neighbors.

Nathan witnessed a neighbor abuse their child recently. He was on our porch studying for a certification at work when the neighbors (who live a street away) pulled up to the front of their house. It was a mom and a dad and a boy, about 10, and a smaller toddler. They were, by Nathans account, yelling and screaming at the 10 year old boy and then the mother punched him in the face. When he fell to the ground from the force of the blow, she picked him up by his shirt and struck him again. Nathan jumped to his feet and tried to yell at them to stop but they, in their rage, did not hear him. He came inside and called the police. The neighbors retreated into their house.

The officer who arrived about ten minutes later, asked to be directed to the correct house. He approached the door and they answered it. He was only at their house for about five minutes and then he drove away. I was shocked. I cant believe someone could be witnessed doing something like that to their child and not be arrested.

I used to work for a foster care program. I also grew up with a father who was beaten. I have seen the direct effects of this kind of monstrous behavior. Something must be done. Those people have not heard the last from me. I am going to be watching and listening. And praying. Praying most of all.

Mt. Charleston!!!!

Who knew there was camping just outside of Vegas. Before we moved here I always thought of the area as just being barren desert. Being that we love, love, love to camp, Nathan and I decided to go exploring. What we found was a lovely mountain with camping facilities that reminded us of being back in Utah.

apparently Vic and Soren are thinking of taking up body building.

Soren took Hazzy on an adventure they were too cute!

What's up with Victoria? She is a teenager.

Hazel got super dirty with her shovel and bucket.

So she had to be washed. Lucky no cars came driving by, oh wait they did! what a sight.

Creative??

Hazel is my little devil baby. (ok not devil but she is close) She has an impishness that would put even my own father to shame. (if you know him you totally get what I mean by that) She can get into trouble faster than lightning and will.
A few days ago, I put Hazzy down for her afternoon nap. She seemed tired and willing to be put down. I had not slept well the previous night so I decided to catch a little shut eye myself. I cuddled up with my oldest daughter on her bed and while watching some teen movie fell asleep.

I awoke to find my oldest had ditched me to chat with friends on Facebook. I smelled something strange and went downstairs to investigate. My daughter said that she had noticed the scent as well and did not know where it was coming from. I checked the garage, the dishwasher, the laundry, but as I approached my 2 year old's room to investigate I was met with a horrible realization. The smell, was NAIL POLISH!
I rushed into my bedroom where the polish is kept and found looking up at me a completely covered little Hazzy. She had painted herself a pair of pants and some elbow gloves. I cried out and she jumped and started wailing.
Nail polish was everywhere. All over my favorite chair all over the floor and all over her. She was quite obviously aware she had done something wrong since she tried to hide from me after she was discovered. I attempted to take her picture but she hid in the bathroom. The few I was able to snap are as follows.


It took me two hours and two bottles of polish remover to even touch this mess. My chair is ruined as is her little black t-shirt that I can not find a replacement for.
After I got her calmed down and was working on cleaning her up, she told me that she just wanted to look pretty and that she wanted orange toes. That's the trouble with little Hazzy, she is just like the poem about the little girl with the little curl. When she is good she is very very good but when she is bad, she is awful! Her cuteness saved her that day from becoming the newest member of a traveling circus. She has promised not to touch mommy's paints again and I have relocated their storage place to the TOP of the closet.

Yeah

Soren got into the Montessori school that we wanted him to get into!!! I am super excited because it is a charter school so I will not have to pay extra money for him to go but the class size is small and they have a go at your own pace philosophy. We have been toiling to get both Victoria and Soren into alternate schools since we moved to Las Vegas and Victoria got accepted but then bumped and Soren has been on some waiting lists. I was anticipating home schooling him as an alternative. I am just super excited that he will not be stifled by his current school next year!!!!!!!

Soren had his first behavioral problems this year and I am convinced that it was because he was not being challenged enough. He seemed bored with his work. This was not surprising to me since his Las Vegas school was way behind his Utah one. (which is saying something since Utah does not have the highest standards) I am sure that he will thrive and I am suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuper happy that he will get the much needed guidance from school that he did not get these past few months. I am also excited that I wont be home schooling him. I would rather he get the social skills that he needs in a school environment. yeah!

As for Victoria, the school she really wants to go to said that they would for sure take her next year if she works just a bit harder. She got bumped because she had one C. She is now on the honor roll and is doing faboo. If she works really hard next year, her 10th grade will be in a charter school that treats them more like they are in college!

I am glad that Nevada provides so many diverse alternatives to the standard education. We are going to take every opportunity to make the kids stronger and more well rounded!!! whoot whoot!!

fun fun fun

I started a new writing project! should be fun!
http://myproject-mandy.blogspot.com/

Its been a while I guess. We have been busy settling into our new city and home and we are starting to really love it here in Las Vegas. The people are so nice and different than the crowd in St. George. Nathan's schedule is very different than we were used to. Shift work, especially rotating shift work, is not something we ever thought we would be dealing with but we are so glad to have a job in this time when so many are without one.
We have survived our first few holidays here without family, Easter being totally without the Sargent clan. It was strange and wonderful at the same time. We have been blessed to have family around us throughout our marriage but, we have been able to enjoy the special bond that occurs when a family unit is whole without any outside influence. We had a lovely Easter even though Nathan had to work Easter morning! The wise Easter Bunny visited our house the day before and while we were out running some errands he worked his magic. Soren was especially happy that he did not have to wake up "super, super" early to allow his dad to be a part of the action. The next day the kids, who dont like hard boiled eggs, made sure that none would end up in a meal and surprise them.
In true Victoria style, she took her younger siblings outside and they proceeded to smash every last one of those eggs they had, only a day before, loved so dearly. They crack me up!

Daddy missed the smashing but he enjoyed the video I took of it.
I know this pic is random but I just love Hazzy's dress.. had to add it.

Nine Years and Counting!

Yes that is right.. We have been married for Nine years, which means we have been together for a little over ten years.. We have been so busy it has flown by. Having kids, Changing careers (a couple of times) Having lots of money, having none, buying houses, loosing houses, being happy, making mistakes, being sad, learning, teaching, loosing Nate's dad, moving out of Utah, wondering what is next.... but at this point in our lives together, we still find ourselves feeling like a couple of kids in love and just burgeoning in our lives. We marvel together that we have three beautiful children who are smart and well adjusted and so much cooler than were at their ages. Who would have thought that it would have been such a hard road? Or so worth it?
I continue to be grateful that I have Nathan to lean on and to experience this crazy whirlwind with me. He and I have a love that I never knew was possible. It is more cheesy than I want to admit, like the crap you would find in a fairy tale. Amazingly matched and ridiculously happy no matter what life sees fit to toss our way. It seems like we have been together forever but it still flashed by us like lightning.
So Baby, here's to the past years we have shared, and a blossoming hope that the next will hold even more crazy, fun, trying, mixed up, satisfying life experiences for us to share together..
I love you Nathan!

What happens in Vegas??????

So It is official. We are moving to Las Vegas. Nathan got a job there at a water treatment plant and it is better money than we could ever hope to make in St. George and the industry is so solid it is a real blessing. I have some reservations about taking the kiddo's to Vegas to raise them but.... it is were the proverbial window has opened and we are jumping on the bed trying to fly through it. I will be staying in St. George for a few months to try and tie up some loose ends and finish some things we have pending in the state of Utah but Nathan is leaving in a week and a half..... I am going to miss him so much but I am so glad he is going. Pray for us.... Its going to take a legion of angels...

whew

We are hanging in there. Hopefully we will be on our feet soon. I have one thing to say about a strong marriage. I am thankful for it. I have seen hard times ruin a family and most specifically marriages and I am happy to report that Nathan and I are as in love as ever. We are surviving on little else. We appreciate all the love, support, and prayers that have come our direction.
Nathan is starting school in the fall and has a couple of ideas about how to make some money in the meantime. I am still working with foster children and will be having one of them in our home for about ten days this month. We are hoping that I can continue this work because it is so rewarding and I dont have to put the kids in daycare.(the fact that it is tax free money does not hurt either) I have been given more girls to work with every month and am so grateful for my job. I really dont know what we would have done without it.
Keep the prayers coming and we love you all.

Hmmmm.

Its been the climax of the disaster that has been our lives over the past four or five years. Nathan is desperately looking for work. Anything, at this point is welcome.
What the next few months hold for us is unclear but I guess I did not realize how serious I was when I told my hubby I would still love him if we had to live in our van down by the river.