Snow

This is Anna, Gracie, and Anna's friend Lauren from dance. She was so excited to have a play date in the snow. This is today, Christmas Eve. Anna and Gracie.

For those of you who don't know, they are wearing snow clothes. : )

Gracie Singing

Ahhhh. A sigh of relief

I am feeling truly relaxed. I'm in my jammies(there seems to be a lot of talk about jammies lately) and my children are typing up the Christmas program for tomorrow night, which I love. I love children that take over a project. One less thing for me to do. Plus if they don't like the way it turns out, its their own fault. That may sound really negative, but children love to blame their parents for everything, even the Christmas program that went bad. Right Mom? So I am really excited that they are taking over this year. I can hardly believe they are that old. Amazing. So I delivered 25 plates yesterday and today. And let me tell you, the return treats are pouring in. That is not why I handed out so many, but it is certainly a fringe benefit! So I guess it is obvious that I have decided to be like Megan, (so sorry to be unsupportive of you healthy eaters, Mom and Grandma). I unfortunately don't even want to broach that subject. Megan asked about my goody plate--here are the specifics--
Double Decker Fudge (Grandma on the hill's peanut butter fudge, and Walt's fudge, layered in a pan, both recipes in my cookbook)
Chocolate Chip, Hazelnut, Toffee Cookies (from Foodnetwork chef Giada, Everyday Italian)
Almond Roca (which by the way I don't even use a thermometer anymore, I go by color and smell, much easier, color of a paper bag, smells like it is starting to burn or smoke, also in the cookbook)
Butterscotch Haystacks (chow mien noodles, salted peanuts, with melted butterscotch chips, essentially clusters, must use Guitard chips)
7 layer Magic Bars (the girls had a hay day making these, we used salted peanuts unfortunately because Anna is allergic to pecans : (
I thought it was a pretty good plate.
Gracie at this moment is feeding her baby. Now her baby is Baby Alive. She comes with baby food, and a special bottle and actually eats, drinks, and then pees and poops. Unfortunately for Baby Alive, we have lost her bottle. She has had quite a bit of food without water to wash it down. I am amazed the poor dear doesn't stink, hopefully she doesn't vomit too! Gracie loves to be a mommy. Aliese and Anna each got a Baby Alive last year from Santa, and loved them for 3-4 hours, after which they declared that, "She is too much work." She tells you when she is hungry, thirsty, tired, she sings, and says I love you too. Very cute. Gracie loves her. I think however, that Gracie isn't concerned when the baby cries and she doesn't want to help her, she'll just turn her off. The other girls were always worried about her, and it really did turn into work (maybe we should have Baby Alives in High Schools!).
Church was really nice. We had a lovely program, mainly music. My choir sang Oh Holy Night. It went well, even though I was so tired, I barely made it through the song. Conducting is tiring as it is, and I have a cold to boot. I think my body hung on until finals were over, and then it said, "Finally, I have a break!" So now I'm constantly tired, but it gives me an excuse to go to my favorite place--bed. (he, he)
I love you all. I wish you the merriest of Christmases. I wish I was at the coast with you. Happy eating, sleeping, unwrapping(and wrapping), laughing, and loving. Kisses!

Christmas Dancing

This is obviously Anna. She is truly my free spirit. We tried to get Gracie to dance but as you can see, she just didn't get it. A sign I don't take enough pictures.

I have 3 weeks

Actually 23 1/2 days if you start counting from when I finished my final yesterday. Yipee! I can hardly believe it. A regular mom and wife for 3 weeks. I so took it for granted before. I miss it, and treasure it more when life seems normal. So I am going to try to make life as "normal" as it can be over my vacation. Of course there is nothing normal about Christmas, but now we can have a "normal" Christmas! I am going to bake all day, with and with out my kids. They have early release and I am saving the easy things for them to make with me. Butterscotch chow mein noodles, 7 layer bars. Before they come home I am going to make a double decker peanut butter and chocolate fudge, and chocolate chip, heath, hazelnut cookies. OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH, yum. The last few years I have not handed out goodies because it seems like people are always complaining about all of the treats. Atleast my friends have compained, not specifically to me about my treats, but about the practice in general. Well, I decided the hell with it, I am giving out treats. I am in the mood. I think people say they are tired of treats because it is the popular thing to say. They appear healthy that way. Well, I think that my choir eats every crumb of my treats every Sunday because they like treats! What a shock?! So I'm doing it this year. It's festive. It's Christmas. It's tradition. Enough of that. So I realized yesterday that it was Dec. 20!!!!!!!!! Yikes. I totally freaked out. When I was writing out my check to Joan for babysitting Gracie and I wrote out Dec. 20 I thought that I must have figured it out wrong. Oh dear. It was an uncomfortable realization. So I decided that I would finish all of my shopping that night (last night). I needed to go to the mall, and was hoping I could get the rest at Wal-mart, (and of course Wal-mart, as much as I love that place, didn't have everything, so I have to go to Broulims today to get butterscotch chips, decent milk chocolate chips, and hopefully hazelnuts). It was 42 degrees when I left and humid. It felt great. Oregon weather, right? Wrong. I don't know what I was thinking. I left wearing a hooded sweatshirt, and birkenstocks. An old standby in Oregon. Well, when I got out of the mall, it snowing. And had been snowing. There was at least an in on the ground. So I shuffled to my car, and drove to Wal-mart. When I got out of Wal-mart, the snow coming down hard and it was getting deep. Unfortunately my cart was not four wheel drive. It was a challenge getting to the van. Then I had to sit in my van and wait for the defrost to defrost (ha, ha), for 10 minutes, because I was not about to scrape in the middle of a snow storm, in my hooded sweatshirt, and birks. The roads were fine, and I could see until Shelley. Then the blizzard really started. Darin would not have even cared or noticed, but for me, I was nervous. It took me 20 minutes to get home from Shelley. Normally a 7 minute trip. By the time I got home it was after midnight and my shoulders were burning from being so tense, but I was home and safe. Oh was I feeling grateful. I felt like a true Idahoan. Idahoans don't dress warmly until it is below zero, and wouldn't think twice about shopping in a snow storm. Wow. New topic. Finals. I hate tests. I hate studying. I like practicing. I am good at that. I was a wreck on Wed. night, very nervous for my math final. At 11:30 that night I was still studying, not understanding and convinced that I would fail and have to take the class again next term. I was so depressed. I can do a pity party with the best of them. I dreamt about math problems and woke up with a headache, and a nervous stomach ache. I couldn't even eat breakfast. Well, I prayed and I prayed, and I had last minute inspiration, as well as many tender mercies, and the test was easier than the study guide. I am sure I won't be getting an A, but I will not fail either, thanks to the holy ghost and love from the Almighty God. He doesn't hold back if you will show faith. I love you all. Merry Christmas!

In Bed

Many of you know of my dream to do everything from bed. There have been many times I have sincerely wished it. I keep telling Darin that we need a fridge, and one of those water cooler things that they have in offices. Then recently I told him we needed a third dishwasher--for our bathroom. It is amazing how much Darin and I eat up here. Our night stands and bathroom counters are covered with dishes. Really, I think the master bedroom suite needs to be rethought. So for a few days I have gotten my wish. I go to the bathroom (no bed pans, thank you), but otherwise I stay in bed. Tomorrow I have a huge day and am trying to rest up for it. I think the moral of the story is I need to be cautious of small staircases that entail 1-2 stairs. I need to take them as seriously as my stairs at home that go from the 2nd story to the main floor. I fell all the way down them last year three times, I am now very cautious and haven't fallen down them in a long time. Darin has put me on a physical therapy regime of writing my name in cursive in the air with my foot. I think it is helping. Aliese very thoughtfully volunteered to stay home. What a girl, willing to miss here least favorite part of life--school. So Gracie and Anna are on my bed with me and watching Wonder Pets. Possibly the cutest show since Little Bear. I love it. It is also snowing. It is beautiful. It's coming down pretty thick. Aliese opened up the blinds and told me I had to see it. I agreed, something not to be missed. I am so grateful for the beauty of nature. Well, I should really get back to school work. I am giving a speech tomorrow. I am so ready to graduate from speech. I have actually really enjoyed preparing for my speeches, because I am a nerd. I have given 3 speeches thus far. Informative--Making truffles. Argumentative--Parents should not spank. Refutation--Milk is bad for you. (that speech was done with a partner, my partner of course argued that milk is good for you.) My speech tomorrow is a persuasive, and I wanted to do it on depression, or music, something that means a lot to me, but that is just too hard. So I am doing a stupid speech that I think will be well received about college students and their stress level, and how to get rid of some of the stress. So you're probably tired of reading and I'm tired of typing. I love you all. Bye.

I Am Bella

Unfortunately, I married a Jacob, and not an Edward. Meaning that Jacob trusted Bella, and didn't worry, and Edward was always worried and was always there to catch Bella when she fell (well almost always). For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, that is just sad and you need to read the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I sprained my ankle last night. And as usual, I had an audience. The last time I sprained my ankle it was in front of the entire ward when I was coming down the stairs from playing the organ. Darin didn't even notice and the person speaking had to mention my accident at the pulpit to get Darin to get up and help me. This time it was at Darin's work party at a restaurant. I was going down two little steps. I rolled my left foot, causing me to fall, my ankle popped many times. I have not had it x-rayed, however, I have broken 3 bones before, and it doesn't feel the same. I really think it is sprained, just like last year. This time I went into shock, again in front of Darin's work people. Horribly embarrassing. I was shaking so violently it felt and probably looked like I was going through a seizure. I felt like I was going to freeze to death, and vomit. Luckily, through the tender mercies, I did not vomit in front of everyone. They carried me out to the van on a chair. It was so exciting (yeah right). I am doing better. I stayed in bed all day. It is swollen, but not severely. I am going to stay home from church tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to go to school next week. Ugh!!! Tonight was Darin's sibling Christmas party. I wanted to stay home. He begged me to go so I went. We went to Chinese (far from my favorite), and then to play Laser Tag. Some Christmas party, huh? Very festive. I was already planning to refuse the Laser Tag thing and sitting out before the ankle thing happened. I mean really. I would never expect them to all go to the opera! So why do they expect me to be athletic. So that's the bright side of my ankle, it wasn't even a discussion. And I know it would've been. Love you all.

Tired but Good

I'm so ready for Christmas break. For a number of obvious reasons, more sleep (naps, I can hardly wait), healthier food (I know what you're thinking, but I have no where to go but up once I have a break from school, I think I'll go buy some oranges), no school, no commuting, more time with the girls, more time with Darin, more time studying the scriptures and fun books (instead of school books), baking and finishing up Christmas stuff. We're going to the cabin for 5 days after Christmas. I've already gotten Darin to commit to leaving his laptop at home. That is what he did last year. It was 5 days of reading, sleeping, movies, and snow. I can't wait. I think it was perhaps the most relaxing 5 days for all of us that we've ever had. Right now I am listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, last years Christmas CD with Sissel. If you want to treat yourself, this is the one. Oh, I just love it.
So to update on my last blog. Thank you for all of your thoughtful and kind responses. I did have a meeting with the superintendent and middle school principal who is my biggest advocate, and it went really well. All the details aren't worked out yet. But hopefully they will be soon, like in a week or two. First is it legal to student teach as a real teacher and get paid? They need to get a grant to be able to pay me because of our shrinking student population. They predict letting go of 1-2 teachers for next year. So if they do get the grant, will the state pay for a student teacher? Then if they won't pay for a student teacher, but they will pay for a certified teacher then is it legal for me to student teach without a supervising teacher in the room? These are the details that need to be worked out. However, they want me, they want music, they want part time for now (thank goodness). They are very willing to let me do my student teaching there as long as we can figure out the legalities.
My ward choir sang sleigh ride at the ward party this week. It went fabulous, more than anything the choir had so much fun doing it. We had about 45 people sing. We have been having 40+ people at rehearsal every week. Especially since we sang Come Thou Fount. Everyone flipped out about that one. I am so blessed. It is the best calling in the church. My choir members are so wonderful. We will be singing Oh Holy Night, and What Child Is This? for Dec. sacrament meetings. I'm excited. Everyone loves Christmas music. Especially the traditional songs, that everyone knows. I am also directing the children's choir for the Community Christmas Concert in Firth. I have had two rehearsals so far. I hope I haven't already blogged this. Oh well. I had 48 kids at this week's rehearsal. 29 girls, and 19 boys. Grades 3rd-8th. The girls were so wonderful. The naughtiest boys were my nephew, and the son of one of my best friends--Joan. I don't understand boys. I don't have any, only had one brother. It is a bit of concern to me, but I try to just go into my mom mode and snap my finger, point, give the "look", and they shape pretty fast. The thing I don't get about them is that they are very obedient, when I ask them to be, but become disobedient very quickly. The other thing about the boys that is very annoying and I will need to figure out is that they all think that their voices have changed and that they can't sing as high as the girls. Oh please. If they are lucky they will start going through puberty in 8th grade, but according to Darin it doesn't really happen until around 15. So I have little boys, trying to sing like men, and they sound like raspy smokers, because they are trying so hard to sing low. It is pathetic. Is it that they don't want to be like the girls, or that they want to be older than they are. The girls are angels, as usual, I love the girls. But I have to confess, the boys crack me up, and I enjoy them as much, they are just more exhausting.
Gracie is growing up so fast all of the sudden. She is learning new words everyday. She is hard to understand, but is getting more expressive everyday. Last night, I took the girls up to read scriptures and go to bed. Usually she follows, but she was playing. Well, we were up there for about 10 minutes, and we had just finished scriptures and were still in my bed, when Gracie came up. She dropped her jaw in disbelief and with very big eyes asked,"Guys! Wai fo me?" Meaning,"Why didn't you wait for me?" So cute. I just love her and wish she would stop growing. She is my little sweet potato and we love to be together. I can't wait until Christmas break, so I don't have to drop her off at Gabe's (Joan's) anymore. 3 whole weeks!
I joined a freezer cooking club last month. We're having our second trade today. It has been such a blessing. We started with 5 people, and we each cooked enough of two different meals to give one to each person and ourselves, so 5x each recipe basically. Wow, good cooks. Unfortunately, two of our ladies (who I don't understand), dropped out. So that left three of us, Des (just love her), and Donnette (a fabulous cook). So this month we will be bringing 3 different meals for everyone. So including the meals I made, I will be getting 9 meals. These are nice meals too. I highly recommend it, however, I realize everyone doesn't want to be just like me, just most people (just kidding, he he he).
I love you all. Merry Christmas. I miss you. I really do plan on getting new batteries for my camera soon, and will take some pics. Bye.

Frustrated

So last Wednesday I had an appointment with the superintendent and the middle school principal (my absolute biggest fan and advocate) to set up my student teaching/job for next year, Fall of 08. But they both got sick and it was rescheduled for today. Then today they both went home sick again, and it has been rescheduled for next Wed!!! Ugh!!!! I keep psyching myself up for nothing. For those of you who don't know, because of the dire circumstances of music in SE Idaho, a student can be hired on as a school teacher and be paid, and count it as student teaching. So I am supposed to be setting that up right now, and I am getting tired of it being put off. I hate not knowing what is happening in my future. I went back to school because Heavenly Father told me to, but because of my lack of faith, I am continually worried about next year. Darin is not worried at all, and says I went back to school because we felt good about it, and that we don't know what the reason is, and that that is okay. Usually, our roles are reversed. It's a bit strange for Darin to have more blind faith than me. Oh well. I plan on getting batteries for my camera today, and then I can post some more picks. I think I don't have the energy this year to put up all of my decorations this year. I am just too tired. I can't believe after Dec. I will only be half done! I will survive. I am having a committee meeting next week to pick out books for my book club for next year. Anybody have any must read suggestions? I am really excited for the committee. Last year everyone got to pick one book to read. I wasn't satisfied with those results. This year a committee was nominated, myself and two other people. We will be picking out all of the books. Des (my good friend), thinks I'll get my way on everything with the committee : ) For those of you who think I am crazy for continuing to be involved with the bookclub while in school, it is one of those things that keeps me sane. I have to have fun in this life. Book club is fun for me. It gets boring to only read things you have to read, or to never see your friends. It is only once a month. And that brings me to an important point--having fun is important. I have friends who claim to not have any time for fun, that it would stress them out. Well in my opinion, these same people are stressed out no matter what they do, and I think a little fun might lighten their load. What do you think? Is it necassary to carve out personal fun time, or do some people really truly not need it? This has been weighing my mind lately. I just wish more women could be happy. Is that such a bad thing?

Recentish Pictures

Gracie asleep. So sweet. My perfect angel. Anna the rock star for Halloween.

Gracie a cow.

Aliese a witch!

The babysitter curled the girls hair!

This is the next day, and they still looked great. It lasted for a week!

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Enchanted

Mom took us to the movie today. We saw Enchanted. It was so fun. I thought it would be cheesy, but I laughed and laughed. It was hilarious. Mom, Danielle, and the girls liked it as well.

Thanksgiving

Hi everyone. I am learning to blog again. Will it work this time?! Mom and Dad, and Clay and Danielle are hear. Tara (my sister in law) will be coming soon. I haven't had school all week and it has been wonderful. I am so ready to be done. Finish your schooling before you have babies! Of course I thought that I did. Oh well. I thought I would be done with the school part in May. But it is ending up that I will have to go to school this summer as well. Then student teaching in Fall of 08. That is what I am excited about. My adviser wants me to go to the superintendent with a resume and just apply for a job. So Darin and I have been working on my resume. I can't believe I even have a resume. It doesn't look half bad.

The menu for today.
Turkey with fresh Parsley, Rosemary, Sage and Thyme
Stuffing with Artisan Bread and Fresh Herbs
Mashed Potatoes (with lots of butter and half and half)
Struessel Stuffed Sweet Potatoes (Yams, but I prefer the word sweet potato)
Green Beans with Garlic and Sauteed Almonds
Crescent Rolls (Shirley's to die for recipe)
Relish Tray (Tara's bringing it)
Sparking Apple Cider

Desserts:
Chocolate Cream Pie
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Apple Pie
Carmel Apples
Chocolate Cream Cheese Dessert

Breakfast:
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

I miss you all so much and am so grateful for you all. I love my sisters, my brother, and grandparents so much and wish you were here. I hope you all have a fun day. Hope your turkey's turn out.

Mom, Danielle, and I all got matching pajamas.

My Girls

Aliese is 9 yrs old. She loves to write stories.






Anna is 6 years old and loves to pretend more than anything.








Gracie is 2 years old and is just plain adorable.

Learning Blogging

I'm at Mom's and she is teaching me how to blog!