"Build a Rocket ship and Leave the Earth"

It's in our blood! Blasting rockets is a favorite weekend activity, that we find ways to squeeze it in. So here are a few photo's from our fun rocket launching days.

What? You've Never Heard of Kings Island?

Thats just wrong!  On so many levels.  Just wrong!

Somehow we happened to live in Cincinnati, Ohio for 2 years.  And somehow we lived within 6 minutes of Kings Island, a Roller Coaster Park.  We practically lived there when we weren't working.

Someday I'll write an ode to Summer of 2013.  The year of our roller coaster days.

So, here are a few pictures at Kings Island.  Seriously, some of the best roller coasters you'll ever ride are in Ohio.  Who knew?

A YEAR AGO....

A year ago our family lived in Avon, Ohio. A year ago Jake worked for URS in Cleveland. A year ago Josh and Jamesen started kindergarten. A year ago I was in the thick of Relief Society work at church. A year ago we had no idea where our lives were going. A year ago we knew URS wanted to move us to Chicago. A year ago we were praying hard for answers and direction. We were fasting, praying and acting in faith that we would receive answers. We had been looking for these answers for years. Answers for our future. We were done with URS. We were done with the constant moving and unknown with little financial compensation. So. It was time. Time for a fork in the road. Prayers were answered. Loooooong awaited prayers, answered. By October, Jake gave his notice, turned down a long term opportunity in Chicago and accepted the opportunity to go to graduate school at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Due south 4 hours from Cleveland. Once the decision to go back to school was made, it was like opening the flood gates. The plan was in motion and fell into place so rapidly, we found ourselves living in Maineville, Ohio without so much as a blink of an eye. It went so fast. Jake's enrolled in the Masters of Education, Athletic (Sports) Administration degree. His hopes are to work in a major university athletic department and eventually run a department as an Athletic Director (AD). Right now: Jake's working on an internship through the University of Cincinnati's Athletic Department. He takes classes at night. He loves what he's learning and the world he's in. He's happy... He's happy, people. Oh, what I would do for him to be happy. To make all this happen, we switched roles in our home. I had worked for a dentist in our ward in Avon, enough to build my confidence to go back full time into the work force. Once we arrived in Maineville, I went to work looking for a job and within 6 weeks I had a job with an endodontist (root canal specialist) doing dental assisting. (Thats a miracle story just in and of itself.) Jake has studied hard and has perfect grades and has been amazing at being Mr. Mom. I always knew he'd be great at it. He's modest, but he's a shining star in his program getting great grades and reviews from his professors on his presentations and projects. I love my job! Hours are perfect. I enjoy the ladies I work with a lot. My boss is great! So many miracles, its as if God signed His name to them personally. We're happy here. This reads so simply, and yet if you look between the lines we were at the end of our rope without answers. We were on the verge of great despair feeling like we would wander aimlessly for the rest of our lives. We felt like we couldn't make ANY decisions for our future. They were made for us. We had felt so discouraged for more than a few years. These decisions involved HUGE LEAPS OF FAITH! We didn't know how or if or when they'd work out and even if they will still work out. We were leaving a paying job in a poor economy to go to school. Neither of us had income when we arrived in Cinci. However. Through the years one thing I have learned; TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART and lean not unto thine own Understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path. So thats where we are in our lives...In case you didn't know.

YMCA KIDS TRIATHALON

We've spent the summer at the YMCA swimming and working out. Jake and the boys mostly. After two rounds of swimming lessons the boys begged us to enter them in the triathalon sponsored by the YMCA in Lebanon, Ohio. (We've heard it said its the largest in the USA...I don't doubt it either.) Here's the boys before the start. Joshua and Jamesen were in earlier heats and Jabrens was among the last. So we ran back and forth to watch as much as we could.

Cookie Maker Inductee

Grandma and Grandpa Youngberg Visit!

My parents came to visit us in Cincinnati, Ohio! These are just random pictures from our time together! Quick haircut for Dad...never done that before.

Grandma and Grandpa and us in front of Saint Xavier....

Jake and the Boys on Xavier University Campus.

One more of me, Jake and my mom and dad.

And favorite of mine...looking over downtown Cincinnati.

My Daily Life...for now.

Just so I remember...this is what my day consists of or just my routine at least. 6:25 am Wake up and help Jabren find clothes to put on. (He gets in the shower before I'm up. I'm a lucky mom. I don't even wake him up for school.
6:30 Josh and Jamesen wake up. They always seem to need my immediate attention or help.
6:35 Serve breakfast. Seems like Josh and Jamesen need me OR they fight at this time.
Start putting together a breakfast and lunch for Jake to take to work. I have friends who tell me they never do this for their husband. I can't imagine a time I haven't been doing this. How are they so lucky!
6:45 Go outside to wait with Jabren.
6:48 Come in and finish Jakes lunch...all while settling Josh and Jamesen (I think they're waking up to early to function like normal.
6:50 Help Jake locate anything he needs and can't find.
6:55 He's out the door. Whew. Somehow it seems way too intense of a way to start my day.
7-10 am. I start dishes, laundry, answer emails (or at least just read them)
Also, I make me a well balanced breakfast and then go enter it into Sparkpeople.com to track my food while I try to loose weight.
8:30 - 10 am MWF Go to the gym.
10 am. Help Josh and Jamesen finish any homework or practice. Then I run errands with them.
11:30 Make them a balanced lunch, hoping they function well at school. Clean up lunch.
12:30 Check that backpacks have what they need, shoes and socks are located and on feet.
12:40 We wait outside for the bus, and say goodbye with lots of hugs and kisses to go around. They're always quite fervent hugs.
12:45 p.m. I shower or head to the gym if I haven't. Or I clean if I haven't finished. Yesterday I paid bills and got lots of my paperwork organized. Did more or it this morning.
1 p.m. Make me a healthy, well balanced lunch. Enter it into Sparkpeople.com to be sure I am on track for the calories of the day.
1:45 pm Make church related phone calls if needed. Sometimes I even get to sit and read...I call it lunch hour.
2:30 Jabren returns home and we get a snack and hopefully start on homework. But sometimes I'm into some cleaning project and just let him watch t.v.
3:50 Josh and Jamesen arrive home. Yay! They're stinking cute kindergarteners.
4 p.m. Make dinner and I have no idea what else. Oh, maybe grocery shopping, or clean up whats left to do.
Somewhere in here I talk to my mom or any one of my 3 sisters.
6 p.m. We're eating dinner by now hopefully, cause I like to get the kids in pjs by 6:30-7 pm. unless we have scouts here. Bedtime routines kick in. Teeth get brushed, snuggles are snuggled, books are read, backs are scratched, legs are scratched. Melatonin is given.
8 p.m Almost everyone is in bed almost asleep. Then I try to think about cleaning up dishes but lots of times I don't want to. And so I head to the gym and work out. Or enter my dinner on sparkpeople.com (I've lost 7 lbs since August 1st. Yay!)
Thursdays are our craziest day. I need to have the house really clean, dinner made and eaten by 6 p.m. so that we have time to clean up before scouts come to our house so that when they leave I can hurry kids into pj's and kiss them and leave them with Jake so I can run out for presidency meetings.
None of my kids are in sports yet. Probably this makes me not a very good mom. They love sports. I just don't like being ultra crazy with our heads cut off at night and so I resist it.
It will be in my life soon enough. Once it starts it won't end. So for now, this is my daily routine. I finally have time for me in my day. Happy about that and the projects I'm getting done and feeling like I have time and energy for a little quality time with each of my sons. Its been a long time waiting.

Summer is absolutely Lovely Here!

We're enjoying a calm summer. No moving plans involved helps, a lot. I complained about the miserable, long winter and spring. It rained nearly every day for two months. Jabren was baptized on June 4th and we had both grandparents here. We had so much fun. Its hard to believe my boy is 8 years old and old enough to understand baptism. His service was beautiful!
There's something about having your dad and mom hang out in your home at night, or planting vegetables in your garden, or fixing anything, the smallest broken thing the Dads can find, or washing dishes with moms, sewing projects on the table - that just make a house feel like a home.
When my parents left we took off to Amish Country, Niagara Falls and to Palmyra, NY with Jakes parents.
I love having new experiences to tuck into my memories to collect. Though its summer, we don't seem to be sleeping in. Usually we're up by 7 am.
The weather here is absolutely LOVELY! Like 76 degrees daily. Last few days I've noticed the evenings are full of people riding bikes. Like a lot of people on bikes! This little town feels so small town and cozy. Little kids, teen agers, couples, families...we love it. We just bought Jamesen and Joshua their first brand new bikes and it was sooo fun! They picked them out and Jamesen went for orange. Josh, red. (Usually, Jamesen always takes red.)
Thankfully, we had them signed up for "Safety Town" the next week and they learned tons on traffic safety and wearing helmets.
We let the boys do a vacation bible school, too. So we road our bikes to the little church. The pastor asked if we did bible schools at our church. I said no, but if we did they'd be called "The B.O.M.B School. The Book of Mormon, and Bible School!" The older church ladies standing by him looked started, shocked and confused all at once and I hopped on my bike, said "see ya later" and road off. That was fun.
The boys loved singing songs and learning about baby Moses and playing games, making crafts. Jamesen especially enjoyed singing the songs about Jesus and doing the actions. Jake and I enjoyed a few quiet evenings while they were there. We even went to the store alone!
I've been going to the gym. We just discovered Playground Days. If your city doesn't have one you should talk to the Parks and Rec dept! Once or twice a week I take the boys to the park in the morning and they can stay and play for 3 hours and the P&R hires Jrs and Srs to watch them and play dodge ball, hoola hoop with them.
This week I came home and cleaned my house and spent time with church stuff that I needed to do. Lots going on there.
So awesome! Love alone time once in awhile.
Some favorite things said around here lately. "Mom, you're so snugglish." --Jamesen
"Hey Mom, I'm your Superman!" --Joshua as he jumps up onto my bed and poses standing above my head with his arms in stanz and wearing his 'batman' pjs. Yes, Josh you are my Superman.

We were late to church Sunday and went to a classroom to listen to Sacrament Meeting Services and I randomly said "Jabren come over here, let me pull your tooth out." He came over, I put my fingers on it and a little tug and it was out. We were both a little surprised. It was fun. And I was glad he got to loose it in a memorable setting. Its only his 2nd tooth and he's headed to 3rd grade. He was pretty happy!

Jabren got his own scriptures at his baptism and we took them to a Christian Book Store this week to get his name engraved on them. The kid was beaming as I handed them over and told them what we wanted. He was gleaming! Such a happy boy. Just as happy as he was when I pulled them out of my bag at his baptism and gave them to him.

Jake's been working really hard. Work has had some waves, and talk of needing people to go here or there. Whew....not us!

His Grandma Todd passed away and he flew to Utah and I missed him more than I think I ever have. Really haven't been apart much unless its me thats gone home. So I was a little lost the first two days. Then I got the hang of things. I really had wanted to go. His Grandma Todd is a phenomenol woman! Jake and I were dating when we drove to Utah on our college spring break for me to go to his ole stompin' grounds. I walked into her home through the side door and I hardly was up the few steps to the kitchen there that we were in a hug and laughing and connecting and she was telling me she knew who my Grandma Roxie was and that she had adored my grandma when she was a young girl. Oh and that we were both lefties. Then because the energy in the room was so amazing and fun she stepped back and demonstrated that even at her age she could still bend over and palm the floor with straight legs! All this in fun capri overalls. A grandma. Whose grandma does this? In a matter of five minutes I felt like I'd known her my whole life and we were just reconnecting. She was now my grandma, too. Whether I married Jake or not. (Thankfully I married Jake and got her too.)
Well, shortly after full on Alzheimers set in and she hasn't been the same. So I was sad to not be there for the funeral. We all missed Jake, especially me and Jamesen.
So, we picked him up at the airport on the 4th of July. Headed down to Progressive Field and as American as it gets we watched the New York Yankees play the Cleveland Indians. Then stayed and watched the fireworks with our friends Diana and Mike Boren.
So fun.
Oh, and that morning, my neighbors next door Kathy and Mike, helped me organize a neighborhood 4th of July Celebration Kick Off Breakfast in our garage and front yard. We delivered flyers, invited a few friends and fed 42 people from our front yard. All without Jake's help. Thats hard for me. I realized how much he helps me accomplish stuff. (I think though, Jake may have talked me out of it, cause he thinks we shouldn't host people in our little, old house. But the fun must go on. Don't know if or when those things will come. So plan away, anyways.)
It was soo awesome! The neighbors kept saying how fun it was and what a great idea and that it was nice to actually talk to each other. I think its a tradition. When all was said and done, I vaguely remembered a dream I had when we first moved here that I was setting up tables in our front yard and neighbors were coming over. Its a dream I had told my mom about. Tables were not in the grass like in my dream, but right before my neighbor Mike said "grace" neighbors started walking up my driveway and it triggered my memory of the dream. Love that.
I didn't really get to talk much - trying to keep things going but, next year maybe I'll have Jake and I'll be more relaxed and enjoy people more.
Kathy and Mike were awesome cause they heard my wish to do something and they totally ran with it and supported it! It really started cause I didn't want to be moapy over the holiday 3 day weekend.
Lastly, we've been experimenting with homemade ice cream with our maker we bought at Ross/TJ Maxx?? in Texas. Oh, soooo yummy. So easy! We've made Strawberry and Mint Chocolate Chip.
So far we've had a good summer, minus the ability to provide consistency I so desire to have so that I can keep my kids on top of doing chores, keeping up studies and practicing/learning piano.
We still have many lingering big unanswered questions regarding our future...wish we knew what to plan for, what we want. We live month to month with not knowing what our future holds, and hoping for consistency and stability. Well, hey, maybe that has something to do with my inconsistency...just thinking out loud.
Oh, well. We had Jake home this morning so I woke up and made a real breakfast and we sat around the table. Our little family. With yummy whole wheat, banana pancakes at 10 am with the curtains still all closed, and ate warm food, and I just soaked in all the moment had to provide...20 questions from Josh to Jake. "And Dad, guess what?" "Yes Josh." "And Dad, Guess what?" "Yes Josh." "And Dad." It really never ends. Along with Jabren and Jamesen adding in all kinds of thoughts and ideas to share. Its the simple things.
I went and layed on Jabrens bed and asked "You wanna Wrastle" to which these boys know is an invitation to be roudy with mom. We played and played and they transformed my 'airplane rides' to bull riding. Then the boys got too intense or involved. Kids started to fight and then it had to be over.
Then Jake cut the grass. I cut hair. Then we sat on the couch and let the boys sit on our laps and snuggle while they watched Spongebob and PBS. (I so don't like spongebob, I decided.) We never just sit in the day and watch t.v. So it felt so cozy.
Then we kicked in gear to try and get Jakes car registered in Ohio. I had to go to Avon Lake for one step. Westlake for the emissions. We all went to North Ridgeville for the title since Jake had to be there, and then back where we started in Avon Lake for plates. Three hours later. It was hilarious getting the emissions checked. The tech's seemed to get a kick out of it. How many miles? 213K. When it passed the tech came to talk to me and he said nothing for like 2 minutes. Really. Then he asked "Did you drive that. (pause) All the way from Texas?" I smiled and told him we put it on a truck. Then he told me it passed. I said "Dang it. My husbands not going to let go of it until someone tells him its over."
Its Jakes car. Its a 1994 Mercury Tracer. We've had it for 11 years this week!
Came home, put burgers and hot dogs on the grill. Cut watermelon. Ate donut holes. Said good night to the kids. Watched our show, Friday Night Lights. Last of the series tonight. Been watching it since Nampa, Idaho days. That was our day. Complete and good. You have to write these ones down.

Smokin' Weekend!

What the heck do you do with a three day weekend when two of those days it just rains? You smoke...in the driveway. Smoke Meat that is. Well, at least we did.
We are beginning to think the rain will never end here. Its makin' me crazy!

So thankfully, Jake pulled out the good ole smoker. I ran to Costco to pick up the slabs of meat...Jake took Jamesen and Jabren to pick up some wood. We have tried a few rub recipes that were way off so we just made our own and followed our instincts on how to prepare the slabs...well who knew? We pulled it off.


They didn't finish till 7:30 which is like bedtime over here so we ran to the store and picked up s'more makin's and let the kids have dessert before dinner. Hey, like my grandpa Briggs used to say "Lets start with dessert, you never know when you're going to die."

It was sooo yummy. And I made homemade salsa for the first ever.
All in all it was a lovely day hangin' in the garage as the rain came down and we smelled all the smells that bring back thousands of memories of being at the camp in Donnelly, Idaho with all my cousins and aunts, uncles, siblings, parents, neices, nephews...future in laws...good memories that smell of wood, charcoal, meat, and rain all seem to trigger. Love when my new world can trigger memories of good times in my past.


Boys loved using hangers to roast marshmallows. I bought nutella spread for my smores and I liked it.

Jake's gettin pretty dang good with his meats. That makes us happy.


Y'all are invited to come eat with us if ya like.