Kali's Birthday Party

Today was Kali's party. We had alot of fun. We did a cooking party. They cooked pizza and made fruit kabobs. Thanks Susan and Mom. I couldn't have done the party without you!
It took alot longer then expected to make the pizzas and eat them. It was a very laid back party. Kali got an ipod (thanks to Jer for loading the songs). Also, Courtney and Morgan helped me so much with the games! I'm jealous. Jolene must have so much help at home. Jolene, your kids are so awesome! I would be proud! Tonight Mason is in a "strengh meet"at the gym. He will be climbing the rope and showing how strong he is. Then we are off to dinner for Kali's birthday. Anyway, just a little update. Hope all are well and let us know who will be coming to the baptism. We will be having yummy mexican food after so hope you can come.

Lisa

Sunday Mondays

I have a rip-roaring headache this morning. My good friend calls a headache on Monday morning the Sunday Mondays. Sunday is supposed to be the day of rest but of course it never is. I went to my early morning meetings. Then we had the Primary Program for sacrament meeting. It was Devon and Courtney's last primary program!! They were excited about that. Courtney was asked to give a talk about receiving answers to prayer. She wrote the talk herself about how the day that Grandpa died, she prayed for comfort for herself, for Grandma and for her mom. She said that she felt the spirit right away and knew that everything would be okay. I was already so weepy - the primary program always does that to me - but after that talk I was over the edge.

Alan hurt his back on Saturday while he was helping a (short) friend lift a trailer full of tile on to his (ridiculously raised) truck. So he left after sacrament meeting, leaving me to teach his 11 year old boys their primary lesson (that is probablly when this headache started). After church I made two visits to Young Women then came home, fixed dinner and got a call from a member of the High Council asking if I could get some babysitters together to go down to the Stake Center and do a nursery during a stake choir practice in 30 minutes. So I found two Young Women, and grabbed Courtney and Morgan and went a babysat until 8:30. I hate Sundays when I never get to take of my dress and relax!!

Lisa, I am pretty sure we are going to stay here for Thanksgiving. We were supposed to go to Utah, but the more we thought about it the more we decided we would like to stay here - so we will be here for Kali's baptism. I am really excited for that.

Shelly, I know you sent out an e-vite a while back for Thanksgiving at your house. Are you still planning on doing that? Have you made assignments? Is everyone going to make it?

Have a great week everyone!!

Jolene

Kali's Baptism

The date just changed for Kali's baptism. The new date is the weekend after Thanksgiving. November 25th at 4:00. We will have mexican food after the baptism here at the house. Hope all can be there. I hope Jolene will be in town. If not, I can possibly change the date. Anyway, all is well. Just crazyness! We would love as much of the family to come as possible. Call us and let us know. Lisa (899-4859)

glad your back

Hey..glad you all had such a good time...
Deidra came to our house just 2 days after I got home and left on Tuesday evening...it was great again...
Brian I am glad you know how to blog now, and thanks for the b-days!!! So where is miss Brown from?
Lyle will be done working in Holbrook soon...I think they are having a walk thru tomorrow, which means they are just about finished....HURRAY!!! that means he will be working in the Valley for a while...that makes me quite happy!!!
Anyway, that's all for now...
Suz

We're baack...

We are home from our trip to California. It was short but wonderful. It was such a perfect, fun little trip that I'm not feeling the overwhelmed feeling that I usually feel when we get home from a vacation. It was all so relaxing and fun.

The kids had a blast at Disneyland and California adventure. What was most surprising to us was that Nicole is a little dare devil. She went on every scary ride more than once. Evertime we came off of a ride she would want to do it again. She was tall enough to ride all but one or two rides - so we were able to all go together on almost everything. If you ask Nicole what her favorite ride is she will tell you "Tower of Terror" - the most thrilling and crazy ride there. It was my favorite too...

Anyway, we spent some time in Santa Barbara with Alan's brother Will. It is so beautiful there - we are planning a trip there again soon. We are thinking of taking our trailer and driving and camping along the coast.

The kids were back to school today and we are trying to get back into a routine. Joe - I loved your post - it made me laugh. It is so fun to read everyones words - I can really hear your voices - and imagine having the conversation with you. Susan - I am glad you had fun - I can't wait to see your pictures. We will be hooked up on DSL in the next couple of days and I will try to post some fun pictures.

Lots of Love -
Jolene

First Timer

Hey everyone, Aunt Jolene just showed me how to blog, it is my first time ; ) Everything is going well for me. I am looking forward to graduation in two months and am still working about 50 hours a week at the University of Phoenix. It has been a great place to work, they have been very good to me here. I just got back from the Grand Canyon where a group of us hiked the Bright Angel Trail to Phantom Ranch. It is a 20 mile round trip and we made it in a little over 10 hours. I am still dating Melody Brown pretty serious, she is great. We went to and stayed in Pima last weekend with Uncle Joe and went to a friends wedding reception.

I don't know if they know how to Blog in Eagar but my family is doing great. They are staying really busy. I am listing thier Birthdays:

Don - July 14
Donna - March 2
Brian Aug 2
Ashley May 14
Celina - June 11
Tanner - Aug 13
Dallin - July10

It is good to read how everyone is doing. If anyone wants to email me my email address is brian.goodman@phoenix.edu.

Love you all,
Brian

Okay...so you know I am not stupid I figure Jolene will read this when she gets back...okay okay, I am stupid, I got the dates mixed up somehow....but it still works so deal with it...
Joe, Chef school...really...
Lisa, I enjoy your blogs and keeping up with the fam....
Lynda, haven't heard from you for a while but I love the letters from Adam and thanks for the bdays...same to all that have submitted them so far..everyone else PLEASE add yours
Where the heck is everyone else...I know you read these things....
Suz

Hey...what's up

Thought I would say...I am HOME !!! I really had a good time in Utah with Deidra, we did a lot of things and had a lot of fun..we went up the canyon and saw the leaves, it was almost too late, but I saw the knocked down trees from an avalanche for the first time, and quaking(sp) aspen. I did a photo shoot of Deidra - playing with my camera- that was fun. We watched movies, ate out a lot, went antiquing (one of my favorites), shopped and redid her livingroom for her b-day in November, spent time at her office, and learned a new craft. It went by quickly.
Hey, Jolene hope you had fun at Disneyland...that would be so much fun with your kids..did you love California adventure....
Well I will finish up later...Joe I love you and love to read your posts....sorry I haven't commented on your funny jokes......Suz

I'm Trying

I try to post every week but I know I don't always get to. Of late, I have posted regarding Loren's return home to prepare for chef school, I even posted all the family birthdays, and I've asked for the offensive email on prop 106, none of which has generated any response. Those who are not posting every day work for a living and/or find it just as easy to send email. I would appreciate a little bit of credit for my efforts. :)

Joe Jr

I'm too excited to sleep...

That is my favorite Disneyland commercial - when the mom tells the kids to go to sleep and the little boy says "I'm too excited to sleep". We are leaving tomorrow morning for Disneyland.... good times.

I am wondering if everyone who is reading the blog remembers how to post to it. If you need me to e-mail you the directions - I will be glad to. Let me know - jolene593@msn.com

I hope you all have a great weekend! I'll try and post some pix when we get back.

Jolene

I'm too excited to sleep...

That is my favorite Disneyland commercial - when the mom tells the kids to go to sleep and the little boy says "I'm too excited to sleep". We are leaving tomorrow morning for Disneyland.... good times.

I am wondering if everyone who is reading the blog remembers how to post to it. If you need me to e-mail you the directions - I will be glad to. Let me know - jolene593@msn.com

I hope you all have a great weekend! I'll try and post some pix when we get back.

Jolene

Draper, Harper, Goodman, Call and Ridd

Draper, Harper, Goodman, Call and Ridd

Happy Sabbath To All

Hi Family!

My life has changed so much since Adam left. Those of you who know me well know that I am way too attached to my kids. I still haven't adjusted to Saralyn leaving home....6 years ago!!! When I set the table I say in my mind, "Okay, there are 8 of us...Saralyn isn't here, Bethany isn't here and Adam isn't here so that makes 5." I tried to fight it, but it's just the way I am! Anyway, I'm having trouble getting back to normal and finding a new routine...he's been gone 6 months, I should be adjusted by now! I'm so thankful that he is where he is and I wouldn't want him anywhere else, but I still cry every day and sometimes I miss him so much that I want to scream. I'm thankful he is doing so well. A boy from our Ward just returned from the Monterrey East mission (Adam is in the Monterrey West mission). They just took part of the East mission and put it into the West mission. Kyle was in one of the areas affected and was able to train the West missionaries on the area. They all knew Adam and had very good things to say about him. Sorry, I'm bragging and I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it!!!

We stayed with Saralyn last weekend. She is getting big. It was fun to feel the baby kick and it was fun to see Saralyn so excited about the baby. Amanda and Jalenna helped her paint the nursery while Tyler and I went to the Caverns. It was a great time. I just pray that sometime soon she will have a desire to make her family eternal.

Bethany was just called to the RS presidency in her Ward. She has a lot on her plate this semester. But she is handling it all beautifully for now.

Jalenna is busy at school as the VP of her class. She was put in as the Mia Maid president today. She will be very busy, but likes it that way.

Amanda is surviving marching band. Pretty girls should not play big sousaphones! We only have 3 more weeks of marching. Our big competition is Saturday, October 28 in Las Cruces. All are invited to attend! She looks forward to concert band. She is auditioning for All State and I think she has a pretty good chance of making it. I think she is auditioning mostly in honor of Adam. He really wants to see her make All State all 4 years of High School. I wish he was here to help her prepare. He is sure proud of his little sister. She is also going to try out for the basketball team. At 5'9" the coaches are after her! She has never played before, but is willing to give it a shot (no pun intended!!!)

Tyler is very busy. He is over-involved in the after school programs...Bike Club, Rythm and Dance Club, Ballet Folklorico, and Show Choir. He is also taking percussion lessons at the High School. He is learning to play the drum set. HELP!!!! It's a little noisy! Do we HAVE to help them develop their talents? Do they HAVE to choose the loudest instruments????? He is so busy that he doesn't have time to go to the scout meetings, so we have been doing his scouting together here at home.

Marion and I are just trying to keep up with all the craziness. It has gotten easier since Jalenna got her driver's license. But now I worry about her all the time!!! I also have a better schedule at work this year. I am only there from 9-1.

I know all of you in the Valley can't relate to this, but I am dreading winter coming. We have had such a beautiful summer and I'm not ready for the cold.

All in all things are going well. I'm trying to keep my chin up and go forth with faith. I'm so thankful for our family and hope we can keep in touch.

Love you all,
Lynda

One more thing....

Lonny and I were talking about this being our family journal that we will have forever. I guess I never thought of it that way. It is special to have record of our feelings. Sometimes I go back to the entries that Dad wrote just to hear his thoughts. I think we should try harder to write something, anything, even if its not anything real important. I loved hearing from Joy because we don't know what she is doing unless she writes because she does live so far away. It just helps us keep in touch and know what each one of us is doing. Even though I talk to Jolene as often as I can, I still learn things about what they are doing that I wouldn't otherwise know and I love it! Anyway, hope everyone feels the same way. I think this will be important to have these feelings someday... anyway, enough mush. Also, since mom doesn't blog, if you know what she is doing or if she is in town, blog that.

All for now. Lisa

Blogging So Jolene won't feel lonely

Usually I don't like to write too much because I don't really think I have too much exciting news to write about. I always enjoy Jolene's messages. I guess the messages don't need to be real exciting, just expressing our feelings. Anyway, I wanted to write so Jolene won't feel like she is the only one blogging. Today we spent the day at the Tempe Town Lake Octoberfest. We had a blast. The kids rode lots of rides and played in the water. We were watching the kids in the water and told Kali & Mason to help us keep an eye on Luke. Lonny turned to me and said "this would be the perfect place for someone to steal a child". We turned around and Luke was gone. We searched everywhere. I finally went to get the police officer and firefighters to help me find him. When I went back to the water area, Lonny was holding Luke. There was a inflatable boat slide nearby. Luke decided to head on over and go down it. ( it cost tickets so I'm not sure how he did this). Anyway, Lonny finally saw him walking back to the water area and said where were you and that we were worried and scolded him. He was clueless. He said "Daddy, I was just going down the boat slide" "you should have come to look for me over there". He had no fear of being away from us. That was scarry. I later spoke to the guy on the boat slide and asked him if Luke was there sliding down it. He said yea, I just let him do it. I wasn't sure? Well, he got to ride for no tickets. Anyway, that was scarry. That was our excitement for the day. I hope more people decide to start writing. It doesn't have to be anything too exciting. Just let us know how your day was. I really enjoy just hearing about the things we do on a daily basis. Hope to hear from more of you. Also, Are Don & Donna reading this? I don't think I have heard from you guys. Anyway, all for now.

Lisa

Just me again

A little while ago, I noticed people weren't blogging as often as they used to here. I tried not to put too much on - or just wait until someone else posted before I posted again. But today, I remembered that the reason I started this blog was to have some place to express my feelings and thoughts that I would like to share with anyone in the family who might care about reading them. I was hoping that other people would want to too. I was talking to Lisa the other day about writing in my journal. I used to be really consistent with it. I was doing really well until July. The last time I wrote in my journal was when we were driving up to Duck Creek for our 4th of July getaway with Alan's family. While we were there was when Jeremy called and told us we should come home. I haven't written in my journal since.

I realize that someone down the line who might read my journals might want to know what I was thinking or feeling during that time. But I have had too hard of a time trying to think it and feel it, that I don't think I could write it. I'm working myself up to it.

Alan golfed at the Biltmore today. He has been golfing a lot more often than he used to. He says his game is in the low 80s - I guess that is good - my only real exposure to golf is watching Alan play Tiger Woods on PS2. I have a sneaking suspicion that ever since his brother Will got his PGA card that Alan has been secretly hoping that he could still beat him. They really grew up playing golf all of the time and Alan was always able to beat Will, and then beat his Dad... and then we got married, and we were poor and he just went a while without playing. It was during that time that Will decided to follow his dream to go pro. We are so proud of him that he is
finally doing it.

I am preparing my lesson for Young Womens on Sunday. I really hate that I am the one that has to teach this lesson on physical fitness and nutrition. It seems pretty ironic. Although, I am trying - working out every day and trying to limit my sweets etc... I know something has to change - I am going on the pioneer trek in March and if I can't shape up - I'm afraid I will die out there on the plains like so many REAL pioneers.

I know that I am bossy, and hard to get a long with some time - but I hope you all will believe me when I tell you how much I love and appreciate each one of you.

Jolene

no one told me there would be math

I realized later in the day yesterday that I hadn't figured Grandma's age correctly. She was born in 1915 - that means that Tuesday would have been her 91st birthday.

Grandma's Birthday

I don't know what the heck happened to my post - it just disappeared. I don't know if I can write it again - I was bawling my eyes out....

Yesterday would have been Grandma Goodman's 94th birthday. It was sad for me, because Dad and I always tried to do something together each year on October 3rd. We were at lunch together when Mom called and said that Grandma had passed away. In the 14 years since, we have tried to go out to lunch or at least talk on the phone on Grandma's b-day.

I thought about going to the cemetery yesterday - but couldn't do it. I have gone twice with Mom but never by myself. I know Dad is not there, but just the thought of going yesterday was too emotional. I know this year of "firsts" will be hard. We will have all of our holidays without him, Kali will get baptized, Devon will be getting the Aaronic priesthood in January - all of these momentous, happy occasions will be tinged with a bit of sadness because Dad won't be there.

I know this is very melancholy - but you all know I am a huge bawl baby. We were thinking about going to UT for Thanksgiving - but are having second thoughts because I feel a need to be with my own family this year. Is everyone going to try and be together? If everyone can't do Thanksgiving - maybe we can all try and get together around Christmas or Dad's birthday.

I love you all -
Jolene

Grandma's Birthday

OOPS, FORGOT B-DAYS

Lonny- 8-7
Lisa- 1-6
Kali- 10-28
Mason- 12-9
Luke-3-3

There they are. Great idea. I think I need to update my records. Oh and Jolene, we were not offended by your email. You can keep us on your address book.

Lisa

Haven't Posted Lately

I haven't posted lately because I really haven't had anything too important to write. Today me, mom & the kids drove out to the house to meet with the closet lady and check things out. Mom got to tell the lady what she wanted in the casida. I think I am starting to get A LITTLE excited about moving. Excited may not be the right word but at least I am not crying every other day. Anyway, we went into Fountain Hills and had a slice of pizza by the waterfall. The kids enjoyed the water and they have a kids water park next to it. Anyway, mom just called me to let me know that when she got home there was a big bouquet of flowers by Dad's chili shed. The card read "Thanks for all you do to keep the neighborhood clean". She is not sure who sent them but it was a nice thing for her to come home too. She said she was watching an old Julie Garland movie and just relaxing. I am glad she is relaxing and able to take it easy. I thinks we may have worn her out today. Not much more to say, just trying to keep up with kids, house and activities.

Love to all. Lisa (Lonny too) I don't think he will ever read this or write.