chickens

I feel like something's coming. Something different. I feel all crisis-y
...is that even a word?
See, I'm a chicken. Not a pioneer in any way. I've ALWAYS lived here. I've ALWAYS stayed close to home. Never brave enough to try anything new.
But I feel a change. In me, in Dustin.
We're applying for jobs outside of Vegas. I hate the thought of leaving. The last couple of years have not been easy. The last couple months have been worse. I feel torn between comfort and adventure. I'm tired of being a wimp. Tired of feeling trapped.
I want my husband to be happy.
I want him to feel fulfilled.
He wants to work hard, use his brain, flex his muscles...be challenged.
I want my kids to see that you can start over. You can take control of your life. You can choose happiness.
I want to feel happy.

"Oh Da Bubbas Mitder Man"

...That's Scott's favorite nickname for Archer.
He's 6 mo. old now, almost 7.
He lights up our lives and we are all completely smitten.
No teeth. Hates baby food. Sucks the first 2 fingers of his right hand. Kicks his legs wildly in his crib when I enter his room. Rolls everywhere. Laughs out loud without being tickled. Loves his Dad's voice.

Gosh, I'm a bore...yawn...
I say I'm going to post more and then don't. This week has been really busy.

On Monday Archer had a little baby surgery that went way, way better than I had overly, dramatically imagined. Thanks to a great baby urologist. Just for the record, there was no "botching" involved. I'd hate for him to get a complex...
I can't express this enough. We have wonderful friends who help us out AND bring treats. So, thank you! Gosh, I love treats!

Scott's in t-ball (so adorable!) and Madison's swimming and Dustin is asst. coaching both!! Our Saturdays (well, and every other day of the week) are getting pretty hectic but today we were able to go to both. Sometimes we have to split up and/or send in the Grandparents. On top of it all, Paige had her dance recital tonight. Her last dance recital. Miss Jolynn isn't teaching next year and we're very sad. Her husband made a slide show of some of the past years and it was kinda nice to look back. Paige was so tiny when she started. We have so many fun memories of all the recitals and watching our girls and our friends' girls dancing. Now that part of our lives is over and I'm mourning it. On a positive note, looks like we'll be spending lots of time together at ball games and swim meets.

* If and when I can figure out how to get pictures from my phone to my computer there will be some...

currently under investigation

Last Thursday was a busy day. Leah was in and out all morning getting ready for her trip and running last minute errands. Something mysterious happened.

HERE ARE THE FACTS:

Dustin had just come back from somewhere and was ready to go meet his mom when Leah noticed an envelope had been shoved into the door.
 It had a label taped onto the front that read: Darrington Family.
 It contained $60.
Whoever left said envelope has incredible timing and is unbelievably sneaky considering Leah was just on the other side of that door moments before.
Dustin was going to collect money from his mom for Scott's t-ball raffle.  Thought she might be in a hurry and dropped it by. Dustin called his mom. she confirmed it was not her.
Leah felt sick to her stomach trying to figure out who would do such a thing.
Dustin told her to just stop.
Leah is so very grateful.

So very, very grateful.

I guess some mysteries will never be solved. We are so blessed and feel so loved so, Thank you!

I'm back from my trip. So much fun. We left out Thursday and my sister's hub drove us to California while I sat in the back to tend to the chilin's. It was really nice to be chauffeured around and I took advantage of nearly every opportunity to not drive.We got all checked into our hotel and hit the hay. In the morning we'd be going to the Happiest Place on Earth...Disneyland.
Here are some great things about Disneyland, some newly discovered.
asparagus wrapped in bacon
beignets
mint juleps
popcorn
coke (yes, I said it! It's better at Disneyland. Ask anyone!)
banyan beef
dole whips and dole floats
caramel apples
Mark Twain's riverboat

We had a lot of great treats and the park wasn't crowded at all so we got on a lot of rides considering how many times I parked myself to feed Archer and people watch. The park closed at 8 thank goodness because I don't think i could've been on my feet any longer. Scott wanted to ride the train so at the end of the night we rode it back to Main street station. oh I wish everyone could've seen his face when we went past the dinosaurs. incredible! and watching Scott at Disneyland. oh be still my heart!! 5 is just the perfect age. i spent nearly the entire day with Paige, Scott, and archer while Madison and Karley went off by themselves with their cousins.

I love Disneyland. I LOVE Disneyland. It was so nice to be there with my family and try new things. I feel really lucky that we could go.

My Dad is 60 yrs. old

Wow! I know there are AT LEAST 60 things I love about my Dad. I'd list them but not tonight. When I was a kid 60 seemed so old yet my Dad doesn't seem old to me. When I was 20, 30 seemed old, but it's not! Just goes to show I'm getting older too.
 We're celebrating at the end of this month in California. I can't remember the last time we went to California. Oh yeah, last year sometime but Dustin and I were just reminiscing about our many, many trips to California when we were just youngins and our kids were really little youngins and we'd go to Cali. for the weekend at the drop of a hat. Those days are over and it's much harder to get away now. Anyway, back to my Dad. We're partying at Knott's Berry Farm's Chicken Dinner Restaurant. If you haven't had Mrs. Knott's famous fried chicken, well, then you simply haven't lived. It is SO good. Like, last-meal-on-Earth good! My brothers are coming in from Texas and Utah and my sister's coming from New Mexico. The rest of us are traveling from Vegas. I'm looking forward to it. I could use a little mini vacation.

In case you were wondering

Here are a few things that are going on in our lives.

-Dustin is testing for the fire dept. He passed his National Registry and is now an EMT-I. We are praying and hoping (and sometimes even pleading) that he will be hired soon.
He is the Young Men's President in our ward and loves it.
He left his crappy job at Step Suckers (not the real name) in Nov.and is now working at a hotel/casino as their EMT/security. It's been eye-opening to say the least. The schedule has been great for our family and it somewhat pays the bills so I can't complain.
In May Dustin started a room addition in our house with the help of my Dad and brothers. We no longer have a formal living room but we do have an extra bedroom that will someday be complete (I hope). We just need a few more things done and then it will be finished i.e. baseboards, door trim, paint. Almost there.

-I am still babysitting. I tend a few kids a couple days a week. They're all great kids and it's nice to have a little extra money.
I'm the enrichment leader in our ward. I have the entire year planned out and I've gotta admit I'm kinda excited (which means I'll probably be released soon. ha ha)
I'm loving our little Archer. There was a void before he joined our crew and if my kids can agree on one thing it's that Archer is last years greatest blessing. We are all in love. He's been such a great baby.
 I have a good feeling this year is going to be a great one for our family.

-Madison IS IN HIGH SCHOOL!!! Yes, it is true. She goes to early morning seminary. She is attending a technical academy with all of her friends and she loves it. She also LOVES going to church dances with her best friend, Emma. She started out the school year running Cross Country and even lettered. We were so impressed, she really did a great job and trained really hard. It was fun to go to her meets. Running Cross Country kept her from trying out for Cheer (her true passion) so we'll see about next year. She's the Mia Maid class president and is working to get her YW medallion.

-Karley's in middle school. She plays the cello and also the piano. She attended girl's camp over the summer for the first time. She's the beehive class 1st counselor and told us last week that she "loves church" which might be for purely social reasons but hey! we'll take it. She got 4 fish for Christmas all of which have died but she's definitely our animal lover. Last summer Dustin took her to water polo and discovered she is " a natural." Dustin couldn't be more proud. He's been coaching the team and helping out where needed so it's been fun for both of them. Karley's also our little entrepreneur and is always looking for ways to make a little extra cash and around the holidays had a successful candy selling business.

-Paige is in 4th grade and loves her teacher. She got to spend an entire month with her cousin, Rhiannon, that lives in Texas. They had a great time together. She also camped at Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks over the summer with my family. She's in dance class and still loves it and also got to try out doing water polo which she's very good at. She just recently got her ears re-pierced and can't wait to wear all of the cute earrings she has. She is always asking to hold Archer and is such a big help with the baby.

-Scott is in kindergarten and is learning to read. He does very well and he really likes being in school. He's making friends and is always asking for friends to come over and if that doesn't work he'll just invite himself over. We're working on that. He tried water polo and loves it but we decided to wait until he's a little older and a little less wiggly. He loves to swim and can't wait to go again. He's super sweet to Archer and has a couple nicknames and a few songs he'll sing to him. When Archer was in my tummy Scott called him eyeball so we did too. But now our favorite nickname he calls him is Oh Da Bubbas, Mitder Man. It just sounds so cute coming from his little voice. He is a wonderful big brother. Scott loves to wrestle his Dad and wants to be just like him. I've noticed if Dustin wears basketball shorts Scott will change into his. If Dustin wears his sweats to bed then so does Scott. They are the "boy team."

-Archer is the sweetest. Maybe it's because he's our last or maybe I'm just more aware now how fast time really flies but we just can't get enough of him. Right now he has very blue eyes and we're hoping they stay that way. He's a great eater and probably weighs close to 16lbs. He's a chunker and is growing way too fast. He's also a very good sleeper. He's a little over 3 months old. He "talks" and coos and smiles so big it looks like it hurts sometimes. He says "goo" all the time. He loves his swing. He loves his Binky. He brings us so much joy and we love him so very very much.



Hopefully I'll be able to stay on top of my journaling this year so I won't have to do such a lengthy recap.

Meet Our Baby

Archer Kile
born September 29, 2011
8lbs. 2 oz.
20.5 inches

I resolve...

Like so many I'm trying to keep a better record of my family's comings and goings this year. I haven't been on my own blog for so long that I forgot how to even get to it. It took me ten minutes to figure out how to post and I still can't figure out pictures. In 2010 I made a video of some pictures I had taken mostly for the sole purpose of announcing we would be having another baby (#5) in 2011. That was my last post. 2011 got no love even though I sat down at the computer many times to share my thoughts or a photo and I just couldn't do it. My kids were sad, my husband was sad, and now I'm sad that the entire year passed and I don't have it preserved. This year I promise to do better.
I'll start at the beginning.
January 1, 2012 was our 13th wedding anniversary. Dustin worked, we went to church, and after church we all slept. Well, most of us slept. For dinner we went over to my mother-in-laws without Dustin for yummy enchiladas (Madison's birthday request.) We watched Indiana Jones and went to sleep. We had big plans for the next day. Dustin and I were going to go out for our anniversary, Madison wanted to go to the mall to spend her birthday gift cards, Karley had plans to ride her bike all the way to her friends new house, and Paige and Scott wanted to play one last time before school started up again. During the middle of the night we all got sick with some sort of 24hr. bug except for Dustin and Paige. It was a sad and uneventful last day of winter break.

Darrington Family 2010 at OneTrueMedia.com

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

How did I get so lucky

Today I feel grateful and I'm grateful for my neighbor with a giant blue house. I never thought I'd say that because the day her painters came I stood in my front room peering out the window sobbing as the first coat was being sprayed. Seriously, I cried pretty hard. Dustin reminded me that now we'll have to try and sell TWO houses next to a blue one.
The house has been the butt of many a joke but let me tell you about the woman from the blue house:

Her name is Angelina.
Her family lives in London.
She has adult child(ren).
She works hard.
She has lung cancer and doesn't smoke.
She sometimes wears a sassy wig when she goes out.
She brings our kids gifts on the holidays.
Since she's moved in she's given us at least 4 pounds of See's candy which automatically makes her a great neighbor in my book.
She's sat on my couch twice and cried.
She's a hugger.
She's married.
She's friendly.
She reminds me how blessed I am. I really like her.

Spring Mornings

This is what Spring Break mornings look like at our house.

My bed always ends up being the

 comfy, cozy, happy (sometimes pesty)

 gathering place.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

King of all Laundry Piles

Time for bed but where is Scott? Watching cartoons on our massive laundry pile. He loves to lay in our bed even if he can't snuggle under the covers. It was a huge laundry week because of our Lake trip and I saved up all the folding so I could do it while watching my Thurs. night shows... Community, The Office, and 30 Rock.
Finally, Scott just pushed a little laundry over and wiggled down under the covers. And I just pushed it all off to the foot of the bed so I can go to sleep and deal with it tomorrow. One of those nights.

Camping at the Lake

"Help Me! Help Me! Help Me!",

 Was all a panicking Scott could say as he sat on his boogie board in one inch deep water.

Scott's "pledgeallegiance" (that's pledge allegiance, but he says it like it's all one word) shorts.
He can't wait to wear them swimming so we brought them with us and the first thing he did when we got to the lake was strip down and put them on.

Madeline shows she isn't afraid of a couple inches of water.

Karley takes Scott on an evening kayak ride. He's much happier in the safety? of the kayak.

Nothing like being out on the water in the evening. Karley and Scott in the kayak and Matt, Paige, and Madeline in the canoe. By the way, this was our first ever camping trip at the lake.

Dustin takes some little girls out on the lake in the canoe which FYI if you go canoeing with Dustin he'll want to be the only one paddling. Maybe he just hates the way I do it but I try to help, really I do.

Sunset on the Lake.

Dinner oooh yummy! We brought chicken and Mark brought steak. Nothing like eating outdoors it just seems to taste better.

Karley pulls Paige on the boogie board while Mark's pup enjoys a free ride.

Roasted Marshmallow Peeps. I tried some of Mad's and it was crispy from the carmelized sugar but I don't really dig on Peeps...

...but he does!!!

No limp peep jokes, please!

Our rip roaring, twiggy fire. It got chilly in the evening and we didn't have much firewood so Dustin kept shoveling dry brush over to us. This fire was lit by one of Mark's flares. Victoria and I sat by it until  we couldn't keep our eyes open anymore. When Daniel got there he drove past us and got stuck in the mud and Mark and Dustin were up 'til one in the morning trying to dig them out. Mark, Victoria, and Matt got stuck in the same mud earlier when they first got there but were able to get out much easier.

Right after breakfast these girls are ready to get out in the water. 

Living the sweet life.

"The mother of the children" ponders on the beauty of her surroundings or it could be that her boots just got stuck in the mud. Either way she takes a moment to reflect.

Mark's fun island or "relaxation station" We'd have fun towing out to the middle of the lake. Matt and Danny even jumped in the water ...and then jumped right back out cause it was so freezing.

Sadie the swimmin' dog. Everytime we'd go out in the canoe Sadie would start paddling out to us. It made me nervous laugh cause she's never done anything like that before. We'd be out in the middle of the lake and here she'd come. One time she tried to jump in the canoe and her paws slipped off the edge and she went completely underwater. I'm sad we never got a picture of it but she'd only do it when I was out in the water.

On Saturday afternoon we packed up and headed for home. There will be many more Lake adventures...we had a great time!

HOORAY!!!!

Guess who's going to Disneyland?!?

....ME...

and Dustin (but he's not as excited)


If anyone wants me to, I will:

• Eat at The Blue Bayou Restaurant and enjoy a Monte Cristo sandwich.


• Drink AT LEAST 3 Mint Juleps.


• Ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad backwards staring at the goat the whole time.


• Stare menacingly into the eyes of the abominable snowman on the Matterhorn.


• Tear up when I walk down Main Street.


• Watch a parade.


• Go to hell and back in Mr. Toads Wild Ride.


• Eat a churro (even though I don't really like churros.)


• Sit through Captain EO for old times sake and get motion sickness from the 3-D.


• Take a big deep whiff of the musty air in Pirates of the Caribbean.


• Go on the teacups just so I can listen to the music that plays while in line.
  
• Allow a grim, grinning ghost to sit on my lap in the Haunted House.

• Check out the back side of a waterfall on The Jungle Cruise.

• Close my eyes on Space Mountain WITH my hands up.

• Try to go on every ride, even the kiddie ones, just for fun.

ALL IN YOUR HONOR!!!

Thankyou, Disney Give A Day Get A Day!!!!

my favorite room

The Boy Team...

...in our house is only two members strong.

Lately the only way we can get Scott to go to bed at night is if Dustin will tell him it's a race. Boys against girls to see who can fall asleep first.
That worked once, maybe twice.
He doesn't care who wins even if we try to appeal to his competitive side.
The past couple of nights he's come into our room with his pillow and special blanket and said, "Look who's here!"
He's beyond even starting out in his own bed.
Scott always ends up in our bed and I can't tell you how many times I've woken up to this.
He does think it's cool that he's on a team and it's just him and his Dad.

Even though I'm not a member I'm a huge fan of "The Boy Team."

death of a loved one

Just in case you can't read it, it says:

Finnigins Mom:

Karley

February 8, 2010

birth

How much I

love him as

much as my

family.

Deth: March 18

2010. Emotional Karley

Funnerall:

March 20, 2010

redrock...why did i ignore you for so long?

I love the mountains. Lucky for me we live in a Valley so we're surrounded by them. Any time we need a little adventuring all we have to do is choose the direction we want to go.

I've been to Spring Mountain Ranch more times than I can count and when we stayed at the Redrock Hotel for my birthday we had a beautiful view of Redrock but I've never hiked in Redrock, never even driven the loop.

When my family came to town for Thanksgiving some of us hiked in Redrock but Madison missed out and I loved it so much we had to go back.

Dustin shows off his climbing skills.

Actually he was never really that far off the ground.

Paige enjoys her pizza atop the sunbathing rock. Yes, we bring pizza on our hikes...it's much more satisfying than trail mix.

If you look close you can spy two little creatures hiding in that cave.

Karley feeling the chi.

Taking a little rest.

Dustin and all the kids climbed to the top of a hill.

What goes up must come down and that looked like the hard part so I just waited for them at the bottom.

I want to do a hike each month. I think with all the camping we'll be doing we'll meet our goal.

It's just sad

These are the ONLY pictures we've taken this year. Three months in and this is all I've got to show for it. I'm pretty sure I ruined my camera battery and we don't have a point and shoot so this is it.

Our way too sunny backyard. We need a patio cover and we're saving up for one.

Staff development day and no school. I was able to capture my two oldest in a rare moment. Playing High School Musical Sing It and getting along. Even taking turns and not crabbing at each other. I had to get proof.

Paige on Valentine's day. She was just the sweetest.