cathing up A LITTLE

I know it's been too long since I've written. I'm far enough behind that I can't properly even catch up. So here's a quick catch up.....
Today was Brigham's last day of school. It was an exciting day for him. He could hardly believe that summer started for him this afternoon. I was happy for him and especially proud when his report card came home with entirely perfect scores. He's such a great kid.
Laci finished preschool last week. It was sad (for me, happy for Laci) as I walked her to her school for the last time. I just kept thinking how this was the last moment in time I may ever have a preschooler. In mere seconds she would go in the door and that would be it, I would never walk my preschooler to class again. It made me want to cry. I even video taped that final time as she walked to the door. It was such a big moment for me I had to capture it. So anyhow, much to Laci's delight she's been enjoying summer break for a week now and is looking forward to kindergarten next year. That's a whole other emotional can of worms in my future. Moms, you know what I mean. It's so great to watch kids grow up and it's so heart wrenching at the same time when you realize you're living moments that will never come again.

I started working at an in-home daycare last week. It's going pretty good. I could already tell stories but it's late at night and I'm too tired. My kids get to come with me which is so nice. They get a little antsy but so far they're doing great. The 1 and 2year olds are so stinkin adorable that my kids absolutely love them. And the love is mutual. I hope they'll continue to enjoy each other. Brigham especially loves to play with babies. I know. I know. I should have another one myself. Sorry. Probably NOT going to happen. I think we're all getting our baby fill through work. As much as I love my own babies it is too awesome to be past that exhausting and tedious baby stage. The girl I work for loves me so much she wants me to stay for a LONG time but I've already told her I'll have to stop in the fall. The kids go to a school in a different part of town and I'd have no way to pick them up. So for the summer we'll just keep at it. It's nice to make a little money. I haven't been able to do that for a long time. For that reason alone I wish I could continue in the fall. I just don't see how I could.

I'm going to Idaho Falls tomorrow. Leaving at noon-ish with the kids to hang out with Kim's family. Should be a nice time. Nephi will come up later with his mom. They have to pick up Gary at the airport. Gary was in Virginia with Frank (Nephi's brother) who just moved out to Virginia.

Still loving South Ogden. It seems to be really a good place to live. I've constantly impressed with the opportunities that are available to us. Just not used to that. Still LOVE the house. I've been working in the yard almost daily since spring came months ago. I'm not an artist but I've decided that landscape is my creative outlet. It truly feeds my soul. Ever since we bought our first house years ago I've considered yard-scaping one of favorite past times. I'm constantly thinking, planning and revising ideas and options.

Looking forward to the summer.....

my letter to a friend.

This is a letter I sent to my friend Kim today. I realized while I was writing that I'm updating her better than I'm updating my blog so I decided to just post the letter. I don't think Kim checks my blog often anyhow. She may never know!



Hi! Thanks for the card! That was such a fun surprise. When I read it I was touched and I also immediately thought."Wow, Kim's getting sentimental in her old age!" ha ha! I loved it.
I had a great Mothers Day. I didn't have to teach at church. Nephi made me us breakfast, helped more than usual at dinner, and I was pretty much lazy all day and Nephi didn't get mad at that. I loved it! I think this is the first year I've ever thought that Mothers Day was all it was cracked up to be. I ended up buying myself Crest White Strips for my present. A friend in the ward mentioned she was getting teeth whitening for her gift and it seemed genius to me. When can you ever get teeth whitening and not feel guilty for the expense? Well, white strips are pretty reasonable and I checked the reviews on drugstore.com and they were overwhelmingly good so I felt it was a safe bet. On the second day I used them I was overzealous and used two sets of strips right in a row. I fried myself. My teeth hurt so bad!!! I even went to the store and bought sensodyne and that didn't help. Today the pain had subsided so I started up again. I'm seeing results already and I think I still have 4 days left.
Today was a warm, overcast day. Nephi worked on sprinklers and trimmed a huge evergreen we have. I mowed a little. I love yard work days. The backyard behind me is irritating me so bad! They DON'T mow their lawn! There are patches of grass 2 feet tall! UGH! It wouldn't be so annoying but our yard looks DIRECTLY into theirs if you remember. I found on KSL classifieds that someone is selling 45 feet of those privacy slats that you can put through chain link. I've already called them and planning to buy them. I hope it looks o.k. It won't be enough to go all the way across but we're going to center it on the fence and hope it's not too tacky. Brigham plays with the little boy from that yard. You should see it, they play hide and go seek through the fence! Who would've thought it was possible but they do it....and have a great time! So I still want them to be able to see each other but we won't have to look at all their crap lying around.
Frank has been applying to different jobs in places such as Colorado, California,Texas, and Virginia. He was offered positions at all those places but they picked Virginia! They'll be there in a month!!!! Crazy! I'm excited for them though. Kate's never had real adventure in her life. It will be good for her. I think Susie is trying to put up a strong front since she's realized that she shouldn't get dramatic and emotional on her kids when they're trying to make something of themselves. But I really do feel for her. If it was me in her place and it was Brigham moving across the country I'd be bawling too. At least she's got more kids that are closer than Virginia. That's the perk of having a lot of kids. I'm doomed for lots of heartbreak down the road no doubt when my TWO kids go off into the world. I'll be wishing I'd had more then.

P.S. So You Think You Can Dance starts in two weeks on the 21st! Happy Day!
Talk more later! Lillian

He finally lost his first tooth.

Brigham has been suffering with his loose tooth for quite some time now. This evening he finally decided it was time to get some dental floss around it and pull it out. Yuck. I told him where my dental floss was and he ran off to get it. A little while later he started screaming (with joy) that his tooth came out. Apparently while looking for the dental floss he came across my tweezers and started messing with his tooth and the next thing he knew he was holding his tooth ! Gross huh?! Pulled out with tweezers!!! It made me queasy to think about. But he was THRILLED. He made a round of phone calls to let people know what happened and to talk about the money he would be receiving from the tooth fairy. He dropped his tooth in his bedroom carpet a couple times and had major tears because he thought all was lost but we managed to find it both times. He's finishing up 1st grade and just now losing his first tooth!

Just having fun on a beautiful evening.

Acquiring a taste for hiking

The weather was nice enough again last week that I decided to finally give hiking a try. Actually I want to get more into trail running than hiking. I went two days and LOVED it. I can drive to the base of the mountain in the same time it takes me to get to the gym. Maybe 5 minutes. I hiked the lower trail that still climbs quite a bit. The trail is often literally on the edge of the mountain. I have to really pay attention. The second day I hiked I ran quite a bit of it for over an hour. It was AWESOME! My lungs and legs were really getting a workout. I did stop several times to take in the scenery. I was overlooking the entire valley. Amazing. I was running eye level with a helicopter flying by! For awhile I was mesmerized by the F-16's. They were doing their practice runs. Usually they fly over my neighborhood and I don't really know where they go, but from my view I was able to see exactly what they're up to on those practice runs. I could see easily to the air base so I watched them take off and land, circle around, skim the runway and take off again. It was such a treat for me since I'm hopelessly fascinated by air force aircraft. Two aircraft skimmed over the mountain top and I had to sit on the trail so I wouldn't get dizzy and roll down the mountain when I looked up. I could easily read the bottom of their wings but I didn't see the airforce markings so I'm not sure if they belonged to them, but they were flying around the base so they probably were. ahhhhh....this was all so much fun for me. I had an amazing run. The next night I was telling my neighbors about my new love for mountain running and they told me I should not be doing that solo. It just simply isn't safe since there are incidences that women are robbed and probably worse. Definately not common, but it can happen. I felt so deflated. I knew they were right. It really isn't wise for me to be out there by myself. I just don't know enough people yet to have a running friend. I had envisioned how fit I was going to get in the month and a half I have left before the kids are out of school, and I felt like it went up in smoke. There's no way I can replicate that kind of running in town. It's just not the same as a rocky winding trail. grrrrrrrr.....
Last complaint: It isn't fair that Nephi can run trails solo with little concern because he's a guy and I can't. It's just not fair.

Our annual Easter Egg Hunt!

Gina and I threw together a hunt for the kids. They LOVED it as usual. Last year Maggie and family was in on it but she left the day before. So it was just us. We put change into some of the eggs and that was a HIT! Nobody cared about the candy. They were too busy counting change!

Brigham's a mad scientist

Uncle Jared gave Brigham a set to make real crystals at home. This was step one of what seems like 137 steps. Weeks later we still haven't made it past the first few steps.

Back with Grandma!

The Gold's are home from their mission!

Playing at the park with Frank's kids Ty (right) and Cameron (left) and Gracia (middle)

this is actually how they slept! They talked for quite awhile with the lights off but they were so well behaved!

Christal brought dressups for Laci and Gracia to wear. She is such a fun aunt.

Jared and Christal slept at our house the night before we all headed up to Idaho Falls for Nephi's parents return from their Hawaiian mission. We had a good visit. (I had to crop Christal out of the picture because it was one of those where your eyes are halfway open and you look stoned! )

Oh yeah, still hangin tough!

This IS actually the same New Kids shirt from my childhood. I've stored it away in a box and I decided it was time to get it out and start sporting it again! I actually wore it to a church activity tonight. Nobody seemed to appreciate it but I got a kick out of wearing it! By the way, my whole family was embarrased including Brigham. Isn't he too young to be embarrased over a t-shirt?

this is funny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dkupwzIWKI

Finally I'm feeling better.

I went to the school today went it was letting out. I found the Brigham's friend's dad and had a good visit with him. He really does seem like a good guy. And he seems to have his stuff together. I feel like I can breathe easy now. We agreed it was a good idea for the boys to play regularly and arranged for him to come to our house tommorrow for 4 hours since it's a short day at school. His dad can just pick him up at our house instead of at school.
I finally feel some relief in this situation.

more to the story....

The case worker finally called me back today. He interviewed Brigham's friend and thankfully he (friend) was very open and forthcoming. The caseworker said that he was spilling it all. THANK HEAVENS!!! The C.W. also said that the depth and scope of the problems were much worse than he originally realized and Brigham's friend has been removed from his home. He is now with his birth dad (lives in Salt Lake). The live-in boyfriend is apparently jail bound. That was an unexpected and upsetting new detail. I never knew he was a problem. Dang. Dang. Dang. I feel like I should've known somehow. I'm so angry about the boyfriend thing. Really p___ off. He came to my house that night acting so innocent when he picked him up. My corrections officer friend is keeping an eye out for him or his mom at the jail to see if either of them get brought in. I think she'll let me know.

sidetracked....

Hi. I've been neglecting the blog because I've been obsessed with Facebook. I just started so I'm in that phase of finding friends and seeing who confirms you as their friend. It is addicting. I've currently been visiting with a guy who served a mission in Mesquite years ago and we had a lot to catch up on. (Elder Cavaness)
Anyhow, I've actually had a stressful couple days. As my family knows I had to call the police on my son's friends' mother. When my kids walked their friend home they found his mom incoherently drunk. And it was after 5pm! I kept him for an hour, fed him dinner, panicked inside, while looking calm on the outside. Finally it dawned on me to call the mom of one of their friends. She's a corrections officer and she told me who to call. I called the dispatcher and they sent an officer over there right away. His mom's boyfriend eventually came to pick him up and take him to his aunt's house that night. I cried a lot that night because the friend told me how bad his home life has been. I suspected something wasn't right months ago because the first time he came to play he asked if I'd adopt him if something happened to his mom. I'd been trying to figure it out since then.
So all yesterday I felt sick to my stomach and tried to get through to CPS. By the way, they don't return my calls. Apparently they don't care what I have to say. I'll keep trying.
His mom did call me and we talked for almost half an hour. I cried and she cried. She admitted she had a problem and was going to the VA hospital within a day to see a doctor. We talked about a lot that I won't rehash. I was very blunt with her though. I told her what her son told me about how his life has been. I wanted her to know how she's affecting him (I've seen a lot of that show Intervention). I made it clear to her that he's been very unhappy. I told her all of this in a non-judgemental and loving way. She was receptive and greatful that I cared about her son and intervened. When Brigham came home from school today he said that the friends dad (birth dad) was taking him today. I don't know what that means. I don't know if that means for one day, the rest of the week, more? But it must mean that something is happening and hopefully for the better. Maybe long enough for his mom to get help.
A few months ago I prayed that Heavenly Father would send me a child that needed me. The next day I met this boy. My testimony has grown a lot in the last few days and I feel stronger and more empowered now. Heavenly Father does hear our prayers and if you ask to be of service He will take you up on it!

our "NEW" bbq

When we moved from Idaho Falls we had to leave our gas grill behind. We just simply ran out of room in our moving truck. That was sad because I'd had it for years and it was great. Well, we REALLY need a grill since I cook on one regularly but haven't felt like we have the extra money so I posted an ad on craigslist looking for a grill that someone would sell me cheap. After a couple of weeks I got a reply back from a guy who said he'd give us his old one.....for FREE! And he'd even deliver it to us! WOO HOO! So he brought it today. I wasn't home (primary activity) but Nephi was waiting for him. I'd bought a gift bag from Great Harvest for Nephi to give him as a thank you. Anyhow this grill is OLD SCHOOL... and I love it! I cleaned it out, varnished the wood with some stuff I had laying around, and voila! We're cooking! We had a hot dog barbeque to break it in and it was fun. A little too cold outside for my taste but the kids didn't notice and had a good time.

I loved Adam Lambert on American Idol last night! Oh...he's so cute. In a gay kind of way but that's fine. :)
The kids went to the dentist. No cavities! Unbelievable...
I don't know how we've dodged the bullet every time. Of course it's from teeth brushing but I'm still traumatized from my childhood experience of several cavities per visit.

Brigham's workout

Yesterday Brigham played his "new" Ninja Turtle game for awhile. Afterwards when he came upstairs he had taken his shirt off, was dripping in sweat and his face was bright red. I couldn't believe it. But today I took some video of how he plays and now it makes sense! It's a workout! Who needs a wii?!

ha ha!

On the way to preschool, a doctor had left her stethoscope on the car seat, and her little girl picked it up and began playing with it. Be still, my heart, thought the doctor, my daughter wants to follow in my footsteps! Then the child spoke into the instrument: “Welcome to McDonald’s. May I take your order?”