Another new year...

I must join the throngs of people who hate this holiday - Who does like New Years??? (I was in bed by 10, but Max had me up again at 12, and 1, and 3, and.... anyhow...)

Like it or not, it's here and it's a time to reflect and move on. We've had a good year, we are very blessed in our life and lucky to have our home, jobs, and a great relationship. I can't say that 2008 ended on the highest note what with being sick, job-stress, never-ending remodeling projects, and a very old and dying dog - BUT we are very excited for the guaranteed changes of 2009.

Here's our goals/plans for the year:
1 - The Peanut!!! However she (this is hopeful on Art's part) comes - we're planning on easy and natural (positive thinking works!) - we are so excited to see what she looks like, find out all about her personality, and all the rest of that fun stuff that comes with being a parent! (Me, a parent???)
2 - Sell the House!! We just have about 5 million projects to finish before we list the house in February, and then we are HOPING it sells!!!
3 - Move to Logan.... We're ready for small town living, a cheaper house, USU, and a new adventure.
4 - New Jobs - Art is looking for a new career where he only has to work when he wants, makes lots and lots of money, and can still be a stay-at-home-papa. I am hoping everything works out for me to be the drama specialist at Edith Bowen Lab School, if not I'm good to teach anywhere - but it would be such fun to just be 'dramatic' all day...

- ok, so that all has to be done, here's what we'd like to do...-

5 - Train the dogs!!! Rudy can get away with anything - stinkin' puppy dog eyes!
6 - Go to the temple monthly...
7 - Save money and pay off bills - who doesn't need to do that??
8 - Learn to relax (ok, that's just for me, Art has already mastered this...)
9 - Try to get through the giant stack of books to read so my kids will stop pestering me for a discussion about all their favorite new books...
10 - Take time to enjoy life...You only get one chance, might as well live it happily.

My 5 Happy Things....

1. My Husband - I know, sappy, but you know what, he is pretty amazing to me. Yes he's picky, and opinionated, and leaves a trail of mess wherever he goes. BUT - He loves to spend time with me, that's what he would prefer to do over anything. He loves to just cuddle and talk. He never leaves the house without giving me a kiss, and always comes in with one too! He's romantic, seriously goofy (he rarely reveals this to anyone but me), and always thinking about what is best for me...so yeah, my love makes me happy.

2. My Dogs - Lulu is my baby-girl and she just knows me, we're connected, and when I need something she's always there (she's not so good at fetching my water, or getting me a tissue, but she's still there!) Rudy is our little lover - he has a big heart and tries to always be around to make you happy - And he does occasionally like to sneak onto the couch to give the extra good kind of love. Max - well, he's sad these days, and it breaks my heart, but I still love the guy!

3. When the kids don't want to go home... It's certainly not every day, and definetly not much lately, but sometimes we just have a great day at school and when the bell rings they just don't want to go home. They loiter around until I have to kick them out the door! It feels good to know that I have helped kids learn to love learning. The other day we got to giggling and we just couldn't stop, we all walked down the hall, trying to be quiet but not being able to stifle our giggles... It's a hard job, but the kids make it worthwhile.

4. An Adventure!! I don't get nearly as many as I used to, or as I would like, but I sure do love a good adventure. Planning a trip, taking a drive, seeing something new, exploring unknown territory, even a great shopping challenge - I just love adventures! (Pics are from our trip this summer with the family from Spain, I was the photographer on both, but still part of the adventure!)

5. My Family - the one I've got and the one I'm working on.... I do love to see the fam, and be around them. I've always preferred family over friends. And we're pretty excited about the Peanut (that's the nickname for the baby cause it's the size of a peanut). Thinking about the family that is growing inside me definetly brings a smile to my face!

So there you have it - my top 5 happy things....

Answer to the TV Post...

Well, I don't really like TV, I watch, but mostly just to occupy the mind. There are a few shows I do like to see....

This Old House Hour: Gotta love it, I think it runs in my blood. But it's not on at the most convenient times and we don't have DVR.

Seinfeld and Scrubs: Reruns, but good for a laugh. I am VERY happy Scrubs will be back on in January.

Baby Story etc: If I happen to be home, and they're on, I do love to see a good birth (Heidi's fault!)

Project Runway: I will miss my Project RunGay...It was addicting, and I think Art secretly liked it...

My biggest shame: America's Next Top Model: It's totally ridiculous, and Tyra Banks is an idiot, But it's like a drug and I can't stop! (thank heavens the season is over!)

That's pretty much it, we do watch the Daily Show as our form of one day old evening news, but mostly we watch movies.

Sunday Thoughts

I'm not the real religious sharing type, but I felt like today I needed to be... so here's a change of pace for me.

I recently got released from the Primary Presidency and put in as a Relief Society teacher. (Nothing like a once a month calling as a welcome change.) So today was my day to give the lesson, I had read it a few weeks ago, hadn't gleened much. Yesterday I knew I had to get busy and plan so I read it again and highlighted a few things, but fell asleep before I had much. This morning I got up and again attempted to plan, but I had a very sick stomach and just couldn't focus. So I quickly outlined some thoughts and then proceeded with the less-than-pleasant morning. By the time I had to go to Relief Society my stomach was again upset, but I had no choice so we headed off to church.

As RS began they asked for any 'Good News' for the "Good News Minute", I spoke up and announced to the sisters of our new arrival, and asked for their patience in my lesson. Of course they were excited and optimistic, I was not. For most, getting up to teach causes a very upset stomach and in my condition I was expecting the worst, but as I stood my stomach completely calmed down. And moreso, I had energy, and I could stand and talk and project (all things I have been lacking as I've attempted to teach school over the last few weeks). But more than all of that, my random thoughts came together and spilled out in a lesson that made sense. I shared ideas from the book, got our normally silent sisters (I know - an oddity) to talk and share ideas, and the spirit was so strong. I don't know if it was the best lesson ever given, but it was good, and more than anything I know that the message got across. I had wondered how I would ever fill the time, but I was rushing to fill in my testimony as the last minutes of class ticked away. I know today that I was blessed. I had someone there to help. As I said to Art as we left, when you're doing what's right, the right things happen in return.

So there's my thoughts...the gospel is true, the Lord is good, and we are all blessed.

Fast Forward Christmas

I'm not sure if it's the nausea, or the sunny weather, or the house under construction but frankly I'm just not in the spirited mood this year. I've never "loved" Christmas. I was too young in comparison to my cousins, so by the time I got big enough to remember Christmas Eve programs most of the big kids were about done doing them. And I was the youngest in the house too, so I had to suffer through watching all my brothers and sisters leave until there were a few sad years of just Bud and I, and then I was alone on Christmas morning. I'm not trying to get pity, but being the youngest does change your perspective. Alot of my Christmas memories are of my nieces and nephews, and cousins children (whom are now grown-ups!).

The other major issue is that I also spent the longest time at home which means I have had to unload my mothers 20 giantic boxes of Christmas Crap all through the house helping her decorate year after year. Yes, I complained, but I was still there, even after I moved out. But this over decorating at her house has caused me to be a non-decorator at my house. I have A (ONE) smallish box of Christmas crap. I even have some interesting ornaments we've purchased from around the country, but alas, they are still in the basement and may just stay there this year.

And so I share my bah-humbug (Isn't that nice of me), and I curl up in my blankey and wait for Christmas to be over. I'm not wishing it to pass because I am THAT much of a grinch, but moreso because I'll be through the first trimester come January and I can stop feeling so icky and become a real human again. And so, if you don't see me wearing my Jingle Bell socks and matching appliqued Holiday Theme Sweater you'll know it's because I'm stuck in jammies until the new year.



(PS - I am SO pathetic that the Jewish 5th grade teacher is choreographing our Christmas Sing-a-long this year! I have a wonderful teaching team!)










Authors house NOT pictured. Image represents optimal holiday decorating for those who are not puking.

We STILL love July!

Reannouncing - now that we have told nearly everyone, I think we can officially say it here. (We had to rush delete the last entry after we realized the family in CA reads the blog and we didn't want them to find this way!) Yup, still pregnant...to share in my joys....

Top Ten reasons you might know I’m pregnant …

10. I always have Cheerios with me
9. I am only wearing one pair of jeans – the rest don’t fit – ALREADY! (perhaps a preexisting condition)
8. I’ve been on the same chapter of Sacajawea for 6 weeks now, I TRY to read in bed!!
7. If you come in my room before school you may find me asleep under my desk.
6. My hair isn’t done – ever.
5. If I’m not in my classroom, I’m in the bathroom
4. I haven't had a Chocolate Chip Cookie in weeks, but I'd die for a Peanut Butter Ball right now.

3. I can't open the refrigerator, at all.

2. Just the word EGGS makes me run for the bathroom (even typing it! Ick!)
1. I don’t know, I can’t think of anything creative. I can’t think of anything at all. What are my student’s names again? What did I stand up for? How many times have I walked across the room for the tape and forgotten? This isn’t going to get worse is it?

Ready to Move

So I am here in Ogden ready to begin the big conference tomorrow. We have over 500 people registered to attend a two day conference to focus on Dance, Visual Arts, Drama and Music. We hope to inspire some amazing arts happenings in the schools. This year the research has been released showing the power of teaching the fine arts in classrooms and their direct effect on growth - in students AND their test scores. Kids who were dancing once a week and connecting movement to curriculum had the most significant increases in test scores. So my point - CREATIVITY is KEY!