Summer fun

July went by furiously fast! The kids enjoyed swimming lessons for the first two weeks of July. I had meant to put Savanna in level 5, but somehow she was enrolled in level 6, and the instructor put her back in level 5 which I think hurt Savanna's pride a little, but she still had fun. She is a great swimmer and a great diver too! Fiora and Weston were both in level 3 and they both made their first attempts off the diving board and did great. Weston actually likes the diving! Fiora does not. In fact, Fiora doesn't really care for swimming at all, but at least now I know she can do it. I didn't take any pictures of swim lessons this year, by some miracle my friend Stacy Hanks had enrolled her kids at the same time and so I just loved talking to her every day at the pool at 11:30 for two weeks! and I neglected taking pictures. I found out during this time about my new job and Stacy took me to get a pedicure to celebrate! Fun times.




The girls really like my toenails, and Savanna wanted me to take her to get a pedicure too. I told her she would have to earn the $25 to pay for it first (mean) but then I offered to give the girls a pedicure at home (nice) instead and they both took me up on it. I even did the mint scrub and leg massage. It took a while but the girls loved it.

Last weekend Aunt Heidi Carpenter offered to have the kids over night so Jared and I could go on a 50 mile fourwheeler ride in Ephraim canyon. The kids have so much fun at Heidi's, she is a fun aunt. Jared and I had a lot of fun too, it was perfect weather and beautiful scenery. A big thanks to my mom and Heidi for watching the kids for 24 hours so we could enjoy the beautiful Utah mountains together.










The kids are continuing to have a fun summer. The next door neighbor girl Sydney Jensen gets along so well with Savanna and Fiora, they play together a lot! I'm calling them the three musketeers. Sometimes we have a hard time getting chores done in the morning, but I think we have finally got a system worked out so there is less arguing and more working. RULE: If chores and practicing are not done by 11:00 AM then you are restricted from playing with friends and watching TV/Computer for the rest of the day. The kids don't like it, they wish the time limit was 10:00 PM so they could mess around all day, but it helps mom to know the kitchen will be clean by at least lunch time.

Weston lost his third tooth last week! He was very thrilled and very bravely pulled it out even though it hurt. He got $1.50!

Our tree outside yields little plums, we picked them yesterday and had quite a basketfull. This morning the kids and I had a contest to see who could put the most in their mouth. Savanna won with 8 plums in her mouth!!!

Update on Heather

Its been an up and down week for me, but a huge blessing came my way, and with a little background I'll give my update.

Back in the middle of May as I was recovering from school and trying to find a job, I started getting random dizzy spells. I thought it was just a virus or maybe I was overworked (after I graduated I was on fire and did a lot of service for family and neighbors and did not do a lot of rest). After a week and still having dizzy spells, I also noticed my head was throbbing constantly. At this time I was searching for a job and applying for every part time social work position I could find so I could keep up my skills and start acruing my LCSW hours. Unfortunately there were not many people hiring and if they were, it was in Salt Lake or in an area I had no experience with. I was starting to feel discouraged because of my inability to find work and my failing health. I also started feeling a lack of energy, heart racings and palpitations, and a strange sensation that I was walking through water. The first week of June I went to the doctor because I was sure I had some sort of blood sugar problem. I got all my blood work done and everything, but my blood sugar level, thyroid, anemia, etc. checked out normal. My doctor seemed to think my dizzy spells were related to my heart, so he had me wear a heart holster and record symptoms. I waited a week for results, always searching and applying for jobs, but wondering if maybe I should hold off on job hunting until I figured out what was going on. The results came back average, except that my heart rate dropped at times and the doctor wondered if it was getting enough oxygen. He referred me to a cardiologist, but the soonest I could get in was July 11th. About this time we found out the loan was approved on our new house and we would be closing and moving around June 15th. I was so happy about the house, but worried about how I was going to do all the work required to move while not feeling well. Another symptom of this weird illness is an inability to think straight, which also made me nervous about actually getting a job. I kept working and hunting and tried to ignore how physically miserable I felt. My sister Heidi introduced me to a "raw food" diet that supposedly cured the very symptoms I was experiencing and she talked me into trying to eat spinach smoothies and more raw foods. I decided anything was worth trying to get rid of my chronic fatigue and headaches, so instead of just elimnitating foods I just started adding new foods to my diet. After about 4 days I noticed my headaches were disappearing. So I added more raw foods and this forced me to push out other foods from my diet. One day I actually had energy and no headache at all, and the dizzy spells were gone. That did it. I checked out "the PH miracle" from the library read it cover to cover and completely transformed my diet to more alkaline foods, no dairy, sugar, meat or bread, and even light on the fruit. My symptoms came back when I didn't get enough sleep or if I was overworked, but I was doing much better. I even applied for what would be the perfect job for me, working as a therapist for an LCSW in private practice part time in Lindon. But I was one of several highly qualified applicants (it was like a MSW class reunion at the interview) and so I had little hope of getting the position, especially since I can't think straight and was very nervous during the interview. That interview happened about a week after I started the new diet and I was getting tired of vegetables, I was having adverse side effects from the diet change, and I was really tired again. But it was time for my cardiology appointment, maybe I would get some idea of what is going on. Results: my heart was perfect from every angle! That was relieving and discouraging at the same time. Was my illness all in my head? The next step would be to see a neurologist but why? and why was I limiting my intake so much if nothing was really wrong with me! I had a pity party that night. Well, the next day I determined to keep going so I had my green shake and did my chores and ran my kids here and there, and I was on my way to take dinner to my Grandma when I got the call from Kevin Downs, LCSW. . . "we'd like to offer you the position!" I was overjoyed! I wanted to kneel on the pavement and thank the Lord. Its more than I could ever have hoped for, three minutes from my house and working with families, couples, and individuals. The hunt was over and a dream was achieved. I start on August 1st and already have a week of clients scheduled. What a blessing! I had a permanent smile all day. So now I am more resolved than ever to keep myself healthy and refresh myself on my therapy skills and serve and work and LIVE!

So that is my news, I am finally employed doing what I love, but at a place that is close and hours that are minimal so it won't interfere with my motherly priorities. The next morning I went running along the canal and it started raining, and I thought of this hymn:

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm. Ye fearful Saints fresh courage take; the clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break in blessings on your head. His purposes will ripen fast Unfolding every hour; the bud may have a bitter tast, but sweet will be the flower.

Catch up

Weston has been enjoying his summer Karate class every Tuesday. He takes it very seriously, and his fists need to be shaken out after class because he holds the Karate stance the entire class. He loves learning self defense.





The girls have enjoyed having friends right next door. I even let them have an exception to a rule and had a "moving celebration sleep over." They seem to get along well for the most part, Savanna (expressive) and Sophie (analytical) butt heads now and then but the younger friend Sidney (expressive) has no problem playing with both my girls!




We went to Gunnison for our annual Schauers family reunion for the 4th of July. The Gunnison theater had a tow truck that was the same make and model as Mater on "Cars" they even had it painted and it looked just like Mater. The kids loved it! We had a awesome barbeque, watched fireworks until late, and slept in a borrowed trailer and got up for the Gunnison parade! The kids always get tons of candy and love the interactive floats there. It is a fun tradition.
I painted the kids' faces before the parade, at Savanna's insistence. Turned out cute.
Waiting for fireforks with Schauers cousins!
Waiting for the parade with Schauers cousins!
Miles Schauers.
Savanna Schauers

Mater was in the parade of course.




The Celestial room!


We are loving the new house! We've gotten a lot done and there is still a lot to be done. Jared is going a mile a minute every day, and I'm trying to keep up. Once we got the basement painted and carpeted we had a lot of moving to do getting everything downstairs. Then there was fixing up and cleaning the accessory apartment for the new tenants. Then moving more stuff from the old house. Then more unpacking and cleaning. Then yard work! I wish I would have taken before pictures because I did a LOT of pruning and mowing and mulching, Jared and the kids helped too, in order to get our yard looking like this.








Jared bought a basketball standard for the cement pad in the back and he found someone to haul away the old ugly swingset that was there when we moved. We got internet Friday and I am so happy about that (hence now I can catch up on the blog). We've managed to have the Schauers family and the Barrett family and some of my friends from the Orem ward over for meals and to see the place. We even got to see our military hero Gabe Carpenter who was visiting from AZ.


I woke the kids up early on the actual 4th of July to go see the balloon launch in Provo. The weather didn't cooperate and we only got to see them inflate some and then watch them get knocked over by the wind and hurry up and put away. We did get there in time for the Star Spangled Banner though, that was neat. We ate breakfast and then walked to the very crowded parade route and watched for about 45 minutes. Then we went to the Cinemark and watched 17 Miracles, I loved it and highly recommend it! It was a fun 4th.

Savanna was not happy about getting up at 6:15 to go see the hot air balloon launch.