May 2016

May 2016 will go down in history in the Schauers family as the month Jared went back on his personal oath to never have an inside dog, or dog at all, and he adopted a Goldendoodle. Jared said he couldn't stop thinking about the idea of finding a mellow, trainable dog that he could take on hikes and runs and could be a companion for his children. He started doing some research and found a breed he would be open to having, and coincidentally found a breeder who had just such a pup 3 months old and available for purchase. I personally have never been much of a dog person, but I could tell Jared felt it was right, and I had a feeling it was right as well, so we went to petsmart and got all the gear--crate, bed, leash, collar, food, dish, brush, chew toys--and picked up "Mr Blue" in springville. I felt like he was kind of a miracle dog, and wanted to keep the blue theme with his name, so I suggested we name him Blue Sky Schauers, and call him Sky. The kids were so surprised! We told them we were going to Springville for a client event Jared had, and then pulled into a random gas station and there were the breeders holding our dog! Savanna started crying, she has wanted a dog forever and is probably the reason Jared started perseverating on the idea, and Wes and Fi were in shock. Mr Blue was so mellow and immediately cuddled up to the kids, like a fluffy white cloud, it didn't take much to convince them that his name should be Sky.
He has been so fun. Link our black cat did not like him at all at first, in fact he attacked Sky quite a few times any time he was around, but lately they have been getting used to each other. Sky keeps his distance and Link doesn't hiss and arch his back anymore. We are very diligent about picking up his poops, brushing him and keeping the house odor free. I had heard horror stories about trying to potty train a dog so I was a little worried, but Jared has taken the lion's share of that endeavor and it hasn't been bad at all. We took turns (again mostly Jared) taking him out every three hours the first couple nights, then every four, then went five or six hours, and this last week he has been going from 10 pm to 5:30 am without an accident just fine. He has attached to the whole family now, and we all take turns taking him out to "bano" (we decided the spanish/italian word for bathroom would be his training word), we keep him in the kitchen until he stops having any accidents, can let us know when he needs to go bano, and treats the whole house like his den. Sky is very quiet and barks only at the chickens, he is playful and very trainable, he has already learned "up" "stand" "down" "sit" "tummy" "roll over" and "bano." Jared is working on shake and training him to run at a constant pace, he likes to sniff and explore or just sit and not walk at all when its run time, which is probably more a puppy thing than defiance, but he is learning fast. We are amazed at his sweet temperament and all love him a lot. He is family now! We take him everywhere.

May has been so full of events, Sky was the highlight, but I'll have to just summarize the rest or this will be twenty pages long.
Another highlight was the birth of my nephew Robert Kay Searcy. I went to make some freezer meals for my sister Karli Sue on May 6th, and as we were sitting there talking and cooking she started having regular contractions. She went into labor before my eyes! So she left to the hospital and I got to babysit her daughter Katy Sue for a couple hours until Rachel got there to take over. Robbie was born around 9:00 pm that evening and is healthy and beautiful!

I revamped the 72 hour kits with stuff we could actually eat, and got some gear so we could evacuate in a hurry, and gave a lesson on what to do in an emergency and what all the kits entailed. We invited the tenants over and got to know them and had a guitar jam session as well.

The kids had a random moment of wrestling with dad and each other like they used to when they were younger and I had to capture it. Also Weston was begging me to take him to Neptune park in Saratoga springs forever, and I finally found a mild weather day to take him. My mom and Rachel and Joseph unexpectedly met up with me there and we had a nice talk. Life's little joys.

Savanna decided to get hired as a life guard, and the training was a HUGE commitment, as you know from last month she is involved in soccer, so it was a huge conflict of interest and she missed 4 games. Despite this she really improved her soccer skills thanks to help from cousin Seth and his fiance Katherine, and she was able to participate in the championship games and her team won first place. Savanna really enjoyed her soccer experience. I'll have to take a picture of her in action as a lifeguard sometime at the Lindon Pool.

The Schauers mom's and daughters went to a cabin in Timberlakes overnight for a Mother's Day retreat and we had a lot of fun. Fiora went with me, Savanna had two conflicts, a Drop fundraiser party and lifeguard training, so she couldn't make it this year.

Mother's Day was lovely, the night before Jared made an awesome stake with mushrooms and asparagus. My favorite meal! Then on Mother's Day Jared surprised me with a beautiful gift--a Christus statue for my pretty room! I've always wanted one of those and its just wonderful to have it center spot in my shelf of decorations. I love the Savior and love my husband for giving this gift to me.
The Barretts convened at my house Mother's Day so we could give praise to my mother Kathy Sue Barrett. It was so fun to have everyone here! I have the best family. Grandma gave all the mothers in the family gift cards to Carrabbas.

But the fun isn't even half done! Savanna had choir concerts and orchestra concerts for the end of school, which also happened to conflict with soccer games, argh. She was so pretty up there leading her orchestra in tuning and introducing the show. Fiora also had a choir concert and did a great job. There were quite a few end of school projects going on, Fiora made a Toilet Paper Roulette game for a fair, Wes made a poster for the kindergarten fair, and Savanna worked on an elaborate Israel trip itinerary and other World Civ stuff all month. Weston didn't have any concerts but still kept me hopping getting him to gymnastics every day. Also Savanna went to 9th grade lagoon day and had fun facing her fear of heights and throwing up.

 I received another beautiful gift this month, an original custom ordered painting we bought from aunt Linda Whitely that depicts our family. She has been working on it for 2 years and it finally made its way to our home shortly before my birthday. Jared bought me a frame for it for my birthday, I love it so much!

That is not all, oh no that is not all. Weston had a dance festival and a 6th grade graduation on my birthday. He rocked it at the dance, doing his gymnastics moves in addition to dance moves, wowing us all! Rachel Dawn Barrett also graduated on my birthday, and we had a celebratory dinner at Carrabbas afterwards. Heidi decorated my door with flowers and art for my birthday.That was a fun filled day! The next evening Jared took me out to dinner with our good friends Jake and Cami turpin which is always a delightful experience!

But that is not all!!! We also had a wonderful birthday celebration for my Grandma who turns 95 years old June 1st. All her children came out for it and several grandchildren and their families. She has 7 children, 53 grandchildren, and 132 great grand children! What a choice and numerous posterity. Grandma was so happy, and I felt a lot of love for everyone there. Thanks Aunt Betty Ann for planning it.

I know the mind reels that there could be more, but there is! Jared also got a gift this month, a camera drone. He has been spending lots of time researching how to use it, how to fly it, and practicing using it outside. We take the dog to the park and Jared flies the drone while I walk the dog. He loves his new toy. I thought the picture of the Barretts all looking up at the drone was so funny.

Memorial day is next! We went to grandpa Rappleye's grave at Camp Williams on Sunday night and had a fun time reminiscing with Rappleyes there. I left a dime on Grandpa's grave because that is the family sign that he is near, finding a random dime. The next day we went to the Orem cemetery and there was a dime on Lillian's grave! My aunt Jeanie did that I think. I felt love from my ancestors, and my daughter.

Also this month we had Chad and Robin move down this way so Chad could complete his stem cell transplant. Jared has been finding time to help them move and we have had the kids hang out with their cousins some, which has been fun. The kids had a cousin soccer clinic and a then a Schauers family barbecue at the Snow's on memorial day. Jared has been working so hard this month on real estate, the dog, helping family, mother's day and my birthday, kids events...he really is a terrific husband and a great guy and I love him forever. Love my great children too! My siblings gave me a book of letters from each of them and my parents for my birthday and my heart was bursting full of love for my family of origin. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much with loving people around me. It's been an honor to be among them.