Family Update

The kids and I are doing great adjusting to our new house. Vanessa is finished with school for now, and is looking for a Full Time Job (yeah!). Andrew has started football practice again.. (seems like it was just over) and just got back from a Camp in Utah. It was unfortunate because the the saturday before he was to leave, RMHS JV scrimmaged Centennial, and after the whistle blew, some kid decided to come after Andrew anyway. The other kid landed on Andrew's ankle. That took Andrew out of the game, and he came home with crutches. AHHH pure panick on my face when my child walks in the door with a wrapped foot and crutches! Anyway I took him to the doctor to get X-Rays and THANK GOODNESS that it was not broken, however he was not able to participate basically the whole time in camp. He was able to go but was just not able to give 100%. It was the best decision for him to set out. His Coach and I would rather have had him sit out of the camp, then to be out all season! He is much better now, and hopefully be ready to get at it again soon. Carson is now done with T-Ball. He really really likes Baseball. He told me that he likes it better then Football, but I dont know about that. Just doesnt seem right since Football has been such a HUGE part of our house, but thats OK if he likes Baseball more. Truth be told, I like Baseball more then I like Football. Its my favorite sport! I will be posting pictures soon. As far as me.. welll... I'm doing fantastic! Business is slow, however we will be just fine. I have been able to spend alot of time with Friends and rekindeling old friendships. That has been truly amazing! It is sooo nice to get to know some of my old friends again in our adult lives. I look forward to getting in touch with more people soon. Things are always moving in a positive direction. That is the only way to look at life. If you always look at it as 1/2 empty, you will get it as 1/2 empty. As days progress for me, the one thing that I know is Carma is TRUE! What goes around comes around, and I SMILE LARGLY as I say this. It is SOOOO TRUE! In a nutshell.. Life is good. I am truly blessed every day to have such wonderful kids, a wonderful life, a wonderful supportive family, and wonderful supportive friends! Things maybe hard at times but we always have each other :)

Carson's Flag Football

Carson started Flag Football a few weeks ago. He has had a few games and they are just now getting the hang of things. They are so funny to watch. I mainly took videos at his first game, but got a few still pictures. Here is one of them. The kids have a blast. He did manage to score a touch down this last weeks game. He is one of the bigger ones on the team :) He tells me his favority position so far as been "center". His reason.. well.. "I get to hold the ball first!" For now, I'm ok with that :)

Changes

As some of you may know by now, there has been some changes in my household. Drew and I have split up. It has only been a few weeks, however it seems as of now that it is a final deal. We are much happier in alot of ways. Even though this is not a happy time in our lives, we are making the most of it for now. Adjustments needed to be made. Thanks to all my family and my extended family, that has made this transition alittle easier for me and my kids, (ALL 3 of THEM!) You know who you are :). I couldnt have done this without you. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. It is for the best for now, and we will all be just fine :) Julie, Vanessa, Andrew and Carson

McCall Winter Carnival 2_7_09

This year it was my mom, my niece Maddy, Carson and I that went up to see the sculptures. It was a BEAUTIFUL weekend! The sun was shining and it was not cold at all... BUT that was the problem. It had been nice all week, and most of the sculptures were starting to melt. We should have gone up the weekend before, but we didnt, so Oh well... coulda, woulda, shoulda huh! We had a great time never the less! The little kids had a great time climbing, jumping, sliding down the hills/sculptures. My mom also had a great day. It was so nice for her and I to just spend some time together. We really don't get a chance to do that very often, and it was long over due. I love going up to McCall. It is just so peaceful to get away from all the "city" life. AHHHHHH it was nice to get away, even though it was only for 8 hours :)

New Years Eve at the Aubertins

We as usual had a great time at the Aubertins place for New Years Eve. The kids ran wild were completely wore out by the time the new year rang in. It was CHEERSSSSS for us all and then they were ready to crash. Not until of course they had their SPARKLING CIDER, in their champagne plastic glasses. Us adults had a great time as well. Becky and Tyler rented the karoke machine again. It was a blast last year and a blast this year. This year the little kids wanted to do it as well. Carson and Sam had a blast with singing the Rascal Flatts/Cars Movie song "Life is a highway.." (I have a video that I can email everyone, but I am having a hard time adding it to this.) It was a ton of fun. It's always nice to see everyone and new faces. We wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Christmas Day 12_25_08

Christmas Day came very fast. It was a late night on Christmas Eve, and then I needed to stay awake to put the Turkey in the oven. Sometime between 2 and 3am is when I finally hit the pillow, after all my "duties" where finished :) 7:30am came fast, but it was all worth it. The kids had an awesome christmas. IPODS, SKI PASSES, SNOW BOARD BAGS, a ton of STAR WARS things, and a ton of other things, the kids apparently were "GOOD" this year... and that they were. I am so thankfull that I have such awesome kids. The two oldest kids have been great, as well as the baby. Alittle teenage attidudes here and there, but so far nothing that I have had to worry about... I am knocking on wood right now!!!!!!



After we opened our gifts, Drew's Dad, Step Mom, Sister and Step-Brother came over for breakfast/brunch and to open gifts. We had a really nice morning with them. Of course we all got some fantastic presents, the kids of course got everything that Santa forgot about. It always works that way, and works out great! They are the most wonderful people in the world. I am truely lucky to have the in laws that I have!



In the early afternoon, my Mom, Sister and her family came over for Dinner. The kids have a blast running around and playing. We just do a gift exchange with the kids and this year, my sister came up with a great idea. She got all the girls a family necklace that symbolizes "cousins". It was an awesome idea. The girls loved them. My brother called and we all got to chat with him. We missed him terribly, but he will be home soon. Christmas was another fantastic day for us. We are all so blessed and lucky to have a healthy family.

Christmas Eve with the Cates

Christmas Eve is always spent with Drew's moms side of the family. Everyone came to our house this year, and it was of course a great time. Its nice to see how everyone has changed throughout the year, especially the little kids. One of the cousins Micheal, has a new little baby, Issac, which is SUPPPER cute, and looks just like big sister Saddy. Jaime was able to call in via the WEB CAM so that everyone could see our beautiful Baby Lydia. It was nice for everyone to chat for a few minutes. Heather was able to call and chat for a few minutes as well. The most touching part of this Christmas, was when Grandma Jeri gave a talk about how special it was to be home. (This year, her and Grandpa Jeff were going to stay in Las Vegas for Christmas. However her eldest grandson Drew, was not real happy with that idea. It didn't take me long to realize that he was upset about that, and after a 1 minute conversation, it was decided that Grandma and Grandpa were coming home weither they liked it or not. We, along with Drew's mom, purchased airline tickets for them.) Grandma Jeri and Grandpa Jeff were very touched that they were missed so much! We all miss them terribly when they are gone. It was nice to have them here. Although their visit with the airlines didn't come without some hic-ups. First of all, there was the delayed flight, leaving Salt Lake City to Boise, ummm imagine that! The snow has been in sane on the west coast this year. That put them into Boise closer to midnight, which it was suppose to be here around 10:30pm. No biggy... but then.. there was an issue with the luggage track thing, so it took them forever to get their checked luggage... so after a long ride home to Caldwell, Drew finally made it back home to Meridian about 2am. In addition, this trip has alittle bitter/sweet to it. A few weeks back, Jeri was coming out of the motor home, in Vegas, and happened to trip over a rock that holds the outside carpet down. She was in alot of pain, and after coming into town, Jeff was able to get into see her doctor here, which met then on Christmas Eve, and it was decided that she will have to have surgery on her foot. She has torn all the legiments in the top of her foot and is not allowed to walk on it. Jeff will have to head back to Vegas by himself for now, and then Jeri will be able to follow as soon as her surgery and recover it done.
Over all it was a great family night, with alot of laughter! Of course Christmas was a HUGE SPOIL FEST! The kids got some great kids from Cliff and Connie and their Aunties!