Feel Good Moments

One morning as I was returning home from taking Brennen to school, I happened upon a some geese flying into the park.  The sun was just coming up and  I was looking at them from behind and it was beautiful how the sun was shining illuminating the geese so they were almost silhouettes.  Well, I really can't describe it.  But it reminded me of a painting or something where bird's bodies are more like an outline, (you know, how you draw like an "m" for a bird in the sky).  okay...words aren't working here but for a moment, it was beautiful watching the geese fly into the park and land on the grass and I felt warm fuzzies.

moving on...

Brennen is 13 and he looks 13 or maybe 11. He is a pretty quiet fellow and though he assures me he has friends at school, there are never any at our house, nor does he 'hang' with anyone on a regular basis--just occasionally with the boys in the neighborhood.  He is a very talented musician.  He decided to play the piano and sing for the school talent show.  He downloaded the sheet music for "Over My Head" by the Fray and learned it the accompaniment but decided to have someone else sing.  He asked one girl and before he knew it 4 girls wanted to sing.  So one night three girls showed up at our house for rehearsal (don't know what happened to the 4th one). And you know how girls look when they are in middle school--older than the 13 year old boys.  It was so cute to see Brennen and these girls.  (only a mom would say that).  They call him Starfish because he was in "Alice in Wonderland" as a starfish and still wears the t-shirt/jersey occasionally that says "starfish" on it. so cute.  Made me feel good to see Brennen being social.

next..

I have recently had the privilege of being around a newly returned missionary.  He is still glowing.  I always feel that baby's eyes shine with the light of Christ and Jacob fits that description too.  He is shining with the light of Christ.

My nephew arrived home late Saturday nighte after two years of teaching the gospel in Columbia. My family and I heard him speak in church and then went to my brother's house on Monday night for a welcome home party. Jacob sat with us and answered questions about his experience.  It was lovely.  Kind of a funny word but I can't think of a better one.  He is so happy and fills the room with his happiness.  He shared how his went on his mission just because he knew since he was young that he would, but messed around before hand and really didn't prepare very well. Yet while he was out serving a great change came over him and he now has such a marvelous love for the Savior, and feels that love from Him, and a has an incredible testimony of prayer.  Andy even told me after church that he "felt so happy when Jacob was speaking that he cried a couple times."  


It is interesting how we send our knuckle-head (as my brother often referred to him) 19 year-olds on missions and they come back so different.  It just felt so good to be around him and look at his happy face, and into those bright eyes.  

Stocking Stuff

This morning my youngest came to me in the kitchen so sad.  "I can't find a stocking for me." he said.

We put the Christmas tree up late last week but I haven't finished decorating the house, and though decorations and most of the stockings are still in the Christmas boxes, there are some stockings floating around, and he couldn't find one with his name on it (for he can read his name now). I can say that yes, Cameron has a stocking with his name on it, but sadly, it doesn't match the rest of the families'.

Last time we made stockings (or rather bought some and wrote names on them with glitter glue/paint stuff) was Andy's first Christmas.  It was a few months later that we excitedly and surprisingly found out I was pregnant after almost 6 years.  Janessa's first Christmas I found a matching stocking and she actually fit into it! and we took a picture of her int it.  Funny, but at the time I had the idea to buy 2 stockings "just in case" but I didn't imagine I would get pregnant again, plus I had my hands full with two babies already, so I only bought one.  Needless to say when Cameron's first Christmas came along 2 years later, I couldn't find a matching stocking.  And every year since I have been meaning to do new stockings...

There are many advantages to being the youngest, and sometimes there are not.  I did find Cameron a stocking with his name on it.  I don't know yet if he noticed it doesn't look like everyone else's.

Home Improvements

There is a light switch in my room that does nothing.  There is no ceiling light and none of the outlets are connected to the switch.  Even though I have lived in this house for over a year, I still flip the switch most times when I walk in my room expecting a light to come on.

Imagine my surprise and delight when I came home from shopping the other day and my husband was installing a ceiling light in our room!  We could tell from the 'uneveness' or whathaveyou of the texture of the ceiling that there must have at one time been a fixture there.  So Scott climbed into the attic, found the (what's that technical jargon...?) thing and wires to connect a light to, and cut a hole in the ceiling to get to it, and hooked up a new light fixture.  Awesome.  Now when I turn on the light switch I have light!  I had no idea it was even on his to do list.

And last week ago Scott and Brennen built me a food storage shelf.  We have no pantry or storeroom to speak of. So I have food in the laundry room and Scott's office, which are both off of the kitchen.  I decided I needed a shelf to put all those bottles of grape juice I did.  And applesauce and next year's peaches (I didn't do any of those this year).  I designed a shelf for the laundry room deep enough to hold 3 quart-sized bottles, and 2 #10 cans (the kind we Mormons get from the dry pack cannery), and just tall enough to maximize space. If you are curious, each shelf is 12 and 3/4 inches deep and 7 and 1/2 inches apart (high).   And the shelves had to fit between the garage door and the door to the backyard.  I designed them and my boys put them up.  Aren't they beautiful?!?

(note on the right side my genius husband put nails to hold our tape!)
and I really don't have that many bottles of juice -- I mean they are not "3 deep"-- a lot are just at the front so it looks like more, you know, for a better picture...

Why oh Why

These are my oldest boys enjoying the use of laptop computers courtesy of the school.
Every student in the Farmington district from 6-12 grade is issued a laptop.  In a time when art programs and music programs, positions and teachers' pay are being cut, let's put a computer in the hands of every student.  Why?!? Of course the computers come from grant money so it is different from the budget.  whatever.

Do you think these boys (in the picture) are doing homework?  no no no.  Games.  The computers come with wireless internet. And of course it is 'filtered' so they can't access everything on the internet.  yeah right.  filters only do so much and any kid who wants to can find ways around the filter.  It just makes me upset and frustrated as a parent that in today's world with all the technology, challenges, and temptations that exist for our kids today that the public education system would provide them with a tool to make it easier for kids access harmful things.  Yes, parents should monitor their kids and communicate and be open and all that.  As a parent I can limit the technology my kid has, such as smart phones and itouches with browsers, etc., and put my home computer in the dining room, but what do I do when the school gives them laptops?  Kids can go anywhere there is free wi-fi and do whatever they want on their computers.  I can teach my kids, but I can't hold their hands and be with them everywhere.


Yes, this picture of my boys is in their bedroom, and we have since made a rule that they can only use their computers in the living room and dining room.

Why do the laptops need wireless internet?  Supposedly the textbooks are on the computers.  (my junior says that his teachers don't even use the computers).  Can't they access textbooks without a wireless internet?  I am not a computer tech so I don't know much about how that works, but I am sure I could figure out a way to use the computers without wireless access away from school.  I am mad and that my kids have something in their hands that opens up danger and temptation that they don't need at this young age.  And also something that gives them less personal interaction with family and peers.  I know that one day my kids will be on their own and have to make choices then, but they will be older, more mature and able to handle things better.  Right now they are teenagers with teenage brains trying to figure out the world.  They don't need help of laptops and the internet at their fingertips!!

Love and Marriage

Scott and I celebrated 18 years of marriage this past weekend.  

Our life together has included . . .

2 Bachelor's degrees (his: accounting,  mine: business education) 

5 children 

4 apartments

4 houses

5 cities (Logan, Salt Lake, West Valley, Brigham City UT, and Farmington NM)

Lots of memories and adventures, up and downs, trials and triumphs, love for the gospel and each other.   

We found out quickly enough that we got married the wrong time of year--the winding down of volleyball season. because I am such a volleyball nut.  Whether I was coaching and it was state tournament (way back in my 'other' life), or whether I was/am playing for city leagues or church, or we were both playing church co-ed, there always seems to be some type of volleyball during the first weekend of November!  So appropriately, we watched the high school district title volleyball game together Saturday night as part of our long date that involved the whole afternoon and evening.  I guess he knew marrying me included volleyball...

Say What?

A conversation with Cameron while working on speech homework.

Me:  "That was great! Miss Jodi will be so proud!"
Cam:  "My school is far far away."
Me: "Yes, it kind of is."
Cam:  "Miss Jodi can't even hear me!"