Termites!

Hayden won Most improved band member in his band.

 He didn't want to wear a tie, but the dress was semi formal so to me that means you wear a tie, right?  I told him if I had to wear a dress he had to wear a tie.  I understand where he was coming from because I absolutely dread wearing high heels or really anything except comfy close.  If I had my way I would only wear tennis shoes, scrubs, sweats or work out clothes.  

 He picked out his clothes.  I think he did a pretty good job.  Takes after his Daddy!

 Hayden was invited over to a friends house and I was trying to figure out which friend it was and if I had met him at school so I asked him, "Is it the boy with the dark hair that is about the same size as you?"  He replied, "Its the boy that is the same height as me, but more dense!"  We had a whole conversation about the density of his friends.  No one was skinny or fat, just more dense and less dense.  I think I like this from now  on I'm just going to say, "I'm just more dense than I used to be!"

 There was a little fair that came through and the kids begged and begged to go.

 Halle kept saying," I loved the Merry-Go-Round the best!"  Kara thought this was so hilarious because it was the Ferris Wheel she loved not the Merry-Go-Round.  Kara thought it was so funny she just kept asking her and every time Halle would forget it was called a Ferris Wheel and say Merry-Go-Round.  I'm afraid she takes after me.  I always seem to call everything the wrong name.

 Hayden and Halle getting off and Kara and Kelton above waving.

 The Orbiter!  Kelton and Kara were both tall enough to go on this ride, but only with an adult.  Brent had to work.  So that left only one adult who doesn't do well on spinning up and down rides.  I asked the guy if they could go with Hayden, but he said No, it had to be with me.  Kara wanted to go first so I got on with Kara first.  I screamed and screamed and screamed and then I was silent for the last 20 seconds. She screamed along with me and laughed and was also silent for the last 20 seconds.  She was getting sick too.  I was  soooo sick and dizzy.  I felt like my brain was bouncing against the side of my head.  So we get off the ride.  Kara tells Kelton that was awesome!  I'm barely able to make it to the exit as I'm walking all crazy. I'm sooo dizzy.  We drew some onlookers (I guess I was screaming really loud, me and Kara were the only ones on the ride).  I tried to talk one of the onlookers into riding with Kelton, but all my screaming had frightened them.  I looked at Kelton and said, "are you sure you want to do this?"  He looked at me like if I don't get to go I think my heart might break in two!  The guy running the Orbiter looked at me and said, "I'll let you go for free if you want to take him now."  For a second there I just thought he wanted to see me vomit, but then I decided he felt sorry for me.  So I thought to myself, "Alison you can do this!  Pull it together and get on that ride!"  I kept my head between my lets for about 5 minutes and then went for it.  I asked the guy exactly how long the ride was and he said it goes for exactly 2 minutes.  Wow it seemed like way more than 2 minutes to me.  So we got on the ride and I tried to be excited for Kelton!  I screamed and screamed and screamed and counted in my head trying to keep focused.  The other kids said they thought my screams were on a timer.  After I was done a fellow told me I should win Mother of the Year for that.  I have to agree.  I was pretty sick for the rest of the time, but the nice guy at the Orbiter let me and Kelton on for free so that meant we got to do a few more rides!!!

 This is how everyone in Mississippi lives.

 This is Hayden's friends house!  He had a blast.  He caught fish, turtles, and frogs.  He was chased by man eating ducks (that is what he said who knows if there are really man eating ducks).  He road 4 wheelers, and explored acres of land.

 When we pulled up, Kelton said, "that is awesome if you have this much land you don't even need to clean it up you can just leave stuff all over the place and no one even cares."

My kids would love this, but I'm not so sure about me.  Right now we have Termites!  So I guess there are just certain times when they swarm.  Well last night they were crawling all over our walls coming in from everywhere.  The boys killed over 30 in their bathroom and then ended up sleeping on the couch.  I was so freaked out I couldn't even sleep.  They look like worms with wings.  This morning Halle was sick and couldn't go to school so I didn't go to work and stayed home with her and swept up over 300 dead termites (I'm probably underestimating)! GROSS!  I'm not looking forward to tonight when the termites start to swarm again.  I am grateful that they are just swarming and that we do not have to put one of those bags over our house.  The termites and having to call in sick to work almost made me have a panic attack.  I think I'm a wimp.  Just when I think I can take another day in Mississippi the bugs go crazy.  I mean it's like Moses and the plagues!!!!

Work and School!

 Not many pictures this week, but here is  Hayden after his Atlanta trip!

He had a great time and was able to use some of his Jujitsu moves too.  He is now even more motivated to continue Jujitsu than ever.

All of the kids are doing well in school and transitioned well into our new mom goes to work program.  A nice neighbor of ours picks the kids up from school for me and keeps the kids at her house until I get there to pick them up.  They are there about an hour after school.  I think I have the hardest time just being able to enjoy the moments while also trying to keep schedules, pack backpacks, plan breakfast, make dinner,etc..  I think this is the hardest part.  I think I struggle with that the most.  Just really being able to listen when my kids are talking to me and still being able to stay on task.  My brain doesn't seem to be able to do that very well, but I'm a quality time type of person so it drives me a little crazy.  My house seems a little cluttered like my brain lately.  Well enough about nothing.

I've really been wanting to take a picture of the school I work at, well actually the surroundings.  There is this perfect house on the street as I go to work and it is one of those houses where if I took a picture the picture would say a thousand words.  I'm not sure I'll ever get the picture as I am too afraid to take it.  Anyways it is a very dilapidated old house.  I actually can't even believe it is still standing.  There are old cars around the house and the house has a porch with furniture covered with different colored sheets.  There is tons of yard trash, and when I drive by in the mornings there are little African American boys about 1, 3, and 4 jumping on the furniture in front of their house in their undies/diapers.  There is also a lady that sits out on the path in front of the house smoking, and then it seems like there are always different teenagers, and men coming or going?    

So onto the school and the students.  I've always known people had hard lives, but I've never really experienced it first hand, or to the point where you think to yourself I think I am the minority.  I guess I've always really believed most people want a family and would really do anything for their family, but I'm afraid that is probably not true.  I don't think I've met one student that does not come from some kind of broken or tragic circumstance.  I know I've only been at the school for about a week and a half, but I see about 30 or more students a day.  Of course I don't know everything about all of them, but the sampling I have met all fit into this category.  Here is just a quick sampling.
(Story#1) One girl lives with her mother and 4 sisters, her and her 4 sisters each have a different father.  Her mother is 31 and her oldest sister is 18.  The mom just remarried a man who does not work.  She told me he does do yard work around the house.  The mom is going to school and that is how she gets her money to pay for them to live.  This girl had been to the ER for a bad infection and was still very sick and no one would come get her from school.  She said she felt like she had no one.  She had tried to live with her Dad but he moved away.  I asked if she could live with her grandma and she said her grandma would not allow anyone to live with her since her older sister had tried to burn down her grandma's house. (#2 A boy 12)  This boys mother is serving time in jail for selling drugs.  When he was 7 years old his mother dropped him and his twin brother off at his fathers home who he rarely had seen and she never came back.  He said she used to buy them all sorts of really nice things so he should have known she was selling drugs.  I'm sure at 7 you should be able to know that your nice things are from your mother selling drugs.  He now lives with his Dad, his Dads mom, his twin brother,  and his uncle who is depressed and just eats all the time.  He said when he was younger his Dad would beat him with a wooden spoon until it broke for not doing well in school.  He says now that he is just grounded all the time and he does not get hit much.  He does have two older brothers that have a different Dad that he completely admires.  One just left for Afghanistan and when he is around he takes them places and he bought him a brand new pair of shoes right before he left.  His father is the only one in the household that works.  He said all his dad does is work.  He said he makes $333 a week!  He also said that sometimes they run out of food because his uncle who is depressed just sit around and eats all the food.  He said when he grows up he is going to join the Army just like his brother.  His mom should be getting out of jail in 2 years and he is excited, but he said if she sells drugs again than it is over.  (#3) Boy with a huge gash in his leg.  I mean huge.  A piece of metal fell from somewhere and took a huge gash out of his leg.  Can't go to the Dr. because he doesn't have insurance.  (#4)  A girl who lives with her grandma, dad, and 2 siblings because her mother passed away from accidentally overdosing on diet pills.  I wish I could elaborate on some of my stories but I just don't have time.  I did want to get a few down just to remind myself to not be to hard on myself.  Sometimes I feel like I'm not being a good mom when I don't get every food group on the table or when I'm not able to be there after school, and I'm not saying I should strive for less, but sometimes it is good to recognize how much you really are doing for your children.  Some of these poor kids don't even have a chance.  They have never experienced any kind of love in their lives.  They don't even know what love is.  It seriously makes me want to cry and I just want to reach out and hug these kids, but I can't because I'll be sued or accused of molesting someone (what a crazy world we live in). I hope I never get so wrapped up in my own life that I forget about those that can't help themselves.  The gospel is such a huge blessing in our lives.  It has set such a wonderful standard that as I live away from "the bubble" I am better able to recognize what it has truly meant in my life and the lives of my children.

M-I-SS-I-SS-I-PP-I

This Girl really knows how to take a nap!  She will just curl up anywhere!  I think I have more pictures of her sleeping than any of my other kids.  She is always so excited about everything, well except for school.  This months has been full of good news!

 Hayden caught a Toad!  "Mom please get a close-up!"  Hayden has had a very busy week.  He took a test and scored very high.  It was a financial challenge test.  Him and 3 other kids in his class were selected to go to state finals in Jackson Mississippi.  They bused him and a group of 7th graders from the school to Jackson where they competed against other 6th and 7th graders in the state.  His group won 5th place.  They beat their own 7th graders.  The 7th graders at the school won 7th place.  It was a great experience and I think Hayden was excited to learn more!!

 I just love how her glasses fall to the bottom of her nose.

 I just had to take a picture of this egg.  It was not hard boiled, but when I tried to crack it, it was hard inside. At first I was thinking did the store sell me a hard boiled egg?  Then I realized, "No that is a baby chicken in there!"  I threw it away, but it was a first for me so I just had to take a picture.

 So one morning I woke up.  I get up at 4:30 now to get everything done before I have to leave for work at 6:50.  Anyways I went in to wake the kids up at 6am and there were not any kids in the bed.  Kara, Kelton, and Halle were all sleeping in Kara's queen bed the night before.  The bed was made, the room was clean, and there was a note on the bed that read, "Oops!  We are not here!  Go look in the Kitchen on the dinning room table!  There you'll find your next clue!  Love, The kids"

 The next clue read, "Sorry, but you are getting close.  Now look in the living room on the little table.  Clue 2" The next clue read, "OOO!  Sooooo close just walk around to the back of the T.V.!  There you'll find your last clue. 3!  Well the last clue was all three of them quiet as little mice all dress and ready for school!  I don't know how they pulled it off with out me even seeing them.  I think the exclamation mark thing is hereditary.  I always want to put exclamation marks.  Then one time Brent read my exclamatory marked paragraph back to me and I decided, maybe I am a little out of control with the exclamation marks, so I've tried to tone them down.  Thank goodness she did not inherit my homonym disability. 

 Hayden had a band performance and did great!  There band is really good and they play lots of fun songs too.  So much fun to listen!  Hayden also is on a band trip to Atlanta to go to Six Flags!  They road on one of those big nice buses.  He was excited it even had a bathroom.  This was his 1st trip with out us so we were a little nervous.  Brent said, "Remember who you are and what you stand for!"  Hayden said, "what does that mean?"  So we had to go over what that means!!!!  

 Hayden just called me from one of the boys in his groups cell phone and said, "Mom guess what?  We just arrived in the mall and you are never going to guess what is in the mall!  You would love it here!" I said, "what?"  He said, "They have a Cheesecake Factory and a P.F. Changs!"  I said, "Are you going to go there?"  He said, "No I don't want to spend all my money on one meal!"  Smart boy.  Then he said, "Guess what else mom?  This is something you are really going to love!  Guess what is across the street?  This is something that is really going to make you want to come here!  There is a Costco right across the street!"  He then told me we could take a vacation there and we wouldn't have to even go to 6 Flags.  We could just go to Cheesecake and Costco and have so much fun!!  I love this kid!  He is growing up so fast.  I wish he could stay 12.  I love 12.  

 Blowing!

 Blowing!

 My girl Halle lost her first tooth!!  Well I guess her second, but the first one had to be pulled so that does not really count.  She was so excited when she realized her bottom tooth was loose.  She had Brent pull it right out.  She was not scared one bit.  She just said, "pull it!"  and out it came!  She put it under her pillow and Kelton told her all about how the reason he had so much money was because he had saved all his tooth fairy money and birthday money and that she could do the same thing and then she would have lots of money like him!!  She was soooooo excited.  The tooth Fairy tried very hard not to forget to visit.  There was not any rain to stop her or him from coming, but sometimes the tooth fairy gets so busy and just forgets.  So in the morning when my little Halle got up she pulled up her pillow and looked in the bag and what did she see?  A tooth!  The tears started rolling down her cheeks and she cried as if her little heart had been completely broken!  I of course came running not aware of what had happened.  I asked, "what is wrong?"  Halle had thrown herself on the couch and was sobbing uncontrollably.  Kara said in a very matter of fact way, "The tooth fairy did not come!"  Oh my, did I really forget?  Luckily there was some money in the drawer, so the Tooth Fairy had to do some fast thinking.  I quickly went in to check and put some money in the bag.  Usually you only get a $1 for a tooth, but I gave her $2.50 for the trauma I had caused.  Then I went out and consoled her by making up a half truth story about how sometimes the Tooth Fairy is just very busy(true) picking up lots of teeth(false), and how maybe she should check one more time because he may have sneaked in her window while she was crying on the couch!  She was soooo happy!  What is with that Tooth Fairy???

 The kids caught tadpoles and decided to fill their bathroom sink with them.  I hope tadpoles don't carry diseases.  I don't really like when they do stuff like this,but I let them, because I realize I am a bit crazy, especially when it comes to sterilization and contamination.  As long as you realize you are a little crazy then it is O.K., right?  It's when you don't realize your crazy than you have to be admitted.

 So with all the Sassiness that comes with being a 10 your old girl, there is also a sweetness.  This 10 year old always includes her 6 year old sister in the fun.  Kara sometimes changes her voice to sound like a Valley Girl and will say things like "What...ev-er."  If you have a girls around this age I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.  She know's she's doing it too, because I'll tell her, "your talking like that again, and that is not nice."  Then she'll smile at me like she knows what she is doing, because she does.  Anyways speaking of Kara.  She is on her second round of being tested for the gifted program.  I'm not sure if she is gifted.  I mean she is smart and all, but she just is a really  good listener and does what she is suppose to.  Maybe that makes you gifted.

So I started my new long term school nurse job in one of the rougher schools.  That is what they say.  It is in a rough neighborhood.  There is barb wire around the school and the police carry guns.  I guess it is pretty rough because people keep telling me they will pray for me.  It does not seem that bad to me, but probably because the staff is so on top of everything.  I will give the Mississippi schools a big shout out for there organization and control of the schools.  They do not leave any room for fights or bullying.  Those kids are shadowed.  When school gets out there is not a child left to roam the campus.  Each child is either placed on a bus or escorted to a vehicle.  I'm at a 7th and 8th grade school where the 7th and 8th graders are separated by entire different buildings.  Basically the 7th graders never see the 8th graders.  Anyone who is deemed a problem child is escorted around by a behavioral therapist of some sort.  I did meet one student who was in the 7th grade and 17 years old.  He had a skull tattoo on his forearm, and another student who was in the 7th grade and had just had a baby.  On my 1st day I had 14 scheduled meds to give and then saw 22 students with problems.  I would say I was super busy!!  I have a huge office.  Brent took a picture of me in it.  Maybe  I'll put it up sometime.  It was a bad picture.  I looked like the hunchback of Notredame.  I feel bad for ever thinking that school nursed were not very busy.  I was very wrong.

Brent starts his new job on Monday.  Life is about to get crazy, but I'm excited for the change.

Oh yeah and we had a garage sell today!!  It went very well and we are getting rid of lots and lots of stuff!  Yeah!!!

Oh and the best news of all.  After 3 years of being audited.  It is finally over. Can I just tell you how happy I am.  If you've never been audited you probably don't know how amazing this feels and I hope you never have to find out.  God Bless the USA!  Can't wait for the Presidential election!  I'm ready for some conservative values!!!!!

EASTER in MISSISSIPPI

It seems like every time I turn around there is another Holiday to Celebrate.  I remember as a child wishing there were more holidays, but as an adult I sometimes find myself wishing there were not so many.  

 Egg dyeing!  What can I say about the dyeing of eggs?  Is it really fun?  Who thought of this tradition?  This is one of those traditions like carving pumpkins that I probably would skip if I could.  Brent avoids it at all cost too, so that makes me like it even less.  The kids seem to love it, except that I had to keep reminding the boys to decorate their eggs or I was going to let the girls decorate all of them.  They were more inclined to have nerf sword wars, but the thought of the girls getting to dye their eggs kept them coming back every time I'd mention it.  It does look like lots of fun.  Brent is selling his road bike, so that is why there is a road bike in my kitchen: )

 This is the first year I think that we did not have any spills.  Yeah!  

 Hayden made a little storm trooper egg. 

 Mom make sure and zoom in on my egg, please!

 My cute kids looking in their baskets before church.  I really wanted to get the girls new Easter dresses, but we decided to hold off.  Halle was really eyeing some white gloves and lots of accessories!!  Maybe next year!

 After church a family in our ward invited us over for a big Easter Egg Hunt!

 There were some real eggs hidden too.  This is Halle finding a real Egg.  I'm not sure if she was very excited about the real egg.  She doesn't even like the taste of real eggs.

 Isn't Mississippi beautiful.

 Kelton is on a mission!

 They live on 40 acres.  20 of it is marsh.  It is up for sale for 340 thousand, that is with a 3 thousand sq foot home.  Anyone want to move to Mississippi?

 Kara and Brent with a little hand squeeze in passing.

 I think I'll be sad when my kids are all grown up.  I'll probably just sit in my rocking chair and look at my blog.  I hope computers don't become obsolete. 

 Hayden decided he was too old to get Easter eggs so he decided to just help the little kids.  After they had their loot of eggs and he realized he was going home empty handed he decided to ask the kids if they would all share a few of their eggs with him.  

 New teeth!

 She can be a nut!

 They hid water balloons too!  Kelton obviously is interested in getting someone!  Actually they were doing a balloon toss.  I think he just caught it.

 Oh No it popped!

 The house!

 Hayden of course thought he could catch something in their pond.  Now remember there are snakes!!!  Actually "The mom" told the kids to be careful because there was a very big snake that had decided to make the pond his home (one of her daughters said she was just trying to scare the kids so they wouldn't fall in).

 Hayden found the snake and one of the adults tried to catch it.  I stayed far from the pond and tried to tell my kids to stay away too.  Obviously Hayden did not heed my warning.

The family has 7 kids and they all live close by.  Actually the name of their street is called Sones Lane.  That is their last name.  It's kind of like Emmett and all of Grandma siblings.  Everyone is somehow related to everyone.  They were very nice to include us in their festivities.  We had a very nice Easter and are very grateful for the Resurrection and what it means for all of us.  At times it can be overwhelming to think of the gift the Savior has given to all of us.