Blackout Birthday

I am very late in posting this (see below for my really good excuse*).


Jayce's birthday was September 8th.  And we had an historic power outage - a blackout - that day which covered most of southern California. Cody and Jayce also happened to be very sick that whole week and Mark was gone taking Derek to Idaho. So we were truly homebound.

 We were completely without power from 3:30 pm to about  12:30 am. When the sun went down the house was very dark. It was a good time to pull out all of our preparedness stuff and assess how ready we really are for an emergency. We had great camping lanterns, and Jayce really loved wearing a head lamp. We did pretty good; just needed a few more batteries if it lasted any longer.

You can't really tell how dark the house was because of the camera flash. But look at the bright lantern. It was the only light we had in the house.

On Monday, September 5th, we had a birthday party for Jayce. He wanted to go to Pump it Up and that's what we did. Everyone had a blast!

I'm looking all over for his birthday cake pictures. I know I took some even though we didn't have it until Sunday, when Mark was back. Maybe they're on Mark's camera. But I gotta get this post done and move on to homework!


*I am very late in posting this...I have started back to college...in earnest. I am taking 12 credits and it's about to kill me. Not really. I really, really love it, but I am swamped. I love blogging, though, and want to continue because it is a great way to keep track of our lives in a family history sort of way. I just have to be quicker at blogging.

I am also thinking of starting a new blog for a project for one of my classes. I have been thinking about this a lot, way before I got this project assigned. It will be about my experiences of raising a child who hasn't chosen to love the gospel as I do. What do you think? I thought maybe there are others out there who may need some comfort or a place to share their pain and learn from mine. I certainly would welcome the comfort from others to help heal my pain. It could be an avenue to explain our feelings and learn to forgive. My professor hasn't approved it yet. It's just in my thought process right now. But I'm thinking I do want to do it.

One more Derek college post...

Mark got back early this morning from taking Derek up to Rexburg. I'm so glad he got to go. And I'm so glad he got home safely after the power blackout last night. 


The night before Derek left, Elder Mendoza and Elder Taylor came by to say goodbye.  They are such good Elders! Derek has been able to go on a lot of teaching appointments with these guys. Good times!

The boys can be SO goofy. Derek takes videos with his phone of goofiness, then they all watch it and laugh.  It can be annoying, but on this night Mark and I didn't want it to end :).

We couldn't get much done because Pennie wanted attention. She knew something was going on...

At the last minute, Dallin asked if he could ride up to Idaho with them. Well, they were pretty sure they wouldn't have room in the car, but Mark worked his magic and wedged out a small space for Dallin and his backpack, and Jose. I think it was a long ride.

This is Derek's apartment!! The Nauvoo House! Third floor! Woohoo!

Starting to unpack and get organized. I think the rooms are pretty nice sized. The desk looks kind of small.

They, of course, had to hit Big Jud's for dinner. Yes, that is really the size of their hamburgers!

This is Derek getting registered for Get Connected, the freshman orientation. He's there today!

Part of the orientation was in the I-Center. It's almost as big as the Conference Center in Salt Lake. Amazing! BYUI is so cool!

Well, that's it. He's there. I wish I was a fly on the wall. Mark said he will do great taking on his life in a powerful way!

Well, he's off to conquer the world...well, at least college!

Mark and Derek left this morning to drive up to BYUI. I cried way more than I thought I would. I actually didn't think I would cry at all. I have been pretty matter of fact about the whole thing...this is what he needs to do, it'll be great. But when it came right down to it. There are SO many things about this kid I'm gonna miss.

I mean, wasn't he just little? Wasn't he just my pudgy, little happy baby. Derek was such a happy baby!

They all just grew, and grew and grew. And I really don't know where those years went. The little kid years seem so long ago...back before the hard, trying teenage years.

Seriously, after we began and somehow lived through Dallin's teenage years we were tired. Still are. But enjoying Caitlin's and Derek's and Cody's teenage years has been a ton of fun. And for that I am so grateful. I mean, we have felt joy like I can't describe. Again, I am grateful.

What I will miss the most about Derek not being here is what a good brother he is. He always made things just a little more fun. He comes up with the most random things, I tell ya!

 He is the best big brother

And he has set a great example. Tonight after dinner, Cody cleared the table without being asked and I thanked him. He said, "I have to be Derek now." Wow. Thanks so much Derek.

He was just my pudgy little baby who smiled all the time, and has grown into an incredibly handsome and honorable young man. 

I'm okay now, not crying anymore. I am just excited to hear how his new life...classes, friends, apartment stuff, etc. goes. (Don't worry, we're keeping his legacy going...recycling, Padres, spongebob quotes.)

First Day of School 2011

This is Jayson and Loraya on the first day of school. Too much fun!

We had him move so we could get a good shot of the penguin :).

His desk...so fun! I seriously love enjoying elementary school with my kids!

First Grade!!! And to think, we thought we were a complete family after Cody. I can't imagine our family without this little guy! What a blessing he has been!

 Last night we went to back to school night. Here is some art work up on the bulletin boards. We took a picture of the whole bulletin board so you could see who has the largest family. Hands down, Jayce beat everybody!! And check out how TALL Derek is! So cute!

I seriously love this!

It's going to be a super fun school year!