It has been a long time!

Yes it has been a long time since I posted on here. So much has happened - do not know where to start. Big news is I was called as Primary President for our Ward(congregation). So I am now over 90+ kids ages 18 months to 12 years old, 15+ teachers, 2 music directors, 4 activity days leaders, 6 Cub Scout leaders and luckily have 2 counselors and a secretary to help with it all!

Start my next college class this week. Wish I could find someone to buy or partner in my company because life just seems to get busier and busier every day!

There is a quick update. Hope to be better about posting.

My Final Project for Class!!!!

Here is my final project for my first college class in a LONG time!!!! The description on the site explains it.
Enjoy!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62Zpe2o1PKE

Updates

Ok it has been over a month since I last posted. Way too busy! Where to start!?!

Adyson turned 9 in May. Parker turned 12 - and received the priesthood. He now gets to pass the Sacrament. He looks WAY to old when he does this. And I cried the first time.

Adyson finished 3rd grade is looking forward to next year because she will be the oldest at the elementary school. She is in a cheer group this summer and will do soccer in July.

CJ finished 1st grade is just glad to be out of school. He is trying out t-ball - and mom is his coach. He is also doing gymnastics.

Parker is excited for summer and taking golf lessons. For his birthday he received money from grandmas and aunts. He opted for money instead of a party with his friends. He then used the money to buy a camcorder. He has lots of plans for making movies this summer. And is headed into his last year at the middle school.

Amanda will turn 15 in July - headed into High School in the Fall. She is in the middle of Drivers Ed. and it scares me to death! She is working for me at 'Ohana this Summer.

Kirk is in th middle of building a chicken coop for me. It is enough done so the chicken are in - but the outside has lots of work yet to do.

I am busy with school - work - and keeping the kdis happy during the Summer.

I got my new washer and dryer in May. (I might have mentioned that in my last post.) It has been heavely to have. Our clothes have actually been very clean when they come out. Lovely!

My paarents have announced they are selling the property in Bear Lake that was my grandparents. Very sad about this - but understand why.

Swimsuits coming in. With the late delivery - I have to say I am happy the country has had a cold spell for June. Makes it so not as many customers need the suits yet.

That is a veru quick update. Hope to get back to more posting.

Birthdays

Well, yesterday was my 36th birthday. Age is a funny thing. Part of me refuses to grow up. I can be silly with my kids - and play on the floor with them - and I don't think that will change. I plan on being that kind of Grandma someday too. But to say I am 36 does not seem to register with me. I know 36 year old women who act like you would think a 5o+ year old would be like. But what does that even mean? We put into our minds what society says each age should act like. I know in my 20's I was constantly trying to dress the part of a "mom". Just before I turned 30 I remember thinking - "Who am I dressing for?" Why am I not being true to myself. So I started wearing surf shirts (Men's t-shirts with logos from Quiksilver, Oakley, OP). I had finally felt comfortable in my own skin. I also started having confidence in myself and ability to make decisions that I truly became more of "myself" -- I guess you could say I was becoming more true to myself.

Looking over the past 6 years I can also see things I need to change back to my "old ways". The first few years of transforming I had opportunities where Kirk asked me talk to this company or that about pricing or over charges. I had to be tougher - and I did it. It was empowering to see that I could stand up to people without them walking all over me or me backing down and giving up. I also had things in my business happen where I lost money because I could not stand up to them or I figured it was not worth the fight. After a couple of things like that - and having a few successes over phone bills or whatever they were - I started NOT backing down. Becoming more tough on my stances and not backing down. Which is good in business at times - but not as great in your everyday dealings.

I am not that way all the time - but I have noticed lately that I go into that stance way more easily than I ever have before. Not sure if that is because in the last year my teenager is way more argumentative and I feel I have to stand up to it and so I have had way more practice doing it or what the cause is. But as my birthday was approaching I took inventory of what I could work on in my life.(I do this every year.)

So, I think becoming more my true self is an ongoing thing. I believe our "true self" grows and changes as our life and age changes. We need to constantly take inventory of what we have done with our past year that has worked and gotten better - but what is off a little and what we need to make better.

I use to see the compassion that use to come automatic to me, as almost something weak. That is was a way for people to take advantage of me. (which did happen) Now I realize that having that compassion balanced with some boundaries and strong spine can be a wonderful blessing and gift in my life. I am sure it will take a while to let go of my first instinct to make sure no one walks over me - but I think with time I can finally find the balance I am hoping for!

Another year older - means another year to grow a little wiser....if we are willing to be honest with ourselves.

Living in the country!

So I think we can officially say we are living a country life. We add three chickens to our crew! Adyson brought home a paper from school from 4H that said they would give each child a chicken to raise and then they have to bring it to the fair in August. The child can decide to keep it or give it back at that point. Long story short - Kirk and Adyson came home with one fledged chicken (the free one) and 2 chicks that will fledged in about a month. After a long discussion about hen house and coop needed to be built We decided to go back this week and get 2 more chicks. That will give us 5 chickens total this Summer. We thought 5 would lay enough eggs for the family of our size.

I figured out why we did not have animals until now. Because I am a freak! I am so worried that the chicks are going to be too cold or die, or that the bigger one does not have enough room in its cardboard box. (they have to stay in the boxes in our garage until it warms up - but they have soft wood chips, water, food and a heating lamp) This is the stress and worry I give over a chicken can you imagine if I had a dog or cat outside? I would not be able to sleep wondering if they were ok.

Anyway - we have now started an official life in the country! Chickens and all - I wonder what will be next? A cow? lol!

Ordinary Miracle

If I had theme song playing as I went about my day it would be this song. Below are the words. How can you listen and read the lyrics without believing them!?! I can't. i love this song - that is why it is on my play-list twice! Hope you enjoy!

Ordinary Miracle -

It’s not that usual when everything is beautiful
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

The sky knows when its time to snow
You don’t need to teach a seed to grow
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Life is like a gift they say
Wrapped up for you everyday
Open up and find a way
To give some of your own

Isn’t it remarkable?
Like every time a raindrop falls
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Birds in winter have their fling
And always make it home by spring
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

When you wake up everyday
Please don’t throw your dreams away
Hold them close to your heart
Cause we are all a part
Of the ordinary miracle

Ordinary miracle
Do you want to see a miracle?

Its seems so exceptional
Things just work out after all
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

The sun comes up and shines so bright
It disappears again at night
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

It’s just another ordinary miracle today

What Am I Thinking!?!

So today marks my first official day of my online class. I had to figure out where to find the information online (since NOTHING is sent to you in how to do this or instructions emailed to you or anything) then once I found it had to print out the class outline (easy enough) and then there is a connect board - which is like a posting board where you read others comments and leave your own. We were asked to introduce ourselves and post a picture. Well, my first attempt left as a response to the professors entry and not its own post. Finally figured that out - but there was not a button that said "add a post" "new post" or anything....at least I thought. I finally found the link that said something with a + sign in very pale yellow. I cannot remember what the word was - but it was not something any normal - non-ITT guy - would get. I was on the phone with Kirk trying to figure it out when I finally found it and he agreed it was not very user friendly.

But now I keep thinking ---- How in the world am I going to be able to keep up with these students who are all younger and way more computer savvy than me!?!? I just pray I pass this class with a decent grade!!!!!

Amazing Easter Talk

http://lds.org/move/index.html?type=conference04-2009&event=april179&lang=english

click on this link - or copy it into a new window.
then select the Sunday AM in the middle of the page under the video.
then click on the arrow on the right hand side next to the little pictures.
then select Elder Jeffery R. Holland.

This talk is about Jesus Christ and his last days before he was crucified - and his crucifixion. It is the best talk I have ever heard given about Christ Sacrifice and what he went through for each of us.

As we are making our way through the Passover week and to Easter Sunday, I would invite all to listen to this talk. You do not have to LDS, or even Christian to get something from this talk.

Enjoy!

GIVE AWAY TOMORROW

So my company - 'Ohana Swimwear - will be featured tomorrow on Give Away Today's blog. Those that go to the site can enter to win a top and bottom of their choice - plus 3 others can win a sarong. So tell all your friends to go to www.giveawaytoday.blogspot.com and try and win!

Hopefully the pics will post.....

April 2, 2009

Here are pictures from Kirk’s Birthday. (I cannot seem to get them to post)



This is the slinky cake I made him. Behind it is chocolate cake “steps” for the plastic slinkies to go down.




These are just a few of the slinkies we had hung from the ceiling.

Presents and balloons. Coulson with slinky.




Each kid made Kirk a present – this Coulson’s Rainbow Snake he made.



This is a change tray CJ made so Daddy has a place for his change at night.
Amanda made a Photoshop picture and Parker made a slide show about motorcycles with music and everything.

This is Kirk reading Adyson’s story about our family she made. My sister Cheryl and her husband Bill are behind the couch. Amanda, Parker, Kirk(with Coulson) CJ and Adyson on the couch.


HAPPY 39th BIRTHDAY KIRK!!!!!!!
Ok -so they did not post the pictures. Anyone out there that puts pics on their blogs all the time needs to reply to this one and give me some advice. I am very frustrated!

Spring is here, oo-oo-oo- Sky is Blue - oo-oo-oo

SPRING IS HERE!!!! I love the changing of the seasons. I grew up in Las Vegas, and - well - we had Hot, Hotter and Rain as our seasons. Living in Idaho has given me true winter, spring, summer and fall. I hear people complain about the winter all the time - wishing it wouldn't last so long. But these are the same people that complain if there is not enough water during the summer to water their lawns. Go figure.

Anyway - today is the official first day of Spring. Last year we still have mounds of snow and it was not sunshine and warmth at all. Today it will be in the high 5o's and sunshine. Time to clean out the yard and garden from all the dead plants/weeds the snow covered. Time to clean off the porch and set out the chairs. Time to dust off the motorcycle and ride - ride - ride!

Next week is my DH's birthday. He turns 39. I don't think he is ready to be almost 40. I don't think either of us feel like we should be inching our way to 40 --- well more like a dead run. I turn 36 this year - so I have a few years till I face it. But in the spirit of youth I am planning a cake and decorations that are very youthful. The theme is the Slinky. (I hope he is not reading this. tee-hee Actually he never reads this.) I will try and post pictures of everything.

Then the weekend after that is General Conference weekend. My kids also have Spring Break that weekend. So we will be heading up to West Yellowstone for 4 days. The kids are excited - and I am too. We like doing stuff together. We do not have to do big activities to entertain us. We take board games, DVD's and swimsuits (they have an indoor pool). We do not have to go on big hikes or spend money on activities. Don't get me wrong - we do those things too sometimes - but we don't HAVE to do those type of things to enjoy our time together. And for that I am very grateful.

So again - Spring is Here, (oo-oo-oo), Skies are Blue, (oo-oo-oo), Birds will sing (yeah) Like they do! Today's the Day(yeah) I'll say WOO HOO!!!! and we'll never be cold anymore! ;)

Another thought from Sheri

Ok so I have another thought to share from my reading.

"...when we really believe in Jesus Christ --- meaning we believe that He will overrule for our good and that He knows who we are and where we are and what we need --- that kind of faith naturally creates a feeling of hope and optimism." - Sheri Dew 'No One Can Take Your Place'

Christ is not in charge everything that happens in this world.(Hold on read the rest of the thought.) Bad things happen to good people. Sometimes to help us grow - but other times it is the result of other's free agency and He cannot take that away. The point is that we are NEVER ALONE. When we have these moments of struggles and hard times or bad things - He is with us. He knows how to comfort us or what we need to get through it all.

Having the knowledge that He will help us in ways we cannot even understand that will bless us - we should truly feel that hope and optimism in our lives.

The next thought I came across was -
"...the last days are not for the faint of heart or the spiritually out-of-shape. There will be days when we feel defeated, exhausted, and plain old beat up by life's whiplash. People we love will disappoint us --- and we will disappoint them.
.......(but)everything about our lives is an indicator of our Father's remarkable respect, that He recommended us for now, when the stakes are so high, when His kingdom is being established once and for all, never again to be taken fro the earth. He chose us for the last leg of the relay when He needs His strongest runners."

I don't know about you, but this made me sit up a little taller and stop and really think about this. She goes on talking about how He didn't send Moses, Nephi, or Eve or countless other amazing strong Spirits - that He saved US for these last days.

I have always thought of these individuals, and even the pioneers that were tarred and feathered - houses burnt - women raped and children buried as the really strong Spirits. And they were and are! But reading this quote made me realize that we too are some of the strongest Spirits and the Lord is expecting A LOT from us. Am I spiritually fit enough to handle whatever is asked of me? Or am I a little flabby in some areas? I think you can never be TOO fit spiritually - there is always room to improve and grow. That is why they say "endure to the end" --- "line upon line" we are always learning and growing. But we truly have to recognize that we were sent right now for a reason and even if we do not see it in ourselves now - we have the inner strength to get through anything we have to face in this mortal life.


So today - let's have hope, be optimistic, and let that inner strength shine!

Hope

So at Church yesterday we talked about having Hope. An example of a scientific experiment using big barrels of water and rats was used. The scientist wanted to see if having a sense of hope made a difference. They took a large barrell of water and placed it in a dark room - no light, no air - just stuffy and dark. They placed a rat in the barrell of water to see how long it would swim. The rat swam for 3 minutes then drowned. They then took the same barrell and filled it with water outside in an area were there was sunshine, a slight breeze and you could actually hear birds chirping. This rat swam for 36 hours. (Now if it had been milk the rat would have made butter. tee-hee) The point was that the rat was able to last a lot longer because of the hope of making it out to the dry grass and beautiful day.

So I tried to think about how that can apply to us. Do we allow our dark depressing thoughts take over when we seem to be in an impossible situation? Or do we try and have hope that this too shall pass and there are better things to come?

My Dad use to call it putting blinders on. Are we so focused on the problem that seem impossible to change that we are like a horse with blinders on the side of our head? These blinders keep us from seeing the possiblities that we have around us.

I am a BIG - HUGE - believer that attitude is everything. No mistake - bad things, hard things, stressful, unfair things happen to us all. But I thing those challenges and times in our life can be less intense and last a shorter time if we change our attitude. I am all in favor of allowing ourselves to feel the anger, frustration and hurt if needed - but after a couple of days (at the most) you have to let it go. Because those negative feelings do not allow you to move forward and make changes. If we sit in those feelings that is when we start holding grudges, feeling sorry for ourselves - or blame others for our situation. None of these things will make positive changes - or help us take steps to the solutions that are a head of us.

I think sometimes we all go through stages that we find we are still upset over things that happened years ago. What good does this do any of us? If we have been offened by someone - do we really think that person even remembers the moment we are holding on to? In most cases offense was never even meant from them.

So as St. Patrick's Day is this week - and the luck o' the irish is wished for you all - I hope we can all look at whatever challenges we face and we can hold onto the Hope and not the despair we might want to feel! And be proactive in making things go from a challenge to a blessing.

No One Can Take Your Place

Once a year I re-read three books by Sheri Dew. One is called "No One Can Take Your Place". I just picked it back up last week. I love this book. It is so simple but so deep in the idea of that you CANNOT be replaced in this world/life.

Within just a few pages she makes this statement -
"None of us come to this earth to GAIN our worth; we brought it with us."

How often have we thought of all the things we must do to worthy for the blessings from our Father in Heaven? Or what must we do now to be worthy of this or that? The reality is we had our worth when we left our Heavenly Parents and came to this earth. But how many of us have to be reminded of that. I know there are days that I don't feel my full worth. But those are the days that Satan must be working on me a little harder. Because negative thoughts are NOT EVER from our Father in Heaven.

I will give you a personal example of how easy this can happen:
I am trying to apply and get registered for school. It has not been an easy process even with my husband working at the school. Anyway, as I was going through this process I started questioning why I was even trying to do this right now in my life. It is not like I have a plan for a specific degree. I started talking down to myself about my lack of education and abilities. How can I possibly do this when I can't even keep my house picked up with the 5 kids running around here. Maybe I should perfect what I already have going on instead of attempting something else that I will probably not be that great at anyway. It was getting pretty bad.

Then this thought came to mind - what about your business? What about the kids you have? What about the marriage you have? So Looked at each of those things and these positive things came to mind. (I do not share these as boastful or prideful in anyway).
Business - No one taught me how to run a swimsuit business. No one showed me how to go from point A to point B and so on to see a drawing come to life into a real swimsuit. I did not go to school for this knowledge - I have taught myself and researched and learned along the way. I have taken sketches of an idea into a company entering its 6th year and now have styles for the whole family. Are we where we need to be make a financial difference yet in our lives - no. But we are still growing - while doing it all myself. You cannot accomplish something like this if you are not smart and motivated.
Kids - I have GREAT kids. Now most of that is just their sweet Spirits they have. But I had the thought that as their mother I have a little to do with that and I should be very pleased to have kids as good as they are.
Marriage - I have a WONDERFUL Marriage. Just like my kids are not perfect - my marriage is not either ---- but I think it is as perfect as can be this side of heaven. We are best friends. We both have common sense - are good about keeping each other in check when need be when we get upset about some issue or injustice. We truly enjoy being together. We do not hang out with other couples for enjoyment. We do not go out with the "girls" or "guys". Any free time is with each other with our kids. And that suits us both really well. There have been many activities we both would have liked to be a part of but they would have taken us away form our family time or together time - and that is not worth it to us. I love the fact that we can go from motorcycle riding to having a deep discussion about a gospel principle.

So the point is this - after all the negative that is so easy for us to repeat to ourselves, sometimes it is good to allow ourselves to have a moment to focus on the positive and be a little prideful (in a good way) - to remind ourselves we are truly sons and daughters of a Father in Heaven that loves us. That our worth was instilled in us before we ever stepped foot on this earth - and that Satan is the one that wants to keep us from living up to our potential.

Hope you can stop for just a moment today and allow those positive things about yourself come to mind. Allow it to make you feel warm inside and hold your chin up a little higher today.

Life is Beautiful.....

So as I have gone from the muscle aching flu all last week, to bronchitis this week, some may think I have every right to be upset about another health issue in my life.

But I am not frustrated at all. I realized that as I caught the flu from my husband and then a slight cough from him ( and our 2 yr old caught the cough at the same time) that I am blessed. Blessed to have a loving husband lying asleep in bed next to me - even when he is sick. I acknowledged that there are those that are alone - not by choice - asleep and no child laying next to them. As I had to run to the store to buy diapers for the little one, notebooks and pens for the oldest, cough drops for the middle child and stop at the library for books needed for a school project - that even though I broke out in a full sweat fever in the middle of it all - I am blessed.

I admit at times I have a moment of wishing for an empty house to truly rest in. To have a fighting chance to get well....but the truth is I would never change a thing. Having the flu, or cold run through your house for a month only means that you have a house full of loved ones. That your cup truly runneth over with the love of children.

Life is Beautiful - it really is! With the frailty of the human body, the economy worries, the decline in our society's moral standards, and the list can go on and on of what can bring us down.....the list of blessings and joys are much longer. From the little things - flowers peeking through the snow - to the large blessings of shelter/food and the knowledge of the Atonement of Christ. Life is Beautiful! Isn't? It really is!

So today as you are rushing from one thing to the next - try and take notice of all the things in your life that makes your life TRULY BEAUTIFUL!

Countdown

So I was telling some family members how I get excited about General Conference coming up. About a month before each time - I get as excited as a kid counting down to Christmas. I really do! So in the spirit of that my kids and I made a paper chain last night to count down the days. (There is 33 if you were wondering.) It is hanging up in the family room - and counts down to a picture of the 1st presidency and twelve apostles.

This got me thinking. What if we did this for all kinds of different things in our lives. Would it be a positive on a negative? Or would it make negatives even more negative? Count down to the dentist; school starting, summer vacation, pay checks, family time, ball games, grocery shopping, laundry days.....ok so you get my thought process now. You could make all kinds of chains for all kinds of things. I think the dentist countdown would be black paper. No offense to any dentist out there. =) Summer vacation a sunshine yellow paper. 1st day of school after a very looooong Summer, maybe a festive red.

So - think of something you can count down to and get excited about. Make a paper chain and drape it somewhere (like the kitchen) where you will see it everyday and watch it get closer and closer to the picture of that special thing! And let that little kid inside of you get excited again!

Enough already...

So between blood work, dr. visits, manufacturing companies that are not at all easy to deal with, two month behind in productions, wanting to start school, kids schedules, Blue and Gold Dinners, a sliced eye, migraines, and life in general.....I want to say "enough" and crawl back in bed and watch movies for two days. Actually life is not as bad as that sounds....but there are times I think, ok when is that down time people talk about. I guess this is just the season of my life I am in.

So the whole sliced eye thing - have to share that one. So my two year old ended up in our bed and about 3:30 am he started moving around. I turned to see if he was ok and just as i did - I opened my eye as he moved his hand across my face and his nail sliced the top layer of my eye. PAIN PAIN PAIN! It felt like a million eyelashes stuck in my eye. After a very long night - my husband dropped me off at the eye doctor while he ran to a meeting real fast. The dr. said that he had to clean the edge of the top sliced layer so it would heal ok. he also said after that he would put a band-aid contact lens on to protect it. And that be happy we have those now. Because before the contact lens they use they would drug the person up and make them sleep for two days because of the pain. I assured him I could not sleep for two days - because that night I was in charge and hosting the Blue and Gold Dinner or our Ward for 120+ people. I was suppose to be at the Church decorating at that moment.

After scraping 3/4 of the top layer away - and telling me take pain meds and come back tomorrow - I waited for my DH to come pick me up. Got home around 9:30 am and was down at the Church an hour later with two other people decorating. That night dinner was started at 6 pm and went great! Had almost 130 people there and wonderful entertainment! That night when I finally stopped and laid down around 10 pm the pain hit me full force. I think being busy - even though it was hurting - it was not as bad as it would have been if I was laying around and not busy.

By two days later it felt much better - and now a week later - it is still a little tender to the touch and a little blurry still - but it is amazing how the body can heal it self like that.

No one will ever be able to convince me that we are not created from God. That we just happened over time. Our bodies are just too amazing to think otherwise!

Now back to the title - life is not that bad or anything - I just think the last two weeks have been just a bit crazy and none stop. I also think if I could eliminate all the dr. visits and bills from them I would be a lot happier too. Hopefully that will happen sooner than later - since it has been a year since all this started with me. I think we are getting closer to a definite answer.

Well, here is hoping for a little break tomorrow while the family and I head to SLC to meet with a company that hopefully can direct me to a new manufacturer!

School....for me!

So I have been looking at going back to school for myself. I know crazy, huh? I mean I have 5 children - 1 of which is still home - a business to run and headed into the busy season - I'm Cub Master - and just all the everyday things of running a home and keeping a family going. But here is the cool thing I found out. At BYU-I where my husband works I can go to school for free. They have basic classes you HAVE to take no matter your major they call Foundation Classes. A lot of them are offered as on-line courses. So over the next few years or so I can take up to three classes per semester as a non-traditional student. And I can take most on-line.

I am plan on taking just one class at a time this first year and see how the family life handles it. I have no deadline of when I want to be done with my degree. But by going this route I never have to leave my home for classes until my youngest is in School full time. This also allows me to get the basic classes done without having to declare (or decide) on a major right this moment.

I really do not know what I will major in. I could do business/communications degree so I am open to a lot of different jobs if needed. Plus starting and running my own company could be a plus for this one.

Education degree so I could teach and have the same schedule as my kids. My dream job would be a elementary school librarian. How fun would that be to read children lit. to know what to recommend to kids - and reading time to classes each day.

I am good with numbers so I could get a degree in accounting and work from my home doing that if need be. I just do not know.

If I could do any degree without thinking about long term back up plan if something happened to my husband - I would study photography. I have always been drawn to black and white photography.

I guess there is quite a long time before I have to decide. For now I am just excited to be working on getting accepted in school for the Spring Semester. Taking baby steps over a long period of time to accomplish the goal of graduating from college - with any degree - will be great! So hopefully it works out and by mid-summer I will have my first college class of this adventure done!

We have reached the Light at the end of the MFA Tunnel!

Well I have been back just over a week - and Kirk came home Tuesday early morning. We were in Boston for his final residency for his Master's in Fine Art program. He has gone to Boston 5 times in 2 1/2 years. He would go back in January and June for a 11 day period each time - then work on his stuff at home between residencies. Anyway - I went back for part of the time because he was graduating. His schedule this time included giving his Artist Talk, defending his Thesis paper, having a Gallery Show opening and then Graduation.

I really wanted to be there for EVERYTHING - but with 5 kiddos at home that was not possible. Luckily, my mom was willing to stay with my kids while I was gone for 6 days and 6 nights. I went to the first half of the residency. Kirk wanted me there for his Artist Talk, which was the first Friday. In being there during that time meant I could not be there the following weekend for his gallery opening or his graduation...but that is ok.

It was so great being there at all. I have never left my kids that long - and I think it was great for all of us.

Kirk did a great job with everything! He has come a long way in his art too. The funny thing about this whole MFA degree - is that it is not something Kirk was dying to get. When we moved for him to teach for 1 yr - we felt strongly he needed to get a master's degree. He felt this was the program he should do. After the 1 yr hire he then got a job in the administration area of the University. Which means the Master's degree really doesn't do him any good. He is still in Administration and has moved up in it. He is still trying to figure out why we felt so strongly he needed to get this degree and right now. I guess someday we will receive the answer to why...hopefully before we have paid off the almost $40,000 of debt we just took on for it. ugh! I guess it is good that our only debt is our house. =) Seriously though - I am not worried about it. Yes things will be even more tight than they are now --- but I can't believe that the Lord would direct us to do something that will hurt our family, or not show us a way in the end to make it work.

Boston was great! I had a couple of days that I was on my own until the evening. One day I went to the Aquarium and took lots of pictures for my kids. Afterwards I went to lunch and a great experience being pampered by the Manger and Chef....the Manager ended up being originally from Idaho - and before that a small town that we moved from just a few years ago.

It was a very relaxing time - a nice break from the everyday - and I loved the T. It was so easy to get around...in fact Kirk and I went to Church that first Sunday at Harvard. We had to trek through 6 - 7 " of snow - but hopped on the T and rode it right over to Harvard - then had to walk 6 - 8 blocks to the Chapel. It was great! We joked that on TV that morning they kept reporting all the Churches that were closed due to the snow...but not the LDS Church - it never closes does? Made us laugh. We enjoyed being able to spend time together without interruptions. Our dating is usually a dvd and take out dinner up in our room why the kids are downstairs watching a moving - or a 40 minute motorcycle drive when it is warm enough. So to have 6 days just the two of us has not happened since before our first was born 14 1/2 years ago! So we enjoyed being to talk and visit and just be without our everyday responsibilities at home or work.

It is so nice to know this chapter is now behind us and we are on to the next. It is also nice to be home again all together as a family. =)

What can you highlight on the list?

My friend did this. Copy and paste to your own site or email and see which ones you can highlight. Side note - some of these were from when I was very little. =)
You can add to the list when you pass it on to someone else. Thought this was fun to start the New Year off!


1. Started your own blog 2. Slept under the stars 3. Played in a band 4.Visited Hawaii 5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Given more than you can afford to charity 7. Been to Disneyland 8. Climbed a mountain 9. Held a praying mantis 10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea 14.Taught yourself an art from scratch 15. Adopted a child 16. Had food poisoning 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty 18. Grown your own vegetables 19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 20. Slept on an overnight train 21. Had a pillow fight 22. Hitch hiked 23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 24. Built a snow fort 25. Held a lamb 26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Run a 1/2 Marathon 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29. Seen a total eclipse 30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 31. Hit a home run. 32. Been on a cruise 33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors 35. Seen an Amish community 36. Taught yourself a new language 37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied 38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person 39. Gone rock climbing 40. Seen Michelangelo’s David 41. Sung karaoke 42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt 43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant 44. Visited Africa 45. Walked on a beach by moonlight 46. Been transported in an ambulance 47. Had your portrait painted 48. Gone deep sea fishing 49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person 50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris 51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 52. Kissed in the rain 53. Played in the mud 54. Gone to a drive-in theater 55. Been in a movie 56. Visited the Great Wall of China 57. Started a business 58. Taken a martial arts class 59. Visited Russia 60. Served at a soup kitchen 61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 62. Gone whale watching 63. Got flowers for no reason 64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma 65. Gone sky diving 66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp 67. Bounced a check 68. Flown in a helicopter 69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 71. Eaten Caviar 72. Pieced a quilt 73. Stood in Times Square 74. Toured the Everglades 75. Been fired from a job 76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London 77. Broken a bone. 78.Been on a speeding motorcycle 79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person 80. Published a book 81. Visited the Vatican 82. Bought a brand new car 83. Walked in Jerusalem 84. Had your picture in the newspaper 85. Read the entire Bible 86. Visited the White House 87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 88. Had chickenpox 89. Saved someone’s life 92. Joined a book club 90. Sat on a jury 91. Met someone famous 93. Lost a loved one 94. Had a baby 95. Seen the Alamo in person 96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake 97. Been involved in a law suit 98. Owned a cell phone 99. Been stung by a bee 100.Made amends with someone who offended you 101. Flew in a small Cessna plane with just you and the pilot 102. Ran out of gas 103. Eaten fried okra 104. Swam in the Caribbean Sea 105. Peed in a swimming pool 106. Stayed in a beach house 107. Hosted an exchange student 108. Been a Secret Santa to a family in need 109. Worked on a political campaign 110. Coached a sports team 111. Baked bread from scratch 112. Driven from coast to coast 113. Paid off all of your debt 114. Roast marshmallows over a campfire 115. Cut up a credit card 116. Drove a car through a flood 117. Been on t.v 118. Had braces 119. Been to the top of the twin towers in NY. 120. Have played in both the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans 121. Been to ground zero 122. Bite my fingernails 123. Likes to scrapbook 124. Hates pie 125. Visited Mexico 126. Seen a Tornado in person 127. Rafted the Colorado and Green rivers. 128. love aprons 129.flew over bryce canyon in a helicoptor. 130. my husband delivered my 3rd child.(and the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th) 131. Been bit by a rattlesnake. 132. Danced on the Las Vegas Strip 133.Seen a Bison in person – next to my car window. 134. Driven on the Coast HWY in California. 135. Been to the Redwood Forest 136. Been to the San Diego Zoo 137. Saw a Moose walking down your street. 138. Been somewhere when it was -32 or more degrees outside with the windchill. 139. Made called backs for the Broadway show of Annie. 140. Built your own house from foundation up.

If I counted correct I think I highlighted maybe 83 out of 140. Not too bad since I have a lot of living to do still! =)