Busy As A Bee

This is how I've been feeling the last few weeks, and it just seems to be getting worse and worse. Sad thing is, I'm actually loving it!

Grady has his court date on Wednesday, and we are worried and nervous about it. Just pray for us so that it all goes okay.

The kids are doing well, even though they have been driving me insane today. I love them, but right now I'm ready to send them to bed.

First Week Is Behind Me

I made it through my first week of school without any problems. It's been a fun experience being in school. I don't think I could do it without all the help and support from family and friends, so I want to thank them for it. And, ending this first week of school, I came home with TONS of homework to do. I did most of it Friday night, but there's always that one assignment that you just can't bring yourself to do. And that's how my history assignment has been. I just can't get myself motivated to do it. Oh well. Guess if I want to pass, I better get to it!

I Started!

No, my monthly visitor has not finally come if that's what you were thinking. I mean, I started at SLCC yesterday! After today I have taken all 4 of my classes for the first time, and I think this is going to be a lot easier for me than it would have been had I gone 10 years ago. I really enjoyed it, my professors are great, and the classes are a blast. At least, so far. I mean, I have only gone for 2 days and I have MANY days ahead of me, but I'm loving it so far!

One Last Night O' Fun

Tonight a bunch of us are going bowling. I keep telling Grady that it's my one-last-night-of-fun-with-the-girls-before-school-starts night. He just laughs at me. The other day I went and picked up my books. for 4 classes, I have about 10 books total. My history class alone, as 3 books. What am I getting myself into?!? Actually, I'm pretty excited to start. I was talking with Payge's teachers today and they told me how much easier it is to go to college later in your life. When I asked why, one of them told me, "Because most people that go straight out of high school, end up not using their degree. Besides, my kids are more prone to doing homework when they see mommy sitting at the table doing it with them." Whether that statement is true or not, I have NO FRICKIN' CLUE! However, it's still going to be a totally awesome fun night with some of my girls!

Happy 9th Birthday Eran!

Eran's birthday is on New Year's Eve. This year, she opted on having another sleepover party, only I got smart this time. I only allowed her to invite 4 friends. Not 9 like last year! She had a lot of fun and got quite some nice presents. Her dad and I gave her little camerathat only takes 40 pictures, but she loves it. It's hard to believe she's 9 and next summer we are going to have another baptism. They grow up so fast!

We also got a new addition to the family yesterday. He's a guinea pig that's named Ding Dong. The kids just love him. Maybe a little too much though.

Christmas Pictures...FINALLY!

Well, here's some pictures of our trip to California for Christmas. Grady's dad was Santa at the ward Christmas party. The kids started calling him "Boppy Claus" and he got a big kick out of it. Great Grandma's not doing very well. She's going down hill fast, so I'm glad we were able to see her because we don't know when we'll see her again. It was a blast, but it's so good to be home. In the words of Dorothy, "There's no place like home!"

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! I hope that you were able to experience the joys of family, food and fun! And always remember the reason for Christmas is only about one gift, and that's the birth of our dear Savior.

Last night the kids acted out the manger scene before we went to bed. It was such a neat experience for them, and they really enjoyed it.

Have a wonderful holiday! We love you!

PS. I will be posting pictures of our adventures here as soon as we get home on Saturday!!

Lights At Temple Square

Last night, a bunch of us from the ward went downtown and saw the lights at Temple Square. It was a blast , even though we had to leave early because Grady got sick. Enjoy the pictures!

This is a picture of ALL the kids that were there with us.
It was crazy, but we all had fun!

It's Official

Last night, Grady and I stayed up until midnight, just so I can...you guessed it...register for my classes online! I am officially going to college! YEAH! I appreciate the fact that Grady stayed up with me so late. Otherwise, I don't think I would have made it and then I wouldn't have gotten the classes that I need. I love you babe!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to wish all my friends and family a Happy Thanksgiving and tell you all that I am thankful for each and every one of you! There's so many things to be grateful for, and so many blessings that are in store for us all!

I'm thankful for a roof over my head, food on the table (as long as it's good, wholesome, nutritious food so I don't gain back the 30 pounds I've lost!), friends and family, The Book of Mormon, the Gospel, and of course, Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.

We love each and every one of you and wish you a wonderful day!

May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes 'n gravy have nary a lump,
May your yams be delicious,
May your pies take the prize,
May your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off of your thighs!

My Reason For Not Posting

I know it's been a long time since I posted, and this is the reason why...I've been playing a game called "Little Big Planet" and for those of you who have a PS3, I really, really, really suggest you get this game if you don't have it all ready. And if you don't own a PS3 and have about $500 stashed away somewhere, go buy one, and make sure you buy this game. You will NOT be sorry.

That's not actually the only reason I've been MIA. I've also been watching my neighbor's girls while they are off track. I won't be posting much between now and December 5th. Sorry to disappoint you.

If Dr. Seuss Wrote The Book Of Mormon

I got this email from my father-in-law and it was so hilarious that I had to share it with everyone else. Who says that Mormon's don't have a sense of humor?!?

Nephi: Of goodly parents I was born;
I've never drunk, I've never sworn.
This is Lehi, he's my dad;
Laman, Lemuel, they are bad.
And who is this? Why this is Sam!
Sam: Yes, this is Sam; Sam I am.
Laman: That Sam I am, that Sam I am,
I do not like that Sam I am!
Sam: In a tent, my father dwelt...
Laman: And it's so hot, I think I'll melt.
Lemuel: Our father's brain is out of whack.
Laman: Yeah, it's too hot, I'm going back.
Lehi: Then go and get the plates, my dear.
Laman: On second thought, I'm staying here.
Nephi: You said you'd leave and go away,
Now all you want to do is stay?
Lemuel: That Nephi always gets his way!
Laman: Here we are in this damp cave.
Sam: We would not be here if you'd behave.
Nephi: I will go and I will do.
There's the angel, that's my cue!
Laban's had too much to drink;
Now he'll lose his head, I think.
Nephi: Look what I found: a brother from the quorum.
Sam: We will take him home; we will call him Zoram.
Laman: Our gold and silver we have spent.
I do not like it in this tent.
Lemuel: I cannot read the Liahona;
I must have drunk too much Corona.
Laman: We hate it here, we have no lives.
Lehi: Then go back to the city and get some wives.
Lehi: A tree, a tree, I see a tree!!
The fruit is white; the fruit is free!
A floating building, could it be?
Why do they laugh and stare at me?
Laman, Lemuel, come and see!
Laman: We will not eat your precious fruit.
Lemuel: We will not wear a tie and suit.
Laman: We will not help you build your boat.
Lemuel: We do not think that it will float.
Laman: No not this boat, it will not float,
Not even in a shallow moat!
I do not care what Nephi wrote.
Lemuel: We will not eat your fruit I say!
Laman: We will not eat it on a tray.
Lemuel: And we won't eat it in a tent,
Not even if your clothes you rent!
Laman: We'd rather have a can of spam.
L&L: We will not eat it, Sam I am!
Sam: You do not like it, so you say.
Try it, try it, and you may.
Try it and you may I say!
Laman: Sam, if you will let us be,
We will try it, you will see!
L&L: Say, we like this fruit of life!
Sorry that we caused such strife.
You've saved us from an awful jam;
Thank you, thank you, Sam I am!

SLCC Orientation

So, yesterday I went to orientation for the college. I was the first one there, so thinking that the class was going to be full, I got the seat close enough that I could see the screen and be able to "absorb" more information if I sat where I did. Turns out, there was only 4 people that showed up. Me, and 3 others.

It was very...interesting. The woman doing the orientation asked us if we could guess where she was from. One person said China. One person said Japan. She laughed and said she was from Indonesia, and she also said that she was "too fat" to be Japanese. The guy that guessed Japan, was so embarrassed that he said she wasn't too fat, just too tall. Poor guy didn't say much the rest of the class.

Anyway, after an hour and a half of listening and asking questions and blah, blah, blah...I walked away from there with a pounding headache. I decided if that was what it was going to be like for me for the next 4 years, I'm going to need to invest a lot of money into Advil or Tylenol, just so that I can survive!

Election Day

Did you?

Halloween

Here is our Halloween picture for the year. The kids had a blast. We went to my mom's work for her lunch break and the kids walked around to everyone there. Some people gave them full size candy bars, and even those big things of Teddy Grahams and Chips Ahoy! cookies. Ugh! Tummy aches waiting to happen!

Last night they wanted to go around our apartments, so I took them out. They hit all the buildings in our ward, and even though not many people were handing out candy, they still got tons of candy again. More tummy aches waiting to happen. When we got home, we watched Avatar, the Last Airbender (I'm a geek, I know!) and then went to bed.

Kids woke up this morning, and the first thing they wanted...CANDY! If I had gotten up and not stayed in bed, they would have had blueberry pancakes, but since I was being lazy, Daddy let them have candy for breakfast. Lucky kids!

Who Knew?

For those of you who knew how much of a pain it was to get ready for college and didn't tell me...YOU ARE GROUNDED!

Seriously though! I had NO idea how much stuff you had to go through to go to college! And it's just the community college! I applied for financial aid, applied to the school, went in and did my placement test (which was horrible...especially my math, but I expected that...I was never good at math), talked to a counselor and got a "Course Planner" filled out for the next 2 years, got a letter from SLCC saying that I was missing this paper, and that paper and I needed to take in my diploma. So, after I got Eran from school, I ran back to the college, filled out this paper and that paper, gave him my diploma, and blah, blah, blah and now I have to go to orientation, then in December register for my classes. Whew! Is anyone else blue in the face?!? That's hard to say all in one breath!

I am excited to go back though. I wish I had done it after graduating from good ol' WJ High and used those scholarships I had to the U of U. But, live and learn, right? I'm doing it now, and now is better than never!

Primary Halloween Night

Last night we had our Primary Halloween activity. It was such a blast! They had games such as a Pumpkin Walk, Pumpkin Seed Spitting (which I believe my son got the farthest on that one!) and they even did a Spook Alley at one end of the building. Eran went through it and came out crying because it scared her so bad. Grady went through and came out laughing. Payge refused to go through. She got to the door and ran back to her daddy. Emma laughed at it. The only part she pointed at and said, "Ooh! Scary!" was someone dressed up as this really, freaky, freaky clown. One guy told her he lost his snake and pulled a string and this rubber snake came up behind her and I thought she'd get scared. Nope. She started hitting the snake and saying, "Look Mommy! A snake!" Our Stake President was there with 2 of his grandkids. I've never seen a man take so many pictures! WOW!

Eran (A.K.A. Midnight Fairy)
I don't know what that circle is by her, unless it was a ghost.

Grady (A.K.A. Jeff Gordon)Payge(A.K.A. Fairy Princess Butterfly)Emma (A.K.A. Tinkerbell)
Or as she calls her, Ti-Ti-BellI was trying to get Emma to come back to me, but she decided to go the other way, so I got a picture of her Tink Wings.

The Sweetest Words From A Child

I realize that I've all ready done a blog today, but I had to post a blog on the sweetest words that a child can say to a Mother.

Now I'm sure most of you are thinking, "I love you" is what I was going to say. But no. The sweetest words to ever hit a Mom's ears are, "I need to go potty".

When your baby finally tells you that they want to use the potty, you feel like jumping for joy and singing the Hallelujah Chorus!

It's a big day in a Mom's life, when you can walk into your local Walmart and skip the diaper/pull-up department and save that extra $15 - $20 each week by NOT having to buy those things for your child. Instead, you get to buy cute little panties for your little girl that have Dora the Explorer on them, or Princesses, or for little boys, you get to buy the boxer briefs (that's all my son wears, he doesn't like "tighty-whities") with Disney/Pixar's Cars, or Batman or Spiderman on them. Of course, it also means more laundry, but doing more laundry is worth have a child go a whole day without making a mess in their pants that you, as the parent, get to clean up.

Important Decision Made

The last few weeks I've been doing some serious, and I do mean serious, thinking and praying and fasting and finally, FINALLY, I got an answer that I'm satisfied with. In the even that Grady is not ever going to be able to go back to work, or get his health back, or whatever it may be, I have made the decision to go back to College. I met with someone over here on the campus on Monday, filled out an application for SLCC and for FAFSA, and will get an answer for it sometime next week. Here's hoping I can start soon! I'm going to transfer to the U of U after I get my Associates in Nursing, and get my Bachelor's from them.

The best thing is, I have very supportive friends and neighbors, who have offered to pick up kids and take them to/from school, babysit them at night as needed, and I have accepted every offer of it. I'm no dummy! :)

Happy 10th!

Happy 10th Anniversary to us! It's hard to believe that 10 years ago today, we were married for time and all eternity in the Mt. Timp. Temple. (And, I was about 50 pounds lighter...but I'm working on that!)

To celebrate, we decided to send the kids off for the entire night...YAY!...and we are going to watch a movie and eat Taco Bell.

Now, the story behind Taco Bell. I'm not a big fan of Taco Bell, but after we got out of the ceremony, we were starving. So, after we went home for a few minutes, we walked down the street to Taco Bell and had our first meal as husband and wife. Corny, I know.

Grady, I just want you to know that I love you, and I cherish you and I've never been so happy in my life than when I'm with you. You are my eternal companion for years and eternities to come.