Lemonade

Yesterday I went to pick up Andrew from school and it started to rain.  Spencer had stayed home sick, so it was just Andrew I needed to get.  Neal was home so the younger boys were with him.  As I got closer to the school the rain got harder.  I parked and started walking up to the school.  At this school they release the kids when the bell rings and they all come running out.  The parents are all standing around waiting, then we walk back to cars or to houses close by.  It is a little different to not have an organized pick up like we had in Texas. I was about half way to the school when the hail started.  I was frustrated and walked as fast as I could.  With other parents we just walked into the school to get out of the hail and rain.  It was crazy inside.  The kids thought it was fun and the parents were wet and some mad.  I found Andrew and we waited for the hail to stop and the rain to slow down.  Then we got out to the car.  I was soaked through.  Our feet were wet and cold from going through large puddles.  I felt like crying.  After we were home and dried off I had a song come to my mind.  "Lemonade" by Alex Boye.  I posted a link to Facebook if you want to hear it.  I feel like my week has gone like that.  I need to remember that when life gives me lemons I need to make lemonade.

Last Tuesday Neal went to work worried about what would happen.  That evening I took the kids to the church to watch Andrew do a Cub Scout boat race.  He had fun with it.  Wednesday morning we got going like normal.  Neal told me that he would be home soon and he was.  The company laid off many people that day.  He was home before noon.  I have gone through many emotions since then.  I feel frustrated that we moved our family up here only to not have the job work out.  The kids are so happy here with their schools and new friends.  Now we are uncertain where we will go from here.

Andrew is on the right

They let the younger boys try the boats, Spencer raced Andrew.

Wednesday evening we were able to go out to dinner with a group of engineers from work.  It was a good thing for those who were laid off to talk and console each other.  It was a nice evening.  

I am trying hard to keep things going smoothly for the kids and help them to feel secure.  They have been worried.  I reminded them that we have followed what president Monson talked about in the September Ensign, to be prepared.  We have food, we have money, we have a place to live and most important we have each other.

I had fun with Caleb and friends at the park.  Ruth and Andrew had fun playing with friends after school one day.  Then Friday evening Andrew went to a birthday party for a friend.  He had lots of fun.  It was at Boondocks, they did bowling and laser tag.  Saturday we went to the library to see a display of Lego trains.  It was a fun set up.  

Saturday evening Ruth and I went to the church to watch the general women's meeting.  I enjoyed the meeting and the messages given.  There was a lot said about temples.  On Friday Neal and I were able to go to the Denver temple.  It was a peaceful time there.  

Sunday I was given a calling.  I will be serving in the nursery.  I haven't done that since Ruth was small and I was pregnant with Andrew.  That was hard for me and I hope that this time in nursery will go better.  I will miss being in relief society but look forward to serving the young children and getting to know the ladies I will serve with.

I appreciate the kindness of so many in the ward.  I feel the love of my Savior in all this.  This is a time for growth.  Neal is working on applying for jobs and we will see what happens.  I will try hard to keep a positive outlook and know that all will be well.  

I was able to paint Ruth's chair this week.  It turned out nice.  She is pleased to have a chair in her room now.  It took lots of paint to cover up the dark color that was under the ivory paint, where the ivory had chipped off.  I think I did six layers of white.  Then I was out of paint, so it will have to do.  I can still see a few spots that have the dark color showing.  This week I need to work on sewing projects.  Sunday Caleb tripped and fell and tore his church pants.  I have a pair the next size up but they are too long.  I think I will just re hem them.

before I did anything to the chair

after I painted it

I enjoy Caleb's chatter.  He comes up with some funny things.  Yesterday after the storm the air was cool and he wondered if it was going to be cold "like eating ice cream, in the winter, in Alaska."  He is a joy to have around, so are the other kids.  Spencer was feeling great today and went to school.  Ruth is enjoying learning how to play the clarinet.  Life is good and we have so much to be thankful for.  It is different to have Neal home during the day.  But I have faith that we will be blessed with what our family needs to grow.  

I love you all.  Maybe I should go and drink some lemonade.

The Path of Life

I think Friday is a hard day to write my letter.  I thought I could do it Sunday, but everyone else wanted to use the computer.   I figure my computer time needs to be on a week day, since the others are gone during the day.  So here I am on Monday.  I will see if this works.  Monday often is a busy day with laundry and getting things going for the week. Today is being a quieter morning.

Saturday the 13^th Neal took the older three kids fishing.  They walked to a fishing pond they discovered about 1 1/4 mile from home.  They got an early start and had fun trying out the fishing poles again.  They caught a few small fish this time, but let all them go except the biggest one, caught by Ruth.  Caleb and I had a quiet morning that day.  We walked out to the fishing pond but couldn’t see the family and walked home.  They said they had gone around to the other side and I guess I just missed seeing them.  It was a pretty area.

Saturday the 20^th we all went to the Broomfield City Day Parade and activities.  It was fun to go and see a parade.  The bands were good and there were many who where giving out candy.  I had been warned about that so we had bags for the kids to gather things.  I was surprised at how much they brought home.  We had fun walking through the car show and watching some of the dog competition swimming and running.  We were eating our lunch by an area doing activities for kids.  We got involved in a water balloon toss.  I was Spencer’s partner and Ruth and Andrew were together.  It was a fun event.  As we wandered we found another area that had stilts to try.  Everyone enjoyed that.  The last thing we watched was a rocket race car start up the engine.  The fire balls were huge and it was a good thing they were aimed upward.  I thought we had a great day.  We had told the kids we were going to go and not spend any money.  I am glad that we found so much to do that didn’t cost any thing. I just know with a family of six spending money on things adds up too quickly.  Afterwards I took Ruth and Andrew to Cold Stone for ice cream.  They had earned that with their piano lessons.

Besides having two very busy Saturday’s we had fun during the week.  Caleb and I enjoyed walking to parks.  We met friends at the park too.  One morning we did visiting teaching at the park.  Tuesday we went to the library.  Caleb really enjoys the library story time.  

We were able to feed the missionaries this week.  When I signed up to feed them slots were already taken and I ended up feeding both the Elders and Sisters in the same week.  The Elders came on Tuesday.  Then the Sisters came on Friday.  We enjoyed having missionaries come to our home again.  

We have a high window in our family room that I wanted to put curtains on.  There was a rod already in place, but no curtain.  I was able to find a sheer curtain on line that would work.  I did have to trim and re-hem the side window curtains because they are so narrow. I choose a sheer fabric to let light still come in, but not have direct sunlight coming in on our pictures and electronics.  I borrowed a ladder from a ward member and hung the curtains up myself.  It was a bit scary because I don’t like ladders or heights.  But I did it.  It felt good to get it done.

Friday Caleb and I went to Neal’s work for their ice cream Friday.  It was fun to go see Neal at work.  This last week has been stressful for work.  On Tuesday NASA announced who they were going to continue to fund to build space planes/transports.  Neal’s company did not get funding.  They were ramping up and getting ready to work on their Dream Chaser space plane and had hired many new people this summer to be ready to get the work done, when the funding came in the fall.  Neal being one that was hired to work on this program.  Now we are waiting to hear what happens, since they don’t have the funding.  Neal said they are seeking alternate forms of funding, but right now we are in a holding time, wondering if Neal’s job will last.  It has been a bit hard.  We felt so right about coming here and now this.  I guess we will see what this week brings.

Yesterday in Relief Society I was really touched by the teacher inviting the Sun Beam class to come in and sing “I am a Child of God.”  Caleb came in with his class, very reverent, folding his arms.  Then he saw me and smiled so big and said “there is my mommy.”  Then after singing he waved and said “bye mama.”  It was so sweet.  I am so thankful my children are happy and enjoying being here.  That has been such a big blessing to see them so content to be in this new place.  They have all made friends so easily.  We have enjoyed having the neighborhood boys come over to play too.  I guess we will see how long we stay here.  Maybe it is just a step in the direction that Heavenly Father has planned for us.

Neal worked hard to get all the weeds pulled.  I thought these stepping stones were pretty.  I find it interesting that there are rocks around the perimeter of the yard.  The kids have enjoyed playing outside more, now that the yard isn't covered in weeds. 

Happy Kids

I am surprised at how quickly weeks go by.  Neal has been working hard in our yard to get all the weeds pulled.  That is nice he can do that.  Today is his day off and he is working at getting our cars registered in Colorado.  That will be different to give up my Texas plates.  Some days that is how I can tell what vehicle is mine in the parking lot.

Monday evening Andrew did a family night lesson on emergency preparedness.  He had made a map of the house, with Neal’s help, and plans for escape in case of a fire.  He did a good job and we had a good discussion.  Then we did a practice.  It went well until we were coming back into the house and Spencer was crying.  He was too upset thinking about what might happen if it was real.  He is so tender hearted.  

Spencer has had a lot of fun with his friend across the street.  They have been together a lot this week.  He loves going to school each day too.  This week his regular teacher started.  He had a substitute for the first two weeks because the regular teacher was finishing up a maternity leave time.  So it has been a transition for Spencer.  He really liked the sub and now he is getting use to a new teacher again.

Today Andrew is on a field trip to go to a gem and mineral show in Denver.  He was excited about going and wondered what he might see.  He is having fun with making new friends too.  Wednesday afternoon we did a kid swap.  Ruth went over to play with Ashley and her brother Cody came to our house to play with Andrew.  They all had fun.  It is nice because their family has 4 girls and one boy.  So Cody gets to be around boys and Ruth gets to be around girls for an afternoon.

Caleb and I have enjoyed some fun times this week.  Tuesday we went to a play group.  He was the oldest kid there but enjoyed playing with the babies.  He likes babies.  Then we went to the library for story time.  It was the first time for the school year.  They do a preschool story time where I drop him off and come back in 30 minutes.  Caleb was so excited about it and had fun telling me about the stories that they read.  It was good for him to have a little mini preschool time.  We also went to the park on Wednesday with our friends.  Caleb had lots of fun playing with Justin.

On Saturday Ruth painted a gourd that Grandma Johnson gave her this summer.  I thought it turned out cute.  Ruth is excited that she got into the honors classes at school this week.  I am glad that she is happy about it and know that it will be a good thing for her to keep her engaged in her school work.  She also is excited that in band she is starting the clarinet today.  They had a band meeting this week I went to with her.  They spent the first two weeks talking about the different instruments and having the band director see what instruments kids wanted to play and what he felt would be a good fit for them.  Today they were to bring in their instruments.  I know that the clarinet is old, but it plays well.  It was a bit hard for me to send her off with it.  That was my clarinet when I started playing 31 years ago.  I hope she has fun with it.  Yesterday I took Ruth to the doctor.  They had to do a well child visit and new patient evaluation, just so we could get a immunization that the school wanted her to have.  It went well.  I liked the office, everyone was kind and we didn’t have to wait long.  The boys had fun playing at a church friends house in our neighborhood.  It is nice to have so many church members close to us. 

Today got cold.  We even had a little dusting of icy snow this morning.  Good thing this isn’t normal and it will warm up again.  I don’t think I am ready for six months of cold.  I am sure we will get use to it. 

I made some new pajamas for Caleb and he was happy!

Ruth and her swan gourd

Labor Day

The week went by very quickly.  We had a fun day Saturday going to the park together to play and enjoying the nice weather.  It was good to have Neal make it back home Sunday morning from his hiking.  He had a great time and with excitement showed us all his pictures.  The boys want to learn how to be hikers too.

Neal and his brothers at the beginning of the hike

Neal on the top of the peak

Monday was Labor Day.  Neal and I were able to sneak away to Home Depot by ourselves and buy an area rug and tarp to put under our dining room table. We decided that just a tarp would look a bit rustic, so we bought a rug to go over the tarp.  Hopefully this set up will make it so we can eat at our table without worrying about spilled food on the new carpet.  We also got a shelf to put food storage on in the basement.  I am sure it will fill up now that I have a place to put food.

Monday evening a family in our ward invited us over for a BBQ with some other friends.  We enjoyed visiting with everyone and enjoyed the beautiful weather sitting outside in their nice back yard.  It was a nice way to end the long week end.  

Tuesday morning the boys had assessment testing at the school.  They were only scheduled to go to school for two hours for their test.  It was like another holiday with them back home at 9:45.  Then Wednesday was early out day and they had a fun afternoon playing.  The boys have really enjoyed playing with the other boys on the street.  They are outside riding bikes and scooters, playing with toys in each others houses and just having fun.  This is a new dimension for me.  In our old neighborhood we didn’t have children living close enough to just go over and play.  It is fun for them.

I finished reading “The Secret Garden” with the kids.  Ruth and Andrew really enjoyed the story.  We have the DVD and plan on watching it this week end.  It will be fun to see what the next book is we read.  The kids seem to enjoy me reading aloud to them at bed time.  

Ruth had fun with her Activity Days this week.  She said it was all “top secret” what they were planning for October.  I am glad that she has a large group of girls to go with each time.  She is thriving with all the new friends.

Caleb is doing well with his independent preschool studies.  He know most the states now, thanks to the game on the iPad, “Stack the States.”  He also is doing “Hooked on Phonics” on the iPad and he enjoys the songs and activities on that.  We lucked out last spring getting that program for free.  

I am getting into the grove of things here.  My days go by so quickly though.  I feel like there is a lot on my plate trying to get everything taken care of with the transition and trying to sell the house.  I am glad that the kids are so happy here.  Neal has been enjoying playing the guitar in the evenings.  I feel good about our being here and am sure things will continue to settle down.  

I bought Caleb a new outfit

the damage that was done by the moving company, just a little side note to show what happened to one of our chairs