The Ockerman Family

Two Thousand Twelve

2012-01-27T21:53:00.000-07:00

Awesome and Amazing Things I Want To Do This Year:Lose weight
Go on adventures
Make great memories
Be ultra organized
Take more pictures
Keep up on my blog
Finish the Book of Mormon
Spend less money
Save more money

Spring Break/Summer Trip
Sew

These are some of my resolutions this year.

Losing weight is something I want to do for better health and more energy.

I want to do an adventure each month with the kids, either something we have never done or something out of my comfort zone.

I want the children to have amazing memories of time spent as a family.

I have started small forays into organization, cleaning out a closet or a drawer and even just cleaning off my kitchen window sill, where everything ends up. This makes me feel more in control and I like to be in control!

I always forget to take pictures and this is something I want to remedy. Pictures are wonderful things to look back on and relive those special moments.

Blogging to me is a great release. I can write down my thoughts and feelings and record important events. It's my journal of sorts and I want to record our lives.

Finishing the Book of Mormon is a goal I have set for me and my family. Not only will we have read it, but I think it will make it easier to read it again and all of the knowledge we gain is amazing!

Living within our means is a trial sometimes unless you really look at your needs vs. wants. Being content with things that aren't the latest and greatest is a wonderful lesson in patience.

I would love to say we are going to save so much a month from each paycheck, but that isn't realistic right now, so hopefully I can save any amount and learn to save more later.

I want to have an awesome Spring Break or Summer Trip planned. Something fun and memory filled. It may be going to Vegas or it might just be sitting in our little pool everyday, just as long as it is awesome!

I have 7 boxes of material, 1 box of felt, 2 boxes of yarn and 4 craft boxes. I shouldn't have to start another project for about 25 years, so I will just settle for finishing something! I love to sew, crochet and embroider, and I obviously have the materials, I just need to make the time!

Hopefully by this time next year I will have accomplished this list or at least one thing!

Gratitude Journal 2011

2012-01-27T21:33:00.000-07:00

30th - The Boy Scouts of America. This is the most amazing organization! My life wouldn't be the same without it. Our family loves and lives for Scouting!
29th - Piano and Guitar Teachers. These women must have Patience as their middle names. Bless you, bless you, bless you! Thank you for teaching my children!
28th - Entrepreneurs. Where would we be without new ideas? Thank you to any and everyone who ever had the courage to try something different!
27th - Small Businesses. These places make your town, your town. They bring character and charm that a big, box company cannot. Please support your local businesses.
26th - Uncle Duane. As I write this in January, he has passed away. He was an awesome person! Funny, so cute, loved to hold hands. He stepped into a grandpa role for me and my kids. Miss him so much!
25th - Farmers and Dairymen. These individuals keep us feed, what else can I say? Hopefully the government will recognize that and bail them out some time.
24th - Darady. Love, love, love this girl! She is such a sweet, cute girl that on top of everything loves my son! Can't wait for her to be family one day soon!
23rd - Police and Firefighters. Everyday heroes that go to work expecting to have to face the worst. Thank you!
22nd - Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching. We have had so many wonderful home and visiting teachers over the years. They bring the Gospel, friendship, and caring into our home and we are all blessed.
21st - People Who Totally Get You. There are a few people in this world that totally understand me, understand what I am trying to say sometimes without even saying anything. Two of those people are Sharlene and Benn, thank you for being my friend!
20th - High Priest Sunday. I know some people would love to skip these but these men have been asked to speak to us once a month to teach us the Gospel. Ands sometimes you are the only one that needs that lesson and thank goodness they are there!
19th - Birthdays. Aren't these wonderful things??? They mark our time here on earth and hopefully are a measure of the wisdom we take in. Happy Birthday Everyone!
18th - The Internet. Imagine and some of us can remember when we didn't have email, Facebook or blogs. They make it so much easier and quicker to connect with family and friends - Thank Heavens!
17th - Grocery Stores. The idea of the market is ages old, but the modern grocery store is a wonder! You can buy 2 weeks worth of food from frozen, fresh, dry and refrigerated items. I dread going to the store, but am so grateful I don't have to milk a cow everyday, work in the fields and make everything from scratch!

Gratitude Project

2011-11-16T10:29:00.001-07:00

November 11th - Veterans. From the earliest days of this country, I have had family members fighting for freedom. I am immensely proud of all the veterans in this country. They have signed up, put their lives on the line, some have lost their lives, some have been maimed physically and/or mentally and did all of this for themselves, others and for a better life. They deserve our unwavering respect, love and support.
November 12th - Snow. I do not like driving in the snow but I do love watching it fall from the sky. The water we will have or not have next spring/summer depends on how much we get or don't get now. Heavenly Father's hand is so evident in this it makes me wonder how anyone could ever question His existence.
November 13th - Nursery Ladies - Susan, Cherri and Kaylee. They are AWESOME!!!! I have in the past referred to nursery and scouts as the hell of primary. No more! Scouting is something I love now and nursery I am gaining respect for, esp. the people who serve there. They are kind, loving, firm, fun and wonderful!
November 14th - Public Libraries. Where else can you go (and we don't have a Walden books anymore) and be surrounded by books, movies, puppets, magazines and other fantastic modes of learning?!?! We LOVE the library!!!
November 15th - Modern Medicines. They can wipe out pain from a suffering loved one, help with life- threatening conditions, treat physical and mental maladies. There is nothing else so wonderful. Also, I wouldn't be sane without them!
November 16th - Teachers. They are wonderful people who get an education to teach it to others! The low pay and long hours are frightening to me, these are the people we trust our children with everyday for a majority of the day. People our parents trusted us to! They should be making the money we give to our sports players and celebrities! They will be blessed in heaven and hopefully a little here on earth! Thank you for the wonderful teachers I have had, my children have had, have now and will have in the future, you truly are making a difference in our lives!

Gratitude Project

2011-11-10T10:23:00.001-07:00

Today I am thankful for blog readers who don't point out my flaws. I mixed up some dates.
Nov. 1st - Craig
Nov. 2nd - the children
Nov. 3rd - extended family
Nov. 4th - friends
Nov. 5th - the Gospel
Nov. 6th - America
Nov. 7th - Primary
Nov. 8th - a warm house
Nov. 9th - modern appliances
Nov. 10th - the right to vote

November 9th - Modern Appliances. I would have made a horrible pioneer! I need my stove, oven, microwave, fridges, freezers, washer and dryer, vacuum (of course if I was a pioneer I probably wouldn't need this!). I can't imagine my life without these things!
November 10th - The right to vote. To decide who I want to lead the government with my tax dollars, is a human right. So thankful for the women who fought for this. Hope everyone in the world has this one day.

Gratitude Project

2011-11-08T10:58:00.001-07:00

Nov. 4th - The Gospel. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. End of story. I know this and I will never not know this. Amen.
Nov. 5th - Living in America. No other country on the face of this earth has the freedoms we have and the people to defend those freedoms, not only for us, but for others around the world. Grateful I was born and raised here.
Nov. 6th - Primary. If you want to feel the Spirit, all you have to do is come into Primary. On any given Sunday, you will find the most sweetest, strongest members of the ward there. They know what is right and wrong and are not corrupted by others (yet), they know the Gospel is true and nothing can sway them. They sing with all of their hearts and always touch mine. I LOVE my Primary kids - they are the best!
Nov. 7th - A Warm House. I have seen several homeless people this week and can't imagine what it is like not to have somewhere warm to go to call your own. Thankful for a working furnace and all the warm air it gives me! Also thankful for the warm feeling I know that I have when all of my family is home and safe and snug.

Graditude Project

2011-11-04T09:44:00.001-06:00

November 4th - Friends. We have amazing, fabulous, awesome, talented, loving friends. I can never list all of them or the things they have done for us over the years. They have laughed with us and cried with us, helps us physically, emotionally and spiritually. We have been blessed with wonderful neighbors and ward members. It truly takes a village to raise children and I feel like we have an awesome support team. I appreciate all of their examples to me, Craig and the children.

Gratitude Project

2011-11-04T09:39:00.000-06:00

Day 3 - Extended Family. Craig and I are both blessed with amazing families! My parents will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary on the 10th of December this year - woo hoo!!! They are incredible people! My dad is a a rock and an example to me with his life. He is the most honest person I know, he doesn't even speed! He is funny and no one loves their grand kids more than him! My mother is talented beyond belief - she sews, cooks, bakes, do flowers, make you feel loved and the most important person in the world! She cherishes each of her grandchildren and is a great example to me in patience. My sister Jennifer is awesome, she got most of mom's talents passed down to her and is quite the seamstress! She is a world-traveler, professional business woman, and ultimate party planner! Kimberly is a manager at work, home and on the field. She organizes her children's lives so they have experience in a little bit of everything. My brother Adam loves the country life and the great outdoors! He is a great friend to others and excells at his job. My brother Aaron is also a great worker, husband and father. You can find him coaching baseball or changing a diaper and he is great at both. My sister in law Julia is a wonderful friend and mother. She loves her kids and works hard for them. I have wonderful nieces and nephews - Kierra, Emmett, Shanna Lee, Bryan, Cordell, Jacob, Noa and Nathan. Craig's dad is great example to us of perseverance and determination. He is a great grandpa. Craig's mom likes to have visits from family especially to celebrate the holidays. His sister Michelle and brothers, Dean, Kevin and Scott are all hard workers and take good care of their families. His brother in law, Ron and sister in laws Deanna, Sharlene and Julie make family get togethers fun! He also has wonderful nieces and nephews - Nicole, Kelsey, Megan, Alex, Ashley, Rachelle, Travis, David, Michael, Nathan, Angela, Jacob, Joshua, Samantha, Stephanie, Logan, Brayden, Whitney and Brenner. Many of them are married and have the cutest kids! Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides of our family are supportive and loving and we try never to miss an opportunity to see them all. Our heritage is of great people who did amazing things and made our lives all the richer for it. We are grateful for their hard work and sacrifices for us to have a better life.

Gratitude Project 2011

2011-11-02T09:46:00.004-06:00

I am going to use this month to express my gratitude for everything in my life, big or small. On my Facebook, I am putting what I am grateful for, but on here I will elaborate.

November 1st - Craig. He is a hard worker, funny, helpful, loving, and creative. He is lots of other things too, but these are just the top ones I could think of. He really is a people person, and loves to meet new people. He can build me almost anything I can dream up and loves to be in the kitchen whipping up something new. He loves to garden. even if he is the most impatient person I know. Gardening is supposed to teach you to slow down and enjoy time, but he wants to plant in the morning and harvest in the afternoon! He has lots of talents - drawing, making up songs for the baby, cooking, landscaping. I love him dearly and am glad I get to spend eternity with him.

November 2nd - Ryan, Courtney, Joslyn, Chad and Chloe. Ryan is a good person - funny, kind, handsome, etc. He is also a hard worker and willing to try new experiences. He has already accomplished a lot in 19 years - Eagle scout, high school graduate with a 3.75 GPA, graduated Army Basic Training, graduated from Advanced Individual Training - radar repair. He is getting ready to open the next chapter in his life - college. He has a lovely girlfriend, Darady, who we really like and it seems he is head over heels. He sends her flowers and cards, it's good to see him treat her so well and her him. He's not sure what he wants to be yet, but he doesn't have to know yet! Courtney is a beautiful young woman. She is incredibly smart AND talented! She is very talented with pen and paper, paint and other materials, or the piano. She loves to sing and can! She is interested in science and the human body, her latest career choice is mortician. She has a firm testimony of the Gospel and has had to defend it vehemently. She is a true example to me and others. Joslyn is a great girl, she is going to be beautiful and tall! She does very well in school and loves the social aspect. She has lots of friends, especially Olivia. She also loves to sing and can! She likes art, horses and her guitar. She has a developing testimony of her own and is very inquisitive about everything! Chad is the typical 10 year old, he loves video games and playing with his friends! He is super smart like the rest of them (I don't know where they all got that from, but I will take the credit!) he excells in math and science. He likes to play with Chloe and is a great big brother. He is a great friend, (unless you cross him, and then tomorrow is a whole new day) and is fiercely loyal. Chloe is our baby angel/devil. She is either super sweet or destroying something! She loves to be the center of attention and is such a little performer. she loves to snuggle when it's bedtime and has to hold my left earlobe. I am grateful for my family and the opportunity to raise these little people. I am grateful that we can be together forever and for the time I get to spend with each one of them here on earth.

Autumn Leaves

2011-10-21T11:38:00.007-06:00

We are right in the swing of things with autumn showing her colorful face around here. The leaves are all turning red, orange and gold. The mornings are getting nippy and the days are perfect! School is humming along for the children and we are counting down the days to Christmas Break. Ryan is home and looking for a job, he is getting ready to attend ISU in the spring. He and Darady are still going strong, and we just love her. Courtney is loving her anatomy/physiology class and thinking of being a mortician, because as she puts it: no one wants to be one, they make good money and everyone is going to need one - job security! That would be a great job for Court - nobody to talk to her and loads of time by herself - figuratively speaking. She is playing the piano again and was put in as the pianist in Young Women's when they released her as president. She was picked as 1 of 2 kids from our stake to help plan the New Year's Eve party. Joslyn is getting taller everyday! She is still in love with horses, but is liking art class and playing the guitar. She is taking lessons with Olivia from her aunt, Chelsea. She is 2nd counselor in Young Women's and likes to have that responsibility. Chad is also growing like a weed, he just finished soccer with a 6 - 0 record, go mighty monkeys! He has to be dragged away from video games unless it's to play with Mason outside. He just moved up to Webelos in Scouts. He is doing great in math at school and likes to do whatever Ryan is doing. Chloe is getting so big and grown-up! She got her first haircut and now you can see her beautiful blue eyes! She is learning sign language and is so cute when she does it! So far she knows: please, thank you, i love you, more, eat, drink, please, bird, and alligator (this one was just random). She walks all over the place now and is a climber! If she can push, pull or drag something to climb on, she will and we often find her on top of the table! She likes to reach up on the edge of the counter and pull down whatever she can find. She has also discovered pencils, pens, crayons, markers and loves to "color". She keeps us hopping! Craig has been busy at work traveling a lot this month and helping his dad get around to appointments and doing some home repairs. He is also going to finish our shed in time for our annual Halloween party. I am still watching Abigail Monday - Friday, anywhere from 8 - 11 hours a day. It makes me appreciate my mother - it's just like having twins, except Abigail doesn't spend the night! I am still loving Primary - esp. the kids - such sweet little spirits! I so appreciate the teachers we have and the ladies I get to work with. We are very blessed and try to remember how fortunate we are. I am going to try to upload some pictures soon, just don't hold your breath!

Sunny July

2011-07-25T23:03:00.003-06:00

The fact that I made it back here in less than a month is nothing short of a miracle!
We have had a busy month - 4th of July and my 39th birthday - it really isn't that old! Turner reunion 8th - 10th in Utah. Great fun - got to see both sides the family and had a ball! Craig went to Portland the 6th - 8th. Then Craig's nephew's wedding on the 16th - Logan and Samantha. Craig had RSP 16th & 17th then Scout Camp the 18th - 23rd. The girls have camp this week, Courtney left today, she is with stake and Joslyn leaves tomorrow for her 1st year. They will be back Friday. Chloe Matilda's 1st birthday is on Thursday the 28th! This year seems to have flown! She is jibber-jabbering all the time and loves to sing. She has a bashful little smile and is pretty sure the world revolves around her! She has taken lots of little steps but crawling is her preferred method of travel. Chad had a tooth pulled earlier this month and has strep throat this week. He has seen the doctor twice so far to have warts frozen. Poor Joe, but he still finds the strength to play video games! Joslyn is very excited to go to girls camp! I will miss her and Courtney this week, esp. with Matilda! Courtney is excited this is her last year - she camps like I do - drive to the hotel, check in, continental breakfast in the morning, housekeeping service, ice machines and air conditioning! She is severely dismayed that our Waldenbooks is closing and wants to take advantage of the savings that they are offering - she is going to need another bookcase! Ryan will be home in 25 days! Need I say more?!?! He turned 19 on the 19th! Only 37 days until school starts! That can be a good thing and a bad thing!

June Days

2011-06-26T23:59:00.003-06:00

So I am trying to update this more now and wish I could just copy and paste my Facebook status here, but I feel the need to elaborate on them. I am trying to create memories for the children the way my mother did for us. Some people think I am am too anal or just plain crazy, but I enjoy planning things for my kids to do during the summer and mind you if you dig deeper into my life I have a calendar for each month and activities planned for them also! Especially February - 14 days of Valentine's, March with St. Patrick's Day and April with Easter, October with Halloween and December with Christmas.
We have had a fun month so far - Fabulous Fridays, FHE - The B'S, lunches in the park, seeing family and friends, library trips and just working together in the house and yard. I have had some in depth talks with the children from Chad - "I won't EVER weed my yard" to Joslyn - discussing life lessons to Courtney and hearing her point of view of things. I hope July keeps us busy even though it is getting hotter! Only 55 days until Ryan comes home! Yeah!

2011-05-23T10:51:00.002-06:00

Facebook is so much quicker than blogs, but I do like putting more information than 450 letters - we are more complex than that!

I read my OCTOBER post - lots has happened since than! Let's start!

Craig is enjoying his job and the people he works with - namely Shawn! They have too much fun at work! He is a great friend and I am glad Craig has him. I think Craig's next career should be landscaper because our backyard is gorgeous! Our spring flowers are all in bloom right bow - pretty tulips and happy daffodils nod and smile at you when you go outside and our crab apple tree is blooming and it smells heavenly! The pond is the highlight area - rocks carefully placed look like they just tumbled there and have a small waterfall cascading down the side into the pond where orange goldfish and white koi dart around. There are grasses inter dispersed among the rock that you would never know weren't there a year ago. Lilies, painted daisies and black-eyed Susans are either blooming or starting to grow to their full height to bloom later this summer. The bridge has an alyssum water effect under it - like a curling current. We just planted a good-size purple autumn ash tree so that one day, soon hopefully, it will shade the wood and iron bench that sits on pavers that are held in place with pea-gravel. Two small fairies are hidden in the flowers and you really have to look to find them peering out at you! White solar light dot the entire area and give it an ethereal look at night. He also has a Honey crisp apple tree to plant and some other projects - the garden needs to be planted, my boardwalk and awning need to be built on the shed and the fence that will enclose the garden (small picket fence), we are going to tear off the deck and lower it and that's just the backyard! The front yard he has one more flower bed to build and fill in and hook up a small water fountain in the shape of a little girl holding a watering can.

He is still in Scouts and working hard with all of the boys to earn their merit badges and ranks. He has scout camp coming up and trip to Portland, Oregon for work in July.

Jessica is anxious for school to get out on June 1st and have the children home! I have tons of fun things and chores for them to do! I spend my days with Chloe and sometimes lots gets done and sometimes nothing gets done! She is a handful! I watch Abigail sometimes depending on her mother's schedule. They like to play and are good company for each other. I am still 2nd counselor in Primary and loving it (most days!) Scouts, Nursery and sharing times are busy things! I am trying to help the girls with their personal progress by doing it with them - we don't have a lot of time - but we try!

Ryan is in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, right outside Lawton. He doesn't really care for it there, but it seems like he is having a good time! He has his weekends and evenings to himself, so he and his battle buddies spend a lot of time at the mall and movie theater. His visit at Christmas was wonderful and too short! He comes home August 19th, one month after his 19th birthday! We are excited to get him back!

Courtney is 16 now and really blossoming into a young adult - complete with her own ideas and opinions! Her hair is permed and down to her waist now. She is super smart, super talented and has a super testimony of the Gospel. Her favorite classes are seminary and drawing and paint. She is busy on two committees - stake youth conference and young women's camp. She is a fifth-year and goes with stake this year - they have amazing leaders - she is excited! Her Young Women's presidency was just released but were replaced with awesome women, so we can't complain. She is in high demand for babysitting and is known for her "magic bag"! She likes to play with Chloe and read any book she can get her hands on!

Joslyn is 12 and in Beehives! She is doing well in school and likes her teachers. She sings in choir and has a beautiful voice. Joslyn can always be counted on to watch Chloe and take good care of her. She still loves horses and loves to watch them on TV and go to the local horse races. She enjoys going to Mutual and hanging out with friends. She is becoming quite the book worm also and is filling up a small bookcase in her room, maybe one day she will have the small library Courtney has (4 large bookcases).

Chad is Chad! He is still a Lego-maniac and video game connoisseur! He would rather be outside than anywhere else now that the weather is warming up. He has lots of ideas running around his head and the energy to try them all out. He is kind and loyal to his friends and smiles easily. He has made friends with the older generation in our ward and has lots of things to show and tell them - they are a great support! He loves Chloe and making her smile.

Chloe Matilda is a source of light for all of us - she is a happy baby and LOVES to be outside from morning to night! She is crawling and pulls herself up on EVERYTHING!!! She will be walking soon and I'm not sure if that is a good thing! She always has a toothless grin for us and loves attention! She has blond/light brown hair and blue eyes and one dimple! We can't imagine life without her - she keeps us young - we go to bed when she does and get up at night when she does, except now it's because we have to make a bathroom trip. She sees the simple joys in life like water in the baby pool is the most fascinating thing to her and birds flying overhead and seeing the kids after school - she just wiggles with excitement!

We are grateful for the family and friends that love us and for the true happiness they bring into our lives! We are incredibly blessed and know it!

Where does the time go?

2010-10-02T23:55:00.003-06:00

I can't believe it is already October! The days are supposed to be getting cooler - hopefully we get fall, not just jump into winter. The leaves are changing and the do mountains look beautiful.

Craig has put in our pond and bridge and did an amazing job, not what we envisioned, but BETTER! He has some more work to do but it depends on his time, money and the weather, but it will be so nice when he gets done, our very own oasis! He is super busy with his job and going to attend a conference in Orlando the last week of the month for some training. He is still working with the 11 and 12 year old Scouts and doing such a good job, they just earned their Citizenship in the Community merit badge.

I am loving staying home, I don't know how I ever worked and got anything else done (of course a lot of things didn't get done or Craig did them!). Still trying to stay up with my church calling - I never thought I would say this but - I LOVE Cub Scouts! Primary is such an amazing place and time, we just had our primary program and to see 3, 4, and 5 year olds sing that they know their Heavenly Father and Jesus love them, touches my heart.

Ryan is in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. He has 10 weeks training there and then 36 weeks in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He likes having more freedom - cell phone, laptop, etc. It is good to hear from him more - he texts, not calls, but he could call is the important thing! He had his wisdom teeth out this week - all 6 of them! I can't wait until he comes home for Christmas - 75 days!!!

Courtney is in her sophomore year at Century High School. She loves most of her classes - not math - and has some wonderful teachers. She was just inducted into the National Honor Society. She is doing a great job at her church calling - president of the Young Women - they don't have very many girls - 8, so they just have one presidency. She is of course still reading up a storm and has a list of books for me to read. She is turning into a beautiful girl. She likes to help out with Chloe, and is enjoying a steady income from babysitting.

Joslyn is in 6th grade at Irving Middle School. She likes school - this is the first year they have to change classrooms. She still loves to play horses and dress up her High School Musical dolls, except now they represent Edward and Bella from Twilight or Damon, Stefan and Alaina from Vampire Diaries - her favorite show! She is a great help with the baby - even dirty diapers!

Chad still tries to play Wii as much as possible, but is also a big help around the house. He is in 3rd grade at Tendoy Elementary and his teacher is Ms. Moore. He is doing great in math and reminds me when he has homework. He celebrated his 9th birthday on September 5th and moved up to Bears in Cub Scouts. He was awarded his Wolf badge and a gold arrow at our last pack meeting. He loves to carve things with his pocketknife still and build Legos.

Chloe is a dream come true! She is a pretty good baby and smiles at us now and tries to talk - so cute!!! Our days revolve around her and what she needs, but we can just throw her into the car and be ready to go too. She was blessed on September 26th by Craig.

We are enjoying a wonderful time in our lives and are truly grateful for the awesome family and friends that we have.

She's Here!!!

2010-08-10T22:48:00.002-06:00

Miss Chloe Matilda Ockerman made her way into the world at 11:43 a.m. on Wednesday, July 28th, 2010. She weighed 8 pounds and 5 ounces and was 21 inches long. She has light brown/blonde hair and pretty, dark blue eyes. She looks like Joslyn to me, but I've heard she looks like Ryan and Courtney too, so she is definitely going to fit right in! She spent 2 1/2 days in NICU, with an IV in her poor little head, her blood glucose was low at first then the had to make sure she could sustain it on her own, but by Friday afternoon, she was delivered to my room - VERY Happy Moment for me! 1st because NICU is on the 2nd floor and I was on the 3rd, long walk and the wheelchair ride made me just nauseous! 2nd because then I could just hold her and not worry about all the wires and lines they had attached to her! She really is just a beautiful baby, very good, likes to sleep during the day and be up every hour at night, but we are getting her turned around, she sleeps 2 1/2 - 3 hours between feedings at night and stays awake a little bit more during the day, she loves to be naked but hates her diaper changed, she likes to have her hair washed under the faucet, we haven't been able to do a whole bath yet, because her belly button hasn't fallen off yet, but I bet she will love it! She smiles in her sleep a lot - so cute! Her sisters absolutely adore her and Chad thinks she is pretty neat. She has us wrapped around her little finger!

We LOVE change at our house!!!

2010-07-26T23:33:00.008-06:00

Well only 2 more days until we get this baby here - so exciting!!! I can hardly wait for this pregnancy to end - swollen feet and hands, gestational diabetes, the excess hormones that make me cry at the drop of a hat and that I can't get under control, the feeling that every time I stand up everything is going to fall out, I can't wait for that all to be over!!! And of course we will have a perfect little someone to love, can't wait to cuddle up with her and just stare at her and be amazed!

Craig has been AMAZING!!! He has bent over backwards during this pregnacy for me! He has been so sweet and loving, I just want to bottle him up! He has changed jobs this month from recruiter to being over the Recruit Sustainment Program - R.S.P. He is in charge of drill every month for all of the kids who have joined the Guard, but haven't shipped out to their basic training sites. He does payroll, hotel accomodations, meals, setting up, tearing down, making sure all of the paperwork is done for every kid, etc. Instead of holding one kid's hand through enlistment, he has 20 - 40 kids to get ready for basic training! He has put in some long hours - 90 last week! He still has a few kids to enlist and get them ready for M.E.P.S. His nephew, Logan just joined this last week and seems pretty excited about the whole thing. Plus he is still working on the house and yard and his garden is doing GREAT!!!

Now for my oldest baby - Ryan, we left him in Boise on the 6th of July - SOOOO hard to do! He flew out that next morning, but with all of the bad weather across the country, his flight was delayed, so they missed their connection, then they finally got to Atlanta and had to wait 1 1/2 hours for the bus, then ride another 1 1/2 hours to Fort Benning, get there around midnight and then they keep them up all day!!! We finally got a letter on the 19th - his 18th birthday!!! Short but sweet! The weather is just hot and humid and they are working really hard. I got the company commander's letter today telling me "my son has arrived safely at Basic Training". Well isn't that a relief?!?! But they do have a website with Facebook and Flickr links with updates from other moms and pictures of the boys from the company commander's wife - haven't seen him yet, but it's nice to see what they are doing. The website is www.2-47panthers.org. He is in Alpha Company.

Now onto Courtney, she is getting more and more driving time in since it hurts my feet so bad, which is no skin off of her nose! She now has her own room and I forgot how big that room is - I want to move down there!!! She has been really good about helping out around the house - even laundry! She is super excited about Chloe and also the fact that she gets to miss part of Girl's Camp to be here when the baby is born.

Joslyn has moved into Ryan's old room and we have decked it out in purple!!! Purple comforter, purple sheets, purple lamp, purple and pink rhinestone clock, we have white daisies hung around her closet that we are going to enter twine with you guessed it - purple lights! She has been a great help too!

Chad McKay aka Joe is even a little bit excited for this new sister. Now that he's the only boy at home, him and Craig are palling around. He went with Craig on the 11-year old scout camp over this last weekend and had a great time! He still smells like campfire and he tells me he likes that smell!!! He was so excited to take his pocketknife with him. Last week he cut the palm of his hand with it - just a small slice, but he showed it to me and said "I am grounding myself from my pocketknife for 2 whole days." Well okay then! He's SO funny!

Some of the fun things we've done this summer are Ryan's graduation and party, Ryan's going away party and having Kevin & Sharlene and Stephie come down for fireworks, 4th of July, Airport Appreciation Days, Steel Days in American Fork, Turner Reunion in Pleasant Grove, seeing cousins from back east, lunch at the park, swimming (wading) in the backyard pool, putting puzzles together and then gluing them - they are going on the downstairs family room walls. We've enjoyed this summer!!! The kids don't go back to school until the 2nd of September, so we will still have a month or so to get to know Chloe and just kick back and relax!

We Have A Middle Name and Family Update

2010-05-16T22:35:00.003-06:00

Well we have decided on a middle name for Chloe - Matilda. It was Craig's Grandma Ockerman's name - everyone called her Tillie and she was such a sweet woman! He was in Boise this last week and had a dream about the baby and in his dream that was her name and I LOVED it!!! It just flows and it follows my rule of thumb, "can I yell it down the street to get her home?". Plus, it will follow our tradition of middle names starting with "M's", not that we have tried to do that and Ryan didn't fall into that category (his middle name is Craig), but they all have family names and that is what we were shooting for!

Craig has started working on the shed and made a lot of progress, I will be taking pictures as we go along. He is dirty, sweaty and his whole body is throbbing from the work, but it looks good so far and he is very excited about it!

I am doing much better and have only gained 18 pounds so far!!! As long as I remember to take my medication (Lexapro and Benadryl) I am fine. The children are glad to remind me to take my "happy pills" and see me very medicated, they all do lots to help out around the house. I don't know if it's love or if they are scared of me (probably a little of both or so I would like to believe!) but it seems to be working! My advice to anyone out there is to make sure you're done and that God is done with you before you have one graduating from high school and all the stress that puts on you, plus being pregnant, accepting any church calling, working, having other children, trying to sleep more than 6 hours a night and living life!!! But I must say my WONDERFUL husband has been a GREAT source of strength during all of this. He just lets me cry when I need to, nap if I can and hold down the fort while I escape from it!!!

Ryan only has 3 days of school left this week and then graduation on the 27th!!! He can hardly wait (and neither can we!!!) He has 50 days until he ships to Basic Training and I've never seen a kid so happy to be going to Georgia in July!!! He is looking at it like a great adventure - which is what I have always taught him that life is about! He attended prom on the 8th and I have yet to get the pictures developed, but they were so cute! He went with his friend, Clara.

Courtney is excited for the end of school, but not that she won't get to use the school library over the summer. They sometimes have books that the public library doesn't have yet. She is raring to go driving, but that is going to have to wait until I have this baby, that is too much stress for me, even with all the Benadryl in the world! She can't wait for Chloe to be born and be "AWESOME" as she puts it. She is going to be a great help this summer!!!

Joslyn is a little bit scared about going to middle school next year (and so am I!!!) but she will be great! She is asking lots of questions about all of the changes that are going on with her and her body and is proud to say she is a "tween"! She's not so sure that she wants to grow up (and neither am I!!!) but I have assured her life only gets better after "High School Musical" and that there are lots of other things to like in this life. She has been a great help lately and I am loving that! She is very excited about the baby and all the things that go along with it - clothes and ribbons for her hair, etc. She is doing great in soccer and school.

Chad McKay (my little Joe) is so CUTE!!! He needs to grow into all of his little elbows and knees, but he is at such a fun age! He is very independent, "I know what to do Mom", is a phrase I hear alot, but there is nothing better than getting a hug from him or a "my momma rocks!" coming out of his mouth! He is also doing great in soccer and scored his team's only goal this last Saturday. He could ride his scooter back and forth all day and survive on Wii and cartoons, but I have to make him stop and eat sometimes. What would that be like?!?!

Baby GIRL Ockerman

2010-03-12T07:34:00.002-07:00

Well we found out yesterday that we are having another girl, so exciting to know! The ultrasound tech took lots of pictures and we got to see that she has everything right where it should be, very comforting! We think we have agreed on the first name of "Chloe", but we can't decide on a middle name and it's starting to turn into a fight, so we are just going to have to wait on that. Chad is still holding out hope that she could turn out to be a boy, we told him not to hold his breath, but I think he is. The girls were of course thrilled and Ryan said, " A girl huh, I guess that's okay." I am excited and have already found a ton of pink material that will be SO cute for blankets and such. Craig is excited and even posted the ultrasound pictures on his facebook page! The due date is now the 29th of July, it seems far away, but I know it will sneak up on me, there is SO SO SO much to do before that!

The Children - all 5 of them!

2010-02-08T10:33:00.003-07:00

I don't know if it's because I'm older (is 37 really that old?!?!) that's what everyone keeps on saying, BUT THIS PREGNANCY IS REALLY KICKING ME IN THE BUTT!!! Even with the vitamins, I am exhausted by about 4:00 in the afternoon.

But on a happy note we are in week 16, only 24 more to go. I put it in weeks, because they go by faster than months and it just makes it seem shorter to me anyway! We have had 2 ultrasounds already because of some minor emergencies and seen the baby and heard it's little heartbeat - VERY exciting!

Now on to the other children - Ryan is still wrestling, I almost don't want the season to end, because I LOVE wrestling! He is learning to cook lots of good things in his teen living class (I don't know why they don't still call it Home Ec?!?!) And he is VERY proud of the skull mug that he made in pottery - quite good!

Courtney is driving for the 3rd time today, and she has her PowerPoint presentation in World Geography. Power point presentation?!?! What ever happened to draw some pictures and make a poster?!?!

Joslyn completed her Exploration Notebook - Yeah, lots of coloring pictures and gluing and stapling, that I can keep up with! She is learning fraction and all that they encompass - so that means, I am trying to remember fractions and all that they encompass! Next year, she's on her own in math - I only go up to 5th grade!!!

Chad is learning time - and in a day and age where there are so many digital clocks and the only people who say 35 after the hour or 15 to the hour are over 60, he is struggling to understand why he would need to know that! But today he did tell me - "Okay, I think I am getting that." Well see how his test comes back today!

They really are the lights of my life, I just have to remember to turn the lights on!

Updates and Changes for the New Year

2010-01-22T21:26:00.003-07:00

So I am the worst blogger ever! But I have been busy!!! Let's go back in time...November 2009 - Craig turned 41 and thinks he is so old - not true, just getting better!
Thanksgiving with Craig's family - very nice. Had a relaxing weekend at home.
December 2009 - Ward Christmas Party - great fun!
Grandma Anne's Christmas Party - always a favorite - love that family!
Ockerman Family Christmas Party - great food and fun!
Found out we are going to be parents AGAIN! WONDERFUL News! Truthfully - very surprising, shocking, take your breath away news, but we are excited!
Wrestling starts - WOOHOO!
Courtney celebrates her 15th birthday (how could she be that old?!?!)
Christmas Break - 16 days of doing ABSOLUTELY nothing in your pajamas - I hope this is what heaven is like!
January 2010 - Back to work and school. Ryan - more wrestling, Courtney - driver's education, Joslyn's 11th birthday (WOW!!!), Chad is still Chad - that boy lives and breathes video games - I have to make him stop and eat!
We are truly blessed with the amazing families and friends that surround us, hold us up, inspire and teach us what awesomeness really is.

October in a nutshell

2009-11-10T05:17:00.000-07:00

Craig and his fellow YM leaders took the young men to the Saturday sessions of General Conference and the Priesthood session. They also participated in the Scouting for Food drive. He has traveled to Boise four times this month also. Jessica enjoyed 2 - 4 day weekends from work and started her Christmas sewing. She is very excited to see her Yankees go to the World Series! Ryan joined the Guard on the 22nd, and went to his first drill on the 24th & 25th. He finished up soccer, the boys took 4th place at State. He has gone on a couple of field trips for school to ISU's Library and the Bannock County Jail. Courtney went to work with Jessica, as she did fulfilled her job shadowing assignment for school. She loves this month as Halloween is her favorite holiday! Joslyn carved a pumpkin and is enjoying Red Ribbon week at school. She was able to spend the night for her friend, Olivia's birthday on the 16th. Her class went on a warm field trip to Lava Hot Springs and she received her glasses as well this month. Chad has earned his Bobcat award in Scouts. He received a certificate and a coupon for Sizzler's for perfect attendance for the first 6 weeks of school. He and Joslyn did a great job in the Primary program. We had a great time at our ward party on the 9th with great food and dancers to fit our Polynesian theme. Tendoy's Fall Carnival was also great fun with games and prizes on the 23rd.

My baby is all grown up! Or so he thinks!

2009-10-24T07:47:00.003-06:00

Ryan just left for his first RSP drill (RSP stands for something, but it's basically the kids who have joined the Guard, but haven't shipped to Basic Training yet). Let me back up - Ryan joined the Army National Guard on Thursday the 22nd of this month - October. This was totally his decision, Craig was even trying to talk him out of it! He doesn't ship to Basic until next July and he is going to Fort Benning, Georgia. Georgia in July - what could be more fun?!?! From there he will go to his AIT (Advanced Training) for a year-long school, I'm not sure where. He is going to be a radio repair technician (I think). He is very sure of himself and his future plans, I just wish I was!!! Craig took pictures of him swearing in and this morning when they were getting ready to leave, but my computer thinks it already has too many pictures and other things to let me download them!!! But I will as soon as possible!

Century's Homecoming 2009

2009-09-13T01:02:00.000-06:00

Ryan, Autumn, Taft and Christina

Ryan and Autumn

Autumn with her shoes off and bending her knees!

Taft and Christina

Our Family

2009-09-13T00:50:00.000-06:00

Our Family

Us with Grandma Nila

the gorgeous flowers my Mom brought - they've lasted all week!

All about Chad

2009-09-13T00:42:00.000-06:00

Papa helping Chad with his new Hot Wheels set

Uncle Duane and Aunt Norma enjoying birthday cake and ice cream

Grandma helping Chad put his new puzzle together

CHAD!

Chad's birthday party

2009-09-13T00:32:00.000-06:00

I just love this picture - he's so cute!!!

Chad's Baptism

2009-09-13T00:22:00.000-06:00

Craig and Chad

Ryan, Craig, Chad, Courtney, Joslyn and Jessica

Our family, plus Grandma Nila, Papa, Aunt Myrna, Uncle Duane and Aunt Norma - they are Chad's great-great aunt and uncle! It was So nice to have them all there!

Our family

Chad turns 8 and gets baptized!

2009-09-13T00:13:00.000-06:00

Chad turned 8 on the 5th of September and was baptized that day!

I love this picture!

2009-09-13T00:00:00.000-06:00

With Craig standing there, you can get some idea of how out of control my garden is - but my motto is - "It it grows, I'll water it!"

Craig got the fence done and both sides of our are now stained too!

Sunflower waiting to open

sunflowers are just happy flowers - who doesn't love them?!?!

the shed gets concrete!

2009-09-12T23:50:00.000-06:00

We finally got the concrete poured for the shed, now we just need to put up some walls and enclose it!!!

Ryan is cleaning up the edges

Garden

2009-09-12T23:36:00.000-06:00

Our garden has gone wild! The pumpkins and spaghetti squash have come from the very back to the zucchini and the spaghetti squash has started to climb up the sunflowers - so we find them hanging from the sunflowers!!!

the corn next door has finally had a growth spurt!

I might get enough for 1 meal - but that's good enough for me!

Spike

2009-09-12T23:17:00.000-06:00

Chad found this porcupine on the 31st of July by our garbage cans, which are under my carport!!! We called animal control - they said they only did dogs and cats! They suggested we call fish and game and they said he would "just wander away" WHAT?!?! We live in the middle of town! So we called them back and told them to come and get him! TRhey did about 45 minutes later. He didn't do anything, just sat there, very calm. But when the f & g guy tried to slip the noose around his neck, he kinda freaked out - who wouldn't?!?! He left a bunch of quills behind, that are kinda short - about 2" long and half black and white and kinda greasy! We only had him for a short time (it really seemed long enough to me!) but we named him "Spike".

July/August

2009-08-20T22:27:00.002-06:00

Looking over my last couple of posts - so much has changed! My garden is like a jungle and the vegetables are AWESOME! Lots of crookneck, zucchini and spaghetti squash, peas, beans, and beets. The corn is actually growing, the carrot tops are so pretty and the pumpkins are starting! I've had tons of apricots from friends - so lots of yummy freezer jam! I cut my hair and donated it to Locks of Love - 24 inches! Ryan turned 17 on the 19th - we had a breakfast party for him here then went to Grandma Nila's with stops along the way to see Grandma Anne, Grandma Turner, Uncle Jim & Aunt Lynne and Aunt LenaGean. Grandma had a party for him in Papa's bar and then we spent 3 1/2 days in Vegas seeing some old friends - Kim Abbott and family - so fun!, Aunt Benn , Aunt Kim and kids, hanging out by the pool, and seeing the sights! Then back to St. George and nice and cool Cedar City for Jacob's baseball tournament. A quick week, but loads of fun! Joslyn had her tonsils out on the 31st. Hydrocodone obviously doesn't agree with her so once we got her to quit throwing up (after a trip to the ER that night), she did pretty good - LOTS of Popsicles, jello and pudding. Craig's dad, Ralph had a stroke, that scared us, but he's doing really good now - it's amazing the medical knowledge that they have now! Started getting ready for back-to-school - buying supplies, new clothes and shoes, etc. I went back to work on the 19th and the kids start on the 24th. Ryan got his driver's license TODAY! I am a basket case! It's hard to let them just drive away - so I followed him (discreetly - he knew I was, just not any of his friends) when he had to go to soccer practice - it's 10 miles one way and on the freeway! But he did AWESOME - didn't speed, used his blinkers, was a very responsible driver! He will be a senior and has already started soccer practice - he's going to play goalie for the JV team and they have a game tomorrow! Courtney has done lots of babysitting and went to girl's camp and read more books than I thought possible - I am having a hard time keeping up! She will be a freshman - she's kinda nervous about being a the high school, but she knows where the library is now, so that set her heart at ease. Joslyn went to Activity Days camp and lots of fun Activity days, has ridden her bike and played with friends. She is starting 5th grade and they are the oldest this year! Chad has ridden his scooter and played in the water - EVERYDAY - but Sunday. His friend, Zhigy has moved back so he is happy, happy, happy! Craig has done tons of work on the house and yards - he's amazing! We've been blessed to see lots of family and friends and spend time with them. Chad's baptism is coming up on September 5th - he is very excited to be "drowned" as he puts it and start Scouts and 2nd grade. I have loads of pictures but they are going to have to wait.

Chad's Glasses

2009-07-07T15:36:00.000-06:00

Chad's reading teacher suggested we have his eyes checked and sure enough the boy is blind as a bat! Well maybe it's not that bad, but he does need to wear them all the time, hopefully this will cut down on the 'accidents' the kid has! Example - running into walls, falling down, tripping!

He is SO excited to wear them too - probably because now he can actually see things! Who knew!

Garden - 1 month old

2009-07-07T15:21:00.000-06:00

Thanks to the entire month of June being rained out, our garden is growing like crazy!

Something is eating my beans though

the dog is Scamp, another neighbor's dog we got to tend on the 4th - why on earth would I need to get a dog when I can just borrow one?!?!

Megan and Tyler's wedding

2009-06-17T10:33:00.000-06:00

Joslyn - soccer

2009-06-17T10:21:00.000-06:00

Chad - soccer

2009-06-17T10:10:00.000-06:00

playing goalie

doing a throw-in

he was the tallest kid on his team

A boy and a dirt hill

2009-06-17T09:54:00.000-06:00

We had a load of dirt brought in and Chad thought he had died and gone to heaven!!!

Ryan and Thomas had just got done digging fence post holes

2009-06-17T09:37:00.000-06:00

Harley - 6 months old

after Craig tore out the shrubs

cool shadow

Quatro de Mayo

2009-06-17T09:27:00.000-06:00

We had too many things to do on the 5th so we celebrated on the 4th!

More Pictures

2009-06-17T09:18:00.000-06:00

Chad playing spring soccer

Courtney's award winning project - she got an award and a $50.00 gift card to an art supply store

Courtney's last choir concert

Here They Come!

2009-06-17T01:17:00.000-06:00

The date is wrong on my camera, these were taken today - June 16th, 2009
summer squash

zucchini

corn

Our Garden

2009-06-17T01:04:00.000-06:00

We finally got our garden planted. We had to wait for a day it wasn't raining.

It measures about 25' by 10' and then Martin's side is about the same.

The Garden

2009-06-17T00:49:00.000-06:00

We planted corn and peas on Martin's side

Harley hanging out with us

Joslyn and Chad

2009-06-17T00:36:00.000-06:00

One fence up, one more to go

front door decoration

irises

Springtime

2009-06-17T00:21:00.000-06:00

Courtney's flowers from Grandma and Papa for winning 1st place for her Human Rights project

The front yard

2009-06-17T00:09:00.000-06:00

Our new rock walls and flowers

the cute bench my dad made for me

the outhouse dad made for me

The front porch

2009-06-16T23:57:00.000-06:00

Ryan and Harley

2009-06-16T23:45:00.000-06:00

This is Harley, our neighbor's dog, we just love him.

Horse Races

2009-06-16T23:31:00.000-06:00

I took Courtney and Chad then Joslyn (she had been at a birthday party) to the horse races on May 30th. So much fun!!! The horses are gorgeous and the kids love to see them run!

Summer

2009-05-24T19:49:00.000-06:00

I have a ton of updates and pictures, but I can't find my connector card to upload the photos! But I'm still looking!

We redid our front flower beds and the backyard is coming together - we have one fence up and the shed dug out to get ready for concrete! We tore the shrubs out of the front yard and tore down the red brick retaining walls that were in the flowerbeds and replaced them with nice tan/grey brick - it looks like it's always been there - and planted a burning bush, a pink rose, columbine - different shades of purples, yellow margueritte daisies and blue and white delphinium. I also planted some yellow columbine on the other side, planted a hanging basket with yellow petunias and white alyssum (they smell so yummy!), a bucket that sits in my outhouse with yellow and white pansies and then we have yellow snapdragons and dark purple petunias to go around the tree. Oh and the kids gave me pink and red geraniums that sit in cute planters - a big blue and green spotted teacup and an old white crock pot . We are very happy with the results!

The kids are almost out of school - 3 days this week left!!! We can hardly wait! We will have a week just to chill together then Craig is going to IDFY camp for 6 days, Ryan starts his job on the 9th and Courtney starts the week after school gets out. We have lots of projects besides the yard planned - dig out Joslyn's room, plant the garden (hopefully next weekend!), make some quilts, 96-hour kits, and just RELAX!

Spring is finally here!

2009-04-20T22:59:00.000-06:00

We have been having such nice weather for the past couple of days! Craig and Martin, our neighbor, ground out the tree stumps, then Ryan, his friend Thomas, and Craig filled in the holes and empty spots in the yard and flowerbeds in the backyard, we got the 4 x 4's for the fences along with some of the boards and concrete mix for the fence, Craig took out the front shrubs, knocked down the little brick walls in my flowerbeds, emptied the shed for the cement guy to come over and look at and give us an estimate, and is getting the yard ready for home improvements!!!

Tonight the girls had their piano recital, there are only 2 other students besides them and they each played one song, had a cookie, went and got ice cream and then to the park for a rousing game of tackle soccer and ultimate frisbee for family home evening.

Piano lessons: $80.00

Cookies & ice cream: $7.00

Trash-talking your kids while playing soccer and having the Young Women's president walk by: Priceless

Since we have no fence between us and Martin we are also the proud part-caretakers of Harley, Martin's 6 month old brown (red?) Labrador, who the children just LOVE!!! They have taught him to sit, not jump, shake and are working on fetch. Harley's not sure why the kids throw things and expect him to go and get them, he doesn't see the point in that at all! But he is fun!

April Showers bring May Flowers?!?!

2009-04-02T22:03:00.000-06:00

At this rate my flowers aren't sure what to do - should they keep coming up or just give up?!?!
We are still having yucky weather - snow, rain, hail, thunder, lightening - and that was just one night! The robins have returned and they and the squirrels are making a meal out of my crab apple tree. Every time you open the front door, you hear this "whoosh" as they all fly away and the squirrels all take off running. I just want spring!!!

I don't know if this is related to the weather or not, but today at work as we were doing clean-up, namely the dishes, the power went out! So we had to take the remaining dishes and do them in 3-compartment sinks. The sinks are about 2 feet deep and hit you about waist-high, so you are just leaning over the entire time! Of course the power came back on about 45 minutes later - when we were just finishing up! I am glad tomorrow is Friday - I need a restful weekend just watching Conference - I don't think that is going to happen though - we have 2 soccer games and pictures that day too! Oh well, if I had nothing to do I'm sure I could complain about that too! (Of course I would like to give it a shot just to make sure!)

March Madness

2009-03-24T22:17:00.000-06:00

We are all on spring break this week - even Craig! So needless to say we are just hanging out! The kids are driving me crazy since it's snowed twice now about 6" all together but most of it is melting - it's just cold and windy! I guess since March came in like a lamb for us, it's going out like a LION!

Some of the things we've done this month are: attended Craig's niece - Megan's wedding in the Mt. Timpanogos temple on the 7th, and got to see my Aunt Toni up from Tucson to help my Grandma Anne who was just out of the hospital with pneumonia, got all dressed up and went to the ISU ROTC Military Ball on the 14th and then we are all going to Brenner's baptism on Saturday. Ryan received his letter and an academic award for having a 3.5 or higher - he has a 4.2 right now - at the wrestling banquet on the 17th. Courtney is babysitting a lot - kids and dogs!, responsible for getting her YW leaders mail the rest of the week and getting ready for Girl's Camp with the big Kick-Off! She and Ryan attended a fireside for America's Junior Miss - Lindsey Britton. Joslyn reached her AR reading goal and was rewarded with soda and a game day at school. She learned how to make lip gloss at Activity Days too. Chad earned an ice cream party at school for getting all of his homework turned in on time. He and Joslyn are starting spring (!) soccer this week. Their school had McTeacher night at McDonald's on the 19th and unfournately we were in a fender-bender there too. The poor car's bumper and grill were scratched up a little bit ($700 worth!) but we were all alright, not even scary - just maddening!

I love March because of the nice and not so nice days, the robins are back and the grass is starting to show a little color when it's not covered in snow! All of the new baby cows I see out in the fields and wish we could have one in the backyard!

The NCAA March Madness is on and I am home to watch it! A big "hello" to my friends Pam and Lee who are traveling there next week to actually see the game in person! College basketball is WAY more exciting the pros and you have to love the underdogs who make it in! Even though I have always loved Duke and Coach K - go Blue Devils!

Ryan's New Hairdo!

2009-03-01T22:14:00.000-07:00

When your team is going to state, everyone gets the same haircut!

(Note the beautiful 18 roses Craig had sent to me at work to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary!)

Ryan wrestling

2009-03-01T22:08:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of videos of Ryan wrestling, but I thought I would take a few still photos too.

Joslyn's 10!!!

2009-03-01T21:58:00.000-07:00

Joslyn's 10th Birthday!

2009-03-01T21:51:00.000-07:00

She LOVES these posters to color!

and horses

and puppies

and clothes!

Christmas 2008

2009-03-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

Christmas 2008

2009-02-28T11:21:00.000-07:00

I love when they all like what they get!

Christmas 2008

2009-02-28T11:11:00.001-07:00

Christmas 2008

2009-02-28T11:04:00.003-07:00

Christmas 2008

2009-02-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

Christmas 2008

2009-02-28T10:37:00.000-07:00

We don't have stockings, we have Christmas bags.

SNOW!!!

2009-02-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

My kids are such goof balls!!!

2009-02-28T10:25:00.001-07:00

Trying to get a picture of 4 children should not be this hard!!!

Finally!!!

Courtney's 14!!!

2009-02-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

February

2009-02-23T00:27:00.000-07:00

Well this month has flow by! This is what is in our newsletter this month - Jessica is loving work, she got switched to the fruits and vegetables department for the next 2 months. She was able to go to Valentine's again this year for 6 days and had a great time with everyone! Craig is making 3 trips to MEPS this month, having 2 crowns put on at the dentist and moving his office back up to the armory. They were able to celebrate their anniversary with a relaxing, weekend trip to Twin Falls. Ryan wrestled really well this month and missed going to State by 1 point!!! He also registered his classes for next year when he will be a senior! Courtney registered for her freshman year (I can feel the grey hairs coming on now!) She had a big presentation in her health class with a power point presentation, poster and handouts. Joslyn went to dinner and a movie (Twilight) with her friend, Olivia on the 3rd. She learned all about doing laundry and keeping your home clean at Activity Days, which is good because she was in charge of laundry last week. Chad has been doing an awesome job of keeping his room cleaned lately. He loves to be outside no matter the weather - now that the snow is melting he is finding the mud puddles!

New Job

2009-01-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

Well I applied for the full-time position at Central Kitchen (where I have been the last 2 months) and got it last Friday!!! It doesn't seem any different, but the pay raise will be nice! I really like it there and all of the people are GREAT!!! I have a B.F.F. (Linda) who is AWESOME!!!

It's weird to have a (paying) job after all these years and nice to have one that I really enjoy! We are truly blessed to both have jobs in this economy and all of the luxuries that we enjoy are amazing! (As I write this Craig and the kids are playing Rock Band on the Wii and are totally rocking out!)

2009!

2009-01-11T23:49:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's already the middle of January!!! December was a whirlwind - concerts, wrestling, parties, family, shopping, wrapping, baking, etc. Then we had a nice, relaxing 16 day break from school and work (Craig did have to go to Boise once). We watched movies, played games and just hung out! Our New Year's Eve was quiet, I had a glass of sparkling cider at midnight with Craig then sat up to wait for Ryan to come home! (He had gone to a regional LDS sponsored dance). Then New Year's Day we headed up to Idaho Falls and played games, ate and watched a little football with Kevin and Sharlene - WAY FUN!!!

Since then we have worked and gone to more wrestling, cleaned (all the laundry got folded today!!!), Activity Days, visited friends, got a new calling - 2nd counselor in Primary, applied for a new job, Courtney started a little job - cleaning house for her YW leader once a week, Joslyn turned 10!!!, Craig won a hotel stay, and is back this week to teaching his ROTC class at the university, Chad got sick and is recovering (croup), and playing in the snow - which is about gone now - YEAH!!! I have some pictures, but they are going to have to wait, because I need to go to BED!!!

Santa!

2008-12-08T00:21:00.000-07:00

Santa made a stop at Grandma Anne's Christmas Party and the kids loved it!

Just some fun things I made

Beautiful Baby Makena

2008-12-08T00:14:00.000-07:00

This one is alittle blurry, but she didn't mind Santa.

Kena and her "dada"

She was waiting for Niki to unwrap her present

Courtneys Choir Performance at Festival of Trees

2008-12-08T00:03:00.000-07:00

Court's the one in the shiny red shirt

They sang 2 songs and get to repeat them next week at the school concert.

Darcy and Courtney

Craig's Surprise 40th Birthday Party

2008-12-07T23:57:00.000-07:00

Craig was SOOO surprised! But about 20 minutes after he got to the house and said hello to everyone the power went out! And it stayed out for a good hour or so! But it didn't stop us, we just gave all of the kids a flashlight and lit EVERY candle I own and placed them around the frontroom and diningroom and partied on!

Craig's birthday

2008-12-07T23:46:00.000-07:00

The boys playing Legos, Chad is the one with his tongue hanging out!

We had SOOO much food! I did a Mexican Fiesta theme with shrimp, 7-layer dip, taquitos, vegetable and fruit trays,chips and salsa, cram puffs and 2 lemon poppyseed cakes (Craig's favorites!) I served Sprite in cups that had been dipped in blue sugar.

Deanna and Sharlene.

Craig's 40th

2008-12-07T23:25:00.000-07:00

Travis, Logan, Deanna, Rachelle and Angela

Craig opening his presents

Granny Rose and Peggy

Craig with his cool dragon sword scabard

Craig's Birthday Party

2008-12-07T23:11:00.000-07:00

Brenner, Brayden and David playing Legos

Rachelle with Kameron and Travis

Kevin and Scott playing with the cup hangers - mermaids!

Dean and Deanna

Thanksgiving

2008-12-07T22:52:00.000-07:00

Grandpa and Grandma Phelps

Us girls all promptly feel asleep after dinner - sorry Mom!

Julia and Jacob

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-12-07T22:42:00.000-07:00

Dad carving the turkey

the long table

Benn and Julia

Mom

MORP 2008

2008-12-07T22:33:00.000-07:00

Ryan

They wrote their names on each other's shirts and the other sleeve said MORP 2008

Cache, Kelsey, Dallas and Ryan

MORP at West Side

2008-12-07T22:25:00.000-07:00

Carrie (Dallas) and Ryan

Aren't they cute?

Courtney

2008-12-07T22:17:00.000-07:00

Courtney in her choir shirt, she looks kind of strange because she thought I was only taking a picture of the shirt!

One More Thing!

2008-11-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

There is one more thing the kids reminded me that I always say when they get done with their homework.
Me: "Now where do I want your homework?"
Them: "Not by the backpack, not near the backpack, not on the backpack, but IN the backpack!!!"

I have some cute pics of Ryan's MORP date and Craig's Surprise Party, but they may have to wait until after Thanksgiving, we are going to Mom and Dad's cabin in Pine Valley! But know that we had FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

The things that go on around here!

2008-11-17T15:09:00.000-07:00

There are a couple of things we say around here all the time and I just thought I would share!!! Chad has a wariness about anything new especially food - so he always asks 3 questions when we eat (even if it's something we have all the time!) 1. Have I had this before? 2. Did I like it? 3. Did I eat all of it? To which I always answer "YES!"even if it's not always the truth! When my kids say "I can't" then I say "I can't said the ant, please try said the pie, you must said the crust, don't be a dope said the soap" it's from the book "I Can't Said the Ant" a great motivational tool! A couple of weeks ago Chad saw a commercial about "going green" and told Craig - "I want to be green, green is my favorite color!" So now we all say that! We might appear to be kinda strange, but well we are!!!

Ryan's date

2008-11-08T20:10:00.000-07:00

Corsage as modeled by Courtney

A little bit blurry!

Ryan and Lisa

Ryan's Dance date and flowers

2008-11-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

boutinerre I made, she brought him one too.

Ryan and Lisa

Look out holidays here we come!

2008-11-02T19:42:00.000-07:00

Well I am glad October is over and now into the hectic season of Thanksgiving and Christmas and Craig's and my dad's and the girl's birthday's and Christmas break and everything that comes with it - shopping, decorating, baking, traveling (that will be the nice part!) cleaning and entertaining, etc., etc, etc.!!! I do love this time of year and everything that comes with it - Christmas letters and treats from friends and family, wonderful homemade gifts and the look of snow and Christmas lights.

Ryan was asked to the Fall Co-ed by a girl named Lisa from his school, it;s just slightly FREAKING me out!!! I want to go with him and make sure everything is perfect - that he behaves (doesn't burp and do anything embarrassing for her), that she behaves (she's a senior!!!), but I know I can't do that (and it's killing me!) so I just have to trust him and all the advice that I can shove into him in the next couple of days!!!

Craig got SOOO much accomplished on Saturday I can hardly believe it!!! He got all of the rain gutters up in the back, (he did the front last week), the garden tilled with manure and started a compost pile with leaves and compost starter and got all of the new windows in!!! Of course then it has rained like crazy all day!!!

I SOOO need to start Christmas - but I don't know when that is going to happen - Craig's surprise party is STRESSING me out! I am working everyday and have no time to even sit down, let alone cook or bake! But I'm sure everything will get done or at least the most important things anyway!

I Love Fall!

2008-10-29T21:46:00.000-06:00

Well it's been a while since I blogged and a lot has happened!!!

Ryan's soccer team went to state and took 4th place! He is starting wrestling open mat this week - YEAH! He is going with some friends to a haunted house for Halloween.

Courtney and her Beehive class went Halloween caroling tonight and took cookies to some people, last week they painted pumpkins.

Joslyn and Chad each had two parts to say in the Primary Program this last Sunday and Joslyn sang in a quartet also. They enjoyed the school Fall Carnival with games and prizes, we won a box of scrapbooking scissors and a pass to the skating rink.

Chad is loving Red Ribbon Week at school - Patriotic Colors - Monday, Crazy Hat Day - Tuesday, and today was the Candy Sale!!! He jumped out of bed this morning when I told him.

Craig is going non-stop working and then coming home and putting in new windows. He has 3 trips to Boise scheduled next week!

I am working and trying to keep up on the housework and LAUNDRY (with the World Series now over, more of it might get done!)

We met the rest of Craig's family and helped to clean up his dad's yard and garden on the 25th, we had stopped and done the same for his mother earlier in the day.

We are enjoying the nice fall weather - cold in the mornings and evenings and just beautiful during the day!

Here Comes the Holidays

2008-10-14T20:02:00.000-06:00

Well we have already had our first snowfall, and it was a doozy! It's all melted now but they had to cancel the district soccer game and pretty much anything else you wanted to do this last Saturday! I sat in bed and watched TV all day under the quilts!

Soccer was rescheduled for Monday (yesterday) and Ryan's team WON! Now onto Jerome Thursday and then State next week! Ryan is taking the PSAT tomorrow.

Courtney is dying to learn sign language, she already signs to me at church but it's usually too fast and I don't always get it - especially the g's, h's, p's and q's! She babysits a little boy whose parents' are teaching him, so she knows "cookie" and she knows a lot from her special needs cousin Stephanie. I am going to have to get her into a class!

Joslyn is learning all about Idaho history and counting money at school. The counting money is TOUGH! Her piano teacher says she's doing great and getting lots better at reading the music!

Chad is still just Chad! We are in the process of digging out his room - the last child always has the most toys - they inherit them! His teacher says he's good at listening and talking!

OCTOBER

2008-10-06T20:45:00.000-06:00

Well it is finally fall here, I shouldn't say that though, it was fall/winter until June this year! I am dreading turning on the heat, so we are just going to have to bundle up in the mornings & nights.
Craig got a LOT of work done in the backyard and it is looking better every day!

Work is going along smoothly, working in the bakery department "pinching buns" all day!

Ryan's soccer team won home field rights for the district tournament this Thursday - yeah, we don't have to travel! He played goalie against Blackfoot and didn't get scored on at all! He got his 6 week report card and he has A's in his AP classes, a high B in his honors Trig class and a C in pottery! I ask you, what is wrong with this picture?!?!

Courtney is working on her choir performances coming up and her English class on setting another record for everyone turning in all of their assignments - they made it to 25 (the old record was 10!) and then 1 kid didn't turn in his book report, so they have had to start over again! The teacher has a treat system for them - they got root beer floats for 25 days.

Joslyn is excited for Activity Days this Saturday, they are planning games and songs for the Primary kids on Sunday!

Chad finally wore through the knees on his jeans I bought him for school - 6 weeks is a record for him! So we went and got new ones today.

October is FLYING by, but we are ready for Halloween - Courtney decorated - and almost ready for snow!!!

Brand New Year

2008-09-28T21:25:00.000-06:00

Well we just returned from another End-of-Year and it was quite relaxing and fun! We went to downtown Boise, their downtown is awesome - lots of things to visit - restaurants, cafes, stores, farmer's market on Saturday, theaters, etc. We had a recruiting and retention military ball and some fun raffle prizes - we won a basket of things from Sportsman's Warehouse. My friend Amy and I went and saw Mamma Mia - GREAT show, bought a new dress at the mall, ate and ate!, had a good time with my husband and relaxed! Craig's dad, Ralph stayed with the little people for us - he's a GREAT sport!

Now back to work and real life!

Ryan as goalie

2008-09-18T23:03:00.000-06:00

Chad McKay's 7th Birthday!

2008-09-18T22:56:00.000-06:00

Chad with his Spider-Man bubble bath

Reaching in the bag for more goodies!

His Marvel comics super heros poster

blowing out the candles!

Chad's 7!

2008-09-18T22:44:00.000-06:00

Chad with his Spider-Man toothbrush, he's been wanting this ever since Ryan got one for his birthday!

Chad with his new cap guns - YEAH!

Indiana Jones Lego set

He loves LEGOS!

First Day of School - August 21st, 2008

2008-09-18T22:35:00.000-06:00

Chad - 1st Day of 1st Grade

Courtney - 1st Day of 8th Grade

Joslyn - 1st Day of 4th Grade

Chad with his Spider-Man lunchbox, he insisted on a metal lunch box, I don't even ask why any more!

Ryan didn't get his picture taken, but he started 11th grade, maybe that's why!

New Baby

2008-09-18T22:24:00.000-06:00

Craig and I are once again a GREAT aunt and uncle! Our nephew Nathan and his girlfriend, Cheyenne had little Eden Jade Ockerman tonight in Kennewick, Washington. She was born at 5:53 p.m. and weighed in at 7 pounds and 12 ounces and was 20 inches long! She's beautiful!

New Job

2008-09-10T21:55:00.000-06:00

Well I finally went back to work, well at least the paying kind of work, and it has been an adjustment! I need to better manage my responsibilities, but it's getting better. My new job is with the school food service, I usually work from 8:30 or 9:00 to about 2:30 to 3:00, then come home and do all the things that need to be done here! I've learned to shift my laundry, dishes and cleaning to afternoon/evening instead of morning, but Craig has really pitched in! He is great about getting as much done in the morning before we all have to leave. I think the effort will finally pay off when that first paycheck comes in!

September Days

2008-09-03T20:47:00.000-06:00

Well we have a crazy couple of weeks with school, soccer and work! I think we fianlly got all of Ryan's schedule changes done and he's back to the original!!! He's is on the varsity soccer team, but they have so many seniors this year, he has decided to play JV, as a forward and part-time goalie. He's liking school so far and doing well in some tough classes. Courtney is now in choir and will start cross-country sometime soon. She and Joslyn started piano today, so now we have to find practice time. Joslyn is liking her teacher and doing carpool with her friend, Amara. Chad likes to play football at recess and trading sandwiches with Zhigy! I started work on Tuesday and am slowly catching on to work again. It's hard work but am glad for the hours - 9 - 3 for training. Craig and Ryan helped his brother, Kevin put up a fence this last Saturday and we just relaxed the rest of the weekend. The weather has turned off cold here - high 50's to the low 70's, we're suppossed to be back up to the mid 80's by the weekend, but it has been a nice change and made us start thinking about fall and all of the fun associated with that. Courtney wants to put up the Hallowen decorations (it's her FAVORITE holiday), and drink warm apple cider and carve pumpkins.

School Days

2008-08-19T09:45:00.000-06:00

Well it is that time of year again - early mornings, homework, practice and early bedtimes!!! Let me update you on everyone - Ryan is going to be a junior!!! He goes to Century High School and is on the soccer team, he will wrestle later this fall. He is in National Honor Society and had a 3.8 GPA this last year. He is taking 3 advanced classes - history, english and math. He couldn't get the French 2 class he wanted so he is taking pottery - a nice break from some tough homework I think. He is in his 3rd year of seminary and really likes the teacher - Bro. Ferrar.

He is 16 now and a priest.

Courtney is going into the 8th grade at Irving Junior High School. She is 13 1/2 years old. She is going to run cross country again this year and maybe track in the spring. She has 1 advanced class - literature, which she really likes! She is hoping to earn straight A's again this year.

She will be starting piano lessons again soon also.

Joslyn is starting the 4th grade at Tendoy Elementary School. Her teacher is Mr. Hyde, she is really excited because he's lots of fun. She is 9 1/2 now. She will also be taking piano again.

Chad McKay will be in the 1st grade! His teacher is Mrs. Lewis and his friends are going to be in his class - Zhigy and Jericho. He is looking forward to doing art projects and eating lunch in the cafeteria. Chad will be 7 on the 5th of September.

S'mores by Sunlight

2008-08-11T21:53:00.000-06:00

We made our very own solar oven and "cooked" s'mores!
It was only 85 degrees here today so the chocolate melted but the marshmallows wouldn't soften enough, so the kids put them in the microwave!