Please Don't Forget!

Since this blog serves as a diary of sorts, I have to post things that I don't want to forget. One of those things is a comment that T.C. made the week before Halloween. Since Halloween ended up being on a Sunday this year, I gave our FHE lesson on keeping the sabbath day holy. After the lesson, I brought up Halloween and asked the kids if they thought that trick or treating would be keeping the sabbath day holy. TC started pouting right away. He was upset, knowing that it wasn't keeping the sabbath. So I explained to him that we would be going to the church on Saturday night for a trunk or treat activity and that he would get candy. Then I explained that coming home from church and rushing around to get dressed and out the door wouldn't be the best thing for a Sunday activity. T.C.'s reply to me was, "How is that any different than going to church?" I have to admit that it is a little crazy getting out the door on Sunday mornings but did he have to draw the correlation between the two? Oh my goodness.

Update!

Steve starts his new job this morning and I am so excited for him. So excited that I am up at 3:30 this morning. Okay, not really but I really can't sleep for some reason. I'm sure the reason has nothing to do with the fact that I have 3 other people sleeping in my bed right now. Where am I suppose to fit in? This has become a weekly or almost nightly occurrence. What am I going to do?

Merry Christmas!

This year I will take advantage of email and blogs to write my Christmas letter. As many of you already know, I have been enrolled in classes this past semester. I won't deny that it has been extremely busy but I have always loved being in school and learning. This past semester has not been the exception. I thoroughly enjoyed being back in school. I started my college career with hopes of being an Accountant. After many years of taking classes and taking off to take care of my babies, I have fallen in love with science and hopes of being in the medical field. Maybe it was all that time I spent in the hospital that I wanted to be back, but on the giving end rather than the receiving end. Steve and the kids have been so very supportive and do so much to help out around the house. That doesn't mean that my house is always clean and toys are always picked up. It just means that they are doing everything they can to keep the house under some control. :-) Steve and I were disappointed this year at the loss of a large plumbing job that Steve and his dad were suppose to complete. Then the Monday after Thanksgiving, Steve was told he wasn't going to be the fifth grade teacher anymore. Due to all of his observations being given proficient or better, we were stunned. We assume it may have something to do with him having a side job and they probably didn't like that. :-/ Anyway, we are back to job hunting. We have a few leads but they can't come fast enough for sure. On a brighter note, the kids are doing great.
T.C. and A.J. love school and are both straight A students. They have both enjoyed hiking this summer and the best part is stopping on the trail to put our feet in the river. They love riding on Papa's 4-wheeler, watching movies and playing basketball at the Y. T.C.'s favorite movie this year was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and A.J. loved Avatar: The Last Air Bender.
Dakota started preschool this year and her teachers love and adore her. I've been told that she is the perfect child. My jaw drops as the teacher tells me this and I picture my house with honey poured all over everything or the time she dumped hot sauce all over her room. I'm thankful that those stages don't last forever.
Jaxon has become a little man this year. It is hard to believe that my baby has turned 2. He is quiet but his vocabulary has grown tremendously. Jaxon loves hot wheels and has to have a ball in his hand at all times.
We are very grateful to have such wonderful friends and such a great family. We have been blessed by your examples in our life and hope that this letter finds everyone happy and healthy. We love you all and have a Merry Christmas and a great 2011!

Love, Steve, Beth, T.C., A.J., Dakota, and Jaxon

A Mother's Work is Never Done!

I don't understand. I have spent the last semester going to school full-time. Most people know what that requires. Especially with 4 kids. I have been homework free for 2 days this week already and do you think my house looks any cleaner? Heck NO! In fact, it seems more chaotic. It is 8:45 and I had to scream at the top of my lungs to get the kids to stop getting out of bed. They are in bed every night by 7:30 but now that mom is home, they are pushing the limits for sure. Now, I have to run off to finish laundry. UGH! Finish... yeah right, more like, keep doing laundry.

AJ

TC

Dakota

Going away party for the Archibald family.

Playing in the kiddie pool!

Summer 2010!

I know this post should have been before my last post, but oh, well! This summer flew by, with so much going on. TC and AJ stayed busy with baseball practices and games. They had fun but we kind of wish they had been in a more competitive league. I think it got boring for them to not keep score. Yes, both of my boys are competitive. Steve stayed busy with work, which kept me busy with the kids. Needless to say, the summer was busy.

Thanks to my niece and her husband, driving to Colorado, we were able to make a trip to Tennessee. I wasn't about to drive across the country with four children by myself. I was tempted, but Steve asked me where the kids would go, when I had to use the restroom. That made up my mind fairly quick. Jared and Bekah came in on July 26th and we headed for Tennessee the next day. We decided that night to just keep driving straight through. Jared toughed that part of the drive out. I think I would have fallen asleep, but he did well. I arrived at my parents house the next morning around 7 am. I think they were quite surprised to see us at the front door so early.

Our time in Chattanooga was fun and went by way too fast. I loved seeing all the greenery that the South has to offer. Although being outside was extremely hot with the 100+ degree weather and 100% humidity. I think my makeup melted off of my face within minutes of being outside. It was wonderful to be there for Jessica's reception. I consider Jess as one of my own nieces even though she is actually my sister-n-laws niece. Our families have always been so close. I also enjoyed seeing friends and family while I was there.

When we arrived back to Colorado I somehow talked Bekah into taking some family pictures for us. Bekah minored in photography and she takes great pictures. So, I am glad she could do that for us. The kids loved smiling for her and Jared, anyway.

Now that we are all back in school, life is busy but as you can see, it always is. That is why I might as well finish school, too! It has been two weeks and I am loving my classes. I'm excited to be in the classroom again!!!!

First Day of School for so many!

Well, I am a little late posting this but it is better late than never. Right? Steve's first day of school as fifth grade teacher at James Irwin Elementary Charter School was August 11th, along with AJ's first day of Kindergarten and TC's first day of fourth grade. How exciting to have them all at the same school together. Dakota started her first day of preschool on Tuesday and I, yes, I started back to school on Monday. I am very excited to be back in school and think that it will be a great semester.