Christmas 2008

It isn't entirely over yet, but the "big bang" part of the holiday has come and gone. It was a little different this year, since my parents weren't here. I can only think of two Christmases in the last 17 years that we haven't spent with my parents and we all missed them. The girls even commented that it didn't seem like Christmas without Grandma and Papa here. We're excited for them to come home tomorrow, but we're happy they've had a wonderful visit with my sister and her family and my brother in Alaska (although they've been much colder than we have...it's been shirt sleeve weather all week!).

I'm proud to announce that my Christmas cards were actually mailed before Christmas this year. OK, so they got mailed on Christmas Eve. Technically, that counts as "before Christmas." LOL Maybe next year they'll get mailed earlier than that. I'm working on it!

We had a wonderful Christmas. We got a Wii and lots of games, and the girls got Nintendo DS's with lots of games. I have to put in a plug for the Personal Chef game -- we made a recipe from it last night and it was really good! Brain Age 2 and Crosswords have also been a huge hit. The favorite Wii game so far is Mario Kart (although I can't drive that darn thing to save my life!). The girls tried the Dancing with the Stars game last night and had a great time -- it's a good workout and we laughed and laughed and laughed.

DH and I ventured out yesterday morning to do some returns and found no lines in the stores (two people in front of me in one store but I didn't even wait 2 minutes)...none of the insanity I have come to expect on the day after Christmas. Then yesterday afternoon the girls and I went to the grocery store and stopped in at Target. Oh my goodness. It was a madhouse! Apparently everyone slept in yesterday and waited to hit the day after sales until afternoon. I was proud of myself for not buying any wrapping paper, gift boxes, gift bags, or tags -- I didn't even make a tiny dent in my stash this year!

I haven't been in to the office all week -- haven't even called in -- and it's been nice. I'm thinking about going by the office today to clean out my e-mail inbox...not to respond to anything, but just clean out the junk. I get the dreaded "your mailbox is over the allotted size" message every day and just thinking about how much stuff will be waiting for me when I go back to work in January is scary!

We're enjoying spending time together and just relaxing. Nothing has gotten done around the house (so much for my big plans of getting the house cleaned and organized while I was off work for two weeks!) but we've just been hanging out. I think it's important to do that, and especially important to do that together as a family. We've been eating lots of cookies (gotta love Pillsbury ready to bake cookies) and just spending time together.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful, happy Christmas filled with family, friends, fun, laughter, and love!

A Christmas Miracle

In the Everly Brothers song, "Unchained Melody," the lyric says that "time goes by so slowly..."...well, not in our world! I just realized that today is December 20.y goodness. December 20. SO much to do before Christmas comes!

It has been one heck of a roller coaster week. On Wednesday, we got the absolutely devastating news that my sister M's foster daughter, Adorable, was going to have to go with her biological mother into a drug rehab center shortly after Christmas, the first step to possibly losing her back to her parents (sadly, that would not be the best situation for Adorable). We have all become so attached to Adorable and feel so strongly that she is meant to be part of M and B's family. We were all devasted -- no one more than M and her husband. Imagine spending your first Christmas with your daughter, with the knowledge hanging over your head that shortly after Christmas you would be losing her. I know how much my heart ached at the news...and I know M and B were is much more pain than I was.

Many, many, many prayers were said -- by family, friends, and even dear friends who have never met my sister. My fried Gena sent me the most touching, fervent, heartfelt prayer in M and B's behalf. We are so thankful for all of those prayers...

Because, 23 hours later, M and B received their own Christmas miracle. We know that God still works miracles, and he worked one in our family. As a result of actions on the part of Adorable's biological mother, she will not be entering the inpatient drug rehab center and the caseworker will be asking the judge to move towards adoption (by M and B) instead of family reunification. They have gone from being a few steps from losing their daughter (yes, we all think of Adorable as their daughter already) to being much closer to having her as part of their eternal family.

I am reminded now, in a very personal way, of the first Christmas miracle. That miracle, too, involved a child. A child who came willingly to this earth, in the humblest of circumstances, to teach us the way back to our Heavenly Father, and to willingly give up his life so that we could all have the gift of eternal life. How grateful I am for that first Christmas miracle...and for the Christmas miracle our Heavenly Father has bestowed on our family.

It won't matter if the gifts don't get wrapped, if the cookies don't get baked, if the cards get mailed late. What matters is that we remember the true meaning of Christmas and focus on that. What matters is that we show Heavenly Father through our actions that we remember and understand the importance of that first Christmas miracle.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill to men."

December Comes too Fast...

It's December 1st already. It seems that I just barely got used to writing 2008 instead of 2007, and now it's almost time to start 2009. The older I get, the faster time goes by. When I was younger it seemed that Christmas would never come, and now that I'm an adult it seems to sneak up on me. So much to do!

All of the family who came in for Thanksgiving are gone now. It was so wonderful to see my sister and her husband and their foster daughter. She is so adorable! It was fun having two 2 1/2 year olds in my parents' house -- they got along really well (at least when I was around). It was also wonderful to see my grandfather and his wife. It saddens me that his health has declined, but he is still so sharp mentally. He really is one of the smartest people I know. It's always neat when family comes to visit and I'm sad when they leave.

I am hoping to be able to focus more on the meaning of Christmas this year and less on the commercial, materialistic side of the holiday. I need to spend more time thinking about why we celebrate the special holiday and about the miraculous blessing of the Savior's birth.

It's time to rearrange furniture in the living room and set up the Christmas tree...hang the stockings and lights...deck the halls...all of that. It's now "legal" (in my book) to listen to Christmas music and read Christmas-y story books (I have several and I love them). I am looking forward to sitting in the living room in the glow of the tree lights and just looking at it. It's so peaceful to do that -- one of my favorite things about Christmas is just sitting in the glow of the tree lights at night when it's quiet.

We are working on a Christmas cantata at church (I play the piano for the church choir). It is "First Christmas in Bethlehem/First Christmas in Zarahemla." One of my favorite parts of the Christmas story is the Wise Men...thinking about how they watched and waited and watched and waited for the sign of the Savior's birth, and then followed it. Action -- they took action. They didn't just see the star and say, "Gosh, there's the sign. Isn't that nice?" They did something -- they followed the star and went to find the Savior. I was thinking about that last night and today -- I am fortunate to have a strong testimony of the gospel and faith in the Savior...I have "seen the star", metaphorically speaking. But am I following it every day? Am I taking those actions I need to take in order to "find" the Savior? To become more Christ-like, a little more every day? Sadly, the answer is no. I need to work on that.

Another part of the Christmas story that I love is the angels who appeared to the shepherds...the singing. I like to think that I was there -- who knows, maybe they needed a pianist, because I certainly don't think my voice is fit for a heavenly choir! LOL But I like to think that I was there -- that I sang with joy at the Savior's birth.

Music is such an integral part of Christmas to me. So on this first day of December, my first gratitude of the Christmas season is music. I feel the Spirit more strongly through music, and find it easier to express my feelings through music than other ways. Feeling angry? Play something dark and stormy. Happy? Something light that moves quickly. Sad? Moonlight Sonata. Excited? Definitely fast and bouncy. I can't help but move and dance when I hear music. Music conveys thoughts, feelings, and emotions that I can't always easily put into words.

And so, to close this entry, I close with the words of those heavenly angels on that night so long ago -- which I am sure they were singing with all their might:

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

When it Rains...

Why yes, it has been raining here today!

This morning, my grandmother took all of the "grown up girls" and my two daughters and we went to the nail salon for pedicures. It was so much fun, and so relaxing! We had a good time. We won't talk about the fact that I really, really, really don't like the way my toes are painted (why did I let her talk me into a french manicure on my toes? I never like the way it looks) or the fact that she cut my toenails on my big toes too short and now they hurt. *Sigh* If I had known we were going to get pedicures this weekend, I wouldn't have cut my toenails a few days ago. LOL Doesn't it always go that way?

Then we went to lunch at Olive Garden. I love Olive Garden! Unfortunately, just after the salad and breadsticks arrived, Adorable (my sister's foster daughter) decided to throw up...all over poor A (the biggest germophobe you'll ever meet) and in my handbag (how do you clean a Coach fabric handbag???)...poor Adorable...and poor A and B, both of whom immediately freaked out and started crying and carrying on. Granted, it was all over A's clothing. Kohl's to the rescue! There is a Kohl's right there by Olive Garden so I ran her over there quickly to buy a pair of jeans and a shirt...and we found out that she can now wear Levi's in a size 0! Yea -- we might be almost done buying size 00 from a catalog!! Adorable is fine and I am sure A and B will recover from the trauma at some point in time. Although I'm pretty sure A may never have children of her own...ROTFLOL! As for my handbag, it will be no worse for the wear, I'm sure.

After that I went to the church to practice the music for our upcoming Christmas cantata at church. We're doing a cantata that I have loved for years and I am really, really excited about it. Just playing the music makes me happy and helps me feel the Christmas spirit. I enjoyed that.

Right now, DH and A are at a car dealership talking about pricing for a new car. Nothing is decided yet, although we definitely need a new (or newer) car and now is a good time to pursue that. I have discovered that my car insurance company has a car buying service with pre-negotiated prices, so no haggling is required. Gotta love that! Now to decide what kind of car...we're looking at a Honda and a Toyota. We looked into used cars but with the sales and incentives right now, a 3-4 year old car with under 50,000 miles is only about $2000 less than the same car, but new. And the new cars have, in general, better financing. The question is this: will the dealership be willing to come down on the price of the Honda? If not, then I think we'll go with the Toyota. Honestly, I will be perfectly happy with either of them. So DH is off dealing with them...I'll step in with my "contracting officer" skills if needed (since that's what I do for a living for the Government). But I'd really rather not have to deal with all of it. I'm happy to let DH do it. We'll see how it all turns out.

Yesterday we bought a new Christmas tree and I'm looking forward to setting it up and decorating the house. It will be interesting to see how Sadie, our puppy, reacts to the tree. Abby, our other dog, never bothers the tree or the gifts. I have a feeling that Sadie will be a bit of a challenge.

Christmas really is just around the corner!

Blessings

Thanskgiving has passed...It was a wonderful day. We were able to spend the day with my parents, grandparents, and two sisters and their families, and then my parents' neighbors came over for dinner. It was a full house -- lots of people, laughter, love...it was fun. And, of course, the food was fabulous. Our contribution to the meal was homemade dinner rolls, frozen cranberry salad (yummy!) and desserts (pumpkin pie, cherry pie, apple pie - all from the store, and a homemade pumpkin cheesecake). As always, there was way too much food. That's o.k. because I love Thanksgiving leftovers the day after Thanksgiving!

I have thought much about my blessings in the last few days...the times when I find myself feeling sorry for what I don't have, I am trying to remind myself to be grateful for what I do have -- a husband who doesn't mind cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms and does it willingly and without being asked...two daughters who are (usually) sweet, kind, helpful, and fun to be with...a loving, close knit family...a great job that I enjoy...a church calling that I have grown to love (wasn't so sure about it at first)...the joy of the gospel...a warm home (well, when the thermostat isn't set at "arctic chill", LOL)...friends...

And now it's on to Christmas. My Mom, sister M, and I braved the Black Friday crowds this morning at 5 a.m. Mom and M found everything they were looking for. I did not. Darn! We were only gone for 2 hours -- that's a Black Friday record for me. Everyone said the sales were going to be fabulous this year, but I just didn't find the items I wanted on sale, or else they weren't in stock. I did get DH a fabulous combined Christmas/anniversary gift so I'm excited about that. A and I went out a little while ago and bought a new Christmas tree, so it will be fun to get that set up and decorated. Later today the girls and I will go to the mall and browse and shop. They're fun to spend time with and they are both old enough now to truly understand and appreciate this special holiday. I'm looking forward to it.

I have much to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving Week

Wow, Thanksgiving week is here! It seems like it was just Halloween...now Thanksgiving...and Christmas is just around the corner. (Or in front of the corner, if you look around at all of the decorations already up...Christmas music already playing 24/7 on the radio...and the fact that B had her Christmas piano recital last Saturday!)

This should be a wonderful, fun week. My Dad's parents are here and my sister M, her husband, and little Adorable (their foster daughter) arrive tomorrow. Please keep Adorable in your prayers as she has a stomach virus today and we really want her to feel better to fly down here tomorrow! And on that note, keep me in your prayers, too -- I haven't been feeling well at all today. Not an auspicious start to the week.

And of course, what Thanksgiving week would be complete without Black Friday? My favorite shopping day of the year! I know, some people think I'm crazy. But I love it.

Gratitudes for today:

-I taught all of the young women at church yesterday and it went really well.
-The fine for the speeding ticket isn't as bad as I expected.
-My job interview last week went really well (just waiting on the outcome).
-We get to spend Thanksgiving surrounded by family and way more food than we could ever eat.
-DH cleaned the kitchen (well, most of it) and the girls' bathroom. Yea!

More Gratitudes...

Today I am grateful for:

*GPS navigation systems (I have a terrible sense of direction and would have been hopelessly lost on the way home from an out-of-town youth dance last night)
*The young women I work with at church are sweet, wonderful girls (who looked beautiful last night and demonstrated very good etiquette even though the food was gross)
*Sleep (more, please)
*Friends at church who willingly come spend hours helping giggly teenage girls get ready for a formal dance (we couldn't have done it without you!)
*Coca-Cola Classic (my "poison" of choice)
*Ibuprofen (why yes, I do have a headache right now)
*A husband who didn't kill me when I told him about the speeding ticket I got last night (of course, I told him at 1 a.m. so he might not have been fully conscious or coherent...)

Gratitudes....

We all know gratitude is not something that should be reserved for one day each year (Thanksgiving). Or even one month each year (November). But somehow I seem to find myself more aware this time of year of my blessings and things I often take for granted.

Particularly in light of my recent bout of "baby blues" (still not over that but making progress, thanks for asking...and if you happen to come across a mother who wants to give us a baby, we certainly wouldn't say no!)...I know that one of the best ways, at least for me, to get over a case of "the blues" is to focus on others instead of myself and to remember all of the many things for which I am grateful.

So today, I am grateful for:

*A husband who kills spiders
*A daughter who enjoys cooking (more than I do)
*A daughter who likes to have "I love you more" contests with me (I always win -- it's pretty hard to one-up "I gave birth to you so I love you more!" LOL)
*Cars that run and are paid off (especially since we know we'll have to replace at least one of them in the next few months...ugh)
*Three wonderful sisters, a great brother, and two fabulous parents
*Three great brothers-in-law, three handsome and sweet nephews, two adorable and sweet nieces, and one adorable and sweet niece-to-be (we're hoping and praying)
*Incredible friends who put up with me

A Sports Family

After giving birth to two girls, I never expected to be a "sports mom." Sure, I married a man who, at the time, was a PE teacher and who now coaches two high school sports and who was voted "Mr. Athlete" at his high school and played college basketball...and I figured I could be a "coach's wife" (turns out I'm not a very good one)...but never thought I would be a "sports mom."

Guess what? I'm a sports mom. I can't call myself a "soccer mom" because one of the girls plays soccer and the other plays softball.

My girls did dance and gymnastics when they were younger, and just in the last year or two both have had to give up dance and gymnastics in favor of their chosen sports. Truth be told, I really miss the beautiful recital costumes and always looked forward to the recitals. I love so dance so much that I am taking classes as an adult.

So a dance mom? I could do that. I figured I would be doing that until both girls were a lot older.

Instead, I'm learning about stealing bases, base runners, change-ups, the "third strike rule" if the catcher doesn't catch the ball, off sides, goal kicks, corner kicks, and strikers/sweepers/keepers.

We spend a lot of time running to and from practice and games. We are just finishing B's soccer season next weekend, and A's travel softball season is just starting. DH is in the beginning of high school basketball season. We find ourselves splitting time between the girls' sporting events (I've got B's soccer this weekend, he has A's softball tournament).

And you know what?

I love it. I was never an athlete myself. Never will be. But my girls are. I love it.

Moving On....

I'm moving on. (Cue the "Rascal Flatts" song...LOL).

OK. So I'm trying to move on.

OK. So I'm telling myself that it's time to move on.

OK. So I'm telling myself that it's time to think about moving on.

I am trying. I told my friend J last night that this whole "baby thing" seems to hit me particularly hard in October -- at least the last three Octobers. Strange. I don't know why that is.

I understand now why B sometimes gets so angry when something is forced on her and she is not given the opportunity to choose. Because I didn't get to choose this.

Obviously, I'm still having issues with "just have faith and trust Heavenly Father" and "you don't have to have control of EVERYTHING in your life".

But I'm trying. Really, I am.

So, moving on....A has started travel team softball and their first scrimmage game was supposed to be today but the other team cancelled so they had a practice. This will be her first season of travel ball and I hope she enjoys it. B's soccer season is winding down. Her team is still undefeated, with just one tied game. Not bad! She has bonded with the other girls on her team and her coaches and this has been a very positive experience for her. I had doubts about it at the beginning of the season, but now I see that this was the best possible thing for her, and has been something that she really needed.

I am grateful for my two amazing, lovely, wonderful, sweet, talented girls.

But that doesn't mean I can't be selfish and want more.

You know how sometimes it rains all around you, but not on you?

Like a summer storm, when it is sunny outside but then starts to rain across the street but not where you're standing? It does that here where I live.

I feel like I'm stuck in the middle of something like that right now...except instead of it raining water, it's raining babies.

Life isn't fair.

A friend told me Sunday that she is pregnant again, with baby #5. Another acquaintance made a comment to me while I was out shopping tonight that makes it look like another acquaintance just got an adoptive placement (why else would she be wondering with baited breath and excitement to hear how their court date went, knowing this couple has waited so long?). A friend at church told me about someone her daughter knows -- someone left a baby on her doorstep and wants them to adopt the baby. Another lady at church is pregnant...all three of the advisors in YW have babies (which I admit is is nice because it gives me and another sister in YW with fertility issues some babies to snuggle and we do love that). A few other friends are also pregnant. There are gestating women all around me. It seems like they're coming out of the woodwork again. Lots of women having babies...Lots of women who aren't me.

And we found out this week that the little boy we were hoping to adopt earlier this summer was adopted by another family two weeks ago. Yes, I know that I hadn't said much, if anything, about the possibility of us adopting here on my blog. I didn't want to say anything until things were looking more firm one way or the other. For various reasons, we were unable to proceed with the process beyond a certain point. And the caseworker made it very clear to us that she didn't plan to recommend that the boy be moved out of the state where he is currently living. Well, he has been adopted. And not by us. So I guess it's pretty definite right now that we won't be adopting him.

I thought I had come to terms with this...again. There are times when I'm fine with it and other times when I definitely am not fine with it. I'm in one of those "definitely not fine with it" modes right now. It hurts, physically. Really -- it does.

I'm sad.

Love Is....

*Getting up with the dog at 5:30 a.m. on weekends so I can sleep

*Killing spiders on demand, no matter what time of day or night it is

*Coming to my house to dispose of a dead mouse the dog brought in from outside (GROSS!)

*Letting my girls watch a movie with at their house while I go home and do laundry, dishes, put away groceries, and relax after an incredibly busy day

*Not being totally embarassed by my presence

*Wanting to be tucked in at night

Bread Recipe

A few people have asked for the bread recipe A is using. It's SO easy, and really good!

1 tbsp. yeast
1/2 tbsp salt
2 cups warm water
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup honey or brown sugar
approx 5-6 cups flour (can use white, wheat, or both)

Mix first five ingredients in a lg. bowl or stand mixer. Add flour one cup at a time until a soft dough forms. Stir the dough for a minute or two. Let rise for about 45 min. to 1 hour(may need longer for all wheat bread). Separate into two loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 38 minutes.

We've been making it with honey and white flour. Yum!! In fact, A had some friends over on Monday and she made this and they ate both loaves before they ate any of the cookies, chips, etc. So it passes the teenager taste test. LOL

Random Thoughts...

Random thoughts for today...

*Arm and Hammer Pet Fresh Odor Eliminator is a wonderful product...but do not use 3/4 of the box at one time. Two hours later and my eyes are still burning. The nasty pet odor is gone, but I'm not sure if it's really gone or if it's just that my sense of smell has been permanently destroyed.

*I love getting a great deal. A and I went shopping this weekend and found a fabulous formal gown for her to wear to an upcoming church dinner/dance -- original price $169...I paid $14.99. Gotta love it! And it will be easy to alter...I found a pattern that is exactly what I want in terms of having sleeves added, and the dress store was able to find the exact same dress for me at another store for the same price so that I can give it to the seamstress to cut up and use to make sleeves. Sometimes you just get really lucky.

*I can't believe how grown-up A looks in that dress. And how tall B has suddenly grown. It makes me realize that my girls are growing up so very, very quickly. The song, "Slipping Through My Fingers" from Mamma Mia comes to mind. I love that song but it always makes me sad. What will my girls remember from their childhood? Will they remember that I was always busy at work, or will they remember that we went to the fair, went shopping together, cooked together...? Will they remember that we tucked them in to bed each night?

*We went to the fair last week and it was fun. I wish the fair came around more than once each year -- I love roasted corn and elephant ears. Much to my surprise, B's favorite ride at the fair was the hang glider ride. The girls like rides that spin. No, thank you.

*Right now my house is full with the sounds of teenagers playing games, listening to music, and hanging out. I want our home to be the kind of home they want to be at...at times I think I'm succeeding...except that I'm succeeding with the kids that aren't mine. LOL Apparently the youth that I work with at church think I'm "cool" and "fun," while I embarrass my own daughter. I guess that's the way life goes.

*A learned how to make bread last week and is making bread for the sacrament each Sunday this month. The recipe is very easy and she does a really good job with it. I'm not sure where my girls got their love of cooking (certainly not from me), but I'm glad they enjoy it!

7 Things...

Saw this on my sister M's blog and decided to try it...although I'm not going to tag anyone specific, if you read this then please try it on your blog!

I'm supposed to post 7 weird things about myself. (If only there were only 7 weird things....)

1. I am terrified of elevators. To the point that I will willing walk up as many flights of stairs as necessary to avoid elevators...once I walked up 9 flights to a doctor's office to avoid the elevator.

2. I roll my lips in and bite down when concentrating...Ouch!

3. I like ranch dressing on french fries, chicken nuggets, and baked potatoes.

4. I can't stand to have wrinkled, messy bedding but I hate to make the bed. Even if I don't make the bed in the morning, I have to pull the pillowcases, sheets, and comforter straight on my side of the bed before I get in.

5. Poor grammar and sloppy enunciation drive me absolutely crazy.

6. I have to concentrate hard to say Massachusetts correctly.

7. I notice people's eyebrows...whether they're kept trimmed, plucked, waxed, etc...don't know why, but I am fanatical about my eyebrows looking good. LOL

Relax? What's That?

OK, so the concensus appears to be that I don't know how to relax. Yeah, that's probably true.

I took a few days off work while DH and the girls are on Fall Break from school. The girls and I spent yesterday getting their hair cuts, then off to the fair. I love fair food...it doesn't love me, but I love it. I was pretty good and had only a few curly fries, some roasted corn, a caramel apple, and a huge elephant ear. I only ate about 1/3 of the elephant ear but it was SO good! And why is it that caramel apples at the fair taste better than anywhere else? Or when I make them myself? Hmmmmmm.... After the fair I went to a book club meeting (first time). Then home.

Anyway, most people wouldn't think of that as a relaxing day. Really, for me it was. I was spending time with my girls, not at work, and watching them have fun. It doesn't get much better than that for me (unless there is shopping involved).

Today has been a lazy morning so far...I've been working on cleaning off the eating bar in the kitchen and am getting ready to run errands. I'd like to get my kitchen really cleaned today...we'll see how that goes. LOL

Relax...I guess it just means something different to me than it means to most people!

You Have Got to be Kidding Me!

OK, I know this is ridiculous and is truly not a problem in the grand scheme of things...but it annoyed the heck out of me last night and so now you get to hear all about it!

This weekend in General Conference for church. That means we get to sleep in on Sunday, watch TV at home, and spend the day together as a family. I love conference weekend. And, in my family, we have a traditional Sunday morning conference meal -- monkey bread and orange juice. And Wal-Mart carries (well, I should say carried) this lovely pre-made monkey bread that just had to be popped in the microwave for a few minutes and then -- voila -- it was done!

So last night, after an already long day, when I could barely breathe and was exhausted, I headed off to Wal-Mart to buy our monkey bread. I took along with me a list of a few other items that we needed to get through until I'm off work at the end of next week...

Now, I don't like Wal-Mart. Really, truly, I don't. Yes, they have good prices. But they don't have the selection that my favorite grocery store has, the aisles are not wide enough nor are they very well lit, and it's just a messy store in general. But off to Wal-Mart I went. At 7:30 p.m. on a Saturday night. Not a fun time to be there.

Two of the items on my list: monkey bread and frozen egg rolls. And guess what Wal-Mart no longer carries? Monkey bread and frozen egg rolls. Yes, really -- I am sure -- I must have walked up and down the freezer section aisles 5 times, carefully scrutinizing every shelf, every item, ever possible space for monkey bread and egg rolls. To no avail.

The girls and I were really looking forward to monkey bread this morning. Instead, frozen cinnamon rolls had to suffice.

*Sigh* Guess I'll just have to start making it from scratch now.

Sick....

I have been sick for a week with a bad sinus infection and who knows what else...it seems like it's turning into something else.

I am not a good patient. I do not like being sick.

I am unhappy, crabby, and miserable.

This is not fun!

Have You Ever...

I saw this on someone's blog aqnd thought it would be fun!! You should do it too!
Just copy and paste the 200 statements then bold the ones you have done.
Have fun!

The idea is to highlight the things you have done out of the 200 items on the list.

The things I have done are in bold print!
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone - verbal not physical
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe.
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunch box
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a camp fire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter

It's Not Fall Yet!

OK, here in Georgia it's supposed to be hot through September and, usually, well into October. I can only think of one Halloween since we moved here that it's been cold enough for the girls to need jackets for Trick-or-Treating. Well, apparently Mother Nature has her seasons mixed up! Yesterday morning I took B to soccer...had to be there at 8:15 and it was COLD! The wind was blowing and it was cloudy...brr! I had goosebumps and ended up running home after the first game to get a jacket. Of course, by then the wind died down and it was hot and I ended up with a touch of sunburn.

It seemed like football weather, really. But then the afternoon was hot again. This morning, once again, it was cool and breezy and even a bit drizzly. This is September! It's still supposed to be in the 80s and 90s! I guess it really is time to start thinking about fall. This coming weekend we'll be out of town for soccer on Saturday so we'll probably stop at the outlets on the way home and do some fall shopping for the girls.

I am thrilled to report that our friend who was struck by lightning is doing very well -- miraculously well, in fact. There have been so many prayers on his behalf. Prayer works!

A's softball season is almost over...two more games. She hasn't gotten to play the position she likes best as much as she would like, but this season she's gotten to play a new position and found that she's really good at it and actually likes it.

Sometimes it takes someone putting us in a new situation and forcing us to try it before we realize that we actually like it. Stepping out of our comfort zone is not always easy. That's how my calling as Young Women's President has turned out to be. I thought that being released from Primary after years and years and years would be the end of my life...my heart was broken and I cried for weeks (seriously -- weeks -- actually, more like almost 2 months). I never thought I would love another calling as much as Primary. And now I have come to love these girls and this calling. Granted, I had most of these girls in Primary so I already had relationships with them. But I have realized over the last two weeks just how much I love them and love working with them.

We had our Young Women in Excellence program this last week. We tweaked things a bit and put the girls on "trial" to see if they could be convicted of living the gospel standards and the Young Women values. It was SO much fun! We had a great time - the girls were all surprised and the parents (the "witnesses" against the girls) were wonderful and really got into the spirit of it. I wanted the girls to realize that we, their leaders and parents, really do notice the good, wonderful things they do and the sweet, amazing young ladies they are. It was so much fun. And it was then, during that program, that I was struck by just how much they all mean to me and how much I love them. I am grateful that Heavenly Father knew that I needed to get out of my comfort zone and try something new -- something I never would have tried on my own. Just like a coach, He knows what we need and where we need to serve in order to continue to grow.

Last week was full of rain...this week I have found rainbows.

Not sure how to title this....

This has been a sad week. Not really an easy week. A week in which I have been reminded on three separate days of how incredibly precious and tenuous life really is. A week in which I have cried a few times...

The funeral was Monday for my friend (he is also the father of two of my friends). He passed away a week ago today after a long battle with breast cancer. He was brave and strong and faithful to the end. So very faithful. I was honored to be asked to lead the music at his funeral. It was beautiful -- a very beautiful funeral and one that was so fitting for him...music and love and laughter. Tears of sadness for my friend's family who miss him so...but also joy because he is reunited with his daughter who died so long ago, and because he is finally free of the cancer that ravaged his body.

Yesterday, of course, was 9/11. I was surprised to find only one replaying of the horrible images of that day on TV...and that was late last night on the History Channel. Have we forgotten? I hope not. I have not. We cannot. We cannot afford to forget.

And then last night, a friend of DH's was struck by lightning and is in critical condition. He is a kind man -- he greeted me with a smile everytime he saw me...kept a distant eye on our daughter while she was in middle school...coaches basketball with my DH and so they spend a lot of time together. Please keep Coach Martin in your prayers. The entire thing is so random and so tragic. A total of 13 people were injured in the lightning strike. More tears.

Sometimes there is more rain in a week than there is sunshine. That is how this week has felt for me. But the wonderful thing is that rain brings with it the promise of rainbows.

I love rainbows.

I Love Technology!

A couple of weeks ago I started a Facebook account. I really didn't think much of it at the time -- I did it because my Dad and two of my sisters had Facebook accounts.

Imagine my surprise when I logged into my account on Sunday and saw messages from several of my high school friends -- friends I had lost touch with a long time ago (and no, I won't tell you exactly how long ago, LOL)! SO exciting! So now I'm able to be back in touch with some of my close friends. It's so much fun to read their blogs and see what they're up to...one of them has SIX boys -- yes, six! Another has four boys and just found out she's having a baby girl. Isn't that exciting?

When you stop and think about it, our lives seem to be ruled by technology these days. I have to have my cell phone with me when I'm away from home, particularly if the girls are at home and need to get in touch with me. I'm permanently connected, non-stop, to my e-mail at work. My work phone seems to ring off the hook. We have ready, instant access to so much information on the internet. Cook dinner without my microwave? Craziness. Digital cameras that instantly show us the picture we just took. Thank goodness I have a washer and dryer (that reminds me, I'm behind on laundry again)...a TV to keep track of the weather (looks like tropical storm Hanna might miss us after all) and watch all of our favorite shows...DVD players to watch movies when the hundreds of channels on our Dish Network don't have anything really good to watch (how sad is it that that happens more often than it should?)...

And yet, with all of this technology that is supposed to make our lives easier and free up time for us, we still have trouble squeezing the truly important things into our busy lives....

Yes, I do love technology...I love that it's put me back in touch with friends I had almost lost hope of ever talking to again because I didn't know how to find them. I love that I can contact my husband or kids almost anytime, anywhere...I love that I can find information online...but maybe it wouldn't be so bad for me to learn to better use all of the "free time" this technology has supposedly created for me!

It's so quiet in here.....

Since DH and the girls got back from their trip to Utah this summer, I have made it a point to NOT be in the house alone. That month was just too long and too quiet. But here I sit, in an empty, quiet house. DH and A are at a softball game, B is playing at a friend's house, and the dogs are outside. The only noise is the washing machine in the background (yikes, I have a lot of laundry that needs to be done!).

Laundry...with A and DH both doing softball, plus A having PE every day this semester, there is LOTS of laundry to do! Fortunately they both do their own laundry. I do mine and B's, and with her in soccer again there is lots of laundry to do for her. I don't mind washing and folding -- it's the putting away that drives me crazy!

Both girls continue to do well in school. As has been the pattern since A left elementary school, the only teacher we have an issue with is her social studies/civics teachers. Every year since 6th grade...why???? The sad part is, that's my favorite subject and it could be so much fun if the teacher would put something into it besides lecturing. She showed me all the pages of notes she's taken since the school year started about 3 weeks ago -- it's crazy!

I love our new computer, except for one thing -- some of the keys on the keyboard are in different places so I keep hitting the wrong keys (the end key, delete key, page up, page down). It's driving me crazy.

Work is going fairly well...typical crazy end-of-fiscal-year stuff, and trying to get a huge new contract up and running, and starting a new project that is getting a lot of attention...so there is no shortage of work, stress, or insanity. Seems to be about par for the course. In the last two weeks I have been offered/asked to apply for three different jobs...all of which would take us away from here. Sometimes I wonder if that's a sign...but none of them feel right at this time. I wonder why it is that people at other locations are interested in promoting me, but no one is here? The mysteries of life...

I read The Host by Stephenie Meyer last weekend/early this week. Wow! It's unlike any book I've ever read. I didn't enjoy it as much as the Twilight series, but I definitely enjoyed it and have been going back through, rereading sections and analyzing it with a friend of mine. There are some interesting themes in the book -- agency vs. choice, inner beauty and attraction to what's on the inside vs. outer beauty and attraction to the physical, the importance of kindness, the need to have opposites (and opposition)...very interesting things to think about and discuss. Because Stephenie Meyer is an LDS author, I think she can't help but weave her personal beliefs and values into her stories. She isn't preachy at all, and there are no LDS characters in her books (although I wonder if Angela in the Twilight series might be...)...but I love that she includes moral themes, even if it is not intentional. Things like chastity before marriage, agency, the concept of eternal love...

Reading these books has reminded me how much I love reading -- how relaxing it is to me and how much I do enjoy analyzing a good story. My friend has even convinced me to read some Jane Austen -- can you believe I've never read anything by Jane Austen before? (No, I haven't seen the movies, either)

B is supposed to be on TV during the muscular dystrophy telethon this weekend. She'll be interviewed Monday morning. No idea what time they'll show her "snippet," though. She was involved in a muscular dystrophy fundraiser at her school last year so they're interviewing her for that. We went shopping tonight and bought her a cute new outfit. I am SO glad school is going better for her so far this year!

Tomorrow A and I will be going to a youth activity about 2 hours away. They're calling it a youth conference, although when I was a youth, youth conference was 2 days long at least. It will be interesting and I hope we have a good time. I didn't know how I would feel about my calling as YW President, especially because I love Primary so much and spent so many years there, but I have found that I really love the girls that I work with. It's amazing to spend time with them and see the potential they each have...and it's painful to watch when they do things that bring them short of that potential. I think this must be how Heavenly Father feels about us...He knows our potential, he knows our talents and gifts and abilities...and it must pain Him when we fall short, either because we just don't try or because we intentionally choose another path. And yet He still loves us, unconditionally. I almost feel like these girls I work with are an extension of my family -- about 18 more daughters! I felt that way about my Primary children, too, and thought that surely I could never feel that way again after I left Primary. I was surprised at how quickly -- almost instantly -- I have grown to love these girls.

A sweet man at church is dying from cancer. Two of his daughters are my friends -- one of them is a very dear friend and I haven't spent as much time with her as I want to over the last few years...I need to change that. This sweet man sang in our ward choir as long as I can remember, until the cancer took that ability away from him. He has not been able to be at church regularly for a while now, but he brings a smile to my face each time I see him. It has saddened me deeply, his suffering...and his family's sadness and suffering. As I have thought about him and his family, including my dear friend, over the last few days, I have been reminded of how grateful I am for the sure knowledge I have that families can be together forever, that this does not have to be the end of those relationships. It does not make things less painful, at least I don't think so, but it does make them more bearable.

I didn't mean to leave this blog entry on a sad note...maybe it's being alone in this house, with it so quiet, that gives me a rare moment to reflect and really think about things. I don't know.

So I suppose I'll leave off on this note -- think of me tomorrow as I drive 5 giggling, shrieking, squealing teenage girls about two hours in a minivan -- I'll probably need a serious dose of Excedrin before the day is out!

Update...

Yes, I know -- that's a terribly exciting, descriptive title for a blog entry! LOL

A's team won their first softball game...A was the starting pitcher as well as lead-off batter...she also scored a run. Yea! B had a fundraiser "fun run" at school and ran 2 1/4 miles. Wow! She was sore for a few days after that. DH's team also won a game this week...so that's two wins, one loss for them.

I decided not to do the job interview. It just wasn't the right timing, nor was it the right job. I'm happy with the decision. Interestingly enough, I was approached this week with two other job opportunities...both would involve leaving here so I'm not pursuing them right now. Of course, the one that I really want the most is the one I'm not qualified (I would have to be promoted to the next grade and be at that grade for a year before I would be eligible). But it's nice to know that people "at the top" know who I am and are interested in my abilities and what I have to offer.

And in other news...I have a secret to share. While DH and the girls were gone this summer, I got hooked on the Twilight books. Seriously hooked. As in really, entirely, completely, and totally hooked. Yeah. Bigtime hooked. LOL I have spent a lot of time analyzing, dissecting, and discussing the books and characters with one of my friends and it reminded me how much I love literature and doing that kind of analysis. Darn, maybe I should have been a literature teacher! Seriously, I have really enjoyed our discussions. I have to admit that I am 200% on "Team Edward" and was so glad when Bella finally got that entire thing straightened out (for those of you who have read the books, you know what I'm talking about -- and for those of you who haven't, you'll just have to read them). I'm looking forward to seeing the movie on opening night...going with a friend and taking a bunch of the YW with us because they want to see it to. We can't wait!

But these books have reminded me, again, how much I love to read. Not just anything...but I do love to read. I love the Harry Potter books and have enjoyed reading, analyzing, and discussion them with my sisters and friends. And now I have another series to read, analyze and discuss. I can't wait to start reading "The Host," Stephenie Meyer's latest novel. I find it incredibly refreshing to find books that are not filled with profanity, sex, drugs, drinking, etc. I must admit to loving the Shopaholic series, but there are things that leave much to be desired. And there really isn't any analyzing that can be done with those books, LOL! But with Harry Potter and the Twilight books, there is so much to think about. I love books like that. I love that the Twilight books convey romantic intensity without immorality...What can I say -- I'm a sucker for a beautiful love story, and Edward and Bella's love story is about as good as it gets (at least in the reading I've done in the last several years).

And so we prepare to begin another week here...with me reading bits and pieces of my favorite scenes from the books late at night...dreading this weekend because A has a birthday that not only reminds me that my first baby is growing up, but that I am also getting older (don't you just hate how that happens?), and wondering if there is any way I can get DH to read the Twilight books and pick up a few romantic hints.

OK, quit laughing. I know that last one is just a dream! LOL

Two Weeks Down...How Many Left?

The first two weeks of school are over. I am thrilled to report that they have been great! A has taken to high school like a fish to water -- truth be told, DH and I have been pleasantly surprised at how much she absolutely loves it and how much she has blossomed in the last two weeks. She is doing well in her classes and has lots of friends. Seminary is going well -- other than the fact that she's exhausted all the time! Seminary plus softball practice makes for a very long, exhausting day. And on the softball front, she made the JV team and will most likely be the starting pitcher. She is also one of the fastest runners on JV or Varsity and may get to be a base runner in some varsity games. She's very excited!

B is also off to a great start. We worked with her teachers and the school to put some things in place this year to help keep her interested and challenged and we're looking forward to seeing how those work out. She also had her first soccer tournament yesterday (in Alabama of all places). The first game didn't go so well -- they played against an older, more experienced team. But they tied the second game and she was happy with it all. She got a sunburn, which isn't fun, and her legs are sore today, but she enjoyed it.

We had the opportunity to go to a water park as a family with some of A's friends last weekend. It was so much fun! We really enjoyed it. Due to a mixup with the tickets, A and I went back again yesterday with most of the same friends. I was able to work up my courage to go on 3 water slides I hadn't tried before. That may not be a big deal to anyone else, but I'm a wimp when it comes to rides! We had a great time.

I'll be teaching both the Mia Maids (14-15 year old girls) and Laurels (16-17 year old girls) at church today. Guess I need to get started on the lesson...

I also have an interview tomorrow for a job that I really don't want, but I decided to do the interview to get some interview experience. There are a couple of jobs coming up relatively soon that I really do want, so I need to warm up my interviewing skills. We'll see how it goes....

Tagged!

I was tagged by my sister M!

How To Play This Game of Tag:
Post these rules on your blog. List: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 facts about yourself. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog!

3 Joys
1) DH -- gotta love a man who cooks, cleans, and gets up in the middle of the night to let *my* puppy out!
2) A - even though she's growing up too fast
3) B - even though she is also growing up too fast

3 Fears
1) Being alone
2) Losing a family member
3) Death

3 Goals
1) To be a good mother
2) To get a PhD
3) To get out of debt

3 Current Obsessions/Collections
1) Shoes
2) Shoes
3) A Coach wallet to match my handbag...maybe for Christmas!

3 Facts About Me
1) I'm going to the Breaking Dawn release party tonight
2) I wish I had more children
3) I love school

I tag Jamie!

Back to Life, Back to Reality....

My family beat me home Monday...they had just gotten home when I arrived from work. It was so good to see them! I swear, the girls each grew four inches while they were gone! A got a beautiful new haircut/highlights by one of her aunts, and B got an adorable haircut by another aunt (talented people!). A has an amazing tan, and B has a few new freckles but, thankfully, no sunburn! It's interesting having one daughter who tans and another daughter who burns badly. We fight to get sunscreen on A, and can't seem to find strong enough sunscreen for B! We have three different sets of sunscreen in our house -- some for A, some for B, and some for DH and myself.

I can't believe how wonderful it feels to have my family home again. The house is filled with life (and bickering...lovely sibling rivalry) and activity and things feel normal and whole again. It's a good feeling. I think I understand a bit more how important the gospel principle of eternal families is. After spending a month without my family, I realize now, more than ever, that to me the true definition of "hell" (pardon my language) would be to spend eternity separated from my husband and daughters, not having the family bond and relationships that we have now. The thought is truly miserable. I was talking with a friend at work about this. Her fiance's church teaches that after this life, marital and family relationships cease to exist and even though you will know your wife/husband/children in Heaven, you will not have those same relationships with them. She doesn't like that idea. I don't either. We talked about it and I had the opportunity to share a bit about our beliefs on that subject with her. It truly reaffirmed my testimony of the eternal nature of temple covenants and eternal families and the importance of living up to my covenants so that I can have an eternal family.

In other news...A had conditioning workouts with the high school softball team this week. She didn't play as well as she wanted to but she's feeling more comfortable and getting better. B had her first Academy level soccer practice today and came home exhausted (and a bit pink...fortunately that was from heat and exertion and not sunburn). DH was impressed with her coach and the trainer and the skill work they did. I think this will be a great season with lots of learning and improvement for her.

We finished up the back-to-school shopping yesterday...I love shopping for school supplies. I don't know why -- I have some kind of weird love affair with school/offices supplies. LOL I love the cute notebooks, colored paper clips, packages of pens and pencils, etc. Love it. We're now ready for school with new clothes, new shoes, and new school supplies. The beginning of the school year is always a fresh start and we are very, very hopeful that this will be a good year for both girls.

Today we also bought a new computer. Our laptop is several years old and is getting to be incredibly slow...not to mention the fact that sometimes it just shuts down in the middle of whatever I happen to be working on. That's so annoying. So we put part of our economic stimulus check to good use and bought a new computer (computer, monitor, and printer bundle). We haven't set it up yet but we're excited to get it up and running.

One more week of summer vacation for the girls, and then school starts. The summer has flown by...much too quickly. It's time to get back to our crazy routines.

Has it really been that long?

Yes, I guess it has. Wow -- I'm sorry! Not that there are many of you out there reading...but one of my friends commented a couple of weeks ago that she wished I would update my blog and I hadn't even realized how long it had been.

My excuse? Well, I don't have a good one. Things have been busy, but when are they not?

Here where we live, school starts again in just a couple of weeks. Really -- it starts at the beginning of August (much too early). So after next week, DH goes back to work to prepare for a new school year, A has softball tryouts, and B starts soccer camp and practice. We'll gear up for our annual "I-hate-August-and-September" schedule...because August and September are always, always, always the busiest months of the year for us. *Sigh*


In other news, B was asked to try out for Academy Soccer (a level above rec league) and she made it. She was really excited! Of course this means a bit more travel since she'll have tournaments and games that aren't always in our city, but we'll see how it goes. A is excited about softball tryouts...she'll make the team, no doubt...but she's still nervous about it. Keep your fingers crossed for her!

DH and the girls have been in Utah visiting his family for the last month. Yes, you read that right. The last month. I have been on my own for the last month. Well, not entirely on my own since my parents and my sister and her family live just around the block and have helped keep me occupied and from getting too lonely. But it's been a difficult month.

For one thing, I have never, ever in my entire life been alone for this long. OK, I haven't been entirely alone because I've had the two dogs to keep my company (yeah, two...I got a puppy for Mother's Day. Note to self: don't get a puppy right before your family leaves you for a month...). Up until now, I had only ever stayed in our own home by myself once overnight. LOL I've never lived alone in my entire adult life. So this has been an experience. Up until now, I always felt very nervous and anxious if I was alone at home for any amount of time, even a few hours. While my family has been gone, I've had to be home alone a lot, mostly because I had to be here to take care of the puppy in the evenings. I found that I actually felt better, felt more at peace and more calm, at home than anywhere else. It's been interesting.

That isn't to say that I enjoy being alone. No. No way. Not at all. Not one little bit. But I've learned that I can do it. I can actually fall asleep on my own -- that's pretty big because usually when DH is gone overnight I have a terrible time sleeping. I can even kill bugs -- of course, that's only out of sheer desperation when my dad, brother in law, or neighbor aren't home to come help me, and only if said bugs aren't big spiders. I even had to have my home teacher and his sons come over and clean off my back patio because of a spider problem (I owe them some cookies for that...). But I have killed a few bugs while they've been gone.

So I've learned that I can do hard things. Things I thought I would never be able to do. But I've also learned that I was not meant to be alone. That I'm not good at being alone. I have been moody, sad, mopey, miserable, etc. My friends at work are very glad, I'm sure, that my family will be home tomorrow. LOL For much of the time my family has been gone, I have felt like part of me was missing, like I was incomplete. I felt like I had lost my compass. I don't like that feeling. I need them here.

Oh, I also got a new calling -- Young Women President in our ward. That has kept me busy. Last night I went to the youth dance and had a lot of fun talking to and spending time with some of the youth. That has kept me busy.

But they're not a substitute for my family. I'm so glad my family is coming home tomorrow!

Summertime...

Summer is officially here. School is out and the temperature and humidity are both up. But the official sign the summer is here -- when I left for work this morning, both girls were still asleep! (Granted, it was 7:30 a.m. and they were both up really, really late last night). It's so hard to get up and go to work when everyone else in the house is asleep!

The end of another school year. It's hard to believe that A will be starting high school year this year. Wow! The last few weeks brought some exciting things for the girls....

A received more awards at her school awards ceremony than any other student in her grade. She received the citizenship award for her homeroom, straight A honor roll for the entire year, Science Fair (1st Place), Highest GPA in Honors Math, Academic Team, Writing Award, Principals Academic Award, and she was in a 3-way tie for Highest GPA in the Honors Program (she got a $100 savings bond for that one). A was also voted Most Talented Female for the eighth grade superlatives. It was a nice awards ceremony and she has had a really successful three years of middle school. A will be at girls' camp for church this week, and then the next week is softball playoffs.

B also received more awards at her school awards ceremony than any other student in her grade. She got the Girls' PE award for her grade, straight A honor roll, student council award, National Physical Fitness Award, Most Accelerated Reader Points in her grade, and third most Accelerated Reader Points in the school. She also got another award but I can't remember what it was....In addition to all of that, B was invited to try out for Academy Soccer (higher level than rec league and you have to try out and be accepted), and she was accepted. Yea! And if all of that wasn't enough, she also had her gymnastics and dance recitals last week and did a fabulous job with those. Her vision therapy is going really well and we are already noticing improvement. What a blessing that is!

And now, to add to the insanity that is our home, we are getting a new puppy this week. I know, we must be crazy. The puppy is my Mother's Day gift. If I can't have a human baby, I can at least get a dog baby! She is a miniature dachshund (I'm partial to that breed)...chocolate with tan markings and a white stripe on her chest. We can't wait to get her. Not sure what her name will be yet, but we'll figure that out. We're open to suggestions!

Although life is insanely busy (as it always is), things are going well and we can't complain.

Life Should be a Beach

I know...I know...it's been a while! My lack of updates hasn't been from lack of goings-on to share, but from lack of time (too often the case for me).

It's been an event-filled couple of weeks. We went to Panama City Beach a couple of weeks ago with my parents and one of my sisters and her family. It was amazing. I have always enjoyed the beach (notice I said *the beach* -- not the ocean -- I don't care much for saltwater and seaweed). I have a friend who finds the beach to be very therapeutic and tries to go as often as possible. I now understand why. In fact, I almost passed up a shopping trip to the outlets just so I could sit on the beach! LOL Alas, the call of the outlets was stronger than the call of the beach...but not much stronger. It was so incredibly relaxing to just sit there with my feet in the warm sound, listening to and watching the ocean, watching my children and nieces and nephew playing, and spending time with my family. It was, I think, the first time in a long time that I was fully present and in the moment, not worried about work and what I wasn't getting done while I was on vacation.

I did get in the water a few times, although I must admit to preferring the hot tub over the cooler, salty ocean. We ate at two great restaurants, had fun shopping, and just enjoyed spending time together with our extended family. I have decided that we must make this an annual event -- my parents go every year for my Mom's job and they've been inviting us for some time. I don't know why we haven't gone sooner...but we'll definitely be going from now on. And until next year, I'll be scheming and trying as hard as I can to figure out a way to go back to the beach! It was incredibly relaxing and we all loved it.

In other news...my sister E had a baby boy last week. Apparently he inherited our family's tendency to be a little impatient and decided to make his grand entrance several weeks early. Not the best idea on his part, but he's doing really well and is a beautiful baby. We hope he'll be home from the hospital next week.

And in still other news, my sister M and her husband are getting a little 2-year-old foster child next week. We're so incredibly thrilled for them! They're going to be a wonderful family for this little girl and we can't wait to meet her!

B's soccer season ends tomorrow. It has been a great season for her -- she's quite the tough little soccer player. She has enjoyed the season. A few people have mentioned that we should let her try out for the advanced teams but I'm not sure...too much travel, I think. But regardless, she has enjoyed the season and has really improved.

A's softball season is in full swing (no pun intended, really!). She is pitching really, really well and has pitched a couple of no-hitters. Not only is she pitching well, but she's also hitting well. She has turned out to be quite the softball player. Some of the coaches of opposing teams have come to watch her pitch (scouting out the competition) and jokingly said they wanted to reschedule their games for our vacation so they wouldn't have to go up against her! That made her feel good. She's focusing on high school softball next year and can't wait for that.

The school year is almost over here. Both girls have done very well academically this year. B has struggled with some issues with a classmate and it has been hard for her recently, so she is looking forward to the end of the school year so she can be away from that situation. Other than that, it has been a great year.

And that's about it...now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go back to my new relaxation technique: envisioning myself on the beach, feet in the warm white sand, listening to the waves, and not thinking about anything else!

Sea World Trip Report

We took a mini family vacation to Sea World last week. It was great! The drive there was uneventful and took about 6 hours...a bit of rain on the way down and lots of overcast skies, but it's really not a bad drive. Thanks to Hilda (GPS system, gotta love her!) we found our hotel without any difficulties. We got checked in and settled for the night, at which point everyone but me drifted off to sleep, visions of Shamu dancing in their heads. Me? Well, I don't sleep well in hotels so it was a long night!

We got up the next morning, packed our day bag, and headed for Sea World. Again, Hilda got us there quickly. It was a gorgeous day -- in the mid 80s and sunny, with just a slight breeze and some clouds every now and again. First up, visiting the seals and sea lions. (Pictures will be posted soon...right now they're still on the camera). One sea lion in particular was the model and posed non-stop for pictures. The girls got to feed the sea lions and seals...they thought it was neat to see the creatures catch the fish in their mouths, but they didn't really like the actually touching of said fish, so DH ended up helping out. After that we headed to the seal lion show...Seamore and Clyde Take Pirate Island. Clyde decided he really didn't feel like being onstage and spent most of the show swimming around. It was fun to watch the actors improvise in Clyde's absence! LOL It was a fun show.

After that we saw the penguins (so cute!) and headed to the dolphin and bird show. We really enjoyed that...and then it was on to Journey to Atlantis, where DH, A, and B all rode the ride while I took pictures, did a little window shopping, and got a lovely sunburn (yes, I made sure everyone else used sunscreen but forgot it myself!). The verdict on the ride? DH and A loved it, B did not. Then lunch...Mama's Kitchen...food was only so-so and the prices were ridiculous ($7.99 for a kids meal: hot dog, chips, raisins, and juice). After lunch we went to see the dolphins. The girls wanted to touch one but weren't able to. We saw the Shamu show -- "Believe". It was fun but we were glad we weren't sitting in the "soak zone" (the first 16 rows of the stadium!). We then saw the shark exhibit and arctic exhibit (polar bears). The girls spent some time in Shamu's Happy Harbor -- a play area for kids. It had an amazing play/climbing structure and four or five cute kids rides (amusement park rides). We did a bit of shopping and before long it was time for dinner at The Cove (backstage dinner with reserved seating for Shamu Rocks -- the nighttime show).

Dinner was o.k. but not worth the price...we did get a few close-up views of one of the orcas. "Shamu Rocks" is an incredible show -- we all loved every minute of it (including the awesome pre-show music) and the cutest part was the little baby orca that tried to splash the audience. It may have splashed one person, but certainly not 16 rows like it's mama! But it was so cute. We then watched the nighttime water/fireworks show (Mistify) and headed out of the park.

The next day we went to Aquatica, Sea World's brand new water slide park. Little did we know it was grand opening day, so it was completely packed! Fortunately the park is laid out really well so it never felt like it was filled to capacity. The white sand beach is lovely and the two kids' areas are fantastic. The girls enjoyed some water slides and we all really enjoyed Roa Rapids -- a lazy river on steroids! It was so much fun. The food was yummy and A got to ride a water slide that was partially in a clear tube that went through a dolphin pond. That was cool. Unfortunately, we all got sunburns so we left around 3:30.

We went to dinner at one of my favorite places -- Tony Roma's. I haven't been there since we left Alaska! It was SO yummy. While we were there it started to rain really, really hard so we were glad we weren't at the water park or Sea World.

The next morning we headed back to Sea World to see the sea lion show again (this time it went very well and all performers stayed on stage, LOL!). The pre-show mime is SO hilarious -- if you go to the show you have got to get there at least 15 minutes to see the mime. The girls finally got to touch the dolphins (they were so excited!), and we also saw baby dolphins in the dolphin nursery, sea turtles, manatees (we couldn't stop singing "Barbara Manatee" from Veggie Tales), sting rays, and assorted other creatures. We did some shopping and headed out around 1:00. We drove by the Orlando Temple (again, thanks to Hilda who helped us find it) and then hit the road to head back to reality around 2 p.m. It was perfect timing as it started to rain as we got on the road to head home and rained almost the entire way home.

It was so much fun -- we really had a great time and it was nice to have a few days away to relax and recharge. A few tips for anyone planning a trip to Sea World:

1. Food and beverages are expensive in the park (and the water in the water fountains tastes a bit funny) -- bring your own water and a few snacks.

2. Wear sunscreen and reapply often! We're all finally over the painful part of the sunburns and into the peeling part. Gross.

3. Take more money for food than you think you'll need. Lunch for 4 was $45 (at Aquatica it was $50) and the dinner combination we did (buffet with reserved seating for the nighttime show) was $120. Ice cream bars are $3.25, sodas are also around $3, a ham roll-up was $8 (with no chips or drink). Food at Sea World is more expensive that Disney World.

4. Wear sunscreen and reapply often!

5. Be prepared for crowds. The walkways aren't as wide as those at Disney World and the park isn't laid out as well -- I kept getting lost (not hard for me to do, LOL). It gets really, really crowded and lots of the walkways are narrow.

6. Did I mention wear sunscreen and reapply often? A hat and sunglasses are also must-haves...poor B's eyelids and scalp got sunburned at the water park from not wearing her hat and sunglasses.

7. Have fun!!!

Home from Oz

We're home from Oz! We survived the trip there and back in fairly good shape. The play went really well and even included some backstage hijinks by a couple of cast members (not our daughter!). The play ended up being a family affair for us, as B and DH worked the concession stand for one performance, DH was a "backstage bouncer" for another performance and during the downtime between shows, B helped out and hung around backstage most of the time (when she wasn't watching the show or helping at the concession stand), and I was backstage for all performances doing hair and makeup. Of course, A was on stage the entire time and was amazing. Absolutely amazing!! We all had a great time but were definitely tired, in every possible way, when it was all over. We're still trying to recover!

And in other good news, B's soccer team won their game on Saturday! We are so excited -- her first team win! YEA! Doing the happy dance!

Easter was lovely -- the weather was beautiful and perfect. Some friends from another ward joined our ward choir to help with out musical numbers for Sacrament Meeting. It was so nice to see good friends that I don't get to see nearly often enough. I wish they were in our ward...

Report cards come out this week and we expect wonderful grades from both girls, as usual. Then spring break and our upcoming trip to Sea World. It will be nice to get away for just a few days and have some time to relax and reconnect as a family after the busy-ness of the last few weeks and the upcoming continued busy-ness. A's softball season starts this week, with B's soccer season going on. So the craziness isn't letting up yet, but it will be nice to have a short break from it!

I'll post pictures soon...

Stayin' Alive...

I know, it's been quite some time since my last update. I'm sorry! Life has been, as usual, insanely busy. I finished a two-week class for work (8 hours a day in class, plus homework and tests -- yuck), and A and I are now in full prep mode for her school play this week. She has the lead and I am in charge of hair and makeup(cast of approximately 50 kids -- thank goodness there will be several people helping). On Saturday, she and I helped paint scenery and props and hemmed new stage curtains. I now have muscles that hurt that I didn't even know existed! The play is coming together well and A is doing a beautiful job in her part. She'll even be singing a solo!

B's soccer season has started and she is enjoying it. She has really improved and is getting more aggressive. She isn't turning cartwheels on the soccer field during the games, either (at least not yet, LOL!). My friend J's husband is coaching the team again. It's a lot of fun for B to have soccer with her friend Jenny. B is also frantically reading everything she can get her hands on to rack up AR (accelerated reader) points at school. AR is a reading incentive program. We're having a hard time finding books that are challenging enough for B at her reading level, but still age appropriate. Suggestions are always welcome! B is also keeping busy with dance and gymnastics. She can now do back and front walkovers and has almost mastered back handsprings. To be that limber again!!!

A is also taking private saxophone lessons from a man at church. He offered to give her free lessons and she is enjoying them. He plays professionally and will be able to provide so much more for her than the school band does. It's fun to hear her play pop songs that we actually recognize!

M's basketball season is over and it's wonderful to have him at home more. Things are crazy for me at work as we're in another huge source selection, which means lots of extra hours for me. But I love doing it.

We are going to Sea World over spring break and are really looking forward to the break. We need it! We're also going to the new water park at Sea World -- Aquatica -- we'll be sure to provide a full report! We can't wait for the break. We're also excited about going to Panama City Beach with my parents and some of my family in April for a few days. My sister A and her family are coming down from Alaska, and we can't wait to see them.

All in all, life is good...just incredibly busy!

Another week....

DH and the girls were out of school this week...unfortunately they all got colds and spent the latter half of the week feeling puny, sniffly, sneezy, cough-y, and tired. So much fun at our house! I, on the other hand, still had to work and put in a few late nights at the office.

B's first soccer practice for the spring season was this week. We are all hoping for a great season. She is on the same team as her friend Jenny, whose Dad is one of the coaches. Soccer practice really wore B out on Tuesday...she said she's very out of shape. LOL

A is starting private saxophone lessons today. We have a professional musician in our ward at church who plays several instruments. He was trying to put a ward band together -- it went really well at first and the band played at the ward Christmas party and did a great job -- but since then, only him, A, me, and one other guy have shown up for weekly rehearsals. So we decided to put the band on hold and he offered to give Alyssa free lessons. She's SO bored with band class at school...we're hoping this will be fun for her. Today is also registration for the spring softball season, so we need to get that taken care of.

It has been rainy a lot over the past week but we really need the rain so I can't complain...although the overcast skies do get really dreary. Today the sun is shining so maybe our yard will dry out!

I've been working on organizing our Spring Break trip to SeaWorld. It will be a short trip (about 3 days) but it should be fun. I think I've got everything figured out, but I need to make the hotel reservations. SeaWorld is opening a new water park on March 1 so we're going to include that in our visit. I'm excited about it!

I'm going to be in school (for work) for the next two weeks. The campus is only about 10 minutes from home, but it looks like I'll be going in to the office most days when class is over......things are really crazy busy at work right now.

I'm still keeping an eye on the political situation...the Democratic race is getting more interesting by the day. It will be interesting to see how that plays out. I was surprised and disappointed that Romney came out in support of McCain so quickly -- I didn't expect that to happen until after McCain officially won the nomination. I'm trying to figure out why Romney did it...I have a few thoughts.

I still feel very strongly that I cannot vote for McCain. I have always voted along straight party lines, but am really wondering what to do this year. No, I will not vote for Hillary or Obama, but I also do not feel that I can support McCain. I haven't seen/heard of any great independent candidates, and since Romney through his support to McCain, I can't do a write-in vote for Romney. What to do?

I think this is the year of voting against...not voting for. The conservative Republicans will vote for McCain -- not because they support McCain or even really want him as president, but because they are voting AGAINST the Democrats. Many Democrats and independents will vote for whoever the Democratic candidate is because they are voting AGAINST Bush, and therefore against any Republican. I really think the Democrats will win because the anti-Bush/anti-war sentiment is so strong.

And the primary voting...good grief people...I cannot understand people who vote for Hillary on the sole grounds that she is a woman...for Obama on the sole grounds that he is African-American...and even among those of my own religion, those who voted for Romney on the sole grounds that he is Mormon. Granted, knowing that Romney is a Mormon gives me a good undertanding of his values, but Sen. Harry Reid (D) is a Mormon and there is no way on earth that I would ever vote for that man.

As for those voting for Hillary because she's a woman and Obama because he's African-American, I just have one thing to say. What sense is there in voting for a candidate because of something that is genetic, over which they have absolutely no control? Please. Take time to research the issues, their positions, their experience, etc.....and make an informed choice based on something other than genetics!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to all! A went to her first school dance tonight. I think she had a great time with her friends. I chaperoned...and don't care to ever do that again. I only knew one of the songs they played and it was SO loud -- not just the music, but the never-ending squealing and screaming of some of those kids. Yikes! And can I just say that I am so grateful that my daughter dresses modestly and doesn't give us a hard time about it? She looked beautiful and didn't have to worry at all about her dress falling down, body parts poking out that shouldn't be poking out, super short skirts that showed what's underneath if she wasn't careful, etc., etc., etc.

Here are a couple of pictures of my sweet A, and the corsage her friend (yes, just a friend) B gave her.

In other news, DH's basketball team lost their game tonight, which means his basketball season is over. I know they wanted to do better in the regional tournament than they did, so they're disappointed.

B got to spend Valentine's Day evening with Grandma, Papa, Erin, Thomas, and Nicholas. I hope they all had fun together. The girls are now out of school tomorrow and the following week, which will be a nice break for them. I wish I was off work! I could use the break!

Missing in Action...

Yes, we're still here. It has been an interesting week and a half...busy, as always. But up until Super Tuesday this week, I really didn't have anything to say. (You can pick your jaws up off the floor now!) Trust me, I have a lot to say about Super Tuesday, the fallout from Super Tuesday, and the upcoming election, but I'm still working on composing that post.

A did really well in the Regional Science Fair -- she got a first place ribbon and won two other awards, including a $50 cash award. Being the overachiever, ultra-competitive person she is, she was very disappointed that her project wasn't selected to go to the State competition. But she still did a great job on her project and we're really proud of her. We got some pictures of her with her project and I need to post those. This week is the Valentine Dance at her school and she's really excited to be going with a group of friends. I'll be chaperoning the dance (fun for me...). We found her a really cute dress that needed only minor alterations and little sweater/shrug to make it fit and be modest, and it looks great on her. It's hard to believe she's really growing up so quickly...

B's school had an Art Extravaganza this week, and all of the students had artwork on display. B's grade level did pottery pieces. B's piece is lovely. I'll post a picture of it when they let the kids bring their art home from school. She's been reading everything she can get her hands on lately! It's hard to believe that just a little over a year ago we literally had to force her to read...now we almost have to force her to stop! LOL

DH's basketball season is almost over. His freshman team ended with the best record in the school district and the varsity season is also almost over. Another week, maybe two, and he'll be done. Just about a month, though, until A's rec league softball season starts and DH will be helping to coach her team. And B's spring soccer season starts soon, too. Busy, busy, busy.

It's an amazingly gorgeous 67+ degrees outside today, with a light breeze. It's hard to believe it's February! Of course, the dead grass is a giveaway that it's still winter, but as I was running errands this morning I saw some blooming Japanese Magnolias (love those trees!) and a few paperwhites...so it shouldn't be long before spring arrives.

We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet

President Gordon B. Hinckley, prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, passed away last night (http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/beloved-church-president-gordon-b-hinckley-dies-at-97). He was 97 years old.

President Hinckley lived a long, full life and spent nearly all of it in service to Heavenly Father. He had been the prophet since 1995, and is the only prophet my girls have ever known. His leadership, love and compassion, and sense of humor endeared him to many, members and non-members alike. He was responsible for building so many temples, including the Anchorage, Alaska temple, which I must admit is my favorite (because we got to see it being built from the ground up!). I still remember how excited and thrilled we were in Anchorage when it was announced that we would be getting a temple. I remember President Hinckley coming to Anchorage for a regional conference. I was singing in the choir and was able to see him very clearly. We were so excited to have the prophet in Alaska!

In recent years President Hinckley had given us the "Six Be's" (later expanded to include more)...be prayerful, be grateful, be humble, be smart, be clean, be true. Wise counsel, indeed. More recently, he counseled us to get out of debt, establish financial reserves, and continue working on food storage. I have felt a strong, compelling need lately to work on those things and am glad that I am following his counsel.

While he will be greatly missed, it is comforting to know that he is now reunited with his sweet wife, Marjorie, who he loved so much. It was always touching to hear him talk about her. It was obvious that they loved each other very deeply. If more marriages had just a small amount of that type of love, divorce rates would drop drastically and families would be much happier.

It is also comforting to know that this is the Lord's church and He will not leave us without a leader. I am thankful for the established pattern of succession and the knowledge that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are all called of God and will, until such time as the new prophet is set apart, continue to lead the church in the way God would have it led. Last Sunday in church, our ward choir sang "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet"...what sweet and strange significance that hymn holds in my heart today. I am so thankful for the priesthood, for the knowledge that I have that God continues to lead us through our prophet, just as in biblical times.

Yesterday we had stake conference, and it was a broadcast from Salt Lake City. President Monson spoke and was not at all himself...his remarks seemed a bit rambling, more reminiscent than he usually is, and he seemed quite preoccupied. He kept looking at the clock. I wonder now if he knew President Hinckley's time was short and wanted to be at his side and with the Hinckley family. Each prophet has had a distinct focus (or two or three), and I wonder what President Monson's focus will be. One comment made by President Monson in his remarks yesterday really caught my attention -- he said we should take advantage of opportunities to share our testimonies, including in internet blogs. (I was impressed that President Monson even know what an internet blog was, LOL!)

President Hinckley will be missed, and I am sad that he has passed away. But there is comfort in knowing that he is with his wife, and is happy. And, knowing how active and busy he was, even at 97 years old (he had a full schedule in his office last week!), I imagine he is already busy at work where is now!

The Ireland Presentation and Science Fair

B's presentation on Ireland went really well. The teachers had set up tables in the lunchroom and each student displayed their "travel rug" (see picture below) and any other items they had brought. As students, parents, and other teachers came through, the kids told them about their country and showed off their displays. B did a really great job. Papa taught her to say "Hello Little People" (a greeting to the fairies who live under Fairy Bridge on the Isle of Mann) so B tried really hard to say that correctly. So cute! A couple of pics...




Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of A's science fair project, but I will take some when we go to the judging. This week the kids turned in their projects and then next week (or the week after) the projects will all be displayed at the local Museum of Aviation and the kids will present their projects to the judges. A has been working really hard this week on her presentation, as well as helping some other kids who haven't quite finished their displays. I'm sure she'll do really well. Her display looks great and her presentation is really good. I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes!

DH's basketball team is doing really well...their record is 6-2, with four games left to play. The varsity team isn't doing as well. Soccer and softball will be starting soon...I just signed B up for spring soccer today and A's spring softball registration is coming up quickly. Always something going on!

Tonight I have a friend coming over to help me clean out and reorganize my scrapbooking room. I'm excited...she and I haven't been able to spend much time together in ages and I'm looking forward to it. She's so fun! This weekend is stake conference for church so that will keep us busy...always lots of meetings to go to.

It's been a quiet week.