School Blog Project

Within the next day or so (okay maybe today, who knows!)  I will be posting my Cultural Diorama for my Multicultural class.  It is just a few pictures that describe my and my culture.  Just so you know what is going on when it goes up!  Hoping for an A, so keep your fingers crossed!!!!!  And it will be very interesting, so you should probably read it =)  Just saying.

Random picture of Ben.  

He was welcoming in the year 2012.  

Yup it`s a year old, but it makes me laugh, so that`s basically all that matters.

Busy, busy, busy

Here is what has been going on lately:

• I've been swamped with homework.
• I took a test on Friday, took one on Monday, will take another one on Thursday (or Friday), and will take another one on Saturday (or Friday).  My brain is fried.
• Isabelle has been taking Zumba at 4-H.  She says she doesn't like it.  She wants to grow her hair long and join the club that does hairstyles.  Whatever makes her happy.  Ben still loves karate at 4-H. 
• Ben earned his Bobcat!  Well he earned it awhile ago, but just received his patch last Thursday.  He only has 3 more things to do and he will have his Wolf done.  He is busy and he loves Cub Scouts!
• Ben competed in the Pinewood Derby last Thursday.  There were only 5 boys who participated, and one of those is highly inactive (at church and scouts).  Ben is the only Wolf in our ward.  Ben cam in dead last, which made Matt proud in a wired way because his car always came in last too.  Like father, like son!  
• Matt has another calling.  So in addition to being an Elders Quorum teacher, he is also a Ward Missionary.
• I am in Cub Scouts with Ben.  I had to buy a $40 scouting shirt for myself.  It was pretty annoying having to fork over the money, but such is life.  I get to go to the meetings and will either be with the bears or wolfs, depending on where they need me.  Two deep leadership is highly important!
• Mallory stays with us some nights during the week and I have loved visiting with her.  She is highly entertaining.
• Matt turned 34 on January 8th.  He got the new Robert Jordan book and went to the midnight release and book signing with Jordan, which just happened to fall on his birthday.  He was a happy guy indeed!  He also got new computer stuff.  Some cool black light liquid cooling system.  Not quite sure exactly what it is, but it now looks like Vegas downstairs!  It is pretty freaking cool.
• We are going to Henry V at BYU this Saturday.  It is for kids, so I am hoping my kids really enjoy it. We have to get some culture in these ruffians!
• I am enjoying being at BYU.  It has a great atmosphere.  Although I do miss all of my friends a WSU and in my old ward.  Life in Orem is definitely different, but I am hoping things keep looking up.
• My Niece Avynlea got baptized last Saturday.  We were able to make it, although it was a really short trip!  I wish we could have visited with everyone a little bit longer, but we will just have to wait until this summer.  

Anyhow, that is what we have been up to.  Hope everyone is doing well! 

This is just a test I have to do for a technology thingamabob.

Nothing special just BYU related.  Enjoy the dolphins =)

I love Christmas.

The spirit that surrounds this time of year just makes me so happy.

I love the smell of gingerbread, and pine.

I love carrying out traditions in my family that come from both Matt`s & my childhood.

I get a little sentimental.  And I like that.  I enjoy thinking about Christmas`s past.  

I miss California.  Not the coast, not the sweet orange grove smell, not the town (although they are pretty great!).  I miss my family.

It is always hard to be away from them, but especially during the holidays.  

Maybe next year we will be there.  I think that every Christmas... but ya never know.  And it gets me through the hardest times.  

Next year.

Definitely.

I`m already making plans.

December Update...

We are getting more an more settled into our new home in Orem.  I had the realization yesterday that this house's floor plan is almost identical to the house we saw 5 years ago in Eagle Mountain that we almost bought (this was the first time we thought we were going to have to sell our house, but thankfully didn't!).

I have been accepted to BYU and will start in January.  I'm a little nervous about starting school again after my long break, but it will be good to get back into a routine.  Only 2 1/2 more years to go!

The kids school does 4H clubs.  So Ben is doing karate (he has been begging to do karate for years, so he is quite the happy guy!), and Isabelle is doing Zumba!  So far so good.  Isabelle says Zumba is a little hard, but she still loves it.  And they both showed off their sweet new karate & Zumba moves!!!  I love it!

We went and saw The Forgotten Carols on Saturday!  Matt's parents got us tickets for our Christmas present this year!  We all loved it!!!!  The kids got to meet the cast afterwards and Isabelle was literally jumping up and down with glee!  It was adorable!  She also has decided (for the moment) to grow her hair out long because the girl who plays Connie Lou has long, brown, curly hair.  I love that she thinks Connie Lou is great!  And of course we have been singing the songs ALL weekend long!  Afterwards we went to Sizzler, where Ben got to try his first shrimp & loved it.  I told him that Grandma Jo would be proud!  We all got steak (a family favorite) and the kids loved that they got to visit the dessert bar.  Brownies a la mode for both =)

We got our Christmas tree put up last Monday for Family Home Evening.  Putting up the tree is one of my very favorite Christmas traditions.  I love seeing all of the ornaments I have gotten throughout my life and reliving those precious memories.  I also loved when my kids would unwrap each of their ornaments and exclaim about remembering getting this one and why and how much they love it.  So grateful for that tradition that was passed down through both of our families.

I am still busy doing Norwex parties.  This is one thing that totally sells itself.  I was even going to take a break from parties and then got a call from a friend who wants to do one.  Who am I to argue?  It has been a lot of fun and has kept me from going crazy at home all by myself.  I don't know how long I will keep doing it, but it has been fun while it has lasted.  Plus I get to have a girls night more often =)

Our van needed to be fixed again.  Someday it will be gone, and I will be so happy!  But for now, every college student needs a crappy car right???  It's like a right of passage.  At least that's what I tell myself!

Ben started cub scouts this past week.  He is so excited and I think it will be a lot of fun!

I am so excited for this holiday season!  I love celebrating Christmas and especially our Savior's birth!

Hi, we are alive.

I have been crazy bad about blogging...
could ya tell???
So here is what is up with us:
-We moved into our townhouse last Saturday with some help from some AMAZING family members!  I don't know what we would have done without all of you!  We are blessed to have such awesome family living around here!
-The kids started at their new school.  They love it.  Although Isabelle had a bout of anxiety on her first day.  Needless to say she is now besties with the principal, office staff, and aides.  She knows how to get in good with the upper ups!!!
-I got to have lunch with Mallory & Andrew on Tuesday.  That was super fun & tasty...we went to Pizza Pie Cafe!
-I got a new washer and dryer.  I am most excited about this!  They are amazing...and for those of you wondering, they are white. I didn't have a choice....although my first pick would have been orange =)
-We are still unpacking boxes.
-Matt took me to the ER Sunday night.  Kidney stones are a pain in my side!  Literally =)  They gave me the good stuff and I was one happy girl.  It is crazy how fast and furious the pain hits.  Joshua and Mallory were visiting and I'm sure they were like, "What the crap is going on here???"
-Ben is in flag football in Ogden.  He has been doing amazing.  His coach is fabulous and really works with them.  They are undefeated =)  The playoffs are going on now and part of me is hoping that they lose on Monday.  Only because then we wouldn't have to drive back up on Wednesday.  But he is having fun and I love watching him!
-I am looking forward to all of the Halloween festivities this year.  We are going up to Jamie's for our family Halloween party.  And my mom will be up here for Halloween!!!!!  Hooray!  I don't know what our new ward has planned...hopefully it is good!
-I baked gingersnap cookies today.  My first time ever.  They were delicious!!!!!
-So, what's new with you???

Update

Many of you have asked what is the latest going on around here...I wish I knew!
Ha ha just kidding!

*Currently I am trying to transfer to a university down south...my options are BYU and UVU...hopefully one of them will accept me.  It is super nerve wracking!!!

*Foster Care is on hold...until when I really dont know =(  I know it was the right thing for us to be prepared and to attend classes and now we are just leaving it in the Lords hands.  He knows what is best for us and any future children that come into our home.

*Our house has not sold.  Our realtor seems a little frustrated because its a good price and basically everyone wants something for nothing...meaning we will have to lower the price, meaning will will not get a single dime out of it, meaning we wont have a down payment for a new house.

*Having said that, we will most likely move into an apartment.  And Im okay with that.  Monday I was not okay, but today I am.  I know the Lord has a plan for us.  If that means going back to an apartment then that is that.  I am sad to be leaving our cute little house!  Plus its hard to make a change (ward, school, housing, job, etc.), but that is where faith plays a huge role.  Im just seriously thankful to have the husband and children that I do.  I would take them over a house any day!

*Matt is LOVING his new job!  The commute is taking its toll on him already though.  He gets home with barely enough energy to do anything and I feel for the man.  He works hard and doesnt have any spare time.  By the way, for those whose computers he has, he will get to them when he can.  He really is trying his best and right now is just a hard time for him.  Sorry cause it might take awhile.

Keep us in your prayers please!  We need all of the divine intervention we can get ;)