I am not a Blogger.

So there. Yes, I know that it can be oh so easy, but it it definitely not for me. For one, my computer is on our third floor - So not always convenient. But, I had ambitions to fill you in on the last six months but a friend of mine told me not to. I would only drive myself crazy. So, I won't. If you want me to, you can email me and I will email you a whole book about it. Lol

So it's raining. Has been raining all day. I am not in an uplifting mood, but all is well. Tevin is reading with a fury but it's not as fun as Lego Harry Potter! lol He's been playing nonstop. We have only rented it for a week - this is our second week renting it. Austin told him we won't be renting it a third week, so he's playing twice as hard. Zoya is herself. Dancing and singing all over the house. Being the "Great" mother I am, she must have had like 10 fruit snacks today. She kept bringing them and I kept opening them. Oh well.

Austin has been working. He's obsessed with the finances. Which, I guess is good. Better than being completely uninterested in our money and future. Hmmmm.

I have a ton of pictures to share, but I haven't downloaded them yet. I'd promise, but it might not happen - but I'll try to post some soon.

Happy New Year!

Well, it's been a long time and a rough road since we have blogged. Well..... A lot has happened now... Austin ended up getting a job offer from is company Up and Running Inc. - which he works for now. We knew that we would receive an offer, but we figured that we could easily turn it down as we were SO SURE that any offer coming from them would be small and easily turned down. But, it wasn't. Of course not! So, it was a week after that Austin started to get really moody and upset and he just could not work this through, so we decided if he could just go to Florida (our choice place to live) then Heavenly Father would let us know what we should do. So, we drove down to my family's house, sent him off to Florida and I stayed with the kids during Thanksgiving week. Of course, he got his answer.

We will be staying here in Houghton for a few more years at least. We would like to think that we only have to be here one more year and Austin talks like it will only be a short time, but I know that it won't. It will be probably three years or more. I know we don't LOVE it up here and we have already lived through at least four winters, but he will feel obligated to stay. Lets hope that the Lord only needs us to stay for a couple years!

Other than that, we ended up going to Florida for Christmas with my brother and sister in law. They were great and Austin was THRILLED to spend more time with them. The kids were great on the car rides. It was a three day journey from our house to Florida, so it took lots of toys, snacks and movies. Austin and I are still married so that is always good. It means the trip was a success!! lol We will be putting out our yearly movie - we like to send it as our Christmas card - a very late one. lol

We will post pictures from our trip soon!!

Almost.... ALMOST over.

Life as been rough the past few days. Austin has gone out of town to a conference to learn about a computer program that a company he works with is upgrading to. Long story! Anyways, my dearest sweetheart is going to be coming home tomorrow night. YEAH! I can not tell you how happy I am. I am totally serious! I love my children, but sometimes, we just butt heads and it just gets worse from there.

Today I had to go to Tevin's Parent-Teacher Conference. He's doing fabulously and needs to improve a little on the whole listening and not complaining part, but that's a five year old for you. His teacher also informed me that Tevin had HEADLICE! AGH! Apparently 95% of the class has it. So I mildly freak out because I just have to do a ton of work now. So, I take him to the store and get all of the stuff for it (even though I looked and couldn't even find a NIT!). I had him go through the WHOLE process wit washing and combing out his hair and washing all of the sheets. Now, he is bug free.....and I a itchy. I feel stupid but I might have to ask my neighbor (or wait till Austin gets home) to check me just in case. Zoya doesn't have anything, but I might. Ya never know.

Sometimes life can suck, but then you get over it. : ) ha ha Wow.

Tevin seems to be going through another growth spurt - which is what everyone is telling me - (which we can't afford! He goes through clothes like mad) because he has been dropping everything! Spilling milk, dropping plates, dropping food, toys - everything! He can not keep anything upright! lol I am really frustrated. I think we must have had a Half Gallon of milk spill on our floor this week.. or more.

I love my family, I really do. Some days are just better than others.

Loney.... I'm so lonely!

When I hear that phrase not only is it in a munchkin voice, but I hear the strings along with it. For any of you who have no idea what I am talking about, I will be happy to send you the MP3.

Today was a good and bad and ugly day.

GOOD! We had our primary program and they did so awesome! They each wrote a talk and they each went up and read beautifully! I am so proud of them. My primary kids ROCK!

BAD! The kids were totally useless as far as attention went so classes were out!

UGLY! We ended up having an ice cream party to celebrate how awesome they did - and it was - but then we were left with 8 primary kids and 3 nursery kids all hyped up on sugar and 45 minutes to go.

GOOD! Austin is feeling better. He has been sick - nothing serious - but I sent enough drugs with him.

BAD! He was feeling bad enough that he needed a blessing, so we had a couple Priesthood holders come over.

UGLY! He couldn't come to church today, so he never got to see the program. : (

Another UGLY - no Good or Bad. Austin has left to go on his week long conference today. He'll be back Friday evening - very late. *sigh*

Now, it's just me and the kids. YEAH! I mean that truthfully and sarcastically. I love my children, but it is going to be one busy week!!!

Here's a question.... Have you ever had a bump on your arm? I'm talking a hard bump - not squishy or movable either. Thursday, I found this hard lump in the smooth part of my left forearm. It was about the size of a navy bean. Now, I don't know for sure, but I think it has grown to kidney bean size and it hurts around it and when I push on it. I will take a few more days measurements... although I will be calling the doctor's office tomorrow... just to be sure. I have a friend who is a nurse and she thinks it might be a "ganglion cyst" - which is not my cup of tea either. But, we shall see whenever I go in.

Remember, Remember the 5th of November!

lol For those of you who don't know, that was from the movie V for Vendetta. I don't even know why I remembered it. lol Oh well. Now, Halloween is over and it's on to Thanksgiving. The kids had a lot of fun with Halloween.

I am totally tired though. I don't know why, but I have been sleeping a lot. I did feel great today though. I got a ton of stuff done. haha and NO I am not pregnant. My neighbor already asked.

We are practicing for the Primary program Saturday and I have sufficiently bribed them all with an ice cream party. They are excited to speak in the microphone too... I did forget that. But, hopefully it will go well. I am also currently obsessed with our branch Christmas party. Yes, you heard right. I have planned it all out and more. Austin rolls his eyes, but he knows this adds to my happiness so he allows it. : )

Austin has done really well. He has signed up for his last semester of classes and apparently decided to take two P.E. classes for fun. Wow, my man will be lookin' good by the time Spring hits. I only hope I can do the same. lol He's ecstatic for the end to be in sight but he's even more ecstatic for it to snow so he can ski. Yes, it's sad.... but I only say that because I have never skied.

Life... it's so hectic sometimes and others not, and you always seem to want what you don't (or can't) have.

Jack-o-lanterns galore!

Last night we carved our pumpkins. It was a lot of fun... for some of us. Austin said he was PMSing so he wasn't in the greatest mood and it didn't help that Tevin wanted to carve the pumpkin - but didn't want to touch it. I think overall our pumpkins turned out great! Tevin drew his own face on his (the left one). We had bought a pie pumpkin for Zoya to do, and it was a "baby" so that made it all the better. Mommy just wanted to have fun with her pumpkin (it's singing in case you didn't know).


Zoya was very proud of her pumpkin and it was very cute when she gave it a hug. Also, the funiest thing to me was that when we put a tealight candle in hers, it glowed REALLY bright!!!

Tevin of course was exstatic! He loved his pumpkin and was so happy that Daddy had beat Mommy in the race to finish the pumpkins. He would turn to me and say, "I'm going to beat you!" and then turn to Austin who was carving Tevin's pumpkin and say, "Dad! Hurry Up!"
We had a very good time in our family home evening. Especially Zoya's outrageously bright pumpkin.
Afterwards, we talked about service. Our branch is trying to fulfill the goal that every family have a missionary work plan set and wanted each auxilary to come up with something that can connect the families to the branch plan. Well, I am the Primary President so I thought really hard, but then when I read an old issue of the Ensign, I was reminded of President Monson's birthday gift of warm fuzzies! Perfect! I decided that we would do a warm fuzzies jar and each time they did service to someone, they would be able to put a fuzzy in the jar. If it was a gospel related service, then they got to put a Sparkly Fuzzy in! I decided that this was good and would start one at home! So, we talked about it and we talked about services we had done that day and it was ok. It will take a bit for them to understand what service is.

We then played with the camera's timed option. It was fun and we got a couple good family shots in. We are a happy family.

Rainy Days and Gray Days Always Get Me Down...

Instead of Rainy Days and Mondays, it's Rainy Days and Gray Days. It's Gray here... almost 95% of the time. We only see blue skies once in a while. Here, for instance are some pictures of a typical day here in the U.P.

This is a shot from a grocery store called Econo....cool...

Zoya and I waiting for Tevin's bus!
Waiting for Tevin's Bus....and hoping it won't rain. (but it does)

Anyways, it's been ok. I noticed my sleep cycle has gotten crazy so I will have to go to bed earlier and wake up earlier and do a little light therapy to keep me on track! Lol We've been cleaning our house lately and it is amazing how much you can get done when your kids actually help! haha Afterwards we had some fun... see?

We love to play. I think it is hilarious when I clean because I like to listen to music and today Tevin got really annoyed and yelled, "No! Not music!" I told him I liked it on because it made me happy and he said, "Well watching TV makes me and Zoya happy." haha I still kept the music on and it was good because they had to find something else to do. Heaven forbid they not watch TV.

Daddy was excited today. He got his speakers in for his car. After returning the first set because they were too big, the stereo place ordered these for him and then he found out that they were a little too tall, but he fixed it so everything is good. All he has to do now is find out which wire is bad in the car and both of them will work! ; ) haha


Tevin has been learning about Safety this last week. He got to go to the Fire Station and everything! His teacher sent home this paper about having a fire plan and such for our family and asked that we make up one and send them a copy so they can put it in this book they are making. We had already make our emergency plan because Mom is a freak, so we took a picture of Tevie standing by our poster we have by the door and taped it to the paper. He's happy in the picture, but he wasn't a second before! lol

I was going through pictures today and realized my babies were getting so big! Here's a recap.Tevin at age 5!

Tevin at age 1!

Zoya at age 2 1/2!


Zoya at age 1!!

Wow. I am definitely feeling that "tug on my uterus" (for those of you who don't know, that line is from a movie called The Women.)

Absolutely Ridiculous!!!

I can't believe how long we have gone without updating this blog. Of course I am the only one who does it, but I did read a friend's blog and I really enjoyed it. They seem to use it like a journal - which I guess (duh) is what you should use it for?? Anyways, I have decided I will be more diligent and if anyone ever reads it, then they will know our family. Yeah.

So, it's dang cold now. Last week it actually snowed. Tevin was SOOOO excited. He ran to the window and exclaimed, "This is so awesome! Now I can wear my new boots!" Yes, I should have been good and been happy, but I wasn't. I was not looking forward to another seven months of snow. Austin tried to cheer me up, and by the end of the day it worked. We then realized that we had no boots for Zoya, so we had to go to the store. Another yeah. But.... before I go on, I better backtrack a month to fill in this outrageous gap.

I guess I will do this in pictures, as it is easier than trying to remember all of te details of a whole month.In Primary we ended up making sugar cube temples and I took this picture of Tevin. It was so dang funny I just couldn't help myself.We went berry picking with some of our friends and we ended up waiting a bit for us all to meet up and I took this picture of the kids. This is a scenic overlook that looks out Houghton - the town we live in.

Tevin started school and absolutely loves it. I volunteer in his class on Fridays but I'm only allowed if "he can ride the bus home." Ahh. It's started.Tevin did Soccer this year and e did really well. is best game was of course,the last game, but he was happy and said he really enjoyed it. We only had one bad day and that's a record for us! YEAH! He has really done well. We are very proud of him.Zoya gets bored at Tevin's soccer games, so she entertains herself - and us at the same time. She is getting so big. I am having a hard time dealing with it. She is very opinionated and knows what she wants, but will almost always say "NO" regardless. HahaAustin and I had to put our brains together to put on a barbeque for 150 people in our apartment complex. It went well and no one had any problems. Here Tevin and I are posing with Blizzard the Michigan Tech mascot - he's a husky! Tevin's worried - as you can tell. I have been the council president up until recently. I didn't get along with the person who was my supervisor. He didn't like my religion and I didn't like his behavior, so when head came to head, I left. I am a much happier person now. lolThis picture, I have to say I am proud of. After taking some time off for unknown reasons to me (haha) I am back on my low-carb diet. My ultimate goal - 150lbs. Right now? Sitting at 225lbs. It's all good though. I have already lost 25lbs so the rest will be a challenge, but good. Anyways, I am so in love with the fourties and fifties - even 1920's and thirties music and dress and everything. I think if it was easier, Iwould wear those way cute dresses!! I love the aprons and I like the lifestyle. Way fun.... hmm someday. But anyways, I was bored so I curled my hair and tried to recreate a look. Did I do good? I liked it.

Life... the final frontier!

Well, it's only getting better isn't it? We've been busy getting ready for school to start and all. We got to go in and meet Tevin's kindergarten teacher. She's an older woman and nice. Her name is Mrs. Johnson so that's easy enough. We took pictures outside the room and Tev wasn't that thrilled.

We've also been working on our garden. We have a piece of land that this guy offered to our apartments to use and this year we seem to be the only ones. It's been super cold this summer - I guess the coldest since 1914. Yeah.... : (

Tevin and Daddy found skates at Goodwill so they decided to try them out. Fun stuff!

Also, we had a bat in our laundry room, so we took a picture! It was a weird place for it to be sleeping, but we ended up going to the park and I opened the door so it can fly away.... and it did! lol It was gone when we came back! It looked so fuzzy. : ) Here's a video to show you what a ham Zoya is. Enjoy!

Summer's almost over.... here anyways.

Well, it's getting colder... yeah I know it's hard to believe. Anyways, we just got back... sort of... from visiting and going to see Kautri and Matt get married... yeah! Austin's now back at work and the kids have been holding all of the rotten behavior in for two weeks at grandma's and are now releasing it on me. YEAH! So here's a pic of Austin and I waiting for pictures at the Boise Temple.

Here's a pic of Kautri and Matt! Woo-hoo!

We loved being there and got some funny pictures of other people. See?
So for the kids to understand where everyone in our family lives, we got an awesome laminated map - it's big - from the DOLLAR STORE! (I KNOW!) and put pictures of everyone so Tevin and Zoya can see where everyone is. We like it. So, Tevin starts kindergarten the 8th of September and we are excited. YEAH! It'll be good for everyone. But hopefully we will have more to blog about soon.