Little Foote Prints

Q & A

2014-05-13T16:16:00.001-07:00

Since I posted about the dreaded day in January when it was decided that the Nephew would leave our home I have been asked a lot of questions. So I thought I would take a few minutes and answer some of them.

1. Why Phoenix?

It was where he lived before with his mother and had made a few friends that he stayed in contact with. One was a boy that he actually wanted to live with (his mother wanted that too)but back ground checks that needed to be done on certain people didn't happen (clear indicator that maybe its not the best place to live if people don't want a check done on them) and the other was a girl, whom he had liked before and was itching to be "with" again. She is the girl that when he wasn't dating some one out here he would claim to be dating her, even though he never saw her just texting her.

2. What about school?

He withdrew from Combs and registered with Camelback. I don't know if he is graduating since they were having to figure out some of his credits. Being a foster child he has the opportunity to go to a State school for 4 years pretty much free. Not sure if he will since some things he hasn't done. Like 2 years of a foreign language or a GPA that they will accept him. At one point he thought he would just get in cause of being a foster which we reminded him no he still needed to apply so his grades he needed to keep up and get a better GPA. According to his Independent living agreement in order to still receive money once graduated from High school he must be full time student in college or part time student/part time job. No he has no job as of yet so if he doesn't get one the money will change then too.

3. The money that he was to get but wasn't ???

Yes when he turned 18 it was determined that he would switch to what is called Independent living. So the monthly money we were getting directly from the State would now come to him and he would learn to pay rent and other bills like phone, food, clothes etc. When he decided to move out he knew it wasn't coming yet and that it would take a few months to get it but instead of waiting he had to leave and so then had to rely on others because of his choice. Which like I mentioned before I don't think should have happened because he knew what he was doing but he also knew that certain people would just take care of his $$ problems and they did. He has started to receive money and yet he still owes us almost $600 dollars that he AGREED to pay to us as soon as he received his money and of course HAS NOT. He even posted on FB that he is getting a car and will come to visit down here. A CAR?!!? well at least we know what he is doing with the money now!

4. Any contact?

Only with our son. Which is fine. Our family doesn't need to have his name mentioned in our home. If it ever does we all get quiet and pause for a second like we are all reliving events and then we leap over it and continue on. He said he was coming to visit friends about a month or so ago and ended up staying with the ex girl friend he was told not to see. A few of the friends were upset by this but in true Nephew form he says what they want to hear and then doesn't follow through. He is saying he wants to attend our son's graduation which I am not to happy about but its for my son so I will be polite and not say anything.

5. How are your kids doing?

For the most part they are adjusting him being gone. Certain things are being noticed like how much more involved certain people were in our lives while he was here and now that he is gone it is less. They realized just how much he got when being here. Like asking for things and always getting them, he did it and did it often. Cause that is what he knows(to him getting things means love). It was noticed all the attention he got during his basketball phase, all the photos and videos of him. It was hard on them to see the attention he got. But they also understood that he craved the attention and when it wasn't happening or enough he would do things to get it.

6. Any thing from his Mom to you guys for taking care of him?

No we haven't heard from her at all. I don't really think we will either. It may come up later in life, maybe when she is out of prison but for now not hearing from her is totally fine.

7. The rest of his family?

His older brother is living his life in Washington state with a girlfriend and last time I knew his father lived with them also. The nephew has been to see his brother I am not certain about the father (when living with us he said he wanted nothing to do with him) His sister decided to moved to Tennessee with a man who got her pregnant which I know now she has left him, told him he was loosing everything by leaving him, but really I don't think he sees it that way. She is gone with the baby so he now has no responsibility for taking care of or providing for either of them. (how is that loosing?) She went for a visit to Washington to see the Brother and Father, and is now back in Arizona. I am sure she as seen the Nephew by now. His mother is in prison and we just were told that she has about 1 1/2 year left. It will be interesting to see how life plays out when she is out? Will things change or fall back to the way they were?

These are just a few of the most asked questions. I would like to thank everyone for all the love and support we have received during this whole thing. It means the world to us.

Time to catch up

2014-04-22T17:16:00.000-07:00

I didn't realize it had been this long with out a blog post.

My lovely charger for my Mac died a very sad and painful death. The sad part was the covering on the wires was coming off and then soda got dumped on it and the painful part was the cost of replacing it would be. However Thanks to my Dude he found me one that I didn't have to cut off my arm or leg for. So I am back, and after a few more depression days I am hoping to keep up on this blog. I know I can do it from my phone but I don't exactly like the Blogger app its to hard to add pics and change fonts.

so let's catch up shall we (I will keep it simple swear)

Feb 26th my Mom and Sister took me out I can't really remember the totally real reason other than to cheer me up.

I think we went to the flower market and then to lunch which we had my Dad show up for too ( when he got there he said I am here so now it will be paid for, what a funny guy) We ate at the Piggly at the Fair in Mesa.

Omgosh you guys this place was super fun and good food too.

After eating a stuffed baked potato with turkey on top my Mom ordered deep fried Oreos!

Me and My Sister (aka ToneTones)

and my Mom and Dad doing what they always seem to be doing showing love as much as they can!

(I did find out that my Mom had thought about stealing me away for the weekend and take me to Disneyland to help cheer me up but things just didn't work out…That would have been the best but this was just as nice)

Feb 28 Eminem had a Band Concert. It was so last minute that even I didn't know about it till that day.

They were awesome. They showcased what they are doing for Regionals and had some of the solos played too.

After we headed to Olive Garden for some girl time.

(thanks to ToneTones for the gift card we still had)

The first week of March was a low again for me and wouldn't it be fitting that I am scrolling through Pinterst to get some motivation that I find this…

Yup just what I need!!

Eminem had the opportunity to be in the Cultural Celebration for the opening of the Gilbert AZ Temple.

The youth (1200) had been practicing since January for this.

The week before they practice for like 15 hours it was insane and hot and lots of kids had allergy problems from the grass being so dry. It was amazing the photos that were posted (a cool note though that I noticed was the kids were asked not to use their phones in fact to leave them at home which a lot I think actually did) so it was adults posting fun again.

This is a view of the weekend before the Celebration. The different colors are the different Stakes/Regions of the youth.

The day of the actual Celebration is was suppose to rain and rain a lot!! Now here is Arizona we love it when it rains cause it doesn't happen often. People prayed for the rain to hold out till after and during the day practices they even considered to tape it and possibly just show it on TV. (it was being shown on TV since the grand scale was to much to have all the youth and leaders and TV people that they had people stay home to watch) But there was this opening over the field most of the day when you drove by you could see the gray and darkness just waiting to open up but this one spot was sunny!

Then it was time to start and when it started so did the rain!

President Monson and President Eyring were both there and even told the kids this would be something they would never forget.

I have asked Eminem to write in her journal about this and I think she has.

The rain came and came and came the kids were soaked to the bone but in the video they are nothing but smiles cause they know what they are doing is important!

Here is Eminem with her friend who is also and Em. Their shirt color was light blue and on the front of it was the Moto for the Celebration which was LIVE TRUE.

I love picking them up from school and still seeing kids wearing these shirts. What pride they must have knowing what they did and lived through.

President Monson even mentioned it in this past (click here) General Conference

If you would like to see the video of the (click here)

Celebration

the video is long but so worth it!

Next was the General Women's Conference.

Whitealicious asked if Eminem and I wanted go with them. I excitedly said yes of course! This was the first time ever that the Conference was open for all girls from the age of 8 and up to attend! How awesome it was to see those young faces sitting with their mom beaming about being there.

It was a wonderful Conference! After the prayer we scurried out as fast as we could and went to dinner. It is fun to be out and happy (I sometimes forget it happens)

This is me and Eminem after all the fun

That was most of Feb and some of March. I am on to finish March and start in to April. Also have had lots of questions about the Nephew so I may do a post answering so questions.

From my journal

2014-02-25T20:08:00.001-08:00

Entry from my DayOne Journal~~~~ Laying in bed at 4pm. What is wrong with me this depression is killing me. I have to kick it in the butt and soon. I hate the me I am when I am like this. My home is better now with just my five in it. So why why why can't I just be the happy me I used to be. Or was I ever happy? Really?~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hard to type, hard to see, and harder to understand. I have happy moments sure and I am trying to find as many as I can to help with this "slush" in my life.

Tomorrow I get to have a day out with my Mom. We are going to Phoenix to get supplies for upcoming Proms and Mother's Day stuff. Here's to a happy tomorrow!

Gilbert Temple

2014-02-24T20:51:00.000-08:00

We decided to take the family to see the new Gilbert, Az temple. Eminem was going to work a shift during the open house putting shoe coverings (aka booties)on all the people who would be going through on the tours. So I planned our family's tour to be about the same time.

I have been to one other open house back when I lived in

Rome, New York it was to the Toronto Temple in Canada about a year and half before we moved. Most of the time we lived there the temple that was the closest to us was the

Washington D.C.temple. So having one a bit closer was nice and in another country was cool too.

The Gilbert temple is one of 6 in Arizona. (back in 1991 when my family moved here there was only 1)so now to have 6 is amazing. The Church is growing by leaps and bonds in these the last days.

I am forever grateful for a family that is eternal and forever!

While walking through I thought about my kids and all the great memories that will possibly be made in this actual temple with them like missions and marriages. It's exciting.

Here is Eminem looking as beautiful as ever. She signed up for being a helper during the tour and I asked if she wouldn't mind if I tagged along. So her and I went back after our tour and lunch with the guys (Dude, Bugs & Bugaboo). We walked as a group up to the temple and got a few instructions of what to do and just as we were getting ready to work our shift I was waved up to the front door by our supervisor. I walked over and was asked if I could take an usher's place at the front door letting the tour groups in after they got their shoe coverings. I said yes of course but was so nervous too. So as the groups got the coverings their tour guide would wait at the front door with me and then I would get a nod from the inner door usher so I could let the group in. It was interesting to watch the different people walk thru the doors. Some you could tell were LDS and others you could tell were there to almost defiantly walk through. Which was hard to see but I just kept a smile and welcomed them all the same. Some points I remember

1. Some little children didn't like the shoe coverings on their feet almost as much as having to sit on Santa's lap.

2. Some loved taking a quick photo of the shoe coverings for Facebook or Instagram.

3. One guy was so disgusted with the shoe coverings he told the missionaries he was with it was insulting to put plastic over his $400 shoes. (good grief guy really)

4. A lot of older people were amazed about the temple commenting on the amount of money that must go into the temple and how it would be better used to feed the masses or help the poor. (another good grief --do they really not know the amount our Church does around the world in relief).

5. One lady walked right up to the door dressed in church attire but had a few tattoos and some piercings and stopped. She started crying and taking deep breaths I asked her is she was ok and she just whispered that she didn't know if she could go any further. I said sure you can. She looked at me with tears and said I never thought I would come back. I said well you made it now go enjoy it and come back often. (WORDS TO LIVE BY!)

6. LDS FAMILIES ARE THE CUTEST THING EVER

This sunday it will be dedicated and will only be open for LDS members whom have a recommend to enter. I hope to be one of those people and can go often and receive the blessings that come from attending. If you are interested in knowing more about the LDS church click here LDS

Corsage savant?

2014-02-22T01:33:00.001-08:00

There are many things in this world that make me feel happy, as I am learning. But this is something when I quit working at the Flower Shop I thought I would be so happy to be done with. However it seems to be something I actually like doing. Sure I agonize over what to put in them, will others like them, and will they ever ask AGIAN for another one. I try to make something so unique that is creates a stir of emotions from people. It could be amazement, astonishment and yes even envy! AND SO IT ANOTHER THING THAT NOW MAKES ME HAPPY! What a blessing to recognize a talent that I have been given and the ability to use it for good. Here is the latest one I got to make it is for a little lady who is going to a dance with her Daddy.

I hope you find things that make you happy.

And then there were 5!

2014-02-20T22:35:00.000-08:00

This has been the one blog that I have put off far to long. It stresses me thinking about it and gives me sick feelings, like at this moment I want to go crawl into bed and sleep instead of having to think about it.

Could it really be that bad well for me yes!

I have a lot in my head and may forget a few things and may also jump around in timeline time but that's just how crazy my life has been about all of this.

I have to finally blog it so I can move on and heal completely.

If any of this makes some mad or distressed I am sorry but I am already mad and distressed about this whole thing so join me.

Back at the beginning of 2011 Dude received a call from out of the blue from his sister. (she doesn't have a nickname but I guess it could be Prisoner1-it works so lets get back to it)

She called saying that she needed us to take in her youngest son because her oldest was aging out of Foster Care and would be leaving Canyon State (a place that takes in young men who seem to think rebelling is cool and help them see a better way.) and that she wouldn't be able to take him since she had a prison sentence coming soon and didn't want him to have to go to shelter or group home. Dude came to tell me about the phone call and we talked about it and talked to the kids about it too. We also talked to my parents and my Dad said we will treat him just like the others and of course would support us. (I have great parents BTW). Dude's parents said they didn't want to take him into their home but would help us with ANYTHING if we did do this. The kids said sure cause he is family and we take care of family when ever. (RIGHT??) Dude and I discussed things that we would expect from him if he did live with us. The main two were… He would go to school every day and get good grades and graduate (see his 8th grade year is almost non existent since he pretty much never went and was living with prisoner1 at the time who had better things to do than be a mother, and no one in his family have actually graduated from high school -mother, father, brother and sister)

next would be he would go to church with us and seminary and mutual with the other kids. He agreed to all of it. So with Prisoner1 going to jail in early June we signed paper work and went through background checks and a home inspection and the Nephew was allowed to come live with us.

Most people have looked a Nephew as a poor kid who just got the bad end of a deal cause of his parents, and while yes that is very true he by no means is a poor kid either.

So the nephew came just as summer had started and it seemed best since he would be able to adjust to home life and then school in a few months. It all seemed to be just the right fit. Our oldest Bugs and Nephew are just 3 months apart so yes it meant I had 2 soon to be 16 year old boys in my home.

During a meeting in that first month in our home CPS workers came and Prisoner1 and her other son came. She was not nice at this meeting claiming that if she didn't go to jail that she wanted his back with her. It was a horrible to hear her talk, like the Nephew was just a piece of property. I got a bit momma bear about it cause I knew that him living with her he would never get what he needed from life. The CPS worker said that it was not even an option for her to have him back. Her going to prison was going to happen even if she kept some how putting it off and off and off. (finally at the end of the year she went into prison and will be there for at least 5 years possibly longer I think)

He was quiet very quiet and never really talked to Dude or me directly, he would always go through Bugs. It was maddening to hear him mutter things and when you asked what he said he turned away, and then maybe 5 minutes later Bugs was coming to ask something for Nephew. Bugs got to a point that it drove him crazy to and told him to just ask us himself.

During that first summer he complained about his wrist that he had hurt while at Canyon State but that they checked it and said it was fine. So I made an appointment for the Dr and found out that it had been broken. So we had to go see a specialist and he told us that he could fix it two ways. Wear a cast for up to 5 months and let it heal or have surgery done and wear a cast for 2 months. I told Nephew it was his choice. He choose to wear the cast (cause that meant going to school and being not just the new kid but having a cast too would be all the more attention to him) we got home that first night and he hated the cast and the next day said he wanted to have the surgery. I was not happy, so I told him wear it till your next appointment and then we can talk about you changing your mind. So at the 1 month appointment when the Dr said there was no change and went to put another cast on I said Nephew "didn't you want to have the surgery now?" He looked a deer in the headlights said "oh yea can I?" (little things like this happened the entire time he was here say one thing and then say something else then change it again, I know kids and people in general do this all the time I know I do it too but the way he did it and about what he was doing it was the maddening part)

So we had the surgery so he would be ready to play basketball at school hopefully.

I won't give a day by day for the rest of this blog it would take way to long so here are points that stand out

When we first took the Nephew in we were encourage to become actual Foster Parents since Kinship Foster doesn't receive the funds like a actual Foster parent does. We were also told that since we were Kinship and he was already living with us it would go much faster getting it done. Come to find out that is not true at all. So for the first year we were given 53$ a month to take care of this 16 year old and 21$ of it was his allowance that the State of AZ gives Foster kids. So we actually only had 30$ to feed and take care of him. I had just quit my flower shop job earlier in the year thinking it would help with our youngest (for school) and now with nephew here to I needed to be home.

Savings were depleted we struggled but with the help of family and a great church Ward we kept moving forward.

Everyday got a bit easier adjusting to having a 6th person in our home. We got an extra chair to be able to sit at the table to eat. I had to make extra food cause he was a 2nd and 3rd kind of kid when it came to dinner.

Back to becoming Foster Parents--This is my experience remember so if you have been or are a Foster I congratulate you! Our experience was one that has made me for sure never want to be one again EVER! We struggled to find an agency (you have to go through an agency the STATE doesn't do that part of Foster but the STATE will tell you what you can and can't do!) We found one in Mesa and were then told there was a 10 week class that met one night a week for 3 hours for those 10 weeks, we told them no we were a Kinship foster and would be fast tracked though and not have to take classes. They very so politely told us that was not the case everyone must attend these classes in order to be licensed Foster parents. So we had to drive in to Mesa for 10 weeks to be at a class that met from 6-9 pm. Ugh it was the worse cause then we had to turn around and get back home around 10 and be back up for Newspapers at 12:30 to deliver papers. Dude had a hard time with the no sleep so I took over the papers myself as much as I could so he could sleep since he had to work in the morning. It was not easy but we did it. 10 weeks of classes that had NOTHING to do with us as a Kinship foster. It was all based on people who will be taking children not related to them and etc. Me and Dude would sit there trying not to get upset but the whole car rides home we would just let it all out. Besides the 10 week classes (which by the way was no the State's choice, they wanted it done unlike 2 weekend classes, the agencies decided to make it 10 weeks.) We had to do another round of back ground checks,fingerprints, Dr appointments to show we were healthy to have the child, bank statements, questionnaires filled out about how we as children were taken care of (one questions asked how we were disciplined at the age of 0-3 years old 4-6 years old and so on) pictures of our family, the kids had to fill out questionnaire also, then our home had to be inspected a few times. (WE THINK WE DID AND GAVE MORE INFORMATION FOR HIM TO LIVE HERE THAT WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR HOME OR A CAR) So after the 10 weeks of classes we were coming up on the Nephew living with us for almost a year. He never said thanks for doing all this so I can live here.

We went on a vacation just after getting the 10 week class done it was our big trip we had been planning for the last 3 years to go to Florida with my whole family for parents 40th anniversary. Yes we took the Nephew it was hard but we did cause it was important to include him in everything. We even took family pictures(my whole side of the family)with him in them.

Just before we left on this vacation the Nephew got a girlfriend.

AND EVERYTHING CHANGED!!!

From that moment on life in this home changed forever!

We noticed right away how different he was. That shy and oh poor never got to do anything fun Christian was just a fake front he had put on for all to see.

We gave him a cell phone so he would be able to contact us when ready for rides since he had started playing basketball. We joked that Bugs was doing 3000 texts a month what would he do, he in all seriousness said "I will blow that away easy". And he certainly did. It was more like 8000-9000 a month. He would text from the moment he woke up till the moment he went to bed. On the weekends it was every single minute he was texting sometimes 2-3 texts a minute. IT WAS INSANE! When we would talk to him about it he never had a reason and would say I will try to cut back. That never happened. It was like he couldn't stop. He then started asking to go over to the girlfriend's house, which I never thought twice about. His grades slipped and when called out on it he would say oh you start out each semester with an F so I am having to catch up. Dude and I looked at each other with astonishment so I emailed teachers and got back the response of NO that was not the case. So when we talked to him about it he then changed his answer. Even denying what he had said before as a thats not what I meant.

This is when it was realized just how much he lies.

Again I know kids lie sure, but mine don't so having one on a day to day basis do it right to my face was aggravating.

Then came the 2nd summer of his life here in our home. We always have friends and family over for the Fourth of July since it is also Dude's Birthday. Nephew asked if his girlfriend could come over for it. We said yes of course she could. Dude spoke with Bugs and Nephew about the right way to behave with girlfriends.

So that night it was clear that our talk was not listened too. Dude's Dad even spoke to Dude about what he kept seeing all night long. The sitting so close it was like on top of each other, heads in laps, and kissing longer than needed. We also received a letter from Dude's mother asking pretty much to the fact of what have we done letting him act this way. When we spoke with Nephew we found out that he was a very sexually active person before living with us. But that him and his girlfriend here had not done anything like that. I returned an email to the in~laws letting them know this and that it was not us changing him into a sexually active boy that he came that way and we were trying to curb this at every possible point. We also found out that the girlfriend lived with her Grandma and had pretty much unlimited free will. So all those times he was over at her house…you guessed it Grandma wasn't home. Then is was found out that yes they had become sexually involved. It killed us. Dude and I weren't prepared for this cause again our kids weren't in this place. We thought the only thing we can do it limit them seeing each other checking texts and keeping better contact with the Grandma. It all seemed to be working.

We struggled with how do you teach a teenager how not to lie at every moment, not be so sexually involved and not always feel so self entitled. We would ask for help and advise on these matters and we prayed a lot! It helped at times.

I felt like I was going crazy trying to understand the whys and hows. If you are reading this and you got to hear me rant about stuff thank you for listening and helping me through. The strain on our family started to change us all. We used to do a lot as a family but that kind of stopped. I would explain it as working with someone who always lied to your face and never helped out much but seemed to be the favorite of the boss. That is how life with the Nephew was. He lived here with us as part of our family but was then also treated differently or separately by certain people. He never had any qualms about asking for things from the in~laws. It was hard on our kids they saw it but never said anything about it. Why did Nephew get this or have that. It was just the way it was. When we needed extra help it was always there which was a relief but there were times where it was questioned which was hard. Dude and I had many talks or arguments about him living here. I was ready to have him gone. It was killing me to have him here. We had changed our whole lives for this one person to live with us bent over backwards for him to be here, we even had to renew the Foster license which was another round of run around. We went 4 months with no State help again the strain on our family and finances was great. But Nephew kept on lying about much and living here but not being apart of this family really. It hurt knowing you have done so much.

December of 2013 the Nephew turned 18. Which meant it was time to start talking about what the Foster Care program calls Independent Living. As long as he was living with us and going to school we would still receive money. But when he was ready to sign the papers he would then receive money directly and would begin to pay us as a way to learn to be on his own paying bills and such. The only catch was he had to have grades of C or higher which he NEVER was able to have and go to counseling. See we realized that the Nephew needed help with emotions and learning about love and why lying was and would be harmful. I think he only knows love as getting things like it was with the girlfriend or grandparents. If I am getting something that means they love me. That was a bit of an eye opener to finally see.

Then January 10 it was before we left for papers the Nephew came to Dude and asked to move out. It was a shock. He only had 3 months left of school why ruin it. Dude said yes. When he told me I asked why now. Sure I was happy it was asked but again why now. So Sunday we sat him down and asked him why now. I was not going to let him get away with lying this time. I called him on everything. He at one point said that he didn't like the rules we had set for him. Or that we didn't trust him. So I asked when he went to live with his friend what would he do. He said I would help around the house and follow her rules. I then said so you will follow her rules but not ours?? Makes little sense right. He got all flustered and just quit talking and said what ever Shana yea what ever. It was the worse talk we had with him. So Dude asked him to write it down on papers why he was leaving. Wow what a reason he gave and how fake. Another thing Nephew learned in his life was to always say what people wanted to hear not what he actually thought or believed. It was a trait he learned from his mom I am sure and that his brother and sister also use. Monday morning January 13th I got home from papers is was about 3:30 in the morning I was checking on some things with Verizon but needed to reset the phone Nephew uses. It was again with a lock code which he had been asked over and over not to do. I woke him up and had him unlock it. I fixed what I needed to and then decided to check his messages to maybe find out what the real reason was for leaving. It was another disappointment, his conversation with his new girlfriend (a girl who lives in Phoenix and has wanted to be with since moving all the way out here)about how horrible we were for asking for money for him to keep living here when we never asked of that before. That family was suppose to take care of each other always. He let this go on and on her tearing us apart making us look like horrible people, never once saying no to any of the things she said. The comment he came up with IT IS WHAT IT IS! Not I need to pay them cause the money now comes to me instead of them, and all the other things we had done. IT IS WHAT IT IS! Wow. I woke Dude and said you need to read this. More than anyone in this family Dude had always hoped for the best in him. Always defending him. And yet here again the Nephew treating us like dirt. I sent a message to the girlfriend just letting her know that what she was thinking was totally incorrect. I set her right. Well the Nephew wasn't happy with it. And when he questioned me about it and started to say horrible things to me I turned into a stark raving mad lady! I lost it, and lost it huge! I look back and am not happy with what happened or what was said but it happened and it is done. Dude had his parents come and get the Nephew and I packed him up while he was at school for that last day.

I know that since him moving out he has needed help since he isn't getting the money he needs since he probably isn't getting the grades or going to counseling. He knew it may take a few months to get the money. Yet he chose to leave early how is he going to learn to be on his own if he keeps getting more help. I would never not help someone but I know that if someone chooses something they need to be in charge of themselves and stand on their own, not others bank accounts.

There are many examples of the past 3 years that hurt our family in so many ways but to go over them on here isn't needed. I have said much. It is done I need to be done with it.

Time to heal and heal we are doing.

Thanksgiving and Christmas 2013

2014-02-11T16:10:00.001-08:00

The two favorite holidays of the year and I pretty much missed them both. I was there for them but as for lots of photos and memories not so much. I have reasons that in my mind make it ok but to the record keeping for my family it isn't ok.

So Thanksgiving was at my Mom's this year. She got this table that she has been dying to have everyone sit around and have a nice meal together. Thanksgiving is hard on our family since we as you know throw newspapers and Thanksgiving is the biggest one of the year! So getting up in the morning and having to look happy about being up that early is hard and then have to drive into Mesa is just long and long! But we made it and it was a great time. (again no photos sorry) My grandma and grandpa Scott made it which was so nice, my kids have always called them grandma and grandpa Walkerman. It is from the the tv show Walkerman with Chuck Norris any way he wore a cowboy hat and my kids always saw grandpa with one to so the name stuck and even now years later they still refer to them as that.

oh I do have some photos of my Chalking that I did of Thanksgiving

I have always like writing on things, and chalk is fun to use. One day I would like to think I would have a business that I did chalking for others and my whole family helped with it.

Dreams baby Dreams!!!

Me and Bugaboo at the Christmas concert

Eminem had a Christmas concert I remember that and it was beautiful as always. Her Director Mr W, is AWESOME! He challenges the kids at every moment. I really like that about him. Cause even when she is upset and I say she can quit if she wants she keeps going cause she knows it's the best thing. She has had Mr. W since 5th grade and they have become good friends over the years

She play the bass clarinet in the Wind Ensemble.

This is Eminem with the tallest bass clarient player ever (we will call him J)

See what I mean TALL!!!!
One cool thing that happened during the concert was I got to quietly FaceTime with my Mom and Dad who were in Texas visiting my Brother Alan and his family. So instead of seeing me I pointed it at the concert so they could hear a song or two.
It worked great, Thanks for FaceTime Apple!!
Here is my Chalk for Christmas

And here is our Christmas Tree. Bugs does the decorating of it cause it stresses me to much.

He always does a great job!
The only other exciting thing that happened was Eminem got a guinea pig. It was tiny and didn't eat much or do much and one fateful night she had it out on the couch with her and it scurried across the back of the couch and Rufus (2 year old Beagle) decided it was a toy and full on tried to bite it to like carry it off like a bone. It was so sad we held it trying to comfort it, I thought it had the hiccups, but then it looked straight up and tried to take a breath it was then I realized it was gasping for air not having the hiccups.
I quickly called Dude and asked him what to do. We decided to call Petsmart and see what they would say. They were so nice and said we could bring it in and get another if we wanted to. We left it up to Eminem, at first I don't think she wanted to have another one but when we got there her heart needed that spot healed and so we got another one. This new one she named Tonto. She loves Johnny Depp and so anything he has played was a possible name for the pig. Tonto was chosen because the pig has some black lines around one of his eyes. I then gave him the name Tonto D2. play on words sure (I do love star wars too)
He has been a fun pet.

There you have it Thanksgiving and Christmas rolled up neatly and blogged.

TOFW

2014-01-21T15:28:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been to Time of For Women?

Me either until this year when my friend, Whitealicious, asked

if Eminem and I would like to go. I was so excited to be

asked and nervous too. These ladies sure know how to have fun. It was truly amazing.

A cool part of this weekend was they had a version for

teenage girls too. So my Eminem got to go with.

She had just as much fun as I did.

The talks were just what I needed to hear

and the music and singing was fun too.

I can't thank Whitealicious enough for asking

me and Eminem to go. It was the best time ever.

State Fair…2013

2014-01-21T14:41:00.003-08:00

we went to the Arizona State Fair this year.

We played a few games went on a ride and ate lots of

unhealthy food.

a few of us were not so interested

in the farm animals

Eminem really wanted to win a Minion,

and after much trying and trying she got one.

Here is Dude and Eminem having a go at

the water gun game.

The Nephew would only try the basketball game

I didn't get pics of it cause

he kept going off to

try with out us watching him.

(guess it made him nervous)

Dude won the grumpy Minion and gave it to

Bugs who in turned gave it

to KiKi.

It was a great time and the weather was wonderful.

2014-01-21T14:12:00.002-08:00

Yes this happened(back in October). I can't say why I did it but I enjoyed having it done. My mom wasn't so sure about it and rightly so but I said "Shana you're an adult now it is ok". It was either pink or blue. It is all washed out now and maybe the blue will be fun like a winter theme. Who knows!!!

Meatball Tacos

2013-10-31T16:37:00.004-07:00

If your kids are like mine they seem to love Meat balls. There is just something about them that the kids just always ask for them. So one day while making my list for dinners I thought hmmmm, kids love tacos and love meatball how about put them together. So it went up on the menu and a few people asked about them so I did take photos and here it the how to.

I use 2 lbs of ground beef cause I have boys that eat like there's no tomorrow. If you want to just do

1 lb this will still work just cut back on some of the mix ins.

For every lb of meat I use 1 cup of oats, ( so mine I used 2 cups) then I added a packet of taco seasoning (if you do 1 lb use 1/2 of taco seasoning) then I dump (I don't measure much of anything I like to dump and pour and guess) some red enchillada sauce in a small can of green chilies and 2 eggs.

Mix all together, if seems a bit to mushie then add more oats to soak up some moisture.

Next make them in to balls (you can pick the size you like for your family) and then roll in flour.

Then when you have a full tray you fry them in some oil not a lot but about enought to coat the pan about 1/4 inch or so, just to brown the outsides

Then put them in a pan and cook in oven at 400 for about 30-45 minutes

(make sure cooked all way through)

then you just assemble them and enjoy.

They were a total hit. Now that I have thought about it

you could still do 2 lbs and freeze the ones you don't use and have them next time so no need to wait just pop in microwave and enjoy. Could also use them on taco salad.

Hope you get to try them let me know if they worked for you.

Joy of TEETH

2013-10-31T16:18:00.001-07:00

That moment you realize you have put it off far to long

and it needs to happen…yup that is me and the DENTIST!

I have to admit I am not good at making sure my not so little ones make it to the dentist every 6 months. There are a million and one reasons but I won't list them cause it doesn't make it any better why we haven't gone.

When my sister started her career I thought cool now we will go and go often.

Then she changed jobs and so I changed my mind. (bad mom)

When we moved out here to "boonie land"

I took them that first year all the way back into Mesa,

the place had just opened and they were awesome. Then it got to be the "all the way into Mesa" was just to much for me (another bad mom). Time ticked away and baby teeth started to become permenant teeth and they weren't as straight and white as those cute baby teeth. Then Bug~a~boo hit his tooth with a skate board I thought nothing of it he said he was ok, but as the years when on we noticed the front tooth turning inward and getting a tiny black spot on it. Next Eminem was noticing that all he front teeth were just a mess. But again I thought it was ok. (way bad mom). When

Dude got his new job and we got dental insurance again I was like ok lets get this done.

And NOW…

Bug~a~boo had to have a root canal and a crown and some fillings

This is fillings and root canal day

Now Bug~a~boo is set with his new crown and a reason to smile!!!

Next was Eminem

She has a serious over bite and the roof of her mouth needed so expanding.

She is now in braces for the next 3 years maybe 2 so just in time for graduation pictures. I have to say she also smiles alot more now.

Next was Bugs, who needed fillings and his top wisdome teeth pulled but we are waiting on that till after school to due during the summer before he leaves on his mission. Bugs is also not good at the dentist, his brain tells him he feels everything even with pain meds so this time we asked for gas!! And he loved it!!! Says he will go all the time now.

They are all such troopers considering all that had to be done. And yes I have learned my lesson, Everyone has their next 6 month appointment already scheduled.

The amazing "NAKED" Roman sandwich

2013-10-07T15:10:00.001-07:00

There was this place I use to eat at when I worked at the flower shop it was

called the Picnic Company. They had all these cool names for all the sandwiches they made.

The one that was the best ever was called the Roman.

ROMAN PICNIC

sliced pepperoni, fresh mozzarella, sliced hard salami, Romaine lettuce, Roma tomato, red onion, olive oil, cracked black pepper, mayonnaise and hot honey mustard on a roll

HOWEVER!!

I always left things off of it.

(I have never been one to have a "salad" on my sandwich)

The guy who always made it for me laughed

when he would make it cause I left

things off of it to the point that he renamed my sandwich

to the "NAKED ROMAN"

Then they closed (sad face) and I was like what am I going to do with no way

to have that sandwich. So I did what I like to do, I made my version of it better and cheaper.

My kids and Dude love them, it's become a staple of our dinner menus.

Here is the way I make them...

(if you find you like the stuff that I leave off add them back on)

I use any type of roll and some times I use sour dough bread.

I butter the rolls and sprinkle some garlic powder on them and put them face down on the panni grill.

Then I take the pepperoni and hard salami (the kids like ham on it too) and mozzarella (sometimes I also use provalone cheese too) and layer it in

a bowl and put in the microwave to heat the meat and melt the cheese.

Next I take the mayo and the italian dressing (if you don't have olive oil the dressing works great) and mix them together.

Then I brush the roll with the mixture and then the honey mustard.

Then I place the heated up good stuff on the roll and oh YUM!

There you have it "NAKED" ROMAN sandwich.

We eat it with chips or salad or even mozzarella sticks

and sometimes all of them!

I hope you all give it a try and enjoy it as much as we do here!

It's Marching Band Season!!

2013-10-07T14:11:00.002-07:00

For most people this is what is considered FOOTBALL season.

But here in our home it is MARCHING BAND season.

Since the 8th grade our Eminems has been in the high school marching band.

8th and 9th grade she played the clarinet in the band and then

10th and 11th grade she switched to the color guard

(which she loves doing)

8th grade year the band was only able to preform at the football games, since the 8th grade was in the band it wasn't allowed to compete in competitions.

When 9th grade came the band was able to finally and compete.

They did awesome. They didn't make it to State Festival or STATE.

but they did so good and it was just their first year.

Then last year 10th grade they made it State Festival and then STATE!

They got 9th place but hey for only being in their seond year of competing that was awesome!

Then we come to this year 11th grade, so far they have competed in the Basha Invotational (got second place) and then the Gilbert Invatational (got second place). These two competitions qualified them for State Festival and from there they hope to go on to STATE!

Thank heavens for Little Girls...

2013-09-24T22:24:00.000-07:00

Remember the movie GIGI!

and that oh so cute and endearing song.....

Thank heavens, thank heavens, thank heavens for little girls!

16 years ago I thought that very thought.

My "Eminems" was born. She was so beautiful and perfect.

The day she was born was the episode of the show "Mad about You" when they

name their daughter Mabel, we went with Emalee.

I choose to spell it the way I did leaving off the other M cause I didn't want her to go by EMMA.

I know you may think I don't look happy in this but I was just really tired. This was our third trip to the hospital too. Dude told the nurse when we go there that this time we weren't leaving!

We knew she was going to be a girl and were so very excited.

This was the day of her blessing. She was given the name Emalee Marie. We called her "peaches" for the longest time cause she was so well peach compared to her brother Bugs. Then as time went on we started to call her Eminems, yes I know it is the spelling for the rapper but she didn't like the candy version of spelling it, and we say it with an "s" on the end.

My wonderful SIL, I call her TexasRose (phone list contact), and her mother gave me a baby shower for her. It was so helpful cause I had nothing girlie even though we knew she was going to be a girl.

This is 4 generations...my great grandma, my mom, me and my grandma

This is Eminem's the 4 generations....

grandma (my mom,) mom (me), Eminems, and great grandma (my grandma)

hope you enjoyed the trip down memory lane.

Happy birthday Eminems! I love you so much and very proud of you!

18

2013-09-19T00:24:00.001-07:00

Today was the day that 18 years ago

I became a Mommy for the first time!

That's right BUGS turned 18 today.

Me and Dude were so young back then.

Thank goodness Bugs was

a great baby cause we were so nervous!

We always get the kids a early morning cake and a gift for just them to enjoy.

We started doing it when we took on the paper route.

It was easy cause we just picked it up on the way home and left it out

for them for when they woke up! I remember one year we

didn't/forgot and the kids were upest, and rightly so.

Every one wants their cake right.

Well it so happens that I thougth it would be fun to change it up a bit.

So I got 1 long john and 2 rounds, and TAADAA I have the #18!

It must have been a hit cause I was even hash tagged

by Bugs on his Facebook and InstaGram.

It was wonderfuland amazing

It is a tiny bit sad cause I am another day closer to seeing my son

leave on his mission for our church but I am excited all the same/

I know he will make an great missionary.

Happy 18th Birthday Bugs!!!

Day 1

2013-09-16T22:20:00.000-07:00

Ever heard or seen any of these phrases...

how about

this one?

Yes all of these are ROCKIN'

but here is

the best pic in this post.....

Yup it's me. I am on day 1 of doing the C25K. I am pretty sure it means "couch to 5 k". It is an app on my iPhone. It was free if you want to try it. I like it because it talks to me. It tells me when to run and when to walk. I need this kind of help cause for one I know I can't run and count to 60 at the same time and also listen to music. I am a blonde you know!!

Deep breath......

Any way the main reason I am starting this is because

I suffer from depression/anxiety/panic attakcs.

I know you maybe thinking "What YOU?" or maybe you are thinking "At least she is finally seeing what I have seen for a while now" At times I am unable to even get out of bed and I sleep for 18+hours.

It affects my family, my house and well me! I have always heard that running is great therapy and I long to be the me I was so long ago that didn't have this hiccup. I have tried therapy to and I loved it. It helped with a lot of things but other things it just wasn't for me. I have tired medications too. They helped sort of, but I felt more out of sorts than anything.

So I stopped the therapy and medications

and have turned to my feet for help.

I would rather walk/run ALONE but my wonderful daughter has offered to go with me. She is such an anchor in my crazy life which is good.

We laugh and beg for it to be over at the same times and we push each other to keep going too.

So I hope you all enjoy seeing my trails through all this walking/running that I plan on doing.

Heres to beating depression and getting my sexy back!

I have also added a button to my blog it is for bloglovin'

it is a quick and easy way to keep track of all

the blogs you love to read.

So please feel free to click that cute little button and follow me

(you can have bloglovin on your computer or your smartphone)

14!

2013-09-13T19:28:00.001-07:00

Nikolas turned 14 this past July. He is the youngest and the tallest.

I call him gigantor cause compared to me well he is! That's me standing flat footed behind him. I love this boy so much. He can push my buttons and drive me insane with always saying "Hi Mom" when ever I walk by him in the house. He is a great kid. Always thinking in the what if this or what if that mode, another thing that drives me crazy too.

This last month we were able to get his teeth taken care of. He had a front tooth that was not straight from an accident he had with a skateboard about 6 years ago. It also got a cavity in it. So was black and bent as Nik would say. But now...

He can smile all day long, and he does. He looks great.

The dentist did an amazing job.

So my baby is growing up and doing great. I am a blessed mom.

And yes in my phone he has a nickname is it "bugaboo".

He has had it since he was little.

So happy birthday Bugaboo, I love you!!!

Mush of stuff...Famous time?

2013-09-12T13:09:00.001-07:00

I have been thinking about a lot of things lately. Here are a few of them in no certain order. How life is not always what I want. Why can't picutes take themselves. Do I put to much on my Instagram? Is Facebook still my friend? What on Pinterest have I not found? And the biggest question of all...If I blogged more could I become FAMOUS?

Yes famous...there are so many blogs that I just look forward to reading (sometimes more than once a day). I was talking to my friend, I need to give her a nickname cause that's what I like to do (all my contacts in my phone have nicknames), about how I wished I blogged more and that is would be a blog that people loved reading and followed too. I wondered if I put one post a day would people like hearing from me? Would they want to hear what I have thought about for the day. Or what I cooked? Or pictures I snapped? Or how my dog is doing? Most of the blogs I love are full of stuff but what I love the most is they keep it so simple. Sure some can have a long post here and there but for the most part they are pure and simple. Which we all need right.

I thought this blog would be about my kids something for them to look back on as a sort of updated version of a scrapbook (which I tried to do but always epically failed at). However the more I have thougth about it I realize it doesn't always have to be about them...Right!

I can blog about... get this... ME too!!

So in my attempt to become a famous blogging person if you're reading this (which I am so glad you are) maybe let others know about it. Be one of the first that can say I knew her at the begining. Just kidding don't say anything like that at all. It will just make me embarresed and well I have been doing this blog for a few years now so it really isn't the beginning.

It's time.

2013-07-23T13:27:00.001-07:00

Here is a journal entry from my new DayOne app I got for free from the Anniversary of the App Store. I want to say this app has helped me in overcoming things and so now I feel I need to share it too.

I laid in bed this morning wondering why I am I unmotivated when I have really the easiest life right now. My kids are all teenagers which means they can feed and clothe and entertain themselves. My dog is now 2 so the puppy phase is over. I get to be a stay at home mom (SAHM) with access to my own car! And yet I dread every day. I read blogs of moms with younger children doing so many things all day long and yes they are tired and want a nap but still keep going and they blog about, Facebook it and even Instagram it. I work only at night for 3 hours tops. Papers are easy for me I am fast and good at it. The rest of the day should be easy. Blogging should be easy, taking pictures should be easy, working out should be easy, keeping up on house work should be easy, being active in my ward/church should be easy, making dinner or sweets should be easy. Cause I have nothing else to do! Yet I lay in bed and think I just can't! So last night I thought its time Shana time to change, be the person you want. Have fun with life this is the easiest it gets so take advantage of it. Enjoy yourself have a laugh or a cry. Be active not a bump in the bed that can't function cause it might not get done all the way or be the Martha Stewart way. So here's to change and may it be a good one and make smiles last forever!!!

Love ShanaMarie

AYFKM!!!!

2013-02-13T12:17:00.000-08:00

Are You Freakin Kidding Me!

(AYFKM)

I just watch a few clips on Yahoo! this morning and I have to vent.

(please know this is my opinion and as such on my blog I am allowed)

There is a young womanhttp://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/utah-teen-kicked-class-because-her-hair-color-192700681.html in a Utah middle school that has been dying her hair a very pretty shade of red it makes her feel beautiful! I know this feeling when I color my hair I do feel lighter, happier and even more confident. But this school decided that cause in the sunlight it cast a shade of pinks and purples it was deemed a distraction and gave her a suspension!

There is a young man growing his hair out for Locks of Love he is just 1inch away from being at the 10 inch mark for it to be used to make wigs for children with cancer. What did the school do?

Threaten the boy with school suspension.

This makes me yell AYFKM! Have we really come to a place where we can't do things to make us feel better or help others?

My son hasn't cut his hair for almost 3 months now he is growing it out for http://www.stbaldricks.org , which is an organization that raises money for Children's cancer. (if you want to donate to my son's cause please let me know in an email he is trying to raise $100).

Last night my daughter was having me paint her nails for awareness week at school, Wednesday was purple for domestic violence. While doing this my son and nephew decided to do the same. So yes today my boys and girl had purple nails at school. If I had gotten a phone call saying my boys were in going to be suspend over this I would turn into a MOMMA BEAR and have to rip into someone.

It made me proud that they did this to show support of a cause! Why have we come to a point in life where we can't do this or we can't do that? I am not one easily offended by things in fact I see most things as a GOOD FOR YOU that you are doing that when it is a worthy thing.

But Burn a Flag and I will be all up in your face!

So I just need to vent and BTW my boys will have Pink nails tomorrow for another cause!

Only one ROUTE!!!

2013-02-12T13:38:00.001-08:00

YES! Set in stone and no going back.

We as a family looked hard at the way things have been going in our lives and realized we needed a change and it needed to be a huge one! We have been flirting with the idea of giving up one of our paper routes for a long time now, just always seemed like it wouldn't be a thing we could do. When we went on our wonderful Vacation to Disney World we saved and saved not only for the trip but to pay some one to throw our papers too! I know Right how sad is that!! Think of all the $$ we could have had on the trip. This is one of the down falls of papers, you can't just call in sick or take a few days off it is your business and as such you have to take care of it ALL THE TIME! When Dude got his new job we knew it would be hard for him to do papers and turn around and head to work. So through this past summer me and the kids did it, he helped on the weekends. Then came the fall and the route began to climb and I kept doing it alone no big thing at first it jumped to 500, and then came December and I was throwing an average of 850 every night and our District Manager gave us a 30 day notice cause of misses. (back note my routes have at least 5-8 stops and starts a day which can get to be alot when you're throwing papers) (silly snow birds think they can come and go all the time). So with the termination hanging over my head the weight of so many papers on my shoulders and still life at home with 4 teenagers and a hubby I had had it! I talked with the kids about it and they were all in the stage of hating it as much as I did the next person to convince was Dude. So when I talked to him about it he at first was like we are already there throwing what is another hour? I explained that he needed to start helping everynight then. My body was breaking down I couldn't keep it up. Well I don't think he liked that much so We all talked and talked and decided that end of January we were done.

And now I don't hate it as much! I get up at the same time but I am done way earlier than ever and I don't stress (as much). I am a bit happier and that is a plus. I have to say that through all the crap of it the best thing came from it was that I got time with my kids. Time that alot of parents don't get with their kids. We are a close family we do alot that most don't with teenagers, like go to movies, dinner out, shopping. By this age I was done with family time for the most part. But my kids are so different and I like that I know them and get to hear things that maybe I wouldn't if it hadn't been for it being 2:30 in the am.

Would I ever tell someone to take on a paper route the answer is NO! It sucks the life from you, you age faster, blah blah blah just like other jobs I am sure, I am not saying it is only papers.

Sorry this is a lame post and has no fansy pics or anything else. But I wanted to get it out there.

40 years!! What to DO??

2013-01-10T13:30:00.000-08:00

Ok so I re--looked at this post that I was working on and like I said I am feeling the panic but I am going to post this any way the way it is...this is but a tiny bit of the pictures I had to post and it looks like I got alot of them labled. Enjoy the ones with no caption I am sure you can figure out what they are

My parents 40th anniversary is this year (Jan 28) and my mother decided she wanted to make it a super special event for the entire family. (side note it is also my Father's birthday and even though he doesn't like to make it a big deal and that the anniversary is more important they are on the same day and we still celebrate it too). So about 3 years ago we started talking about what we wanted to do. We had decided to go on the Disney Cruise, something we have never done, but as it got closer Mom decided she wanted to got to Disney World. Mom, Dad Shana and Alan had been many many years ago when we lived in Georgia. It was decided March 2012 was the time and we would be off on the biggest thrill of a life time. 5 days on visiting the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!!! Mom and Dad said they would rent the house all the rest of us had to just get there and get in. (small and simple task right LOL). We began planning and saving a lot of saving. And before we knew it the time was here. We flew from Phoenix to Orlando. Alan and Mellanie and their family flew from Texas and met us there. Here are a few pics from the total adventure. The first one of course is of my parents who never fail to let everyone know how much in love they really are! They are like newly weds, we all have become used to it and to be honest we love that they let us know it too!!

Caught in the act... Just like newly weds!

All smile for the LONG plane ride.
Toni and Emalee

Awe the boys doing what they enjoy most. Loved that on the plane they were unplugged for the most part.

Nikolas had never been on a plan and just loved seeing all the cool patterns on the ground.

Here is half of us the Crazy ones! lol
Mom, Dad, Chuck and Aaron were in front of us which I am sure they were happy about.

Here is the awesome 8 bedroom house my parents found it was amazing. We had so much room to actually live and not get one each others nerves. There was also a pool and spa and game room. We were less then 10 minutes from Disney World which was the best part for sure. We were able to go home in the afternoon to eat and then rest and head back to Disney.

Me chillin by the pool while the kids get out the pent up energy from the flight.

Here we are arriving at the first day! (do you also see what I see I had to take a double take the van in front of us I thought it was the Hallidays! wishful thinking)

Chuck and Nikolas waiting while Mom and Dad (grandma and grandp) got our tickets!

My boys getting ready for FUN!!

As the sign above says...LET THE MEMORIES BEGIN!!!

The family on our first day! (Dad, Mom, Emalee, Chuck, Shana, Aaron, Nikolas, Toni, Nathan, Christian) Alan and his family went to Kennedy Space Center this day.

When we go to Disney Land we always ride Haunted Mansion first so since we were at Disney World we decided that the first ride should be Haunted Mansion

We made it out alive. For some reason I forgot to get a pis of the actual ride oops! It was fabulous.

Nathan and Christian in the gallows. I might need a set of these at home when they aren't listening to me!

LOL I even got Dude to get into it!

The Hallidays gave us a picture scavenger hunt to do here are a few of the items.

This one is a hidden mickey. It is a wrist band of Nikolas' we got it from the Pirates of the Carribean ride we all saw the skulls and crossbones and then Nikolas said hey I see Mickey!

Another item was "DINGLE HOPPER" Yes we are all combing our hair with a fork oops I mean Dingle Hopper. (watch the Little Mermaid if you are confused)

Disney Hollywood Studios Rollin Roller Coaster

Our first time on the Rockin Roller Coaster we had no idea what to expect! It was totally awesome. They say the ride shoots you out so fast that it carries your threw the whole ride! Wow.

We rode 2 more times but this time we knew where the flash for the camera was and we POSED!! 1st was the ROCK ON sign!!!

3rd time we did the MINI ME sign from Austin Powers (no I am not recommending this movie but it makes for a funny pose). Dad was in process of putting hand up but missed it. We almost had to ride again but decided to go on to the next ride.

Yup you guessed it HOLLYWOOD TOWER OF TERROR

This was our first time on it...We rode this another 3 times but I am not finding the pics....hhmmmm

My Dad found his Ford Truck

Dad and Nikolas updated pose from a few years ago together at Disney Land.

Nikolas is almost as tall as Grandpa! watch out

Emalee was on a pin buying spree. She bought and traded the entire time!

We had a snack at the ABC commissary, Emalee found this poster of one of her favorite shows.

To bad she can't drive yet!!

Emalee and Bo the Coke Guy!!

The giant hat @ Hollywood Studios

Up next it is....

Nikolas cooling off inside Star Tours. The line moved pretty fast which was nice.

Check out our cool glasses!! ( I think the magic number for all the cool rides was 3.) We did this one too 3 times each one was different, We loved it.

Quick video of my Dad he got picked to be an extra for the INDIANA JONES stunt show.

He was awesome!

2013!

2013-01-10T13:17:00.005-08:00

Many of us are reaffirming that we will be better bloggers this year and I am joining the ranks! I can't say that I will be able to catch up on all the last years things cause there was alot of them. So maybe once in a while I will do what I call a FLASHBACK and mention things that have happened. I have to say one reason I lost the blogger in me was my vacation to Florida. I had so many pictures that I wanted to post and label and make all cutesie but it just wasn't happening for me. For a good few months I sat down and got all the panic attacks you can imagine. So I would walk away. Then see that a beautiful friend would post something and I would think I have time why can I not just do this, and then...Another panic attack! Life in my home has been turned on its head. The stress levels have brought me to have to be on highblood pressure meds and what I call "crazy pills" It's ok I am happy to be on both and I even had some counseling for a few months (which my daughter thinks I still need to be going to). So all this being said WELCOME BACK to my blog.

She is 14!!!

2012-02-20T10:45:00.000-08:00

WOW my beautiful Emalee is 14! She has been doing so much this year. She is officially in high school! I am still amazed at all she has done being a year ahead and now she plans to move even more ahead! Her goal originally was to graduate early (with her brother) but she has since decided to instead start college while in high school. So the plan now is when she graduates she will be a JR in college already! She wanted to go into Forensics be like Abby on NCIS. But now she has changed it up a bit and added to it and now wants to do Forensics Anthropology like Temperace Brennan on BONES. I know these are both tv shows but if it leads my girl to a career then kuddos! She also says when she is famous and making alot of money she will take care of me and fly me to Hawaii once a year! So heck yes Emalee.

She decided to stay in Marching Band and we went to all of her performances! The Combs Marching Band got to go to a lot of competitions this year and even made it to the State Festival! We love cheering for her and seeing how well the band has progressed just in one year!

Back in October she started to show spots on her upper legs and back of her arms that itched a bit but hurt more than anything, I thought maybe it was Shingles so I called my Mom since my Dad has had them and compare things. After talking to her we decided it wasn't that at all. So I gave her some medicine and thought it will go away on its own. The next morning I came into the family room and saw this

Her lips were three times their normal size, I freaked out and called the Dr. They had us come in and said it was an allergic reaction to something. We started to go over what she had done lately that was different and came up with nothing, then Dr Trevor listened to her breathing and said she needed to go to the ER right away. So we headed off to Banner Ironwood and go right in. They gave her a bunch of meds in an IV. Never having been in a hospital before she was great. They sent us home and said to keep giving her benedryl and gave us a prescription for an EPI pen. I was freaked but held it together. We let it go a few days and the swelling in her lips started to go down, then she was sleeping all the time. She would go to be at like 6pm and sleep all night and when time for school she just was to tired to get up. She told me the spots were still there and getting more of them. Another call to the DR and we went in and this time Dr. Jensen saw her and said that her spots were erythema nodosum, he then decided to run some blood test cause he was pretty sure that this was Valley Fever. Sure enough it was. We were happy to now what it was but worried all the same. She still gets tired a lot but most of the other symptoms are gone. We didn't have to see a specialist or go on an meds which was a nice thing. We keep an eye out for anything in case it flares up again.

At church Emalee moved up in to Mia Maids and is now the 2nd counselor she is very excited as are we.

Pretty exciting year for Miss Emalee!