Terrible Blogger!

So I have decided that I am a terrible blogger. I have never been one to keep up on journaling. I get so busy with life that I don't ever think about getting on the computer to update everyone on it. I also don't think that anyone actually cares to look anyway. Well, just to update: Darren and I are expecting our first and LAST baby! We are really excited, especially Darren. We went to our ultrasound a couple of days ago and got pictures. When I walked into the bathroom to get ready for work this morning, I noticed that he had one of the pictures on HIS mirror. What a proud daddy! He always is asking me how JUNIOR is doing. He has been calling it JUNIOR since the day we found out I was expecting. Anyway, he always has to ask whenever I do anything, how Junior did. When I take a shower, he asks if Junior liked his bath and asked me if I washed his hair. He is certainly a trip! The kids are all excited as well. Of course Morgan really wants a girl and all the boys, of course, want a boy. I don't know what Rylee wants or if she really even cares what it is. She is just happy to be alive!
Teaching is going much better. I have gotten into the swing of things and pretty much have it all figured out. The first year is definitely no fun though. I don't know what is going to happen with next year. As all of us know, our country and state are in an economic crisis and it is even affecting the schools now. My principal told me that I may not have a job next year because the state is cutting all full day kindergarten programs. Yes, I know that I am not a kindergarten teacher, but there are kindergarten teachers who have been here longer than me that get first dibs on a teaching position. This means that I would have to let my position become available to them because I was the last hire. It is definitely a bum deal, but if I were in their position, I would expect it too. There are definitely other options for me to look in to if this does happen.


Jensen just celebrated his 9th birthday on February 1st. We had a lot of fun having family come over to eat. We realize that our house is definitely not baby proof. Our travertine floors caused a lot of accidents! He also was in his very first pinewood derby. Darren and he worked very hard on his car. It looked great and Jensen was so proud of it. Darren thought he was out of the woods when Garrett raced his last race. Little did he know! Anyway, Jensen got third place which is perfect, no district races. He will also be receiving his Wolf next week. He is such a good boy and a fun addition to the family.



Matthew just made the JV baseball team and we are so excited for him. He is such a good ball player! This is such an accomplishment because he goes to a 5A school were the compitition is FIERCE! He is also turning SIXTEEN next week. Darren is definitely not old enough to have a sixteen year old, okay maybe he is, but he does not LOOK like it. And what about me? I am really not old enough for this, but I might look it- all the sun damage you know!! Matthew is such a good kid and we are proud of him and his acklomplishments.


The other kids are all doing well too. They love to still hang out with each other. They have started this new game were they go down underneath the bridge to our house. They pretend it is a town. They make weapons and stuff because Matthew of course loves to torture them, being the older brother and all. They decided to "kick him out" of their town and have wars with him. They all have made up names for this town underneath the bridge too. They are all so funny and hilarious to watch. I am so glad that we have a house like the one we have where they can have these kind of memories to look back at. We love all our kids so much and our proud of the people they have become. They only get grounded every once in awhile!!

Lastly, I just wanted to thank all of you who have been so supportive to me during the "rough" times I have gone through and am still not done going through. Most of you may have heard that something took place that went very well in my favor. FINALLY. I do not want to directly comment on this because of the privacy of the issue and those special "little ones" who are involved. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!!!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Darren and I just had our 2nd Anniversary (sealing date). Because of my wisdom tooth and some other things going on right now, I completely spaced it! Darren asked me if I wanted to go out to eat with him. We haven't been doing that lately we are trying to be more frugle. He seemed kind of different over the phone and I asked him if everything was alright and if he needed to talk to me about something. He told me yes and that he would talk over dinner. I knew it wasn't bad because he was in a good mood. When we sat down for dinner, he pulled out a card. Can you believe that I still didn't figure it out until I started reading the card! I felt like an idiot!! Leave it up to my sweet husband to remember such a wonderful thing. I am so glad we were sealed. Life is good!

He Likes His Present!

I got Darren a 40 calibur gun for his birthday. It was fun to suprise him and keep it a secret for about 3 weeks. I had his friend help me out a little. . He would ask Darren everyday if I had caved in and told him what I got him. I think it was harder for him to keep the secret from Darren than me. Guys and guns, it's a strange thing! This last weekend we had, or generously, went to go pick up Morgan and Jensen from Casa Grande. We stopped on the farm on our way out to do a little target shooting. It was Darren's first time to shoot his new gun. I couldn't believe his shot. He hit this can the very first shot and then hit the milk jug on the first try as well.


I have to mention that I shot the can and jug on my first try too!

Jensen's Soccer Career Has Come to an End

Jensen is done with another soccer year under his belt. I didn't think that he would want to play this year because last year he pooped out towards the end and didn't even want to go to his games. However, when I asked Morgan if she wanted to play this year, Jensen piped up and said he wanted to do it again! I couldn't believe it! The kids don't really get the opportunity to be involved in any activities over the summer so I think this is why they really jump on the chance to do stuff like this. I think it's good for them to learn how to be part of team and to realize that they can't give up when things get hard. Jensen had a hard year this year, but I am so proud of him for sticking with it and being to all of his games, but three. He missed the last game, which he really wanted to play in, to go see his father in Casa Grande. I was disappointed to see him not be able to finish out the season strong and most importantly to be there for his team who counted on him. His coach was a single man without any children who volunteered to coach these young children after work and every Saturday. He will get his trophy tomorrow night at Bashas in the Deli area (I don't know, it is just were the coach said to meet)! He is so excited!

We Have a New Driver in the Family!

Watch Out, Matthew is on the road! It seems like just yesterday our little Matthew was having his dad push him down the road teaching him how to ride a bike. Well, now I am the only one brave enough to let him drive. We kind of broke the law because he didn't quite have his permit yet. Oh well, who needs a license! I would take my brothers car out on joy rides when they were in football practice when I was in seventh grade. We were headed to Nana and Papa's house for Sunday dinner. Garrett was too scared to ride in the car so he went with Darren who was taking back tables we borrowed for the big birthday bash the night before. Rylee, Morgan, and Jensen all braved it with me. He did really good and just needs some more practice. You can count on me Matthew!

AYSO Fun!

Morgan enjoyed her first year playing soccer. Because she was ten years old she was suppose to be in the league that is co ed. I took her to her first practice and just about died when I saw the other kids on her team. They were giants! Ok, so maybe Morgan is just a tad bit short! Anyway, this team was like crazy good because they had been playing since they could walk and poor old Morgan didn't even know what boot the ball meant. So I went home and told Darren and he of course fixed everything. He called someone he knew that used to be in charge of the AYSO program here and they gave him the information he needed to plead Morgan's case. So Darren talked to the commissioner and told him why we thought Morgan needed to go down a level. He said that he would take it to the board, but was worried that they wouldn't let her because of her age and being too aggressive and running over all the 9 year olds. They ended up letting her go down only if she wasn't going to bully the girls on the field. We assured him that he had no problem. I took Morgan to her first "new" practice and she fit in just nicely! In fact, she was probably the smallest one on that team too! She had so much fun and wants to do it again next year. She is going to have to talk me in to that one because she will definitely have to move up and I don't know that I want to give up all of our weekends to soccer again. It lasts FOREVER! I am a softy though, so we will see!She loved to be a defender which is the player the defends the goal before it gets to the goalie. She did wonderful! Her team ended up only losing one game all season and it was the game that Morgan missed. She got her trophy and is just so proud of herself. We love Mogie!

Happy Birthday Darren

Darren's birthday falls on Halloween so it makes it really hard to focus all on him. We try our best though! Someone once told Darren that you start counting backwards once you hit forty, so we are celebrating Darren's 39th birthday this year! Doesn't he look great! He will always be a thirty year old in my eyes no matter what. He is such a blessing in my and Morgan and Jensen's lives. We love him so much and appreciate all that he does to make our lives wonderful and fun. He is my best friend and eternal companion. I love you sweetie! Happy 39th birthday!