??????

I have an appointment with the first counselor in our ward on Sunday. I am thinking it is a new calling. Matt teaches the 6 year old class which had Isabelle in it and now for 2011 it has Ben. Matt's team teacher Dan can't teach anymore due to the time being switched and him having to work. I am secretly hoping that I become the new team teacher. I would love to be in primary with Matt. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...how about you do the same =)

School Thankimony =)

This semester is almost over....HOORAY!!!!

I am so excited to have a nice long break.....and I am pretty confident that this girl is getting straight A's!!!!!

It has been a crazy semester. It is always hard to make changes in life, but mostly they are for the good, so it's alright!

I would like to thank Matt for the nights he calmed me down as I freaked out about trying to be a mother, wife, student, etc. And also for not putting me into a mental

institution.

I would like to thank my children for hugging me, and for being really good kids. I would not be surviving motherhood if they weren't!

I would like to thank my mom for enduring the never ending phone calls, and the many freakouts that she had to endure.

I would like to thank my family for always being there and encouraging me. You don't know how much it really meant.

And I would like to thank myself for not being a quitter. Even when that sounded like a REALLY good option at times.

And I am thankful that I am at Junior status and was able to register before a lot of people and get the classes I wanted for next semester. (there have been a lot of complaining about a certain class that everyone needs and hardly anyone can get into...but I did!)

And there is my School Thankimony.

Oh & I LOVED my professors....they are fabulous =)

(And yes, I was a cat for Halloween...really the only recent picture of me...go figure)

New Couch!

Oh so happy. My heart is bursting with happiness...is it bad to be so excited about a couch?
Well I have been wanting a new couch in my front room for ages. But unfortunately funds are low & we have a couch & so that's that. Until.....

A couple of weeks ago I went out with my friends Kristen Peer & Brittany Aardema. Brit moved out of our ward at the beginning of the summer & we miss them a ton! Kristen & I went to pick her up for our girl's night and toured her new house that they had redone. They did an amazing job & I would hire her in a heartbeat. She thinks I'm kidding when I say she needs to come and redo my house...Brit, I'm not.

Well she had bought new couches and said she wanted to get rid of her old one...my heart started pounding. I love her old couch. It is one that I would want in my front room. I started salivating & asked how much & when could I haul it out!!! I got a killer deal & now it is in my front room and makes me oh so happy. Sigh...I love my new/old couch. And I love friends who have good taste that sell me their unwanted items. (sorry the lighting is kinda bad in the pictures...if you want a better look you can always come visit me!)

The Shortest Calling I Ever Had...

Thank you Elizabeth for commenting =) This one's for you!
So I have been officially released from Primary Chorister...I know...perma-grin on my face too!!!! We did our Primary Program & it was so fun & the kids did fabulous. Jacque & Reed were able to come and that made it super special!!!! We love having them visit!
So the Bishop (I love this guy!) he released me and said he knew that school & life were particularly stressful for me so he is giving me an easy calling. One that would require my attention only every so often. I was called to be on the Activities committee. They set me apart a week ago. I have been so excited because I get to work with Natalie (I LOVE HER!), I get to plan parties (while spending someone else's money), and it will only take up my time like every couple of months. I have been floating on a cloud........And then my cloud burst and it started to pour...
So apparently at the worldwide training meeting that was held on Saturday, the church announced they are doing away with the activities committee. I know we are still going to have activities, just not sure on all of the details about that. I have heard conflicting stories. So we are planning a Christmas breakfast & then I will be out of a job...
The concerning thing here is where they will place me now. I am scared....

Question for you!

Things I would like to blog about...

-school

-crazy hair day

-ben's birthday

-isabelle's birthday

-new couch

-halloween

-primary calling

-the shortest calling I ever had

-mini train

-shoes

-jewelry

What would you like to hear about??? I need your help because I am so boged down with stuff that I can't focus. But I would love to blog & when I think of my list of stuff to blog about i get overwhelmed. Which is quite possibly why I haven't been blogging...
So would you please list the top 3 things you would like to hear about & I will do my best to blog them =)
Only problem...some of you might not check my blog anymore because it has been a million years since I have blogged...sigh...I guess I will just have to win your love back somehow =)

Feed your soul....Feed your face...

I love Institute....for many reasons.
One is that they randomly pass out treats.
The other day they had a small table set up in the foyer with small chocolate candies, fruit snacks, and Famous Amos cookies. Then as I was walking down the hall a teacher stopped me and thrust a box of fruit snacks in my face. Uh....how can you say no to such a sweet guy with his cute little grin??? So yeah, I had a fruit snack along with the cookies I snagged.
I love how things just randomly appear. One day they had baskets of apples. Another time it was these monstrously huge pears....so delightful!
Being fed makes my heart happy.
Oh and I love going to my class too =)

We've got some "moaning" & "groaning" going on!

• I bought Ben some undershirts.
  Oh the simple things that bring joy to that boy!
• I love math! It is so fascinating! I look forward to that class everyday...and I love spending hours doing math homework!!! It is a joy! I can't believe how easy it is to understand these complex problems! (maybe if I make this my mantra then it will actually come true...worth a shot right???)
• I got to help out in Ben's class today. I just did busy work for the teacher, but it was SO fun being in there with him! I was worried that it might cause issues with him, my being in there, but he did his thing & I did mine. Good thing, cause I am going to observe his class for 2 of my classes and I was worried about him being clingy or acting like a goofball!
• Isabelle has a sore throat. She woke us up at 2 a.m. crying cause it hurt to cough. Matt gave her some meds and told her not to cough...oh the sympathy we have at 2 a.m. (I was REALLY sympathetic...I didn't even get out of bed!)
• I went to buy Matt's sister a bridal shower gift. I wanted to get her a really pretty, non-risque nightgown. Everything was either really risque or was covered in leopard spots (not that I am against animal print...cause I LOVE it...Beth on the other hand does not)...I was sorely disappointed...sorry Beth, but I did buy you something else super cute!
• I am in the middle of watching a film by National Geographic called "In the Womb." It is for my child development class. It makes me REALLY baby hungry...I'm sure that will dissipate once I get to the "moaning" and "groaning" part at the end. Let's keep our fingers crossed!
• Speaking of "moaning" and "groaning"...I was saying goodnight to Isabelle the other night and I said she was going to make such a good mommy cause she takes really good care of her dolls and stuffed animals. She smiled and got that sweet shy look on her face. Looking very pleased she crawled into bed and I went to Ben's room to say goodnight. I leave Ben and hear Isabelle sobbing. Oh boy! I go in and try to calm her down. All she keeps saying is "babies." Finally she tells me she doesn't want to grow up cause then she will have to have babies and it is going to hurt really bad! Me & my big mouth! Of course that is the thing she is going to remember from our talks of when she was born...I don't go into gory detail, it just somehow came up that it hurts (plus she has seen Father of the Bride Part II, there is some "moaning" & "groaning" going on in that too!). I try to reason with her & the only thing that could calm her down was me saying, "Well Grandma Bonnie had 9 kids, and Grandma Jo had 9 kids. (at this point she exclaimed "All At Once?????" hehe) Do you really think they would keep having kids if it hurts so bad?" She said no & got happy & went to sleep. So hear is the story folks...childbirth is a breeze...Isabelle will believe that until the day she has to deliver her first baby...got it???
• Oh! And once I got her settled down, Ben calls to me...."Mom??? I NEED you right NOW!!!" Here is his question..."Why do people get tubes stuck in their backs?" Say what??? "Yeah Mom, you told me that people get tubes stuck in their backs when they have babies." YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!! Come to find out Ben thinks I had a tube the size of a vacuum hose stuck in my back...oi vay! I had to explain that it is a teeny tiny, eensy weensy tube (I didn't tell him the size of the epidural needle though, cause that sucker is HUGE!) Seriously? What is wrong with me? Why do my children know these things? No wonder they are scared to grow up!
• Sorry this was long...just some rambling thoughts...and I am procrastinating homework...

Things I am grateful for today...

• Not having any homework due so I actually got to help the kids with homework and make dinner without stressing...it was glorious!
• Not having anything due in class, so when i went..it was very stress free.
• The movie that we got to watch in my Exploring Teaching class (The Education of Little Tree) I LOVE MOVIE DAYS!
• Nobody stole my cell phone even though I left it on my front seat in the van...in plain view (I know...paranoid!)
• There wasn't an emergency with my kids while I was in class (cell phone was in car...remember???)
• I took my math quiz and am pretty confident I got full credit (it helps when he tells us beforehand what problems to work on and then lets you use notes during the quiz...)
• I got to take a nap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This NEVER happens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• I'm excited I get to visit Kristen Jolley tomorrow...I miss that woman!
• My family is healthy
• Matt...sigh...=)
• The way my kids greet me when I pick them up from school! Always so happy to see mom!
• My presentation was yesterday...I didn't throw up...and today it is no longer a worry!
• My kids are very good eaters!
• Cookie dough =)
• Tuck Everlasting
• My body pillow with it's super soft cover, which I am going to go snuggle now...I am tired and going to bed =)

My Men...

Ben telling Dad all about his first day of school! Thought this looked so sweet!

Benjamin the Kindergartener!

Ben had his first day of Kindergarten on September 1st! He was absolutely thrilled to finally be able to go to school! His teacher this year is Mrs. Pulsipher...we love her!

Isabelle is excited that Ben is now in school with her. They have made plans to meet up at recess and lunch! Too Cute!
We can't be serious all of the time!

Ben and his best friend Grant Saunders with little brother Kevin!

Ben is such a good friend! He always wants to make sure Grant is taken care of! Grant is a wee bit shy and sometimes gets overlooked, but not if Ben is around!

Lining up to go in! This is when I put on my sunglasses cause I was starting to cry!

And off he goes! When we first got to school I told him to wait with Grant while I walked Isabelle to her class. He told me he was fine and that I could just go home! WHAT??? That crazy boy! I told him that I would be back and make sure he got into his class ok. What an independent little man...much to his mama's chagrin!

And yes, Lisa (Grant's mom) and I cried...it was nice to have someone to cry with. And then when I got home and realized I was alone...I cried even more!

Ben has this thing about buttoning his buttons all the way to the top. I think he is channeling Mr. Monk! In the morning I told him he should leave it unbuttoned, that it looked better. He was VERY skeptical, but left it unbuttoned. After I dropped him off I thought, "Guaranteed, that button will be done up when I pick him up!" Sure enough....

Come to find out the next day, I have a very modest son. He is only concerned about his chest being shown off! Oh boy! We need to get that boy some undershirts!!!

Isabelle the First Grader!

School started on August 25th for Miss Isabelle. She is so excited to be in first grade! Her teacher is Mrs. Lee. (I was able to work with Mrs. Lee this past school year. I LOVED being in her class!)

Walking to school =) (A first day tradition!)

Isabelle and her friend Maddie Peer (Maddie is in 2nd grade this year)

Going inside her class!

Here she is hanging up her backpack, her teacher is in the blue shirt.

Isabelle said she was bored the first day cause they only talked about the boring rules! School got much more exciting after that! She is so excited every day to come home and tell me about all of the fun things that first graders get to do!

My own little Ben Kenobi

Tuesday I dropped Ben off at school. We were saying our goodbyes and our i love you's. Just before he shut the van door he shouted:
"May the force be with you!"
I think I had a smile on my face that whole day!

And that's how Isabelle C's it!

Isabelle decided she wanted to do the dishes today.
I told her to go right ahead. I started to walk out of the kitchen and she said
"Where are you going?"
me: "I need to do homework."
Isabelle: "Well, someone needs to stay in here and talk to me."
Me: "Ok, but I have to read this journal, so I can't talk."
She told me it was ok and I could read it to her. Hmmm....does she realize how BORING it is??? I was bored with it...and they use a lot of really big words =) So I decided to start reading to her, what could it hurt?
The journal was on how late entry to kindergarten can effect kids when they get to high school...zzzzzzz...could be interesting, but remember all of those big words? Yeah half of the thing made no sense whatsoever! So she kept doing dishes and about 20 minutes into it, I had just read something about how it affects them in PE, and she pipes up:
"Oh I am so glad that they decided to let them have PE at that school. Like they get to do soccer and football. Some schools do not let you do soccer or foot ball, mom." I nodded and agreed with her...but I was so impressed that she was actually listening to what I was saying. She totally didn't understand it, but she was trying!
Then I mentioned the mean (you know, average!) something about PE and again she pipes up:
"Oh they really need to get rid of that mean PE teacher. Those kids won't be able to do anything. She won't let them kick the ball, or hit the ball. She is so mean. She will only let them hit the ball with their heads. And then they will just fall over. Oh mom, they really need to get rid of that mean PE teacher!"
Can I just say that....I LOVE THIS KID!!!!!!!!!!
It was fabulous having her comment on my boring homework. I loved her interpretations and also the fact that she listened to this for about 45 min! What a champ! I am thinking she needs to be my permanent study partner...=)

Back to School

I started school on Monday. Sorry Erin, there are no pictures of me. By the time I remembered I was exhausted & could not summon the energy to do it.
I remember...7+ years ago...being in school, single, then engaged, & then newly married. I could stay up late & still get up early the next morning. I have pondered on how I actually did that. I was younger, didn't have a house & kid responsibilities, life was quite a bit easier. And now that I have started school, I have been up late doing homework (always past midnight), and up early in the morning. I guess my body will get used to it, just like it was back in the day. I hate it...especially since I don't get to come home and sleep at 4 pm and then get up, hang out, and then eat dinner at like 8pm. Man, those were the days. Now I have 2 cute kids to take care of, plus my home & husband. I am sure I will find balance somehow...eventually...hopefully! It is only the first week, isn't that the hardest?
I am really enjoying my classes. My favorite is Children's Literature...I wish I could take this every semester!!!! And the bain of my existence is math...ugh! But Matt faithfully sits by my side for hours every night and works on math with me. He is a good guy. How did I get so lucky???
Isabelle started school yesterday & LOVES it! I took pictures but do not know how to get them off of my camera...hopefully Matt will, if I remember to tell him =)
She also pulled out one of her teeth this morning. It has been a fun 2 days for this girl!

Blast from the past!

Ok, so April 8th isn't too far in the past, but definitely far enough. Ben and I got to go on a field trip to the Treehouse Museum here in Ogden with our Circle time group from Club Heights Elementary. It was lots and lots of fun to spend time with my boy!

Here he is helping reenact the 3 Billy Goats Gruff with puppets. (?, ?, Jordan Peer, Ben & Shelby Jolley)

He wants to be a puppeteer...

also an Indian...



also a fireman...

and a shark catcher!!!! There goes his hand!!!

He would also like to be a farmer with Jordan...yeah it really squirted out water!

But a cowboy might be the #1 pick!

Yup....definitely a cowboy!

We need to get this kid some boots & spurs!

Uncle Josh

I found this picture and thought I would share cause it looks so cute! I believe it was taken in April of this year. Isabelle is snuggling up with her Uncle Josh! She sure loves him. He was visited us yesterday and stayed the night & is now on his way up to Idaho! Thanks for visiting Joshua!

Very, very, very excited!!!

I have been stressing about school starting for me & getting the kids where they need to be and finding parking and yada yada yada....
In July I went to the institute and entered their lottery for free parking for Fall semester. I am a very hopeful person!
I ended up buying a parking pass from the school and have had to give myself an hour to get from home, find a spot, get on the shuttle & make it to class on time. 2 days a week my kids were going to have to eat breakfast at school so I could make it to my school on time. Not a big deal...but I would rather have them eat at home so i can make sure they eat a good breakfast...one of those quirks of mine =)
We went to the institute on Monday so they could take my picture. It was a lot of fun because I had my kids with me & we got to meet my teacher and they unlocked my classroom so the kids could go and explore. They were so excited & thought it was so cool to see one of my classrooms =)
They also had a sign posted on the door for those who received cards in the mail for the lottery parking to come on in and claim their prize. I was so bummed, but thought "oh well," cause I have everything figured out.
Isabelle brought in the mail yesterday...it was a bunch of ads. I decided to just look through them, for lack of something better to do...and what did I find?????? MY LOTTERY PARKING POSTCARD!!!!!!!!!!!
I am SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSO excited!!!! This means parking will be a breeze this Fall semester! The institute is only a hop, skip & a jump across the street from the education building where I start my classes everyday. Now my hour long plan has turned into 30 min. plan (I still want to be there somewhat early) And so I get to drop off my kids everyday at 8:25 (their bell rings at 8:30) and feed them breakfast & even walk into class with them on their first day! Hooray!!!!
Sorry this took awhile to explain, but if you couldn't tell, I am REALLY excited =)

Icons, dishes & painted toenails...

I'm annoyed with the photobucket icon on my blog, and have no idea how to remove it. Any suggestions would be mucho grande appreciated.
My kids are doing dishes...hehehe...and they are enjoying it. Well except when Isabelle gets mad at Ben for getting soap on something....oh boy! So here I am blogging and they are washing breakfast dishes (we only had cold cereal...so not a lot to do), ahhhhhh.....this is the life!
Also, Jamie you mentioned in my title photo that Ben's toenails are painted, yes it has happened...but not his time! Those are Isabelle's legs in those long pants with the pink shimmered toes. Ben's toes look a might shiny but I did a close up and they are definitely not painted....so nice try Jamie...hehehe, couldn't catch me then!

School

Isabelle starts first grade on the 25th.
Ben starts Kindergarten (all day!) on Sept. 1st.
I am starting to miss my kids already. I LOVE summer vacation, and any other school holidays! I love having my kids home. I will start school this month on the 23rd. So I will begin before they do. So I get to pawn them off on my friends...my kids are delighted about this by the way. I think this is the one thing I am dreading about school starting. Being away from my kids. Oh I know they will be fine, we all will be fine. I just wish sometimes that I could freeze time. Or go back in time. That would be fun too!
Last year I sent my first to Kindergarten, and now this year I get to send my last. I am going to be a huge old bawl baby!!!! Oh boy, when you see the Robertson's heading to school this year wear a raincoat!

Sorry no cute pictures of the kids....just my ramblings...

This summer feels like it has been full to the brim with adventures.
The latest happenings:
*Seth (Matt's Bother) & Suzanne got married....so much fun!
*The Youth Spectacular finally happened and so I am no longer sitting outside at rehearsals in the heat! It was amazing though!
*My family came to visit & sent Andrew off on his mission! I will miss him and am SO SO SO proud of him!
OK so those were the biggies....smashed in between were all the other adventures, library (multiple times), splash pad, play dates, organizing, naps (blissful....when i can catch one!), laundry (this one truly was an adventure...I hadn't done it for weeks! I am still folding!), movies at the mall, couponing (so delightful to make my dollar stretch so much!), oh and delightfully working through a math book so I can be prepared for my class starting in 2 1/2 weeks, Primary water activity day, playing at the park, setting off fireworks, going to parades, eating ginormous otter pops, sewing, reading, being lazy :), trying to find babysitters for the first week I am in school and the kids are not, thinking about all of the many things I still need to do (amazingly, this truly makes you feel crazily busy!), moving the computer into the other room (my kitchen looks HUGE!), and many, many, many more.
So I have been thoroughly chastised for not blogging...and I am sorry. I didn't know you guys thought my life was so interesting! Hahaha just kidding! I know it's to keep up to date and I do read yours...and I love hearing about the things you are up to. So if you are feeling ignored, I am sorry! I do love you all....=)
Hopefully I will be able to squeeze some blogging time in to my crazy schedule. But if it is few and far between, know that I still think of you and love you!
Now I have to go and fold some more laundry...yay...

Music in the Park July 1st

We went to have school lunch at the park with the Saunders. They had lots of fun activities planned that week so we got lucky that we happened to go there! They helped the kids make comb kazoos, bell bracelets & one other made out of a cup...not quite sure what it was. They also had drums for the kids to play on. Here are the kids jammin' at the park!!!

=)

Hello? Hello???? HELLO??????????
ANYBODY OUT THERE???????????
IT'S ME!!!! I'M CHECKING MY BLOG!!!!!
I'M ACTUALLY POSTING SOMETHING!!!!!!!
(does this really count as posting something....hmmmm....meh)

I've been lazy. Duh! It's the lazy days of summer. I'm supposed to be lazy.
We went to California...had a superb time =)
We went camping...had a superb time =)
Josh came to visit over the weekend and we went a little crazy with the skittles...had a superb time =)
Went crazy today cause the kids are really whiny...had a superb time =)
Had 4 extra kids at my house, occasionally driving me & each other a little crazy...had a superb time =)

Life's been good. I would post more & be a bit more detailed, but you should be grateful you got that much out of me...LOVE YA!

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

It has been a lovely Mother's Day!

I got breakfast in bed (pancakes, bacon & sausage, & milk). Isabelle gave me a couple of poems and Ben made me a calendar with his finger/hand prints. Matt bought me a mop...cheap you might say, but I REQUESTED it! He asked me what I wanted and I told him (good man!). We are on a budget & as of right now, I have no serious wants...lucky guy =)!!!

Here are the kids doing dishes....HOORAY!!!!

Matt grilled steaks, with sauteed mushrooms & onions, corn on the cob, and baked potatoe....yummm...this is what heaven truly looks like!

Isabelle & Ben with me & our yummy dinner (I got to eat off of the special occasion plate too!)

We made homemade ice cream in bags. It was cold but SO fun! Matt didn't like it too well...I don't think it was creamy enough for him (we used skim milk). But I LOVE ice milk so it was divine!

Isabelle & Matt with their ice cream!

Me & Ben with our ice cream!

It was a super delightful day! I have been pampered and have been given a lot of love =)

Today the primary sang "Love is Spoken Here" in sacrament meeting. It turned out AMAZING! I was SO proud of those kids! All that hard work totally paid off =)

Happy Mother's Day to all you mother's out there!!!!

The Zoo!

Here are the adventures of Matt and Isabelle at the Hogle Zoo, May 4th, Kindergarten Field trip. This is my absolute favorite picture they took. They are on the zoo playground.

Here is Isabelle and Matt's other charge Kayla Loomis. Here they are visiting the tigers...real and fake =)

Giraffe's!!!!

On the playground again. LOOK! There are sitting on Aragog!!!

Turtle Isabelle!

Cave dwellers Isabelle and Kayla.

Posing with big elephant. It makes noise and squirts water.

Gorilla Isabelle!

They had SO much fun!

Isabelle's favorite part was looking at the rhino's with the birds on their backs!
Her whole class wore red tie dyed shirts so they wouldn't get lost. Too cute!

Makeup Post #1 Dr. Suess's almost birthday

Yeah I know I should fix the picture and rotate it. But I am lazy right now and it is just easier on me if you tilt your head =) Thanks!Ben celebrated Dr. Suess's almost birthday at circle time on February 18th. It was alot of fun and they got to play in "Oobleck"!!!!
Ben LOVED it. And yes I dug in too. The other moms would touch it but that's it. It's just cornstarch, water, and food coloring...but oh so fun!