Festival of Trees

A while back a good friend, Marcia Lynch, asked us if we could help with the Festival of Trees. They needed some people to volunteer for different shifts. We volunteered for today. Dad was the host and I was the hostess. As people came in, we greeted them and took their money. The health care team is in charge of this festival and the money that they collect for this goes to scholarships for high school students in this area. Only if they're going into the Medical Profession. It was so much fun to see so many dear friends. Brianna and Travis also did a shift later on at night. I loved the atmosphere! It really put me in the mood for Christmas time, especially after seeing all those beautiful Christmas trees!

BHS Football Awards Banquet

There had been 3 little girls and 2 little boys. Now, almost 4 were gone. They loved her and called her and sent her e-mails, texts, and would still snuggle up to her to be petted when they were in the mood, but they were men, and women now, and though they would always be at the center of her life, she was no longer at the center of theirs. 

Our little boy had his football banquet today. I blinked and he's almost 18. Lately, all these happenings have been making me really sad. First, I escorted him at his homecoming assembly. Then the parents walked with the senior football players down the football field at their homecoming game. Then Mr. BHS. Now his football banquet. Also him visiting with our stake president this past Sunday to interview for a mission really got me. His senior year is going by WAY too fast. It seems like just yesterday all these things were happening in Richie's life, my first born. I remember me wanting to slow things down his senior year and I couldn't. I particularly remember sitting at one of Richie's  rehearsals for Peter Pan. I was almost 9 months pregnant with Aubrey. I don't know if it was because of my hormones but I remember thinking that pretty soon I wouldn't be able to watch him at rehearsals the way I had for so many years. I sat  there and bawled. I couldn't imagine life at home without that precious boy. I'm feeling the same way with Anson lately. I'm so excited about his future and everything else but I really can't imagine our lives without him at home. He is happiness and love all wrapped up together. He is a joy to spend time with. I love that he loves to spend time with us here at home. He kisses me, hugs me, and tells me, "I love you" so many times a day. It wasn't that long ago that I laid my eyes on him for the first time. It had been 8 years since our last baby and when they placed him in my arms, my heart skipped a beat or two. From the moment they placed him in my arms, he snuggled right into my heart. I am so proud of him that it makes me proud of me for having such an amazing son.How and why did I waste so many days? How do I make you know everything you need to know before you go Anson?

 I'm sitting here bawling as I type this but this time they're not pregnancy hormones. It's my heart starting to feel empty for you and you're not even gone yet.

Senior football players

Close up of the big group picture.

I'm so thankful to my Heavenly Father for the precious gift of my 5 children that he trusted me with and for letting me care for His precious spirit children. I love them all unconditionally. I wish I had read more books with them or I had said yes to every game they wanted to play. I hope and pray that if my children ever wonder how much I love them, that they can look at the sky and know how big my love for them is. Every year that passes,

 they are more special than before.

 Every stage and every age, I love them even more.

"I don't want my children to be what I want them to be. I want them to become everything God created them to be. 

- John Gordon

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving break was wonderful! The children helped Dad hang Christmas lights, the weather was awesome, a new friend joined us, Giselle brought lots of treats, we played tons of games, Grandpa Vosco Call was with us, eating, eating, and more eating.

It was the first time that Brianna hosted Thanksgiving at her house. 

Everything was perfect!

I've never tasted a turkey so moist! Brianna said it was the lemon.
Travis cut about 4 lemons, squeezed all of the juice into a bowl, added olive oil, salt, pepper, and a dash of garlic powder. He mixed it all up and spread it over the turkey. Then he put the leftover lemon rinds in the cavity. YUMMY!

After we got home Dad and Anson put some more lights up including our candy canes.

Then we had a very relaxing visit with grandpa by the fire while he shared some fun stories with us, as usual. When Dick, Richie, and Grandpa aren't talking about the theater, I really enjoy the stories that Grandpa shares with us about our ancestors. 

On Friday, the men and Giselle went for a walk at the Snake River Trail. When they came home they had some Thanksgiving leftovers. Grandpa even had two big pieces of pie!

It was so nice having him with us for Thanksgiving. We played some more games that evening. When Giselle is here our world revolves around games and fun.
We missed Richie, Chrislynn, and the children so much. They spend every other Thanksgiving with us. This year they spent it with The Glovers, Chrislynn's family.

Brianna and Deacon showed up around 11:30 and 
then they went with me to drive Giselle back to Logan.
 When we got to Logan, we went to Sam's Club and ate tons of food samples. It was so much fun!

Aubrey gave a great talk at church. Her talk was about Individual Worth. What an amazing young lady! After church Aubrey and I took a long Winter's nap on my bed. Anson met with our stake president and visited with him about serving a mission. He told Anson he can put in his mission papers in February, after his 18th birthday. After dinner we played TABOO. We get pretty crazy with this game...

... and then there's Aubrey. She is the definition of calm. 

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for my Heavenly Father always being by my side and for giving me all the riches in life which are my amazing family and friends. I have a heart full of gratitude. I think that's the true spirit of Thanksgiving... GRATITUDE. I want to thank everyone in my life who has impacted my life in one form or another. I can't express in words all of the things I am thankful for. From the breath I breathe to the family and friends in my life, my relationship with my Savior and the amazing gifts He has blessed me with. I am mostly grateful for Dick remaining cancer free.

“So often we dwell on the things that seem impossible rather than on the things that are possible. So often we are depressed by what remains to be done and forget to be thankful for all that has been done.” 

~Marian Wright Edelman

A sick Giselle and Mr. BHS

Last night Juan Labra and Anson practiced their talent

 for Mr. BHS. I stayed up after everyone went to bed. I haven't been able to sleep well lately so I stay up unitl I get sleepy. Around 2 am Giselle called me because she was feeling very sick. She had a horrible headache. Every time that she'd try and lie down, her headache got worse.

 She had been experiencing this for 2 hours already and finally couldn't stand it any more so she called me. I was so worried because her headache came on so sudden without any other symptoms. I didn't want to wake up Richie because he had just returned from Texas, where he went to help recruit high school students for USU. When he got to Logan, USU made him turn around to SLC to help with Lyric auditions. I know he was so tired but I was so worried about Sissy being alone. I called him and asked him to take her some Ibuprofen and to just go check on her. He visited with a doctor over the phone and the physician told him to take her to the ER. She vomited from the pain before they left and again when she was in the ER waiting room. They did a CT-scan and determined that her BP was high. They didn't know if her BP was high because of the pain so they want her to see her regular physician for further evaluation. Today, after she got home from the hospital, she slept all day. My sweet girl is so tired from working two jobs. 

We went to Mr. BHS today. Brianna, Travis, and Deacon joined us too. Deacon loved the entertainment, especially the talent competition. The young lady that was going to escort Anson was unable to make it to Mr. BHS so Juan Labra's little sister escorted him even though it was a last minute thing. 

This was their talent. Anson and Juan did a drama piece entitled "Phonetic Punctuation." While Anson taught the audience the system which was to put sound to punctuation, that way people understand each other better, Juan added body movement to the punctuation.

These were the 10 young men who were nominated from their senior class.

Impromptu question.

Anson getting auctioned off.

District Drama Competition and Bestfriends

Anson had District Drama Competition today. These boys did an ensemble event entitled, "Orphans."

Richie competed with this same piece when he was in high school and placed 1st at State Drama Competition.

Last night they practiced their piece with Dick for about 3 hours, then the boys had a sleepover at our house because they had to meet pretty early at the school before they left town with their new drama teacher.

These were the only kids that went to district drama this year. In fact the other two boys didn't really want to go but Anson begged them because he needed two other boys for this drama piece.

They practiced in the parking lot at the high school when they got to Twin Falls before their 1st round.

They ended up qualifying to go to state which will be in Pocatello. 

Last night Amanda, Brianna's best friend, came from Utah to visit. We all had lunch today then my family had the pleasure of having Amanda over. The weather was perfect today. It really felt like Spring. We decided to have a little fire outside and roasted some marshmallows. 

Deacon has never eaten the marshmallow before but today he loved them.

Amanda and Brianna were looking at the pictures on my phone that I took, which are the ones that I just posted.

Someone once said that it's the friends you can call up at 4 AM that matter. Brianna and Amanda are those friends. They are always there for each other, always supportive, and always willing to share a laugh or a cry when they need it most. These two have been lucky enough to have found each other.

Friends are the sunshine of life.

 - John Hay

I voted today

November 5th

Aubrey was doing her homework and was practically in tears because she didn't understand her math. Dad and I felt so frustrated because we couldn't help. Her math gets more and more difficult. After  the 6th grade, I was unable to help her because it's so complicated. Anson was with his buddies in the TV room. They were all working on their Senior Presentations for their English class. I yelled for Anson to come help Aubrey with her math, but instead, all of his buddies came to the rescue. I love these boys! Anson has known these boys since the 3rd grade. Aubrey is like their little sister.

November 6th

I voted today. President Obama was re-elected. Four years ago, I voted for President Obama but this year I voted for Mitt Romney. I didn't vote for him because he's a member of my same faith but I was hoping things would get better for us with a new president. I know that President Obama inherited a huge mess after Preident Bush but these past 4 years have gotten worse for our little family. Our copay for our medications has gone from 25 to 30 to 45 dollars these past 4 years. Dick is on so many medications that a 45 dollar copay for so many medications kills us. Brianna's copay has also gone from 25 to 48 dollars. She's on two different types of insulin which she can't live without. She needs more than two vials of each insulin every month. That's almost $200.00 a month. That is just one of the things I'm going to complain about but there are many other reasons why I voted for Mitt Romney. President Obama was re-elected and I congratulate him on his second term though. I pray that things will get better for our little family these next four years. Our church leaders issued the following statement after elections.
 First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Congratulate President on Election Win
SALT LAKE CITY — 

The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement Tuesday:

We congratulate President Obama on winning a second term as President of the United States.

After a long campaign, this is now a time for Americans to come together. It is a long tradition among Latter-day Saints to pray for our national leaders in our personal prayers and in our congregations. We invite Americans everywhere, whatever their political persuasion, to pray for the President, for his administration and the new Congress as they lead us through difficult and turbulent times. May our national leaders reflect the best in wisdom and judgment as they fulfill the great trust afforded to them by the American people.

We also commend Governor Romney for engaging at the highest level of our democratic process, which, by its nature, demands so much of those who offer themselves for public service. We wish him and his family every success in their future endeavors.
November 9th

Bree saw these snowmen on a link selling for $30.00 each. She brought wood from her home and gave Dad the measurements to cut. Dad, as usual, was acting bothered but we know he loves projects. 

 We painted them and...

 ...these is what we got!

The ones on the top are mine and the ones on the bottom are Brianna's. It was so much fun working on a craft with Brianna. They really turned out so cute and they didn't cost us anything.

 November 11th

Our church had stake conference today. Anson and Aubrey had a youth fireside before conference. Our sweet little friend, Kira Burgess de Rivadeneira, left a comment on my facebook page.

"I just wanted to let you know that I think you have the neatest kids ever. I sat a couple of rows behind them during the youth session of conference and you can just see how much they love each other. I know that is something you and Dick taught them by being such good parents and by the love that you have for each other. Thanks for your wonderful example and for having such awesome kids and all that they teach me. You guys are the best."

It's compliments like this that makes a parent so happy and so proud of their children. Thank you Kira for the love that you have for our family.
November 12th

 Aunt Maren, Dad Vosco's youngest sister, came to visit us.

She loves mexican food so I showed Anson how to make enchiladas and he took over my job.

He did an excellent job. Here is the final project. He made some with onion and some without onion.

Aunt Maren spent the night with us and left the next day.
 We had a wonderful visit with her.
 She lives in Arizona and she wants us to visit soon.
We are definitely visiting her one of this days!

November 13th

I love my hubby! He was in our backyard looking at a woodpecker.

I love how he finds so much joy in the smallest things.
His sister Allyn said that woodpeckers bring good luck. Yay!

Richie came this evening and picked up Anson and Dad. They drove to Twin Falls and had dinner with Richie's bestfriend Joe, who is touring from New York. Richie met Joe at Rutgars University. Him and Joe are very close and even though they only had a few hours to visit, and Richie had to return to Utah by 5 am, he made it happen. 

I love you Richie Poo!