Good Guy Gets a Break for 2 Hours

I know it has been a while since I have posted anything. I have been taking 16 credits this fall. Classes have included Physics and another Math class. My family is quite excited for me to be done with math. I may be complaining a lot and possibly loudly.

Bart was released from the Bishopric last week. It has been such a treat to watch him serve. He has always been so willing to let me steal the show. He served with Dr. Mark Firth as Bishop and Spencer Parkinson as the other counselor. Bart has loved every opportunity he has had. He came home and roamed around the house for two whole hours. Today he was sustained as the new 1st counselor in the Young Men's Presidency. He will be great and Josh will remind him when he is not :).

My guy is the cute one on the right.

First Day of School Blues

OK, I am back in school after my very long break, NOT. I had myself ready to go, backpack loaded, notebooks labeled and pencils sharpened. My first class was math and I started this semester with a can do attitude. Then ... it rained and not just a little summer shower, it rained a lot and it is still raining. You know your in trouble when you come home to have a hot shower and the HOT is just warm and you are soaked through your jacket, shirt and bra. I hope this is not a sign for the upcoming semester. Blues skies ahead, right?!

Dead Tree Branches GONE

What do you get when you combine an eager friend with 3 chain saws and extended ladder and years of over grown trees. I would let you see but a daughter whom shall not be named (Jessica) took my cute red camera on a cruise. I will tell you, you get 3 piles, mini-hills filled with branches. The best part is seeing the blue sky, the worst seeing all of ground that needs attention. I hope to prove my dilemena as soon as the girls come home from their cruise. Lucky for Bart he did not die, but I'm sure he wants to kill me.

I made it!

Hello Blog World, I am not dead. My brain is tired and my back-pack never weighed more than when I was trudging to the van on a hot summer afternoon. That's right I went to summer school. When I was a girl, summer school was for the students who did not do well during the school year, or for those who sloughed a lot. For the first time in my life I went to summer school, and paid for it. The positives: one more semester closer to graduation and relaxed professors. The negatives: very fast and furious pace,and my yard looks HORRIBLE!!! I have a little break before Fall starts. The good news is I was accepted into my program, that is, the education program. I start my levels in the Spring. Josh starts school in less than 10 days and will be starting his junior year. I love this boy, he is so kind to me. I hope to get things a little under control before Fall starts, but life happens so you never know. Hayden has been on his mission for almost 5 months and my girls are on a cruise. (I am not jealous!)

Graduated Girl!!!

This girl of mine has graduated from the University of Utah and she is only 22! She graduated with a degree in Economics with a minor Business



Adrienne has always had a love of vacuum's, so she is extremely pleased to receive a Dyson as one of her graduation gifts.




Jessica insisted that Adrienne do the traditional cap toss and Adrienne usually minds what her sister tells her to do.




I love this girl and I am very proud of her!!!

Beautiful Flowers Beautiful Day

I enjoyed my break from the normal routine with my girl Adrienne. We went to Thanksgiving Point and enjoyed the day away.

Back to the school work, but the best thing that had been said to me lately is from my mom, "Get your homework done or I will have to ground you!" OK, I said and giggled a little while doing my matrix problems.

Count Down

Two weeks and counting!! I know I am not supposed to wish my life away, but this semester has been quite grueling. Since my last post, I have sent a missionary to Canada. He is doing really well and is having is first baptism with another in the wings. Josh has turned 16 and is playing high school baseball. I finished a bathroom mini-makeover. Helped with a few family crisis'. Written a few paper, done a lot of math problems, read hundreds of pages. Made a blanket, cleaned a closet, forgot how to do dishes, remembered that if you don't go to the grocery store food does not show up in your house. Enough with the complaining!!! I am very glad for my life, I have a lovely and lively family. Bart has been great, this semester, but moaned out loud when he found out I would need to take a Physics class as well as Statistics soon. Adrienne graduates from college on May 7, she is amazing. She has done college all on her own and will graduate with a bachelor's degree in Economics with a minor in Finance.

In approximately two weeks: I will weed my flowers, plant my garden boxes. Buy my text-books, do my dishes every day. I hope to sleep until I wake without an alarm and not see a word document for 10 days.

Sitting in the Dark

Sittin' in the dark, just sittin' in the dark, lookin like a fool just sittin' in the dark. I am thinking if I keep it dark my body will do that thing called sleep. Unfortunately my mind won't quit. I tend to make lists, or go over my day or memorize math facts lately. Hayden has 16 days until he enters the MTC and I do not have all the shopping done. Josh is trying out for baseball, Adrienne is applying for jobs and Jessica is trying to transfer to a new University. My bathroom is almost done and looks so cute, I will post pictures soon. Sunday I taught all of the youth in our ward and the funniest thing happened. I asked a young man to give the closing prayer, he did, but during it he said "help us to practice the stuff we learned today", well the "stuff" they learned was Prayer. Maybe next week I will work on the main idea a little harder. I think I have looked pretty bad lately because 2 different times people have brought over some dinner for me and the family. I am so thankful, but on the flip side quite embarrassed. I am going to sing at Hayden's sacrament meeting formally known as a farewell. I'm still not sure what yet, but I will figure it out.

Sorry about the rambling, but my mom is supposed to be getting her internet and Bart is sure she needs to read a current post from me. I hope I don't give her anymore stress. She has plenty of her own and Janalee tell the family doc, the sinus infection did NOT leave this body.

Sleep anyone?

Why is it when you are tired and want to sleep, Sleep is the last thing that comes your way. The experts say try a cool dark room, check; with the exception of my spouse's habit of channel surfing. Quiet your mind, I have one question on this suggestion, HOW???? Get into a regular routine "they" say, do "they" have children, pets, a spouse, parents, jobs, school, homes...(you get the idea). Never oversleep, not a real option when you take medication to get you some sleep and you can't hear the alarm the next day. Don't NAP, but what about all the effort to get us to take a power nap? The only suggestion I found that seems to have some merit is this one, if you find you are only sleeping about 6 hours and getting up at 7 don't go to bed before 1 in the morning and this is supposed to help with the frustration of tossing and turning.

Sorry to vent, but I am getting cranky after several restless nights.

Mom = Can you take care of this?

When did the title mom equal how do you spell this, or do you know where this or that is? Can you tell me how to?... or Is there something to eat?.... or is there any chocolate around here? I don't remember the time when I only had to think for only myself. Now it seems I need to think not only for myself but for every other person in my family. I have tried to help my children find their own shoes, by replying to their question with the answer I am sorry I have not worn them lately. They hate that answer, in fact they now preface every question with don't say you haven't worn them, but do you know where my shoes are? The funny thing about this mom phenomenon is that even in college, younger students come up to me for help. It even happens in stores, more often than not, I have to help others find something they are looking for.

Am I the only one that has this happen to them?

Happy New Year

2009 has come and gone and we are beginning a new decade. I am excited about all the possibilities a new year brings. Hayden will leave on his mission, Adrienne will graduate from college and Joshua will start driving and I never know where Jessica will be, her life is always in motion. I will finish my first year back at college and I am sure we will never be bored!!! Christmas was a sweet one this year. I enjoyed having my funny family together for 10 days. I don't think anyone slept much, but we ate well and played hard and laughed a lot. Hayden turned 19 January 2. I can't believe my little baby boy has grown into a fine young man. I am excited for him and all that is headed his way.

My friend Leisa came over Saturday and took some pictures of my silly family and I wish I could say they were all picture perfect, but if you have met my family that is not a reality. Most of the pics are silly and usually someone has funny eyes, but here is one of my favorites.