Thursday, January 29, 2015
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
January Phone Photos
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| Daisy got a new bed that she loves. |
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| Toby likes to hurt Daisy's feelings by laying in her new bed. |
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| Here you see that Toby doesn't care while Daisy is confused and hurt. |
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| Crazy Hair Day 2015 |
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| The dog is really needy lately. |
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| Exploding baked potatoes are a hard lesson. |
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| Dinner in front of the TV for Super Bowl Sunday. |
The State of the Me - 2015
Dear Joey,
I know how you like to read your own blog, and re-read it,
and then read it again when it’s printed in the book. And, you like to refer back to specific
posts, periodically, to amuse yourself.
So this one’s for you.
The State of the Me, 2015 – Dedicated to Me.
The year started off with a surprise beginning. I returned to work at Deseret Industries after
a seventeen month stint as a SAHM, or unemployed mom. It has been a physical, emotional, and
economic boost to be back to work. My
brain likes it and needs it. Crazy
things happen at the D but my brain is crazy without it. I enjoy being a job coach. I enjoy having good co-workers and
supervisors. I am amused by things that
happen only in a D.I. And, periodically,
I feel like I do good work there. Jake
and the kids were so supportive of me returning to work. Yes, I am a working mom who chooses to
work. Judge me.
The first two months of the year was a back and forth waffle
plan about leaving our Riverdale rental to find our forever (or semi-permanent)
home. After two years of debates between
Jake and I regarding cities and the number of farm animals allowed in a
subdivision, we found and were able to secure our home. We had more people helping us move then we
had ever met, literally. Our new
neighborhood and ward was overwhelmingly welcoming. Our home and yard had been neglected for a
time, which has given us (and will continue to give us) plenty to do. Our half acre yard has between one to four
deer visitors every day. The home feels
ginormous compared to where we had spent the previous year. All of us have enjoyed spreading out and
settling in.
At the end of March, my parents retired. It turns out they are that old. A couple months later, they flew away to South
Africa to serve a mission in the Johannesburg Mission Office. They have loved every minute so far, and are
excited for their move to a village north of the city this coming weekend. They will serve the members and Church
leaders in Polokwane and the Seshego group.
They can enjoy that while I enjoy thinking about them coming home in
December.
We celebrated Independence Day in our new city, beginning
with the Sunrise Ceremony. I’m not sure
what the kids thought of waking up that early for that type of event but what’s
the point of the day if you don’t see a flag raising? The parade had actual floats and dancers and
cheerleaders, which is refreshing after seeing the Riverdale advertising parade
for so many years.
After a rainy week at Bear Lake we prepared to send the
children to school. Abbi was incredibly excited to start the 4th grade.
She has done very well in her academic and social progress. She attends a speed stacking club before
school and has quite the talent for speed of lightening tower formations. She tested out a little basketball camp and
decided that it’s not the sport for her but would love to find a Track and
Field club. Turns out, Track and Field
clubs are hard to come by.
The boy started Kindergarten. He just walks right in with his backpack and
apparently learns to read and such. I’m
still dealing with the shock of it all.
Half way through the school year, he has outgrown all of his school
clothes. His body secretly stretches
longer and longer each night. Clothing
is an economic challenge that I haven’t quite conquered.
We partied it up this year by hosting my parents’ retirement
party, an extremely large Halloween party, a Shirley Temple Soiree for Abbi’s
birthday, and other intermittent parties and meals. The Halloween party was as fun as singing
Christmas carols and building snowmen, so that may be our traditional social
event.
I would like to sum the year as follows:
Economically
We did just fine. We were blessed. We had a chance to struggle, too. We came through. This year, we look forward to a little less struggle, if you can plan that kind of thing.
On the Home Front
The house is standing. The house and yard offers many jobs in which we use child labor and limited outsourcing.
Education
We need to ask the question "Is our children learning?" They are. And, they will.
Spiritually
There is work to do and meetings to attend. We could use a little focus on our approval rating. You know, approval rating???
Mentally
As it turns out, life is hard. And, I might make it more difficult because I want to figure everything out. But a lot of things can't be figured out. The best advice I've gotten recently is, "Don't feed the bear." It works.
Physically
I'm old. I'm only getting older. My back and legs remind me everyday that I'm no spring chicken. Well, by the time I'm through, by back and legs will be stronger than two stupid spring chickens.
Foreign Affairs
None to report and no anticipated foreign interactions. Unless you count Facetime with my parents.
Animal Count
Toby the Cat {2011-Current}
Daisy the Dog {2012-Current}
Sammich the Dog {Nov. 2014-Nov. 2014}
Economically
We did just fine. We were blessed. We had a chance to struggle, too. We came through. This year, we look forward to a little less struggle, if you can plan that kind of thing.
On the Home Front
The house is standing. The house and yard offers many jobs in which we use child labor and limited outsourcing.
Education
We need to ask the question "Is our children learning?" They are. And, they will.
Spiritually
There is work to do and meetings to attend. We could use a little focus on our approval rating. You know, approval rating???
Mentally
As it turns out, life is hard. And, I might make it more difficult because I want to figure everything out. But a lot of things can't be figured out. The best advice I've gotten recently is, "Don't feed the bear." It works.
Physically
I'm old. I'm only getting older. My back and legs remind me everyday that I'm no spring chicken. Well, by the time I'm through, by back and legs will be stronger than two stupid spring chickens.
Foreign Affairs
None to report and no anticipated foreign interactions. Unless you count Facetime with my parents.
Animal Count
Toby the Cat {2011-Current}
Daisy the Dog {2012-Current}
Sammich the Dog {Nov. 2014-Nov. 2014}
2014 was pretty solid. And, 2015 looks pretty good, too.
Friday, January 16, 2015
Thursday, January 15, 2015
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