Life in the Durst Home

Yesterday went by faster then I thought it would…

The kids had a play date, while I finished loading the truck with dirt… I will no longer be going to the dump; Anthony thinks we can work with what we have!

We went to the dump, and then had lunch…

I took a shower, then A friend and I took the kids to the Clayton park, they put in a new swing set-play gym, and the older kids loved walking up the hills, and exploring, while the younger ones stayed close and played…

I like this park, because it’s so closed off, and not a lot of people know about it…

We came home and made Dinner, then had a family night… Seeing how I didn’t really prepare for family night, we just played Mexican Train again, and read scriptures after… The kids loved it!

Then Anthony found all the papers online to file for small claims court,  we have that to look forward to… Anthony is hoping to have all the papers processed by the end of the week. So we shall see…

All in All; yesterday was a good day for us, we shall see what today brings….

This Sabbath day was very peaceful I have to say…. We got to church on time; all the children got up before we did & showered…. Anthony and I woke up and basically took showers, ate, and got Aubrey dressed and feed and out the door we went…

Brother Rick Taylor gave a talk in church… For those of you who don’t know who he is… He is a man that looks just like my grandfather did. He if Very spiritual and kind. He always plays with Aubrey in Sunday school, and on the day that Anthony and I got sealed he approached Anthony and told him how prude he was… Anthony said he felt that it was my grandfather speaking to him!

So anytime I see him; I always think of my grandpa, and he was talking today about getting back to heavenly father and this is the last days and Gratitude….

I listen to him, and it was as if my grandfather was talking to me, and I just couldn’t stop crying…

I really do miss my grandfather, and I have a lot of guilt with the way I treated him as I was growing up. He loved me so much, and suffered from horrible depression. I wish that I would have taken the time to go in his room and visit, and not just when I needed something… He would do what ever I asked of him, and I really do miss him.

Then after; we went to Anthony grandparents… Anthony’s dad is in town for thanksgiving, with his new wife and step son, we all had lunch… Ruth made taco soup, which I have never had before … And I loved it! Anthony and Marissa and Aubrey loved it too…

I have to say, after not seeing him for 3 years, and really not speaking to him it was really awkward… Hopefully next time won’t be so bad. I was also very tired… We had a late night last night. And I was with out my Sunday nap…

Then after that we came home, made breakfast for dinner, and just sat around the table playing Mexican Train… My kids LOVE that game.

Then I made some cookies, we read scriptures, said prayers and off to bed the kids went.

Anthony and I played a few more rounds of M.Train, and then Aubrey was getting jealous, and kept climbing on the table, so we ended…

Anthony told the kids I was on a “See Food Diet”; for how ever long I can remember me really never at that much, maybe snack at lunch and Dinner… A friend of mine told me, if I wanted to be able to lose the weight I would need to eat 6 meals a day… they would have to be healthy, and I would just need to continue to go to the gym…. I have been doing that this past week, and Anthony is very worried for the out come. I hope that this will work, and I will finally be able to shed the last 5 kid’s baby weight… but only time will tell.

So I thought about it, and I need to be more thankful towards my Aunt Debbie…

Debbie is the one that told my grandma all the horrible things that were going on when I was living with my mother… Debbie called CPS, and got us taken from her…

Debbie came to Reno and rescued us from abuse, and a disgusting life style. Debbie opened her door to us, and allowed Alicia and to move into there very cramped 3 bedroom house… They gave up their master bedroom and 4 girls shared it! Debbie filled the papers out and got us motivated to go to girl’s camp two years in a row… Debbie convinces my grandmother in putting us into Blue Devils (which I loved)… Debbie & Mark took us camping & boating while we were young… My grandmother had already raised her children, and was very tired when Alicia and I came; so with out Debbie we would have had NO fun as young children.

Saturdays are the hardest days for me! I wake up and clean the house with the help of all my children. Then we do a project… Etc… get stuff and take to D.I trailer, mow yard, take things to the dump, bake, go to lunch…. 

We do what ever we can think of to make the day go by faster. However I am always at the same place… By the time 4 hits, I am ready for Anthony to come home…

The past three Saturday he has been working until 6, and let me tell you… The last two hours drag on and on…..

I was able to clean my house, do a few loads of laundry; then I was able to fill the truck up two times, and take it to the dump…. Dirt is a lot cheaper then the Rocks and I think 2 more truck loads and I will be happy with the dirt that is left.

For those of you who don’t know, Anthony and I have been working on this old retaining wall for the last two years. We got the rocks out two weeks ago, and the dirt has slowly been eaten up… Thank you Grammy and Grandpa for letting us fill your hole in your back yard…  So the ground is almost level. Then we plan on using one part for an eating area… Anthony will get some crushed concrete and put on one side, then we will put our BBQ, and Outside table there… The other side is going to be my garden that I am going to try and plant this spring…

Part of me would like to stay in this house until we are able to buy our own house, but then another part is saying, if you want another baby you should move in March to a 4 bedroom…. We shall see which sides win.

Anthony is keeping it up to fate; He would like us to pay back the people we owe money to. Etc His Mom, Dad, and hopefully win in small claims court for our other debt we owe before we move, which I know is smart… So I guess we will just wait and see were the road takes us… We still have 3-4 months to think about it…

Anyway it leads, The back yard still needs to get done, so we don’t leave are very understand landlord with a pile of dirt that they don’t know what to do with!

Seeing how it’s almost Thanksgiving, I thought I would share with you a list that I am thankful for!

I am so very thankful for my family!

I have a wonderful husband that puts up with MOST of my non-sense, and loves me for me! He is extremely hard working, and would give all he could to the success of this family….

I have 5 healthy beautiful children that try their very hardest to be good! They love to help me, and as a team we are able to accomplish any task that gets thrown at us!

They are great, nice, sensitive children, that love going to church, school, and being with there friends as family!

I am thankful for Heavenly Father, for blessing me with wonderful miracles; I know he loves us, and gives us trails so we can become better people…. And really understand other people’s pain and sufferings… I am continual and forever in Debt to him …

I am thankful for Jesus Christ, and the Atonement, through him and only him was I able to turn my life around, and feel forgiven of my past transgressions. I know that he loves me and my family and wants the best for us! He suffered for my sins, and I owe him everything!

I am thankful for our Bishop, he has help Anthony and I get on a budget, buy off are debts, and have a decent savings… He offers work to Anthony when needed, and is just a really great, nice, loving, compassionate man…. Who doesn’t judge! He helped us figure out ways to save on certain bills, and helped Anthony get is truck running again. There are lots of other ways the Bishop has helped, but I will stop at that….

I am thankful that Anthony has a job, and even though there is a recession Anthony has still been blessed with side work…

I am thankful for my sister, aunt, and uncle who put up with my craziness, and are there for me no matter what! They love me for me, and I love them for them.

I am so thankful for the scriptures, and to be able to read them as a family and learn from them everyday! They really are here for are well being, and if we read them and use them, we will feel better about our trails…. Everyone has them trails.

I am thankful for my friends, who also listen to me complain, and act weird, and listen to me put my foot in my mouth, and just brush it off, and don’t judge… I am happy to have

a friend to go to the gym with, shop with, eat lunch with… To be able to express myself and not worry about her judging me…

I am grateful the kids have a great set of great grandparents. Who love to visit with them, and have toys and food ready for them when they come over… The kids know when they visit they are loved… and I am thankful for them!

Anthony and I know they love us as well, and we love them!

I am most thankful for my grandparents, who took my sister and I in; loved us as their own children, and gave us a chance to have a GREAT LIFE…. We never felt different, weird or unwanted. My grandma loved me, and spoiled me rotten… She would have given me the world if she had it to give. I miss her so much, but I know she is in a better place, she is with my grandfather and they are very happy… sometimes I even feel her presence with me!

Last night I asked Anthony to get me a Caffeine free diet coke out of the fridge…

He then laughed and said “you are going to be one of those people?”

Me: “what are you talking about?”

Anthony: In & Out Burger, two banana splits, and a diet coke”

I laughed it off, and said ‘I guess I am, go get me a diet coke!

Last night for KNO, I made homemade hot fudge, and it was so good, that I made myself 2 banana splits – one with the kids, and one later on in the night when everyone was in bed…

And as for in an out burger, I went to the Mervyns 8 days before the store closes, were EVERYTHING in the store in 70-80% off and In and Out is RIGHT there off the freeway….. I have been very good this week with my eating… I have been eating better food, however do to eating better food, I have been finding myself over eating.

And as for the diet coke, with out caffeine, I bought a 12 pack to try it… I figured out my head aches are not from the caffeine like I thought. It’s from the sugar… When I stopped drinking Coke, I sub it for Sprite and was fine, but then I decided I didn’t want all the sugar so I stopped the sprit, and then the head aches poured in… I know that I should just be  drinking water ONLY, and I am trying really hard… But when you grew up on soda – and that was the only thing in your house… It’s really hard to over come!

I thought I was done Christmas shopping for the kids; but going off my list

Something to wear – check for all the kids

Something to Read- needed for all the kids

Something they want- check for all the kids

Something they Need- Still in need of cheep church paints for the boys, I really don’t want to spend $30 on each pair…. I am hoping they sell them at Wal-Mart.

Then as the kids are telling me what Webkinz they want, I thought I really only have a Santa gift for the girls…. Nothing for the boys, And poor Aubrey is getting nothing but Clothes again this year! (Only cause I have NO idea what to buy). I am babysitting at my house this next week, Mon- Weds, and tonight and tomorrow night it hopes of coming up with Extra Cash fast! I really don’t want to be that last minute shopper on Christmas eve (when Anthony will get his bonus) standing in BIG lines, for things I am sure my kids can live with out.

Anyways this is me panicking…. And I know its still not thanksgiving yet, and I have plenty of time…. I just like to OVER RE-ACT!