Pay Days

Look at this sweet picture......

That's my four children walking into the temple. 

I wish I had brought my real camera-these are all taken on my cell phone. Had I been able to actually see the results-besides the microscopic thumbnail on my camera that looked perfectly fine-I would have taken another but this is all I have.

(Sorry Austin and Dev....not the best picture of you two!)

It was one of those "pay days" as a parent to take them all to the temple to do baptisms. Alex was a little nervous but Austin was with him and showed him what to do. Later in his journal he wrote about how he likes going to the temple and what he did and why. It was a 2nd "pay day" to know that he understands what is going on and that he feels the spirit. 

A bunch of Ukraine names had been sent to Utah to get baptisms done in preparation for the Kiev temple opening. Unfortunately they needed to be done last week and Alex was at scout camp and not yet ordained a deacon so even if he had been home, he wasn't ready.

Our youth's baptism assignment just happened to follow three days after he was ordained and lucky me my BFF, Amy is the young women's president so I offered to help drive. Afterwards Alex told us he "got wet five times!" 

We went home and picked up Rylee who spent the morning with Amy's girls and took everyone to lunch at Rubio's and ate outside on the patio. 

Of course Austin had to be Austin and asked that we take this picture......

(Yes, he's STANDING on the Keep Off sign!)

In his defense....he had spent the morning in Sunday clothes at the temple and you can only be reverent and respectful for so many hours in the middle of the week when you're sixteen and your name is Austin!

And I just couldn't stand that dark red background and have removed all my backgrounds. What you're seeing just shows up on it's own. Any ideas how I get this off? Thanks bloggy friends. 

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

Do you remember the commercial where the dad is pushing a shopping cart gleefully through an office supply store? Kicking up his heels while "The most wonderful time of the year" plays in the background? Pan to shot of his kids with sad, sad faces, watching as he fills the cart with back to school supplies?

It's a GREAT commercial and it's exactly how I feel!

Every year.

Back to school. That's right baby.....the most wonderful time of the year!

Don't get me wrong. It's not because I don't love my children. 

I do. 

But, they NEED to go to school!!

I have decided to stop feeling guilty-you read those blogs or hear about mom's who are sad their kids are returning to school, who feel so empty the first day of school, wondering "where did the summer go?", dreading the carpools, the homework, the structure.  Oh, yes. Those are the mom's that for years pushed me into suppressing my true feelings.  I use to feel so guilty for my feelings of glee when I see the words "back to school sale". I use to try and suppress my joy when notebooks, colored pencils and glues sticks are stocked at the front of the store at ridiculously low prices. I use to try and look sympathetic to the groans and dismay of my children as the two weeks before school were counted down. BUT after years of closeting my happiness and euphoria about the kids returning to scholastic study....NO MORE! 

It's time to come clean!!

I love this time of year!!! 

I love back to school!!!

I love structure and order and bedtimes and homework time! 

I LOVE IT!

I am not a bad mom for wanting more than endless hours of Wii, Webkins, I-tunes downloading, Facebooking and "hanging out" doing nothing with friends for my children.
I am not selfish to want a period of time where the fridge stays shut for more than 15 minutes straight, where silence reigns supreme through the day and no one is beat boxing, pounding on the piano, dancing, wrestling, singing, pillow fighting, "inventing" things out of wood with power tools, riding their roller blades on the wood floor and or shrieking through the house being chased or trying to get someone to chase them.
I am not evil for wanting my kids up and dressed and out the door before noon-going somewhere where trained professionals help them learn and use their minds and creativity.
I am not ridiculous for wanting to stop hearing "What are we doing for FUN today?", "No one is home, there is no one to play with.", "I'm bored.", "Let's go to the mall!", "I have nothing to do.", "How come we don't go to Hawaii?" (Or  Disneyland or Lagoon or anywhere cool and fun their friends families are going) and "It's summer-I don't need to get up!".
I am not the devil herself for wanting structure, bedtimes, scripture time, dinner times, and a sense of knowing everyone is at their designated school and not running a child here, another there, trying to find a friend for this child, hoping another is driving safe and another remembers to get to work.

Mothers unite!!

It's time to shrug off the guilt!

School is great!

Teachers are saints!

Silence is golden!
Despite what my children think about this subject and my love for this time of year, I do love my children! I think the fact that I love for them to go back to school is only proof I love them even more! I love for them to be engaged in learning and growing. I love for them to come home and smash their cheek against mine and tell me about there day. I love to hear about who is going out with who and what so and so said to so an so. I love to see and smell my teenagers all groomed and smelling good rushing out the door at 7:25 am. I love to see my elementary kids run up the front steps after school and throw open the door exclaiming "I'm home! Where are you mom?" I love the break we get from each other and the chance to miss them a little each day.

And although I really hate this blog background I'm going to keep it until school starts! Just to get the "feel" for this "wonderful time of the year"!!

Who's car is that?

James and I had just dosed off to sleep last night when about 11:15 someone's car alarm went off. But not a normal car alarm-more like a horn stuck down just blaring non stop. We have a corner lot and our bedroom is on the street side and this car was right on the street. After a few minutes I got up to see if anyone was investigating this horrific noise and low and behold it was AUSTIN'S car! 

What the heck????
We do not have a car alarm in this car. It's an old GEO Metro for heaven's sake. James was taking forever to pull some pants on so I went prancing out in my nightgown and met Austin on the way. Yep, it was his car and the doors were locked. (He never locks his doors.) So back to the house he went for keys and I went inside as I was wearing a short nightgown and really didn't want to run into any of my neighbors whom I was SURE were awake by now.

Some lovely prankster had used two sticks to push down the horn and then locked the doors. Probably a friend of Austin's was down the street having a good laugh. Yes, I said friend. That's how boys are. Girls would only do this to enemy's but not boys. Boys LOVE to pull pranks on each other. In fact I think they view it as a show of friendship? Remember the shrink wrapped car? That was a friend.

James was coming out while we were returning for the key with his GUN hidden in his shorts. Good grief. No wonder it took him so long to get dressed. Like what was he going to do with his gun? Shoot the car and put it out of it's misery? 

So....just in case any of you were thinking about tp-ing our house, or shrink wrapping our cars let this be a warning to you. James grew up in the sticks. Toting a gun is not a crazy thing where he comes from-his father slept with a pistol under his pillow and he always "carried" when he came to the "big city". I have tried to be the rational, calm, let's think this through partner with this "good o'boy" husband of mine. But, he's at that age where I have no control. Just a word of warning,  crazy, old-man Richhart has surfaced despite my best intentions. Please stay away!! 

That goes for gophers, mice and any other rodents.
Unlike people he WILL shoot you. And I have a nice white vinyl fence that doesn't take kindly to bb's, pellets and I'm sure not bullets so just stay out of our yard furry rodents.
Oh, and don't come inside either or you may be caught in a paper cup by our good friend Ryan-with panther like reflexes- while James is running for the pellet gun. 

No, he didn't actually shot the little mouse.
Alex wanted to keep him as a pet...uhh...no way!
I suggested they just go let him go in the field but I'm pretty sure he met his maker due to the squishing he got in the cup. I don't know. All I know is mice DO NOT BELONG IN MY HOUSE. Even if they walk in through the doggie door.

Work, Goofing Off & Fundraisers.....

WORK

Dev & Rylee helping with cement....

Here's how the kids bathroom looked yesterday around two pm....

Then these three guys hit it-hard!

And then the girls-including yours truly-helped out and now it looks like this:

Nice huh? The tile guy is coming this week and lucky us-we'll be waiting for James to get home to put it back together. Meanwhile the three youngest will be sharing a bathroom with....me!

MISC

When I was in Ukraine I brought home napkin holders. They're a little on the fragile side and a couple broke in my suitcase. (I carefully glued them back together as I only had seven-the exact number in our family!)

Rylee sat the table today and used the napkin holders-I'm not sure we've ever used them before. The table looked so nice.

However, Austin found a better use for them after dinner!

I told him he looks like some kind of underwater, frog man!

Alex was ordained a deacon this afternoon. He's so excited to pass the sacrament next week. He told me scout camp was fun but hasn't shared too many details except a funny saying they said about hairy legs and that he liked the craft classes. He says he earned five merit badges. 

Kambree is having to raise money for Badgeretts. They're attempting to raise money to go to a national college dance competition. 

"Any donation is appreciated. As our gift, if you donate at least $20, we'll give you a Champions Card. With it you can save up to 50% at over 100,000 locations." 

www.championscards.com

If interested, please call or text Kambree and she'll bring you a card or you can make a comment and I'll get her in touch with you. Apparently you can use these discount cards all over the country? (Yes, I've already bought one!)

She HAS to sell 15 (she has 14 left) or bring an additional $300 to school.

Yikes.

Fundraisers should not have the word FUN in them.

Devree is heading to her "retreat" this week for student body officers. 

Rylee is crazy about "Webkins" and attended her first online Webkins birthday party that her friend hosted for her little stuffed animal thingy. If you understand what I'm talking about-I'm sorry. If you don't, consider yourself blessed. She has two more parties this week. She actually bought her little stuffed animal thing a party-with her Webbucks-$1,000 of them to be exact and forgot to log on at the designated time and date. Upon discovering it, we had tears and drama for almost an hour! 

Oh my. 

I'm going to write one whole post one day on the things our mothers NEVER had to deal with when raising children that we deal with today.  Cell phones, I-tunes, Ipods, texting, and Webkins are going to be at the top of the list!

School starts two weeks from tomorrow. Not that I'm counting down the days or anything.....

,

Odds and Ends

Tomorrow Alex comes home from scout camp. 

He's been gone all week. Five nights and six days. That's a long time. Earlier in the week I was worried that I'd get a call that he wanted to come home. Nope. Now I'm worried he won't ever want to come home. I mean really. He's sleeping in a tent, swimming, lighting fires, playing in the dirt and not reading, bathing or studying. He probably really doesn't want to come home.

I miss my children when they're gone like this. I get so excited for them to come home. It makes me wonder what it will be like to have Kambree gone for weeks at a time? (Notice I said WEEKS not MONTHS!) I wonder if Alex's "flames" have grown out on the side of his head? I can always have hope....right? I wonder if he brushed his teeth at all? Tomorrow will tell.

 

I am happy to report that we made it through the week-o-birthdays and with SIX cakes total, I only gained 1.5 pounds. Could have been worse. Now I'm off the hook until January. With all this birthday excitement Rylee has taken to planning and talking about what she wants for her birthday. Just like with Alex I finally decreed that she cannot plan, ask or talk about thing relating to her birthday until the month of her birthday....that would be just about six months from now! She and Alex are eighteen months apart to the day.

 

I've had to make the same decree with Alex and Rylee about Halloween. Gosh. They come up with "what I want to be for next Halloween" the first of November and then change their mind a bazillion times. I have refused to talk about Halloween costumes until October 1st. (Last I heard Alex wanted to be the guy from gutiar hero with his hair all in pointy spikes. He's new hair do will certainly nix that costume plan. Rylee wants to wear her retro 70's dance outfit and buy white high go-go boots. I've been trying to explain that she's mixing up decades but she won't hear it!)

James has been busy laying cement in our side yard and has recruited the children to help. Today was Devree and Rylee's day. Austin already has put his time in and Alex did a section the night he was "the servant" so I'm not sure if he owes James another session on his own time or not. He likes working with James and it's dirty work so that's even better in his book. Kambree still needs to participate-I hope I'm gone the morning he rouses her out of bed in the early am to help!

GLORY BE AND THE SAINTS BE PRAISED! 

Austin got a job!! He's going to work at the bakery where Kambree works or worked once she leaves for school this month. I am so happy as they're closed on Sundays, agreed to not schedule him on Wednesday nights and they close at eight pm! Perfect high school job! They've been so good to Kambree. They love her and have told her they wish they could hire ten of her! I hope Austin can measure up. I know he can be a good worker too it's just that he's all about having a good time these days and although funny and witty and very persuasive-let's just hope they can find the joy and charm I find in him!

We sold our van and now James is shopping for his commuter car. Good grief. Since April we will have contacted our poor car insurance agent NINE times to make changes to our policy. It started with adding Austin to the policy, then selling the scooter, adding the motorcycle, adding the Saturn, licensing Moby (our old Ford) and adding him to the policy, selling the Infinite, adding the Sequoia, selling the van and hopefully adding the new car tomorrow. If James doesn't find a car before he leaves for work on Tuesday Austin and I will be in trouble as James will take the Metro to work, Kambree the Saturn to Snow and unless Austin wants to drive gas guzzling-diesel fuel drinking-larger than life Moby he will be without wheels and I will be without a driver for the junior high commute. (Yes, my high schoolers drop off my junior highers!)  I think I feel more sorry for me than Austin!

We made a trip to Home Depot tonight. What started out as a "Mom, the sink is leaking!" last week has turned into an entire replacement of the vanity, sink and faucet in the kids upstairs bathroom. We've put off renovating that bathroom but now it's time. It's a domino effect. Leaky faucet? Well, let's replace the whole original 1978's vanity and counter but now we need to do the floor and the surround needs to be replaced and so on and so on.....Ahh...home maintenance. Just when you think you're done-it's time to start over!

I took two darling listings today! Anyone need a great rambler in West Jordan or newer Multi in Draper? Both price under 230K! 

Well, I can hear the movie going and smell the popcorn.

Movie night with James and Rylee.

Life is good!

Alex's Camp Hunt

Kambree's 18th Birthday

Kambree's birthday just happened to fall on Raging Waters Day with our orthodontist. Each year he invites all his patients to Raging Waters and they can bring a friend for free! So since none of "my friends" would really want to leave their families and go to Raging Waters with me-I let Kam bring another one of her friends.

Here's Lindsay, Kambree and Camille.

Austin brought one friend for free and the other three got in for a discounted rate. They were not thrilled that I was taking their picture. Can you tell?

Devree brought Jazmine-no surprise there.

Rylee with her friend Ari-showing us their Oreo's
Not to be out done on her birthday....here's Kambree showing us her Oreo's. Did I mention she's turning eighteen??

James came late as he's been at the Outdoor Expo promoting his Glummy Bag. But here he is with the birthday girl.

After sliding, riding the wave pool, the lazy river and eating hot dogs, chips and Oreo's provided by our orthodontist. (Shout out to Dr. Broadwater @ Holladay Orthodontics. Not only does he throw a great summer party-he's awesome orth. Tell him I sent you!) We went home where we ate Dorrito Salad for a late dinner.

Here is Austin doing his dishes in the princess crown. Not sure why but all I can say is, it's a good thing he is not a girl!

Then we opened presents.

Here's Kam with her new Snow hoodie.

This picture has a story. Devree bought these glasses for Kambree but wore them around in front of Kambree-who loved them and wished she had them! She was so thrilled to find out they were actually for her! So sneaky Devree.

Kambree asked for a Barbie Cake. Not one of my best but a big thank you to Amy for bailing me out with a cake frosting bag. I had run out and tried using a Ziplock. After bursting the seams I called in a panic and she lent me two!

Blowing out the candles

And here is James in his "birth shirt" with Kambree. He's gotten a little bigger in the last eighteen years.

I can't believe my baby is eighteen!

(I can't possible be that old.)

I love you Kambree. I'm so excited for you and your future. I know your going to have so much fun at college. I'm a little worried about me missing & worrying about you but I know you'll be just fine. Just remember I'm only a phone call, email, or text away!

Heading to scout camp for the week!

More birthday celebrating!

Not only do we have Alex's birthday on the 28th, Devee's on the 30th and Kambree's on August 3rd-my favorite and only sisters is on the 29th! We got everyone together Sunday night because apparently four birthday cakes in six days just isn't enough?

Here's the kids comparing their heights.

Alex is 7.5 months older than Brach and a hair taller, Brach is ten months older than Rylee. I think in the next two years Rylee will be taller-as girls get their height earlier- but then the boys will over take her?

It will be interesting to see just what Alex turns out like physically. I don't think he'll be short but who knows? He tells us his Ukraine Dad was big but he was only three or four....so of course he was big! His brother is not a whole lot taller than me but they don't share the same father. Which reminds me, Alex asked me when he was going to get "big these" pointing to his biceps "like Austin & Dad" I had to tell him "I don't know bud." Austin gets his build from James he's just big. Solid. Thick. I'm not sure Alex has those genes. I told him to eat more protein and he told me now that he's twelve he's going to exercise. He wants a "flat stomach". He's going to ride up to the school and hang from the tricky bars and do upside down sit ups. I told him exercise is great but he already has a flat stomach. "But I want eight muscles-I only have one!" Heheehee.

I do hope he's got some muscular gene's in there somewhere as being small and skinny-with a Dad and brother like Austin is going to be tough for him I think!

Then this homeless man showed up...

No wait, that's my brother Jeff sporting a beard. I've never seen him with facial hair. He HATES it. He's growing it out for a film-he's been cast as an apostle-one that goes to rescue the Donner party-in some upcoming film. Perhaps some of you saw him in the film about President Hinkley's life? He played President Hinkley's Dad? He was much nicer looking in that film then he is in this picture. Just had to document the beard.

Here's Kambree talking Tyler into a snuggle.

Rylee delivering one of the two cakes. Brach and Troy in the background.

Singing to the birthday bunch!

Kambree, Alex, Sydni, Kammy & Devree.

My Dad should have got in this shot and we'd have all the summer birthday babies!

Kammy gave the girls gifts-she already sent a gift over for Alex during his party. I had to put these pictures in because she sent her boys to grab gift bags-in Devree's is an I-tunes card. The bag is not only HUGE but a Christmas bag!

Kambree's is in a Christmas bag too. (She gave her towels, hand towels and wash clothes for college. Thanks Kam!)

I love it! Kammy's like "I sort of like having a broken leg. The boys have to help me more and I sent them to get gift bags and this is what the came back with!" Christmas in August! I so love it! And I love that my sister just used the bags and didn't send them back for different ones. I think I could stand to learn a little "broken leg wisdom".

Typical Sunday Afternoon

We have nine am church which is not so great when you have to get everyone up, dressed and out the door-especially when you wait up for teenagers to straggle in from their late nights-but it's awesome to be home and have the rest of the day to yourself! We have a family rule that Sunday's are family days-so no friends! (I love it-the kids?.....Not so much.) I also nix loud, rocking, rapping teenage music. Which seems to be on 24/7 every other day. That might explain why we do so much sleeping on Sunday afternoons. Upon getting up from my nap I found James taking his.....

(Seriously. He's asleep. He's not pretending.)
And laying on the couch across from him was Devree.....

Rylee and Alex were on the computers. Rylee playing a game and Alex watching I-Carly.

Kambree and Austin were chilling in the living room. Kambree coloring a paint by number and Austin playing Wii.

I decided the kids had enough alone time on the computer and needed to do something together so I pulled out a box of Shrink A Dinks. (Remember those? I found them at Shopko last week and my youngest two loved them!) Devree started making friendship bracelets which she has since taught to Alex and Rylee.
I love to see my kids work together and use their hands and minds as opposed to the mind numbing electronic entertainment that seems such a prominent part of their lives.

I turned on soft Sunday music and just basked in the tranquility that existed for a couple of hours. (The look so sweet don't they?)Eventually they all ended up in the living room making bracelets or coloring and watching Phantom Of The Opera.
I heard Alex humming some of the songs later but when asked if he liked the movie he said "Yes, but I wish they not sing so much!" Hahaha! (Austin choose that time to take HIS Sunday nap!) James continued sleeping with his guitar and I made dinner and TWO cakes for that night's birthday celebration with my family.
I just love Sunday afternoons!