Week in Review #4 (I think!)

I don't know where January has gone. We jumped back into school and WHOSH! the month is almost over. It feels like we are in the "thick of things" with the kids coming and going and both of us working. I remember my own homelife when I was a teen and was coming and going and all the commotion of a houseful of busy kids. Somehow my mom managed to get us everywhere, cook, teach, serve others, visit with neighbors, teach 4-H, help my bothers with Scouts, encourage us to develop our talents (which no doubt included more driving us to and fro) and the list goes on and on. Yet she and my dad were still able to keep us connected as a family and I am grateful for that. And so as I stand in this spot where my mother once was; at the helm of a busy, happy, productive family, I look back with some sadness that my kids are growing, but also look forward, knowing that we kids turned out happy and responsible, and have faith that my kids will turn out just as well.
Our last few weeks have been spent getting Kelsey ready for 2 big events in her life: Graduation and college, and getting ready for her trip to Europe as a Student Ambassador. Both these things are a lot of work to get ready for, but both, I am sure, will have a lasting and positive influence on her life. We got all the paperwork done for her passport and now just waiting for it to come back. She is also spearheading a donation drive to collect beauty products (lotion, shampoo, hair brushes, toothpaste, etc) to give to a shelter in town for battered women. Along with this she is also busy doing fundraisers to pay for her trip. And then there is the applications to colleges. She is 98% done with the application to BYU-I and hopes to be up there sometime this year. She hopes to get accepted to one of the semesters without snow. . . . . we Idahoans just smile . . .
We did have quite a weather week. We got rain rain rain! I am not sure of the total, but somewhere between 3-5 inches in a week. That is what we get in a year!! We loved the rain and the clouds-ate soup and baked banana bread--but rainy days are sure hard on teachers! My poor students were feeling quite cooped up after 3 days of not being able to go outside. Perhaps the change in weather made them act out more, because it was quite an exhausting week. I don't know how teachers in Portland or Minnestota do it! :) Hooray, the sun is out today and we can go out for recess tomorrow!

Christmas Eats

It just wouldn't be Christmas without some flour flying in the kitchen. We made our favorite sugar cookie recipe Christmas Eve so Santa would have something to eat. Then Kevin got working on the turkey and the pumpkin pies. Once again my kitchen was a construction zone. But of course it all paid off as we enjoyed a delicious meal Christmas Day.
We got some photos of the kids and their gifts Christmas morning, but they were all taken sideways and I can't get them to turn for the blog. But Kelsey and her prized present turned out. Yes, she got what she wished for: a brand new Mustang. It came with a bow and everything. Too bad she forgot to mention to Santa what size she wished for.
New Year's Eve came around and Kevin was still in the cooking mood (the sugar cookies were all gone by now). He found a great recipe for raised donuts. Mmmnmm! I don't think we need to drive to Krispy Kreme's any more! I think we just found another tradition.

Christmas Preparations

Christmas break has come and gone. Too quickly, I might add. Since the first few days of break was filled with shopping, I hadn't felt much like I was actually home from school yet. I still found myself up early and worn out by 4 p.m, just like a school day. Luckily I got everything done in 3 days and had the rest of the 2 weeks off to rest and enjoy the season with the family. We went as a family 30 minutes away to the Mesa Temple to see the lights. Breanna made us laugh when she saw the neighboring houses and sighed" I wish I lived this close to the Temple!" We reminded her that soon our Gilbert Temple would be built a mile away from our house and we would be this close to the Temple!
The kids also wanted to have their friends over one morning and make crepes for them. Dressed in their jammies, they ate and ate. I think this will become one of our new traditions.

A Day of Thanks

Thanksgiving was not as hilarious as Halloween. But it was restful, for which I am now even more thankful for. Before I worked I didn't really value a holiday the way I do now. Just knowing that the week only had 2.5 teaching days was something to be grateful for. The week before had been quite trying--kids acting crazy, things to be worked out with the staff, parents acting crazy and threatening lawsuits, etc. I even got bit by one of my students and a lovely mouth shaped bruise for a week to remind me of the day's events. (No, I didn't bite him back. He must have been excited about New Moon coming out that day). Thankfully the next week was not only shorter, but better. Kids,staff and parents had calmed down and we were able to do some fun crafts and enjoy the week. This year we are thankful for jobs, our home, each other, our health and our Savior.

Our kids at home were especially excited for Thanksgiving because a). Mom would be home early on Wednesday, and b). Dad makes the best Turkey. Kevin starts the day before soaking the turkey in a brine. Then gets up early the next day to make an herbal seasoning/aromatic stuffing, and then slow cooks it all day. It must have paid off because sadly, there were no left overs this year. Good thing Christmas is around the corner and we can do it all again!

Howl-a-ween!

Halloween was pretty scary this year. At least that is what everyone thought about our costumes. Usually Kevin and I don't dress up. But we got invited to a costume party and had to rummage around the house for something suitable. The party rules were that we could not spend any money on a costume. Luckily we had some items that we had bought last year at the clearance sale after Halloween for me. I was a lovely gypsy/pirate with dreadlocks. Kevin, however, was the hit of the party. He pulled out his "Tennessee-teeth" as we now call them, pulled on a flannel shirt, and slung my banjo over his shoulder. (Also note: squirrel-snack in pocket) No one recognized him at first. Then to realize that this country hick was their respected Bishop, was even more hilarious. Thanks to him, we did walk away with 2nd place and a lot of laughs. The kids and the dog were a little leary of us when we got home since none of the kids had seen us dress up and leave. They were a little hesitant to open the door to whomever was playing "Deliverance" on the front porch. . . .

A Needed Break

During Fall Break we decided to head to the hills and get out of town. Kevin has been itching for a vacation since we didn't get to go anywhere this summer. He had quite a week at church and work and was not thrilled with my idea to just hang out at home and relax (so I could get things done). We decided to rent a cabin in Flagstaff and spend time up north. Renting a cabin was a great idea because it was cheaper than 2 hotel rooms, we could cook our own food and the kids had plenty of room to run around. There was a nature preserve nearby that we enjoyed walking around. The kids loved the pine trees and the cool weather.
Sedona's red rocks were breathtaking. We loved hiking in Oak Creek Canyon. The kids also loved riding the Grand Canyon Railway that took us to the Grand Canyon. One of my favorite parts of the trip was horseback riding. Even J got to ride his own horse. He looked so cute and proud in the saddle.
When we got back to town we were greeted by 95 degree weather!! Yikes! The week before we had had a cold spell and now it was heating back up. Oh well. It was a wonderful and definitely needed trip. Now it's back to work!

We're Back!

Okay, so it has been awhile since we have posted anything. I figured today I should at least attempt to catch up --no, there is too much--at least mention some of the things we have been so busy doing lately. With teaching school, kids going to school, church stuff, kid stuff, and everything else we do, some days I wonder why I couldn't wait to be a grown up. But then I look at my kids and take inventory of my life and realize that its because of all the craziness of having a family that makes my life full.