"When I grow up"...

Tonight Emmi had her 3rd grade program, entitled "When I grow up" the children dressed up as the thing they wanted to be when they got old... Emmi wants to be a sailor, according to the script, I am trying not to worry about that, or at least put it into perspective because apparently a lot of kids want to be plumbers, I blame that on the current epidemic called " low-rise" jeans; sporting so much crack.**** All joking aside, Emmi was spectacular with her solo line and her singing and dancing numbers! She is the most beautiful 3rd grader in our family, and the school for that matter, and I have no doubt that she can and will be whatever she wants to be!

A new friend....

The assistant in the classroom I'm in, is amazing, she is a beautiful person inside and out. She has made me feel so comfortable, and welcomed. Her name is Claudia and she is a young mom with 3 girls at the school we're at. She is patient and a very hard worker. We have had a few rough days (some of the children can be pretty challenging), anyway, Claudia makes it a nice place to work. It is so great that she also is fluent in espanol! I am glad to be there, and all of the children are sweet.

Fun..

Something exciting happened to our family, while the girls and I were at young Women's tonight. Stu, ( a good friend of Bug's) came over and set up a treasure hunt which started with Roses and ended with a treasure box on her bed filled with chocolate coins and the question of whether she would go to Prom with him... I know, it's awesome, she was bright red the whole time with an "ear to ear" grin. Not to be boring we hurried and grabbed a big thing of rootbeer, and wrote a note that said; I'd be SODA-lighted to go with you. I think it was almost as exciting for me and the other kids as it was for Charlee. Stu is a great guy, and did a wonderful job on the clues and everything. I can't believe how old I am getting, sometimes I think that I need to hurry and grow up.

New job...

Ok, I am starting to really enjoy working with my new kids, sometimes I feel like i'm playing "school", like when I was 7, but they think I am pretty cool. They won't let me go by Miss Wendy at this school, so it's Mrs. Howe, or Mrs. COW, yeah nice.. They think that's pretty funny. I am not picking up spanish as fast as I would like, but some how I have the accent down, especially when I call them by name; Ariana, Lecca, Amiah, Alayah,Lililana... I do know bano is bathroom, and loco, they giggle when I try to string a sentence together. I love 3&4 year olds.

Different school, different circumstances....

Warning: I can't get my spellcheck to work...I am starting at a new school this week, and I am praying that I will be able to do everything I need to do for these children. The school is in Peoria school district, but it's a long way from Vistancia, in more ways than geographically. For instance we are supposed to go on a feild trip and we still don't have the few parent volunteers we need to go, so it could be canceled. I think, for the most part they are good people, but cannot afford to take the time off work, or have the support that a single parent might need to leave 3 younger children at home. I was there last week to go over everything and meet the kiddos, many are bilingual or don't know english yet. The teacher's aide is luckily fluent, and will be there with me. I am feeling an over whelming responsibility with this job, and for these children. The teacher reminded me that I will be the most steady and consistant thing in the lives of most of them. It is five days a week, and there is not really any way that i'll be able to take a day off, so i'm praying that our family can get healthy quick and stay that way. I have been very prayerful that I will be where I need to be, so I am trusting this is right...

Big sisters, ltttle sisters, and one brother...

Our Family Photos...

We had so much fun the day Heather did our shoot. I can't believe how quickly our family is growing up. It seems like yesterday that Charlee was the one and only Grandchild on both sides!

What's up?

I obviously haven't had much time to devote to journal keeping lately, but I am always thinking about it. All of the things I might forget by next week, or even by tomorrow.... I can't remember what I was gonna write* anyway, Charlee is doing well in school and dating regularly, she's still not home tonite because she is attending a student Government convention... Stephi is still on the honor roll, yet seems to find time to be quite the social butterfly , boys are really starting to notice her, and irritate me. She starts soccer again soon so our schedule will get even more hectic. Emmi is getting straight A's and excelling in the reading program at school, she still wishes she was older and could do all the things her older sisters do, like babysit. Speaking of reading, Brooklyn is reading great and she really enjoy's it, she reads as much as she can , I love that! Last but not least Porter, loves school and is the top scoring bowler in the family! he also enjoys guitar hero. So does his Dad!, Loren is still up at 4:30 every morning with Bug, to go to seminary and make sure everyone is staying in line, how ironic considering his youth!He also drives all over the valley making that all of G&Y's job's are as safe as possible (also ironic.) I have been working a lot, still at Vistancia, which I am very sad to say I will not be able to work there much longer because they hired some one who can be there 15 minutes earlier when class officially starts. I love the Teachers there, they have been very kind to me and still call me to sub as much as possible. However I have been offered a long term sub position at another school which will start in about a week. Working has been an adjustment , especially for my kids. Porter was up all night, last night with a fever and I had to leave him with family so I could be at work this morning, that was not easy. But he gave me a big long hug as soon as I walked in the door this afternoon, and told me he wasn't mad at me anymore. whew. I gotta go to bed.

President Hinckley we will miss you...

An amazing man with and the mission he completed. President Hinckley did so much for our church, he worked for the church most of his life and implemented so many of the wonderful programs we have today. The growth of the number of Temples is just one of the amazing things he was a part of. We were blessed to live just 45 miles from the first "mini" Temple in Monticello Utah, our girls, Charlee and Stephie at the time, sang with the primary at the dedication. And we were present inside this Tiny Temple, perfect in every way, when Gordon B. Hinkley dedicated it! I was very large with child at the time (Emmi) and needed to take another bathroom break before it started. As I was leaving the bathroom, a beautful little Grandma with white hair was entering, she stopped me and looked straight into my eyes (which is hard to do, because not very many people are as TALLl as I,) she put both of her hands on my hard tummy and said what a blessing it was to be a Mother, she smiled and said that she knew that I was a good one. While she was patting me, I got the warmest feeling and goose bumps at the same time! It was pretty brief but it seemed we stood there looking at each other for a long time, I was catching up to what the spirit was trying to tell me and I had tears in my eyes when her daughter leaned over as she passed by me and said;" you do know who that was don't you", and just then I knew it was Marjorie, the President's Sweetheart. That was a great day!

Our Christmas card....didn't happen.

We might actually have a Valentine or St. patricks day card out , but it will most likely be a Happy Spring! card. We finally got our family pictures done! hooray! They will probably be ready in a week or two, something to look forward to, aren't you super excited? I am just relieved to have it done, it's too stressful getting everyone to look gorgeous at the same time. Heather peck was awesome and we each got to feel like a star that day, Thank you Taya Jones for hookin us up with that great gift!