Wow...I'm so lame...

It's sad how long it has been since I last posted. I'm frankly kind of disgusted with myself. :-P

Things are going well for Jake and I. Jake is going to schedule a time to take his GED test soon, then, he'll be going back to school. It will be very good for him to find something he'll enjoy. I do know if we could afford it, he would go to school full-time, all the time. He loves to learn. Not a whole lot is going on with me. I work when my court reporter sends work. I've been working on my schooling for scoping, but starting tomorrow I'm going to buckle down and get in focus. I've been too laid back about it.

We're enjoying staying here with my family. We pay household contribution each month and the arrangement is great for when Jake gets back in to school. I think had we found an apartment we wouldn't be able to afford schooling for him. It's great to see the kids everyday and we all get along so well. Things are wonderful here.

Jake and I are VERY excited to be coming to Utah this Christmas. We can't wait to see everyone and meet our new family members. :-) We are very happy for Jeremy.

Love you all and can't wait to see you.

Hey...

hey, is Lynnette the only one who can't get onto the blog?  Let me know.  We can't wait to see everyone at Christmas.  

Stan's middle school soccer team are the undefeated county champions with Cody as the defensive anchor, always taking the toughest assignments.  Josie is loving playing soccer.  She gets to spend hours with her dad and her skills show it.  She's also in choir and was elected student council president.

I'll let Bethany tell you about what's going on with her and Jake.  We are so grateful they are here with us. 

We love you all!

Lana

so big!

It was great to see at least part of your family! I can't believe how big they are. I know it sounds like I'm talking about someones baby but for real! Josie can't be that old and Cody when did he become a little man? It was sure great seeing them and I wish I could see you all.....someday. Love all ya and miss you like crazy!!! Hope all is well with everyone.
-Lynnette-

HELLO FAMILY

Hello everyone i miss you all very much, well i started rollerblading a few months ago juss haven't been able to keep in touch with everyone i love you all very much
Taylor

Wekiva Springs, FL

Hey everyone! Here's our little waterbabies at Wekiva Springs. It's a large freshwater springs that's about 25 minutes from our house. We were worried about the crowds since it's so close to the highly populated areas, but it's such a large spring that it didn't seem bad at all (even with the day camps and scouts!). Bethany stayed home. As you can see, the water is very clear and we saw lots of tiny fishes. I think if you got there early enough, you would see some turtles as well, but the crowds run them off early, I think. The water was pretty chilly but perfect on a hot Florida day. We found our way to cool off, for sure. We're going to Alexander Springs to go diving with Cody later this week; hope to attach some pictures of that! Love you all. And if that was Stewart posting the Father's Day greeting, it was great to see you on, brother-in-law! Say hey to the fam!

Lana

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day Everyone.

WOW!

You all have been very busy! Congrats Josie that's awesome I wish we could watch you play. Cody, you are talented in many, excited to see the video :) Bethany, that is an awesome milestone!! That would definately be a fun run. That would be awesome to get everyone on here. I was going to ask for their E-mails but since you can't find them....... we will look forward to them blogging. It sounds like you are all having fun! Love and miss you all!
-Lynnette-

Running, running, running...

Hello my family! :-)

Things are going well for Jake and I. I've been running with my parents recently. Next week I'll be able to run for 30 mins straight without walking. Woohoo! To celebrate the momentous occasion, I'm going to sign up for a 13K that will take place in October. You run through Disney at night and end up and the Tower of Terror! It will be so awesome. But wait, it doesn't end there. To celebrate that occasion I've decided to run a 1/2 marathon at the end of November and also run one in February. Then I'll be all primed and ready to run a marathon in fall/winter of next year. I'm so stoked! It will be so awesome.

How are things going with everyone else? I feel that this blog is getting oh so lonely since we don't talk enough in it. Come on people. Let's save the blog before it gets up and leaves us! LOL

Love you and miss you all so much!

Bethany

That's right, folks! Josie is part of the MINOR LEAGUE FLORIDA DISTRICT 14 TOP TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP team! (In case you can't read the sign...lol) She led it off in the first inning with the first score of the game...stealing home, of course. And she ended with the 3rd out for the other team in the last inning by fielding it from 2nd base to 1st! We are all beaming! It was a great season and the parents were just awesome! BTW, that's her on the right, sitting on her foot. She's trying out for a travel softball team and a soccer team (giving up dance for two sports) and Cody tries out for a new combined league for soccer. Looks like we'll be busy as anything...*sigh.

Love you all and will keep you posted on the kids' trip in July. If you want to see Stan, you'll have to shoot down to St. George to say hi during that time! I've had an e-mail from Roberta and we're going to send them an invite to the Banks blog...she sounded very excited about it. (Guess we'll have to stop talking about them behind their back...LOL...just kidding, Roberta!) Anyway, I'm going to get that rolling soon. I'll probably have to have her re-send all their e-mail addresses...I know I got them...but I lost many things in the move....*SIGH!

Talk to "y'all" soon! Remind me to tell you about Cody's guitar concert where he played lead on the mandolin for a song...I'm knocked out, no kidding...actually, I'll post video when I get the DVD...

Lana

Way 2 go!

That's great!!! I'm excited for you. I wish I was there to see you in action again :( Maybe one day. It sounds like everything is working out for you. We did see ironman and yes it is a great movie. Hope all is well with everyone. All my love! -Lynnette-

The band liked me

The band that I had the jam with yesterday really liked me. They said that I have the sound they're looking for and they said that if there are any songs that I would like to sing, they would learn them. I'm very excited.Things are going well for Jake and me. Jake's been keeping busy moving all of our music to a network so we can access it from any computer in the house. He's very excited to go to school. His plan is to shoot for this fall but I think he'll have to wait until spring because there are still a few things that he needs to work out. Work has been even for the last couple of weeks. Other than that things are going as they go. By the way, Ironman is a GREAT movie. If you haven't seen it, you should.

How about them Jazz!

Go Jazz! I hope that the cream the Lakers.

Things are going well for Jake and I. I put an ad out last week looking for a band and I have an audition tomorrow afternoon with a blues band. They do lots of gigs at 3 different venues and do radio promos and blues festivals. I'm SO nervous! Today Jake and I are having sushi with a guy that wants to put a cd together but he didn't give me too much info. So we're going to meet him and see what he has to say. If the blues thing doesn't work out there is another band I can talk to. I'll toss you all an update as soon as the verdict is in.

homebound.........and gagged ha ha ha

okay, so it's just the kids coming? I look forward to seeing them for sure! Ya keep us posted on exact dates when it's closer. I do have my moments as far as liking being home :) Just like any job, there are days you love, days you hate, and days that are just like any other day. My kids have enjoyed it (sometimes they wouldn't like me around so much lol). It sure is great to talk with you! Love and miss you all!!!!!!
-Lynnette-

July visit for the FL Banks kids

Hey Lynette! Great to hear from you and hear that all is well. At this point, my mom is planning on flying them out from approximately July 15 through the 31st; they have the big Robinson reunion the weekend of the 24th in Wyoming. I'll keep you posted on the exact dates. You still enjoying being at home or are you going crazy? Will write again soon but have to get back to work...Bethany hollered downstairs that you had posted so I have to see for myself...LOL! Love you, girl, and miss you more than we can say...

Lana

'bout time!

Hey, there is life out there! Ha Ha. I'm glad you decided that we needed to hear from you......Just joking but for awhile there I thought I was the only one on this blog. Glad to hear that everyone is doing well. We are all surviving out here. Kelsea finally got the test done to get her learners now if she would hold still for two seconds we could actually go and get it. She keeps busy with her friends and now it's closer to the end of school they are all getting spring fever. We got lagoon season passes for Christmas and finally got to use them a few weeks ago. It was chilly but fun, there were no lines and you weren't dying of heat. Kelsea and Brady went again yesterday and said it was fun but still cold. Can't wait for it to warm up at least to eighty.....I know I don't want to hear about it :) I'm just jealous. As far as all the boys, I guess all is well... we went camping last weekend and they had a blast with the four wheelers, hunting rabbits, and target shooting. I had fun shooting my 22, got a little stress out:). Ryans job is still going strong even with housing slowing down, he has a ton of commercial so no worries. I have possible jury duty, tomorrow I go to the courts to find out...wish me luck
Well that's about it......oh Stan I hope you got my message for your birthday cause I did remember and called but you were in Cali. at the time.
love, -Lynnette-
P.S. what are the dates you will be here in July?

Happy week after tax season...

Whew! It was a brutal one for us but we're just going to have to move forward. Things are as busy as ever. We tried to bid up the pie in the face and ended up winning it (though it really should have gone to one of Stan's students...I really feel bad about that). So Cody got him square in the back and Josie got him with a surprise water balloon two days later since she didn't get the honor!

Love you all! I'll post for me again later (ha, ha!)...

Hello? Is there anybody in there?

I can't decide if I'm relieved that everyone is more lame than I am or not! Just a note to let you know we are thinking of you. Josie's softball team is undefeated so far...very exciting! The girl has turned into a player. Stan is making a DVD that should be awesome...and having a great time doing it.

Cody just had his first track meet. Stan is coaching the distance runners for girls and boys, and his girls won (on the strength of the distance runners, I might add) and the boys only lost by 10 points....not too shabby for a first-time team from a brand-new school.

Stan is going to be in the Faculty Follies, a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society. They are auctioning the opportunity to hit him in the face with a pie, and he is inspiring their desire to do so with his well-known "Yo Mama" humor. The one he'll use on stage is: Yo mama is so voracious, she gonna eat the pie before you can throw it. (He loves using them to build vocabulary...lol...) We'll let you know if they hit him!

Bethany is getting ready to learn how to read steno (I told her I'd learn with her) and she's very nervous. But she will be awesome. Jake is busy with work as usual.

The kids can't wait to come to SL in July. Hope you all can kidnap them for a day or so...that way they can get a Banks fix. And we are busting to see everyone over the holidays...of course, it might be the next time we hear from anyone! (Does anybody feels guilty yet?!?)

Love you all...will write again soon...

9 down, 16 to go!

We just finished our 3rd marathon here...SLOWLY...but we finished. We're beyond caring about time...well, I am, anyway.

Just wanted to check in! Huge congratulations to Jeremy...who never called me to give me all the juicy details...Stan stinks at that stuff (haha!). May you be beyond happy.

Josie and Cody are busy with sports and school, Bethany is busy with work and school (we go on almost-daily walks and complain about a client that drives us loony!); Stan is busy wrapping up the last 8 weeks of school. Jake is working, but the shop is closer so it's better. And I'm working and in a semi-panic about getting tax crap together this week to send to our accountant; I've got some serious digging to do. Wish me luck....

I lost a cousin of mine this last week, 48 years old, dropped dead in front of her teenage daughter. My heart aches for that girl. But it sure made me feel the distance and just wanted to tell the people we love that....well, we love you like crazy. Let's get this blog going again and not lose touch. There's only so much a person can do but I can definitely do this much! I'll be better, I swear...

lana

February

WOW we are pretty bad about this. That's okay. It's my fault too. :) So fill me in on what is going on in life. I miss you all terribly. I'm counting down the days to December.

Snow cones anyone?

You poor snowed in people...heehee. I'm ready for the beach baby!! WOOHOO! Sorry I haven't been on in awhile. Things are going well here. It's actually pretty warm for the winter down here and the locals are complaining. It's funny that we leave UT and then it has the best ski season in15 yrs. At least that is what I've heard. I so don't miss shoveling driveways or scraping snow off the windshield.
Mom and dad are going to San Fran next weekend. The new Bingham debate coach is flying him out to surprise the debaters at the tournament. So I get to get some mommy practice time. :) Cody and Josie are doing very well. Josie received her first straight A report card. Cody also received a 4.0. He does very well in school and is excelling in all of his classes. Josie started softball practice today and I think her first game is in March...I think. She is still in dance for now, but is planning on dropping that after her recital so that she can pick up soccer. She is so sporty. :) Cody is still playing with his soccer team and is doing well. The kids are changing SO much. Sometimes I can't believe it. Mom had a little break in work this last week and she is afraid that Feb won't be as good of a month as others. Dad is teaching hard and doing a darn good job with it. He picked up contacts this week. It's funny to hear his stories about trying to put the contacts in. LOL. He makes us giggle like crazy.
Jake and I are doing well. Jake's work has been a little bit of a pain though...When he was hired on the told him that his review would come up in November and that they would give a raise that was close, if not equal to, what he was making in UT. November came and they informed him that the company had put a freeze on all raises until the beginning of the next year. So he waits...January comes! The company tells everyone that they bought out their sister company and are expanding. Jake's boss tells him he is leaving and that he wants Jake and another person to take over his job duties. Boss man goes to his boss. Boss man comes back to Jake and let him know that they are shutting down the branch that they work in and everyone being split up and moved to other locations. Jake is now in the new location. His new boss wants to train him for on-sight printing. This means they will send Jake to an engineering firm and architecture firm and have him print there. Which could be nice. Jake asks his boss about his raise that he's owed and new boss man says...wait for it..."Paperwork is all crazy from the move. Once we get everything sorted out we'll talk to you about a raise." *Sigh* So we wait. I've been busy for once. I signed up for an online scoping course to help me learn more about my software and so that I can pick up a client. I get everything together I get set up and then my current client actually gets really busy and I don't have any time to do more than the first 2 lessons. But on the bright side, I've made more money this month than I have ever made. :) That is nice. I'm supposed to have a break next week so I can really focus on school. That is very good because once I'm done with school and I get established with another client, then Jake and I are going to try for a baby. I want to be a mom now. I'm ready for that big step. I just need to get my things in order.
Jake and I are also planning on flying down to UT for next Christmas. We looked at our finances and figured that with our tax returns we will so be able to make it down.

Remember, if you ever get tired of snow and need a break come on down to sunny FL and we'll all go to the parks and the beach! I love you all and miss you terribly.

C'Mon!

It's pretty sad that it has been over a month since the last post! Hope you guys had a beautiful Christmas(I'm sure you did with the weather). We had a good one it was nice to see Charlotte and the kids:) We took them sledding and boy did they have fun, they didn't even get cold but Charlotte said when they got back to Arizona they appreciated 60 degree weather. Isn't that funny, my kids would be swimming in 60 degrees if I would let 'em!LOL! Anyway, I think I would have enjoyed layin' on the beach too, that wouldn't be so bad:) So what was every ones favorite gift? How is everyone? What are you guys into now? We finally got back into BMX (indoor of course) for the first time Sat. He qualified to the main and came in 5th out of 6. Not bad for not doing it for four months! Zach's looking forward to getting back into it. It's held at the equestrian park, in south Jordan, during the winter. They build it up every weekend and tear it down on Sun. for the horses during the week, CRAZY! Kelsea is o.k. with school but loves going for the social purpose of course. Brady is getting back on the drums and Conner, well he's content with a pad of paper and crayons. Ryan's still crazy busy with work, which is a good thing. I'm getting better at the whole being home thing, which is good Ryan surprised everyone on Christmas with Lagoon season passes! So now I'm home we will be able to go alot!!! My back is doing much better, still go to the chiropractor three times a week but only two more weeks of that! Love and miss you!!! Kisses and hugs love, -Lynnette-