If anyone is wondering, YES we are still alive! Life has been nothing short of exciting for several weeks now. I've tried to find a moment to blog but have been unsuccessful. Here is an overview of what has transpired in the Skousen Household in the last three weeks.
I officially retired from AZ Firebird Contractors, Inc. on Thursday, February 1st!! I really can't express how I feel. I have mixed emotions. I am very relieved to be able to focus on my number one priority, my own family, but also feel sad to not be apart of the family business anymore. I already miss everything terribly -working with my family, taking care of the accounts, and the feeling of accomplishment that comes after completing beautiful work and making all the deadlines. It's hard for me to think that I'll never have a desk in the brand new office building that we just finished. Most of all though, I'll miss my Dad. Even though most of our talk while working was business every once in a while we'd have a nice discussion about something else. I really enjoyed those chats. I think that is what I'll miss the most, the one on one time I spent with my Dad during the last 10 years.
Conner turned 7 on Friday, February 2nd! I just can't believe how big he is getting. Not only was it his birthda
y but it was his last day of school at Franklin Arts Academy. Mrs. Natalia Paguia (his teacher) sent him home with all sorts of good things. She was a fabulous teacher, I just can't say enough about her. Conner learned so, so, so much in her class. I'm grateful for the time that he got to spend with her at Franklin. We had celebrated Conner's birthday at Peter Piper Pizza. Since his cousins, Trent & Paige were having birthdays later in the month we decided to throw one big PARTY!! Conner came home with some great things. (thank you everyone) He especially loves his new camouflage watch. (He is really into Army right now) Conner said that the highlight of the day was decorating his birthday cake with his Grandma Johnson. They made a fabulous camouflaged army cake complete with tanks, jeeps, and soldiers. All in all it was a very enjoyable evening in the midst of a very crazy couple of days.
On Saturday, February 3rd we packed the house, loaded it all, and then cleaned (even the carpets) like fools. Quite the task with five kids trying to be very helpful even though we didn't have that much stuff. We ended up finishing to late to drive home that evening because we were afraid that the roads would be bad and we were absolutely exhausted. We stayed with my parents that evening and headed home the next morning.
We pulled into Saint Johns at about 2 pm. When we pulled up into the driveway we noticed a big WELCOME HOME sign hanging on the house. To our surprise when we walked in the house the fire was going, there were balloons and a sign wishing Conner a Happy Birthday, a candle burning, and dinner in the refrigerator complete with homemade bread and chocolate chip cookies for dessert, and breakfast muffins, milk, and bananas for the next morning. We hadn't had but five minutes to look around when 3 of our friends & their families had come over to help unload. No wonder why we missed this place. We really were shocked by the out pouring of kindness shown to our family. Thank you to all of you that made us feel welcomed back into the community. It's good to be home! Even Rio & Remmington (our dogs) were excited to be home.
The next day I ran around getting the kids enrolled in school, going to the grocery store, and verifying our mail situation. Then I came home to start in on the mess and a mess it was. No one could find what they needed so they had begun to dump out boxes in their search for things. AHHHHH! I really, really don' t so well with unorganized chaos. It makes me soooooo crazy! It took me a little over a week to clear through all of the boxes and boy am I glad to be done reorganizing everything.
I had barely finished unpacking when Conner came down sick with respiratory garbage. It had officially cycled though our whole family (including Ethan, which was very scary for me. I hate it when infants get sick!!) when Tate started throwing up! Ugh! I really started to wonder if we were ever going to be well again. It seems like we are on the upside now, thank heavens. Scott left last Wednesday for meetings in the Valley and a quick trip to Arkansas. He will return next Wednesday. If I make it through sacrament meeting with all of my little ones tomorrow I will be able to make it until Wednesday. I'm really scared though. I've even thought about using the sick thing as an excuse. We are all still coughing you know! I'm I awful or what.
Well that pretty much sums up the last couple of weeks. Hopefully now that life is getting a little bit more normal I can get back to blogging.
Grace absolutely loves to read. She hardly plays w
ith toys, but you will always see her carrying a book around. She will sit and look at books all day. This little independent miss likes to read her way though. She has to hold the book, turn the pages, and comment on everything she sees. She doesn't appreciate it when anyone, especially her older brothers try to help her. I love that she is so interested in books. Today I caught her reading in a laundry basket. Too Cute!!! By the time I came back with the camera she had moved to the couch. I hope that this habit is one that Grace continues to nourish throughout her lifetime. 
