I thought I'd take this quick Sunday moment to make a journal entry.
Life is good.
Spring is coming.
Spring is coming.
There is hope.
The kids are busy! Last weekend I was in Orlando with Devree for drill nationals. Mom and I flew standby - and made all our flights on the first try out - we actually got first class from Denver to Orlando. Sweet!
We got in on Friday, went to the competition on Saturday, to Disney World on Sunday and Universal on Monday and flew home Tuesday! Whew!
Really, I could have done without Disney World - and it was COLD - 57 and windy! But Harry Potter Land in Universal was the bomb! (That's why we stayed through Tuesday!) We were not so lucky getting home on standby. Ended up flying into Idaho Falls and my dad made the 200 mile trip to come pick us up.
We got in on Friday, went to the competition on Saturday, to Disney World on Sunday and Universal on Monday and flew home Tuesday! Whew!
Really, I could have done without Disney World - and it was COLD - 57 and windy! But Harry Potter Land in Universal was the bomb! (That's why we stayed through Tuesday!) We were not so lucky getting home on standby. Ended up flying into Idaho Falls and my dad made the 200 mile trip to come pick us up.
This Thursday James and I took a road trip to Ephraim to see Kambree in her year end drill showcase. We had a lot of fun. We took Kam and Cam to dinner, then watched the show - there was even a couples dance that she talked Cam into doing with her - he was hilarious. He brought her a beautiful bouquet of flowers too. Such a sweet guy. It's so fun to hang out with them. We spent the night at a hotel in Mnt Pleasant and went home the next morning.
Kambree is finishing up at Snow and applying for nursing school. Nope. Mission plans are not in her future. I'm thinking another M word might be in her future? But.......we will see. (And be thrilled if it is!) I thoroughly loved watching her dance on Thursday and I got a little teary eyed thinking how this is probably the last time I'll watch her dance? I've been her biggest fan for the last 17 years and watched countless performances. When my girls dance I can't NOT watch them and rarely do I see the big picture, I just see my girls and I can't take my eyes off of them.
Austin went to St George for a Macklamore concert. (Some music/rap/poetry type performer?) It was his first official road trip. He's gone camping with friends a time or two but this time he and his buddy Hayden rented a hotel room. Wow. I didn't know you could do that at 18. I guess it's cars you have to be 21 for? He is still working with handicap adults and works a ton of hours besides going to school part time. No mission in his plans either. I'm hoping someday? I can always have hope, right?
Devree is overwhelmed with school right now. Drill is winding down but the big question is will she try out again? She struggles because her friends complain that Devree "gets everything she wants" but little do they know how hard she works at everything. Yes, she made it into all three dances in drill but she would come home and practice after her 3 hour practices until her leg would literally collapse under her. She got her first A- this year. Like drill, she attacks her homework with a vengeance. Yes, she does get and make what she wants but she is very driven and works super hard for it. Now the question is, was drill worth it? Is that what she wants her senior year. She's not sure.
Rylee made it into Junior Honors Society and talks a mile a minute about junior high drama, the latest book she's reading and or show she's watching. She and Alex are still neck and neck in height but I think Alex is going to surpass her soon? She certainly doesn't look 13 - more like 16. Scary. She is a lot of fun to hang out with and she and James are going on a special daddy daughter next week to see the Chinese Ballet. It's so easy to be sweet to Rylee because she is so sweet. (And she LOVES everything! Lately she and Devree have been carousing the Desert Industries for clothes. I would have NEVER at that age but they love it and are very proud to show off their second hand finds!)
Alex - against his desire - is playing water polo. Yep. I'm making him. He started last week. Imagine my surprise when he announced on the way home from church today that he LOVES water polo and it's a lot of fun? Say what??? He grinned at me and with a little prodding he said "Thanks Mom for making me try it." He hasn't had any other crazy flashbacks and talks about it pretty openly. We've had a chance to talk about forgiveness and not harboring bad feelings.
The other day at school they had a cookie exchange (Alex baked homemade chocolate chip cookies to contribute) and my boy came home from school and proudly announced that he ate TWENTY FOUR cookies in one hour. That does not include the one he had for lunch or the 5 after school. Thirty cookies in a day? It says a lot about his personality. He wants it all right now and only thinks about the present moment. It makes me sad that he can't plan for the future - he had a large container and could have saved cookies for the next few days but nope. He wolfed them down like the orphan that doesn't believe there will be any food tomorrow. That's how he spends money too. However, I feel like we're finally at an even balance with Alex. He seems much more relaxed and a part of things. He still talks like a caveman. But this may be the best his English gets? He doesn't seem to want to improve? How can you teach a child something they don't care about? Or isn't that important to them? But over all, he is a very sweet boy - he gives me hugs and kisses smack on the middle of my forehead a few times each day. Yes. Still. At 14.5 years old. We left for Ukraine four years ago this month. He tells us that he feels like he has always lived here. I think that's a good thing?
The other day at school they had a cookie exchange (Alex baked homemade chocolate chip cookies to contribute) and my boy came home from school and proudly announced that he ate TWENTY FOUR cookies in one hour. That does not include the one he had for lunch or the 5 after school. Thirty cookies in a day? It says a lot about his personality. He wants it all right now and only thinks about the present moment. It makes me sad that he can't plan for the future - he had a large container and could have saved cookies for the next few days but nope. He wolfed them down like the orphan that doesn't believe there will be any food tomorrow. That's how he spends money too. However, I feel like we're finally at an even balance with Alex. He seems much more relaxed and a part of things. He still talks like a caveman. But this may be the best his English gets? He doesn't seem to want to improve? How can you teach a child something they don't care about? Or isn't that important to them? But over all, he is a very sweet boy - he gives me hugs and kisses smack on the middle of my forehead a few times each day. Yes. Still. At 14.5 years old. We left for Ukraine four years ago this month. He tells us that he feels like he has always lived here. I think that's a good thing?
James and I are headed to Mesquite this weekend. I talked him into a cycling ride. Just 38 miles in sunny Mesquite. It's suppose to be 84 degrees! Woot! I'm excited to get away with my favorite guy. He is still working on his eye glass case and sleds. His cataract surgery was a success and he enjoys seeing so much better. He is working out of Craig Colorado now and taking an airplane. It's nice because he gets home so much sooner than when he was driving to Pinedale. We sure miss him when he's gone and love him when he's here.
Real estate has been crazy busy and we've been blessed to have such great business. I hope it stays busy since these bambino's of mine are so terribly expensive? Everyone but Austin is looking for summer jobs, I hope they find something soon - Alex handed out flyer's for his new job this week:
Spring is coming!!
How does your back yard look?
Need some help with doggie poo??
Introducing……
The Pooper Scooper Company!
Owned and operated by Alex Richhart
Call 801-834-0369
Payment upon completion at the price you feel it’s worth!
How does your back yard look?
Need some help with doggie poo??
Introducing……
The Pooper Scooper Company!
Owned and operated by Alex Richhart
Call 801-834-0369
Payment upon completion at the price you feel it’s worth!
So far, no calls but we're hoping!
(He is earning money to pay for the retainer he stepped on and then tried to avoid telling me was broken. Lessons. Life lessons. Alex has so many to learn.)
Well? I'm going to go batten down the hatch - or at least remind everyone it's a school night and time to go to bed.
Happy spring blogging world......to the two of you that might actually read this post?
And my newest form of journaling via Facebook!
1. Most women that play county rec basketball are younger, buffer and more tattooed than me.
2. When there's only five players you're going to play the entire time.
3. Playing the entire time has got to burn at least 800 calorie but I don't know that for a fact as I had to remove my heart rate monitor watch - next time, I'm wearing a sweat band over it.
4. The tallest girl gets to play center. Even if she is the newbie. (Yes, me.)
5. I really need to work on just about everything - except crashing to my knees to fight for the ball. I did that just fine about 4 or 5 times. Raspberry to prove it.
6. I apologize repeatedly. "Sorry I steeped on your foot." "Oh, sorry that was my foul." But I don't think that is a regular trait in county rec ball.
7. Playing basketball is way more fun than running on a treadmill!
( ) New Years resolution: Play on a basketball team - check! Pretty sure I'll sleep well tonight!
Then within minutes he drops something on the floor accidentally and steps on it. "Alex, what did you break?" "My retainer." (Like it's not big deal - he was just putting it back in his locker without any sort of reaction. I am sure he wouldn't have told me had I not heard the crunching sound under his foot!)
Now he needs to make some money. Every penny of the cost of a new retainer. Anyone have a yard of dog poop that needs scooping?
Despite our rough morning (stepping on his retainer/not doing homework) I have to give him props - he had A's and B's and one C+ (in choir of all classes) at parent teacher conference tonight AND he made a fabulous dinner or in his words "A serious dinner". Grilled steaks, sweet potatoes and a tossed salad. Yes, when my kids turn 14 they GET to cook dinner once a week and NOT just heat up something......I know, I am a mean mother! (But not a dumb one!)
And my newest form of journaling via Facebook!
I
had leg warmers on under my boots today - you know? To look like tall
socks? With my skinny jeans and tall boots? Anyway, I had taken off my
boots and Alex saw my leg warmers and in a judging tone said, "Mom, you
are in the 60's." Really? Alex? I think you mean the 80's. And this from
a boy that wear strips and plaids together?
January 7 via iOSAlbum: Your friends
Ukraine
Christmas feast: borscht, verenikes, purruskies, meat paste (yuck),
cucumbers, sunflower candy, Ukraine candy, bread and juice! I had one
big eyed boy who gave me a huge hug and when saying the prayer he
thanked God for my "skills".
While
riding the plane home and being pelted with questions by Alex, like
"How high can the plane fly?" "How much fuel can the plane hold?" I,
exasperated, told him to Google it when we get home. "But mom, YOU are
my Google!"
January 25 near Murray
Alex Richhart sat down in my office and started reading Austin Richhart's
anthropology homework. He was writing about a tribe where the younger
brother marries the older brothers wife if the older brother dies. Alex
not knowing this was homework must have thought this was some new family
rule or chart and you should have seen his HUGE eyes! "What?? I have to
marry Austin's wife?" I almost fell of my chair laughing!!
January 28 near Murray
Oh my goodness! How did this happen? My baby is THIRTEEN today!! Happy Birthday Rylee Richhart! And yes, that makes FOUR teenagers living in our home at once! Oy!
January 30 near Murray
How is this for the stars aligning just for me? This Friday is STATE drill competition for Devree Richhart
who is on Murray's drill team and the Snow College Drill team is coming
to perform while the judges tally the score - so I will also see Kambree Richhart perform too! Both girls on the same day at the same venue! Woot!
Mom pay day! Loved seeing my girls, Devree Richhart and Kambree Richhart dance today with my other dancing daughter, Rylee Richhart at my side! All these years of dance class, carpools and costumes are paying off!
Magic 8 Ball Question: Should I be nervous that my daughter, Kambree Richhart's newest love interest is named Mr. Wright? Or that Kambree and Cameron are just too cute when you write their names together?
Tonight
while studying vocabulary with Alex I got this sincere thank you, "Mom
thanks for using your time to help this son study these words he will
never use."
We have a tradition in our ward of the girls wearing their prom dresses to church the day after prom. Devree Richhart
wore hers on Sunday and after church a darling little girl gazed up at
her and asked "Are you a princess?" Devree jokingly and in a very sweet
voice replied, "Why yes, I am a princess." The little girl squealed and
proclaimed for all to hear "Hurray! I found a princess!" Then she
proceeded to hug her ruffly dress!
February 12 near Murray
What
is this "Will you be my Valentine?" thing going on at the junior high?
In my day, you didn't ask - you just gave a Valentine to your
sweetie/crush/person you kept calling and hanging up on (thanks to no
caller ID) and hoped they did the same? Now everyone's lining up their
Valentine? Getting a commitment before the big day?
I have one son thrilled that a girl said yes and one sad daughter that no one has asked. Oh my goodness.
I have one son thrilled that a girl said yes and one sad daughter that no one has asked. Oh my goodness.
February 13 near Murray
I
am blessed to work with amazing clients all the time. Seriously. I come
to love them all and I feel fortunate to help them sell or buy their
homes.
This last week some clients blew me away with season tickets to Hale Center Theater. I know right? How utterly fabulously thoughtful! Thank you Pond's! You made me day.....make that my season!
This last week some clients blew me away with season tickets to Hale Center Theater. I know right? How utterly fabulously thoughtful! Thank you Pond's! You made me day.....make that my season!
February 19 near Murray
Our
three day weekend consisted of a wedding, two receptions, two
basketball games, a farewell and then a day of snow play for the rough
and rugged: James Richhart, Kambree Richhart, Cameron Wright & Alex Richhart. The rest of us either worked (Austin Richhart) or stayed in our nice warm house watching movies (Devree Richhart & Rylee Richhart and me!) Lucky us!
February 19 via iOS
1st ride in 2013!! Finally! Dry roads, sunshine and a minute to get on my bike!!
February 21 near Murray
Things I learned tonight:1. Most women that play county rec basketball are younger, buffer and more tattooed than me.
2. When there's only five players you're going to play the entire time.
3. Playing the entire time has got to burn at least 800 calorie but I don't know that for a fact as I had to remove my heart rate monitor watch - next time, I'm wearing a sweat band over it.
4. The tallest girl gets to play center. Even if she is the newbie. (Yes, me.)
5. I really need to work on just about everything - except crashing to my knees to fight for the ball. I did that just fine about 4 or 5 times. Raspberry to prove it.
6. I apologize repeatedly. "Sorry I steeped on your foot." "Oh, sorry that was my foul." But I don't think that is a regular trait in county rec ball.
7. Playing basketball is way more fun than running on a treadmill!
( ) New Years resolution: Play on a basketball team - check! Pretty sure I'll sleep well tonight!
Basking
in the peace and quiet of Sunday morning before I try to get kids up
and motivated to get ready for church. Normally we're scrambling by now
to get out the door but this week we're attending a farewell. — at Home.
Upon
seeing Barbara I comment that she's had some plastic surgery. Alex
wanted to know what that meant? "Did they use plastic? Or put plastic
in?" Devree replies "No they just look like plastic."
February 27 near Murray
Seriously?
This child is going to be the end of me! First off I get a note to come
to parent teacher conference to talk to Alex's speech teacher. "Alex, I
didn't know you still were seeing her. Do you have homework that we
should have been working on?" "Yes....I don't do it." Grrrr....Then within minutes he drops something on the floor accidentally and steps on it. "Alex, what did you break?" "My retainer." (Like it's not big deal - he was just putting it back in his locker without any sort of reaction. I am sure he wouldn't have told me had I not heard the crunching sound under his foot!)
Now he needs to make some money. Every penny of the cost of a new retainer. Anyone have a yard of dog poop that needs scooping?
February 27 near Murray
On
learning English: Alex went shooting at a range tonight with his young
men's group. He came home all bright eye and bushy tailed showing off
his target and explaining that he "...shot a 45 and it cocked hard!"
Hum.....I think the word he was looking for was kicked? It kicked hard? Despite our rough morning (stepping on his retainer/not doing homework) I have to give him props - he had A's and B's and one C+ (in choir of all classes) at parent teacher conference tonight AND he made a fabulous dinner or in his words "A serious dinner". Grilled steaks, sweet potatoes and a tossed salad. Yes, when my kids turn 14 they GET to cook dinner once a week and NOT just heat up something......I know, I am a mean mother! (But not a dumb one!)
Four
years ago I got my first International Women's Day Card from my son,
Alex. He was living in a Ukraine orphanage at the time and we were
frantically trying to get our paper work done to go there and bring him
home. (We left for Ukraine on March 17th
of 2009) All these posts about International Women's Day made me dig
through my blog to find my entry and I thought I'd share it with all my
Facebook friends! Happy Women's Day!
Oy! Just remembered to register Devree Richhart for her ACT test. Two days late for registration = $22 late fee.
March 10th near Murray
How's this for a good reason to NEED an Iphone?
Rylee Richhart (looking at the computer - shopping for Iphone cases for an Iphone she doesn't have) "Mom, there are just too many cute Iphone cases. If I had an Iphone I'd never be able to decide on one......I know! You should buy me one so I would have to make a choice!"
Please......
Rylee Richhart (looking at the computer - shopping for Iphone cases for an Iphone she doesn't have) "Mom, there are just too many cute Iphone cases. If I had an Iphone I'd never be able to decide on one......I know! You should buy me one so I would have to make a choice!"
Please......
While
tucking my boy into bed tonight, I got a tight squeeze and this sweet
comment, "You're the mom I always wanted." Ah, be still my heart. Next
to the broken sentence he uttered almost four years ago, "I wish I was
in yous tummy" (Translation: He wishes I had given birth to him) I'm not
sure there's a sweeter thing an adopted child can say to his mother?
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