Ending Of A Great Year!

It is Jackson's dream to "never hear Krystine say do the dishes, hang your coat up, only use one cup, put your shoes away, clean your room again!"

It is Elle's dream to "never hear her mom or dad say anything about her bangs in her eyes again"!

It is Emma's dream "to have a boyfriend wearing the hat on her head"!

It is Tanner's dream to "never wake up in Minnesota again"!

It is Scott's dream to be "Splinter Cell" for real!

First I would like to say this year has been terrific! The biggest event in the Greer family was that Tanner graduated and headed off to college!! I didn't realize that I would feel such sadness when he left. At the same time I also feel much joy and pride that he has left home and is spreading his wings and growing into the young man I always hoped he would become! He has left such a void in our family that sometimes it is just to painful to think about it but each day gets a little bit easier to have him so far away. I never truly understood the term bitter-sweet until this year. I wonder if this is how our Heavenly Father feels about each of us when we leave his presence. It is the only way we will continue to grow by coming to earth to learn while being apart from Him. I feel that for Tanner to continue to grow he must have the opportunity to learn on his own and explore what this world has to offer him as well as what he has to offer the world! I love him so much and have been so happy to have him home for a short visit during Christmas time!!

Tanners graduating and college life is probably the biggest milestone hit this year but there were other many little things that made this year wonderful. I just have to say I have the best husband in the world and am so grateful to him for all his love, support and patience with me (especially when I want to act like a teenager!) He has been working so hard this year with little time off. The economy hasn't been the best but he is still selling his hotels and making money for his company! Scott was able to take a little time off this summer for us to take a small family trip to the Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. It was a great time and we made lots of memories. The best family trip by far was to Utah for Thanksgiving in Nov. This was the first trip back to Utah for Scott (as a vacation) in 3 years. It was so great to visit with family and enjoy the Holiday with those we love and miss the most. I think Scott truly enjoyed his visit to see his favorite sister-in-law Kate!

The girls have kept me on my toes this year!! Emma completed 9th grade is already half way through her sophomore year! She is getting ready to do some really great things in the next few months...first she gets to take drivers ed!!!!!!! She got pretty good grades this semester and earned the right to drive!! I love how hard Emma has been working to get better grades this year. Emma also started her first real job. She works in a little convenience store right below Scott's office (Scott gets to check on her daily and buy all his mints from her). Emma is also getting ready to take a trip to Europe in June!!! She applied to a program called People to People and was accepted. She and I have been working on fundraisers to help her earn all her money to go on this trip. I am very excited for her to see this part of the world. It is something she has always wanted to do.

Elle has been discovering who she is and what she wants to become and I am so proud to be her mom. Elle works hard in school and loves to get good grades. She is very inquisitive and loves to learn. Some day she wants to live in Africa and I have no doubt that she will do that! Elle loves her friends and tries to do what is right most of the time...she slips sometimes but learns from her mistakes and tries to do better after she falls. Elle just completed her 2nd year doing the paper route (it is a very harsh job here in MN as you can imagine) Elle has been asking if she can stop doing the paper route and I told her as soon as she starts to make as much money babysitting as she does the paper route that she could quit. Well Elle has achieved her goal!! She has become a great little babysitter! She loves to play with the kids and she is so crazy and fun the kids all love her! So this is her last week doing the paper route!!! Hurray for Elle (and her mom)!

Both girls are my friends and I love to hang out with them, snuggle and just talk as well as go to midnight showings with them!! They make me laugh and cry and my life would not be complete without them! I am so happy the Lord blessed me with such great daughters! I love them!!

Well that about sums up our year except for me! I am happy healthy and content! I decided not to go to cosmetology school after many talks with Scott. I am going to be looking for a part time job to help pay for some expenses that a college boy and teenage girls incur as well as have more fun money! I love fun money!! I am still busy as can be with my calling as 1st counselor in RS presidency and also we have two additions to the family....Jackson and Hannah. Both have been here for 6 months and we have our ups and downs but we are happy they have joined us and hope to see both of them graduate this year.

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year!!

I am going to be changing my blogging format this year and hopefully that will help me write more. I will be experimenting with some different styles as the year begins. As those that read this know I love you all and miss my family in Utah so much. I hope that this new year of 2010 brings you all peace and health as well as good times!

What 40 means to me!

Elle's trip to Utah was different then mine...I got to fly, she got to drive!

Katie and Kylee know how to have WAY TO MUCH FUN!!!!

Katie and Kylee goofing off with Grandma while she is trying to catch some sleep!

Elle had some good times before she got sick at Aunt Allisons! She will never forget this trip and either will Allison!

Two of my favorite girls! "Little" Emmy Kate with her sister Chloe. I couldn't get enough of these two darlings!!

On my birthday "The Sisters" went to get a pedicure while Grandma watched Emmy :) we love you Grandma! It was the best treat!!!!

After our pedi's we meet up with Grandpa and had a great dinner at the Cheese Cake Factory. It was such a great day!!!

Allison was stuck in the middle of Grandpa and Grandma. I can't think of a better place to be stuck!

I love my Dad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I made it!!! I have been looking forward to this year for years!!! What 40 means to me....

1. I now have time for golf!

2. I am a more compassionate person.

3. My children can dress themselves and even make their own dinner as well as do a load of wash!

4. I am more forgiving.

5. I have more fun.

6. I have more love handles for Scott to hold on too!

7. I have a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ and his church.

8. I have laughed more.

9. I have endured trials that have made me stronger.

10. I love Scott more deeply and unconditionally.

11. I have seen many wonderful sunsets!!!!

12. I have more patience.

13. I don't let the little stuff stress me!

14. I have to go pee more often!

15. I have read some great books.

16. I have seen more of the world!

17. I have made some really, really great friends!!

18. It's okay to have 10 loads of laundry to do...they eventually get done!

19. That my kids are growing up and away from me, but they will always be close to my heart!

20. I love who I am!!!!

I can't wait for the next 20 years and what they hold in store for me. I know that they won't be easy but I Will find joy in the journey :)

Trip to the Dells!

Newest member of the family, Jackson!!

Don't we look dorky?? Something Clark would do right...

Boat ride around the Dells! Probably one of the best activities! Boy did we get wet!!

The great top secret White House attraction! Wasn't so great afterall!!

Scott got his head stuck in the elephants butt! I am sure it was pretty dark in there!

Family pose!

Emma loves to make fun of her "dumb butt" dad!

Tanner and Emma enjoying the great outdoors.

Elle was the only one that "dared" to go surfing! She did great!

Elle was the great picture taker here!

Well lets see...where should I begin?? We just got back from a great 3 day trip to Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. It was a great get away and just what Elle ordered for her 12th birthday. We left Sunday morning it was a two and a half hour drive (just the right amount of time before you start to go a little crazy in the car with 3 big kids). It was a beautiful area of the United States. It was very green but much more trees and hills then we have here in Rochester. This town was tourist trap USA! The whole town is made of swimming parks some outside some inside (for the winter crowd). We stayed in a place that wonderfully offered both options. We took the inside water park route. The kids enjoyed the playing in water while Scott and I watched in disbelief at the lack of swimsuits that women had on (or should I say didn't have on). We also enjoyed a great boat ride around the lake in the area (I can't remember what it is called) and we did lots of sight seeing. The best part of the trip was an activity we did on our last day there called Wizard Quest in which you play an interactive game in teams where you try to solve riddles and find 4 wizards before your time runs out. The Greer team was unable to accomplish the task in the allotted 90 minutes we went over time by 5 minutes much to Elle, Tanner and Scott's disappointment! Overall this was a terrific trip with fun to be had by all (even Emma).

We now have our newest member of the family. Jackson moved in about a week ago and so far it is wonderful to have him around. I am sure it will continue to be a great experience one we will look back on with much fondness. It is going so great that his sister Hannah has decided she too wants to move back to Rochester and give it a try with the Greers! We are looking forward to having her move here as well!!

I have decided to return to school again!! I know you are all thinking "I think I have heard that before" but really barring any unforeseen circumstances I will be going back in November to get my cosmetology license. I am really excited to take this step in life and look forward to the many great experiences this will bring into my life.

What a Great Summer!

Emma and Eddie being silly girls!

My beautiful girls at Harry Potter opening night. To much fun to be had! We will for sure do this again!

Girls camp in June. We were rained and tornadoed out...which means we had to come home early! But it was a great time!!

My BFF!! Ann is always a sport when I drag her on all my goofy outings! This is Harry Potter opening night midnight! We got to the movie theater at 6:30 and were the first in line with our friend Autumn. 6 hours of fun and games then we got to enjoy Harry Potter! It was great!!

Tanner got his eyes dilated and thought he looked so cool in his specs!

Elle's birthday poster...12 reasons why we love you!!!

Elle on her birthday. We went out to lunch (just mommy and daughter) and then shopping. The real fun begins next week when we go to the Dells for 3 days (largest water park in USA) for her birthday!

Emma and BFF Edna making homemade tortilla's (for a boy, of course)! After they finished their cooking skills they decided to have fun with the flour.

Emma and friend Kaylee from New Mexico. They had a great time at EFY and then playing around Rochester.

Hello fans, family and friends!! Has it been forever or what?? I have been busy having fun this summer and so that doesn't leave much time to blog. But today I have made time to catch everyone up on life and share a few photos of life in the Greer family.

We have been busy with one visitor after another so far this summer but know are coming to an end of that. We have loved every moment of Grandma(s), Grandpa, Kaylee and Ceri's visit. We had grand trips to the Mall of America, movies and just visiting in the living room. Thank you everyone that came and made our life fuller this summer.

Tanner has been busy playing with his friends all summer long. I think he realizes he is moving into a new chapter of his life soon and he is enjoying saying his farewells to his many wonderful friends here in Rochester. He has also been taking dancing lessons and passing on his new found love of dancing to his sister Emma by teaching her what he is learning. (Katie do you remember what he danced like in Kindergarten??...he has come a long way!) Tanner will be leaving for Hawaii in Sept. he has to be at orientation on Sept. 14 (his birthday!). I still have my many moments of quiet crying and don't think it will become any easier as I see him prepare to leave my life (as life is now). I guess I have been getting ready for this moment from the day he was born. I guess I never realized how quickly it comes.

Emma is such a joyful teenager this summer!! Not even being sarcastic!! The only thing she whines about is taking her to Burger King all the time! She is having a great summer with EFY, New Mexico friends visiting, midnight movie showings, youth conference, dances, flour and whip cream fights! She seems to really be enjoying herself much more this summer then she did last. The girls are still taking horse back riding lesson and enjoying it again this summer. As I see Tanner getting ready to go off to school I am realizing that Emma will not be far behind. I am already starting to miss her before Tanner is even gone. I know I need to live in the present not the past or future but it is still painful to understand that my children are growing up and soon leaving. Emma is so great and I love her!

Elle just turned 12!! I remember the day that I realized that when I was 40 Tanner would be 18 and Elle would be 12. This was when Elle was 1 year old! I didn't think that I would ever get to this stage in my life. I know that my kids need me more then ever now that they are teenagers but it is so different then when they were babies. I think I also need them as much as they need me. Elle is going through some hard times and trying to figure out what she is all about going into her teenage years. We are just doing our best to help her in this hard transition into teenage years. Elle has had a great experience at girls camp this year as it was her first and her mom was the camp director she is also thrilled to move out of primary and attend young womens with her sister! Elle has also started to offically babysit and earn money from it. I am looking forward to the next 7 years of Elle growing into a beautiful strong woman. I love my baby!!!

We are getting a new family member!!! Jackson Minton a family friend of ours will be moving in with us next week. He has lived in Rochester for the last year with some family members of his who are no longer able to offer him a place to live. We love Jackson and he is a great kid and we are looking forward to all the great times and lessons in life we will be able to learn from opening up our home to him. He is 18 and will be attending Century High to finish getting credits to graduate from high school. Jackson will fit well with our family because he is laid back and lots of fun. We are truly looking forward to having him join us!

Well I know lots of things have happened this summer but most of all we have had a grand time and felt lots of love! I will begin to write more often as my life has slowed down considerably. We are only half way through with our adventure this summer and so I will keep you all posted on our activities and thoughts. Just know now I am happy and truly feel blessed to live the life I have been given.

graduation pictures

Scott Tanner and Krystine
Tanner given everyone a graduation wink

Tanner and little Grandma Dee

Krystine with Elle and Emma

Sisters Emma and Elle for every and always

Tanner and his friend Shweda

Grandma was on drugs!

Weekend Get-Away...but from what?

Scott and the girls at the hotel
Krystine and the girls at the hotel

The girls thought they would be bond girls!

Emma and Elle had a great time together!

We sure missed Tanner on our trip but I guess we have to start getting use to it!

Well I meant to blog last week but didn't seem to find any small amount of time to do it. I am just as busy this week (if not even more so) and knew if I don't just sit down right now I will never have the time again for another week or two or even three. It seems that summer always starts out this way... with a big bang and then some time in July it slows down to a manageable pace.

This week the Grandparents will be arriving!! We are looking forward to this event with much anticipation :) I actually wish they were staying longer but at the same time I have many other activities I must concentrate on and so it is probably better that their visit will be a short 7 days.

Today is Tanners last official day of high school!! His graduation ceremony is Friday night which is why the grandparents are flying all the way to the grand ole state of Minnesota to visit. I never thought I would be just glad to get this through with but after the last two weeks of Tanner doing last minute projects and almost (and I mean almost) not getting a necessary half credit to graduate (we weren't even sure last week that he would be graduating, some times I guess it is the least likely child that always surprises you!!) but as of today he will be receiving his degree!!! Yippee Dippy Hooray!!

I have been stressing a little bit about all the activities I have going on in my life right now...if I can get through girls camp in another 2 weeks I will be on my down hill slide! I just need to make it through the next two weeks. It seems it is always a rush to get the last minute things planned but I know I can do it (yeah, right)

The girls and I went with Scott to Cedar Rapids this weekend. This is a city in Iowa about 3 hours away from Rochester. It was a nice break from things here and over all it was enjoyable. Except for the fact that Scott really wanted to go golfing and didn't get the chance and the girls threw a fit when their dad told them that he was taking them golfing, it was a great weekend. I only went crazy a little with Elle's complaining about the radio station and the fact that Scott wanted to listen to MammaMia for 3 hours straight it was rather a nice get away!

Now I am starting to gear up for the out of town visitors...that means I have to go and clean my bathrooms and do some shopping and wash some sheets...and 100 other items on my list!

Tanners Prom Pics and more....

Tanner and Shruthi running off to catch the group
The weather looks perfect but actually it was rather chilly!

Shruthi family comes from India and she is the first generation American.

Shwada, Tanner and Shruthi posing for pictures.

Tanner was only one of 4 boys in a group of 12. He loves being out numbered by girls!

Shruthi actually goes to another high school then Tanner.

Tanner asked Shruti to the prom by asking her in one of his news paper colums

(it was his moms idea!)

Don't I have a hansome young man?

Emma, Tanner and Scott....looking good!

Tanner looks strapping with his sister Emma

Hello everyone :) I am happy to sit down and do a little blogging today. I feel very happy today and I don't know why...probably because I have such a peaceful feeling because I know my life has a purpose and Heavenly Father loves me and knows me better then any of you out there reading this. He could even get 100% on my "do you know Krystine Greer" face book quiz which by the way Kylee didn't even get 50% on!!

Tanner had his last prom of his high school life!! Next time he puts a tux on he will probably be getting married!! What do you think of that Tanner?? We are almost to the end of the school year which I am very happy about! The kids are all looking forward to having a break and so am I. I think Tanner is very much looking forward to being finished with high school. I use to wonder if we did the right thing by bumping him forward a grade, I knew it would mean he would finish quicker but I think Tanner is ready to take on the world and leave this little place behind him. I hope he always remembers who brought him into this world and just how much he is loved by me!

Emma has had some restrictions placed on her and I can see she is trying harder to do her school work in order to earn them back...I know that her favorite time of year is summer because there is no school. Someday she will look back at this period of time and wonder...what in the world was I doing wasting all that time screwing around and not getting more serious about my school work!! She will deny it until her death but one day in her heart I know she will think that :) Maybe, just maybe she will be a mom and have to try to encourage her own daughter to turn in her assignments and graduate from high school! (I hope so!!!!)

Elle is doing great if she isn't on the phone talking to one of her friends she is on the computer IM them. She too is looking forward to this summer. She is working hard at reading horse books because she would like to buy a horse (this summer, she hopes) she has started babysitting for others outside of the family and I think she is going to be a favorite to be asked because she is so much fun!!

Scott and I are looking forward to many days on the golf course this summer. We probably won't be making a summer trip out to Utah this year because we are planning a great trip to Hawaii in the fall when Tanner goes to school. We are officially certified to be foster parents now and so I feel like I am pregnant and just waiting for the arrival of the blessed event!! I wish it would be that sweet :) We will probably be taking older kids and sibling groups. I really wanted to take younger kids but I was told they don't come up that often and that is the group everyone wants. So I am happy to take older kids I just hope it doesn't take forever.

I am really looking forward to having my mom and dad as well as Grandma Dee come out for Tanners graduation!! They should enjoy it much because it is soooo beautiful her now and not humid yet :) Well Heather just ordered me to get ready for my day so she could come over and hang with me for a bit!! You all should be getting to know her because I have decided to adopt her and her little boy Caiden (lol) Any way Heather and Caiden are very special to our family and I feel like maybe we were sisters in Heaven. I can't wait to blog next week!....