Mutton Busten

Took the kids to the rodeo and the boys(Chris and Jacob) got the chance to do some mutton busten. The goal of mutton busten is to get on a sheep and hold on as long as you can. The boys did great and after they rode they were given a Dollar, a cowboy bible and a bandanna. Christian wont be able to do it next year but Faith, Jacob and Hope will.

California

We set off on Friday August 13Th towards California staying the night in price, UT. at my grandparents house. We packed up the van and got ready to leave there house when Derek noticed a puddle under the Van. Derek inspected the puddle and found that the puddle was from our water pump, So we got a late start from price after having the water pump replaced.
We spent the next night in Fernely, NV. we were all very tired and crashed as soon as our head hit the pillows. The Hotel has a breakfast and we ate and were on our way again. The Drive was very beautiful and the kids enjoyed seeing all the stuff along the way.
We arrived at Grandma Lovoi's house and she finally got to meet all the kids. We went swimming shortly after getting there and enjoyed not being in the car for a while. The next day Aunt Suanne took us to the Children's Discovery Museum. The kids all had a great time with all the stuff that they had there they played with bubbles, painted there faces and learned how 150 different interactive things worked. They had a great time.











The next day we took them to Santa Cruz to see the ocean. We went on the wharf and played in the ocean, They enjoyed getting shells in the ocean and looking for crabs. Jacob found some seaweed and thought that it was cool, Hope was a little nerves about the water at first and played in the sand allot, Christian was having fun splashing in the water and I threw him in the water which he thought was fun and Faith giggled the whole time and just has fun trying to out run the waves. Mommy was only going to go in the water up to her ankles but some how was having so much fun ended up getting wet up to her waist.
The next Day we took the kids to Monteray bay, Ca. to the aquarium. They way sharks, seahorses, penguins, and lots of other fish. The kids got to touch starfish and thought that was cool, mommy toughed a sea urchent. we spent several hours at the aquarium. My mom had made the kids shirts that said thing 1(Chris), thing 2(Jacob), thing 3(Faith) and thing 4(Hope) so we got allot of comments about that.




The next day we took it pretty easy and hung around at Grandma's for a while. Aunt Suanne decided that she would take us to the movies so we gathered up the kids and went to Toy story 3 and the kids all sat still and watched the movie they all enjoyed it.
During our trip we spent time with Grandma Lovoi, Aunt Suanne and Uncle Kirk, Lynn and uncle Ernie it was a great time with great people eating great food. But by now it was time to start home. So on Friday the 20Th we gave our hugs and set off home. We plugged in our address to the GPS but it lead us home on a different way so down through Yosemite National park we went the drive was so pretty and we even had a little fun telling the kids that's where Big Foot lived. We stayed in Ely, NV for the night and continued on the next day making it home about 7:30pm Saturday the 21st. Its great to get away but also great to be home also.

crazy week

So we are leaving for California on Friday the 13th. I came down with strep last Saturday and had the kids all tested on Monday and all 4 have it. Ive got them all on meds and all is doing better. Derek went in just to get tested just in case and wouldn't you know it that nope he doesn't have it , that's just messed up. Yes I'm glad he doesn't but me, my 4 kids, Matt (my brother), Nickolas (nephew), Harmony (niece) all have strep.
In California we are going to San Jose to visit Derek's grandma Lovoi. We plan on doing some fun things while we are there with the kids. We are going to the science museum, the aquarium, and maybe go see the golden gate bridge.
Its a long trip to drive so were braking it up a little and stopping in Price Utah to see my grandparents and spend the night. We might also stop in Fernley, NV and spend the night. Derek has drove this trip several times and this will be my 2nd time but were bringing Katherine to help with the kids and its her first time. The kids were born in Florida and have seen the ocean there so they will get to see a different ocean.

Bear-E-Scary

Derek and I went to the cabin this last weekend with the kids. We had just got done with dinner grilled lemon pepper chicken, corn on the cob, and fried squash with bacon. We decided to play with the kids outside Derek had brought his RC 4x4 truck, and was chasing the kids around at the cabin. We were all having a good time making allot of noise, when the girls decided they had to go potty. I took the girls into the bushes and was helping them and sent them out when they were done, when all of a sudden I heard Derek Yell BEAR...... I came running out of the bushes to see what was going on when I saw what Derek had been yelling about 30 yards in front of us. Hope freaked out and started running towards Daddy which was straight towards the bear. I took off running trying to catch her when Faith latched onto me, So I dragged Faith towards the Bear to get Hope. Derek was in between the kids and the bear and informed us to walk slowly towards the cabin. I was dragging Hope with the help of Jacob, when her cowboy boot fell off. Hope not wanting to loose her boot was trying to get away from me to get her boot, I informed her to leave the boot it would be fine that we needed to get in the cabin where it was safe. While Derek was trying to scare away it was standing its grounds on its hind legs, when we got back to the cabin Derek grabbed his pistol and went into the trees to make sure that Snuff had scared it away. I'm sure that the kids will talk about the bear for a while.

The mouse that made me scream.........

Derek and I Keep the dog in our bed room at night with a child's gate. During the day we place the gate against the wall. With that all said , last night Derek and I were watching a movie when Derek spotted a mouse run behind the gate and told me to get on the other side to keep it from escaping. I'm not afraid of mice and had no problem with doing what he had asked of me. We both snuck up to either side of the gate and the mouse decided it wasn't going to cooperate with what was happening, so it started moving towards the side that I was at. Derek didn't want the mouse to escape and kicked the gate trying to get it, but the problem with that was the bang startled me and I screamed and jumped back letting the mouse slip by. Derek started laughing due to the fact that he had never heard me scream like that. Derek and I went on the hunt in the other room but couldn't find it. We found some mice traps and put the behind the dresser in the closet and under the shelf and decide to check in the morning. Guess What We Found In The Morning ????? One dead mouse!!!!!!!!!!

The heat is on.......

So we started out the weekend with my Brothers 9yr old spending the night. He kept the kids busy and entertained which is always good. We got to go to Nana's and Grandpa Terry's house for dinner and then watched a movie. Nickolas was the first to fall asleep so we loaded all 5 kids up and set off for home. By the time we got from my mom's house to our house we had been driving for almost 45 min and all the kids were asleep.
On Saturday Papa and Matthew showed up to the house to pick Nickolas up. He wanted to stay to play with the kids but finally let his father talk him into going home. The kids played in there rooms complaining every time they ventured outside that the heat was just too HOT, But every so often the would decided that they wanted to go outside and would return quickly. Derek and I watched 6 Hours of Lonesome Dove the movie and the kids would sometime sit to watch the horses in it. I made Pizza for dinner and to bed they went.
Sunday was just the same with the heat. Derek and I took a look at the garden and guess what we found that's right a ripe tomato the first of the year. Better than last year due to the squirrels. We decided to go for a drive and did some errand's went to the coop, Lowels, Arbys (for lunch)and Albertson's then headed home. The heat was still very warm showing on the car temp that it was 103 in town. Not wanting to be hot we decided to call Katherine and ask if she wanted to go swimming with us. The kids were excited about getting in the pool and had allot of fun. We BBQ some ribs and watched a movie(Sherlock Homes)then Katherine left. Put the kids to bed and settled into our own for the evening. The heat is keeping up from doing allot outside but its still nice that there's no Snow.

Working in the Yard

Derek and I worked in the yard. Derek mowed the weeds down in the back yard and tilled up where the grass is going to be. Derek also worked on the shed putting shingles on it. I weeded the garden and everything is getting so big and I cant wait till everything starts producing.




The Kids got some new goggles and Hope and Jacob were trying them on for me too see.


The garden is getting so big and I'm starting to get tomatoes on them. I cant wait till stuff starts getting red. I did some weeding in the garden and it looks so much better with out the weeds.

Our Happy 4th

We spent our 4th at the kids grandparents house. The cooked some of the most yummy food and we had such a great time visiting with everyone. The brisket was so yummy Jack did a great job cooking it. The kids played in the pool most the day and played with water balloons. After we all ate we cooked smores the kids had tones of fun. Derek played baseball with the kids. The boys were all having so much fun trying to catch the ball. We moved the party to the front yard and watched the fruita fireworks and lite a few of our own. The kids were having so much fun and all the "ooh and ahh's" comeing from the kids were cracking me up.

Gardening again......

So when our plans changed for the weekend we did some work in the garden. We worked on getting the cages around the tomato plants, getting the drip system up and running, and pulling any weeds that needed pulled. The garden shouldn't have any problem getting the water it needs. We bought some different types of spraying watering sprayers for the corn and they seem like a good choice. The garden is getting bigger and thriving with all the attention that it is receiving.
There are several Tomato's that are already setting and some of the squash have already gotten blooms. The plants are getting stronger every day and shouldn't need as much babying that we are giving it in the beginning.
So far I have not seen any squirrels anywhere around so maybe there wont be any thieves to steel my green tomato's this year, but then again we have seen some deer in the distance so maybe they wont know that I planted anything this year.

Daddy's pants are hard to fill

Jacob decided that Daddy's pants would fit was he way wrong. Derek wear's a 40 inch inseam. Jacob wears a size 6 slim. I laughed so hard when he tryed them on and tryed to walk with them on.

The Garden

Derek, My dad Loyd and I got my garden planted. We planted 26 Tomato plants, 4 Cucumbers, 11 Green Peppers, 4 Jalapenos, 3 Watermelon, 3 Cantaloupe, 1 Honey Dew, 2 crookneck and 2 straight neck Squash, 2 Acorn Squash, 4 Pumpkins, 4 Zuc's and 3 rows of corn. Man were we busy.
The ground was really hard so we added 3 yards of compost to it and it seems like it's going to be a good garden. Derek used his new rototiller and got is all tilled up for us to plant. I cant wait till I can eat something from the garden. The kids are really excited about it also and keep asking if theres any tomato's yet. I only reply "just green ones" and they smile.
Now if we can get the grass planted then it will be all green around here instead of yellow.

All Moved in

Finally we brought the last of the stuff from the old house over. We now just live at one location again and very happy for that. Derek has started the 12X20 Shed that he is almost done building. My father and I got my garden planted(26 tomato plants, cucumbers, pumpkin's, watermelon, Honey dew, Cantalope, Green peppers, Jalapenos, Yellow squash, Acorn squash, Zuc's, I think I got them all). We will start painting the house next week if we can figure out what color to paint it. Now the boxes I walk into the other room look around at the boxes and the mess get over whelmed then walk back out. Man those boxes need to put them selves away for me. yeah right. The kids are loving the new house and so is Derek and I.

Our New House

So as of May, 25th 2010 Derek and I are home owner's. We signed paper's then went straight to work cleaning. The house was a mess and needed to be cleaned very bad. The Fridge was in need and had allot of mold inside, The carpets all needed cleaned, the bathroom hadn't been cleaned in a long time and it took me cleaning it 4 times it get it clean. I have been painting the boys bedroom a light sky blue color, I accidentally stepped in the paint and my bottom of my feet is blue (I had plastic down). My aunt came over and has been a great help. I have the boys carpet to clean the all the carpets will be done but cant do that till I get more paint to finish the boys walls (the only walls in the house being painted). We haven't even started on the outside yet too much to do in the house. Its so exciting and tiring but will be so worth it once I bet everything done and we get moved in.

The wild west show

Mrs. Irion's and Christian's class did a puppet show today at school there were 3 different shows. An outer space story, and a Castle theamed story. Christian's was called The wild west. There were 6 characters in the show, The sheriff, 2 Cowgirls, an Indian girl, Dirty Dan and Cowboy Derek(Christian's). It was about a Horse thief named dirty Dan that was trying to steal horses From one of the cow girls she was tied to the train tracks but was stopped in his tracks. It was a very cute story that the kids had wrote. Christian and his class mates did a good job and also did a great job making there puppets also.

A wedding to Remember

Derek and I took the kids to a wedding on Saturday evening. Derek's Cousin was getting married in Gateway(Brian to Claudia). We all get dressed up in our cutest outfit's and drove the 1 1/2 to the Gateway Church, With a stop at walmart to grab a few things(Tights for Faith, a new pair of pants for Christian, A card for the wedding, and something to eat and drink on the way). The First problem was I left the card in the cart at walmart after I unloaded it into Van. Got to the Church and during the ceremony the pastor had said something to do with having Faith in each other and God, Well hope was so excited that he had said her sisters name she said "He said Faith" loud. after leaving we went to the reception about a mile up the road. Good food good Music. But the went to throw the flowers and Guess who caught them Yes Faith did so she was super happy. Then the boys turn for the garter he flung it it came to the boys and what should they do? Throw up the hands with a grossed out look on there faces and backed away very fast is was so funny. When asked why they didn't get it they said "it came out from under the pretty Lady's dress and they didn't want it". The kids got to dance doing the YMCA the Holkie Polkie and the boys payed the Bride at the money dance to dance with her. all in all it was a really good time.

My kid the Bumble Bee

So Hope has been on this kick about Bumble bee's for a while everything yellow she See's is Bumble bee yellow. Its even got so bad that We were talking about the New house that is Yellow (she refers to as the bumble bee house) that I told her that we were painting the house a sage green color. Hope looked at me in complete shock and started crying. When I asked her what the problem was she said " your painting my bumble bee house". What was I to do except tell the little one "yep cuz mama don't want it yellow".
But today at the table while eating breakfast she tells me Mama I'm not princess Cinderella anymore I'm a bumble bee. OK what am I to say to that at least she's using her imagination. oh and she has already told me that she wants to be a bumble bee for Halloween again not a princess.
So I guess that I have 2 boys 1 girl and a bumble bee for kids.

Buying a House

So we have found a house made an offer and they accepted it so now we have a contract on a house. We had to have an inspection done on the foundation which passed with flying colors. We did our own inspection and there was only one thing that we wanted fixed. Now we wait for the appraisal that should be done some time this week,after that theirs not a lot left to wait on were hoping that we can close early.
The kids are a little confused about the move and have tryed to explain whats going on the best that we can. In the past when they have moved it was grab a few things and leave the rest behind, so over and over again having to explain that yes they are coming with, yes all there stuff is coming with, and yes so are the dogs. But I do believe till we move they will still be confused and unsure of what is happening and why they get to take everything.
The house is huge 2016 Sq. Ft. 4 bed, 2 bathrooms, living room, family room, plus and office, Dining room, large kitchen and laundry room on almost 7 acers away from town. The kids are going to move schools but it will be a smaller school with less kids.
If we can get past all the hoops then we'll be set.I'm so excited.

The Moon Farm

Friday with Faith's class we went to the Moon Farm. Faith, Jacob and Hope were very excited to go to the moon farm. I had never been before so I was excited to see what everyone has been talking about. So I loaded up the van and set forth on our adventure on Faith's field trip.

When we got to the moon farm there was so much that the kids didn't know where to start, but that was decided quickly due to the Peacock that was walking around and squawking. The kids wanted to know why they had such long feathers, and what there names were. So I told them all the knowledge that I knew and that was they taste like chicken.



We got to play with bunny's, pet goat's, see all different kinds of birds and pet a cow. But the best part was when they pulled out the pony named Apache, and the kids got to ride him. Jacob said that he was a real cowboy now I just laughed.



They had lots of builds that represent different cultures,Italy, Japan, Sweden, Vikings, Africa,etc. At the end the kids got to played on the merry go round, ride the barrel, and ride a train down the block and back. It was allot of fun and the kids cant wait to go back.