The next phase in our lives....

The phone rang on Saturday morning, minutes before we were to leave for Josh's baseball game. On the other end was my new friend from Wisconsin, Tracy Jensen. She is in my brothers' ward (Brad and Jeff) and is in the Primary presidency with Brad's wife Jana. Her husband is going to complete a 1 year fellowship in Hepatology in Cincinnati and they will be moving there in June. Jana gave her my email and Tracy's been so sweet in keeping us in the Cincinnati loop. She talked with a few of her husband's medical school friends that are currently in Cincinnati and began sharing the information they sent to her with me. She would send me new rental listing she had found online that were for 4 bedroom homes or other tips about the area.

Tracy had gotten word that an LDS family, The Ladles, in the Cherry Grove ward was looking to rent their 4 bedroom home. They had lined up renters, but they had backed out at the last minute. After trying to sell their home for six weeks, they were ready for round 2 of possible tenants. Tracy had secured a rental home in Anderson earlier that week, so she passed along their information to us. We called them after the baseball game and they were very kind and warm and we both had a good feeling about them and the possibility of renting their house.

The Ladel's are both from Orem, Utah and they are moving to Baltimore, Maryland in June. The husband, Brian, is going to Johns Hopkins for a hematology-onocology fellowship. He will complete his pediatric residency in Cincinnati in June and went to Johns Hopkins for medical school, where he also completed a PHD. That adds up to 8 years med. school/PHD, 3 years pediatrics, and 3 years hem-onco, for a grand total of 14 years of training. It makes our ten years (4 med school, 5 residency, 1 fellowship) not seem so bad.

We asked if we could come up the next day to meet them and see the house. They said yes, which was beyond kind since it was Mother's Day. After church we drove up to Cincinnati and followed I-257 East to Anderson Township, Ohio, a suburb 25 minutes from downtown and the hospital.

We crossed the bridge into Ohio with the realization that after a decade in the Bluegrass our Kentucky residency is coming to an end. Of course, we won't be far. Just across the river. In fact, Rich will have to cross into Kentucky every day to get to work. Still, it's change. And that is always interesting.

We pulled into Anderson Township and I was excited. It was strange to think that our vague future in Cincinnati could finally be coming into focus. A clear vision of what lies ahead next year was here before us, and I was ready. The city is full of shopping, restaurants, boasts a river front Coney Island entertainment center, excellent schools and was named as one of the Greater Cincinnati area's most livable neighborhoods.

We drove down Beechmont Avenue and spied a Laser Tag place (boys were very excited!) and then down 8 Mile Road until we reached the neighborhood. We passed Summit Elementary School and were pleased by its appearance. We had heard good things about it from the Ladle's. Then on to Citadel Place. When we found the house, it just felt like it fit. We were home.

The Ladle's were gracious and inviting and after a tour filled with homemade bread and jam and much laughter, we were sold. The boys were convinced after they heard: 1) There are lots of boys their age on the street (even 1 LDS family with 5 kids a few houses down that have 12 and 10 year old boys) and football games are often played in the front yards. 2) The school is 3 blocks away (K-6) and the kids all walk to school. 3) School starts at 9 AM (sleeping in!). We called them later that night and said we would love to rent their home if they were willing (Rich and I joked that the elephant in the room was the fact we have six kiddos). They said they were thrilled too. We will head back up in two weeks after Rich completes his oral board exam for a BBQ, small ward meet and greet at the house and sign the paper work.

If you ever wonder if Heavenly Father watches out for his children and has a hand in our lives, this is proof. He is ever present, leading and guiding us through life. Rich and I have never had loud answers, but often have to take that dark leap of faith, hoping that we were doing what was right. But just after we committed to that first step, His presence is felt and I know we were never, ever alone.

Cincinnati, Ohio from I-275 East
The Ohio RiverDriving towards Anderson Township, Ohio
Cherry Grove Shopping Plaza The boys LOVED seeing this on the main road...
Summit Elementary School (K-6)
Our street 1557 Citadel Place
4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bath, unfinished basement, fenced backyard
3 blocks from school
5 minutes from church
10 minutes from Wal-mart, Sam's Club
25 minutes from the airport
25 minutes from the Unversity of Cincinnati Hospital
12 months until Rich's medical training is complete
10 years in Kentucky
1 year in Ohio
1 Happy Family

Random bits of life....

Life in Kentucky is good. Derby time is one of the highlights of the year for me. I love the tradition, the food, the hats and the excitement the race brings. I can honestly say I have embraced and loved the Thoroughbred horse industry and have happily shared its gems (Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Darley, Three Chimneys, Claiborne and the lovely farms, rolling hills, wooden fences and beautiful horses that can be seen throughout the area) with my family and extended family when they come out to visit. The boys completed a huge Derby packet at school on Friday. I was fun to see Matt's jockey silk design (green with yellow lighting bolts) and know they all will always have a deep appreciation and love for Kentucky. It is a place that I will always call Home. Down the road, many tears will be shed when My Old Kentucky Home plays, because I will long for my far away home in the Bluegrass.

We've have some very special days over the past few weeks. Rich and I celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary. My dad celebrated his 59th birthday the following day (April 27). Rich's mom's 60th birthday is today and Mother's Day is on Sunday. We are so blessed to have such amazing parents in our lives. They are wonderful example to us and our children. We love you all so very much.

For the past three months, Rich and I have been team teaching a Sunday school class about Marriage and Family Relations. I know it is a subject near and dear to the General Authorities after 8 conference talks given this past conference were centered on raising children and helping strengthen families. As Rich and I read the lesson each week and prepare for our discussion, it makes me keenly aware of my responsibilities as a mother in nurturing and caring for my children. They are my greatest joys and my biggest stress. I am still trying to find the right balance of time between kids and figuring out how to help each one to find and develop their unique talents and strengths. I feel blessed to have six healthy, amazing children and know only through the help from a wonderful husband and a loving Heavenly Father can I come to know their needs and adequately fulfil my role as mother to these wonderful, young children. I also realize how important it is to teach children how to work. Life is hard and we have to teach our children that it is good to do hard things. Now, the challenge is seeing that happen. Every day is so full, that I need to make sure to give them responsibilities that will help reinforce the value of hard work instead of doing it myself so we can get to the next item on the list of the day.

Our home has been on the market for an entire week. We had 3 showing in 4 days, but absolutely no feedback. That is so frustrating. Each showing gave me less than 2 hours to get the house ready and be gone. In fact, the showing on Friday was for the same couple that came through on Wednesday and the realtor called when I was half way to soccer practice to ask if they could come by a half an hour later. Thankfully I had left the house clean and rushed home to put the port-a-crib away, sweep the kitchen floor and turn on all the lights (in ten minutes flat).

During those first five days I was becoming an OCD cleaner. I would follow behind the girls picking things up and mopping the floor and wiping counter tops off multiple times a day, just in case the phone rang informing me of a showing. I have since come to my senses and realized that I will go crazy living like this and I will drive the rest of the bunch crazy in the process. I just need to work as I go and make sure it is in good enough shape that I could have it perfectly clean in an hour. I think that is more resonable than the way I started off.

These past few days haven't been as busy with showings, but with our near Noah (flooding) experience on Sunday and the Derby on Saturday, I wasn't surprised the weekend was slow. I just hope things will stay active now that the tax credit deadline has passed.

I did have a few heart attack moments those first few days. We had two showings in the first two days. Rich was still in New Jersey, so I was flying solo. I was busy cleaning the kitchen before we all went to Josh's baseball game. I had just finished scrubbing the stove and opened the cupboard to toss the used paper towel and had the entire door fall off when two hinges snapped in half. My heart stopped. What if my realtor called!? I was up early to take the boys to school and was there at the cabinet store at 8 AM ready to get my replacement parts. Good thing I did, we had a showing later that afternoon.

Also, I was cleaning the downstairs bathroom when I noticed a lone ant on the floor. I thought that was odd and totally not good. I got down and searched the floor and soon noticed a trail of ants that went the length of the family room along the floorboard. Oh no! I set up fifteen (no joke) little bits of foil with liquid ant poison and prayed they would haul it all back to their home killing them all quickly. It worked and 24 hours later I haven't seen any more ants. Crossing my fingers it stays that way. (It didn't help that I found the kids eating Doritos downstairs next to the TV today. No wonder the ants like living in our basement!)

Rich is busy studying and studying and the test is less than 3 weeks away. I know it kills him to see the days passing by so quickly, but when the day arrives, I know he'll be ready and it will be a blessing for us all when it is over (and gets his letter that reads PASS!).

Sweet Josh and his baseball team, The Indians, are having a rough season. Tonight they lost their eighth game, bringing up their record to 0-8 for the year. We've been so close a time or two and completely annihilated a few times as well. Josh plays his heart out. He has hit the ball well and had some amazing plays in the field. But he is only one of two 8 year-olds. The rest are new rookie players that moved up from t-ball. We keep encouraging him and he understands that baseball is an individual sport. He can feel confident in his abilities and get excited about his own stats even if the team has yet to grasp that elusive victory.

The boys are neck deep in state testing. Man, VPE is dead serious about these tests. They had a pep assembly on Friday full of cheers, songs and chants about testing. 129, 129! (The highest score possible in each section). Get a 4! Get a 4! (Highest score possible on open responses). They are crazy. Only Trey is testing because only 3rd, 4th and 5th graders take the tests. This year they are taking the CATs test and the Iowa state exam. The school had the kindergartners and first graders make cards for the testing students and they delivered them on Monday. The students get treats, snacks and prizes each day after their long testing sessions. It's amazing how much these tests mean to the school, but they don't make the kids crazy with stress. They try to make it fun and encourage them to reach their full potential, which they seem to do because our school is #4 in the entire state of Kentucky in test scores. No wonder their school motto is "Watch Us Shine!"

Our lives has been invaded by Silly Bandz (post to follow once our last eBay purchase arrives). These colorful shaped rubber bands kids collect and trade became the ultimate craze about 3 weeks ago and they are now impossible to find, even though they are stocked at Walgreen's, Justice, novelty shops, parent-teacher stores and even grocery stores. I noticed the sellers on eBay are all from Alabama and Tennessee and I know they are a hit in North Carolina (boys in the cul-de-sac have friends there who wear them as well), so I am guessing they are a southern states type fashion hit. I asked family and friends in Utah if they had heard of them, but they had not. I love seeing all the colorful bands decorating every child's arm from age 4 to high school (the seminary teacher in our ward told me the older teenagers wear them too!). It's always fun to have trends you will always remember. Garbage Pail Kids, anyone?

I have been totally engrossed in my current reads. I picked up three amazing books about photography. For over a year, I kept telling myself someday I want to take a photography class. Someday I'll figure out all the ins and out of taking beautiful pictures. One day all the f-stops, focal length and white balance mumbo jumbo will make sense. Then it dawned on me, I didn't have to wait. I simply had to read. I ordered three highly recommended books from Amazon.com and I have LOVED reading them. Things are slowly coming into focus and I am more determined than ever to keep shooting in either manual, aperture or shutter priority modes. I know the only way to get tack sharp (new term I learned) photos is if I understand how it all works. It's like discovering a new world. And I'm loving every moment.

A few weeks ago some "nice" person decided to rip our license plate off our Pilot. What a sweetheart. They didn't end up stealing the plate, but we found it literally hanging off our car. The bolts that were welded onto the body of the car had been rip through leaving two holes where the plate should attach and no way to anchor it. I taped our plate onto the tinted back window and asked my next door neighbor policeman if I could get pulled over. He said, yes, I could for improper license plate display, but he said I wouldn't have a ticket issued after the cop saw my current plate dilemma. During one of our hang out during a showing times, I went to Honda where I was directed to the body shop and told it would take 4 hours and $200 to weld new bolts onto the car. Good news: it can be fixed. Bad news: finding a time to drop it off to be fixed.

We have had some funny things come out of the kids' mouths lately.

* The girls refer going to bed as "Bednight." Must be a combination of bed time and night time. I think it's cute.

* We were over at our friends house on Sunday for a 'Break the Fast' and the kitchen was full of people dishing up their food. Matt came over to me, a bit angry and frustrated. "Mom, I can't find my plate!" he informed me. "Okay," I said, "What was on it?" "It was Fully Loaded!" I couldn't help but laugh out loud at that one.

* The other night after the Derby party I had to go back to the Millars home to retrieve my cell phone I had inadvertently left behind. The sky was dark from the storm, but the sun had broken through as it was setting in the western sky. I told the kids it was rainbow weather, so keep a lookout. Brynn soon shouted out that she found a rainbow. We pulled over and took in its beauty (unfortunately I had taken my camera in the house when we were unloading the car). As we continued on, I told her she was such an expert rainbow hunter. She replied, "Mom. It's easy to find rainbows. You look from side to side. You look up at the trees. And you wiggle your eyes. It's easy!" Oh, Brynn you're a hoot.

Random bits of what we've been up to. Life just keeps moving on!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Mom Jackson!

We wish we were closer so we could help you celebrate this very special birthday!

WE LOVE YOU!

Derby Party

Where: The Millar Home

When: First Saturday in May

Why: Gathering to watch the Run for the Roses

There were hats, Mint Juleps (minus the Bourbon),there was betting (albeit with slips of paper instead of cash and prizes of yummy candy bars),there was food, (I made FOUR Derby Pies)lots of friends and tons of FUN! The 136th running of the Kentucky Derby*Thing to remember. When heading to the track, take along a Jackson, we ended up with 4 of the 6 bags of candy from the bets. (I picked Super Saver to win and found out later Rich did too!)

Thanks Drew and Ashlee for a perfect night!

Inspiration?

Brynn's latest crayon rendition of our family brought to mind a very famous work of art.

The Scream

A series of expressionist paintings and prints in a series by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch.

Who knew she drew inspiration from such highly acclaimed pieces?!

That's my girl!

Rainy Days

Rain rain go away....

Driving to church, Man O' War near I-71, 9 AM

*A FLOOD EMERGENCY was issued in Fayette County.

* It was the wettest May day ever recorded in Lexington (5 INCHES!).

* There were numerous water rescues.

* It was the 8th wettest day recorded in Lexington.

* In a non tropical situation to see that large an area receive that much water is almost beyond belief.

* We had it bad…Nashville had it worse. Ten deaths in Nashville, 18 total in Tennessee.

* From Jan 1 to April 23rd we picked up a bit over 6″ of rain (3 1/2 months for 6 inches of rain).

* Since April 24th we’ve picked up over 7″ of rain in those 8 DAYS! Veterans Park "Soggy Bottom" area became a lake.Ducks were swimming above where we have had countless baseball practices. A neighbor drove by later and saw teenagers out with wake boards. They were up to their chests in water.Grigg's backyard. On dry days, the stream is about 12 INCHES wide. Today it was a fast flowing wide river.

Behind Fiddler Creek Drive the normal creek turned into a Mississippi River type water way. The creek's banks are between the trees in the middle of the picture.

We had no flooding in our home. No deaths reported in Lexington.

(*UPDATE: The next day, sunny skies, 70 degrees, the lake of water at Veterans Park was gone, creek was full, but not over its banks and Josh played a baseball game that night. Wild weather!)

Glamorous

This is how she looked when I came in to tell her it was time for bed. After seeing all her adornments, I offered to take her picture before we took off the many lovely accessories she had piled onto her little frame. The photo shoot was my idea. The posing was all hers.

Growing Up

First haircut (back and sides by ears with the Flowbee!)Two teeth

Climbed three steps (Josh discovered this skill and quickly brought him down!)

Loves hot dogs, lunch meat, graham crackers, cold cereal

Found his voice and loves to scream out one long noise often resembling a crow's caw

Beginning to give real hugs and cuddles when held

Loves to pull hair

Tries to stand next to any and all things

Nine months old next week

136th Kentucky Derby

From our Kentucky home to yours:

HAPPY DERBY DAY!!!!