Monday, March 28, 2022

      March is almost over and so much fun has occurred.  Tegan had a birthday party with Jacinda’s friends.  They took him out to breakfast and then played Jackbox.  Later in the afternoon, he had a party with his friends.  They decorated graham crackers and then made forts and played battle in the basement.  The fort and basement battle were not part of his planned party, but the kids were having such a good time there was no way I was going to stop it.  Teagan also got to do a box car race this month for activity days.  His car was the only one to flip on the track.  He did fairly well.  It was a lot of fun to watch his car zoom across the church floor.

      Teagan has started taking an interest in drawing just like Jacinda.  He likes to put big pieces of paper on the wall and draw.  Here is a picture of Spamton G. Spamton, and a can of Joja cola.

     Xadia and Teagan were in the school play “Matilda.”  Teagan played, “Michael,” the brother of Matilda and Xadia was part of the ensemble cast.  It was so fun to watch the kids.  They did a great job.  I gave them little bundt cakes after the performance.  Teagan wanted to give his cake to me for all the work I did driving him to and from practice.  That was a sweet thought, but I made him keep the cake.  I did, however, have a bite and it was delicious.

         Finally got to see McCabe wrestle this year.  The matches can be intense.  Sometimes I have to hold myself back because I get the urge to go rescue him.  It was fun to watch him.  He did a great job.  I just wished his head gear did not move over his eyes while wrestling.  It makes it very hard to wrestle the opponent.

Jacinda has been busy supporting play productions.  She spent the last few days at Woods Cross and Northridge High watching her peers qualify for state.  Tim and I got to watch a musical production and it was so neat.  One performance was from “Hades Town,” and the other from “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”  The students did a great job.  I Love seeing all this crazy talent.

The backyard is slowly coming together.  It is sad how slow everything is going.  Deadlines are set and never met.  I get very frustrated.  Just paid another equipment rental bill for equipment that is barely being used.  The equipment sits in the backyard.  In fact, Tim put lights around them to test out the lighting.  He could probably leave the lights up the whole week without them being disturbed.  This is our second construction company.  We had to fire our first one because he was a disorganized mess.  This second one is a bit more fair but does not meet time requirements.  I have decided it is impossible to find a good construction company that is fair priced, works diligently, and meets deadlines. 

Friday, March 11, 2022

     Another few weeks have passed by in the Fisher house.  Let’s get caught up on what has happened.  McCabe is recovering from a bacterial infection received from wrestling.  It started out with a sore on his neck, then arm, then chin.  I took him to the doctor’s office thinking it was impetigo, but the doctor said it was some sort of bacterial infection.  While at the doctor’s office, McCabe was measured, and it is official.  He is now taller than is mom.  He measured 5’10 ½” and mom only measures at 5’10”.  He has waited a long time for this moment.  He got a big smile across his face.

    Xadia made a beautiful castle for one of her school assignments.  I was so impressed with her creativity.  She made stain glass windows and glued flowers and moss on the outside of the castle.  She also created a little throne inside the castle which can be seen when you look through the doors or the windows.  I am so pleased with how much my kids are growing.  With growth also comes sneakiness.  The other day, I walked into the office and Xadia was eating one of Tim’s special peanut butter pretzel treats.  When confronted with her actions, she just smiled and then tried to hide the treat behind her binder.  But it was too late.  The chocolate on the corners of her mouth made her guilty.

    When the older kids go to mutual, Teagan and I get to spend some time together.  When asking Teagan what he likes to do, he likes to play Star Dew Valley or hang out in the sauna/steam room listening to the Star Dew Valley soundtrack.  So we put on our swimsuits.  Put some essential oil in the steamer groove and turn on the steam.  Teagan finds the steam room very relaxing.  I like it on a cold day.  Teagan also had a birthday this past week.  Tim and I stopped by his school and surprised him with some balloons and a little gift of pencils, erasers, and candy.  There were enough erasers to share with his classmates.  I think he really liked it.

    Jacinda stays busy with work, Guys and Dolls, and school.  She is also planning on going to prom with Seth.  I suggested making her outfit.  She sent me a few drawings and finally decided on one.  This will be really fun.  I also tried to convince her to let me do her make-up but she wants her friend, A.J. to do it.  Oh well, can’t win them all.  

    Fozzie is our favorite family dog.  On cold winter's day, he wears his home-made shamrock vest.  When he is done wearing it, he brushes along the couches to get it off.  He is such a silly dog.

Sunday, February 20, 2022

                Each week I ask the kids what they want for a dinner meal.  Without fail, Xadia requests sushi.  Half of the family does not do fish.  So we make our own sushi with fish, chicken, vegetables, and fruit.  It always turns out to be a success, especially since we bought sticky rice from the oriental store.

              McCabe has started wrestling.  I am very excited for him.  He likes to try wrestling moves on me.  I have decided that it is good practice for self-defense.  He will do a move and then he asks how I will get out of it and I show him and he says that I did some sort of move in wrestling with a name.  McCabe recently turned 15.  Tim and I delivered balloons and a Chic-Filet-A lunch at McCabe's school for lunch.  Later that week McCabe got his learner’s permit for driving.  Tim took McCabe driving on the freeway yesterday all they way to Provo.  Fortunately, he did not crash or swerve into the other lane unintentionally.  I am so happy they made it back safely.  McCabe is in a funny time of life.  He is currently 5’10”, the same height as his mom.  He constantly walks up to me (his mom) and checks to see if he is taller than me.  He is getting close but is not quite there.  He also likes to walk by the entry mirror and lift his shirt to check out his stomach and flex his biceps.  I have been trying to get a picture but prove not to be quick enough.  Oh, how much fun it is to be his mom.

               Jacinda recently got a job a Subway and she loves it.  She gets to work with Ethan and Seth, two friends from theater class.  Jacinda is a hard worker and a great friend/confidant to those around her.  Many times, she will make sure her friends are ok instead of doing her schoolwork.  Today I was going to help her with some essays but her friend, Hallie needed to talk with Jacinda.  Hallie was having a hard time and Jacinda wanted to take 30 minutes to be a listening ear.  Thirty minutes turned into 90 minutes, and I had to call her home.  I am glad Jacinda came home and was able to help Hallie.  Now she will need to use some of her holiday catching up on schoolwork.  Jacinda also went to the Valentine’s dance last week with a few friends, Sarah, Seth, and Karissa.  She had a great time and found a super cute dress.  Jacinda is growing up and it makes my heart sad and happy at the same time.  I love seeing the beautiful woman she is becoming but at the same time know that she will be on her own in a very short time.

               Xadia is growing up also.  She is getting into fashion and doing her hair.  Here she is with a cute bun on her head.  She looked so stylish I had to take a picture.  Xadia has taken an interest in volleyball.  She will start lessons next month.  I hope she has a good experience and decides to pursue the sport.  It has been challenging finding sports my kids like.  Not to mention for the past 2 years, sports and extra-curricular activities were not a priority because of COVID-19.  Xadia loves to be the master of Fozzie.  She will take him on walks and try to teach him tricks such as dancing for a treat or staying in place.  She can be a little bossy at times, and we gently remind her to be a little nicer in her tone.  Fozzie can sometimes snap back if he is spoken to in a mean tone.

               Teagan is big into playing Minecraft on his computer.  I need to encourage him to take a break from time to time.  My big thing is to ask him to help me make dinner.  He does a great job.  Today he cooked steaks.  The other day he measured and leveled the cups of flour for rolls and then selected the fruit and got it ready to be placed on the cottage cheese.  At night he likes to watch forensic files in our room.  He will get our bed ready and lay in it until we are ready to get into it.  Then he will move to the foot of our bed.  Here he is all comfy in our bed.  Teagan also likes to wrestle with Tim.  It is so funny how he picks up on things Tim does.  For example, Teagan will say, “Dad, pull my arm.”  Tim will pull his arm and then Teagan will fart and say, “Don’t pull on my arm, it makes gas comes out.”  I know he learned that from his dad.

               Fozzie got a hair cut because his fur was so matted.  Unfortunately, it is still cold and occasionally he shivers.  Tim suggested we make him a jacket.  So, in honor of St. Patrick’s day and the month of March, we made him a shamrock jacket.  Most of the time he likes it.  However, there are moments he will rub his sides against the couch trying to get it off.  He is such a silly dog.

Sunday, January 9, 2022

Wow!  Time to catch up.  September 3, 2021 I resigned from Lamar Advertising.  It was a bittersweet move.  Two forces pushed this move; Tim traveling more often for work and Lamar moving 15 minutes further south.  Fortunately my boss is so cool, he allows me to do some contract work.  I like our current arrangement.  It allows me to keep up with my Excel and Google sheets skills.

I had a great birthday.  I got to eat some lunch with a childhood friend, Kerianne DiLello Bangerter.  We conversed and laughed over some yummy food from Pizzeria Limone.  I always enjoy catching up with her.  It is good to keep good friends around.

I have kept busy since leaving Lamar Advertising.  My focus is more on the kids and the house. Jacinda was the stage manager for BHS’s Beauty and the Beast.  She did an amazing job.  She had so much responsibility placed on her shoulders and she rose to the occasion and did an incredible job.  This is her passion.  Xadia and Teagan got to be part of the ensemble cast.  It was the first time Teagan got to wear tights and he loved it.  In fact, he asked Xadia for her pair of tights and wears them for casual clothing.  He gets a lot of funny looks but we just laugh.  I had the opportunity to be part of the costume committee and made many costumes.  I am pleased with Xadia’s costume.  I made it without a pattern.  

The kids had such a good experience with Beauty and the Beast, they tried out for Holbrook’s Matilda.  Xadia is part of ensemble and Teagan will play Michael, Matilda’s brother.  Ms. McGarry has asked Jacinda to be stage manager for BHS’s spring play, Guys and Dolls.

We had family pictures taken.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Christmas was a blast.  We went on a cruise to Honduras and Mexico with the Stubbs and Clinches.  Everyone had such a good time.  When we first got on the cruise, I told the kids to always have a buddy and tell me where they were are at all times.  By the end of the cruise, I was not so worried about the kids.  They were always with their cousins eating at the Windjammer or chilling in the hot tub.  My favorite image is Blake sitting in a hot tub with an ice cream cone in each hand.  Our first day on the cruise, Fozzie ran away from the dog sitter.  We prayed that he would be safe and found.  A day later, he was found in his cage at our house.  He had walked 2 miles from the dog sitter's house to our house.  What a stinker.

I was pleasantly surprised that we did not get sea sick.  There was so much to do.  We saw some productions and Jacinda was loving the lights, scenery, timing of the music, basically all the mechanics that went into the productions.  Most people love the acting and singing but Jacinda saw way beyond that.  It made me happy because she was appreciating all the work behind the scenes that does not usually get recognized.  It made me stop and think more about what really goes into a production.

We spent a day at the beach in Honduras.  I got a massage on the beach.  The girls had their hair braided.  We all went snorkeling and Tim got some great drone footage.  In Mexico, we saw the Chin Chen Itza ruins and learned a little more about the Mayans.  We also got to go tubing on a lazy river near the Yucatan peninsula.  The water was so incredibly blue it seemed fake.  As I floated in a tube down the river, I kept thanking Heavenly Father for the beautiful earth, the blue skies, blue waters, and fluffy clouds.  It was wonderful to be there with my family and create a happy memory.

After the cruise, we spent a week at the Stubb’s house.  That was so crazy fun.  We did some swimming, hot tubbing, and at dinner at the Brownlow’s house.  The Stubb’s are so nice.  Amy took us thrifting and we found some good items.  Ethan challenged everyone to a hot pepper challenge and the kids were ready to try.  There were a lot of tears and red faces resulting from the habaneros.  We also had the opportunity to do baptisms for the dead in the Dallas temple.  Such a neat experience because Lance got to baptize many of the cousins.  I was touched to see the young man he has become.  After baptisms, Tim and I treated everyone to Inn and Out.