Coal

 We have been watching the tv series Coal on Spike tv lately.  Cody had been looking forward to it since he saw the previews months before it actually aired. Since we've been watching it, I've actually been able to see kind of what he does on a nightly basis.  It's kind of scary.  Now, this mine is a lot smaller than the one he works at and there are a few differences, but the idea and the work are still the same. It's amazing the work these men (and a few women) do and the kind of danger that they deal with each and every shift.  It's scary to think that these people are so far underground, under miles of rock, coal, dirt etc. This show has definitely opened my eyes.  I knew going into this line of work it was going to be very dangerous, but it was something that had to be done! Not only do they deal with cave-ins, explosions, but also methane gas and carbon monoxide.  I know that they take their safety very serious, and there are strict safety codes and procedures that have to be followed.

 I've had people ask me if I worry while he's at work.  Well, yeah I do. I try not to think about it though. Things can go wrong in every job. I know Cody stays aware of his surroundings and tries to stay as safe as he can.  I also try and remember that coal mining is actually in his blood! Cody's Grandpa, Jack Moser was a coal miner for a very, very, very long time. He is actually still known and respected here in these small towns even though he has passed. Cody's Uncle Terry (Sharon's sister-Bonnie's husband) has also been a coal miner for a very long time. It's a great job, not for the weak (physically or mentally).  It's challenging and exhausting most nights.

Not everyone likes coal miners though. There is actually a restaurant here in town that will not serve coal miners.  It is owned and operated by people that are "one with nature" (not that there is anything wrong with that). All I can say about it is "You have power to operate your business don't you?" Anyway, I know there is a lot of controversy on coal mining, but right now that industry is providing for my family. The mines around here employ most of the people here. Coal miners are hard working, decent people. They aren't the poor, redneck people that the stereotype portrays.

My eyes have definitely been opened living among these awesome people, and getting to know them and their families.  I have a greater appreciation for what they do to make an honest living. If you have a chance, check out the show! It has been "enhanced" a little for dramatic effect, but you can definitely get the idea!

Oh and yes, they do come out as black as it shows on the tv show! Jordyn was pretty amazed (or disgusted) by that!!

Can You Hear That? It's Way Too Quiet!

This week Jordyn has been out of school for Spring Break. My parents had invited her to come to St. George and spend the week there with them.  She misses them all so much, so we agreed to let her go. She is having a blast! Monday she was able to go over to Ashley's house and spend the day helping her with Rusti and Rylin. Tuesday her and my mom went shopping and hung out together. Wednesday & Thursday Jordyn went to a preschool that is in my parents neighborhood. It's ran by some really close friends of the family. She loved it! They were learning about Jungle animals and the letter X. When I talked to her Wednesday night she said "Can I please, please, pleeeeaaasse go back tomorrow?" She went back Thursday and had a Safari! She said that all the kids were very nice to her and she had fun. For show and tell they had to bring something that started with X or had X in the word. She took an "Extra large Penny"! She's just so funny! Friday, her and my dad hung out all day doing miscellaneous activities. Then the family went to the movie Soul Surfer. That was the 1st time she had been to a movie theater (other than the Drive-In), my mom said she did great and that she loved the movie. Saturday she went to lunch with Chad, Danie'l, Sharon & Don. I'm so glad that they came up to St. George to see her. I know they miss her and I know that she misses them. Jordyn said that lunch was "Very fun"!  So as you can see she has had a very busy week. I know she's had fun!

While Jordyn has been gone, our house has been so quiet. It's actually been too quiet. I haven't realized in a very long time how much joy Jordyn brings to our home.  She livens up the house and when she's not here it just isn't fun around here. Some days the silence was just too much. I am so glad that she is coming home tomorrow. We need some excitement around here!  Even Aspyn hated having her gone. The 1st 2-3 days Aspyn was so grumpy.  It was almost like she knew she wasn't here and was voicing her disapproval! It will be very interesting to see what she does when she sees Jordyn tomorrow!  I can't wait!

Cody and I didn't really do anything exciting this week. We did a little yard work, a little house cleaning. We went on a lot of walks around town.  Cody changed the starter & the brakes in the truck. We did go to dinner one night! Mainly we had a pretty boring Spring Break!

Thank you mom, dad & Amber for meeting us in Green River to make the exchange. Thank you for letting her come spend the week with you. Thank you Survis family for taking the time to go to lunch with her! I appreciate all of you!

Just Dance!!

 Today was Jordyn's final dance recital for Beginning Jazz!  She was so dang cute!  When we first got there and she saw the stage she was so so so nervous.  She kept saying that she was cold (it was so hot in there) and when I asked her to smile I got a very nervous smile.  I asked her if she was scared and she said "It really is a BIG stage!"  I told her she would do great and that I was very excited to see her do her dance!  After we found her other friends she seemed to relax a little bit.  I left her in the hands of her instructor and went to find Cody so that I could get ready to film it.

 The girls were all set up behind the curtain, so when it was opened up you see all these little girls in their cute costumes. The whole audience just "Ahhhed"!  Jordyn did really well!  The name of the song was "Just Dance". You could tell that she was nervous. She didn't smile her big flashy smile, but she seemed to remember the steps for the most part! Afterward, she said she had a good time, but she couldn't see what video camera was mine! She's so silly :-)

I was super proud of her for quickly getting over the nervousness that I know comes with performing for the first time on a big stage in front of a packed house.  I am so proud of her for taking a dance class and having a good time with it.  I'm just so proud that she feels good about herself and is willing to participate in activities that may follow her throughout school. I asked her if she wanted to do dance again in the fall when Ms Linda starts up again.  She was definitely excited about that and said that she can't wait!

Jordyn, you did a very, very good job with your performance!  We love you and are so proud of you. We can't wait until the next performance (including the one's just in the living room)!!

Rylin June Crofts Is Here!

This morning at 8:21 am, Ashley, Tanner and Rusti welcomed a new baby girl into their family! Her measurments are exactly what Aspyn's were when she was born. She weighs 6 lbs 3 oz and is 19" long! She looks beautiful and I can't wait to meet her!

Last night I couldn't sleep so I was lying in bed looking at some of my previous posts on my phone.  I came to the entry that I had written when Rusti was born and I just had this feeling that I would be gettting a phone call or a text very soon telling me that Ashley was going in to have the baby. It was about 30 minutes later at 1:09am that I received a text from Ashley.  All it said was "Baby Alert"!  I was so excited I could hardly text her back.  Finally I ended up just calling her!  She said that she had been at the hospital for about 2 hours. She was still at a 4, but contracting every 3-4 minutes.  She needed to have 4 hours of antibiotics before the baby was born, so they were going to get that going pretty quick.  I told her to keep me posted and told her that I loved her.  It was so hard not being there this time with her.  I was there to see Rusti being welcomed into the world and it was amazing! I didn't mind not seeing Rylin being born, but just not being able to be close this time really made me quite sad.

Somehow I fell asleep and woke up to a phone call from Ashley at 6:07am telling me that she was only at a 5 and that Dr Chamberlain was going to be there in a bit to break her water. She said she was feeling ok now that she had received her epidural!  It was a short conversation, but I'm glad she kept me in the loop.  My mom called me at 7:54 to  let me know that her and my dad were on their way to the hospital and that she was still at a 5.  At 8:30 she called me back and let me know that Rylin had arrived!!

Ashley had 4 Ultrasounds throughout her pregnancy and each time they weren't able to determine the sex of the baby, so Everyone was so anxious to know what she was having.  I just knew it was going to be a girl. I was so confident that it was a girl that I had boxed up the newborn & some of the 0-3 month clothes that Aspyn had already grown out of and taken up there for her in February! 

I am so excited that I now have another Niece to love! I'm so glad that she is here, she's healthy and she is going to bring so much love and joy into our family!  While it's girls=4, boys=0 my dad is so excited to have another little girl that he can spoil rotten!

Rylin June Crofts we can't wait to meet you and love you!  Welcome to our family!!