What a week!

Happy 4 months to Riz! 

Well last I blogged I didn’t know if they were coming home or staying at fathers and sons but they toughed it out. When I woke up to pouring rain I thought “ought oh!” But it wasn’t as bad as I was afraid of!

Look close the dog is on  the canoe. 

But it worked out fine. Isaac didn’t have to set up a tent because they bunked in the Pettit’s tent! And Isaac had every single one of them helping out things away. So muddy and dirty or not it was a thousand times better than loading everything myself. 

This next picture-I took it-but the only thing it’s really missing is me laying under that stupid mower deck helping him. Sufficed to say he told me it’s probably a good thing I’m not a mechanic. 

Sunday was another day of packing up. Well we weren’t really ever leaving until Monday but I thought leisurely packing a few things up Sunday was an appropriate Sunday activity -but it wasn’t- it created a disaster and mostly silent drive across the country. Oh well. We got to stop and see the Nielson’s and it was so fun! We just love them and check out this mission gig: 

Not bad eh? 

We took a picture with Teresa too (but I don’t have it) and sang the first verse of Adam-ondi-ahman again to her and her buddies in the work center-they loved it 😉
Then just more driving. We would have rolled into Huntington in the middle of the night so we just kept going and got to Santa Clara about 6:30 Tuesday morning. It kinda scored us a bonus day down here. 

Pics tell the stories anyway right? Paula’s-yes please! 

Those were some long awaited birthday spank’ns

Then Wednesday 

Uncle Jim checked out Colt’s feet for us and cast him for some new orthotics. The boys got to admire Captain and we went swimming, the water was perfect! No pics though cuz I was in on that fun! 

That night we celebrated Cannons birthday with cousins! 



It was pretty fun but these two make Cann look like a shrimp! 

And Thursday was our Shoal Creek day-Grama had said maybe not this trip since it’s just kinda quick but I responded by telling her she’d have to take that up with my boys who were so excited and planning on it. We went. And the kids had a BLAST!! And we got a lot done! 

The pic above might make it look like Ky was Isaac’s flooring assistant but don’t let it fool ya-it was me. Well and Seth-a-roo! Isaac was funny he said “hmm and you said you’d never do another floor with me again but here you are” and he’s right after our kitchen floor I swore never again. But as with EVERYTHING  I ever say never to-I did it. If I don’t want something to happen I probably shouldn’t say “never” 😬

We didn’t finish but we got a good chunk of it done and my mom was extremely grateful. They also got some gravel spread around things up there. 



Today the boys got to play up at the corrals aka Grampa’s Sandbox while my mom and I went shopping kid free 😊 

Then we met the cousins up at the res...I guess it’s called Fire Lake Park now but whatever. 

I messed up and didn’t take a suit for me-or Isaac. We were feeling the Dixie heat. But it was good. 

Tonight the kids played “Greedy” with Grama and Grampa didn’t REALLY get to tell too many stories but my boys LOVE IT when he does. I have a reminder on my phone to ask the grandparents a family history question that comes up ever Sunday but I’m terrible about it. We’re doing good if we get them called or send a few Marco Polos! But the boys especially Cannon remember them all! Playing football in “Cow Crap Stadium” (the pasture next door) Shooting a skunk with a 410. His Grandma Frei buying his BBs if he’d shoot the birds and keep them from nesting in her mulberry tree. I think tonight’s what something about “that’s how we did our skiiing, holding on to the calves tails...if we got’m down then Uncle LaGrande could ear mark’m”  oh but tonight it started with the boys wanting to play “ultimate” Rock Paper Scissors the Pettit’s taught then before bed-when they explained it to Grampa he said “oh we did that throwing knifes.” 😳

Uh new story please Grampa!!😳

I think that’s about the wrap on this week! 

Oh but Isaac and I have been getting to sneak out on little walks in the mornings, it been fun, good -rare- one on one time, and the weather has been perfect!!!

And he did get to go on some ride over Touquerville Falls way with Phillip so that was good too. 

Found this cute little flower at Rizzy’s cemetery and I wanted to start with a happy picture. 

...and a 2 year old hauling his scriptures to church is pretty cute too. 

I should have a good attitude and try and keep the blog positive but the truth is this week was pretty cruddy. 

Saturday Colt’s best buddy Graham came out to play-that was fun. Maybe the calm before the storm. 

Sunday I could’ve done without. 

The good thing that happened was Isaac leaned over in bed at 6:30AM and said “oh no, we’re supposed to have the youth out here for lunch this afternoon” we scrambled and pulled it off —they got cheesy chicken and rice because that’s what I had enough of in the freezer. 

While I was cooking that morning I got a text that my Uncle Rob’s house burned down. 

Everything. Whoa! 

And While I was at church I got the text that my friend Robyn had passed away. Dang it! Dang it! Dang it! Why? Why? Why? Of all the people I’ve known who have had Covid and been sick with it none of them had three little kids at home and a brand new baby in the hospital. I’m sure Robyn is fine now, But what about Patrick and those four little girls? I’ll be honest it has rocked my world. Its rough being a mom with a baby who stayed in heaven but it’s OK. I’m at peace with it and know Riz is where he needs to be and I’m where I need to be. But those little girls-all so little-have a mom that’s in heaven and I’m having a heckuva time wrapping my mind around it. But I know who’s in charge and it will all be ok...eventually. Patrick sent me a text reply that made me think “I guess the Lord comforts who needs to be comforted.”  Actually I bet he wouldn’t care if I shared it:

It almost fit in a screenshot. But wow huh? Calm and at Peace??? Impressive right? 

Actually feeling like my prayers weren’t heard at all I stumbled on to this and really liked it-I sent it to Patrick and with “shrug” promised to keep praying for him and his girls. The text above was his reply. 

And later this week while riding my bike home from the cemetery and pondering on the “infuriating unfairness” (stole that title from elder Renlunds most recent talk and their stake Pres used it at her funeral but it’s not what I was listening to at the time-anyway) I had the thought as if Heavenly Father was the one talking saying “yeah but none of those people could have done what I need Robyn to do here” and that made sense to me. He will guide the future as he has the past.
With a Utah trip around the corner and it available on zoom we did not go down to the funeral we just watched it but I told Isaac the only way I would be OK with that is if we made sure to go down to Mississippi later this summer. It was a beautiful service though. 

That was Wednesday but really it was all week. 

Seth just doing his thing...like loading his dump truck! 

And hauling daddy’s laser for him. 

This pic with Sis Showell and Sis Wilson was actually from Monday. I invited them Sunday but then completely forgot, they text and asked if we still wanted them to come and we were like yes yes please...and ok crud what am I making for dinner 🤣 Soup! It’s been super rainy all week so soup was perfect. The rolls were a disaster but missionaries are very forgiving . 😊👍🏻

My friends did a little work out group in the mornings this week. It was pretty fun and it worked me over pretty hard too.  I just took the boys into school instead of Isaac this week since he is done with the semester and sometimes Seth and Tanner came with me and sometimes they just hung out with dad. 

I’m really not much of a social exerciser but it was good for me and I have good friends here! 

Yesterday was Tanner‘s last day of preschool! Can you believe it? They didn’t have the preschool graduation sign set up they only had the promotion one but...just pretend! Actually I was super happy his teacher snagged a picture for me because I wouldn’t have thought of it and the rest of the class isn’t done until next Wednesday but since we’re heading to Utah Tan is done!! 

And today’s circus!!!

Oh my!!!

Sethy was a little mad I didn’t let him take the pictures 🤣

Our schedule is crazy. Our life is crazy. But yesterday nowhere in the mystery schedule did concrete come up. But today —concrete! Why not? And it turned out to be a circus! His  pump got clogged and the kids he had helping him had never really done concrete before ...or maybe I made that part up...I’m not sure but anyways he for sure said it was the hardest 5 yards of concrete he’s ever poured. We came home in time to get to see the mixer truck as planned but when we saw the circus —we headed for the park! I had to leave because I can’t handle that stuff—but whatever,  he pulled it off and we have concrete in the barn floor



But it was an all day event! 

We had piano after school so we were hanging out at the Pettit‘s house. Ben offered to let the boys ride out to fathers and sons with him but I took a glance at his car and thought it’s pretty loaded so I’d just wait and  send them with Isaac. Well, we had not one thing packed, so after we got home I packed every single thing (except hatchets and fishing poles the boys helped with that kind of stuff) but it wasn’t quick- and then Isaac still wasn’t anywhere close to done. So I ended up taking the boys out to Hurdland to fathers and sons & dropping them off with Ben. It looked like a great turn out there was tons of guys there so I felt fine about it and brother Moody was like oh yeah I’ll keep an eye on them too—our friends are awesome! And the drive out really worked great because Seth fell asleep so he at least did get some sort of a power nap.  When we got back Isaac still haven’t showered but eventually he and Seth got out of here and headed for fathers and sons too. I missed about four calls from him because I had jumped on the tractor to mow. When I got back to my phone and called he told me they were going to come home tonight after everyone went to bed and just go back out early tomorrow. So much for my break! And happy camping trip boys!  And why did I pack all that crap for him then?! I dunno. I definitely balked when he told me that (because you know even if they really do go back early in the morning he’s not gonna take all four boys Tan and Seth will be asleep— if not they should be) anyway he said ok he’d set up the tent but then I backpedaled and said it was fine if they come home so who knows...as of typing this I don’t know!!! 

I did tell him though that when I was driving back from taking the boys out there I prayed that I would be able to see his perspective on the pump truck (that it’s a valuable asset and could generate income...that type of thing) and also he would be able to see my perspective on the pump truck (that it monopolizes so much of his time and adversely affects our family time) 

It’s not cows

It’s not basketball or anything like that 

It’s just “businesses”

His thing. 

We’ll see hopefully I end up feeling like that prayer is heard 🤞🏻

I’m glad he got to run it. I know he needed to run it. Thank goodness the clog didn’t happen when someone was paying him to do a job -it’s just that everything ends up taking a lot longer that he thinks it will. 

Oh well

That’s all I can remember—today’s probably a little too fresh I probably should’ve skipped it on the blog. Whoops. 

It’s life. 

“Lower your expectations, increase your happiness”

Oh we’ve had a crazy busy week. 

Saturday the only thing on my phone was a picture of a wild turkey. But Isaac had the hooding ceremony and then it was Mother’s Day eve so I snuck away by myself-it was fantastic. Isaac who had already bought flowers for the ward to give out the next day say “buy yourself something for Mother’s Day” ha ok. Actually the title of this post comes from Isaac’s council on celebrations in general...it works pretty good. 

Sunday was fine, it was probably better than most Mother’s Days (cuz I’ve sufficiently lowered all expectations.) No he made breakfast and when I was out and about I’d bought a new curling iron and he dealt with the fights while I got to use it-it was great. My cute ministering sisters gave me a sweet note and some “forget me not” flower seeds. I got a nap a we went on a nice family walk.  

Just a good day.

I don’t know if the pictures/words will show very well so small but Colt make me this book at school—he pretty much has me pegged 😊

Then this little flower broke off so classic Colt propped it up with a stick 😊 so cute! 



Cann made me a cube (kind-of) with his new 3D pen he said it started out to be a heart. It was sweet of him. I am lucky to be a mom-I have some great kids! 
Mothers Day night 😩 -was horrible. I woke up so many times reliving the whole ordeal with Riz. Ah! It was hard. Oh well. Like always it’s up and down but sometimes it catches me off guard. 

I know it just means I love him-and I miss him-but it’s still hard. 

Monday was crazy cuz Colt had Soccer and Tanner had soccer AND baseball and I had a parent teacher conference with Tanners teacher. Throw in a Low tire-the light had been on since Sunday so I was a little nervous. Isaac was dealing with stupid pump truck stuff. Just a recipe for disaster right. So...par for the course around here...

It was Tanners only actually “game”  at soccer. I think he had fun. So did Seth 😉 after soccer it was quick-off to baseball! 

Tuesday was crazy because we had piano and well checks and baseball (still not sure why we took the whole family to a baseball practice that didn’t end until almost 8:00 but oh well-we did) after school friends invited us to the park that day and they were still there when piano got done so we went for it-YAY! 

Wednesday was Tanners field day at school and we went to a friends birthday party. 

Then Colt and Cannon had children and youth and the boys had a BLAST playing flour dodgeball and Tan Seth and I headed out on a bike ride. Tan could have made it clear to Riz’s grave (but since we still had to ride home we decided to turn around) he still went 2 miles though round trip-no gears and there’s a lot of hills to pull. He’s awesome it was fun. 

We started Wednesday but Thursday we finished getting the garden in-we’ll see what becomes of that this year... but I did make the rows spaced out enough we can just till between then! Then hopefully just weed around the plants cuz it’s a nightmare here-I feel even better about my plan since Michaila told me her mom used to do that 👍🏻 Sweet! 

And Colt’s last (for now) soccer game. He did awesome he scored 2 goals!! And it wasn’t like the ball accidentally bounced off his leg into the net. One he’d just got hit in the stomach (on accident) by a teammate but the ball was still right there and he kicked it in, he didn’t even smile after that one he just said “that hurt” the second one though he took the ball probably about 3/4 the length of the field and scored it. He was super excited that time. It was right in front of us and I had my phone in my hand but I fumbled with it and couldn’t get the camera on. Oh well. I got a picture with the ball in the back of the net😏 here’s a better one even if it wasn’t of the goal:

Overall I think soccer was a great experience for Colt. 
Today was a fun day-first of all an awesome sunrise on my way to the cemetery! I love that and have one on the backdrop of my phone too. 

I mowed (yay the mower is fixed!!) and Isaac headed into work for a while but then we headed up to Iowa to look at the Amish poly outdoor furniture stuff. It was a fun day we went to two places and had lunch and then hit one of those discount grocery stores but ultimately just ordered a cheap bench off the internet to put at the cemetery. The Amish ones were nice but none of them were exactly what I wanted and at the end of the day I’m too cheap-Isaac would have punched it because he knew I wanted one but I couldn’t do it.  

And tonight we played a little volleyball at the church with friends—it was pretty fun. 

The only other thing I can think of is we are praying so hard for our friend Robyn. She’s in the middle of a Covid disaster nightmare. They took her baby C-section she was due sometime in June so not ultra-early but still. Her baby was born with a fever and has had some bumps but overall done pretty well. Robyn is still on 100% oxygen. I don’t know the latest but I know we’re praying for the best! (And even Patrick has to wait until it’s been 14 days since he was around Robyn before he can meet his daughter in real life even though he’s had the vaccine and several negative tests. Crazy-I hate Covid) 

But it’s super late and I better call it a day or I’ll be a beast mom tomorrow.