Waiting

We are still waiting to find out where/if we are moving. Today I told the school district that I can’t teach for them in the fall. That was kind of a bummer. I did tell Tina, the HR lady I’ve been working with, the whole story and told her if something changed I’d call and hopefully they would still be hiring. She said great. Idk if that means “great we’d love to have you” or “great, you do that.”  Meanwhile Rob isn’t sure which job he really wants and we aren’t sure what offers we will get. 

So we wait.

Meanwhile I have a sub job until the end of school. 3 days 8th grade science where I will get to watch October Sky, 5X. Here’s my notes. Then 4 days capturing kids who might not pass and helping them get their stuff together. Then schools out!

This was my first Instagram post. Baby Zivers!

Last night we had a farewell luau for Rylie. She’s going to BYU in a couple of weeks.

House is coming right along. When we have an offer we will be ready to put it on the market right away.

And I’ve complied my summer read list:

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Persuasion by Jane Austin

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

Memoirs of Cleopatra by Maragaret George

Most were recommended by friends.

Memorial Day

Our day was a combo of work and play. We assembled a bed, painted a room, cleaned and threw stuff away.

And we went to the ward BBQ and water kickball game. It was super fun!

Caroline and her friend. 7 year old little girls are so sweet!

Ethan spent the whole time playing. Everyone had a really fun, wet time:)

Little Levi had a nice splash!

Rob found his way to the grill. He is always jumping in to help.

My favorite popsicles!

Little Annabelle and Little Leyton were right in there the whole time!

Grace, Makayla and Ofelia. The girls came over after the party to hang out.

We have made some sweet friendships, I love our ward and will really miss it. We could not have better YM leaders or friends for Ethan. I love our Bishop. There are lots of good families here. The YW are awesome. Luckily there are good folks everywhere. The hardest part of moving is leaving those you love.


Cute Papa biking in San Diego!

Friday,Saturday,Sunday

• Rob’s interviews went well. He thinks he will be offered both jobs. Now there is a lot to think about, there are pros and cons to all the choices...as I keep saying. 
• I went to pick up Rob at the airport. After we went to ikea and to dinner.
• Saturday was our turn to clean the church. When we were done Grace went to babysit Finley.
• We went to Home Depot.
• Painted a room.
• Threw some stuff away.
• Started netflixing “agents of SHEILD”.
• I got a new counselor today, Rhianna Perez. I’m looking forward to getting to know her and working together. She seems very excited, fun and capable. 
• Mara taught YW. She did great, as she always does. She’s a fun teacher.
• The Elders came over for dinner. Rob smoked meat. 

Moroni 2:2

And he called them by name, saying: Ye shall call in the Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after ye have done this last ye shall have power that to him upon whom ye shall lay your hands, ye shall give the Holy Ghost; and in my name shall ye give it, for this do mine apostles.

Personal application: Heavenly Father has asked us to do many things. To parent, to minister, to be a married couple, to serve the youth, to be over personal preparedness, and many other things. These are things that He wants us to do and expects us to do and will help us to do. Even though we are called, are made capable through His help, we must first pray mightily.

I must remember to pray mightily over my responsibilities, the things I need to accomplish, the people I love, the goals I have for the future, and every other thing that I have my hand in.

I need to be continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone on the merits of Christ, who is the author and finisher of my faith. 

And how glad and grateful I am for Him and His Grace.

What’s to come?

I always love every book I read that Fannie Flagg has written. This was no exception. I started it on the plane ride home and it is a super sweet read.

Two thumbs up.

We got home and found all was well. The kids missed us, and we missed them. We went out to cafe rio and then walked around Best Buy for FHE. Everyone had fun. We enjoyed looking at the gadgets and laughing together. You never know when the simplest activity will turn into a very fun family time. That’s why quantity is better than “quality” when it comes to spending time with people you love. We just had a great evening. 

Tuesday I channeled my inner Henry McCord (who I love btw) and taught 8th grade history. Often teachers of middle school students leave filler activities if they are gone. I have subbed for this class before though and she left me a real lecture to give. I had a really fun time doing it and luckily I got there a little early so I could review my facts. Plus she had a great power point. We talked about how the Republican Party started, the Dred Scott case, the Lincoln/Douglass debate and the Harpers Ferry 

Raid and the roll those events played in the civil war starting. It was a lot of fun for me. Shockingly none of the kids seemed too excited about it. They were good though and diligently took notes. I tried to make it relevant. So good day for me.

For mutual the girls did yoga, which was fun. And drank carrot juice, which we all agreed was just so-so. Photo cred to Lauri. I was yoga-ing.

The boys did a service project which Ethan reported was fun. He is always happy to go serve. I love that about him. I don’t think he’s ever complained or asked to stay home from a service opportunity.

This morning Grace and her math gang are off to mathletes. They were excited to go. Last year she got first place overall and first place for her team so expectations are high. I hope they do great. 

I am subbing 8th grade history again, different school.


Rob is flying to Florida. He has two job interviews. One is for a job in Orlando that does something with rockets (maybe). The other is for chief of flight test for some helicopter over three sights (CT, MD, FL), which would move us back to MD. 

I am of two minds on the whole thing. On the one hand it’s completely out of my control. He’ll interview and get offered a position or not. Then he’ll choose the best/most exciting/ most growth potential one. And we will go (or stay). I’m fine with that and am just waiting. 

On the other hand, moving is a pain, I just got a job that I am  happy about, I love being close to UT and we are nice and settled here, I miss MD, I like the excitement of going somewhere new (FL), I like to not work too, I’d love to be closer to Jenna and Clayton (who may move west at any time), the schools are better, we could buy a cheaper house, if I work a cheaper house will be less important, selling and buying houses is yuck, I love seminary here, I don’t love CA politics or traffic, I love the green trees and water (MD I’m looking at you!), I could be the Fairy Godmother at DisneyWorld, here is close to BYU and college drop offs pick ups and parents weekends, museum guide, crab cakes, STEM...as you can see it’s a swirl. Which brings me back to waiting to see what happens and then finding the good in that choice. 

Update: she won individual first place and team first place. Now she wants to go for three years in a row so she can have her name on a special plaque! Smarty pants!! She does not get that math gift from her mother.

Grace, Kami, Leelou, Andi, Brittany, Rylin

Day 2

We got all the snuggles and baby loving we could in our short weekend trip.

Ruby and Grandpa

Miss Cora hangin out.

Grandpa has 2 girls


We went to the dog park and walked laps around the pond while Abe ran around!



Rubes

The weather was so nice we spent some time sitting outside.

It was super fun and way too quick. We were glad UB and Abba came to visit too. 

Ohio weekend

Ruby, she has grown so much and is so strong!! What a cutie!!

This has been such a nice day. We played with babies, and changed them, and bathed them, and read them stories. 

We also listened to them sqwack a little:)

Cora. She’s the “big” one and more calm. 

This was Grandpa’s first time meeting them. He’s gotten in his share of cuddles too.

Uncle Brian and Abba came up to visit with us. Nana is sick

and couldn’t come:(

Tonight we went to downtown Hudson. Such a cute town. We bought fancy popcorn, ate the best burgers ever (at the FlipSide). Then we came home and watched movies. 

Trip Planning

Summer is around the corner and we all look forward to the “break”, even though in reality we are even busier than during school. 

The first week of summer Ethan has high adventure!

The second week of summer Grace and I have girls camp. (Although if we end up moving I won’t go just Grace.)

As soon as we are done with camps we are headed to Utah. Where we will hop into Dani’s car and begin an epic road trip. Our destination is Ohio. The journey will take us to some awesome places. Mt Rushmore for one. 

We will spend a little over a week in Ohio then head home by way of the Nauvoo Pagent! It’s going to be awesome!!

Today I began assembling our road trip bags. Grace is also getting one although hers isn’t pictured. Ethan just gets headphones. 

Target dollar spot for the win!!



And in conclusion a picture of Tilly who is not road tripping with us. 


Also I officially was offered a teaching position. I said yes but told them I couldn’t sign the contract for a week or so. Hopefully Rob will know what he is doing and I will know what I am doing. We are praying for direction and guidance. There is not one choice that is way better than another as they all have good and bad aspects to them. Our modus operandi has always been to go where Rob’s career takes us. That is what we will continue to do. It has gotten more complicated with adult children and now grandchildren in different parts of the country. 

Bullets

• Random thoughts on a Wednesday morning.
• Matilda likes to eat roses. Weird.
• I’ve been scrubbing the shower. It’s been yucky. It turns out that baking soda and bleach, mixed together into a paste and smeared on for 8hrs is a great cleaner. But it’s not good enough yet so next I am trying vinegar and dawn, which is also supposed to work.
• Last night the YW finished their paintings.
• After choir and before mutual we tried a new restaurant. I don’t remember what it’s called but it serves chicken and waffles and is right next door to a new ramen restaurant. We ordered and sat down but it took longer than we had so Grace and I left the boys and went to YW. Ethan had his AP test that day and also a ton of homework so it was already decided that he would miss mutual. The boys ate there then brought ours home to go. The reviews were mixed. Grace liked the chicken but not the waffles. I liked both a lot and would go back happily, even though I ate it reheated 3 hrs later. Ethan said he liked it. Rob thought it was okay but overpriced.
• I’m looking forward to trying the ramen place.
• Yesterday I subbed PE and got a lobsteresque sunburn. Dumb.
• The school district I interviewed with, and did the demo lesson with, called me yesterday.  They want me to come in tomorrow, which I think means they are offering me a job. This is both good news and no news at the same time.  I am glad they want me, if they indeed do.  If we were staying here I would be/will be happy to take the job and work.  We have some credit cards that we just haven't been able to get out from under and that would be an awesome way to quickly wipe it out.  If we move then it's not really news at all as it will be irrelevant.  Rob thinks we will for sure move and I am fine with that.  We are taking steps now to make that as easy as possible if/when the time comes. I am not as confident.  He actually has work here and no offer elsewhere (although there are a couple places expressing interest and with whom he will interview next week...so probably).  I don't like to get my hopes up/borrow trouble from the future (two sides of the same coin) until we know something.  So I guess I will say yes, if offered a job, and just hold off on signing a contract until we know something for sure.

• Monday night we had company for FHE/dinner.  The Willis family recently moved into our ward.  We invited them.  There is a husband and wife (Bro. & Sis. Willis) and Wanda's sister Elva (all in their 70's-early 80's).  Also two grandchildren, who are young adults.  Rob smoked meat and we had a lovely evening.  They are very interesting and have led lives that are varied and different from ours, which is fun to hear about.  They are irons in the fire kind of people.  Bro. Willis is writing a book "Panther to Priesthood" about his conversion story.  They are also working on a documentary about African Americans in the church.  Elva worked for CBS for many years, as well as many other jobs and is really on the ball.  Their conversion story, and perspective were both fun to hear about.  The kids enjoyed having company over and it was a very pleasant evening.
• We have been the victims of identity theft.  Huge pain in the neck.  So we are dealing with that.
• It's been windy.
• Tonight I am making coconut lentil soup for dinner.
• While doing laundry yesterday I washed Grace's gym clothes....then I realized I haven't seen Ethan's in months.  Phew!
• Speaking of Ethan, we have soccer balls in every room of the house.  Literally. FYI
• 15 more days of school!
• 2 more days of seminary!!
• I love summer!  Can't wait for our big road trip.  I am hoping everything will work out smoothly for that, whether we move or not move.  I think it will.

• love this picture of me, Val and Anna from Hannah's wedding.  We all look nice.  
• I want to lose weight, although to be quite honest I really don't even know how.  I know there is a simple formula.  Eat less, move more.  The application is what seems to elude me.  If we stay here, and I work, I may try eating "dirt" again.  It really worked and was easy.  
• I finally spent my kohl's GC today. Got some shirts, a pair of pajamas,  and two more plates in different colors for my collection.  

Mother’s Day

These handsome boys passed out flowers to the moms at church. We also got chocolates. 

Curtis, Noah and Bub.

The talks were wonderful today. It was a great Sunday.

I got the best Mother’s Day present ever! I love it!!!

Saturday post 2 (the birthday boy)

 Yesterday was Rob's birthday.  It wasn't celebrated too much.  In fairness we often keep our birthdays very low key and often don't exchange gifts..although dinner out is almost always a given.
This year he turned 48.  (I will have to do a better job at 50 to make up for this one).  This year we are prepping to maybe move, which is on our minds and draining our wallets.  Also even though it was a Saturday I actually had a lot of kid stuff to do with Grace's comp. and Mia's ballet (she is one of my YW and when you are the YW president they are all your girls).

In the morning he and Ethan went to the post father and son's breakfast at the bishops house.  Then they ran errands.

In the afternoon we were home and Grace and I had stopped at Nadia's Cupcakes and brought cupcakes home to sing with.

The big girls all called or facetimed and I know he enjoyed visiting with them very much.  He got to talk to the grandkids and that was super nice.

When I finially got home in the evening he was in bed studying the scriptures and we got to chat and watch a movie together.

Next weekend we are going to Ohio to visit Cora and Ruby.  That's his birhtday trip I guess!  It'll be really fun to see them.

 Rob is a great guy.  In honor of his birthday here is 48 things about Rob.

1. he loves to fish.
2. he fishes in the cold,
3. he fishes in the hot,
4. he fishes in the ocean, off a boat, or on the shore.
5. sometimes he even catches fish.
6. he cleans the fish, and cooks the fish and eats the fish. 
7. it's safe to say that he loves to fish.

 8. When he's not fishing he also has other hobbies.  He likes to kayak.
9. do wood work
10. bike
11. swim
12. cruise
13. read
14. hike
15. take photos
16. bird watch
17. whale watch
18. play in the ocean
19. play video games
20. watch chick flicks
21. eat dessert
22. shoot guns
23. help people

 24. He has a masters in aerospace engineering.
25. This has led to a rewarding career, that has taken good care of our family.
26. Even though we are not as good with money as we would like we are getting better.
27. He is a Buckeye thru and thru and loves to root for his team!
28. Rob is an awesome grandfather.
29. He is patient and kind and interested in the kids.
30.  He learned a lot from being a dad and has taken the best parts of that and applies it to being a grandpa.
31. Rob is musical.
32. He plays the trumpet really well.  I didn't really realize how good he was until last Christmas when we went to a musical Christmas party at the Chronis' and he was the best one there.
33. He also sings well and enjoys being in the church choir when time permits.
34. He is good at home maintenance  This didn't come easy but he has spent the time to learn how to do things and can keep things very nice.
35. He also has learned a lot about car maintenance and is able to do a lot of our car work himself.
36. He is very good in a crisis and is always willing to step in and help.

 37.  Rob doesn't love amusement parks.  They are the trifecta of things he hates: crowds, hot and sweaty places and spending $$.
38.  He doens't like mushrooms, or piroq.
39. He is driven, and intense and focused.
40.  Rob is a valiant disciple of Christ.  He tries his best to follow His teachings, and do what He would have done.
41. He enjoys genealogy.
42. He loves his smoker and has been cooking up a storm in it!

 43.  Rob likes even numbers (I like odd), fruity desserts (I like chocolate), is a night owl (morning person), beige (bright colors), hates to be too hot (I don't like the cold) and is in every way a perfect match for me.
44. Rob is very smart.
45. Often quite funny.
46. He is tall and handsome.
47. We have big plans for our future together and I am looking forward to the next 48 years (although I only plan on living for 30 more myself)
48.  He is a good son.

Throw back picture, all the way to Texas when he turned 38.

Yesterday Grace and I did spend a lot of time discussing a gift to get him.  With maybe moving we don't want to bring in junk.  He does want another dog.  IDK Y.

We entertained the idea and even wrote a poem that we were going to give him as a present with a cute dog collar to promise a future addition.

"If you want someone to pee on your floor, and scratch your door.

To wake you at night, and bark at every new sight.

To steal your snacks and leave muddy tracks.

who you can never leave alone, or he'll destroy everything you own.

To rip your bed up, 

then you need a new pup"

Then I remembered that although kind of funny this was absolutely true and a new dog is not in the cards....in fact we have an old dog if anyone wants her!

so no present.  BUT I do love that guy! Happy Birthday!!!