Lotts going on

 

 

Mike worked in California the last week of May.  The kids and I joined him and had a blast soaking up the sun all week long.  This is the second year we have gone with him and it is truly the best vacation ever.  We sleep in, stay up late and swim all day long.  Poor Mike doesn't agree as he has to actually work.  I did remind him that he did get to see us at lunch a few times and at least he wasn't alone in the evenings.  Alex stayed back home and enjoying the place to himself.  He even took up a little fishing with his Grandpa while we were gone.

 

 

 

We pretty much had the pool to ourselves all week long and it was great.

 

 

 

I even enjoyed playing around in the water with the kids. 

Now that's a knife.  We went to the Bass Pro shop and Alex drooled when we sent him this picture.

Doing some fishing in Mantua.

 

 

Tuckered out after a long hard week of swimming.

 

 

 

This made me smile.  And it is so true.

 

 

I like to take pictures of things I read so I can find them later.  I came across these while reading the Ensign lately.  These words have given me much comfort and so I would like to share them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My cute turkeys.  (and no this isn't a new pet of ours)

 

We enjoyed our last family vacation together with Alex in Yellowstone.  It was a family reunion and we had a lot of fun with relatives.  It was very beautiful and the weather was great.  We did get poured on one day and that was a fun adventure. 

 

Mike and I and the trees

 

 

 

 

We had a huge snowball fight afterwards.  It was pretty fun and I am sure passing cars thought we had never seen the snow before.

 

 What a nice big brother.

 

 

 

We saw three bears.  It was very exciting.  This grizzly crossed the road and we were lucky to get a quick picture of it.  Boy was I glad we were in our car as we were only about 25 feet away from it.

 

 

 Jaime is an official teenager now.  She celebrated her 13th b-day while we were in Yellowstone. (Read the sign behind her.  It's pretty funny)

 

 

Can't believe it has been so long.  We love and miss you Ryan...  so much.

 

 June 12, 2014

 

 

 

The busy month of May

 Silly Adam with a chicken on his head.  So I was crazy and we got 7 new baby chicks.  We have 8 adult ones.  Yikes, anyone need eggs ???

 

What a clown!!!  We went to IN and OUT Burger a few weeks ago and Ethan enjoyed wearing the hat (minus the wig) around for a while.  It was quite amusing.

Holding a cute baby goat, which we do not own. 

 

May 8, 2014 

Jaime at her last choir concert of the year.  We are very proud of her.  She ended up finishing her 7th grade year with a 4.0.  She has also informed us she wants to be valedictorian of her senior class.  You go girl.  That would be wonderful!!!

 

Alex graduated from Fremont High School on May 19, 2014.  He also graduated from seminary the night before.  We were all very proud of him.  He leaves for his mission in 35 days.  These are exciting times for our family.  I know he will help those he serves in the Philippines.  I am very proud of him and can't wait to hear all the amazing things he will have to tell us.

 

Elder Lott

spring is in the air

(Memphis Temple)

Mike and I enjoyed a quick trip to Arkansas to visit his brother Chris and his family.  We had a great time seeing them and their two cute kids.  I was so excited to be able to go to four new states.  Yeah.  It's my goal to make it to all 50 states.  I am to 28 now.  Mike is winning at 38.  Darn.

The yard work has begun.  We spent a few weeks filling our flower beds with around 25 yards of topsoil.  Alex and his friend were great helpers and did most of the work themselves.   Mike figured it out and it was over 20 tons worth of dirt.  Boy did they get a good work out. 

 

 

 

Happy Happy Happy 

 ( I couldn't resist.  It was $10 at Wal-Mart)

 

 

 

 

 

Soccer has begun.  The boys are having so much fun.

 

 

We are still paying Ethan a dollar for every goal (so far that is two).  I missed his first goal and felt bad so I gave him an extra quarter.  Now he has asked that we not watch every time so he makes more money.  He's pretty sneaky.

 

 

Ethan lost his first tooth.  He had Alex tie some floss to it and pull it out.  It was priceless when it came out and Ethan was running around and exclaiming with joy, "I lost my first tooth."  He later commented on how strong Alex is because he was able to break the root and pull it out.  There is never a dull moment with Ethan around.

 

April 12, 2014   
 We enjoyed pizza with Ry.

 

 

So it begins again.  Long story short, Adam was riding his bike and crashed.  He has a broken collarbone.  What's up with our family and collarbones.  This is our 4th now.  I am totally making all the kids drink milk and might consider having them wear a full padded body suit when they ride a bike.   Poor little guy.  He was only able to play one soccer game and is out for the season.  We also have had to postpone his friend birthday party and he is missing out on many other things.  He hasn't been able to use his right hand for two weeks now.  He's getting very good at using his left hand and we are finding different was to entertain a normally very active boy.

 

 

 

April 13, 2014 

Happy 8th b-day Adam

 

 

 

 

Pie fight

 

It looks like Ethan is crying but he is actually laughing so hard.  It was so funny to watch them make a mess of themselves.

 

Happy Easter Ryan.

 We are so thankful that our Savior rose again so that you will some day as well and we can be together forever.

We played the game "Headbands".  Each person asks yes and no questions and then trys to guess what picture in on their headband.

 

 

 

 

Adam is so happy to be a cub scout.  He has asked many times to go back over to his den leaders house to work on scouts.   He doesn't understand why scouts is only once a week.  He's so cute.  He earned his Bobcat award at his first pack meeting just a week and a half after his 8th birthday.  The other day we were at Wal-Mart checking out.  He noticed an old lady behind us and asked if he could help her put her groceries up on the conveyor belt.  I thought it would be hard considering he can only use his left arm but saw the look on his face and couldn't tell him no.  He was so proud to have helped her and later told me he did his good turn for the day.  I was so proud of him.  He is such a special little boy.

 

 

April 26, 2014

A special Day For the Lotts

 

Many tears were shed.  It was so special to see Alex dressed all in white and to know he will be going through the temple soon.  My heart was also full knowing that even though we couldn't see him, we knew Ryan was with us on this special day.  It was also hard taking these family pictures without Ryan.  It didn't seem right but was better when I took his picture off the wall so he could be included. 

Mike ordained Alex to be an Elder.  Afterward Alex baptized Adam and then stood in the circle as Mike confirmed Adam.  It was so sweet that Adam asked Alex to baptize him a few months ago.  Not many big brothers get this special opportunity.  We have asked Ethan if he wants Alex to baptize him.  He did enee menee mynee mo (ok I don't know how to spell it) and Mike won, so he will have Mike baptize him.  He cracks me up.

 

We had wondering how it was going to be baptizing Adam with his broken collar bone.  Alex practiced with him a few times at home.  We were prepared that it might have to be done a few times but Alex did a great job and only had to do it once.  We took his slings off and Adam kept his right arm down and Alex plugged his nose for him.  Alex did tell me later that he had to push Adam's stomach down because he was floating up.  It looked perfect to me.  Mike and my father were the witnesses.  Adam was so happy and later told me he wanted to be baptized again.  Ethan has informed Mike and I that it is a stupid rule that 5 year olds can't be baptized.  We told him he should tell that to Heavenly Father, who I am sure is getting a chuckle out of our little guys frustration.

 

 

Alex leaves in 63 days.  Wow.  That is going by quickly.  I have been busy shopping for clothes and other necessary items and preparing him and our family for this joyous and heartbreaking day.  We are so proud of his worthiness and are excited to see his life and the lives of other's, including our's, change for good.

 

Just a heads up, Alex's farewell will be held on June 29th @ 9am at the Hooper Stake Center.  All are invited to come.

 

The call is in....

Little Elder Lott as a missionary for Halloween when he was 1 1/2.

 

 

 

Alex received his mission call today.  He submitted his paper work last Tuesday so we were surprised to have received it so quickly. 

 

He is going to the Philippines Cauayan Mission.  He leaves on July 2.  He will be speaking the Tagalog language. 

 

 

(sad little Adam)

 

Happy tears were shed as he read the call from the cemetery on Ryan's grave.  There were also tears of sadness from Jaime and Adam as they are realizing they will be losing another brother for the next two years. 

 

We all are a little shocked, but excited for this new adventure for Alex.  Right now he is most nervous about the food.  I am thinking that in a few months my cooking isn't going to look so bad to him.  Ha ha. 

 

Anyways, we are very proud of him and that he is worthy and willing to serve.  We know the Lord is sending him to where he is needed.  We know he won't be alone on this journey.  His brother will be by his side looking out for him.

 

 

Lotts of love in February

Alex got his braces off.  Yeah.  His teeth look so great.  Today he goes to the dentist.  Hopefully he won't need his wisdom teeth taken out.  I am crossing my fingers.

 

 

 

Alex turned 18 on February 10th.  We enjoyed a nice family meal at Texas Roadhouse.  He was Happy Happy Happy with all the gifts he received.  I guess everyone was thinking the same things as he got loaded up on Duck Dynasty things.  What was I thinking getting him a duck call?  Now I hear the sound of a poor distressed duck at odd times of the day.  Oh well, at least it's better than heavy metal music.  We are excited that Alex is preparing for a mission.  He will hopefully turn his papers in next month.  It's a wonderful time in his life and we are very proud of all the good choices he has made.  He graduates in three short months.  It's crazy that our oldest will graduate and leave on a mission and then our youngest just begins as he starts kindergarten in the fall. 

 

 We love you Alex.  We will miss you this summer but know you will be touching lives as you serve the Lord.  We are also so excited to find out where you will be called to serve.

 We miss you Ryan.  How special it will be to have two sons serving the Lord at the same time.  I know Alex will feel of your spirit on his mission.

                                                  Feb 12, 1014

 

 

 

Ethan just told me he should be in a yogurt eating contest.  He told me he just ate an entire yogurt in one second.  Wow that is fast.  I am so proud of this special talent he has.  He is such a cutie.  Last night he blew me a hug.  I have been blown a kiss before, but this was the first time to have been blown a hug.  We figured with Alex leaving this summer we would be saving on grocery bills.  Boy was I wrong.  Ethan must be going through a growth spurt or something because he can eat as much as a teenager.  And with some meals Adam isn't to far behind.  Ethan loves to play go fish and war.  So, I find myself spending a lot of time with him doing so.  It is cute that he is so proud when he wins.  I treasure this time with him and am so thankful he is still little and enjoys the simple things in life. 

 

Poor Ethan got a fat lip playing football with Adam.

 

 

 

Adam lost one of his front teeth a few weeks ago.  He looks so cute trying to stick his tongue out between it.  He had so much fun watching the Super Bowl.  He had always loved the Broncos but decided a few weeks before that he wanted the Sea Hawks to win.  He has such a sweet heart.  The morning of he came to me practically in tears not knowing which team he really wanted to win because he liked them both.  I told him he could like both teams and that he should be happy for the team that won and sad for the team that lost.  That answer seemed to work for him.  After the game he really felt so sad for Peyton Manning.  He said he had tried his best.  It touched my heart to see such compassion from such a little boy.  It amazes me how much my sweet little children teach me.  Needless to say, Mike and Alex weren't ok with the out come of the game as they are both Broncos fans as well.  Sorry guys, maybe next year.  At least we had some yummy treats.

 

Jaime is still doing excellent in school.  It's funny to hear her complain about having an A- and that she needs to get it up.  I have informed her that even B's are great grades and that we are proud of her even if she doesn't get straight A's.  But, I have to admit as a parent it is wonderful that she is taking her schooling seriously and working towards the future. 

 

 

 

 

Mike and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary on Monday.  It was great the entire country was celebrating with us as it was President's Day.  The kids were out of school so we had a laid back day.  We slept in and then Mike and Alex made a nice breakfast for us all.  We mostly just vegged the day away.  It was great.  In the evening Mike and I enjoyed dinner at the Melting Pot in Salt Lake.  It was nice to have that time together alone.  I love him very much and am so thankful to have him in my life now and forever.

 

I have so much to be thankful for.  We all do.  When times get hard, when I am feeling sad, I try and remember this and that all is done for my good.  I am thankful I have a loving Heavenly Father who knows what I need the most.  Prayers are answered.  We are just given what we need and not necessarily what we want.  It will all work out for our good in the end and for that I am so thankful.  I admit I have had to remind myself that over the past few weeks.  I always am thinking about and missing Ryan.  The last few weeks have been harder realizing he would be 16 very shortly and knowing this would be a fun and exciting time for him.  He would be practicing driving and soon getting his license and being able to date and being made a Priest.  But it is ok.  I know he is doing a much more important work than I can even imagine.  I am proud to be his mom and that he was chosen- yes, it is hard, but it is also an honor knowing where he is and that he was so special that he was called home.  

 

Thank you Heavenly Father.