A Month of Fun -

 We have been here for a month.  I'm going to do all pictures and little talky.

Local Zoo.  Tiny, fun.  

Pictures: top -Peacock (even a baby one - so fluffy!)
Kids and reindeer (not as cute in the summer...); albino raccoon asleep and adorable - can you sleep like that?!; and a ton of baby ducks and geese. 

Hiking up Logan Canyon (McKenna not here).

Pictures:  Ellie, Carter and Tyler enjoying snack by the river.

Bottom:  Tyler and Dee (Love this picture - when did he get so big?!); and da' boys.

Tyler found a giant "Dandylion" (yes, I know it's milkweed but all he saw was a giant wish).  Didn't blow like he thought it would.  Still hope his wish came true.

Aggie Ice Cream to finish off a great day.

 Last weekend James and Amber and crew came for the night.  Suzanne and boys also came by but only got a few pictures of that.  It was Carter's actual birthday so we borrowed a RedNeck waterslide from the neighbors.  Great fun.  

He got ugly cupcakes from me and Zan saved the day with the awesome cake.  The night ended with a sleepover on the new trampoline with cousins.  

The next day we headed to Rexburg for some extended family fun.  It started with a 4th of July parade.  They know how to do candy there!  

Then back to Uncle Dondavid's where I relived pieces of my childhood vicariously through the kids.  Playing in the ditch, jumping on the trampoline, 4 wheeling, bridge jumping and just having fun.  Was a great time had by all and I am SO thankful to be living by family!

The next morning was the Color Run. We ended up getting unused tickets, but next time we will all do it.  So fun to see.  I have a TON of pictures of this, but will spare you with just a few.

Now we are caught up to this week.  We went to a local Dam to get out of the house for the afternoon and it was fun - and toasty.  (Been over 30 years I burn every year.  You think I'd learn.)  A bald eagle flew around our heads and around the lake for about half an hour.  Lovely place we live.  *Side note, McKenna got her braces.  Woo hoo!*

We have done other stuff but those are the highlighted pictures.  Saw our Father's for Father's Day for the 1st time in years.  Lots of them.  Had sisters and friends come over just because they can.  Went to a farewell of a son of a roommate. (Not sure how that is possible...) 

Feeling grateful. 

There's no place like home...

Well it has been 6 months since the last post.  If any of you are still out there I'm impressed.  

The last year has been a whirlwind.  Tornado.  Hurricane.  Tsunami.  Whatever you would like to call it.  I'd like to go back month by month and catch you up but I fear I'll actually never get around to it so we will start with today and see how far we get.  

Summary:  We survived.  Sometimes it was hard - a lot of times it was hard.  Sometimes it was joyful.  I learned a lot.  A lot about family.  A lot about weakness and strength and how they actually play together.  I learned a lot about friends.  I learned a lot about bitter and sweetness.  I learned how you need to be at your weakest to find your strongest.  I learned a lot about marriage and how simple the idea is and how complicated it can be, but really it is simple.  I learned how kids can be small and childlike but wiser and deeper than we give them credit for.  I learned about the "fox-holes of life" and how even when you feel alone when it's dark and scary and everything is blowing up around you - you really aren't alone.  I learned depression sucks rocks.  I learned sometimes you have to admit to your weaknesses to someone else because you actually can't carry your cross alone. I learned that isn't always a bad thing.  I learned about tender mercies from a loving Heavenly Father and how you sometimes have to learn to recognize them but once you start seeing them it is like seeing stars - your eyes have to adjust but they are numberless.  Some are brighter than others.  Some are constant.  Some are like shooting stars - bright and flaring with a streak across the sky that will change you forever.  

Now?  Now we are here.  Our family is together.  We are in our new home in the valley it all began.  It feels so right.  So peaceful.  So quiet.  The anxiety and depression and fear and unknown for the last year seems to melt away and I don't just have to *choose* joy but I am joyful.  My heart and head are quiet and peaceful and the respite is such a blessing.  I am healing.  

It's a new beginning. It feels so right. 

Wow

Giant catch up coming.  Get ready for a long boring post.  Probably without pictures because I don't feel like fighting my computer.  Pictures may come later.  Maybe not.  Stay tuned to find out.  

My last post was about Halloween.  I actually posted it in November.  SO.  Since November 4th here is what has happened.  I might even use bullet points for effect.  Wooooooo.

• November 6th-9th Ellie was in a Cinderella production.  She was a super cute mouse (turned into a horse) and a townsperson.  It was fun and exhausting and all the exciting things that comes with a production.  
• November 7th McKenna had soccer tryouts for High School.  She made it.  She is a starting Forward Center.  Yep she's a Freshman. 
• November 9th Ellie had a soccer District Cup (two games Saturday then finished Sunday without Dee and Ellie *makes for hard choices* but their awesome team got 2nd place.  Super great season.  Amazing team and coaches!
• Same day - Tyler had a flag football Turkey Bowl.  Two games.  Same times.  Different cities.  Literally.  Crappy coach.  Not as great of an ending... BUT he still had fun.
• November 10th - Diantha was called as a Relief Society teacher at church 2nd Sunday's.  I am also a Sign-Language interpreter for our Deaf Ward a couple Sunday's every month.  Relief Society is terrifying LOL.  I'm learning, though.  I also bring cookies because I once heard the wise words of "They may not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel."  Mother Teresa I believe.  Cookies make you feel happy.  Just ask Cookie Monster.
• November  11th - McKenna has High School Musical "Shrek" tryouts.  She is a Dulock Dancer and Choir member.  This will last a few months and is after soccer practice.  Basically she leaves for Early Morning Seminary at 6:15 AM and gets home at 8:00 PM.  Sheesh again.  Life of a High Schooler.
• November 16th - Diantha heads on a super fun Temple Trip with friends from our Deaf Group.  Able to attend the ASL Session for the 1st time and was amazed and humbled at how much I learned.  Great reminder of Heavenly Father's love and a bit of foreshadowing of things to come since the thing that was "shouted" to me the most was my shoulders are strong enough for my trials specifically.
• November 17th - Diantha's birthday.  Whoa.  When did they stop being fun and start being "how can I possibly be that old??"  Dee did get me a longboard, though, and that helped me think I can still be young at heart if nothing else!
• November 18th - Dee flies to Chicago for a business trip for the week.  He calls that Wednesday and says there is a lot of restructuring in the company and there are positions open in Utah.  Kind of mentions it off hand.  We talk more and decide to pray about it.  *Side note - our move to California was always a "temporary move."  All our immediate family except his brother and family are in Utah.  Every other time we have prayed about it it was a "Your work here isn't done."  or "Not yet" or "Quit asking" or "Suck it up."  Okay i may have taken a bit of liberty there but you get the idea.  This has gone on for 12 years so my hope honestly wasn't high.  Mostly because the disappointment hurts.  Also two important things to note here, the week before it dawned on me that above said brother in law and family (our closest family) is moving soon AND my friend Jordan who has become like family and whom I rely on to help me with driving kids and what-not also was going to leave January 3rd.*  So, as Dee was praying about it in Chicago and I was praying about it in California I admit my prayer wasn't humble.  It was slightly angry and panicky and sad.  I've described before my relationship with my Heavenly Father.  He let's me be me and even when I'm like that - praying in anger or pain or fear - he still loves me.  He listens to me, sends me comfort after I get it all out, and answers my prayers in his due time, and loves me despite my faults.  Sidetracking again.  I gritted my teeth and prayed (angrily) "You always have given me family when I need it.  You always have sent someone to rely on because I can't do this without them and we both know it.  Now everyone I call family, everyone I can turn to without judgement is leaving.  You have to send me someone else if they are all leaving!  Either send me someone or let us move!"  Remember, He loves me anyway.  And He has a sense of humor...
• November 19th - Dee says he feels good about it and he's going to throw his hat in.
• November 20th - He gets home from Chicago and 
• November 21st - we work on his resume and submit it.  
• November 23rd - He is contacted and they say they don't really even interview for transfers.  He has the job.  He starts January 2nd.  In Utah.  hahahahahahaha....*GULP*
• Other stuff happens and it's pretty much a blur.  We tell the kids the next Sunday evening.  Literal weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth.  It was hard.  It was painful.  It was sad.  Tyler was so angry.  We expected all of that.  Shock is a brutal thing.  What I didn't expect was when McKenna says, "I'm okay with this. We had a lesson today about managing stress in Young Women's today.  I wasn't really paying attention but then the Spirit whispered I needed to pay attention.  I knew, I knew, we were moving then."  Tender mercies.  Tyler was still so angry.  We'd talk as much as possible.  He is like a vault, holding everything in until he explodes.  Jordan (who moved around a lot as a kid) ended up taking him on a walk a few days later.  He explained to him he wished he had prayed about it.  Used the gospel and priesthood and what he knows now.  He knows it would have been easier to move if he had known for himself it was what his family was supposed to do instead of just being angry that he was forced to move.  Tyler hasn't talked about what happened after that - but his anger is gone.  Tender mercies.  We let them decide if we should all move in January or if the kids and I should stay until June when school is out.  We had already discussed this and knew what we would do, but wanted them to feel in control of something.
• December 4-7th - Our church does a program called "Journey to Bethlehem" which is a play.  Each room is something out of the story of Christ's birth (Shepard's, Angels, King Herod, Wise Men, etc.) and Tyler was a servant of the Wise Men and the girls were in the Angel room.  Awesome and amazing and I'm so happy they got to participate.  I also interpreted for the first time in ASL and it was a great experience.
• December 18th - Carter's Kindergarten Christmas Program.  Geez those guys are cute.
• December 20th - Begin Christmas break for the kids.  Let the playing begin.  We originally were going to head to Utah for Christmas but with everything happening so fast, it was just too much.  That stunk too because I have a niece and a few nephews that are little little now and will be so big by the time I get to see them.  Not to mention we missed our two nephew's baptisms.  BUT I am determined that is all we will miss from now on!
• December 23rd - I finally get started on the blanket I'm making for Jordan.  Nothing like deadlines to make me actually do something.  Turned out awesome I must admit.  As long as he doesn't look too close.
• December 24th - Christmas Eve dinner.  Fancy candles and dishes, ham and potatoes, the works including sparkling apple juice.  We have a lady in our ward join us whose husband was in the hospital.  We were happy she could come.  We read Luke 2.  We had family prayer.  Grateful, peaceful, reflective, happy.  We opened Christmas PJs then scurried off to bed.
• December 25th - 4:45 AM giggling in the hall.  Whispering.  My favorite moments.  They have to wait until 5 to get up so I laid there counting my blessings I was so overwhelmed with.  Christmas was wonderful.  A whole post in its self.  
• December 27th - Dee, Carter and Tyler head for Sacramento to see a football game with extended family.  It was in San Francisco so we didn't want to hang out at an empty house while everybody was gone.  They had a great time except a transportation issue, Gordon getting hit by a car, and BYU losing.
• December 28th - We head down to Sac and get to see our newly returned nephew missionary from Italy BEN.  It was SO fun seeing the boys together.  Love those guys!  We had a great time with Dee's parents, Heather and Andy, Gordon and Kristi.  
• December 29th - Ben's homecoming talk.  Was one of those moments where he was giving a great talk and I am bawling because I know it was for me.  I was so touched, again, by Heavenly Father's mercy and love and his sometimes gentle reminders of those things.
• December 30th - Came home.  Reality hits.  Dee is packing. Jordan came over.  For the last time here our whole family was together.
• December 31st - "Dee's Day" We told him anything he wanted to do we would do.  We went for a walk in the morning (beautiful weather 70ish) by the river.  We went and saw a movie.  We went out for dinner.  He gave us all Priesthood blessings.  Powerful and much needed to hear.  Humbling and strengthening.
• January 1st - Dee moves to Utah.
• January 2nd - Jordan moves to Idaho.
• January 3rd (today) - We are still kicking.  They both made it safely.  It's bizarre because I am happy to move near family.  I love many things about where we live (yes, weather and friends are at the top of the list).  It's knowing our lives will never be the same.  It's NOT knowing what will happen, where we will live.  It's missing friends.  It's living in snow *blech*.  It's the unknown, change and uncontrollable circumstances that is causing the fear.  It's not knowing how in the world I will do the next 6 months.  It's the lessons I know I have to learn but do.not.want.to.  Lessons like not doing everything myself and asking for help.  Sounds simple.  It's not.  Lessons like simplifying.  I can't do everything and if I don't stop trying to I'll burn out. Lessons like let things go. I can't control most things, yet I stress myself out with worry. I recognize all of this, but have a long way to go.  

So that is the end of the tale so far.  I did hear a lady at the store today talking to another lady say, "Well you know bad things always come in threes.  Just when you think it's over your car will break down or your house will burn down or something!"  I wanted to punch her.  Guess I'd better write that on the "Lessons I need to learn" list.  There are many of them.  

A couple of extra prayers would be appreciated.  Look at me asking for help.  yay me.  

Halloween Fun

Halloween this year was full of fun and, of course, candy.  These pictures are us and some friends carving pumpkins  Realized I didn't actually get pictures of final products so just use your imaginations.  

These pictures are Carter's class at the pumpkin patch for a field trip.  So. Cute.  I don't know who has more fun, me or them.  They had pig races this year and I was laughing so hard the other mom's probably thought I was crazy.  Seriously.  We live in a place where pig races are an accepted part of entertainment.  I love this town.  

And ... costumes!  McKenna started as something totally different but by Halloween she was a Huntress-ish.  Awesome cape everything else was added on.  This is her and her friend with their mature pillowcases before heading out.  

Tyler (Batman) and his friend Zack (Master Chief) and the photo-bomb ninja.  They love candy enough to wear anything.  

Carter is a ninja.  Obviously.  

Ellie so wanted to be a fox.  I looked all over for a stinking fox costume then just as I was about to give up we found the hood and tail.  Phew.  Her back had a sign "What Do I Say?"  If you haven't seen the YouTube video "What Does a Fox Say" you need to look it up.  

This is Carter inspecting his candy.  I think he would be okay with being a professional candy inspector!

School Starting... so soon?!

It's a big year in the Treadway home for school.  My baby started High School.  High School!  McKenna also started early morning Seminary.  These are both great things but basically we haven't seen her since.  *sigh*  I suppose it is how it goes but I'm kind of fond of her and miss her a bit.  She joined the tennis team also.  She leaves at 6 AM for Seminary and gets home at 6 PM.  Wow.  I guess our days of sitting around doing nothing but swim are officially over!  She is beautiful and funny and smart and so ready for High School.  

 It's a big year for Tyler, too.  He was home schooled for half of last year and although it was a needed experience he missed his friends and social life a ridiculous amount.  He was excited to start back in Junior High and was welcomed with yells of TYLER'S BACK! after I dropped him off.  He grew so much this Summer it's funny to see him be one of the big kids.  He has a quiet humor and already has the teachers loving him.  And stalker girls.  That is a new experience for his mom!  

Big year for Ellie too.  She started 4th Grade which means she moves over to the same school as Tyler.  Middle school!  Very exciting and she loves her super artistic teacher.  She has a good group of friends this year and works so hard at her work.  She is doing soccer twice a week and is in a Children's Acting Group and is pretty much going going going until she hits bed.  Phew.  Every year we say we will do it differently, every year our kids have such great opportunities.  How do we deny them the opportunities?!  Haven't found the solution to that one so if you've figured it out please let me know!!

As you can tell by the joyful picture, it's also a big year for Carter.  He started Kindergarten this year.  He LOVES it so far.  I figure we have until 2nd grade before he is bored silly.  For now it is all new and exciting.  He came home the first day and proudly told me he has four new girlfriends.  Atta boy.  

**Remember I told you Tyler doesn't take pictures well?!  That boy...**  They are all excited for school and since it is only the second week of school so far so good!  Hopefully this year will be a lot smoother than the last one.  Exciting times!

This is our last hurrah at the local yogurt shop.  So long summer!

And unless you fear the fun has stopped with school starting - things are as crazy as ever.  Love these monkeys!

Ghana...

Going to post something fresh on my mind.  My nephew Brian left last week for a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  He was called to Ghana Africa and instead of going to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah he went to the MTC directly in Africa.  What an amazing experience.  What an amazing kid.  We are so proud of Brian and his family!  

 Brian at the Sacramento Temple

Brandon, Kristi, Brian and Gordon (Ben is still on a mission in Italy)

 Brian and Tara Leonheart, Brian, Brandon, Kristi, Gordon, Dee, Diantha, Lee and Pat

**Side note, notice Brian, Brandon and Gordon's matching ties?  Ben sent them for Mother's Day so they could all match.  How awesome.  What an amazing family!**

Happy birthday! To America too!

Last of the birthday posts.  Almost caught up... ha ha ha.  

Carter turned 5 in July.  He wanted a bowling party.  With girls.  All the friends he listed that he wanted to invite were girls.  Yeah, that's how he rolls.  We have a couple of families with the closest girls so we ended up inviting them instead of ONLY girls.  Fun times.  

Can't believe my baby is 5!!  We all had a great time.

Our local fireworks are always the evening of the 3rd because the "big city" does 4th of July fireworks.  The evening of his birthday we headed over to our church lawn where you can see the fireworks.  Fun times, everybody runs around and plays games.  We had some fun with glow-in-the-dark bubbles and glow sticks which actually all turned into weapons.  The pictures didn't turn out great but here is a preview of what damage we did.

The next day was our neighborhood parade.  Fun times!