Sally Speedracer...

Those of you who know me well know I like to name my cars... This one has been no different. Once I realized how much power a V6 has, I affectionally named it Sally Speedracer... inspired by Sally on the movie "Cars." lol. This car has been so good to me over the last 3 years, and we have been on a few good road trips, but now it is time to part ways. We are selling our 2004 Honda Accord in order to streamline our finances and start saving more money for Luke's schooling. I am so sad to see this car go as it has been amazing, but it is better for our family. So if you know anyone who is looking, the car is a silver 04 Honda Accord LX with a V6. It has 96K miles and has been well maintained. The inside has gray interior, power windows, and a power driver seat, controls on the steering wheel for both the radio, and cruise control, and also has a 6 CD changer. The A/C works wonders, both the inside and the trunk are roomy, and the front has new tires. There is a small flaw in the back passenger side bumper where I ran over a wrench on the freeway once, but other than that the car is in great condition. If you or anyone you know is looking, please let me know! We are asking 10K or best offer.

Boycotting Target Pharmacy

Seriously?? I wanted to scream today when we arrived. Last week at my baby doctor appointment our doc prescribed me some medicine for the migraines I have been having that are safe to take while pregnant. The week got busy and I forgot to go get them. So today--exactly a week later-- after our check up I went to pick them up at Target. When asked if it was dropped off or called in I told them called in--LAST WEEK. They checked their system and showed it had been called in, but due to high cost and what they showed as lack of insurance (they didn't have our updated info) they didn't fill it! Are you kidding me that in a week's time frame they couldn't have picked up the phone and asked either the doctor to prescribe something cheaper or better yet called me and asked for updated insurance info?? We were told to give them ten minutes and they would count it out. We did a little shopping and went back to the counter only to be told they didn't have the prescription in stock. OK at this point I am more than a little upset. They have had a week and couldn't have ordered it?? Or told me the first time that they didn't have it in stock?? The girl did some more searching and found out that the vendor is having problems manufacturing the pills and may be discontinuing them! AGAIN--they couldn't have told me that a week ago?? What is happening to good customer service these days? If I was secret shopping them they would have received an F- ! Needless to say I will not be patroning Target Pharmacy!!

Pictures Recovered!

Yes. I admit it. I am HORRIBLE with digital cameras. It absolutely broke my heart the other day when I accidentally deleted them all. My husband is so sweet he even said we could open all our gifts again to re-enact them! But, Thanks to google and friends who told me about sites that recover pictures from memory cards-- I have everything back! I have uploaded everything and saved it to the computer as well as posted some on facebook, and now some here. SO here is what we have been doing so far this summer!

The parents to be

Me at 35 weeks--Just come already baby! lol

The four of us together!

My mom made this rubber ducky blanket for us

My favorite picture of Luke's reactions to our baby shower gifts

Kyren loved my cheesecake!

Celebrating a life well-lived

Seeing cousins after a LONG time

I hadn't seen my mom in three months when she came to my baby shower in Utah. She has lost 42 pounds and looks great!

Melissa made me this quilt

Arizona!

Luke and I have been praying for several weeks now and have finally made a decision that will benefit our family big time in the long run. Instead of going to the small engine repair program at the community college here in Salt Lake, we will be moving to Phoenix, AZ so that he can attend Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI). We will be moving after the first of the year to head down there so he can start classes. The program is only one year long and after he graduates they will help him find a job and also give him a voucher to purchase his own tools. They also will help us find housing down there, and jobs for both of us. We are so excited for the opportunity--especially because it is something he is excited about, and will be good at! New year--new adventures!

Jobs...

My job history has not been very steady since I was laid off in February! I was on unemployment for a few months--which I actually really enjoyed! lol- but in May I started at Discover Card. I was excited in the beginning, but as time went on there was more and more pressure to be a sales person, and that is just not me. I even got written up for taking too many bathroom breaks. They knew I am pregnant! The more days went by the more uncomfortable I got there and stressed every day about going to work and what trouble I would get into then. So I quit, a month later!

I also had an opportunity to work on the census project as a temp position. I went through the training weekend and got paid, but after that I realized what a joke! I went in and talked to several people and called a few times, and could not get them to give me a schedule! So, after training I didn't end up working there at all...

Two weeks later I had already found a new job at Teleperformance--a call center doing technical support for Verizon. Training is six weeks long (in Lindon) and then it is an at home job. I was really excited about that opportunity. We train on three different systems for two weeks each, and then test on them. If you don't pass the test the first time you have a day to retest and if you still don't pass... you are let go. The first test I was nervous about. It also fell on the day after grandma passed away so I was a mess.. on top of being pregnant and hormonal. I took the test and left not knowing my results. My trainer text me later and left me know I had passed so I was relieved--I actually even ended up with the highest score in the class! The next topic they started studying the day of the funeral (which I had off for bereavement) and I missed a lot of information. Those two weeks were stressful as I was behind from missing so much. Test day #2 came along, and out of 16 people in the class... ONE person passed (not me!). Re-test day was the day Luke and I were supposed to be leaving to go down to Vegas for a baby shower, but since I had to retest we didn't get to leave until later. When it was time to start the test, nobody could log in to the computers so we started a lot later that we were supposed to. As if we weren't stressed enough... this test turned out to be easier than the first one, and as soon as I was done I left again not knowing my results. My friend from class called me later and this time only 5 people passed! Luckily, this time I was one of them. There are now 6 people left in our class that started out with 20! This is our last week of training and testing again starts on Thursday so hopefully we will get through it so I can be able to work at home and be home with the baby.

Celebration of a Life well Lived

My grandma Rookhuyzen lived a great life. She has suffered many strokes over the last few years, but had one recently that was bad enough that we knew it was her time to leave. Luke, Melissa and I were lucky enough to go visit and spend some time with her on her last Sunday on this earth. She was unable to talk to us and the latest stroke left her paralyzed and damaged her vocal cords, but it was good to be able to say good bye. We told her to look after our baby until it was time to send him to us and just saying that made me lose my composure. We spent a time talking to grandpa as well, and I think he was struggling, but handling things well. Their marriage is one I admire as he never resented caring for her all these years even when she didn't know who he was any more. He always referred to her as my honey or my sweetheart. Even now, after she passed he refers to her as my eternal companion. Luke had only met grandma twice, but noticed the tenderness there as well, and hopes we can be like that as we grow old together. They just celebrated 66 years of marriage in March.

As the week went on, and family arrived-even under the circumstances it was so good to see everyone and catch up and celebrate a life well lived as well. Of the 42 Rookhuyzen grandkids, over 30 of us were there! Not to mention the 20+ great grandkids. It was a huge gathering to say the least. I am grateful for the time we had to have her in our lives and know her, and hope in the after life that relationship will be able to improve and grow even more.

Baby Updates...

Only 34 more days until baby is due! We are so excited and it is fun to say that we will have a baby next month! We have now had three baby showers, and have been so blessed to receive so many gifts! This past weekend was in Vegas, and the last weekend that I was able to travel--I am now officially "grounded"--doctor's orders! It was fun to see friends and family and enjoy time together. We also got the good news recently that Lauren is expecting as well! YAY! our kids will be so close in age! She is due on January 18th (my birthday!!) This week I have my 35 week check up and the doctor will check to see if I have started to dilate yet. One of my friends that came to the shower in Vegas was a labor and delivery nurse for a long time and looking at my profile she said she doesn't think I will make it five weeks--I hope she is right! I want to be a little early. All the anticipation is killing me, and I just want to hold him and see him and watch him develop a personality. But, I also want him to be healthy so we will see how the next five weeks go, but the countdown is definitely on!

Kelly and Cameras DO NOT mix....

We have had a lot going on lately and taken so many pictures over the last few months. I planned on uploading them today and updating our blog, however unfortunately last night on the way home from Vegas I somehow deleted ALL of our pictures.... so the updates unfortunately will not have pictures to go along with them... Why do I have such bad luck with cameras??