It is good to be home after two weeks of travel. During this time we...
We kayaked the waterways, climbed San Marcus' castle walls, tasted gator jerky, and hunted for shells in Florida.
We ate freshly picked Georgia peaches.
We visited my parents, my sister Evelyn, and her children, and went out on a pontoon in South Carolina.
In Tennessee we stayed with Pamela's grandpa and saw lots of family, we drove through the Great Smoky Mountains, explored Gatlinburg, experienced Ripley's Aquarium a second time, and rode a giant Farris wheel.
Xander may only be 17 months old but that kid has been to Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Utah.
Xander and Curtis
Our little men
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Go Go Go
Xander has a new favorite word and it is GO! It pretty much defines what he's all about right now in his life. He wants to go, go, go and having a good time playing with stuff, especially if Mommy and Daddy don't want him to have that particular stuff. He also likes to help sweep and vacuum. He's very fond of Melody, a kitten we rescued. He's our happy little man.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Ending the School Year
Things have been hectic as of late. Since my last post I have done a tremendous amount of work to get caught up with grading and such to end the school year. I have conducted three funerals and a wedding. We finally went to the Grand Canyon as a family after living in Northern Arizona for three years, and I have published some more books on Amazon. Pamela's grandmother passed away yesterday as well.
So much excitement that there is hardly any time to write about my own life. When I do write I've been either working on the story of Roan, or on the Historic ABC's series, which is currently my money maker.
Xander continues to grow up and to say more words. He adores Melody, a kitten that we rescued, and Angel. He is currently calling all dogs Angel. He had the word Doggie, down before but now they are all Angels. It's common in language learning for children to do that so I just enjoy the cuteness of it. He chases her around the house calling her name.
It looks like I'll be teaching US History and Spanish I next year, but honestly who knows. They've changed their minds about what I'll be teaching so many times now that at this point I'm up for anything. It's nice to be certified and highly qualified in several areas, makes me flexible.
Our trip to the Grand Canyon was a ton of fun but very short. We rode up on the Grand Canyon Railway. The historic train drops you off at the Grand Canyon and then picks you back up later in the day. The train also stops to allow train robbers on. We were warned that anything we gave them would not be given back, it's their tips. Since I had nothing I could part with I just sat back and watched the show. One lady got really into it, "Oh please, oh please don't take my ring! Take this instead," and handed him money.
Tomorrow is our last day of school and then we have two more working days. Pam will do a week of summer school. Then its off to vacation! Hopefully my Bloggie Camera will be fixed by then so I can start posting photos again.
So much excitement that there is hardly any time to write about my own life. When I do write I've been either working on the story of Roan, or on the Historic ABC's series, which is currently my money maker.
Xander continues to grow up and to say more words. He adores Melody, a kitten that we rescued, and Angel. He is currently calling all dogs Angel. He had the word Doggie, down before but now they are all Angels. It's common in language learning for children to do that so I just enjoy the cuteness of it. He chases her around the house calling her name.
It looks like I'll be teaching US History and Spanish I next year, but honestly who knows. They've changed their minds about what I'll be teaching so many times now that at this point I'm up for anything. It's nice to be certified and highly qualified in several areas, makes me flexible.
Our trip to the Grand Canyon was a ton of fun but very short. We rode up on the Grand Canyon Railway. The historic train drops you off at the Grand Canyon and then picks you back up later in the day. The train also stops to allow train robbers on. We were warned that anything we gave them would not be given back, it's their tips. Since I had nothing I could part with I just sat back and watched the show. One lady got really into it, "Oh please, oh please don't take my ring! Take this instead," and handed him money.
Tomorrow is our last day of school and then we have two more working days. Pam will do a week of summer school. Then its off to vacation! Hopefully my Bloggie Camera will be fixed by then so I can start posting photos again.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Xander Growing Up Fast
It's hard to believe that the little man whose been bald most of his life has a full head of hair and has already gotten his first haircut. It's also wonderful that he's walking a lot more now. On January 6th he took three steps and then he didn't walk again till late March.
Before Pam left for work this morning he gave her a big smile and said, "Stay." I think it broke Pam's heart a little to tell him that she couldn't stay.
Before Pam left for work this morning he gave her a big smile and said, "Stay." I think it broke Pam's heart a little to tell him that she couldn't stay.
Big Moments of 2012 - Little Late but Better than Never
Big Moments of 2012
2012 was a big year for our family. So big in fact that I haven't blogged since April. Let's take a look at what made 2012 one of the best years and one of the hardest years of our lives.
January
January was a big month for our family. It started out terrible. Pam went out of her way to cook a wonderful New Year's dinner and I threw it all up.
I was interviewed by the Navajo Times and appeared in the Newspaper talking about my wrestling team.
Most important thing ever, Xander was born.
February
Pam and I had our first Valentine's as a married couple. Even though I was sick yet again on a holiday we made the most of it. I spread little papers throughout the hallway of our home thanking her, telling her I loved her, and other notes like that.
Pam came up with a neat romantic scavenger hunt for me that was a lot of fun.
One of my wrestlers placed 4th at state.
March
I started writing professionally, again. Using the KDP program from Amazon I published about 11 books in the month of March. Everyone wonders where I found the time, I was up all night with a baby, that's where I found the time. Not only that but a bunch of those books were already in progress for a few years before 2012, some were getting worked on over 10 years ago and all I needed to do was finish them up.
April
Pam and I had our first anniversary! To celebrate with our little man we went down to Cape Verde, one of the coolest places in the state of Arizona. We just so happened to get there on a Free Friday! We were able to visit the old fort, the prison, the archeology society, and a few other attractions for free! We were also able to listen to live music as we ate at a historic saloon. Xander really seemed to enjoy himself, that kid loves music.
The next day we went to the Out of Africa park and were able to see a lot of really cool animals. Xander absolutely loves animals. He really enjoyed a show with guys playing with grizzly bears. It was really neat.
May
Pam and I travelled together to Las Vegas for business. We learned all about the Accelerated Schools Program.
While in Vegas we also went to the Temple which was a really neat experience for us. The Las Vegas Temple is such a gorgeous place. For a while we were worried we wouldn't get in because it was so crowded.
We also got to see Ka by Cirque de Soleil which was an amazing show.
Returning to Pinon was kind of scary. Jeff was released as Branch President and I was interviewed and given the calling. I was now a Branch President at age 27!
June
June was a big month for our family. We went to Utah to see my family and to get sealed in the Logan Utah Temple as a family. It was a very wonderful experience to be in the temple with my sweetheart and our little man.
It was also when my Dad and Mom were moving to South Carolina. It made for a hectic visit since we were arranging a second wedding and moving boxes around. I twisted my knee very badly during the move and didn't regain my full mobility till the school year started.
July
July started off wonderfully and ended badly, but even in the horrible moments the Lord was watching over our family.
We got to go to the parade in Dublin, Ohio for 4th of July. A photographer thought that Xander was so cute waving his American Flag that our little guy ended up in a local newspaper. He also got to watch Red White and Boom.
We left Ohio for a trip to Tennessee. We left right before a major storm. Most of the time we were in Tennessee the power was out in Ohio. We were having such a good time together with Pam's grandparents that we decided to spend the holidays in South Carolina and Tennessee. Xander loved an incredible aquarium that we went to see, especially the penguins. Yet again we left the state right before a major storm.
We went back to Ohio where things did not go well. We couldn't wait to get back to Arizona.
In Arizona we had a big scare. Pamela started to feel bad at work one day. The next day she went back to work but had to come home early. I took her to Chinle hospital at the perfect time. There were very few people in the waiting room and we were able to get her seen very fast. They found out it was a blood clot and she had to be life flighted to Phoenix.
Before she left I gave her a blessing with Jeff Fowles and promised her she would be okay. That blessing gave me a lot of comfort as I drove down the next day with Xander. By the time I arrived Pam had already been operated on.
During her hospital stay her Mom came to see us from Ohio to help out and Emily's relatives in Gilbert were good enough to take me in so I wouldn't have to stay in an expensive hotel. We are forever grateful for their hospitality.
August
Pam and I started our third year teaching here in Pinon.
October
October is a very special month for us since it is the anniversary of when we started dating and when we got engaged.
November
Pam and I celebrated our first Thanksgiving in Pinon with Emma and Tommy. It was a wonderful time to be in our new house with our friends and have a quiet holiday.
December
For the month of December I went to the Carolinas for the first time where we spent our Christmas holiday with my parents. After that we went back to Tennessee for the New Year!
Returning to Pinon was kind of scary. Jeff was released as Branch President and I was interviewed and given the calling. I was now a Branch President at age 27!
June
June was a big month for our family. We went to Utah to see my family and to get sealed in the Logan Utah Temple as a family. It was a very wonderful experience to be in the temple with my sweetheart and our little man.
It was also when my Dad and Mom were moving to South Carolina. It made for a hectic visit since we were arranging a second wedding and moving boxes around. I twisted my knee very badly during the move and didn't regain my full mobility till the school year started.
July
July started off wonderfully and ended badly, but even in the horrible moments the Lord was watching over our family.
We got to go to the parade in Dublin, Ohio for 4th of July. A photographer thought that Xander was so cute waving his American Flag that our little guy ended up in a local newspaper. He also got to watch Red White and Boom.
We left Ohio for a trip to Tennessee. We left right before a major storm. Most of the time we were in Tennessee the power was out in Ohio. We were having such a good time together with Pam's grandparents that we decided to spend the holidays in South Carolina and Tennessee. Xander loved an incredible aquarium that we went to see, especially the penguins. Yet again we left the state right before a major storm.
We went back to Ohio where things did not go well. We couldn't wait to get back to Arizona.
In Arizona we had a big scare. Pamela started to feel bad at work one day. The next day she went back to work but had to come home early. I took her to Chinle hospital at the perfect time. There were very few people in the waiting room and we were able to get her seen very fast. They found out it was a blood clot and she had to be life flighted to Phoenix.
Before she left I gave her a blessing with Jeff Fowles and promised her she would be okay. That blessing gave me a lot of comfort as I drove down the next day with Xander. By the time I arrived Pam had already been operated on.
During her hospital stay her Mom came to see us from Ohio to help out and Emily's relatives in Gilbert were good enough to take me in so I wouldn't have to stay in an expensive hotel. We are forever grateful for their hospitality.
August
Pam and I started our third year teaching here in Pinon.
October
October is a very special month for us since it is the anniversary of when we started dating and when we got engaged.
November
Pam and I celebrated our first Thanksgiving in Pinon with Emma and Tommy. It was a wonderful time to be in our new house with our friends and have a quiet holiday.
December
For the month of December I went to the Carolinas for the first time where we spent our Christmas holiday with my parents. After that we went back to Tennessee for the New Year!
Diagnosis, Three Prescriptions, Strict Diet, and a Road Trip
So yesterday morning I woke up bright and early in lots of pain. Tried to go to work and tough my way through my symptoms but couldn't. I told work I had to leave and then told Pam I was thinking of going to a doctor. She took me to Flagstaff along with her Mom and Xander.
Turns out I have a nasty bacterial infection in my colon, the nasty things are actually eating my colon, making me hurt and bleed. Three prescriptions later and a very strict diet and I am feeling much better. Doctor forbade me from going to work today though.
Since we were in Flagstaff we decided to check out Williams, Arizona. It's a really nice community that's mainly a tourist town. Unfortunately we weren't able to check out Bearizona. It was a nice day with the family, other than, you know, not feeling well from microscopic things eating my colon.
Today's been a nice quiet day at home with my little man.
Turns out I have a nasty bacterial infection in my colon, the nasty things are actually eating my colon, making me hurt and bleed. Three prescriptions later and a very strict diet and I am feeling much better. Doctor forbade me from going to work today though.
Since we were in Flagstaff we decided to check out Williams, Arizona. It's a really nice community that's mainly a tourist town. Unfortunately we weren't able to check out Bearizona. It was a nice day with the family, other than, you know, not feeling well from microscopic things eating my colon.
Today's been a nice quiet day at home with my little man.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Xander at Play
It's hard to believe that its almost been a year since my last post. I've written lots of drafts but not published anything. Today Xander and I were playing with blocks. Xander loves to knock over the blocks and then attempt to stack them himself. He gets to about four high before his towers fall over. Today I watched him stack the blocks and start to get frustrated with them falling over. He concentrated really hard and stacked them slower so that they would stay standing. He smiled at my positive reinforcement as his experiment was a success. Then he smiled even wider when he knocked over the tower himself.
Today was also the first time that Xander didn't automatically destroy a block structure that I built. Instead of knocking it over he started to help me build it by stacking his own blocks onto the mini castle. Then he further redecorated by switching around a lot of the blocks that I had already put down. Once he felt it was ready, he demolished it.
Building with blocks according to our doctor is an 18 month old activity.
Xander also did something very extraordinary today. He likes to help you clap your hands and show people how to do it. I held out my hands for him as some of his favorite music was playing. He moved them together rapidly, but then shook his head. He moved them together slowly to make the clapping sound and then shook his head again. He concentrated and then moved my hands together with the beat of the music and he smiled really big. I couldn't believe it. Our little man is showing us just how smart he can be I guess.
Today was also the first time that Xander didn't automatically destroy a block structure that I built. Instead of knocking it over he started to help me build it by stacking his own blocks onto the mini castle. Then he further redecorated by switching around a lot of the blocks that I had already put down. Once he felt it was ready, he demolished it.
Building with blocks according to our doctor is an 18 month old activity.
Xander also did something very extraordinary today. He likes to help you clap your hands and show people how to do it. I held out my hands for him as some of his favorite music was playing. He moved them together rapidly, but then shook his head. He moved them together slowly to make the clapping sound and then shook his head again. He concentrated and then moved my hands together with the beat of the music and he smiled really big. I couldn't believe it. Our little man is showing us just how smart he can be I guess.
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