The move to Folsom was a little rough for my guys, but in May we moved again when we closed on a house we bought here in Yuba City. And then it got really rough. The boys missed their friends from both places, and were having a rough time making friends with new ones here. Helaman did a bunch of fun classes through the rec department that he loved, including lego and art classes. But still didn’t make any friends. I thought it would get better when school started, but it didn’t.

By the time school finally began Helaman was in a funk. He was fine at home with us, but hated going to church, and felt really lonely. And still stressed from so much changed in such a short amount of time. Then once he got to school he was okay for the first couple weeks, but as routine settled in, he got more and more bored. There wasn’t anything they were learning in first grade that he didn’t already know. The slow pace of teaching other kids things that were already clear to him was really getting to him, and he started acting out. I think to entertain himself. He was never doing anything really bad, just distracting and crazy.

One day I got a call from his teacher after school. They just didn’t know what to do with him. He wasn’t being “send to the principal’s office” bad, but nothing seemed to be working. He’d stop whatever distracting thing he was doing when you asked him to, but there was always something else coming. (It reminded me of Please Don’t Eat the Daisies). The next day I got a call from the Vice Principal. Helaman had been in his office 3 times already that day. By the time I went to pick him it up it was 6 times in one day!

I have to pause here to say the school was great. When I was talking to teachers and administrators through all of this, no one was ever angry, and everyone was just trying to figure out how to best help Helaman.

Okay, so back to my story. After talking to Mr. Mogenheimer (the VP) after school that day with me, Helaman came home and spent the afternoon picking up buckets of rocks in the back yard and went straight to bed after homework and dinner. I didn’t yell at him, but I figured he had to know that this wasn’t okay in our family. And then I started fasting. I felt so overwhelmed, and confused, and lost. I had no idea what to do next.

On the way to school the next morning, I felt like I needed to tell Helaman it was a new day, and we could pretend yesterday just didn’t happen and start all over. It was a new beginning. His face lit up at the idea, he looked like such a burden had been lifted. I have to say I know that feeling!

The VP was in his classroom observing the next two days. The first day after the terrible horrible no good very bad day he was better but still jittery. I went to meet with Mr. M. before school got out that day to talk about what he had seen and what we do from here. And as I talked to him, not because of anything he said, and not from my own genius, I suddenly knew what we had to do.

When school was out I went to talk to Mrs. Torres. We decided that instead of trying to make Helaman slow down and sit while she taught the class how to do work he had already finished we would give him other work to do. The next day I sent a packed of stapled blank pages, and he’s allowed to do art whenever he is done with his work. He’s done some amazing work, and the behavior problems have vanished completely. I’m so grateful that Heavenly Father knew exactly what Helaman needed when I had no idea.

The concept of starting over has been really good for him in many ways. Somehow that released him from the funk he had been in with other kids, and he immediately started making friends and playing at recess instead of sitting alone on the bench. He’s like a new kid. So happy. And I can’t explain how happy that makes me!

Meanwhile, his teacher is working on testing him to see how far advanced he really is from where he should be at the beginning of first grade and we’ll make a plan from there. The principal tells me it’s a nice problem to have. I hope he’s right. And I know with Heavenly Father guiding me through this, life can be right for my boy.

I should also say that one day during all of this, I suddenly felt like it was really important to sign my boys up for flag football. One of the kids from Helaman’s church class ended up being on his team, and it’s made all the difference for him at church, too. They have started including him, and he feels like they like him now, and he belongs. What a difference two weeks can make!

So where are we? Well, for the next three months we are in Folsom living in temporary housing provided by Aerojet (aka a pretty small, but hey it’s free so whose complaining, apartment). We haven’t lived in an apartment since right after college, and it’s not as glamorous as Curious George makes it look on t.v. Especially when you happen to get the apartment right underneath the magical one where people turn into elephants upon entry. Really. Good thing Helaman figured out what was going on, because we were really befuddled by all the noise before he figured out the elephant scenario. Now it makes perfect sense.

But I digress and get ahead of myself at the same time. Let me back up. Why are we where we are?

A couple of months ago Omar applied for a job at Aerojet here in the Sacramento area. He had worked here before going to China Lake, and just happened to look late one night and saw and opening. We didn’t hear anything for months, and had forgotten the whole thing when they called with an offer that was too good to resist. Well, actually, we decided to resist and then when we prayed about it the Good Lord once again got the pleasure of telling the two of us (who truly think we are smarter than anyone else in the world) that it was a nice try but we had chosen wrong once more. So Omar took the job and was given a start date that was two weeks away! He barely had time to give notice at China Lake before he was off.

The boys and I stayed behind and let Helaman finish the last week of school before vacation and then came and stayed with Omar and his mom’s house in Gridley for a little more than a week. Then Omar came back to Ridgecrest with us for a few days during Aerojets year end shut down. And then he was gone again. The plan was that the boys and I would stay in Ridgecrest and wait for the house to sell, but having our family split up just never felt right. We having wonderful families who offered to let us stay with them, and we were so grateful for the offer, but decided we needed to have our own family together. So we moved into temporary housing for three months here in Folsom.

We’ll be here for three months, and then? Well, that’s our life lately, not quite sure what is coming next. But we have faith that as long as we keep praying and following His counsel we’ll be okay and in the right place wherever that is whenever that is. Our house is still for sale in Ridgecrest, most of our stuff in storage, and we are settling happily (most of the time) into a smaller simpler life for now.

Although we definitely miss our friends, and our ward, and our house.

Speaking of houses, anybody need a house?

Mr. Isaiah Anything-You-Can-Do-I-Can-Do-Better Valle was convinced that he was also a Racer, and wasn’t very understanding about not being able to practice and play with the big kids. But he still had a lot of fun this soccer season because his friend Logan’s sister was on our team and they got to play at all the games and practices. They were super cute together–they are both very active and talkative and play really well. It was a great season and the boys are already excited about Fall. (Well, the little boys, dad likes having his life back. )

I’ve though a lot about what makes everyone love Ruthie so much. I think it’s a couple of things. For one things she is totally genuine. She loves life, and lives it to the fullest. She always has, from playing sports, to being dragged on shopping trips with Jeanie to traveling the world. And her joy at the world is contagious and makes you feel more alive when you are around here. Like your braver and stronger because she is.

And she really is brave. She left so much to move to Gridley and farm with my Grandpa. Her family, religion, and country. Not unlike the Biblical Ruth she was named after. It wasn’t easy, but she embraced her new family and religion with all her heart, so that to a Carlin, she is not a in-law, but a loved family member. She loves the States (and Canada, still!) and even became a citizen. And she has been a rock from the moment the Holy Ghost confirmed the truthfulness of the gospel to her, never-wavering and constantly serving the Lord she loves. She is just as much a heroine as the Ruth in the Bible her father named her after.

But most of all, I think it’s her capacity to love. When you talk to Grandma, you feel like what you are saying is the most important thing in the world to her. She appreciates the good in people, and makes you feel so good about the good she sees in you. If you need something Grandma can help you with, you never have to wonder if she would be willing to help. There is no question she would, that’s who she is. And she never complains about it. (Note to self…)

And I know she really listens when people talk because I am amazed about the details she remembers about people’s families and lives. She worries about them, and rejoices with them in all the details. I am always amazed by her capacity to love.

I’m sure I’m forgetting something. Let’s just say, I really love my Grandma and I hope to be much more like her before I’m done “growing-up.”

We got to read books with Grandma and Ava.

Helaman made this hopscotch all by himself on Grandma’s front sidewalk. He did a great job, even writing all the numbers without any help.

Meanwhile Isaiah was having a lot of fun filling up the wagon in Grandma’s drinking fountain and taking it around to water her yard.

We went to visit Bompa Luis at work out on the farm, and Isaiah was insistent that he needed gear just like Grandpa’s (hat and gloves). He looked so hilarious.

And then we got to check out the pigs

And drive the tractors

And go for a trailer ride.

I think Helaman really misses being a country boy when he’s there. Although he seems to be a pretty happy desert rat, too, so maybe he’s just happy wherever he is.

Whenever we go to Grandma Ruth’s house these two have a lot of dangerous looking fun on her exercise machine. They are so crazy.

And they always love playing with Ava. I really miss that little munchkin. I wish we were a lot closer to our 2 little cousins.

Helaman’s three favorite things are VW Bugs, PT Cruisers, and, randomly, turtles and tortoises. So when we were home Grandma arranged a special treat with a friend in her ward. After Church on Sunday our friend Merna, who owns a PT Cruiser came over and let Grandma give Helaman a ride in the PT Cruiser. He was so excited, he could hardly believe it was real. What a funny guy!

Isaiah had a lot of fun at Grandma Elsa’s one afternoon with everyone’s cameras. He was so funny taking pictures so seriously. Some of them actually turned out pretty good. He thinks he’s so big, and is completely convinced there is nothing he can’t do. I’m always impressed by his stubborn determination.

And his guns he loves so much he sleeps with them clutched in his hands like a lovey. Omar says he gets it from his Uncle Joe. Thanks Joe.

And my favorite part of the trip was hiking to the waterfall on table mountain. We used to go every year, and the wildflowers are so beautiful. I have so much fun spending time with my family. I was sad Omar didn’t get to go with us, he waited and came later that week with his brother. We’ve been going up there every year since before we even had monkeys.

Yesterday I was trying to explain to Isaiah that Grandpa Steve was my dad. He got VERY angry because it was his Grandpa Steve and he didn’t want to share.

We had so much fun with everyone. Thanks for letting us come play with you!

Our good friend, Steven, came over to help daddy (and the Easter Bunny) hide eggs.

And then we hunted for the eggs. The boys were too excited to hold still for a good picture. After the hunt we came in and ate eggs. And to this day Isaiah complains to be about how Steven ate his “painted eggs.” I’m pretty sure he still loves him anyway.

We spent a lot of time this Easter talking with the boys about the meaning of it all. Isaiah gave a great FHE lesson on the resurrection (with a little help) and we tried to really focus on it all month. I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and His amazing atonement and resurrection. I know that He lives and that we will all be resurrected some day because of his sacrifice for us. I pray that I can live my life to show him my love and gratitude for all He’s given me.

When we first moved to Ridgecrest it was a hard adjustment for me to not be working, and sitting on boards, and all the other things that took me away from home. It was just me and the boys all day every day, and I didn’t know what to do with them. But now I can’t imagine life any other way. I love playing with them and laughing with them and spending our time together. Isaiah and I are going to be very lonely when Helaman goes to school…

On Tuesday we went with to the fish hatchery above Kernville with a bunch of friends. The hatchery was broken, there were no fish, and the gates were locked tight. But the kids had fun for a little bit in the parking lot, before we went to the next part of the adventure. (Notice Isaiah with his girlfriend Danielle in this picture–she’s 10, but her mom says if he was a little older the would date for sure.)

Since the fish hatchery didn’t work out we headed down the road to have lunch at a cool park in Kernville right on the river. The kids had a ton of fun playing on the equipment, and throwing things into the water. Some of the older girls were great organizing games for all of them to play. I think they would have stayed there happily all day. We had never been to Kernville before, and really enjoyed it. It was a perfect afternoon and we all had a lot of fun.

I know we did fun things the rest of the week, but at this point I have no idea what they were because I didn’t take any pictures until Friday. If the fun we had was with you, and you’re reading this, please don’t feel unloved, I just have the world’s worst memory!

Friday morning we went to a presentation at the museum about tortoises and other desert dwelling amphibians. We took some friends with us, and met a bunch more there. The kids loved the presentation and will tell you all they know about poisoness snakes and tortoises any time you’re interested.

Then we headed up to hike Short Canyon and see the wild flowers. It was a harder hike than some of the little kids really wanted to do, but we still had a lot of fun enjoying the hot desert sun. They all really love climbing on rocks, every where we go. And of course being together. After this rock climbing picture the littler kids went back down to the cars while the more adventurous went on. Helaman decided to be a hiker at the last minute, and worked really hard to keep up with everyone. He loves exploring, and I was really proud of him for working so hard at it when it was difficult for him. I sure love my kids!

Saturday we got to go on another train ride with our friend Cole. We were supposed to meet them there, but we are always slow to get going on Saturday, so they had already ridden quite a bit by the time we got there, but they went around with us again. My kids love the trains, and Isaiah asks to go ride a train almost every day. I’m grateful for friends who invite to come share the joy of their hobbies. It really is amazing what people do with the model trains.

And as the culmination of our Spring Break we went to hear a Mexican band in the park at the college. Isaiah and Helaman had a lot of fun dancing to the music and climbing a little hit next to the band. Isaiah would climb to the top of the hill and do his funny marching dance for all the world to see. He was cracking us up.

I loved spending so much fun time with my kids during spring break. It’s silly that we have it so early here, but I’m glad it was still cool enough for us to have so much outdoor fun. I can’t wait to have all summer to spend playing with them. Hooray for family time!

Omar’s mom’s car had broken down a few days earlier, and as the day went on we kept feeling like we needed to go to Gridley and help her with it and getting a replacement. So, we ended up driving back to Ridgecrest, packing up the car, and the driving back through Bakersfield on our way to Gridley. It was a LOT of driving. We took the scenic route on the way back to Bakersfield, following the Kern River as it wound through the mountains. It made the drive a lot longer, but it was beautiful, and way less annoying than driving through Tehachapi three times in one day.

Friday morning, Omar went to work on his mom’s car to fix it up for selling, and then spent the rest of the day with her looking for a new car that would be more reliable when we are so far away. Meanwhile, the boys and I had a blast.

My mom is teaching a life skills class, and they were doing a unit on taking care of kids, so she had the grandkids come to her class for the day. The boys and I got there early and made graham cracker/frosting sandwiches to serves as a snack. Helaman’s job was to teach the class how to play the cookie monster game. We practiced using a loud voice and giving directions while we frosted, and he did a great job when the class came in. The boys drew pictures on little white boards to show the class and had them guess what they were, then Helaman taught the game and we took them outside to play. Then they played Simon says, and I was surprised how many of them didn’t know how to play that game. Sad.

After the class time Tara and I took the kids to Subway for lunch, and then to park to play for a while. Isaiah and Ava were both ready for a nap, so I took the boys to my mom’s house and let Isaiah sleep. The boys had a slumber-party at Grandma’s that night, and Michael and Tara and Omar and I went on a date to some yummy Mexican food and frozen yogurt.

The boys love playing in my mom’s yard and helping in her garden. She said Isaiah was being so funny with the oranges because he was so stubborn about carrying all five of these. He would drop one and spend forever figuring out how to pick them all up again. He really is such a determined guy. She also has this tractor bike he was determined to ride, even though he had to slide way down in the seat to reach the pedals. He spent a half hour riding from the front porch to the back steps, refusing to give up. He makes me laugh.

When I could get Helaman into the house, this is where he would inevitably be found, playing Wii with Greta (or anyone that he could get to play with him!) He loved playing the Wii, and really wants to buy one for home, but mom is still a hold out. I like that he’s building things right now instead of being glued to the t.v. I may lose this battle eventually, but for now it still make Gridley even more exciting.

On Saturday Omar and his mom were still off car shopping. Llael took the boys to visit her dad and to the park for a bit while I took a shower and went flower shopping with my mom. Jelly said they really wanted to try the pruners and Isaiah insisted on trying to cut the biggest branch on the ground, and wouldn’t give up. Silly stubborn kid again. They had a lot of fun with her and then we all just hung out while Omar finished car shopping with his mom.

That’s quite a story in itself, he talked them down way under MSRP, and even then the guy ended up paying Omar money out of his pocket for his gas to drive the dealership. At one point he got so fed up with their games he pretended he was talking over the offer like they do for 15 minutes, and then told them no. Funny guy! He got her a great deal, though!

That night we had a BBQ with all of our family on both sides and laughed at these funny boys playing Wii. Helaman played this game until he was completely beat red, and then only stopped because the rest of us were too warn out and no one would race him any more.

The next day was Sunday. We had a delicious breakfast at Omar’s mom’s house and started for home. We stopped in Yuba City to say hello to Omar’s Uncle and his family, and we had way too much fun and stayed way longer than we meant to. We finally got home late Sunday night. It was a fun trip, and a great start to Helaman’s first ever spring break.