Life in the Durst Home

I got Marissa’s American Girl Doll yesterday. It is very cute. She said she wanted it over a D.S And I think she is finally at the age to take care of it. Big investment, but it’s the only thing she wants for Christmas. Anyways we are on the look out for matching doll and child clothes size 8. If you find anything while you are shopping PLEASE let me know. jammies, dresses what ever you find would be GREAT! Anthony’s mom Kim, is going to make her a few things too. (don’t tell Marissa, she has NO idea)

I think this is the first year I will have all by christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving. In the past I had to wait for Anthony to get his Christmas bonus three days before Christmas to be able to really shop, and this year because he is NOT getting a bonus, I have done a little shopping each week. I have to be honest. I HATE shopping last-minute. This has been Nice….

Up Coming

Marissa’s Soccer Party (I am in charge of)

Devun’s made Finals. so he has another game Sat

Marissa has a final game on Saturday too

Zack’s Soccer Party (I am also in charge of

Anthony should be finished with a project on Friday… (he has to!)

Thanksgiving and A trip to Utah

Going to Apple Hill to cut down our Tree

Planning Zack’s Party

Christmas ~

Anthony goes this friday to quote three more projects…. Including another Kitchen Remodel… He is doing great`he  really needs a full-time employee….. We just have to stop being greedy and pay the thousand dollars a month workers comp fee….. and hire someone! in the long run it is worth it if he could finish projects faster & be home with us more….

Thank you all for your referrals!

So last night went from bad to worse. I really needed Anthony to stay home with me. I needed adult interaction.

He said he needed to go and play basketball but he would only go for an hour. I get a phone call at 10:30 pm saying he needed to go to the E.R that his toe was cut open and needed stitches.  I was very grumpy and NOT compassionate at all. How does someone cut their toe playing Basketball??? I didn’t understand how this could happen, so instead of getting into an argument I just got off the phone. He had woke me and the baby up. And for the next 4 1/2 hours I laid in bed wondering WHAT was going on, but to prideful to call him back.

He got home near 3am. He explained the story.

I guess one of his friends got VERY angry that he lost the game so he Kicked the basketball at the ceiling. The ball hit a speaker that then came crashing down on Anthony. Anthony said if he didn’t move when he did it would have hit him in the head, and he would be with us No longer.

The end result was 19 stitches and a hairline  fracture. Due to his time 3 active contracts he was unable to stay home today, and is now currently at work.

to make him feel even worse when he got home from the DR last night he went to put his air compressor away and someone stole it out of the back of his truck…

Devun was up with us this morning at 6 and Anthony explained to him what happened and how if he hadn’t seen the speaker out of the corner of his eye he would seriously be hurt or even not hear with us today. Devun didn’t say anything about it. After breakfast when Anthony was long gone and we where getting ready to leave the house for school, Devun said “mom, if daddy would have died last night would I have had to quit school and get a job?” I told him NO, mommy and daddy had life insurance, and we would be okay. And I just thought about how grateful I am to be sealed with Anthony in the Temple for time and all eternity. I know that he isn’t going anywhere. But if something did happen we would be together forever in heaven, and I really don’t have to worry with the knowledge that I have~

Today just felt like a soup day. I made Taco soup in the crock pot for dinner, and it cooked long enough (before power went out) to be hot and ready to eat. So right now 3:30 we are sitting in the front room by the fire eating our dinner. It might be early, but other wise its just perfect. Warm belly’s on a cold and dark day.

Yesterday I earned an even greater appreciation for how hard my husband works. And I have decided that I am not going to spend his hard earned money anymore. Besides on bills and food etc.

I worked with him filling the ditch with rock and dirt after he put piping in. It was Hard WORK. and he does this labor intensive stuff all day everyday for hours each day. No wonder by sunday the man wants to come home and sleep. I wanted to go to bed at 7 last night. Forget dinner- I wanted to go right to bed. But instead I made breakfast for dinner (my kid’s favorit) and then read scriptures sent them to bed. I took a HOT bubble bath and then was blessed with bed. He is such a good dad, Sam was not ready for bed. And he walked the halls with him until he too fell asleep.

I learned a great lesson.It was a hard lesson.  I did enjoyed working side by side with Anthony. (and I am sure its something that I will get to do in the future), but right now I am going to enjoy being a stay at home mom. Dinner on the table when he gets home from work. and less shopping throughout the week.

The kids are happy, and yelling the powers on!!! So yes, the power is back on. I can now go and finish cleaning my house.

write  more later

I just got back from working for Anthony. He is pretty overwhelmed right now. He has a bathroom remodel that he started today, while he is in the middle of this rental house that seems to have problem after problem. (it’s very old) I went over today to move rocks for a drainage system that he is in the middle of doing. but after coming across a few complications I was asked to just go home..I felt so bad for him,  I know that he is doing this for our family, but I also know how stressed he is. So while  I drove home I thought I could go clean up. And that is what I did. I got my Vacume- that now needs to be replaced, and spent a good three hours over there cleaning up all the scrapped paint and ceiling mess that COVERED the carpet floors. I should have taken a before and after photo!

He has to go back at two for his inspection. and I have a feeling tomorrow while its pouring down rain, I will be in the middle of it moving rocks. But honestly as long as he is by my side, and the kids are safe I think it will be fun. Now I just need to find a baby-sitter…  We only have this week left to get the house done. Next week he starts a Kitchen remodel. And we all know that two jobs running at once is hard, but three is pretty near impossible if you want to make the clients HAPPY anyway!.

As members of the church most know that once a month we have fast and testimony meetings. Normally it’s the first sunday of the month.Thats when baby’s are blessed, and confirmations are done. etc  This month we had conference the first sunday, so that left fast sunday for today..

after the baby was blessed I felt the need to bear my testimony, but I talked myself out of it by saying I just got up last month. No body wanted to hear me again…. Then Anthony tugged me again to tell me I should get up. I thought What do I say that I haven’t already said. Then I looked over at my son that was in Anthony’s grandmas arms, and I couldn’t believe with how blessed I have been & am. What could I NOT say. I have been giving such a wonderful husband. That loves me, and puts up with a ton of my crap. I have six healthy beautiful children. After all of Sammy’s tough days, he is home healthy and strong. and getting bigger and stronger everyday. When times are tough for most the world, Anthony has been blessed with ton’s of work. I am able to stay home with my children and still be able to provide for them. A few months ago I made a list of things I wanted to have, things we needed and people we owed money to (from months ago) that I wanted to be able to pay back. I found this note I had written to myself, and besides owning our own house and boat – (one day) I was able to cross off everything on that list.  And they are/where things I thought would take years to do.

I have a testimony when we follow commandments we will received rewards. we pay tithing every month, and we have seen wonderful blessing from it.. Even on days when we didn’t think we could eat if we paid. We still paid and food would turn up on are door step. Now if we didn’t have faith are woes would come. But when we had faith great things happen!

I don’t know how many times I can say it. But I love our savior, and I am so thankful for his sacrifice for me.I wouldn’t have an eternal family. I wouldn’t have the peace that I have now,knowing what is to come.

I am so thankful for my husband, and how in tuned he is with the spirit, and how he can give wonderful inspired blessing to our family when we need them(with 6 kids it’s a lot) I am thankful that I am able to have a large family, that love’s me and that I love.

I am thankful for our ward family. With out them I don’t know what I would do most days, They are my family. Example. When Sammy was in the hospital and we where waiting for family members to get into town. People would show up to take our kids to soccer, babysit free of charge, and dinners every night. dinners that keep showing up to this day. for my house cleaner. That really was the best thing that ever happened. I never knew how cleaning products worked up tell now. (thank you Linda Ann)

I am thankful for a house that may only be three bedrooms, is still big enough for our family. And with Patients I know one day we will have a home of our own. But until then, I am thankful with where we are at. Great area, great friends. Great Landlord.

I am thankful for my calling in church- I feel like I get to re live my youth, or better yet I get a second chance living through these girls. Which are so strong, and I love to hear their testimony when they speak.

I am thankful for the scriptures, and the peace I feel as I read them with my family or myself. I feel the power in the words, and know the church to be true. Jesus is the Son of our loving patient Father in Heaven.

Most of all, I know that Joseph smith was visited by the father and son, and restored The Gospel Of Jesus Christ.We are reading the New Testament as a family. I know that we are a part of Jesus Christ true church. It was off the earth for some years (dark Ages) and Joseph Smith indur the persecution, murders and was murdered for what he knew to be true, so we could have the blessings of prophets,& priesthood, current temples that bring eternal family’s and all the other blessings we have now. Greatest blessing is peace… President Ballard couldn’t have said it more clearly in Conference. LDS.ORG

So at the end of the day, I should have gone up are bared my testimony, because I know that this is the True Church of Jesus Christ. I owe my father in Heaven more than I could ever repay him. I can’t say Thank YOU enough.

This is what a wife of a Contractor has to deal with !!! Normally don’t such a huge deal, but when you have neighbors complaining and sending the City out….. That can be a BIG DEAL

KNOCK KNOCK …. Aubrey SCREAMING DADDY DADDY

Open the door

Me: Male standing in front of me, May I help you?

CITY WORKER:  YES- May I speak with the Licensed COntractor that is working here?

Me: There isn’t a licensed Contractor Working here…

CITY WORKER: What are all these Trucks doing in you yard??

Me: That is my husbands truck.

C/W What about the other one?

Me: That is his friends truck- they are on their way out to Brentwood!

C/W Whos trailer is that full of debry?

Me: That is my husbands trailer, he WILL be taking it to the dump tomorrow!

C/W So there isn’t a Licensed Contractor working on this house?

ME: NO- My husband IS a LICENSED CONTRACTOR! He is NOT working on this house. but he is working on a house around the corner that HAS a PERMIT!

C/W Ok, thank you- I KNow your neighbor does have someone working at her house because of all the green board.

In my head I am thinking CRAP!

Zack & Jack are the ICE MEN!

Devun and Marissa had soccer tonight, and of course it was at the same time.

Anthony went with Devun, and took Ava with him. I took the other four children and went to Marissa’s game, her games are only an hour- Devuns last an hour and a half.

Of course it’s the night that I am not there when Devun is able to make a goal. Anthony and I are so very proud of him. For those of you that don’t really know Devun, he is more of a boy scout, drama kid. We didn’t think he would ever want to play sports, because if and when he gets hurt he doesn’t know how to walk it off. Soccer has been really good for him! They won the game as well! Go Devun.

Marissa on the other hand has always been interested in sports, and today was doing GREAT at defense. She kicked the ball about ten times away from the goal tonight while playing soccer. Her team lost, but if it wasn’t for Marissa they would have lost by a lot more than one point. I was very proud of her tonight!

Today my friend Merica had a bunch of women from church over with their children for a pot luck. I think it’s time for Aubrey to have play dates. She loved playing with all the kids, then she came home a took a nap. It was assume.

Not sure what else to write about. The cats are doing alright. Pirate over did it yesterday, now he can get up and walk two steps then he falls to the ground. There was a fun trail of pooh to his litter box today. Lucky for me it started in the laundry room so it was easy to clean. I can’t believe that they have to stay in the house for seven days. Raquel is already going crazy and it’s only day one.

Today I started my day cleaning.I loaded the dishwasher &  I started a load of laundry then went out the door.. Ava had a play date with her Best Friend. So when I came home after picking her up I almost killed myself in the Laundry room. I walked in to get the broom and almost fell . Luckily I caught my fall because the baby was in my arms. I looked down at the floor and there was water EVERYWHERE.

I had a feeling the day wasn’t going to go well. Just a few minutes before that my sink was backed up, apparently you aren’t supposed to put rice down the garbage disposal…  the  rice wouldn’t go down…. I called Anthony while he was in the middle of giving a person (that we don’t know) a quote on a deck. He wasn’t happy that I called him while he was working.

I quickly called Anthony (again) he  decided to stop at Kmart and price new washers. This one was ready to be replaced. I always had to do two spins, to get the extra water out. It finally had enough. He brought a new washer home, and left it in his dads truck while he worked and worked and worked.  He just set it up, so now I will be up all night doing 100 loads of laundry….. I am just happy it happened when we had the money to replace it.

We watched some Church History tonight for family night (before Soccer), and we all really felt the spirit testify to us the truthfulness of the gospel. I love the peace that we feel as we gather as a family and learn about the gospel. Even on days that Anthony can’t join us.

So at the end of the day, my day really worked out. I think I could have been angry about the stuff that happened in the morning, but instead I was grateful that I could take care of the problem, that I have such a gifted, patient husband! I really am blessed. I know that are blessings come from Heavenly Father. and I am truly grateful!

Today is Aubrey’s 2nd Birthday!

Anthony and I took her to Toys R us and let her pick out what ever she  wanted. She picked the little people My first play house. And she got a new baby doll. She has NOT put her doll down. Even when she plays with the little people she is holding her baby in her lap.

She had a nap with it, and when she woke up she forgot to grab the baby doll, and quickly ran back for it. It’s very cute. She even shared her bottle with her doll. (if only she was that nice to Sammy)

We went to Sam’s Club after and got her a birthday cake. We sang to her this evening after we finished reading the Book of Mormon.

I will have to say, today was a MUCH better day then yesterday. We were able to get everything done that I wanted to get done. We had time to read and pray, clean for the house cleaners & eat our  Cake too!

I have to say, since are family started reading the book of mormon together, and try (keyword try) to do what we are supposed to, we have been richly blessed.

“Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly.” D&C90 :24

I am grateful for our savior Jesus Christ. I know that he lives and loves us.