Newest Members of the Family

This is Jessica! Her and Chris are getting married on February 9! We are so excited for Chris. Both Chris and Jessica have babies, and these two have really had their trials, but they have found each other and are being married in the Spokane Temple. Their babies are dolls! The lightly colored one is Chris's baby. His name is Kaisen. He is such a dolly, and looks just like Chris. The other baby is Jessica's and his name is Treven. He is also a dolly! I think they are 2 months apart, and Doug calls them peas and carrots since they don't look a like at all. We are just so happy for this little family! The Lord has really blessed their lives!



This picture is of Kaisen and Emma during our Christmas dinner. What sweet kids!

Christmas Dinner

This baby is so cute! She is 18 months now, and we went to Doug's for dinner. Ron likes going there because he doesn't have to cook. It was nice getting to know the babies in the family.


Here Cari is reading to Johanna, and she will sit on everyones lap if they are reading or playing with her. She is a sweet one! She ate dinner sitting on my lap, and I so enjoyed that!

William Tell Mom

When I saw this video on an email about 2 months ago, I had to get it on my blog because I think it is so incredibly funny, and I so can relate to it all. That's what makes it so funny! I also just figured out how to get it on my blog. Sigh

Halloween

It is so much fun when your kids get older and you don't have to worry about Halloween! Not! My kids had parties, and Paige and Gavin went trick or treating with some friends. Garrett was phantom a the high school choir party, and he made the mask himself. Gavin wanted to be the ghost from Charlie Brown, but he didn't think it turned out like he wanted, so another girl wore it, and he went without. Paige never knows what she wants to be so Dad picked for her.

SOCCER IS FINALLY OVER!

This last Saturday was so nice because we didn't have to get up to go to soccer games.
All three kids were is Soccer this fall, but Garrett dropped out since at the High School it was too expensive. As you can see Ron was the coach, and even though he would grummble before a practice and before a game he still went and enjoyed the kids. Paige played up until 2 weeks before the seasons end because she sprained her ankle. It was well worth the frustration of driving all over the place, but we are certainly glad that it is over.

Trees

There are so many trees where we live, and especially down by the river. It is so peaceful down there. So quiet until you hear construction right across the river. The freeway isn't far from the river but you would never know it being down there. It feels like we are in the wilderness.

Fall Continues

Okay,
So Gavin and I went down to the river again thinking that I could get some other pictures, and guess what, all the leaves have fallen off the tree. I took these picutres 3 days after I took the pictures of the walnut tree! Now our tree is barren!

FALL

This season always makes me reflect on days gone by. I love this time of year, and we have really enjoyed the beautiful colors of the season. The kids and I walked down to the river the other day, and of course I forgot the camera, so I took a picture of the big walnut tree that is outside our kitchen window. I stood under it to take the picture. It is beautiful! The squirrels have pretty much picked it clean as they get ready for winter.
While we were down by the river a deer jumped out just behind us (50 feet away from Paige) Good thing we didn't have a gun. It was a pretty amazying sight. Sometimes we hate living this far away from everything, but when things like that happen it makes us appreciate where we are.

School has also started, and we are all doing well. Garrett is taking Honors Checmistry, and Algebra 2 and choir at the Hight School. He is enjoying going to 3 classes, and even though the classes are hard, he is pulling A's. Paige and I are struggling through Alegebra! It has been a long time! Gavin is loving his subjects, and seems to be doing well.

As many of you know, Ron graduated from University of Phoenix, and I just barely found the picture on the computer. He has found a new job! HOORAY! He will be working for a man in our ward that does internet marketing. It is a step up for Ron, and the money is great. I will be quitting my job within 30-60 days. I can hardly wait! He will also be doing some business consulting with this company as well. The Lord has come through for us again. In all of this, I think the Lord was trying to teach me paitence. I need to be more trusting in the Lord, and learn that his time is not my time. He knows when things are right, and when they are to happen.

I have also reflected on my Mom's death. I miss her so much! It has been 7 years ago that she was buried. It doesn't seem possible that the time has gone so quickly.

Well I hope all is well with everyone! It seems that everyone is getting the blogging bug! It sure is a great way to stay in touch!

Kellogg Idaho

A couple of weekends ago, we were tired of being in the house, so we decided to go for a drive to Montana. We just got in the car and drove. The kids were getting restless and tired of being in the car, so we stopped in Kellogg Idaho and found a Gondola. It is the longest in the world! After you reach the top, you take 2 more sky lifts up to the top of the mountain. It is almost 7000 feet high! It was so beautiful! It was a great way to see the beautiful country side. We as a family have so much fun together. We have also gone to Silverwood which is an amusement park in Sandpoint Idaho. We do so much together as a family. I'm so grateful that I have such good kids, and that they like to be together. Sooner than we think Garrett will be on his mission! Time goes by so fast! Anyway, enjoy the pictures!

Garrett had a birthday party on July 3rd with another girl in the ward. They are both wearing blue Ts. The kids seemed to have a great time. The kids were so worried that they wouldn't make good friends here, and that is not a problem now. Garrett is driving now! EEEK! Makes his Mother extremly nervous, but it has to be done. In the picture where they are holding hands, they are a human knot, and it was above Garrett to play it, but it looks like they were having a great time! Happy Birthday Garrett!

Marvin Goldstein

As most of you know Garrett plays the piano very well! Last week I sent an email to a friend in Utah to ask how we could get this kid recorded or published. He told me to email Marvin Goldstein. So I emailed him, and also sent him a piece of Garrett's sheet music. He emailed me back, and said that Garrett was definitely talented and gifted, that he had learned his music and that he wanted to see him in person! For those of you that don't know Marvin Goldstein he is a pianist. Very talented and travels the world over. He is also a music producer! We will be traveling to Utah to meet with him in August. Garrett is so excited he can hardly stand it!

It's funny what happens to your kids as they get older. This is a dream for Garrett, and Marvin said that he has plans for Garrett. We will let everyone know what happens to Garrett! HOORAY!

Goshawk

Does anyone know what a Goshawk is? I didn't either until today when we heard a big thup on our window. I was working on the computer and the boys were watching T.V. The bird hit the window hard, and I said what in the world was that! Gavin said look Mom there is a Goshawk sitting on the porch railing! Sure enough this hawk was sitting there looking at us. We were probably 6 feet from him. Gavin noticed a small bird on the floor of the porch, and said that was what the hawk was after. He sat there looking at us for a bit, and when he felt he was safe to get dinner, he swooped down and picked up the bird in his talons and flew up on our roof. He sat there for some time, and it upset the robins because they were dive booming him. He then flew away with dinner in hand.

It was an amazing and sad site all in one. I knew we couldn't save the little bird that it was after, so we had to let nature take it's course. This is an amazing place to live with so much in nature to watch. Are we sure we want to move? Nope!

Bike Ride

Hello everyone!

It has been too long since I have written in this blog. I have been so busy with working and getting things done for the kids' schooling.

This morning we went for a 4 mile bike ride! The weather is beautiful here, and it was very enjoyable until we started coming back which was all up hill! I just about died. I'm so out of shape! We have decided as a family that we are going to get in shape. It is about time! We have all this space out here to ride, and it is a shame not to use it. It is also a great activity to do together.

I was going to also write just after the 5th of May because Ron graduated from University of Phoenix! I had pictures on the camera, but some how they they got deleted. It made me sick because I can't get them back. We were honored to have Ron's Mom Ronna come and stay with us for the ceremony, and we really enjoyed her stay. We are so proud of Ron! It has been a long 3 years of schooling with the breaks that he took, but he is done now and looking for a real job! WAY TO GO!

Ron is applying all over the place including Boise, and Salt Lake City. I wonder where the Lord will take us this time!

Garrett is all set to go back to school, but we have run into a bit of a snag. He is all up to par with his classes, but when he was in 9th grade we transferred to a different school, and he didn't get the credit that he needed so I think we are going to have to do summer school. The schools are so concerned about the credits even though he is up to par and right where he should be in grades. (Just love public school) :)

ELK

Paige and I decided to go for a bike ride today, and we didn't go very far since I'm so out of shape. There are a ton of areas to ride though in our neighborhood, so we went down this road to a barn, and found this lone elk. She has been alone for quite some time. I see the rest of the herd early in the mornings, but this one is always alone. Paige my dare devil wanted to get really close to her, but I wouldn't let her. We got maybe 100 feet from her, and she didn't move. Strange! I wonder if maybe she once lived on a farm, because she was not afraid of us at all. Perhaps she is sick. As we were walking away, Paige asked if she could put her ear to a ground hog hole to see if she could hear them. She is so funny!

Pokey

Well we had a sad thing happen on Saturday. Our sweet little dog Pokey passed away. We got him when Gavin was 2 from Grandma and Grandpa. He was just a puppy when we got him. He brought a lot of joy into our home. When we got him he really became my dog. He would follow me every where. We used to play a game where every time we would go somewhere, we would come home and I would go and hide. The kids would let him in, and he would frantically look for me, sometimes barking when he couldn't find me. At night he would get the night crazies! It was so funny to watch him tear all over the house and sometimes pick up a sock or small item and run like the wind.

He had some major teeth problems that couldn't be fixed, and so he died from an infection. He will be greatly missed. I miss him not greeting me at the door when I come home from anywhere!

Our other dog Rosie isn't sure whats up, but she isn't acting right either.

We are all very sad.

Garrett

Okay, so Ron takes the day off, and we have all these errands to run. We decide to take Garrett with us on the first end of the day. We went to Spokane in the morning to go to a job fair. Ron wanted to get his resume in to some employers to see about getting a new job that pays higher. Garrett went with us, and he talked to every military personnel that was there! YIKES! They all told him that he needs more leadership training to get into West Point.

We had talked about Garrett going to a tech school for medical next year, but after we talked to a school counsler at the High School he told him that he needs 2 years of foreign language so that xed out the tech school. He will be attending Post Falls High school next year. I have such mixed feelings about school. He can move so much faster at home, but he can't get the leadership training at home.

He is growing up so fast! Makes me sad to see my little boy growing into a man! Right now he is sitting in our living room (at the piano) with a young lady from our ward. Garrett is writing music and words to his music. She will be singing it a a festival for the stake. It is weird that Garrett's friends are girls! GOOD GRIEF! I never thought that he would every get to this point!

Two years from now he will hopefully be going to West Point for a year, and then come home for his mission, and then back to West Point. 2 years! WIERD!

More of Our House

This is a picture looking out of our back door. The deck is pretty shabby looking, and they aren't fixing it up because this house is being torn down in a couple of years to make way for 5 acre lots with million dollar homes on them. We are thinking of putting some square foot gardens up there so the deer can't get to it. Anyway, this house is so secluded from the world! We really love it here. I didn't go to church today because I'm not feeling well, but I'm listening to all the birds singing. Maybe they know that it's Easter :0) See that pond down there?

Here is a better picture of it. It is our small lake! The owners put some fist in it, and they have a pump out in the middle to give the fish oxygen, but we had a pretty hard winter and we have not seen any of the fish so I'm not sure they are still alive. This picture was taken from the back road. We have a road that is right of the pond, so we can ride bikes all over the place. We have 74 acres all to ourselves! When this picture was taken it was a beautiful day! Not a cloud in the sky!

Now I will give you a glimpse of the inside of the house. This is just the entry way, and see that good looking kid in the middle? That is Garrett the night he got his Eagle Scout award! Isn't he a good looking kid? I'm not prejudice either.

Well there you have it! We love it here even though the kids don't have anyone except each other to play with. We are getting our bikes up and going and as soon as the weather clears we will be riding a lot! I got my new job as a in home caregiver, and it will give me more time to be with the family.

This is Where We Live

This is our house! The house itself is 4000 square feet! We don't use the whole thing though; it costs enough to heat the little bit that we do use. We have 2 fire places of which are so inefficient, but makes it nice to have a fire in the fire place. On the far right side of the house the people before us inclosed the garage and it is totally carpeted. We couldn't get the heat to work out there, but it was nice to play ball and jump rope in an enclosed area. As you can barely see we still have 2 dogs.

The birds that come into our yard are wonderful! We had a western blue bird sitting on our railing a few days ago. Some Canada geese were on the lawn this morning. See those window on the left? There is a computer room right there and windows on the other side. The birds fly all over and around that room. It is so much fun! I have a feeling that we will have swallow nests all over. We won't be able to go outside without getting dive boomed.

This picture is looking out over our front lawn. We have a ton of grass! The kids are not looking forward to lawn mowing season! This lawn is one of 3 and they are all this size. One lawn for each kid! How convenient!

Well I'm off to work. Check back for some more pictures of the backyard!

SNOW?

Okay, so here we are having a wonderful spring when all of a sudden yesterday it snowed! I'm talking blizzard! We now have an inch or two on our lawn. The birds are probably wondering what in the world happened! Now on Friday it will be 70 degrees, and I'm wondering what is happening.

FIRE!

It was a wonderful weekend! Conference is always a great time to relax and listen. I also was able to get some counted cross stitching done. I started this picture for Paige when she was a baby, and I'm just now getting it finished. Who has time for that!

Saturday, we watched the morning session, and then had some errands to run. We thought that we could get back so we could watch the afternoon session, but we didn't make it. Garrett cashed his check from Subway, and took us all out to eat. It is so nice having one of your kids that is earning money! Then we went over to Walmart to see about getting a couple of bikes so that we can do some biking this summer. When we got back it was time for the boys to get ready for the Priesthood session. Paige wasn't feeling well, so we just watched some T.V. and relaxed! It was nice not having to go to work.

Sunday was more of the same. I made my traditional sweet rolls. They are anticipated for 6 months. We have them every conference Sunday morning. Then we settled in for the first session which was wonderful! The boys and Paige walked down to the river after the session, and shot their bee bee guns, and fed some geese. I sat home still sewing. It was peaceful without anyone here!

Ron had a pork roast in the crock pot for dinner, and it was beginning to smell wonderful! We watched the second session, had a great dinner and then started to watch Planet Earth. Ron went into the office to get on his website for school. It was dark, and the kids were downstairs. I saw some flashing on the wall, but thought that the T.V. was reflecting on the wall, so didn't pay much attention to it. I did think it was odd though. Next thing I knew I smelled pork, and then I saw smoke! I yelled at Ron, and he came running. He had put a pan on the stove to melt some grease down so we could throw it away, and it was burning! The fire had gone out, but the smoke was thick and black! We opened all the windows and then left the room. We have a sliding glass door into the kitchen so we closed that off. When the smoke had cleared we had soot to clean up.

Ron felt bad, but we were so lucky that it wasn't any worse than what it was. Heavenly Father was watching over our house. It could have been so much worse. As it was it ruined my sauce pan and made the cabinets black. It all washed off except for a little burn on the hood over the stove. That will help us to remember to be just a little more careful and focused on what we are doing.

Cold

We got up early for seminary this morning, and it was really foggy! When we left seminary it was beautiful and sunny, until we got back to the mountain and again it was foggy. Things are starting to warm a little, and the daffodils are coming into bloom. I only hope that the deer won't eat them. I know they eat tulips because my mother in law had them when they lived in the mountains, and the stupid deer wouldn't leave them alone.

Ron called me the other day, and told me that his parents have their recommends to go to the temple! We are so excited! We only wish that we could get down there to go through with them. We have prayed for this day for quite some time. We know that we had a reason why we moved to Boise, and I think the reason was for them. SO EXCITED!

I also passed my test on HIV, and now I'm just waiting to get my license so that I can be a NAR in the state of Washington. That is a nurse assistant registered. Can't wait to start my new job! Can't wait to quit my old one! :)

Spring

Today Paige and I went for a walk down the country road. The air was crisp, and felt chilly. We took Rosie our wire fox terrier with us, and she scared off several quail. We saw and heard a lot of different kinds of birds. It is so nice to have them coming back into the area. We heard a red winged black bird, and pheasant. We also saw a beautiful blue bird. Paige thought it was a blue jay, but it wasn't. We decided that next time we go for a walk we wouldn't take the dog with us. She scares off too many birds. During our walk Paige talked about taking a couple of classes at the high school. She wants to take a math class, and maybe history. She will be a freshman, and I think it would be great for her to go get some social and friends. Her brothers aren't quite what she needs to grow.

Ron on the way to seminary saw his first elk. Since he only takes Garrett to seminary once a week he isn't able to see the elk. I see them quite frequently.

I just finished my HIV training to get a NAR so I can get a better job. I will be sending it in at the beginning of next week, so hopefully I can get out of where I currently work in the next couple of weeks. I have also been considering going back to school, and getting my LPN. I will be checking into all that in the weeks to come.

HAPPY SPRING

Frogs

It has been a very long week. The more I work at the rest home the harder it is on my body. I have a job interview to work for a company called Family Home Care tomorrow. It will be a much better situation, and my body will be glad that I did it.

Last night after work, we were all laying in bed listening to the frogs cherp in our front yard. It sounds like there are quite a few. Gavin is sick today, but says he can't wait until he can go outside and look for them. We then woke up to the sound of Canada geese flying over our house to get to the pond. It is very nice to be able to hear the sounds of nature in our neighborhood instead of cars and sirens. It is going to be hard to move from this place of quiet.

Spring Days

Well Garrett returned from Boise this last Saturday. I was so excited to see him at the rest home that night. Ron stopped in with Garrett to say hi after leaving the airport. When they walked into the rest home, I was busy with a resident and didn't see them come in. Elenor, one of our Alzheimer's residents told them they were at the Mitchell residence. They all had a great laugh.

Garrett had a great time in Boise, but he came home sick. He has pink eye. It must be spring. We haven't had that in our house since the kids were little. I guess it can happen whenever!

I went to the eye doctor as well because I have been having a hard time reading. I don't have macular yet. That is a relief! The doctor said that I could get glasses, but I think I will just use the ones from the dollar store! They work fine!

We drove into the Post Falls to go to the park after the Dr. and there were a ton of Canada Geese all over. We fed them by hand, and really enjoyed the time out of the house. Gavin and Paige went to swing, and Garrett and I just sat on a bench and watched the birds. Very relaxing, and since my eyes were dialated it was nice just to sit there with my sunglasses on.

The Rook Family

This is an amazing thing to be able to journal online. This is a great tool, and hopefully I will continue to add things to it often. As soon as I can have Garrett help me get pictures loaded I will do that as well. I'm not real great with the computer, so he will be helping me a lot.

We have moved to Post Falls Idaho, and we aren't quite sure that we are liking it. We live in a beautiful area. The kids go out in the woods when the weather is good, and this whole winter the weather has been bitter cold, so going outside hasn't been a great activity.

The kids have had a hard time making friends here. Since living out in the middle of nowhere, and with Ron and I working all the time it makes it hard to get the kids into town for activities. Ron has assured the kids that it won't last for long, and is looking for new employment even as we speak. He is at a job fair this morning, and I can hardly wait until he gets home so I can hear all about it.

I'm working at an assisted living home, although it's more of a nursing home because all of the residents are a full assist. It is a very hard job both emotionally, and physically. I come home at nights exhausted! I do love the fact that I can serve these people with Alzheimer's and make their lives a little more happy. It is such a sad disease.

Ron is working for the University of Phoenix. It is an entry level position so that's why I have to work. The upside is he gets his education for free. He will be graduating on May 5th, and then he will be able to get a better job. The kids are hoping and praying that we go back to Boise. I just want to be able to quit my job, and pay the bills.

Garrett has made great strides in his piano. He is currently writing music, and hoping to get published soon. Grandma would be so proud of him! He has earned his Eagle scout this last year. He also won an award when we lived in Boise during his constitution class and is currently in Boise now. He had the opportunity to meet and visit with Senator Butch Otter. He is having a great time with his friends in Boise, and will be coming home tonight. I think he is a bit homesick. The great thing is he is paying for everything now days as he is teaching piano lessons, and is working at Subway 2 days a week. It is so amazing to me that they grow so fast! I remember when he was sleeping on Ron's chest, now he is 15 and taller than mom!

Paige is turning out to be a wonderful young women. She just turned 14 in January. She had her ears pierced and loves high heels. She didn't get any height at all. She is even shorter than Gaving who is 12. Her piano is getting better and better. She loves to play the same song over and over just to get a rise out of her brothers. She is working on personal progress daily as part of her schooling, and is memorizing The Living Christ. It is a hard thing to do, and Mom would know about that because I'm doing it with her.

Gaving loves the outdoors. He is working on his Eagle award and loves scouting. He loves soccer, and plays the piano as well. He is also showing talent in piano, but has a bit more hard time wanting to practice. He is very polite to his sister as he opens car doors for her, and is very loving towards the family. He is a special spirit that one.

Well that will start our family blog, and get everyone caught up with the family. I will continue to write things so visit often.