Gavin Running In Circles

One of the many ways Gavin entertains us.

Halloween has come and gone...

Since I had already dressed up this year I was not going to go through the trouble again. My mom always dresses up as a witch and tries to scare all the grandkids. This year she had some "witches blood" in a cauldron asking the kids if they'd like a drink. They were sufficiently freaked out. To top it off, my mom had blacked out a tooth and made some real looking moles on her face.



We went to two old folks homes, and in years past the kids got so much candy from these places that they didn't want or need to do any more door to door, or trunk or treats. Plus these places are out of the weather. The only thing is that the kids are a little more apprehensive since one of these places are not only for old folks but for people with all types of disabilities. So to put it bluntly, they look FREAKY SCARY. Kermit would NOT, I repeat NOT say trick or treat to these old, and sometimes physically and mentally challenged folks. I also think that the struggling economy has hit these places and when in the past the facility would have supplied the candy, I'm pretty sure that each family that participated was supplying the candy. We got there about a half an hour before it was over and at least half of the people were telling us that they were out of candy. So, I guess I'll just have my kids brave the weather and either do it trunk-or-treat style or the old school way and do it door to door next year.

One of the places had the coolest scary pictures on the walls.

Cousins Playing At The Park

You'd think with all of Kermit's boy cousins he'd have more boy cousins close to his age (current ration of boys to girls is 9 to 3), but no, it's girls on each side of his age. He does complain on occasion, but he also enjoys his older cousins. Kyler on the other hand doesn't mind playing with the girls. He plays so well with his cousin Cassidy. She's here in the stripped shirt and jean skirt.

Kermie, Cassidy, Alyssa, Logan, and Gavin.

Alyssa

Gavin

Gavin

Kyler and Ethan

This is my Kyler on the left and Cindy's Ethan on the right. Well, they almost look the same age. They practically wear the same size clothing and shoes, BUT they are one year apart. Weird, HUH!

Since Kyler is lacking in size he makes up for it in smarts. He is a bit shy so you may not notice this, but he is smart and can talk and form LONG sentences. I'll have to catch a few of them on video to show you, but he is our smarty pants. Today he told me the sweetest thing. He said, "Mom, you make me happy." Then after he brushed his teeth he said, "Mom, I make you happy." Then he was playing with Kermit's stuffed snake and he said, "Mom, I make snake happy."

Kyler and Ethan

USPS Update

I passed the driving test, drug test, background check, fingerprints, and medical survey, and then was notified when training would start. Training was 3 days in a training class learning all about USPS policies and procedures, then 2 days learning about driving policies, and then one final day on a driving range. During this training I had to pass one more written test and one more final driving test. On the driving range I was quite a wreck and was getting a bit worried that I wouldn't pass. I even crashed into one of the fake mailboxes on the course and knocked over at least one cone, and bumped another one. After I knocked into the fake mailbox one of the trainers said, "Deep breaths, take DEEP breaths". Whooo, so I did. He walked over to me after he put the mailbox back in place and said, "We'd rather you knock into the mailbox here on the course than on the route". That made me feel better. Well I did pass the driving test and have now driven twice through the whole route I'll be subbing for, but only once was totally alone. So if you happen to be in Centerville and see a Mail Woman driving around like she doesn't know where she is going...hehehe, that's me! I'm sure I'll learn the route soon, but I did have a few times where I was like, "Where is the next house on my route?"

Kermit's Kindergarten Pictures

Considering that I couldn't get him to smile at all when I took him to JC Penney Photography I think these turner out pretty good.

Here's Kermit's Kindergarten class. His teacher's name is Mrs. Lemmon. KJ and I ask Kermit if he likes a girl, or has a crush on a girl all the time. He always blushes and looks away, so we know he does. I can't divulge any names, because I pinkie swore 5 times that I wouldn't tell ANYONE the name of the girl he has a crush on that's in his class.

Spring Season is Over!

At the beginning of the soccer season they still had the sprinklers on, and they would turn on at about half way through the game. They would water the corners of the field we were on. If the boys were not playing at the time they would run over and start playing with the water. Well, Kermit went over and got his hair wet and created a mowhawk with his hair. Then we remembered that he was about to get his picture taken. We hurried and slicked it down, but couldn't help one little spot of "Alfalfa" poking up. Oh well!

The United States Postal Service

I haven't been blogging very much this summer. One of the biggest reasons is that I've been on the hunt looking for a job. With technology these days I've sent out dozens and DOZENS of resumes, but have only been on 2 interviews. After getting a couple of rejection emails, and one email in particular saying I was one out of 150 applicants I was feeling pretty bad about how poor my resume looked and had decided that I needed to get some current experience. So I'd gone to a temp agency that I have worked for previously and asked them for help. Jobs did start coming in, but because I'd have to pay for daycare I'd resolved to only accept a certain amount and wouldn't accept anything less than that. The jobs that were coming in were well below what I wanted to accept and they would often say they want someone today or tomorrow. At the time I didn't have a daycare interviewed and chosen so I could call at a minutes notice to say I'm bringing by my kids tomorrow. So I never took any of those temp jobs.

Then a few days into September I found a job posting through the USPS as a Rural Carrier in Centerville. It said the job would be working Saturday's, but they needed you to be flexible. But the pay, oh my goodness, they pay was almost double the minimum I was going to accept for other jobs. So I applied not expecting anything, but then got an email requesting my appearance at an "Informational Meeting". I showed up dressed in business attire and was surprised when I saw at least 3/4 of those who showed up were very casual. I was hoping that would show them that I was serious about wanting this position. That meeting was on a Thursday, and that very next day I got a call from the Centerville Postmaster asking me for an interview. I was excited and I told him so.

I dressed very professional for the interview, and he even commented that he liked how professional I was dressed. The interview went pretty well. I was totally prepared to answer all of the typical interview questions and he didn't ask a single one. He said my resume looked good. I almost wanted to ask and make sure he was looking at my resume. So most of the interview was spent me asking questions about the position, and then he took me to the back where the carriers case the mail to show me around. At the end of the interview I again said I was excited (almost like he told me he's giving me the job), and his response was, "well, it looks promising." Aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! That was it. I was almost positive I'd have the job, unless someone with experience doing this exact job was amongst the applicants.

He said it would be a couple days before he'd know who was going to get the job, so on the second day after the interview KJ called me just after 5 p.m. I hadn't noticed till then that it was after 5 p.m. I was sad when I realized that I hadn't gotten a call, but then had noticed that they kept using email for most of their correspondence, so I hurried and got on and there were 3 emails from the USPS. The first email I read said that I needed to submit a background check. I was like, Huh? Why would I need to do that unless I'd been given the job. The second email said, "Congratulations! We are giving you the JOB!!!" Not verbatim, but you get the gist. Woooooooooohoooooooooooo!!! I've been hired, and only after 2 interviews, yet dozens and DOZENS of submitted resumes. As a part time Rural Carrier I'm not eligible for benefits, but this position can eventually go full time and have that option. I love my kids to death, but I'm going to finally admit it...I'm a much better mom when I don't have to be around them 24/7.

So anyway, I have a job...WOOT, WOOT!!! Oh, but believe me, this is the government and they are putting me through the ringer (i.e. background check, fingerprints, drug test, medical survey, driving test) before I can even start training. Right now I'm waiting on the driving test results and they promised the results today and they never showed up...so I'm driving myself nuts worrying and wondering. I just need to keep the faith and thank my Heavenly Father for this wonderful opportunity at the chance for a wonderful career. I thought I'd have to go back to school to get this kind of salary, but to be handed this on a platter I am so, so, so, very thankful. Especially because I have just a small inkling of how many men and women are out there struggling to find a job.

Where's Kyler?

At what point does it change from, "I can't find my son/daughter" to "MY CHILD IS LOST!"? As parents we all hope to never get to that point. Well, we were just at our Elders Quorum BBQ Dinner with the kids. We had all enjoyed a great dinner of steak and salmon...mmmm, mmmmm good! The kids were all running around the playground, up and down the hill, and across the soccer field.

I was preoccupied with my 13 month old son who has started to walk and kept wanting to crawl across the cement instead of walking. I was also trying to make sure he stayed away from the grills that were still cooling down. I was watching KJ and a bunch of the guys play a yard game and noticed that Kermie and all the kids had ran to the corner of the field and then back to the pews we were all gathered around. When he and the others had returned I noticed that Kyler didn't appear to be with them. I started to casually look around.

I hate to be that mother who freeks at the slight disappearance of their children. He was no where in sight. We started checking on top of the hill, in every car in the parking lot, in the bathrooms, and quickly the word spread that a little blond haired boy wearing a red shirt and blue shorts was missing and his name was Kyler. I don't really know what type of persona I give off, but having one of my children abducted is one of my greatest fears. So of course it crossed my mind. As KJ and I were running all around the park checking every child on the playground two, three, and four times we kept looking back at each other to know that the other one hadn't fount him yet. My mind was wandering to that thought of someone taking him and me never seeing him again. KJ and some others had started screaming his name, but I was scared to. I felt that if I started screaming it that it was admitting that he was lost and that the possibility of not finding him would be slim (stupid I know).

That is when I knew I needed help from my Lord and Savior. I said a quick prayer that he would be safe and that we woud find him very soon. A few seconds later I remembered that I'd seen the kids walk down to the corner of the soccer field and that he might have got distracted by something or just gotten lost from the kids. I felt some hope after I'd prayed so I did start screaming his name. I was holding Gavin otherwise I would have run, but I walked to that corner of the field and continued onto the parking lot that was on that side.

All of a sudden a large truck pulled in, and low and behold Kyler was sitting on his lap. I'm sure I said something like, "oh, Kyler, Kyler...oh, thank you sir, thank you, thank you." The gentleman said, "I'm an FBI agent and I found him 2 blocks down in the middle of the road walking all by himself, and there are about a half dozen sexual predators in this neighborhood, so keep an eye on him." And I was like, "oh thank you, thank you so, so, so much!" Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewww...we immediately went home.

As I was walking back with Kyler and Gavin another thought went through my head and I admitted it to someone at the park who I didn't even know is that I get quite a few comments about Kyler they say, "I would love to steal Kyler and take him home for my own".

We are very happy to have such a sweet boy whom we love and don't ever want to loose again.

NEVER THOUGHT I'D DO IT!

I never thought I'd do it...but I'm going to make my blog private. It kind of bugs me to know that people from other countries are finding my blog, so if you don't get an email invite please email me.

Kindergarten HERE WE COME!

This is Kermie on his Orientation to Kindergarten Day. They had a fun scavenger hunt and at the end there was a treasure. They gave all the kids plastic hard hats to remember to be safe because there are construction workers working on the school while the kids are in class.

They told us to all smile for the camera because The Davis County Clipper was there to take a picture of our Orientation Day, so I looked up and looked from side to side and didn't see anyone with a camera. I thought that was weird, but then when I got on the Davis County Clipper website I was surprised to see the back of my head in the Davis County Clipper. I'm the one with reddish brown short hair. I'm wearing a brown T-shirt under a turquoise tank. Kermie is sitting next to me, but you can only see his arm.

Here is Kermie on his first day of school.

SOCCER TIME!!!

We've enrolled Kermie in Soccer! I'm really hoping he has a lot of fun with it. He is usually kind of shy the first time he meets people, but always comes around and is really friendly to everyone, unless they are mean to him, so....

I was quite surprised when I saw this little blond boy who's standing behind Kermie grab Kermie by the legs and pull them right out from under him. I sat there in shock. I looked around to see if any other parents had seen it. No, of course not. Only I, the parent who's child got hurt saw it. He picked himself up and started to cry, and said, "I don't want to play". By that time one of the coaches had noticed he was crying and came over and consoled him. I don't know if she found out what happened, but he soon stopped crying and was up to do a practice kick into the goal.

They even let Kermie do a corner kick when it went out of bounds.

When they finally let Kermie come have a break in the game he didn't even mention the mean little boy who made him fall down, so I think he'll be fine.

I LOVE LAGOON!!!

I don't think there are many people who love Lagoon as much as I do. I have so many good memories from going to Lagoon. To top it off my husband proposed to me on top of the Skycoaster. He tricked me into thinking he was as big of a roller-coaster junkie as I am. Anyway we haven't been for a while and I thought it was because we couldn't afford it, so when my sister Cindy told me she has a friend that can get us very, VERY cheep tickets I was like, "SIGN ME UP!" So we went and it was a blast, but I'd forgotten how different Lagoon is when you've got kids to tote around. I guess I've gotta stop being the selfish one and start letting my kids create the good memories. Whenever Kyler sees the pictures of him and Kermie at Lagoon he says, "rides". And I ask him if he had fun there, and he says and enthusiastic, "YES!"

Kyler and Kermie

Kyler and Kermie

Kyler and Kermie

Kyler and Kermie

Cousin Cassidy

The back of Cousin Cassidy's head

Gavin Is Starting To Walk!

This was actually one of the first times we caught Kyler on camera walking. Gavin has only walked a few steps a few times for us, but I thought it would be fun to post some of Kyler's first steps.

Gavin the STUD!

My sister Cindy gave Gavin this outfit for his birthday and I just have to say he is the cutest little stud ever! Thanks Cindy!!!

Gavin the Entertainer!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAVIN...he turned 1

Cassie and Kyler BFF

Kyler and his cousin Cassie are so cute together. It was getting late and so they were putting themselves to bed. I asked them to close their eyes and pretend they were asleep, but Kyler couldn't do it very well. He either had to force his eyes closed or make some weird cheesy smile.

Playing Firefighter

Gavin's Flop & Crawl

Yes, Gavin can actually crawl without flopping down. This was just a game that he played for about a week with a ball that we thought was so funny.

Climb Gavin Climb!!!

Gavin is now attempting to climb up everything. This little slide is a cinch, but he doesn't dare to go down it so he doesn't get to the top. He has almost climbed over the top of the couch a few times. If there is an little thing next to the couch he'll step on that to be able to get himself up onto it.

Reading Time with the Kids

I've been trying really hard to have reading time with my boys before they go to bed at night, and I think they're enjoying it too.

Kyler: "I DON'T WANT TO TAKE A NAP"

It's been a few months now since I've given up "making" Kyler take a nap, so instead he has started falling asleep in the most precarious positions. Here on top of the ottoman is one of the more funny ones.

Bambi's Gone

I woke up this morning to something disturbing outside my window...A baby deer had hung itself on the 4 ft fence between our place and the neighbors. It doesn't help that the mother of the baby deer was pawing and morning her baby when I found it. It actually all started the night before. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a night owl. KJ and I had watched a late movie and it was over about midnight, and I was still trying to unwind watching some HGTV when I herd something that I interpreted to be a mouse. Thing was the only time I'd heard a mouse that loud was when I'd caught one on one of those sticky traps. Ewww, I know. I even got up and looked out my window. I thought it was either outside the window or inside...ewwwwwwwwww!!! Well I'm pretty sure it wasn't a mouse. The next morning Kyler woke me up about 6 a.m. I always bring him into my room and he watches cartoons while I snooze and try to wake up. At about 6:20 a.m. I was hearing some scratching that sounded like it was coming from upstairs at my moms house. I kept thinking why is my mom babysitting Caleb (my nephew) so early in the morning and why is he whining and scratching at the door at the top of the stairs? After about 10 minutes of it going on I had had enough. I got up and opened my door and listened...no it wasn't coming from upstairs. It was coming from outside. I went over to my window and pulled up the blinds. I immediately jump back screaming from seeing a deer so close to my window. I obviously scared it. I knew I'd seen something behind it. So after I calmed down I went back to take another look. I'd scared the second deer away so I was able to see better what I thought I might have seen. There was a second deer stuck in between two fence posts. At this point I realized the deer was not moving. It took me a third look to realize how small this deer was. It was an infant. I was sad for a few hours. To add upon the sadness the neighbor and myself think this baby deer had to have been no more than about a month old. It still had it's spots. Bambi has died...boo hoo hoo! And what is with me having all these run ins with the animal world?

Bye, Bye, BIRDIE!!!

I was waiting for my daughter to be done with her dance lesson this morning and was sitting in the back seat watching a movie with my 2 yr old son. All of a sudden two birds flew through the open window. Needless to say I FREAKED OUT! Arms and legs were flailing. One of the birds flew through to the other window and out (that was luckily open), but one of the birds flew up to the front of the car. It only fluttered there for a few moments, and flew out the front window. I'm sure glad all 4 windows were down.

Welcome to Summer Break!

Summer break has officially been in swing for 2 weeks now, and the weather has not always cooperated. We've planned and canceled at least 2 camping trips. But good weather is in our future. We've bought a new 3 room tent that we are excited to use. Although Blue Rhino refuses to let their employees take any vacation days between Memorial Day and Labor Day they are making KJ work 4 days/week. That means he'll usually work 4 12's and will even throw in a couple 14 hours days.

Kisha just finished up a session of swimming lessons. I threw her in Level 4 even though she hasn't had lessons since she was about 6 years old. She did really well, and learned all the different types of strokes. They even tried to teach her a little bit of diving. She's still doing belly flops and will need to practice a bit before I'll put her in Level 5 which is all diving. Kermie starts his session of swimming lessons on Monday and is very excited and is counting down the days till he starts.

Kisha is also taking dance lessons. I put her in a class they call Summer Camp which means she gets to learn 6 different types of dance. She goes 2 days/week and learns jazz, ballet, and hip hop on the first day, and tap, cheer, and tumbling on the second day. Well, apparently she's the only one her age that signed up, so she gets to have one on one lessons. She thinks it's kind of cool.

We have made it to the pool on a few occasions. We have both my mom's pool, and the South Davis Rec. Center. We bought the family membership to the SDRC so KJ can do lap swimming for exercise, and they have an indoor pool so we can swim year round. It also has a slide (which so far only Kisha and Kermie have gone down it).

Tristan turns 12!

Ward Campout Dinner