Footballs Over, Parents Day, We Have A Date!

This week has been very busy, like always. However, it does seem to be getting not as busy since Jackson is our only one at home. He seems to get all our attention. It was his last week of football, they played in the October Fest. He went back to the position that he is amazing at, center. Truth be told, he wants to play tight end. Unfortunately for him, he is really good at center and is built like a center. For the last game, they played West Haven. Jackson was going against this 250 or more 11 year old that was piling on after the tackle. Unfortunately for Jackson, he was at the bottom of the pile and Jackson ended up with a cracked rib or pulled cartilage, the doctor couldn't tell which it was. He has winced, cried or yelled after a sneeze or cough for 2 days. Well, it has been 4 years of playing and this has been the first injury for him.

Colton has been called to the "Linger Longer" committee in his new ward in Logan. This past Sunday was Parents Day. We were invited to his ward. As we got there, he took Dave and Jackson to Elders quorum and I said "Hey, where's Relief Society?" He said, "I don't know Mom, see ya" and off they went. I found one of the two Relief Society's that their ward has. (Two RS presidents in one ward-interesting.) It was so fun to see the youth lead this ward. There are two Gospel Doctrine classes. The teacher of the one we went to was very good. He was Colton's Home Teaching Companion. Then we went to Sacrament Meeting. Colton and Joey were assigned to pass the sacrament. They are two of about 8 or 10 freshmen in the ward. Then Colton left to go serve the food. (Yes he wore gloves and Yes he had the biggest plate of food for himself) It was fun to see him outside of our ward fitting in. Afterward, he and Joey (his roommate) cleaned up. A guy came up to Dave and asked him if he was Colton's dad. He then said, "We love him, he is so fun

and big." That is how Dave and I feel about Colton.

We are pleased to announce that the "Nesting Phase" has begun. The mission home has contacted us and told us that Britton will be home at 4:00pm on 1/1/11. We are thrilled. We have already got him re-enrolled in school, his scholarship has been activated and we have e-mailed his counselor in the program that he is in. We now just register him in November and we are all ready. He starts school on 1/3/11. He will be in a whirlwind. We have started painting his bathroom and bedroom. We are starting to find his things that Colton has taken while he was gone. (Somethings we will just have to replace.) It will be so wonderful to have them all here for the week before Colton goes back to school. It will also be nice to have Britton tell us his experiences with the Mission Clothes and preparations as we get Colton ready. I hope this transition to home will not be too hard on him. I know that Jackson will be ready for someone to play catch with or shoot hoops with that isn't his Dad.

UTAH STATE

The cleanest his bathroom will ever be

His bedroom before he raised his bed 2 feet off the ground

Colton and mother approved wall art

His kitchen (he had his wisdom teeth out three days before)

T2

Well Colton is officially an Aggie. I don't know if he has had enough time to become a "True AGGIE". That's pretty fast even for him. He lives in The Old Farm Apartments. He loves it. He assures me that he will continue to get good grades. He lives with 4 other great boys. According to him he has become a gourmand. He has a night every week to make dinner for the apartment. The first weekend he tried to impress all the ladies with Grandpa's Homemade Sheep dip Cookies, that he made and took around to the new neighbors of the female persuasion.

Things that You've missed

Kenny's Wedding

Bitton Family

PJ and Kate

John and Kendall

Maria and Grace

Mitch and Colton at Graduation

Dave and Colton

Colton being presented with a very generous scholarship

Cleone Whitman and Colton at the Scholarship Assembly

Time Sure Flies

Well, my last post was in May. A great deal has happened. On May 28th I underwent another brain surgery. I missed many end of school (graduation for Colton) activities. There was still a portion of tumor still on my eye nerve. This surgery was scary for me but it has been a blessing to our family. I had a small stroke while in surgery. I stayed in the hospital a little longer due to rehabilitation. I have just about recovered fully. My speech and right side was affected. I have been so blessed this past year. I am so grateful for my boys, especially Dave. He had stood by me and helped me and allowed me to slowly get back to normal. Apparently, I was pretty upset about being in rehab. He has been there to be strong for me. Even now he makes sure I take my pills and makes me take it easy.
I am grateful for Britton, who stayed valiantly and strongly on his mission. We earned many blessings from his service.
I am grateful for Colton, who had to end his senior year in high school without his mom to be there for him. He and his friend Mitch came and serenaded me at rehab one day.
I am grateful for Jackson, who worried endlessly about me. He was my caregiver for much of the month of June. He's a good babysitter, walker, breakfast maker and friend.
I have been blessed this last year more than I ever knew possible. Thank you Heavenly Father for allowing me to be tested and for helping me along this journey.

The Sheep Wrestlers

This weekend was the annual sheep shearing weekend. It is a special time of year around the Firth Farm.

As a kid, I remember Sheep Shearing as a day when everyone came up to the farm to see the sheep. Having sheep around your house was so common place for us that we took it for granted until this special day. I was always concerned that the sheep would be cold, or even worse hurt if they were cut.

As a mother of boys, I am grateful that my boys can help my Dad get the sheep were they need to be. It is fun to see Colton in there pinning down the sheep, lifting them over the fence or getting kicked by a wayward leg. Dave has also been a faithful helper for 22 years. I think he has only missed about 5 times. He too is grateful for Colton and Brady to be the sheep wrestlers, for he has out grown the labor and has moved on to the assistant manager slot.

Holland in Washington

Holland 1995

Britton age 4

Britton and Colton 1995

Mt Vernon Washington 2010

Elder Odle and Elder Peterson

Elder Odle 2010

Elders 2010

Mt Vernon Washington

Elder Odle "The Field is Pink and Ready to Harvest."

Last weekend Britton sent us these pictures of Mt Vernon Washington. He and his companion, the assistants and the Mission President went there for Sister Showalter's birthday. He is working in the office. He was remembering our trips to Holland. I thought I would show you both Holland and Washington to see the difference.

EASTER

Who does Eva look like?
Yep Grandpa Baa

Firth Family Easter Egg Hunt has come and gone. Each year we have a great time. Some years it seems that we are few in numbers. This year was one of those years. The only "older kids" that we had to duct tape together were Colton, Nicole and Kenny. Here are some pictures.