Happy New Year!

Let me say up front that my blogging has been skipped because we had a Christmas adventure up to Utah! Yay! It was nice. I didn't get to see nearly enough of many people that I love but it was pretty sweet and simple. Dylan really loved all the cousin time and wii time and getting spoiled by his Grandparents. Owen enjoyed the lack of drama. Gratitude to my Mom and Dad for making our trip possible. On the way up to Utah valley, we drove into the 'big' storm and spent 2 hours or so parked on I-15 in which time we took a nap. Once, we watched two sedans fly off the road in opposite directions. Luckily we didn't fly off of the road, slide down a hill or into anything else. It took us 18 hours to drive a usually 11 hour trip. Scary! We also missed the 'really big' storm by hours coming home thank goodness but then experienced some very unusual cold weather here.
Today marked the return to school. I am taking academic classes this block and feel quite out of my element. I think Dylan was excited to get back to school and his friends today. He was SOO hyper this morning. Right now, I am actively avoiding my homework. Owen has a new plan for the new year as well and I'm hoping that it will work out quickly... Yep, I'm going to leave that one cryptic for now. The picture above is hilarious to me because I think we've all felt this way about the snap-happy people in our lives!
Here's to New Beginnings,
Rebecca

Fiddlesticks!

This week wasn't a pleasant one. I won't get into specifics but I think that even in Arizona the winter doldrums are inescapable. Perhaps it's the shorter days, or the unmet expectations of the "Christmas season", or all of the rampant, harried materialism that kills the good vibes. I don't know why, but we're feeling it. Of course, putting Eddy down sucked! I was going to go but found that I couldn't do it. Owen went and reported that it was a disturbing yet fascinating experience. I'm grateful to him for going and holding Eddy as his life slipped from his body. When Owen took him in, he was in poorer shape than we realized so we're grateful to have spared him any more pain and suffering. The vet made an imprint of his little paw and then his body was cremated. My family sent us flowers which did ease the grief a bit. Dylan had the hardest time of it. He wept through the whole afternoon. I hope that our Diego will be able to die suddenly and without pain or a need of euthanasia when the time comes. There were other things of the last week but this was the one thing that defines the last week. In the picture you see Eddy, all skin and bones, right before he left. Please excuse Owen's bad hair, he's been one loooong bad hair day lately. I like that picture though because I said one of Eddy's magic words right before I snapped the picture and we were able to capture for the first time in a long time and the last time here on this earth a quintessential Eddy pose. I'm also glad to have a picture of his last day where one of us (a.k.a. Owen with Don King hair) is sincerely smiling. I have a few other pictures of Dylan and Eddy and myself and Eddy and they are all too sad to look at. Here's to looking forward and moving on.
Enjoy the week before Christmas,
Rebecca

R.I.P

Poor Eddy has died i will always remeber him he was my fav. dog in the world I was super sad when he left to be put down.

its hero time

benten rules. his bigest alein is way big. hoho it is winter time santa rocks.

Dylan's Update (written by Dylan)

I am liking it in my new school in 2nd grade. My teacher is Mrs. Blackmer, my room number is d4, and my desk is next to the door. We take timed tests and I am great at adding.

Ah, the Holidays! The best part of this week was all of the time we got to spend together. Also, this week we were uber blessed beyond measure. Firstly, thanksgiving was simple and delicious. I'm back to being vegetarian until the images of turkey preparation leaves me. I tend to not like to eat meat to begin with but whenever I have to basically mutilate an animal carcase for consumption, I simply can't eat it. Don't get me wrong, I'm always grateful for the animal who's life is now sustaining my family, but I'd really rather not. I made the best pumpkin pie I've ever made (cooking school is paying off it seems), Dylan took a really great picture of the table (which is in the collage), and Owen, well, he watched football. After dinner, we drove up to Saguaro Lake and enjoyed the pleasant weather and beautiful landscape. When we got home, we decided to head over to the Mesa temple to take in the Christmas lights and international nativity scene display. Dylan and I decided that it felt like we were in an enchanted forest as we walked along. Lovely day. On Friday, some of our petitions to the Lord for mercy were answered by way of grad school transcripts in the mail. Owen can now apply for and presumably get licensure here in the great state of Arizona! Now maybe he can utilize his training by working. YAY! Friday we also decorated the Christmas tree which was fun. Okay, it was messy, frustrating and many 8 year old tears were shed either caused by rage or hurt feelings. We like our tree and I believe we would all agree it was worth the drama in the end. This weekend I also made a wedding cake. It was labor intensive (8 hours worth) and I'm still not sure that the Bride approved (she has severe OCD and can I say that's a stressful person to try and cater to) but I feel good that I put forth my best effort to please her. On the way home from doing laundry, we happened upon a white leather couch that had been thrown onto the side of the road. Owen and I used Dylan's scooter to roll it into our house. HOORAY for free furniture! We've been sitting on folding chairs (and grateful to do so) for 5 months so to have an actual couch was a blessing. It took quite a bit of effort from me to get it to the acceptable level of clean that I would let my baby sit on it (I know he's 8 but he's still my baby and I'm still a mama bear) but it's actually quite a good couch and in good condition despite being initially dirtier than dirt. I shed tears of gratitude while I defunked the thing! The picture this week is a collage of the last weekend sans the tree and couch. Also, no pictures of Dylan in his scouting uniform yet. Hopefully this week.

Y'all take care and enjoy the beginning of the Christmas season.

-Rebecca

Week 2

This past week the highlight for our family was Dylan starting cub scouts. It's crazy really;I never understood it when my brothers were doing it but now I find having Dylan affiliated with the program quite awesome. Dylan is really loving it too even though the first activity we did was to hand out fliers around the neighborhood for an upcoming turkey trot/ turkey collection activity for our stake. Dylan can't wait to get his uniform (which is a B.S.A. equivalent to blue and gold mint! Holy cow, they charge a lot for stuff at the scout store!) and loves his new Den Leader Sister Huston. I have been recruited as assistant Den Leader (and expected as much.) and have begun the training involved. Owen continues to try to maneuver through the quagmire he calls "life" and we all continue to refine our austere lifestyle. It's good. I'm looking forward to all of the cooking and friends that will be happening at our house this week as we celebrate Thanksgiving. This weekend I'm also making my first "for money" wedding cake for someone. I hope it turns out as awesome as I've planned it to be. The picture this week is Dylan sneaking a cookie from the cookie jar right before bed. (I hope to post the little man in his scout uniform next week.)
Happy Gobble Gobble Folks! I hope you are filled with as much gratitude for all that life gives us as I am.
Bon Appetit!
Rebecca