Just Keep Swimming!

Things have been crazy lately, and it feels like it's been forever since I have been able to post! We've moved--or at least have mostly moved. There are still some things at the other place and I have to get it cleaned, but things are definitely happening. The internet finally got hooked up yesterday, after sitting around for hours waiting for the guy to get here, wondering if he was actually coming, having Robert call and discover that they had decided not to send anyone out! Long story short, they were here within an hour of Robert's phone call and the internet is finally up and running.

I have been absolutely exhausted. Tammy came over on Monday to help me unpack my kitchen (which is the only room that is complete, and it's a beautiful thing) and Tuesday to help me paint the boys' rooms (well, prime them anyway, the color will get up before too long). I've been emptying boxes, bringing stuff from the other house, and cleaning from morning until night and hit the bed totally exhausted!

The good news, on the other hand, is that we are now in a house that is about 2 miles away from my school and 3 miles away from Robert's work. It is a 5 bedroom house that has a living room and a family room, with a big back yard for Cooper (it's kind of dead, but it's big!). While it is an older home, and there are several projects we are going to complete (back yard being a big priority), it is nice to be in a place where I have room for everything.

I'll get some pictures posted as soon as I get a chance to take some (probably when things are more like they should be and less boxed up). I'll also get my take on the Police concert posted--I just have to have a minute to breathe and catch up on my Master's class since I haven't had internet for a bit. Dory's line from Finding Nemo has been running consistently through my mind--Just keep swimming, just keep swimming!! I'll get there eventually!

Trying Again

This video that Robert sent had a bug or something in it and switched back to the default settings. Hopefully this will work this time!! It was my favorite of the two.

Breakin' 2

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What a Surprise

I went to bed on migrain meds last night, so I was completely unaware of what my husband was doing on the laptop right next to me. Anyway, I was checking my email and this was what was there. Enjoy!!

Disco

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Orr Cousins

I was just going through a bunch of pictures to send to Anne, and I found some that I had forgotten about. I figured that they were so cute, I'd have to post them. These are pictures of all of the Orr cousins. I absolutely love them!

Orr Cousins from left to right: Nathan Lister, Max Orr, Becky Orr, Jacob Lister, Abby Hartvigsen (on Jacob's lap), Sarah Orr, Audrey Clark, Jaxon Clark

These next ones have all of the grandkids and Grandma and Grandpa Orr. They were taken at the Children's Gardens at Thanksgiving Point summer 2007. There are several of them since it's hard to get all of the kids smiling at once ~ especially little Abby. Anyway ~ these are awesome.

These are the most recent. They were taken in Idaho at the end of June. The cousins all had such a fun time being able to hang out together. The first one is of Abby--she's a lot bigger in this one, considering she is a year older (go figure).

I love this one of Jacob and Becky. They are the oldest grandkids and possibly the closest. They were born two months apart from eachother, and spent a lot of years playing together before we moved to Utah. I'll have to go back and scan in some of their baby pictures in, but when Anne sent this one to me, I thought it was my favorite of the bunch. It's nice to see they're still so close after all of these years.

This is all of the big kids on the Bonzai slide that was in James and Anne's back yard. They played on it for hours and had so much fun.

Finally, my favorite recent one of the cousins.

Happy Birthday to My Brother!

40 years ago today, a very individual, unique soul entered this world. My brother, James. He is a character in his own right. He makes me laugh a lot, he used to frustrate me to no end (I guess it helps to get older in that regard) and I really miss having him and his family around--that's really my fault, since we moved away. After Mom died, and before we moved to Utah, we used to hang out with them a lot! We went to Disneyland with them, played games, and just hung out. I loved having that opportunity to get to know my brother better--as an adult instead of as a little girl being annoyed by her older brother. So, today he celebrates his 40th year--and I am miles away! I can't put 40 trick candles on his cake, or show up at his party wearing black with a bunch of Over the Hill balloons, I can't even give him another chicken (I gave him a chicken related gift for every birthday or Christmas for several years)--although I tried to find a chicken e-card, but they just weren't very fun. What I can do, however, is tell the world that he is awesome, and I love him tons, and show a bunch of fun pictures of him.






Happy Birthday, James!!

Just Thinkin'

Robert and John took the boys to a movie ~ a bit of a boys night out. My plan was to get some more reading done, catch up on some sleep, but I got side tracked. So, I've been sitting here for a little over an hour, looking through pictures so that I could add to the layout of the blog. I've gone through so many different sets of pictures and all I can think of is how much I love my boys!

They are the most amazing guys that I know. They make me crazy, test my patience, make me laugh, cry, throw my hands in the air and just completely fill my life. Tammy and I were talking just yesterday about how quickly they are growing up! She couldn't believe that Jake is going to be 12 in January (I cringe just thinking about it, but am also so excited I can't even stand it). Tonight, going back and looking at pictures is a huge reminder to me at how quickly they've grown. I am so proud of both of them. They are smart and caring and, even though they are growing up, still stop every once in a while ~ without my even asking for it ~ and give me a hug. I guess I just needed to share.




Now I need to go crack a joke before I start crying.

Ten Years

We tend to measure life in years, and we celebrate those years: birthdays, anniversaries, reunions. Monday, June 30, 2008 marked ten years since Mom died. I can't believe it. So many things have happened in the last ten years, it's hard to believe that she hasn't been here for them. Anyway, since the tenth anniversary for anything is a pretty big deal, we decided to have a very small family reunion to celebrate our mom--and the fact that we've survived so long without her!


Tammy and Heath, Jessica and Cory, and Robert and I (along with the kids, of course) traveled up to Idaho on Friday. We met up with James and Anne and went to the cemetary on Saturday morning. We brought miniature roses, and a Diet Coke--Mom's two favorites.


It was fun (I'm not sure that's the appropriate word, but I guess it works) to be there with my family, brothers and sisters, and all my neices and nephews. We took a minute to commerate the moment, since we haven't been out there together since the funeral, and took some pictures, James danced on her grave (I know, it seems awful, but you'd have to know Mom--she would've loved it!) I think the only thing missing was Pink Floyd's The Great Gig in the Sky.





Love you, miss you.