Changes and a Lot of Time!

Hello my friends and family!

I have not posted in a very long time!  There came a time a few months ago that I realized that I cannot be a serious blogger and love it still.  I have to want to do it for fun.  So, I'm stripping down any schedules that I had, and I am going to post when I want and about what I want.  I do need to post more for my family's sake.

Hoss and Baby K at the park!

Anyway, all of that aside...

Hoss filling up his tire.

Hoss is still working at Leprino Foods.  He still has the same position, but he enjoys it.  He is hoping to move up in the company and is always vigillently looking for an opportunity.  He is now serving in our church as the young men's president.  He really loves serving the young men, and we are truly blessed to have some amazing youth in our ward!  Some recent ventures Hoss has taken on are biking to and from work (about 15 miles round trip).  We just need to figure out how to keep those goat heads out of his tires!

My boyfriend.  Don't tell Hoss!

The bike in the background.

Me!  Well, I quit attending school at Grand Canyon University.  The timing just hasn't been right.  I tried to force it, and I tried to make it work, but my more important duties, aka being a mamma, homemaker, and house wife, just weren't getting done.  However, I have decided to take it upon myself to educate myself for now.  Over the last few months of my absence from my blog, Hoss and I decided to pull our girls out of school and to homeschool.  This has been a very spiritual experience.  The Lord had testified to me that this was the right choice for my family, and I could not deny it.  We were going to wait for the end of the school year, but I felt the Spirit pushing me to pull them out sooner.  They were home just before spring break in March... their last day being March 2nd.  What a blessing it has been!  I am still serving in the young women's organization at church, but my calling has changed.  I am now the first counselor and responsible for the Mia Maids (14 and 15 year old girls).  I love it!  And I love those girls!  They are such good examples to me, and I am just blown away with how strong they are!

Baby K getting ready for the bike ride.  He's sleepy.

I too have taken up biking again.  I like to hook up the trailer and take Baby K for a 10 mile bike ride!

Lovely.

Big T is loving being home.  She is growing very tall!  She is taller than most girls her age!  When she runs, she just looks to be all legs.... daddy long legs style!  She is playing soccer, and has rekindled a friendship from her school.  I prefer this friendship now that they are away from school, because the competition from other girls is not there...so it is a more relaxing relationship.  Big T has enjoyed her time with her friend at soccer much more than she ever did while being at school.  She got baptized on January 18th.  We are so proud of her!  She knows so much about our Heavenly Father and gospel principles!

Beautiful eyes!

Cute girl!

Here are some pictures of the two girls together.

I love this picture!

Valentines Day hairdos

Missing tooth!

Little H is also loving being home!  She enjoys riding her bike with Big T everyday.  Just a few days ago, Little H finally lost her first tooth!  When I pulled at it, she was so scared that she scream out loud! Then we had a good chuckle about it, because she realized that it didn't hurt as bad as she thought it would!  She is a very funny girl, always making us laugh!

So sweet!

Goofy!

She too, is playing soccer, and she is on Big T's team...since I am the coach (I forgot to mention that--I honestly hate it!  I have never had more trouble with soccer dads and moms...how many games are left??).  Hoss and I have seen the most change in Little H since she has been home from school.  While in school, she would come home and sport a certain attitude that was becoming difficult to deal with.  If something didn't change, it would get a lot worse, creating a stressed and frustrating home life.  Since she has been home, there has been a 180 degree change in her.  She is so much happier, and we don't have the same behavioral issues as before.  It has already been positive, and we've only just begun!

She might be sulking. :)

So beautiful!

Baby K!  He can walk...when he wants to!  He prefers crawling because he is very quick.  However, sometimes he will stand up against something turn around and take off!  He really concentrates when he walks, and he seems to think it is a lot of fun.  He opens his mouth in a giant smile, sticks his tongue out, and holds his arms out for balance.  It really is a sight (I'll look for a video).

He still is in love with his mamma, which I love, but I would enjoy him being able to spend time with others as well... maybe one day.

He loves to play in the dirt, mud and loves being outside.  He is facinated with trees, the stars ("tar"), and the moon.  He loves to push a ball or car or truck around the house as he crawls after it.  Baby K is enthralled with music!  When I sing, he quiets down and listens (it is virtually the only way I can wipe his face and hands clean after eating).  He LOVES the piano, and I think could play it for a full hour non-stop!  The thing about when he sits down to the piano, is that he is not like a typical boy.  He seems very calculated in his play.  He doesn't pound on the keys much, but places his fingers on the keys and...well, I half expect him to break out into Clare De Lune!  He might be my prodigy!

Picture taken today, 4-21-2012

Pointing to the tree... "tee!"

Does this really need an explanation?

They did this on their own.. Lol

Let's see, what else?.... He is going to be tall.  I'm sure of it.  That little boy has large hands and feet, and he is thinning out and he is already half of Little H's height!  Look out girls!  He's going to be bigger than you one day, and he'll get you back for putting him in that dress!

1st birthday!

He loved the cake!

Easter!

He's not so sure about the swings.

He lost his fingernail just before his bday.

Pointing at a car...another of his loves.

Mini-Hoss?

Sleepy!

Loving the outdoors.

More trees!

He loves his sisters!  They are the best!

And he loves his daddy! I love this picture!

We are dabbling in gardening.  But not in the traditional way.  We have plenty of room in our backyard to garden.  However, the soil... or should I say sand, is just not conducive to raising up a good bit of produce.  It would cost a lot of money to bring in fertilized soil from the dairy farms, and fence it off to keep Titus out of it.  So, we are opting for an experimental garden.  It is located in our front yard.  I just hope if it produces, that people won't steal them!

Peas, watermelon, spinach, and pumpkin!

Zucchini, tomatoes,  red peppers, and cucumbers.

Here is what I did.  I bought bags of garden soil from the local hardware store, poked holes in one side, flipped it over and cut out the top of the bag... in which I planted the plants and seeds.  I've heard of doing it, and have seen a few websites discussing it.  I'll let you know how it goes!

A Thomas Jefferson Education, nicknamed TJed is the program that I have prayed about and intend to use.  Check it out.  This is what we are doing, just so you know.

We have a limitless supply of gorgeous sunsets...and sunrises I'm told.  I'm usually asleep at that time. :)

As for where we are.  Hoss, the kids and I really have grown to love it here in Roswell.  It has its own charm, and the people are amazing.  However, we are very much looking forward to our visit back to Idaho!

My beautiful family on Baby K's birthday!

A comic I thought was cute.