August Birthdays & Anniversaries!

I thought about doing this again, but this time at the beginning of the month and post them all. In a few days I will be posting the September celebrations, but for now... enjoy!

HaPPy 38TH BiRTHDaY

BReTT (2nd)

HaPPy 16TH aNNiVeRSaRy

BReTT & CiNDy (13th)

HaPPy 15TH BiRTHDaY

TyLeR (16th)

HaPPy FiRST BiRTHDaY

eaTHyN (26th)

HaPPy 6TH BiRTHDaY

MaDDie (30th)

HaPPy 64TH BiRTHDaY

DaD (27th)

HaPPy 41ST aNNiVeRSaRy

MoM & DaD (31st)

HaPPy 35TH BiRTHDaY

HeaTHeR (31st)

I don't know why Dad's & Maddie's are backwards because I put them in right! These were the only updated pictures I have you all, except for Mom & Dad because I love this one!

We hope you have/had a

GReaT DaY! We LoVe You aLL!

Five years apart...

That's the age difference of Josh & Lauren. And the only thing I hate about it is that now that Josh, who has been my driver since 2006, is gone, I am back to driving more.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Elder Miller's new place!

I got a call tonight from a sweet sister in Idaho. She was telling me that Elder Miller is in her area, and that she could tell that he was a greenie... new white long-sleeve shirt in 91 degree heat! I tried to get Elder Miller to get a few short-sleeve shirts, but he wouldn't. Said he didn't like short-sleeve ones. I bet he wishes he had one now!
ANYWAY, his new area is serving with a companion from Mexico on an Indian Reservation. Of course I had to pull out the atlas, and there are like 3 around Pocatello/Chubbuck. She told me that Saquajawea was from this tribe, but I don't know which one. Elder Miller & his companion are living in a basement apartment of some members there. I don't have his address yet, but as soon as I get it, I will be posting it on here. And I don't know what is up with his Facebook. I am trying to change some things on it, and it won't allow me. I will have to take the laptop into town this week and try it on there.
I am glad he is doing well. Oh, and he did call me yesterday from the SL airport. Don't know if that was allowed or not, but he said he couldn't get his money to transfer from savings to checking, and he needed me to do it for him on-line. I only spoke with him for less then 2 minutes, but he sounded good!!

All about Joey!

He just loves playing with the Chevron cars...

Wearing the cute jeans & new shoes that I recently bought him.

Mad at Krissy about something...

Those Chevron cars again! Oh, and his bowl of strawberries!

1st day of school for the kids, 1st day of being home by himself!

Happy Day for Krissy!

She has wanted to use my camera, and finally I gave in.

And she got me without make-up...

Doing the tongue curl...

Our 3 doggies: Zoe, Ollie & Cali chillin' on our

soon-to-be-in-a-zillion-years back porch...

Some of those ugly pears I have yet to do...

They do listen!

Tonight the kids and I were reading scriptures in 3 Nephi 14. First off, don't be impressed that with only 4+ months left in the year, we are almost done. Actually, maybe you should be impressed... it's only taken us like 3 years to get this far! LOL!!! Ok, so back to my

serious note here~
We are reading and discussing about what some of the scriptures mean, etc... It gets to my turn to read at the end, and as I read verse 25 (talking about the house upon the rock, rains came, winds blew, etc...), Joey started doing something with his hands. I thought about it for a second, and continued with the last 2 verses (house upon the sand, etc...), and again he did it. Then I knew he was doing the hand motions for the Primary song

"The Wise Man/Foolish Man". Almost 3. Priceless.

MTC Pictures

Elder Miller, 2nd from left, with the Pocatello & Boston District in front of the

Provo LDS Temple. Bunch of great-lookin' guys!

1st 4 Elders from the left (Elder Miller being the 4th) going to Pocatello.

Last 2 heading to Boston.

Joey wanted a picture since I was taking them of the kids earlier...

1st day of school!

Lauren, 8th grade

Kayley, 7th grade

Jacob, 5th grade

Krissy, 2nd grade

Lindsey, kindergarten

New email address

Josh finally set up a new email account~

socceRocks90@myldsmail.net

He can only email 1x a week, for only 30 minutes. I am guessing Tuesday is going to be his P-Day? You may or may not get an email from him. Today I forwarded 2 emails. He sent me an email saying "this is my email...", but then I forwarded letters to 2 people.

Hmmmmmmmmm, something is messed up there! ;-)

Another summer gone...

In 2 days, my 5 school-age children start back to school. It's weird to think that I will only have 1 left at home. Shawn keeps saying we need to have 1 more, but *IF* I was to have another soon, in 3 years when Joey starts, then the next one would be the only one left at home, and then what? Another? Um, no thank-you. Joey will just have to adjust being the only one home for the next 3 years. I may have to see if I can get some sort of playgroup started in town so that he can be with other children his age.

Today I registered all the kids in school. It's quite the ordeal when you have to fill out a zillion papers for 5 kids. Next year I have a plan though... fill out only 1 set of papers without putting the kids names on them, copy them 4 times, and then put the names and SSN on each one. So much better then having to fill out the same thing over, and over, and over, and over again! And it still amazes me that they make us fill out the "corporal punishment". I am all for it if my child is wrong, but seriously... I don't want someone else to "beat" my child. I rather beat my own child, but then I would be turned in for child abuse, but it's okay for the school system to beat my child? Don't understand. I have so many "pet peeves" with this school district. Like all the money I have to shell out at the beginning of the school year (as well as the amount I have to fork over at the end of the year!). Lindsey has to have $10 on the first day of school to pay for a "special" notebook, a pencil bag and a take-home folder... Hmmmmm? $10? What the heck? The pencil bag is like 50 cents, and so is the folder at Walmart, but wait! It's says the school name on it, so that is why we have to pay $10! Kristen has saved the bag the past 2 years, so I won't have to buy that, but I do have to buy her 2 pencil bags... yes, 2! Why? Because she needs one for 1 class, and one for the other? Why are they even switching classes? She is only in 2nd grade! And the pencil bag that Kristen has that Lindsey could use is the wrong color for this year, so it can't be used, nor can it be used at Kristen's school because it's the wrong color there as well. I swear! Drives me freakin' nuts! And then Lindsey wasn't put in the class that I wanted, and so I am upset about that. I have asked for this certain teacher since last year (same one that Krissy had), and even put it on the forms I filled out in April, but yet she got a teacher I wasn't impressed with AT ALL today! I went in to this classroom with an "open mind" about her.... thinking she will be awesome and all, but Lindsey walked in, and this teacher didn't say a word to her, or to me, wasn't cheerful towards Lindsey or any other student. I was not pleased. I filled out the zillion papers out, and when it said teacher's name, I left it blank! I am determined to get Lindsey in Ms. Aubrey's class! I talked to the principal after we left the classroom, and she told me that she doesn't do special requests, but that I could write a letter on why I want her to switch to the other class... you better believe I'm writing it!

Shawn was off for 2 weeks because we were suppose to take Josh to Utah. It was nice having him home for 17 days. On his first drive back, he hit a tire in the road that he didn't see until it was to late, and did swerved to miss it, but it "attacked" the front passenger side, and RIPPED IT UP! We took it to the body shop today. Only have to pay $100, and State Farm will take care of the rest.

Josh has written to us 4 times. The 4th letter today said that he ripped a pair of pants, and needs me to send him another pair. Geez! I hear that Rexburg, ID is already getting some sleet. I am going to Penny's tomorrow to hopefully get him some more pants, and then I will send his coats too. He said he was flying to Pocatello. I hope he rearranges his bags so that he doesn't get charged another $90!

Elder Miller

On August 4th, Shawn & I drove over to Dallas/Ft. Worth with Josh so that we could spend some time with him ALONE without other kids. Of course the kids wanted to go, and we left poor Joey bawling his eyes out, but it had to be done. We feel we had a great time with each other. We stayed at Fairfield Inn by Marriott by the airport. I had always heard rumors that all the Marriotts had Book of Mormons placed in the bedside table, and sure enough, it had one! Josh thought that was pretty cool. We took Josh to the Cabela's in Ft. Worth, and then ate at Cheddars. On our way back to the hotel, Josh was just amazed how many planes were landing at the airport. One after one, they came in, and for someone who has never been to a major airport before, or have even flown, I guess one could be amazed. Josh and I didn't sleep well that night because 1) I forgot my earplugs and 2) I had to listen to Josh complain. Why? Because of Shawn's snoring. Pretty bad. But we all managed to get a few hours of sleep. We woke up about 6am to get ready. The hotel shuttle was taking us to DFW at 7:30.

When we arrived, Josh quickly noticed another young man in a suit in our line, and asked him if he was also a missionary. Turned out he was, and will be serving in the GA Atlanta Mission. As we made our way upstairs to the security checkpoint, we saw a group of Elders & Sisters, and possibly the President and his wife of the TX Dallas Mission. They were sending off missionaries to go home. Josh and Spencer (the other Elder) were excited to see them, and enjoyed exchanging greetings, and telling them where they were all going, and where they were from. I then took the last Father/Son picture for 2 years...

And then Josh got in line. I hate that I couldn't go back with him, but it was probably better anyway. I may have started bawling when I saw him board the plane. He did a quick pose...

And then with his shoes, belt and coat off, went thru the metal detectors. He got his stuff back on, said good-byes to the other elders who were leaving to different gates (with their 10 gallon hats on... serious, no joke! It was cute though!), and then he looked back at us, and waved & grinned. What a cute son he is, and I know he will do well.

After he arrived in SLC, my cousin Chip and wife, Stephanie picked him up. They have 4 children, and their oldest, also named Josh, is serving in the CT Hartford Mission. They let him call me a few times to tell me good-byes as they headed to Provo. He also said there were 4 other missionaries on his flight, and they all had a good time visiting. They stopped at the new Mt. Oquirrah (?) Temple. The temple just closed on August 1st from the open house. It's being prepared now for the dedication in a few weeks. The temple president just so happen to come outside, and see them walking around, taking pictures, and allowed them to go in the temple to take a tour! Chip & Stephanie had already been before, but Josh had not, so I thought that was really cool! They took him to 5 Guys Burgers (?) in Provo, and then they dropped him off. I am so glad that they could do this for me. I have never met Stephanie, but I feel I have a new friend. She has called me several times, and I have enjoyed speaking with her! I hope I will be able to post more pictures of Josh throughout the next 2 years, but it just depends what he sends me. I do have his address though. I think he leaves August 25th, but it could be the 18th. Not really sure how long English-speaking missionaries stay...

Elder Joshua A. Miller

MTC #261

Idaho Pocatello Mission

2005 N. 900 E.

Provo, UT 84604-1793

He is outta here!

Elder Miller left this morning to the Idaho Pocatello Mission via MTC. I didn't cry. I took pictures. I am so happy for him. Can't wait to get his 1st letter!

HaPPY BiRTHDaY JoSH!

Today he is 19. Crazy to think that at 1:32pm,

I will have an official 19 yr old...

Being crazy at one of his last church dances...

Supposedly teaching Jacob's Primary class...

2008 Christmas in Killeen...

Working as an ER Tech...

Almost a servant to the Lord...
HaPPY BiRTHDaY JoSH!

We LoVe You!

Change of plans. Again.

The one thing that was nice about Shawn working at St. Joe's, is that he got all the over-time he needed. He would work a lot of overtime, and it was good. Here at WK, it's hard because they want Shawn to call like at 6am, but Shawn needs to leave at 5am, or they'll tell him to call back at 9am, so that he can be there by 11am, and sometimes when he gets there at 11am, they tell him to go home within 2 hrs! Such a pain.
Because of that, overtime pay isn't happening so therefore... we aren't going to Utah to take Josh to the MTC. I am really bummed about it because it's always been my dream to take my sons there instead of sticking them on a plane. I thought it would be fun to drive out, like Shawn and his parents did, but with having a big family and a gas-guzzler to drive them all in, we decided to fly Josh out instead. 3 of my 4 brothers all flew out too, and they all lived! It's not like Josh will suffer for the rest of his life because I stuck him on a plane. Only my youngest brother, Scott, was actually driven out, and hey... that's fine. He was the baby, and my parents didn't have to take 6 other children with them, etc... It does get pricy on roadtrips, and also with 5 children being in school this year, I need all the extra bit of money to start getting school supplies too.
Our plan now is for Shawn, Josh & I to go to D-FW on August 4th to hang out... like go to the Dallas Temple again, go to Cabelas, maybe to the Ft. Worth Stock Yards, maybe JFK memorial (even though, well, you know!) & some other cool stuff that I have never done in D-FW before. On the 5th, the plan is (still waiting on the ticket from the MTC) to take Josh to DFW so that he can fly to the MTC. I would like to stay in D-FW an extra day, and since Shawn is off, we may. We may even stay away 3 days (I'll just fill up Jacob's insulin pump up full so that he wouldn't run out before I got back... and it's not like I couldn't be home in 3 hrs!). The kids would be staying home with my in-laws. I just hope that the MTC arranges the flight that I wanted for Josh... I got on-line searching for flights, and I found a non-stop from DFW-SLC at 8:30am. Not to early, but just right so that he can report to the MTC by 12:30p!

Cousins again!

In May, Mom and Dad came up for Mother's Day. That whole weekend, and weeks before that, it rained a lot. Lots of water everywhere! My siblings that live in the Killeen/Temple area decided that Mom needed all of them visiting her on Mother's Day too... Did I already post about this? They all came, and we ended up having a good Mother's Day with them all. My sister-in-law, Val, took this picture of Joey & Jared looking out our front window. I am sure they wanted to go out to play, but it was just to wet!

Cousins Jared & Joey playing firetrucks at Mimi's & Grampa's!

When we came down to visit in May, we went to the Gatesville, Texas Drive-In Movie Theater! It was the first time I had been to one, and had just found out where it was... after 20+ years living in Killeen, I didn't know! We had a great time watching Night At The Museum 2. Here is Kayley holding a friend of Jared's, Rebekah holding Jared, & Lauren holding Joey.

Inks Lake State Park, 3 July 2009

We had a fun day at a lake that we used to go to quite a bit after we moved to Texas. I didn't get in the water, nor did any deer try to attack me this time. The kids had a great time.

Lauren & Kayley

Jacob didn't get in the lake at all. Don't blame him on that!

Kristen, cousin Madi & Lindsey

Joey & cousin Jared

Joey

Joey pushing his cars beneath him... really, he was!

Cali & Zoey

Since Shawn and I have been married, we have had a total of 11 dogs live at our house sometime. We have had Brandy, Bailey Jack, Olsen, Furby, Ollie, Mollie, Callie, Brandi, Ellie, Coco & Sassy. We still have Ollie. We thought when we moved to the farm 4 years ago, Ollie wouldn't last. We have been surprised. He has been ran over by a tractor, and bit by a water snake, and we thought each time he was going to die. Ollie is a good little watch dog. He is an outside dog, of course, but we know by his bark when something isn't right. Olsen, Brandi & Ellie all died, and the rest were given away except Coco & Sassy, who we think were taken by the hired hand that Shawn's dad had at one time. Meet our new dogs:

Cali & Zoey

These dogs came from my brother, Scott. They have been to our house numerous times, and with Scott's job, he just doesn't have time to take care of them like he should. And his wife, Val... just to busy with baby Lexi and Jared. I don't blame them wanting to get rid of them. They were their "kids" before their kids came along. Scott asked if we wanted them, and since I knew they weren't puppies, and that they had been to our house before, I talked it over with Shawn, and we agreed that we would take them. They are females, and fortunately they have been fixed. But so has Ollie, but not the other 2 dogs that Shawn's dad has. We are going to keep them chained up at night, and mostly throughout the day at first so that they can get to know the area before we let them off all the time. That's how we did Ollie, and now he stays in the area. Sometimes I see Ollie walking up the road, or across the pasture/lake dam, but he pretty much stays close by. I hope Cali & Zoey like their new home.

Lunch at Cheddars

I took Lauren & Kayley to lunch at Cheddars the other day. Everyone knows how much I love this place, and that I miss it so much!! I used to eat there all the time in College Station, but now I try to get there at least once while visiting Killeen. If you have never been, you are missing out!

Away from the farm...

And I so do not miss it. I am still in Killeen visiting family. We have been here for 1 week now. Shawn and Josh did not come with us last week, but as I type they are on their way down. We are having a great time swimming in the pool, and being with our cousins. I love being closer to my sisters, brothers & parents. Sometimes there is even drama, but what would a big family be without drama? Well, don't answer... what would the Pritchard family be without drama? LOL!! Tomorrow night we are going to the Ft. Hood fireworks show. Today we are going to Inks Lake State Park. We are all pretty excited. I personally do not like lakes, but this is a nice area, and I haven't been there forever. Josh wanted to go before he left on his mission. Only 31 more days until he reports to the MTC.

Class Reunion 1989

*Pictures will be posted later*
This weekend was my 20th class reunion. It's hard to believe that I graduated from high school June 3, 1989! It is crazy! Last night was the dinner/dance/program at the Shilo Inn in Killeen, Tx. It started at 7pm. Dinner was really quite good considering it was prepared at the Shilo, but it better have been because it cost me $40! After dinner, the awards/games started. Lots of fun times, and lots of laughter. I wish I would have taken more pictures, but I didn't. The award for "Married Longest" went to me... 19 years 9 1/2 months, and the "Most Kids" went to me as well. When they started that award process, everyone started chanting my name. So embarrassing, but fun. Having Facebook is great that way because it's been fun catching up with people before and knowing what they were doing. Brett & Cindy went, and best "guy" bud, Rene was there with his new bride of 1 week. It was great seeing him again, and meeting Carol. I was hoping that Kenna would come, but it wasn't possible. Just listening to the 80's music was worth it, even though I listen to it a lot... but having it done there with all our classmates made it sound so much better!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
On a sad note... Mariella was given to her uncle on Saturday morning. Mari has been very ill, and even hospitalized this past week. She is not doing well. Because she can't move, she is having a hard time coughing stuff out. Brett & Cindy were very upset, but they knew it was going to happen. They had hoped to adopted her. Things could change, but so far it's not looking that way.