Moving, Ugh!

Brian and I decided to find another home for us. I am very excited for this move, I love the new house, the fact that I can purge the old and start fresh is a very calming for me. However, we have been in this home for six years and honestly I forgot what it was like to purge, pack, and move.
Let me explain:

1. I purge alot. I mean my friends tell me my house is "always so clean and organized." Well, most of the time it is. Despite the occasional Lego, socks, books and Dora items, I keep things together. I have the motto, "if you have not used it, or worn it in a year, GET RID OF IT!"

2. Packing... this is where I am at the moment. I loathe packing. I hate having to use boxes, of course I am using recycled boxes from UHaul, (Here the $ falling out of my purse?) My sister has brought a ton of boxes from work too, but I still need more. Maybe I did not purge enough? Inevitably I have a fight with packing tape. I always have it fold on me, stick to me or run out in the middle of a tape line. Not to mention when it sticks to my nails it takes off my "Mani."
But shall we not forget the hardest part of all, the children! They get into everything I am packing, pulling things out, grabbing scissors, and then when they are finished with that chaos, they turn on each other like a pack of wild dogs. So, like the prepared Mom/teacher I am, I have a bag of tricks. I have things for them to do while I pack. But alas, they only stay at the activity for an average 15 minutes and it is back on! Ugh!
So I take what I can get, packing whan and what I can.

3. Move...well that has yet to happen, we'll let you know how that goes. All I know is Brian just started a new job, I start school on the 25th, Avin starts the 26th, and I have to move by the 31. I am trying to optimistic...(Sigh)

Sleepy, Sleepy Boy

Yesterday Brian was sitting in front of the entertainment center going through and listening to some old music he found. Liam crawled up on Bri's lap and just cuddled down. He had his "Ninny" and "Woobie, Blank, Blank" with him. I heard Liam ask Brian to cover him up and tickle his arm. Next thing we knew he fell asleep despite Creed and Stryper playing loudly right next to him.
I could not believe it. This really brought us back to the "old days" when he was just a little baby and we could hold him all the time. Now he is a Rip Roarin' 2 1/2 year old always on the go! Brian and I took a "heart picture" to remember this always.
And yes, despite all that we do, Liam's hair always stands up like a bird. He has been like that since birth. Poor baby!

Devin Rocks!

Our sweaty Drummer Boy!



Devin on the Drums


"Tyler Do not Drop me!"



A Motley Crew!

The hard work paid off! Last nights show was a crowd pleaser despite the fact that alot of the crowd were friends and family! Of course they band is a "work in progress" and my garage and our ears will never be the same. I love that Devin is so dedicated. Honestly watching him last night made our hearts swell with love. He is such a beautiful talented son. Brian was watching him and leaned into me and said "you know our son is a very talented drummer." It was I think his first realization that Devin can make it in anything he wants to do.

Yes, it is the elusive teenage son.

Devin Thomas Justice-Dreier the most amazing kid I know! I have been blessed to have him in my life and be able to call him "my son." He has been a wonderful addition to my family and we know he has great and wonderful things ahead of him. So what has he been up too? Alot! Keep reading!

I was looking through my past blogs when I realized that there is nothing much about Devin on here. How can we be "Dreierpartyofsix" and not have him on here? As you see by the title of this blog, he is the ever elusive son. What can I say he is17 and heading into his senior year in high school. The BIG finish! It does not help that Devin hates, I mean hates getting his photo taken and will at all cost avoid it. Sigh! He must get that from Brian.
So here is to the most talented, loving seventeen year old boy you will ever meet. He is the keeper of the peace, the big brother, and the son with much to offer.

Devin has inherited his talent for music from Brian and Grandpa Morgan. There is a very strong genetic trait for being able to pick up an instrument and "get" the music. Devin started with playing music when he was ten years old. He sat on the PowWow drum with Dad and the guys. He decided in sixth, seventh and eighth grade to play the flute in band. Not a traditional instrument for a guy, but we do not believe in "gender stereotypes." Sophomore year he joined the drum line. He is definitely a born drummer. You do not see Devin without him tapping his fingers to the beat he is creating in his head. He got his own drum set for Christmas almost two years ago.

Almost a year ago, Devin picked up the guitar and Bass. He just sits down and plays around and plays, and plays! Now he is in a band, and has played in a public venue for an all age show. Practice happens in our garage, so do not be surprised if you hear hard core death alternative metal when you stop by. With school starting soon Devin will be very busy with Band, his band, school and getting ready for life. Hopefully he is still planning on serving a mission too.

Here are the guys! Devin, Tyler, Mike and T. J. who make up "13th Hour" This Saturday is their second show at a local all age show place. I cannot wait to see their hard work pay off!

Vintage Aprons

Ooo I love Vintage finds! These aprons I found at a local flea market/antique mall. I had to have them. The blue one is a hanky apron, to cute! The pink retro one was a must because the fabric is to cool. I have loved aprons. My Grandma Cutcher and Great Grandma Mauter always wore them. My love of them was stirred up when I participated in a Summer Apron swap. Now I am addicted. Be prepared friends and family, you may just get one for Christmas!

Adversity=Strength

All around you there is adversity. Each day there is something more to overcome. Some where along the way I have started to look for the positive, to see the glass half full rather than half empty. My favorite is "Making Lemonade out of Lemons." (Sorry if repeat this often, I just love this little diddy) It is more, and more evident the world is becoming a hard place to be. For as long as I can remember President Gordon B. Hinckley our former prophet and president of our church would say we need to be self-reliant, become strong within our families, and be prepared. Of course, we as members would say " yeah, we need to heed the words of the prophet." But in the past year it is evident. Gas is so expense, food is constantly being recalled, neighbors do not help neighbors, families are falling apart, the economy stinks, and having a job, especially in Toledo is harder and harder. We as a family have been hit with some hard stuff these past few months, but when we lose something, before we turn around we have been blessed with something new. Sure it would be easy to focus on the bad that is happening, but I have finally learned to keep the focus where it needs to be. Brian's business is doing great, he got a new job that is actually paying "something!" I am going to go back to school in a few weeks, my kid's are healthy, and our marriage is stronger then ever! No matter what happens around us, I can look and say "that which does not kill us makes us stronger" and really, really mean it.