn't stop until I got to the bottom.

Not the most graceful picture of me. The girl asked if I want to sit on my bum and slide off the edge to go down I said "no, I am going to just jump off, but give me a minute" then I closed my eyes took a big breath and jumped. I was so glad when my feet touched the ground. But I did it. This was a HUGE thing for me to do!
Titus went down a few minutes after me..well up, then down... and he did awesome! He scaled right up walked across and went down. He probably did it in half the time I did.
Todd went down, but I didn't get a picture as always he was nothing but brave and he said he had a lot of fun. TC climbed up the ladder and he did awesome also! He caved about 3/4 the way up the ladder and couldn't do it anymore. He was scared to death! I kept looking at him thinking that's how my face must have looked. He cried when I wanted to! We tried encouraging him to go up the rest of the way, but fear won out. I do NOT look down on him for doing that at all! I can remember doing the same thing when I was younger. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't do it. The workers tried to get him to let go of the ladder, put his hands on the knot in front of him which was on the rope that he was hooked to to be lowered down. He wouldn't do it. That ladder was his safety. Then Uncle Jim tried to coax him down. TC almost did it for him, he wanted to trust him so bad, I could see it in his face. He would let go of the ladder with one hand, think about it, then grab back on to the ladder. One of my cousins called Todd over (who was down helping at the ladder that got people off the zip line) and he came up. Todd looked TC right in the eyes and told him that he had to trust dad, and to let go of the ladder hang on to the rope and he would be safely let down. TC did it. He kept his eye on dad and he did it.

I will admit I was crying. I cried when TC did, for him. I ached that I couldn't go up there hang onto my baby and carry him to safety. If there was a lesson learned that day it was that I had to let him do something on his own. I couldn't rescue him, but with the right guidance he was able to come down. That is life and there is so much meaning in it for me.

This was another part of the day that I really enjoyed and will remember for a long time.

Biesinger Reunion

This weekend July 30th and 31st was the Biesinger reunion. We all love going to this reunion. I love getting together with my dad's side of the family. This year we tried something new. We went to Heber Valley Camp. It is Church owned and BEAUTIFUL! We stayed in cabins with beds (had to bring our own bedding), had flushing toilets (that were clean and nice), we even had a nice pavilion with food prep area. There were dear, squirrels, chipmunks, and pot-guts all over the place. It was a really nice place to stay and I am sure we will go back.

I thought this picture of Tobyn was hilarious.

We drove up Friday night, but that was mostly to unload our gear. We had a little while to look around then we went to my cousins wedding reception (he is also a Biesinger). The next morning we had a yummy breakfast, and headed to the amphitheater to get a big family picture and do some skits.

We split off into groups, and we had to use 5 props from our cabin. We had about 5 min to come up with something and the theme was American Idol. It was a BLAST! Our group which included most of the kids, Anna, Todd and I. We were the CAT's and the Kiddo's. Todd started ours by being Ryan Request, the the "CAT's" performed, and we ended with us being the "judge's" of our performance. I really had a lot of fun doing this and everyone saw a side of Todd they didn't know existed (but I did).

Here's Anna coughing a good fur-ball during the performance...

Mom doing the spot light...the kiddo's doing back up band.

Gerald and Marlene's group...

Lori and Chris's group

We ended the day at the lake for some canoeing and paddle (peddle?) boating. You can't get in the water, but it sure was pretty and we were so tired from the day's activities that it was relaxing. It started to sprinkle a little but that didn't stop us.

Grandma B, TC, and Ellie (sorry if I spelled it wrong)

Dad, Tobyn and Tanner

Tate and Titus. Got to paddle around in the boat all on their own.

There's more....but as always I need to wait for the pictures....