Sunday, April 24, 2022

      At the end of March, I got to go on a field trip with Xadia.  We went to the movie theater and watched a movie on space.  It was fun and interesting.  I think Xadia’s favorite part was playing the game “Heads Up” with her classmates.  This is a game that is like charades where the group has to describe a word and then one person holding the phone tries to guess the word.

    We like to help Tim with his projects.  At Tim’s work, there are 2 trash bins, one for trash and the other for metal.  We helped time make signs to differentiate between the two.  Tim found the pictures and projected them on the signs, then Teagan painted them.  Later that day, we go to hang them on the trash bins.

      Elder Clark Johnson (my nephew, son of Mimi and Matt Johnson) is serving his mission at “This is the Place Monument.”  We decided to take a day trip there during spring break.  It was so fun to learn about pioneer life and to see the displays.  Clark works with the animals.  Unfortunately, we went on a day he was not there (just my luck).  But we did not let that stop us.  We got to pull handcarts, pan for gold, and pet the animals.  We also got some ice cream and homemade donuts.  It was so much fun.

      Spring is here and Lagoon is open.  Teagan and Xadia each got a season pass.  Here is a picture of their first day with their passes with Canda Squire and Kade McPheter.  They were way excited and had a great time.  I cannot believe how big my babies are getting.  It makes me happy and sad.  I am very pleased though with the kids they are becoming.

      One of my favorite things to do is try new recipes.  I found a chocolate cake filled cheesecake recipe.  It was so good.  In the middle of chocolate cake, there is a layer of cheesecake surrounded by chocolate cream cheese frosting. The cake is then covered with a marbled cream cheese frosting.  The dessert is delicious.  I have made it 3 times so far.

     Jacinda is doing amazing things at school.  She is the stage manager for “Guys and Dolls.”  We like to help her any way possible.  I usually work on the costumes and the kids make sure the cast has water and capri-suns to drink.  When I was returning a costume to one of the cast members, Jacinda was in the studio prepping the cast for the show.  They surrounded her in a circle as she gave directions.  It was amazing to see her so assertive in her element.

     Each month, Tim and I take a child out to dinner.  This is our time to share with them.  This month we took Xadia.  She wanted to eat at Ichiban sushi house.  It was really good.  Xadia likes the spicy California roll and strawberry mochi.  She also tried a banana and strawberry roll which was quite tasty.  I ordered chicken and cashews with rice.  Tim got the Vegas roll.   It was nice to visit with Xadia.  She likes to talk about Lagoon, volleyball, her friends, Shein, and school.  I really look forward to our children’s dinner.

     Easter was fun this year.  I made the Easter baskets out of candy boxes.  There was supposed to be a licorice rope handle but I couldn't not find licorice rope anywhere.  So the baskets did not get a handle.  We went to Nana Hefner-Hansen’s house for dinner and an Easter egg hunt.  Roxanne’s and Mimi’s families also had dinner at Nana’s house.  We lined the cousins up tallest to smallest in front of her garage.  It was so fun to see how big everyone is getting. 

The backyard is slowing coming along.  The first of 3 walls is up and the pool was put into the ground this past week.  It has been a muddy mess since it has rained the past 2 days.  I cannot keep the wood floors clean.  Fozzie is the worst offender because he gets his muddy paw prints all over.  I have to keep his tied up more than usual.

     I got to go on another field trip with Xadia.  This time is was to the Clark Planetarium.  It was so fascinating to learn about space and planets.  However, I did not like the dome theater.  I got too dizzy laying there looking at the screen.  I had to close my eyes and just listen.  That was the only way to survive that moment.  The IMAX movie was fun because we got to eat our lunch while watching a 3-D movie about weather.  I was really glad I got to go with Xadia and her friends.

     Jacinda and Seth went to prom.  They looked so good.  We made Jacinda’s prom outfit.  It consisted of a corset and a beautiful blue skirt.  She then wore a mesh shirt under the corset.  They had a great time.  They went to Kate Squire’s house for dinner which consisted of dinosaur chicken nuggets and gourmet macaroni and cheese.  Then they went to the park and took pictures.  After that, it was ice cream and then off to the dance.  When the dance was over, Jacinda just came home.  She had a horrible headache.  I am thinking the headache resulted from the past two days of theater competition and exhaustion.  Hopefully she got some good rest today and will be ready to face the week.

     Fun fact…..I have always wanted to try out for a musical.  As a young woman, I had the privilege to babysit Dorothy Arnold.  Dorothy had a magnificent voice.  She would be in musical productions, and I always got to watch the productions.  This is where my love for musicals began.  I would always find myself singing the songs.  However, I did not have a good voice.  So in my 30’s I took some voice lessons.  A few weeks ago, I performed in sacrament meeting and loved it.  Now that my kids are older, I have the time to try out for a musical.  I am very excited and a little nervous.  I have to make a resume and submit a headshot.  So this Saturday I have an audition time for Joseph and the Technicolor dream coat.  Wish me luck!

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.