Our Spring and Summer Plans

The Frier clan is trucking along. I got Daniel's evaluation with Mesa Public Schools completed and he will begin pre-school in May for a couple weeks and then 3 days a week starting in September to work with his speech. I won't know what to do with myself come fall. Noah will be in school all day, Daniel will be gone 3 days a week, a couple hours at a time. It will just be Jodi and I. Shopping will be SO much easier with only one child to cart around! I am feeling more and more relaxed and less stressful, so hopefully another pregnancy will come along.

I am looking forward to the last weekend in April. I am taking the kiddos and going to St. George/ Las Vegas for a family reunion of sorts. My parents and brother will be there as well as some long lost cousins. The kids love going to Vegas and any trip with Uncle Lief and Grandma and Grandpa and Grandma Joan is a treasure. Dustin has 3 weeks of school left and is totally feeling the crunch. It is a good weekend for us to be gone as Dustin has a couple major tests to study for.

In May, I am participating in a 3 day flute camp in Tempe complete with flute ensemble participation as well as an AZ Flute Society Member recital of which I am thinking of performing. I am waiting to see what the "competition" is like before I say I will commit to it- I don't want to make a fool of myself!!! Ah, the performers ego.... I am looking forward to 3 fun filled, no kid days!!

In July, we are planning a long vacation to CO to visit grandparents and my sister and her kids. It will be fun. We plan on watching fireworks in Craig where they put on an amazing show, celebrate birthdays, bask in the cool wave-pool, enjoy mountain scenery, and have fun with the abundant wildlife that has made their home in my parents yard. It should be just enough of things going on to have an enjoyable summer.

Las Vegas here we come!

Which Jane Austen Heroine Am I?

Take the Quiz here!

Ward Media Fast

A what?!! For our friends and family who have no idea what I am talking about- Our ward decided to invite each family to take a break from the distractions in the world for a week and concentrate our time on family, spiritual fulfillment and other good activities. Our family cut back on the PBS morning cartoons to watch until 9am and then no more TV for the day. We used to watch movies back to back to back. We took a break from that and didn't watch movies (well maybe one or two- in 2 weeks!) It was a good change for our family. I pulled out all of my classical music CDs. We enjoyed the kids music and danced and played more with them. The boys attempted to get along better and there has been a happier mood in the home- mostly.

We ended the fast by watching General Conference on TV. For those that grew up having to go to church to watch conference this concept of watching it on TV is strange. I still feel strange doing it myself. Our kids enjoyed a nice picnic breakfast watching conference. We saw all the sessions and tried to listen to the speakers as best we could. SUnday afternoon's session was the best. All 3 kids took good long naps. I actually listened to it all!!!







We have had a fun couple of weeks. We began our fast on Easter Sunday as a family. We went to the park a lot, the visit from cousins helped, the kids pulled out old games and books and REALLY got into coloring books. We played with the play-doh and just had good family fun. Now we are dealing with the "sickies" again. Allergies, colds, pink eye!!! Ahh!! Life is always full of excitement!

(I'm trying very hard to get a picture of Jodi when she colored herself with markers- hopefully I can get it up soon)

Cousin Fun!

We had a wonderful week. Elisa, my oldest sister, and her kids (Gavin and Rianne) drove down for Spring Break. They live in the Denver area, so we don't get to see each other often. It was so fun to get the cousins together. We went to the zoo on Wednesday, after trying all morning to get cheap tickets for a Spring Training baseball game- no luck. The zoo was fun and very warm. Gavin, the oldest cousin, told me he will never live where it is hot. The poor Colorado kids were wilting in the heat! The kids had fun riding the camels and touching the sting rays. It was fun just watching the kids chase each other or fight over who got to sit next to each other on the strollers!















Thursday was spent in Chandler at the "Farm Park." The kids had a blast and didn't get too hot thanks to the huge barn shade over the play area. They all got to ride on the tire swing and climb and yell as loud as they wanted!! It's amazing how noisy 5 kids can be in a cramped apartment or van. We also took the kids to "Old McDonald's" as Noah says it. Again, more screaming and chasing. Then we went to IKEA and dropped the big kids off in playland and off Elisa and I went for some fun shopping. Jodi crashed in the stroller so Elisa and I had plenty of quiet time. We got back mid afternoon and were my kids tired!!!










It was so fun being with Elisa and being able to talk to her face to face. We talk a lot on the phone, but to do it in person was much better!! I hope the Gonzalez clan had as much fun as the Frier clan did!!

Tagged!!!

What was I doing 10 years ago?
I was a newly wed of only 3 months. We were living in Kansas. I was in my junior year at KSU. I was in the practice room many hours a day. I had just made the top band at KSU and was also performing in the orchestra and for the opera orchestra. I can’t believe how long ago that was!!

5 Things on my To-Do list:
1) Laundry as always- I’m lucky if I even get baskets full of clean laundry- forget getting it folded and put away!!
2) My kitchen is a mess!!
3) Start Daniel’s blanket for Easter. I better get busy!!
4) Practice my flute- that is always on the list, but rarely achieved!!
5) Go to the library- the kids need new books!

5 Snacks I Enjoy:
1) Twix
2) Chips
3) Popcorn
4) Ice cream
5) Anything the kids have left behind!! (Fruit snacks, graham crackers, etc.)

5 Places I have lived: (earliest to most recent)
1) Craig, CO born and raised
2) Ft. Collins, CO (1 year at CSU)
3) Manhattan, KS (GO K-State!!)
4) Phoenix, Apache Junction
5) Mesa

What would I do if I were suddenly a billionare?
Pay off student loans, get a house (although that would still have to wait for Dustin to finish school), Get a bigger van for a growing family, retirement for our parents and us, Give to PBS- I’m hooked!

What are 5 jobs I have had?
1) Mom- the best and the most challenging!!
2) Elementary music teacher K-8 (2 years)
3) Room service/ waitress at Embassy Suites
4) Flute teacher and student

What are 5 things you don’t know about me?
1) I love road trips- by myself are the best, although that hasn’t happened since kids, but I have gone on a few with just the kids and I have loved it.
2) I used to go backpacking and hiking with my Dad and loved it until it got too hard on my body. I still love hiking and camping, though.
3) I once thought of opening a Puppet business after making puppets to teach my students Mozart’s The Magic Flute ( an opera). The kids loved them and then loved the opera. I hope to maybe do some more with them someday.
4) I won Grand Champion a number of times while a member of 4- H for knitting sweaters. It is way too hot to make sweaters in AZ, but I really enjoy it.
5) I have to make the bed before going to bed. If I don’t make the bed in the morning, I have to make it before going to bed. Dustin rolls his eyes at me every night!!

I now tag some long time friends: Wendy, Michelle, Mindy, and my sister Juliann- maybe this will get her to update her blog!!!!!

Crazy Week!

It was Dustin's spring break this last week. We had so much planned and were able to do much of it, despite all I went through over the weekend. Luckily, I fully miscarried and no D&C was needed- that really would have thrown a kink in the plans. I probably did way more than I was supposed to, but Dustin will be back in school and I can relax a little bit this week.

On Monday we went to the Bass Pro Shop and looked at everything and went to a nearby park and fed the ducks. The kids had no nap and were in bed by 5:30 and Dustin went to work at 6. I was able to enjoy a warm meal in peace and solitude. Wow, was that nice! Tuesday, we went to Papago Park and went on a short hike- here is where I over did it as I was hurting VERY bad that night!!. Then we went to the mall and got the kids shoes- why can't they grow at different times? Why do they all have to have growth spurts all at once???!!!! Again, no nap and an early bedtime for the kids and a pleasant evening for Dustin and I.

Wednesday, I stayed home to rest and rest and rest. Dustin took the kids to the zoo and were gone all day long!! I got some Primary stuff done and just enjoyed a very quiet home. The kids were so tired and had little power naps on their way home. They found lots of energy- we tried watching the "Bee Movie," but the kids were so crazy. They spent the rest of the night wrestling each other.

Thursday was spent at home along with some little outings to the store. The kids picked up the wrestling again that night and even jumped on Daddy with the bean bag for an hour and a half.

The most "Hilarious Moment of the Week Award" goes to Jodi- hands down. We bought her new shoes, which she loves so much. I woke up this morning and she had one shoe on and was screaming because she couldn't get the other one on! I got her dressed right away and she wore her shoes all day. She screamed when I took them off for her nap. They had to go back on as soon as she woke up. She threw an all out tantrum when I put her PJs on and said no more shoes for the night. She freaked out. It sounded as though the world was being destroyed that minute!!! It is hilarious how much she loves her shoes!!

No good news

Well, You have some and you lose some. I think nearly every woman has been there. I did miscarry this pregnancy. I am doing well. I have a wonderful husband who gives me lots of strength and I have wonderful parents and siblings who support me and strengthen me as well. I feel great peace- I prayed that I would and am blessed. I know it's one of those trials I must have signed up for or been willing to accept. I am ok with what's happening and will look forward to what may come next. Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts.