Ailing

In the past week here's what we've had:

Jake: Strep throat-he got sick at school and didn't say a thing, just suffered through the day, poor kid.

Hannah: A well visit resulting in 5 shots (I was a little behind on her kindergarten shots) and then the next day home from school with a pounding headache and tummy ache. Quite possibly another UTI, waiting on culture results.

Abby: Strep throat and UTI diagnosed yesterday. I sent her to school and was called before 10:00 to pick her up. She got a penicillin shot because she couldn't keep a single thing down. She spent the entire night barfing and is so miserable and tired now today.

Karrie, Jeremy and Annie: Happy and healthy as can be (knock on wood)

I'm so grateful for antibiotics, ibuprofen and health insurance. Also, that we are all together again and that Jeremy no longer has to work in Mesa, that he can be here to give my kids blessings when they're sick.

School's back! (This is where I do a jig)

Hannah - 1/2 day kindergarten, Jake - 4th grade, Abby - 2nd Grade

Annie was feeling left out - and what better way to show off her sassy yellow shoes than in a timeless picture.

The first day of school was a little hectic, but a relief over here in Prescott Valley. After moving on Saturday, I needed some quiet to get some work done at home.

There was a little confusion about the start time of school - The handbook said kindergartner's started at 8:15 and the rest of the school started at 8:45. So I frantically rushed all the kids to school yelling and scurrying to get them there so Hannah wouldn't be late. We arrived at school promptly at 8:15 just to find out that it was a typo and Hannah didn't start until 8:45 like the rest of the kids. It's one of those things I probably would have figured out if I hadn't registered the kids for school 5 days before it started and 3 days before moving...

Anyway, the kids were excited, they looked great and had a great day. They have looked after one another, especially Hannah. They make sure she gets to the right line every morning, which is a comfort. They love their new school, except for the fact that is is peanut free school, which means ham and cheese sandwiches EVERY day.

Jake - Ms. Mesarosh. He's made so many new friends. Everyday he comes home telling me the new count of friends "I have 6 friends now."

Abby - Ms. Sandum - Abby's also making new friends, she just can't remember any names.

Hannah - Ms. Martinet - She has a new friend named Annie who is her bus buddy, in her primary class and lives around the corner. It's nice to have another kid close by to play with.

I get to enjoy Annie one-on-one every morning. She tags along on all my errands and such. I better live it up now, because in March there will be another one (pray with us for a baby Ben) who will likely zap me.

Recap

A lot has happened in the past few weeks. Actually the past month has been a whirlwind, so here it is lengthily in bullet points...

• 7/20-I took the kids to Heber where I met Cyndi. She took them on to St. Johns while Jeremy and I went to camp. Thanks to all the Platt's who watched our kids for us.
• 7/21-7/23-Girl's camp - Jeremy and I got to go with the 4th years to camp. It was super fun and the girls have amazing testimonies. I was nowhere near their level when I was 15 years old. I feel like I learn so much from those cute girls.
• 7/23-7/24 -After girls camp, we went straight to St. Johns to pick up our kids and see the Arkansas cousins. It was a quick reunion, but a great one for sure. Jeremy spent the entire time at the ranch collecting petrified wood, his and Brad's favorite hobby.
• Back home for a week of packing and cleaning and getting ready for the big move.
• 7/27 - Grandpa Goodman passed away (already blogged about)
• 8/1 - Grandpa's viewing. It was not nearly as sad as I expected. It was more of an enjoyable reunion with all the cousins that I never see. I suppose Grandpa was reunioning in Heaven too. All the kids still rubbed Grandpa's head like they always did. Bless their hearts.
• 8/2 - Grandpa's funeral services. They were great. All his kids gave beautiful tributes, the music and prayers were super too. I was reminded of the importance of spending time with family, the value of hard work and of course, the miracle of the plan of salvation where we can be together again forever as families. Once again, it was a fun reunion with all the cousins we are too busy to ever see.
• 8/4 - Signed papers in North Scottsdale on our home in the AM
• 8/4 - Took the kids up to PV that afternoon to meet their teachers and to go through our home before we got the keys, exhausting!
• 8/5 - Last day of packing, too much to do still and not a lot of time
• 8/6 - Movers showed up at 7:00 am. They got busy working and, with my help, we finished all the packing, said our sad good-byes to Maddix, Bronson and Alex and headed up the mountain to our new home in Prescott Valley. We got there and a few hours later were surprised when the Morris' showed up at our door. They were a treat and the kids loved having someone to play with. Heather saved me as she got my numbed brain working again to get the kitchen unloaded. Thank you!
• 8/7 - Woke up in our new home after a long night. All the neighborhood dogs got to barking in surround sound. Don't worry, it hasn't happened since. We continued unpacking and the got ready and headed to church. It was nice. The ward was so welcoming and warm. Came home and Jeremy gave us all such beautiful blessings. I bawled through them all. Then, Jeremy headed back down to Mesa for one more week of work.
• 8/8 - The kids started school (that will have to be a post all for itself) They did great.
• The rest of the week has been filled with emptying boxes, connecting services, several trips to the store, getting the house sprayed for bugs (I've found a few black widows, a dead centipede, and countless spiders and other harmless bugs)
• Remember I said the ward was warm and welcoming? Well upon learning that I was a single mom this week in a new home with no refrigerator (we have an ice chest until our appliances are delivered on Monday), the Relief Society set up meals for us all week. I kept trying to cancel them, but they kept on coming. It was a real life saver. Also I got invited to do Zumba with the women down at the church. They do it every Wed and Fri. It is a big deal for me to put myself out there being social and dancing, no less, but it has been great and I feel like I know so many more people now.
• Friday 8/12 - Jake came home off the bus crying. Luckily I was there in the van to greet him and Abby at the bus stop. I thought he'd been bullied, but no, he was burning up, had a headache, sore throat and tummy ache - yep, Strep throat. It's been a few years since he's gotten it and it's really kicking his butt right now. Antibiotics were started right away!
• And, finally, today I get my husband back. We've missed him so much while he's been in Mesa.

So that's just about it. I love my new home. It's bigger than our other one, newer and so so beautiful. This is what I get to wake up to each morning in my room:

This picture doesn't do justice to how awesome my fan and molding are in my room, and all over the house for that matter.

Grandpa Goodman

Goodman Reunion - November 10, 2007 - the day before Grandpa's 92nd birthday

It is funny how we realize our blessings in our sadness or trials. Tonight as I stood in Grandma and Grandpa Goodman's room just after Grandpa passed away, my thoughts were full of happiness and gratitude for the amazing family I was born into. Not many people can say they got to grow up next to all their cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. I can. And they all are such neat people that I like. I realized that tonight with all the embraces, stories and gentle words of love shared with one another. And Grandpa Goodman was the head of this remarkable Goodman family.

Just look at all those Goodman Grandkids and that's not all of us...

I'm grateful for the life Grandpa Goodman has lived and the example he has been as the patriarch of the Goodman family. Though we're sad and mourning here, I know he's giving his Mom, Dad and all 11 of his siblings huge hugs. It's quite a reunion in heaven right now.

Grandpa has been a good friend and such a support for me in my life. I could always count on him being at every single one of my home volleyball games and even a bunch of distant ones - in high school, college and then as a coach. He traveled to Thatcher, Prescott, New Orleans and Florida to watch me play. He hobbled up those bleachers as I coached at MV. It usually took a few of us to get him to the top, but he was always there. I could always count on him and his support, and sometimes some advice.

We've been lemon buddies. Somehow I got designated the family lemon picker. I've been grateful for the chance to bring my kids to Grandpa and Grandma's to pick lemons, teach them how to work a little, and then in to visit and show off the huge lemons. That visit of course was always followed by one a few days later to bring fresh squeezed lemonade. He sucked the lemonade dry and always had a smile when he was done and asked for more.

I, along with most of my cousins, was lucky enough to be sealed to my honey by Grandpa Goodman in the Mesa Temple. What a blessing to have a grandpa worthy of doing that. (If I could figure out how to fix my scanner, I'd scan the picture of us outside the temple). Thanks for that example of temple service.

Grandpa Goodman was the best toe popper in Mesa. It hurt, but made me laugh all at the same time. Thinking about it, I don't think I'd want nasty toes in my face all the time waiting to be popped, but he was always willing to tug on our toes.

He was the best/worst Chinese Checkers player. He was always a willing competitor, but somehow every game he'd end up shaking or bumping the board and all the marbles would go everywhere. Maybe that was his strategy when he was losing...? Who knows

He loved for us to come visit. I'm grateful that I only lived a mile from him and I was able to take my kids over so often. He'd always smile and try so hard to be alert, even though I know it was torture to stay awake sometimes.

I'm gonna miss you Grandpa, but I know I will see you again. Thanks for the example and the legacy you've left behind.

B. Harry Goodman 11/11/1915-07/27/2011

Christopher Creek - 2011

We did it again. We headed to Christopher Creek for about the 20th time in my life and the 7th year in a row as an adult. Our group this year was small but mighty as half the family bailed on the trip. We had the Platt's, Ricedorff's, Chesley's, Mom, Dad, Matt and the Coleman Brothers who made a quick appearance.

Here are my favorites:

-Playing games around the fire - or around the circle we made next to the fire- "I have never" (AKA, the biggest-loser-if-you-win game), "The question game", and "telephone"

-Watching the kids pull in the biggest load of crawdads in Goodman history - at least 100

-Walking the loop

-Loren's delicious breakfasts

-Watching Taylor and Kyley be the best big cousins my girls could ask for. They played with them, told them stories, sat them on their laps, and just made them feel awesome - Thanks girls

-Hike to Box Canyon where the boys jumped off ridiculous cliffs

-Platt family hike to the water hole where the girls wimped out and wouldn't get in the water

-Perfect weather!

-Playing cards

Here are all the pictures...

My kiddos at the deep water hole - we went as a family after everyone left

Annie posing

Abby climbing the rocks

Jake drying off and warming up

Hannah debating if she should jump in - she didn't

Abby and Jeremy jumping at Box Canyon

Jake and Ty at Box Canyon - on the ridiculous cliff

Jeremy plunging off the 50 foot cliff

Most of the boys at Box Canyon

Austin, Karrie and Ryan with Julie, Taylor and Loren crashing the picture - classic

Before we went, I was dreading the trip. We have a lot going on in our life right now and it just seemed like one more thing to do. But we packed up and headed up the mountains anyway, and just like every year, I'm so glad we did. It is all about making memories for the family. The kids had such a great time and I love that they love the tradition that started when I was a young kid.

Why I love Jeremy

I love my husband for many, many reasons. This past weekend in St. Johns my eyes were opened to a new reason I love him to go along with so many other reasons. He is truly forgiving.

When Jeremy was a boy, he worked on the family ranch. He'd get up early and head out to the ranch with his dad. He worked ALL day long and made a whopping 10 bucks a day. Of that, he paid his tithing first, then half of what was left went to his mission fund. The rest was his to do with as he pleased. That equated to $4.50 a day, not much at all! Have I mentioned that I love his work ethic?

His sophomore year, after working and saving for two years, he finally had enough money to buy a bike, a freestyle bike. It was blue and awesome and he rode that thing everywhere. One day while he was at mutual, his bike got stolen. How ironic is that - it got stolen from the church. He was devastated. He fasted every single Sunday for the return of his bike. He was tireless and full of faith that it would return.

His prayers were answered when one day, there it was sitting across the street from his house. It was under a tree, and only the stickers were peeled off. He was so happy and grateful.

Some of the neighbor kids had told Jeremy who it was, and that the kid who stole it was planning to paint it and keep it, but realizing it wouldn't ever work, and that Jeremy would recognize it, he finally returned it.

This weekend we were in St. Johns talking about how kids that are immature in high school grow up and it can surprise you when you learn what they are doing with their lives. How fantastic that we all grow up! Anyway, Cyndi mentioned Jeremy's bike and mentioned how ------- has changed since the day of stealing that bike. What? It was -------? This guy,------, is one of Jeremy's close friends. All these years of knowing who stole his bike and hearing the story from his mom 50 thousand times about how he fasted for its return, he never once mentioned the guy's name who did it. I asked him why he never told me who it was and he said that he didn't want me to think of him as that guy. We're friends with him, see him all the time, and he didn't want me to think of him negatively.

------- happened to be in St. Johns for the 4th of July like us, and we spent most of the day with him and his family. I watched Jeremy in new admiration all day at his ability to forgive someone who crushed him so long ago. He thinks of ------as a friend, not as the rotten, bike thief. And thinking back to the past 12 years of going to St. Johns and running in to him, Jeremy has never treated him like less than a friend.

When Jeremy brought his bike to our house from St. Johns a few years ago, there was no anger or resentment. Though I knew that this was his bike he fasted for, he never mentioned it, or the kid, even in general terms, just that he wanted to fix it up.

Here it is. Just imagine it with another tire, a seat and a functioning chain and it being 1992. It was pretty hot stuff.

Jeremy is an amazing man. He has a true heart and I love him for the lessons he teaches me everyday, simply in how he lives his life.

I love America

We had a fabulous weekend in St. Johns celebrating the 4th of July. There is no place I'd rather be than there, on what has become one of my favorite holidays. I'm so grateful to live in America where I enjoy so many freedoms and such a rich and abundant life. I am truly blessed to live in this great Nation.

-We enjoyed swimming at the town pool which is amazingly relaxed. Kids can actually have fun at the pool without the fear of being yelled at by the lifeguards (unlike the uptight City of Mesa pools).

-The kids played badminton with the McBride kids. Hannah was sooooo happy to have Brakelle to play with all weekend.

-The kids disappeared in the jungle for hours at a time and I was never worried even a bit.

-We ate at El Camino where Jeremy found his new favorite food (besides steak) - stuffed sopapillas - yum!

-We enjoyed church where we got to sing my favorite patriotic hymn, "America the Beautiful". The line that says, "Oh beautiful for patriot dream In liberating strife, who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life..." always gets me. Am I the only one that gets choked up during that hymn?

On to the big day....

-We didn't hear the cannons as they usually go off. We might have been sleeping quite soundly and didn't hear them, but I don't think they went off like usual. Kind of a bummer.

-Jeremy and I enjoyed a delicious pancake breakfast at the park.

-We brought the kids back down to the park for the patriotic program, BBQ, snowcones and races.

-We got to visit with a lot of Jeremy's old friends and people we seldom see.

-And then the races began. Let me just say, I'm proud of my family for competing and participating. I never, ever race.

Annie raced first, scored second place and a fifty cent piece.

Hannah raced next and didn't hear the "go" so had to play catch up. She ran hard and fast. If I had been there to nudge her on the word "go", she would have won for sure. I'm happy she was a good sport.

Abby raced and placed....Are you ready for it?.... First! Go peanut! She got a gold dollar.

Jake raced and placed second. It is debatable if he took first or not. we have it on video and it's now under review, but he got a half dollar too.

Jeremy competed in what I like to call his "annual hamstring pull" (I just made that up). He jumped in with the wrong crowd (the 20-30 year olds) but still placed third and got a quarter. Had he competed with the old men, he'd have won hands down.

Jake stretching pre-race. Maybe Jeremy could take a note from him. Jake played with Trevor and Easton Lambson the WHOLE day.

Hannah protecting Annie from all the scary people - I think she had nerves about racing.

The kids -so darling

The whole family

Have I said that I love America? I'm grateful for the freedoms that I enjoy and all those that have sacrificed so much for me to have the life and opportunities that I have. Thank you (That was 4 have's in just 2 sentences - wow)