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!