Families

Daily GemsDoing Our Best with Our Families--------------------------------------------------- "Sometimes as parents we feel we have failed when our children makemistakes or stray. Parents are never failures when they do their best tolove, teach, pray, and care for their children. Their faith, prayers, andefforts will be consecrated to the good of their children. . . . No familyhas reached perfection. All families are subject to the conditions ofmortality. All of us are given the gift of agency--to choose forourselves and to learn from the consequences of ourchoices." Topic: parenthood (Robert D. Hales, "With All the Feelings of a Tender Parent," Ensign, May 2004

Positive Side

Daily GemsLooking on the Positive Side--------------------------------------------------- "You have a choice. You can wring your hands and be consumed withconcern for the future or choose to use the counsel the Lord has given tolive with peace and happiness in a world awash with evil. If you choose toconcentrate on the dark side, this is what you will see. . . . Now thebrighter side. Despite pockets of evil, the world overall is majesticallybeautiful, filled with many good and sincere people. God has provided a wayto live in this world and not be contaminated by the degrading pressuresevil agents spread throughout it. You can live a virtuous, productive,righteous life by following the plan of protection created by your Fatherin Heaven: His plan of happiness." Topic: happiness (Richard G. Scott, "How to Live Well amid Increasing Evil," Ensign, May 2004, 100)

What's new?

Well, it was good to hear updates from Abe and Lea, so I figured I would do the same.

We are all fine. I am not feeling my greatest today because I have a cold. But I am feeling much better than I was yesterday. Thank goodness for all of my family who helped with kids and running errands the past two days. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Melanie is looking forward to entering the science fair this year. She still is unsure of what she wants her project to be, so she keeps questioning everyone for ideas. It's fun to see how much she likes rocks like her dad, but really doesn't want anything to do with the outdoors - like her mom! We all had fun at Cathedral Gorge, but as Carter and Riley were ready and willing to go everywhere and get absolutely filthy, Melanie came home relatively clean. I can say I really don't mind! She has been the biggest help for me the past two days while I've been sick. I don't know what I would have done without her.

Carter is still crazy. He is still into video games - a little too much, but I'm not as strict as I ought to be. I hope kindergarten isn't too much of a shock for him or his teacher!

Riley is seriously great, but some days he really fits the mold of the "terrible twos!" He is really expanding his vocabulary, even though Ben and I have to translate for others sometimes. Carter has to translate for me sometimes! It's cute how sometimes he understands what Riley needs.

We are looking at buying a townhome. It's not really what we want, but they are really nice and we are tired of wasting our money on rent every month. We would be living near Tonia and her family if we move. We really don't want to move again, and we won't have a garage if we go there, but we think it's the best thing for our family right now. The townhomes we are looking at are quite nice. No one will have ever lived in the one we will live in. They are still under construction, so we will have our choice of carpet, cabinets, and countertops. They have made a good use of space and have enough storage for all of our indoor things. It's the garage stuff we will have to find a place for.

I register for school next week. That is fun and scary at the same time. My schedule doesn't look too bad. I am done by noon everyday, start at 9 on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and at 8 on Mondays and Wednesdays. I didn't really want a class so early. It will be hectic getting Carter and Melanie off to school that way, but it was the only time the piano class is offered and that is a class I am required to take for my major. I guess we'll see what happens. I'm grateful for Jeanne and my mom who are so willing to help out with my kids. They are terrific!

Well, we hope everyone else is doing great. Take care!

Love,
Missy

Almost there...

Well here I am again on my bus to Salt Lake.  I missed my first bus stop this morning by about two minutes so I ended up going to another stop and got on just fine.  It will be nice when this week is over and I can settle into some sort of routine.  Next week I may start teaching a couple of math classes and that will be balanced with the other jobs I am doing.  We will see how the balancing works out since they will probably keep me at part time for the time being although I would prefer full time to be able to start getting some benefits.  Otherwise it looks like we should be getting into our house this weekend if all goes well with the closing meeting and we get our key the next day like we should.  I am glad to be getting a place of our own again staying over isn't the worst thing in the world, but it is nice to have your own space and you can stretch out a bit more.  

We are grateful for everyones help during this time and we will have our doors open if anyone wants to visit.  Just let us know beforehand please.  Well things are good and I will see where this week takes me I am sure these next 2 or 3 weeks will be very interesting.

Lea's Update

My life isn't nearly as interesting as everyone else's but I thought I would still blog and give a little update. Well Joe is just currently working for Mel Clark construction doing the UDOT job in St. George (bloomington) they are making the way for the airport. He does the road work, working in scrapers, rock trucks, water trucks, and whatever else they need him to do. He likes it alright he would much rather be doing something else but it pays well and it is helping us out quite a bit right now. It is keeping us on our feet while I am not doing anything to get paid and while we figure out what we are doing with the rest of our lives. He is thinking about going back to school and still working on the whole police academy thing so that is where we are at with that right now. I have only 9 days of student teaching left!!!! It is so crazy that I have made it this far! There were many times I was tired and didn't want to finish but I am so thankful and grateful that I stuck to it. It took a lot of help from those around me but I did it! After the 9 days are up I will be working and finishing up my TWS for those of you that don't know what that is, it is a Teacher work sample it is just a book of sample lesson plans, contextual factors, plans for teaching and things like that. It is kind of a pain and a lot of work but you gotta to do what you gotta do. That is due on April 18th and I do have a sample one that I did for my block classes so it really won' t be too bad just a lot of erasing and replacing. It really isn't that bad. I am just glad that it is the only thing I really have to do. Also, I will be student teaching in my free time, Anita Jolley my mentor teacher already has days for me to student teach. I will probably do that until summer then find a temporary job until I can find a teaching job some where or we decide what to do in the future. I am loving the end of this long road, it has been quite the journey but it has been well worth it. I would have to say that it is much better being the teacher than the student. Well I hope all is well. I will update again soon. Love Lea

Here is a picture of a great day. The only thing lacking was a wonderful brother and sister, and a few wild grandkids.

It was a wonderful day of peace and excitement. With wonderful family and friends sharing the love they have for our family.

I love each and every one of you and know that it is good to be a forever family.

Zoe had a little stress but was wonderful putting her little hand over her brothers, and then leaving the room with out the tears that had come when we first left her and her brothers in the nursery.

This morning when we were getting ready for stake conference and I went to put on her new dress she made the comment that she didn't want to go to the temple. I just don't think she wanted to have me leave her again.

We love you all. Again thank you for your love and prayers.

Sally and Family

Update

I have finally come out of the cave (or my bedroom in what it was previously referred to) for a few minutes at least. :) My past surgery was more painful than this one, but the recovery from this one is going to take longer. I have spent a week reading, scrapbooking and watching A LOT of movies. :) Sam has been a trooper and has done a great job taking care of the kids. I still have one more week of staying at home. I may try to venture to Target sometime next week. The only problem with that is that I will only be able to buy a package of gum or something similar in weight since I am not allowed to lift anything "heavy" for a few more weeks. Around week 6 I can begin cleaning the house again. I plan to go back to work for a couple hours each day beginning on Monday the 24th.

We purchased a Wii this week. (That is a whole other story!) The kids (and Sam) are enjoying it. I plan to join in their fun as soon as I am able. Right now we only have Wii Sports and Wii Play but we will be getting more games in the near future.

Jesse is going to turn 9 years old this week. He is wrapping up basketball season (playoff games are this week) and he is just beginning the Little League season. This is Jesse's sixth year playing baseball. Sam and Jesse have spent all afternoon searching for new equipment, as it seems Jesse has grown a bit since last season!
This Friday Jesse is going to have 3 friends from school sleep over. We plan to order pizza, have snack foods and let the boys play the Wii all evening. Jesse really likes the Muppet Show so we have The Muppet Show Season One, Disc One, on it's way from Netflix so his friends can watch it as well. (Jesse says that is his favorite one.) Jesse plans to purchase Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii with some of his birthday money. For Jesse's "Birthday Dinner" on Wednesday night he would like Velveta Mac and Cheese with Hot Dogs mixed in. Yummy! (I guess Sam and I will be ordering out!) Jesse didn't make it into the school talent show (they had nearly 40 kids try out and they took 18) but he was okay with that. He plans to play the piano in the ward talent show on March 28th.

Caden is continuing with Karate until the end of the month and then we will take a break until summer. He too has signed up to play Little League. (This will be his
4th season.) I think he screamed the loudest Thursday morning when he saw the Wii. The kids were out of school Thursday and Friday for Student-Led Conferences. Sam set the Wii up late Wednesday night after the kids went to bed. Then when they were getting up Thursday morning he video tapped them walking into the family room. It was better than Christmas morning!

Whitney has decided that she doesn't want to continue with ballet/tap. She saw a pink baseball glove and a pink bat at Target a few weeks back and she continues to ask to be on a T-Ball team. I told her she could, but that will have to wait until this summer. (Three kids playing the same sport during the same season will not work when there are only two adults!) Sam bought her a pink helmet last year with hopes that she would eventually play softball. :)

Sam is busy with track. Last week was busy trying to take care of me and the house hold while trying to get track up and running. (We both agreed it was the longest week of both of our lives!) We have a week off for Spring break coming up March 31st - April 4th. I think he is ready for a real break. (Because this past week was not a break at all!)

It is weird to have Easter in March. Today the kids went to a neighbors for an Easter Egg Hunt. (They do it every year. The family had 27 kids in attendance and over 500 plastic filled eggs. They fed everyone lunch as well!) Next Saturday, in between the Little League Jamboree (Opening ceremonies and group pictures), and birthday parties, we hope to dye eggs. I think the Easter bunny heard we got a Wii so we will have to see what he brings since he knows we do not eat a lot of candy. I think I will be happy when Easter is in April again.

We had you all in our thoughts today and can't wait to hear (read) how today went. Hope all is well with everyone! Love, Julie

Carter's Registration

Carter had kindergarten registration today. He did really well. I've always been happy with the decision to delay his enrollment and today just backed that up! It was nice to see him as one of the biggest kids there and he did really well with his assessments. Poor guy couldn't remember the name for triangle! But other than that he did really well. The kindergarten teachers seemed like they had good personalities to work with Carter. I think this got him a bit more interested in going to school this fall. Now, if he can only learn how to button his own pants!

Missy

Endowment Day

It has finally arrived. I could sleep really well after about 4:00. I started tossing and turning and watching the clock. I know we are not the only ones up and getting ready. I want to thank you all for being so wonderful to us.
I know that you are all excited for this day and would all be here if you could. We hope that Julie is feeling as good as can be expected and wish her a quick recovery.


Love
The Fox Family

Here I am sitting in my bus that will be leaving shortly for Provo and luckily I got one of the special buses with free wi-fi so I thought I would type for awhile until my computer battery gives out.  Jane and I are doing well trying to get through the condo puchase thing and I am doing the commuter thing up here in Salt Lake and Utah counties.  I think I might be able to handle it ok, although when school starts that will be an interesting twist.  My new job/s is/are finally starting to settle and I am getting the swing of things.  There is a lot that needs to be done though, lots of catch up and clean up.  Well for now I guess I will stop there.  Good night everyone.

Music Audition

Hey everybody! I just thought I'd let all of you know I made it into the music program at SUU. I am still really excited and keep mistyping because of all the adrenaline! Dr. Stitt said, "We would be delighted to have you in the music program." She doesn't know about scholarships until mid-April and hopefully that means I could get a scholarship. Even a small one would offset the remaining cost that a pell grant didn't cover. Anyway, thanks everyone for your support! See you!

Missy