Weekend in Logan

We headed up to Logan this weekend and brought Harrison with us. We got to Mom's Friday evening and sat around for a few hours deciding what to have for dinner. We finally decided on El Sol and it was delicious!! We even talked Dave into coming (he claims to hate El Sol) and he said it was really the LAST TIME he would ever eat there!! After that we went back and watched a movie until 3am. Rich went to bed and Alexa went to Melissa's. Saturday morning Rich went on a run and me and Dad went on a "donut run" ours was way funner, I promise!! I CRAVE Shaffer House donuts all the time and I guess it is a good thing that there is NOTHING even comparable to them in the "UC" (Utah County) or else I would literally weigh 400 pounds!! Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls and Maple Bars (I am drooling a little right now)!!! Who's this guy I am posing with??? That would be RICH after I flat ironed his hair!!! His hair is SO LONG now I had to try it!! I like it!! Some of my family didn't even recognize him, they had to do a double take!! We ALL headed downtown to Kenzie, Jake and Brooklyn's piano recital. Monica and I were out in the hall with Max, Owen and Nixon...they are kind of naughty and were too loud, plus there weren't any more seats inside!! We entertained ourselves with Starbursts and taking pictures!! All the Clark kids played wonderfully, they are a talented bunch, I wish I had a piano so my kids could learn!! After the recital we all went to Fredrico's for lunch...also very delicious!!! I love the huge room in back that they have now, the kids played on the stage and were wild hooligans!!! We had a great weekend in Logan and I can't wait til the next trip!!

4.0

What more can I say???

Just one more term to go and she will have "a perfect year!!!" I am SO PROUD!!

Back Handspring!!!

Alex started a gymnastics class last August and he has learned a lot so far. Last month he learned a back flip on the trampoline.

Now he can do a back handspring with no spot. The floor at the gym where he takes lessons is a little bouncy so it is easier for him to do them there but he wanted to show me when we got home.
He did it a few times in the grass for me and then he hurt his wrist a little so I didn't get all the pictures I wanted! I am so proud of Alex for all his hard work and everything that he is accomplishing!!!

D.A.R.E. Graduation

Max and I went to see Alex's D.A.R.E. Graduation at the school this morning. D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program. I love that they offer this program to the 5th graders, it is so important for them to know what's out there and to make a choice early on not to get involved with drugs and other bad stuff.
Here's Alex getting his certificate from Principal Harlan with Officer Slaymaker and Mr. Bates. Bad picture but it's as good as it gets.

 

I didn't know Alex was getting a special recognition until I read the program. Each teacher picked two students to receive Outstanding DARE Essay and Outstanding DARE Student. Mr. Bates and Officer Slaymaker picked Alex for Outstanding DARE Student. They said this recognition was for the 2 students in each class that were always willing to participate and showed alot of excitement for the program. I am so proud of Alex, he is such a good kid!!

 

Here is Alex with his certificate and award.
I feel really lucky to have such great schools for my kids to attend and for all the important things that they learn. I hope Alex never forgets what he learned in D.A.R.E. so he will stay away from things that are harmful and bad for him!!

As I was leaving the school a lady grabbed my arm and said "I just have to tell you that I love your son, Alex. I have been a room mom for several years and he is just such a great kid. Once he told me that I look like his mom except I have blonde hair and I am older." I have no idea who this mom is but it's always great to hear that other people think your kid is awesome!!

Sunshine

Alexa left for St. George bright and early Friday morning with Josie and her family and Paige. They are going to the "Sunshine Tournament" which is a huge baseball tournament.
Reason for going...baseball = lots of BOYS!!!
They came back Sunday night and she had tons of fun!! The weather wasn't the best but it was a nice little getaway for them. They ate, shopped, ate, watched baseball games, ate, hung out, ate etc. She said they ate alot!!!

Happy St. Patty's Day!!

I had no plans for St. Patrick's Day this year. I woke up today and thought "I am not even going to bother." I was trying to remember what we did last year and realized that we were at Josee Lou's 1st Birthday party and so we did not have a green meal. I decided that I better kick it in gear and bring a little "green" into the day!!

 

Seems weird that one minute I wasn't going to do anything and this is what I ended up with (the biggest celebration yet). I made cards for Rich and the kids. Yes, I made them. I colored them and cut and glued and glittered. They were definitely cheesy but they were made with love!
Yes, I know, very cheesy but it's the truth!!! I love Rich and I love that he is my best friend!!
I went for the green pancakes and eggs again because I knew Alexa wasn't going to eat dinner with us and the boys don't like mac n' cheese.
We were pretty rushed because Alex and I had tickets to see "Hairspray" at Hale Center Theater. Actually Rich and I were supposed to go but since I took Alexa to the Jazz game last night Alex was feeling a little left out so Rich sacrificed his ticket. It was a great production and we had a great time. Rich and Max just hung out at home and Alexa slept at her friend Josie's house.
NO SCHOOL TOMORROW!!!

A Small Miracle

Today Rich got home pretty late from work and we were already eating. He came and sat down with a folder that said "Tahitian Noni Benefits." I read it and was confused!!

This is a long and complicated story so I will just sum it up the best I can. A few months ago we thought Rich was going to be hired on as a permanent employee, he has just been a "contract employee" since September, meaning no benefits and not great pay. Well Noni decided they didn't have any more money to put into this "side company" and told them they would be shutdown within a month. WOW, that was a bad day!! Now not only was he not getting hired on permanent but may not have a job at all!!! Well over the next few days investors were found and it looked like things would work out, but still no insurance because it would be a new company and only a few employees.
Then we played the waiting game while things were in the process with the investors and the board at Noni. I was getting anxious because I just wanted to know he would have a job and a steady paycheck. I looked into other options as far as coverage for the baby but it was looking like we did not qualify.

Rich was called into the Director's office today and was told that he was being hired on as a permanent Tahitian Noni Employee and that benefits would start April 1st. WHAT A BLESSING!! The investors are still buying the company but Rich will work for Noni and take care of things for this new company. I still don't understand all the details or the way things happened but I am SO THANKFUL!! I can't tell you how relieved I am to have this burden off my shoulders and know that I can actually have the baby in the hospital and not at home in our bathtub!! Just kidding, that was never really going to happen but I joked about it alot because I was so nervous about how much money it would cost to have a baby with no insurance!

We have been on a rollercoaster ride for 2+ years with Rich's employment and now (knock on wood) we can breathe a little easier knowing things will always work out, it is just never the way you want it to but the way it is supposed to! I know we have learned a lot during this time and hopefully we have learned all there is to know so that it doesn't happen again any time soon, but if it does we will make it, we know we are in good, loving hands.
Ironic though that it was Noni that laid him off in the first place and now he's back there. Not going to lie, it makes me a little uneasy but I know now that we can handle hard things.

20 Weeks

Well here we are at 20 weeks...20 down 20 to go, that sounds like a LONG TIME!! Hopefully I will get lucky again and I can be induced early!

 

I am feeling much better and just get headaches but I guess I can live with that. I have started to feel the baby moving, Rich keeps putting his hand on my belly trying to feel it but it is too early for that!