Who needs to look for work?

Austin has already had three family in our ward call him to mow their lawn.  He will mow every week of the spring and summer.  Did he ask around or put out an ad? No they just called him over the past two weeks.  He wasn't too excited until people started paying him today.  Austin is a saver.  He has a huge bank account and he never wants to spend it. Today for the first time he bought his own new phone and is now planning on going to the mall to buy a new guitar soon.  He is also planning on working for Scott twice a week this summer so he can save up to start dating...haha.  Keep up the good work Ozzy!  PS ... Austin will start playing baseball again in two weeks.  He got the OK from the doctor and he says he feels good.  Finally after 5 months he is ready to play...YAY!!

GOODBYE TO TDT

This Thursday and Friday night at 7:00 p.m will be the last time Jessi performs on her high school dance team.  She has enjoyed TDT more than she ever thought she would. Especially this year because over half the team was from Studio One.  She also served as vice president and her and Kaitlan, the president, really had to work hard for the team.  Karen, the dance teacher, had a baby this year who had heart problems.  Jess had to take charge and teach a lot of the classes.  She has also choreographed for TDT and loved it.  They have performed for football and basketball games, and pep rally's.  She has grown very close to these girls and will miss it so much.  

One of my favorite kids, Jordan Wilkey, got called to serve in the Australia Perth mission today. He enters the MTC on September 17th.  Lisa is thrilled he is going somewhere safe and so am I. We love Jordan...he is very laid back and happy.  This mission just seems that it will suite him perfectly.  The Lord always knows. 

Hollywood here I come

Jessi got a phone call from high school musical 3 today...She has been picked to be a featured dancer...meaning we will actually see her this time and she gets paid tons of money.  This movie is going to the big screen and they are paying her a boat load of cash for working on the film.  Yay for Jessi.

Cruisin' with the Snowdens

Our cruise was one of the best family vacations we have taken....The cruise staff spoiled us...Here is a quick recap of our trip you can match the slide show up below....Sunday: We are out of here. We drive all the way to Vegas and stop in and have lunch and play at the ESPN zone.  We all became quick golf fans and watched the end of the Masters.  We then stayed the night at Buffalo Bills.  Monday: drove into San Diego, boarded the cruise ( last time Scott and I took a cruise this process took hours this time with our whole family we were on the boat in less than 20 minutes)  Our rooms were tiny but everyone had a bed.  The teenagers had their own room.  We headed straight for the Lido Deck laid in the sun and swam.  We took a tour of the boat and then got dressed for dinner.  Every night the kids had a blast at our famcy dinner.  Napkins on their laps and all they loved it.  We ate escargo, lobster, baked alaska, warm chocolate melting cake, filet mignon, new york cut steak, different soups and salads every night.  I was very proud of my kids for trying so many new dishes and loving it.  That night we went to the welcome aboard show at 10 and got to bed very late.  Tuesday:  All day at sea and 90 degrees...we worked out at the gym in the morning, Conner and Nikki went to camp carnival all morning..Our family went to the carnival build a bear workshop, we swam and laid our again all afternoon. That night was fancy dress up dinner night and then we went to a hypnotist show..got to bed around 1 am after late dancing with Scott.  Wed: Docked in Cabo for the day, took a tour boat out to see seal rock, and cool rock formations, and then they dropped us off at Lovers Beach to swim and snorkel.  We then walked around town bartering for crap we didn't need and ate at the Hard Rock Cafe. Thurs. Another day at sea...more of the same...Our steward George was great, he loved our kids and they loved him.  They make cool towel animals every night when they turn down your bed.  George worked very hard on our animals and would show up at our room about the time he thought we would get home at night to see our kids reaction to his creations.  We even took a class on how to make towel animals.  Friday: Ensenada..We took a 3 hour tour to the largest Ocean Water Blow Hole in the world.. It was really cool.  Then we went to an open air market and were assaulted by 100's of vendors all wanting to sell us stuff for "almost free" The kids played on the rocks by the beach and the girls all got their hair braided at the mexico salon..aka..street gutter.  Saturday: drove into Vegas and stayed at the Venetian Hotel...Laid out and swam again. We then took everyone to the Tournament of Kings Dinner show.  That was a great time..Sunday: drove home and faced the reality that we all have many things to do Monday.........but we sure had a fun week.

Mexico

The Cruise

Are we there yet?

Will the Snowden's make it to Mexico?.......This week has been crazy to say the least.  We had our entire home re-carpeted...which meant painting, getting all the furniture moved out ( and all the crap we have collected for 10 years), pulling all the carpet out and getting all the tack board off the cement.  Scott has been working every night till at least 10 pm so he can be caught up at work before we leave.  I have been packing and preparing to go somewhere hot when it has been cold...meaning a lot of speed shopping.  Jess and Sid are off to a dance competition all weekend and we were at a dance competition last weekend...I broke my toe on Tuesday moving furniture. Austin showed up this morning from a camp out with a swollen bloody knee and after 3 hours in the emergency room has 5 stitches and isn't allowed to swim for 10 days.  I can't wait 'till 6 am tomorrow when we pull out.  Please pray we make it and that the Snowden rain curse doesn't follow us to Mexico.

Ballet Company Sidney and Jessi

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March

Dave Ramsey Crazy

Scott has gone crazy over this guy.  He has paid my kids to listen to his book on tape and convinced me to listen to him too. Now I am hooked on Dave Ramsey too.  In the Total Money Makeover he tells you how to be Financially Fit.  No it is not a get rich quick scheme. It is a common sense plan that I believe can help anyone, no matter what your financial status is right now.  Scott and I have been working hard, going without many "things" for the past few years to get totally out of debt so we can move on to the investing steps.  We just made it last month and can I say how freeing it is to be debt free and know that every penny of your money is your money.  It is liberating and I never want another car payment or credit card again.  When Scott and I had some rough years in our business many years ago it was all to easy to borrow from our home, cards, ect. Instead of cutting back we continued living the life we were accustomed to, thinking we will get out of this soon and pay it all back. Those years and the years after faced with all that debt were overwhelming and stressful.  Scott and I have learned many lessons from these experiences.  I am hoping we can teach our children a better way, with the help of our new friend Dave.

Our little girl

It's funny how everyone says "enjoy them while they are little." Yes, they are fun when they are little but when you have 3 or 5 little ones all around you are exhausted, stuck at home and praying for your husband to get home so you can get a break.  I enjoyed my kids at every age but the teenage years at our house have been especially fun.  I love being able to talk to all my kids about anything, watch them grow and make decisions on their own.  I love all their friends and they can do chores the right way...haha.  

Jess is graduating this year.  So many memories and so many more to come. We love you Jess, you are a great daughter and I can't wait to watch the rest of your life play out.  You have brought so much joy into our family and the lives of many others. :)  Jess is moving out with friends this next fall and attending UVU on a full scholarship.  She wants to keep dancing anywhere she can.  She already has teaching offers at two studios and enjoys that very much. She will stay very connected to Studio One.  Our little girl is growig up fast but...she will always be our little girl.

Mom's just wanna have fun.

We went to Jump on it for family night.  Even though I don't love jumping on trampolines, I just couldn't resist the call of the many trampolines.

April Fools

On Aprils Fools day Conner asked me for"some of that see through stuff you wrap food in".  After spending at least 30 minutes in the bathroom not telling me what he was up to, he appeared and told me that if I needed to go to the bathroom to use his because mine wasn't working.  I walked in and died laughing.  He almost got me...;)

Creating a Monster

Let me preface this by saying I love Conner.  He can be the sweetest boy around......but he does have attitude and I'm afraid Scott and I just make it worse at times.  Yesterday we saw a sign that said "spoiled rotten" Conner asked me what that meant and after I told him he replied "that sounds like me"

That day later we gave him what every 6 year old needs.  His own motorcycle.