Our trip to the coast....

Ahhh...I miss it already.

We picked the kids up from school early on Thursday. We were going to go through Burns and Bend but decided at the last minute just to take the interstate (the weather was bad both ways but way worse over Santiam Pass (required chain up) than to go over Ladd Canyon and Cabbage. There was quite a bit of snow on The inter-state and the big rigs had to chain up but it wasn't too bad.
When we got to the Columbia River there was a huge paddle boat that was a casino. It reminded me of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Between Arlington and John Day, there are cliffs all along the left side of the highway. We spotted several small herds of Mountain goats and Big horned sheep. It was pretty cool.
The Multnomah Falls were beautiful!


We didn't get to the hotel til 8:30 or so. We dropped our stuff off at the hotel and went potty (we all had to go bad! LOL) and then we ate dinner at Lee's Chinese Restaurant. I had the terryaki chicken, it was yummo! On the way back to the motel we stopped in a park to listen to the waves. I have so missed that wonderful sound. I could have slept right there.
The next morning I set the alarm to walk the beach and look for glass floats. It was sprinkling a bit and sort of chilly. Tyleigh was sleeping and Joshuas shorts were too small (he packed himself) so Jared and the other 2 kiddos went with me to the beach. Walking the beach was amazingly relaxing, even thought my toes were frozen...lol I didn't find a float :(
We went back to the hotel, got cleaned up and went to the "Pig and Pancake" for breakfast. It was the most delicious breakfast I have had in a long time. I highly recommend it.


We decided to drive to Newport and got to the aquarium since it was very rainy and it was expected that Saturday be a nicer day. First of all we stopped at Mariners Square, right on the port. Unfortunately the Undersea gardens were closed and we didn't want to pay full price to just do Ripleys Believe it Or Not , and the wax museum. We did stand out by the pier and watch some crabbing boats and a noisy seal.

It only took a couple hours to see everything, but the kids really enjoyed it.
The kids in an "aquarium".

The kids touching sea urchins and starfish.

There was a huge Aquarium with Sharks and sting rays which the kids really loved. But their favorite thing was the Sea Lion and seals. We probably watched them for 30 minutes. There was a one that made us laugh every time it swam by because it was always upside down. We were also lucky enough to be there at feeding time and they did lots of cool tricks for us.

An otter rolled up into a ball.


We headed back to Lincoln City and found Gallucci's Pizzeria. The pizza was descent, the salad bar was good, but the best part was that we spent probably 40 bucks on video game tokens and had a blast with the kids.
We headed over to the outlet malls and had a god time rushing around to all the stores before they closed at 6 (it is still off season for them so everything seems to close early). We bought the kids all sorts of stuff they didn't really need. Jared got a 100 dollar wallet for 19 bucks and I got a much needed HAT! My hair doesn't like the humidity...AND I thought the hat looked cute on me too...LOL
After the Outlet mall we went bowling. We haven't done that since Joshua was small, and we had a terrific time.
We were all basically exhausted at this point and decided to head over the the DQ for some burgers and ice cream. We took them back to the hotel and ate and vegged until everyone crashed.

We got up and everyone wanted to go to the Pig and Pancake again...lol So we did. The waitress wasn't as good as the Friday's but the food was still fabulous.
Joshua needed a pair of swim trunks and we all wanted some flipflops or water shoes so we headed to the Goodwill. I love those thrift stores...(yep I'm a freak..lol). We all got shoes and buckets for the beach and we headed for the beach. We spent a long while there just walking, gathering shells and watching people fly kites. It was so fun and relaxing...and a bit nippy but not bad.

We went to Mo's for an early dinner. http://moschowder.com/ It was awesome to sit and eat dinner, and be able to watch the ocean at the same time. There is a pier there that has binoculars too. We took our time eating dinner and looking in the gift shop. I bought myself a small glass float. Next time I am going to blow my own glass float. (there are a couple places in town to do that).
We headed back to the hotel and changed again. We headed back to the beach. We spent quite a while there, and didn't leave until after sunset. I am going to miss it.


We went back to the hotel again, and got cleaned up. We headed to cold stone for ice cream. We took another drive around town and headed back to the hotel and chilled.

For Sunday there isn't to say. We left the hotel, went to McD's for breakfast, stopped at the falls, saw some more mountain goats and sheep ate lunch at Wendy's and got home around 6.
we want to go back sometime again before school starts at the end of August. Not sure if we will be able to afford it again so soon, but for sure next time I will pay extra to stay in an ocean front inn, because the ocean if where we wanted to be most of the time.

Ah! Time for a vacation!

We are going to the Coast this weekend.
I am so excited! I haven't been to the beach for such a long time, and I love the beach. It is so relaxing.
We are staying in Lincoln City at Captain Cooks Inn http://www.captaincookinn.com/
We are getting the Kitchen Suite (you can do a virtual tour if you wanna see it). It has 2 queen beds and a hide a bed in the living room, bathroom, kitchen. It is 5 blocks from the beach. It is owned by an LDS family.
One cool thing about Lincoln City is the Glass Floats.
Back in the 1930s and '40s, beachcombers routinely stumbled across glass balls that had washed up in Oregon after a long ocean voyage. These floats from Japanese fisherman's nets were eventually replaced with plastic ones and the unusual souvenirs all but disappeared. Then in 1999, Lincoln City revived the magic of finding these ocean-borne treasures. Between October and May, discreet "float fairies" plant 2,005 multicolored, handcrafted glass spheres—the biggest are six inches in diameter—along local beaches. Lucky float finders are permitted to keep the miniature art pieces. When you find a float, you call the Visitor Center, and register your float. They will send a Certificate of Authenticity and information about the artists that crafted your float. Some numbers are selected at random to receive additional prizes, so registering is important. They put out the number of floats reflected by the year - so 2001 in 2001, 2002 in 2002, etc..... So this year they will put out 2007 floats. I am determined to find one! They are beautiful. If I don't find one I will have to buy one.
We are also going to go to Newport and go to the aquarium. http://www.aquarium.org/ We may go to another place called Mariner Square http://www.marinersquare.com/ Which has the Oregon Undersea Gardens, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and The Wax Works. Then there is whale watching at Depoe Bay, which isn't at it's peak til mid march but there is a chance we could see some.
There is a big outlet mall that we will hit too, sometime during the weekend. There are 65 stores, it is pretty huge.
I just hope that the kids and Jared *snicker* behave themselves so it turns out to be a Vacation and not a nightmare!

Finally!

I can't believe it. Tomorrow we go and sign the papers on the house. Finally.
I was unsure if I wanted to stay here, with all the things that are happening with Jared's family...BUT our prayers were answered. We are supposed to be here. For what reason? I am not quite sure, but I am sure we will discover it sooner or later.

We haven't went anywhere in SOOOOO long. I mean years. Since we don't have to pay rent next month and our first mortgage payment won't be due til April, we are going to go somewhere for the weekend, next Friday. Probably the coast, but I am not sure yet. I am excited to get away for a couple days, that is for sure.

Why is life so complicated? (Part Deux)

So here I go again. I should probably just shut up about this stuff but then I figure I should finish what I started. Plus this gets it off my shoulders without saying it directly to them. Sort of like a letter that you don't mail. (I've done those before too, they really work)

So We did mom and dad, and so now we are at siblings.

Jason. I believe Jason is a compulsive liar. He told his wife he was a virgin when they got married (not true about 10 times over), and that he served his full 2 year mission and had an honorable discharge (also not true. He was sent home because he became engaged. Seriously.). He is sooo selfish. Growing up his family was very poor. So now that he is an adult and he has a job and what not, he is making up for his lack of toys in childhood and filling his adult life with toys that he cannot afford at the expense of his children and soon to be ex-wife.
He just took a trip to see some friends with his new girlfriend in tow, telling everyone that he got divorced last fall so that nobody will know that he is a cheating *blankity blank*. He has to drive fancy cars he cannot afford and buy clothes that IMO make him look gay as a jaybird just to make himself feel better. He is a mama's boy all the way. He could be standing over a dead body with a bloody knife in his hand and be able to convince his mama that it was the dead persons fault and he is the victim.

Sharma. Of the two girls she is the one that took the most crap growing up. She has been very promiscuous since she was a teenager. She has 2 sons. Both out of wedlock, and the second one she doesn't know who the father is. She was a welfare case for many years but she has now been an CNA for a couple years. She has married a weird but descent man and they are now leading somewhat of a normal life with her 2 boys.

Shanna. The youngest. She also cannot do any wrong in mama's eyes. She was promiscuous as a teenager also. She is married to a drug using bump on a log who is covered in tattoos. He is currently in jail for the gazillionth time for peeing dirty. She has 2 beautiful but out of control kids who CPS keeps threatening to take away because their house is filthy. Her and her husband have both been unfaithful many times and it seems to me that neither of them care. Maybe they have an "open marriage"?

After all of the things that I have found out in the past few weeks about Jared's family, I seriously wonder how in the heck Jared turned out as good as he did. I really feel sorry for him.
He is a good man. He just has some issues. He has done SOOO well the last 8-10 months that I think maybe he has overcome a huge hurdle. He is trying to be an excellent father and husband, and I think he is doing a wonderful job...especially knowing how he was brought up.

Ok so there won't be a part 3. I am not saying I won't complain on my blog about my In laws again....but I am putting it to rest for a while.

Country Roads

Is there a song that makes you cry? And NOT because the song is sad. I was thinking (VERY DANGEROUS..lol) about my dad this morning, and about a song that makes me sad every time I hear it.

My mom and dad's 50th Wedding anniversary was June 10th 1999. We were having a big ole' party for them (my brothers and sister planned it and we were holding it at the stake center). I was on my way to their house in California from Oregon. Joshua was with his grandma, and I was taking Dallin with me and Jared was in front of me, in his Semi-Truck. He had to deliver something in Salt Lake and we were traveling together to that point.Jared pulls over and I follow. And he comes walking up to my window and I could tell something was wrong. Before he could say anything I said "Is something wrong with Joshua?" and he couldn't speak, he just shook his head. The next words out of my mouth were "My dad's dead isn't he". And he nodded.

I hadn't seen my dad in months, and I was ON MY WAY to their house! If he would have died the next day I would have been there! Or if I would have left a day earlier I could have seen him one last time.So everytime I hear the song "Country Roads" I cry because of this line "Driving down the road I had a feeling that I should have been home yesterday, yesterday."

Take Me Home, Country Roads
(John Denver)

Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze
Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, Country Roads
All my mem'ries, gather 'round her
Miner's lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrops in my eyes
Country roads, take me homeTo the place, I be-long
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, Country Roads
I hear her voice, in the mornin' hours she calls to me
The radio reminds me of my home far a-way
And drivin' down the road I get a feeling'That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday
Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, Country Roads

So is there a song that makes you sad for unapparent reasons?

Why is life so complicated? (Part 1)

I'm really not liking this being an adult thing.
When we moved here I thought "Ah, we never have to move again!" We have moved SOOO many times in the 13 years we have been married. I try counting and stop at 20 because I just get overwhelmed. It is probably somewhere around 25-30. It is amazing.

So now we are close to buying this house. (I feel like we have to jump through so many hoops because of the bankruptcy, I wonder if it is worth it!) The one I felt we were destined to buy. The one I believe we were led to. I really did (do?) think we were meant to move here. But now I am wondering why, or if it is even true. Maybe I just imagined the feelings?

This whole things with Jared's family has me wanting to run for the hills. This house is just down the road from his mother, and we are within 45 minutes of all of his freaky siblings. Wanna know more? Lets start with the parents.....

Jim, Jared's father... was abused BAD as a kid both mentally and physically. So then Jim abused Jared. He was also this Jekyll and Hyde person that Jared is, and I hate him for that. The only time that Jared's dad didn't scare the piss out of me is when he was near death. Not that he was mean all of the time, but you never knew when he was going to snap and I hated it.

Shari, Jared's mother...was also somewhat abused growing up but has a much more stable life than Jim. She infuriates me though with her "I am a victim" crap. She stood by and watched while Jim abused the kids and I believe was a participant also. She treats her kids all differently. Jared was treated worst of all. Here is an email I sent to her recently:

Since I don't know quite where to start, but I want to be honest I will just start listing things about you that bug me. Remember that these are my opinions and my feelings. Try not to get too angry while reading it. It isn't meant to hurt you. I did write them while I was angry though, so it might come acrossed more rough than I want it to.

1. You have always treated Jared differently. I guess I should say more different. In my mind you have always treated Jason best. Then Shanna. Then Sharma. Then Jared. Why? What did Jared to do you even as a young boy for you to treat him so differently than the other kids? Do you want to know MY opinion why you treat him differently? Jared reminds you of Jim. You look at Jared and you think of all of the bad things about Jim. I think the second reason you hate Jared is that from a very young age he stopped needing you. He had his own job, his own money. When he had problems he didn't go running to mama like the other kids did (or still do in some cases). Moms are supposed to be #1 with their kids. You felt neglected by him when you wanted to be his number 1, and you weren't.

2. The thing that you don't buy your own children birthday presents unless they buy YOU one. That is just plain weird. That is a special day, when a precious gift came into your life. I don't know any Mother who doesn't buy their child a gift to commemorate that day and show their love.

3. The way you justify the wrong things that some of your children do, and then shun some for doing the same thing. And how you try to cover up for them. (You have always done this, this isn't just a recent occurrence).

4. The way you buy some of your grandchildren more stuff than others. All of your grandchildren need coats, and school supplies etc.

5. You go around telling people we owe you this and that for that Les Schwab bill when you go out and buy stuff for Jason and he gets behind on paying you back and we don't hear you backstabbing him but you go around talking to people about what we owe you? I paid that Les Schwab bill faithfully! I paid what I though we owed, and then found out that others had been putting things on the account too. Sorry, but I am not paying for other peoples batteries or tires. (We put some tires on her account, this was several years ago)

6. When Tanner died and we asked about burying him with Jim. We were given the answer no. I think you spent some money on a little bundle of flowers for him and I was grateful. But, Then when Brianna was born you allowed Shanna and Kyle to bury her with Jim. This broke my heart. You also bought tons of stuff for Shanna/Brianna. I don't remember what it all was but I know Shanna has alot of stuff to remember Brianna (Commemorative Box or book or both? And other stuff that I know YOU purchased for her.) I would have loved that stuff for my sweet baby boy too. But of course it was Jared's child, and I am not your daughter. It was These experiences that effected me so profoundly that I could not call you mom.

7. The way you act like you don't talk about people behind their backs, but you do. You talk about almost everyone. Everyone does, nobody is innocent here.

8. I've always thought that you didn't like me because I moved in with Marilyn and not you. (Before Jared and I got married I moved to Vale and refused to live with them).

9. I used to think that all of your children's problems were because of Jim. Now I realize that part of their problems are because of you. You weren't a victim, You were the parent too.

10. You try to play the martyr.

There might be more. (I am sure you are thinking "there is more!?!?!") If I think of something else I will send a number 11. I just want to get this all of my chest and start fresh. I would like you to do the same, and I will try not to take it the wrong way.

Lisa

So I got that all out in the open and it made me feel better. BUT then the neighbors (the really sweet ones next door...he used to be our bishop and married Jared and I) heard Shari's side of the story and when Dallin went in for his Baptismal interview, the Bishop called Jared in also and asked him if he thought he was worthy to baptize Dallin after the way he has treated his mother. WTH????? She is the one who left a message on Jared's phone and called him a lying F***er! She is the one who said she washed her hands of all of us and for all of us to go to Hell. All we did was told her the truth about what her precious angel son was doing.

She has known for 5 or 6 months that Jason has been talking to women on the Internet. I told her she should have told Brandy THEN what Jason was doing. She let Jason bring the other woman into her house and then proceeded to tell Jared and I how nice and bubbly she is. WTH???? I said "WHAT??" You let her in your house?" Said "well it isn't her fault" And I said "the hell it isn't. She KNOWS THAT HE IS MARRIED! In my eyes that makes her a wh*re." (Sorry for the language but that is what I said, and I may be a little bit more sensitive to this since I have been through it.)

Oh I am so mad at her. I do not know how she can go around convincing people that Jared and I are the "bad ones" when Jason is the one who left his wife and kids, who is committing adultery, the one who is trying to screw his children out of child support, the one who is the big fat liar! And she again is playing the victim. She took a week off of work for "mental hardship" or some BS. And telling the bishop Jared is being mean to her? I just don't get it. I don't get how people don't have a conscience, and I don't understand why people believe all the lies.

Basketball is over :(

Well this afternoon was Joshua's last Basketball game for 7th grade. He has done soooo well it has amazed me.

When he was born he was breech, and when he started to walk he was really pidgeon toed. I took him to 5 different doctors and they would each give me a different diagnosis. It was so frustrating because they never did anything about it.

When we lived in Pocatello I took his to the Orthopedic specialist for ISU. He told us that Joshua's hip joints were square, and they should round out with time and physical activity. I thought it was just another "undiagnosis". When we first moved to Vale the other kids would say something to Joshua about his legs and he was slow. In the year we have been here Joshua has played Baseball, Football and now Basketball and his legs get straighter and stronger as time goes on. I am so relieved.

In the top picture he is the one with the ball in the corner. And the other picture is of him and his buddies. He is 3rd from the left, with a note is his hand that he had been "secretly" passing back and forth between one of the stat girls...LOL It was quite humorous.


He has made me really proud. Alot of the boys have been ineligible for games because of grades or behavior and I never have those problems with him. He is really trying to get a 4.0 this coming semester.

The folks that Jared works for are awesome. Even with Jared being a truck driver and all, he only missed ONE of Joshua's games. Being there to support his kids is very important to him.

The Grammy's

So I am sitting here watching the Grammy awards.
The kids are all in bed (Hurrah!)
I am avoiding the little bit of cleaning I need to do before I get in bed. (I HATE getting up in the morning to a yucky house)

Speaking of Grammy's, I have been thinking about my Grandma and this poem that she used to say to me almost every time I saw her.

A CHILD OF ROYAL BIRTH
I am a child of royal birth.
My Father is King of heaven and earth. My spirit was born in the courts on high.
A child beloved, a princess am I.
I was nurtured there; I lived by His side In a home where patience and love abide.
My mother was there in that glorious place Blessing her children with queenly grace.
I grew to the stature that spirits grow.
I gained the knowledge I needed to know.
I was taught the truth and I knew the plan that God and Christ laid out for man.
I was there when the stars of morning sang.
I mingled my voice when the heavens rang.
I was there to rejoice, to praise and applaud the shouts of joy from the sons of God.
I waited my turn and I came to earth through the wonderful channel of human birth.
Then the curtains were closed and the past was gone;
On the future too, the curtains were drawn.
I live on the earth, and God willed it so.
With freedom to choose the way I should go.
I must search for the truth.
I must serve and obey; I must walk by my faith or fall by the way.
Someday I’ll go back, I will answer the call; I’ll return with my record to the Father of all. The books will be opened and so will my heart.
There will be rejoicing if I’ve done my part.
My Father, the King, with His infinite love, will welcome me back to the mansions above.
The curtains will part and eternity, In it’s light and glory will open to me.
~Anna Johnson

My Grandma Rose was 99 when she passed away.
Her sister Lottie lived to be 102.
I don't think I would want to live to be that old.

First 2007 Post

There has been so much that has happened this last little while, I have just been lazy and haven't updated at all.

There are a couple major things happening in my life right not, but I would rather not go there at the moment so I will just talk about nice things :)

Last Saturday Dallin turned 8 and was baptized by Jared at the Nyssa Stake Center.

Joshua turned 13 on Thursday and has been doing so great at Basketball. He loves it. I can't believe I am the mother of a teenage son. So scary!

Seeing that I have just spent the last 2 hours making my blog look just like it did before (LOL) I think I am ready to go to bed! (It is after 1am!)

I will update again, hopefully at least a few times a week....and soon about the two major things that are going on at the moment.

I think I am a good mother, I really do. But sometimes my kids drive me nuts! It is like what I say goes in one ear and out the other. Sometimes I think that maybe I just need to chill. They are just kids right? I should give them a break. Then I look at other peoples kids and how they act out, and have no respect and think...Nope, not gonna happen with my kids. Maybe I then pull the reins a little tighter. They say "pick your battles". Who is "they"? I want to see how their kids turned out.

Joshua has 2 more weeks of football. It will be bittersweet when it is over. He is at practice Mon-Thurs til 5:30. I have to pick him up. We have had to travel to his out of town games and we don't have the money for gas. But, then I love watching him play.