My kids are just growing up too fast!
Charlie is getting to be a great reader. He loves to read and asks to read the scriptures and other things. He figures out most of the words, except the big ones. His Kindergarten teacher has told me that out of a list of one hundred words, he knew ninety-nine of them. He's also doing addition. I thought Kindergarten was where you learned to color and count?
Ellie has decided in the past couple weeks that she's ready to use the "big toilet" and has been regularly going in it. She was excited to wear her big girl underwear but now has decided she still wants to wear diapers. It's probably because she's had a couple of accidents. So, we just take it off when she wants to go potty. She especially loves the family bathroom at the library because it's got a regular toilet and one that is the perfect height for kids. It's really nice that she's willing to use public bathrooms. I'm thrilled that this interest in potty-training is not the result of me pushing her but her own desire.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
This Week
The last full week of February is National Engineer Week.
It's a week when engineering is celebrated as a profession. Most leaders in the fields of engineering try to educate the public on the impact of engineering on our daily lives. Even as an engineer, I sometimes marvel at the the things I use on a regular basis. The other day, I heard a guy on the radio talking about how even something as simple as a pencil is not something one person can produce very easily. It takes a variety of resources, most of which require engineering, to produce a pencil.
One very important goal of many engineers is to encourage school children to go into engineering. There is a term called STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. It is a term used to describe the technical fields that many consider "nerdy" and many people tend to think that they're not smart enough to do those types of jobs. That is a myth. The fact is that jobs in STEM are for anyone who enjoys being creative, playing, problem solving, and social. Yes, nerds are social!! I know because I'm one of them and I'm married to one too.
It's crucial that we as parents and adults break down the stereotypes of STEM and help children, especially girls, see that science and math are not boring subjects and that they are smart enough to learn those things.
In honor of Engineer's Week, I went to Charlie's Kindergarten class to talk with them about engineering and what engineers do. I read a book called Engineering the ABCs, which lists an item that is made by engineers for each letter. Then, I talked to them about rockets, which requires lots of engineers to design and build. After giving them a simple explanation about how a rocket works, I brought out pop rockets that I had made (one with Charlie's help, see picture above) and told them I was going to launch it. Because it was freezing and snowing outside, we had the students stand by the windows inside while I launched the rocket outside. The children erupted into cries of "Whoa, that was awesome!" when I returned to the room. I had given the teacher a couple of coloring pages that had the ABCs and things that were created by engineers that started with each letter. While they colored, the teacher showed a video of the Space Shuttle Discovery launch from yesterday.
It's a week when engineering is celebrated as a profession. Most leaders in the fields of engineering try to educate the public on the impact of engineering on our daily lives. Even as an engineer, I sometimes marvel at the the things I use on a regular basis. The other day, I heard a guy on the radio talking about how even something as simple as a pencil is not something one person can produce very easily. It takes a variety of resources, most of which require engineering, to produce a pencil.
One very important goal of many engineers is to encourage school children to go into engineering. There is a term called STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. It is a term used to describe the technical fields that many consider "nerdy" and many people tend to think that they're not smart enough to do those types of jobs. That is a myth. The fact is that jobs in STEM are for anyone who enjoys being creative, playing, problem solving, and social. Yes, nerds are social!! I know because I'm one of them and I'm married to one too.
It's crucial that we as parents and adults break down the stereotypes of STEM and help children, especially girls, see that science and math are not boring subjects and that they are smart enough to learn those things.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Three
Ellie is three-years-old! Her birthday was a couple weeks ago. We celebrated as a family with dinner, cake, and presents. She has definitely grown up in the past year! She likes to put her own clothes on and even sometimes insists on wearing big girl underwear. We haven't been pushing her too hard to be potty-trained, thinking that it would be easier when she decides she wants to do it. Lately, she has been showing more interest: asking to watch the Elmo's Potty Time DVD, telling us she wants to use the potty, and actually peeing in the potty a few times.
We love this girl! Ellie is delightful to be around. She loves to take care of her stuffed animals and makes sure to wrap each of them up in its own blanket before placing them in her bed so they can take a nap. Ellie has a passion for blowing bubbles. She has a great sense of humor and loves to say to Charlie: "Tickle me and run!" She's developed a love for reading books and playing the Thomas matching game. And, she's picked up a knack for using the computer (thanks to Dan and Charlie). Last but not least, she has a big sweet tooth!
Happy birthday to my sweet little dumpling!
We love this girl! Ellie is delightful to be around. She loves to take care of her stuffed animals and makes sure to wrap each of them up in its own blanket before placing them in her bed so they can take a nap. Ellie has a passion for blowing bubbles. She has a great sense of humor and loves to say to Charlie: "Tickle me and run!" She's developed a love for reading books and playing the Thomas matching game. And, she's picked up a knack for using the computer (thanks to Dan and Charlie). Last but not least, she has a big sweet tooth!
Happy birthday to my sweet little dumpling!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Christmas
(This was written in the middle of January. I'm way behind on the blog!!)
We went to visit Dan's family in Michigan for Christmas this year. Traveling is just rough for us since it's a two-hour drive to the airport and our trips this year have been marked by sick kids throwing up multiple times in the car and airplane. But, crossing our fingers that lightning wouldn't strike thrice, we prepared for our trip.
Fortunately, this time we were as prepared as can be with IDs, plenty of diapers, and changes of clothing in our carry-on bags. We left with plenty of time for the drive down to the airport, parking, riding the bus from parking to the airport, going through security, grabbing a bite, and boarding the plane. Everything went pretty smoothly except the two-hour delay in Chicago. But, that wasn't too bad because there was a play area for the kids and we had time to get dinner.
The only other snag was getting the cold so we were not as energetic and didn't get to do as much as we wanted. Oh well, it was winter and staying nice and warm inside was nice. We had a lot of fun seeing family and running into friends. Charlie and Ellie sure enjoyed playing with their cousins!!
Here are some of the fun things we did:
We went to visit Dan's family in Michigan for Christmas this year. Traveling is just rough for us since it's a two-hour drive to the airport and our trips this year have been marked by sick kids throwing up multiple times in the car and airplane. But, crossing our fingers that lightning wouldn't strike thrice, we prepared for our trip.
Fortunately, this time we were as prepared as can be with IDs, plenty of diapers, and changes of clothing in our carry-on bags. We left with plenty of time for the drive down to the airport, parking, riding the bus from parking to the airport, going through security, grabbing a bite, and boarding the plane. Everything went pretty smoothly except the two-hour delay in Chicago. But, that wasn't too bad because there was a play area for the kids and we had time to get dinner.
The only other snag was getting the cold so we were not as energetic and didn't get to do as much as we wanted. Oh well, it was winter and staying nice and warm inside was nice. We had a lot of fun seeing family and running into friends. Charlie and Ellie sure enjoyed playing with their cousins!!
Here are some of the fun things we did:
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| Celebrating Christmas |
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| Charlie getting ready to sled. Sorry this was the only pic I got of sledding! |
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| Tobogganing! Charlie and his cousins loved it so much they went down at least 5 times with Uncle Dale. |
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| Whee! These hills were seriously steep - Charlie, Brenden, & Josiah were so brave! |
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| I love how Charlie's hair is flying here. |
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| Decorating a gingerbread train. |
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| Celebrating birthdays for Kyler, Brenden, & Dan. |
Friday, January 14, 2011
Art
I just read a post on a friend's blog about her son drawing on the floor with a pencil and it reminded me that I have some art work on our dining wall to take care of. This was drawn by Ellie several weeks ago... I can't believe I keep forgetting about it, even though it's right there in the dining area where I can see it as I walk by and as I sit down to eat - literally hundreds of times. It didn't even occur to me to clean it up before I had people visiting. I guess it's just part of the decor now and it's almost a shame to get rid of it.
I was pretty upset when the first time I saw it. I guess it's my own fault for leaving the marker where Ellie could get to it. Now, I'm realizing it's not that big of a deal. I'm remembering a talk President Monson gave, in which he said: "If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly," (General Conference October 2008 ).
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Bookworm
I've decided to start another blog. It's about books and it's called Cheyenne Bookworm. Check it out!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
New Year, New Adventures
Happy New Year!!
Every new year, I look back and wonder how the last year went so fast. It's true that time speeds up as you get older. I often wonder if I've done enough but that's probably the wrong way of looking at things. Sure it'd be great if I accomplished some great feat. But I need to think about whether I've done my best at those things that matter most to me.
One of the things I wanted to accomplish last year was to be healthier. I know that most of us wish we could lose 10 pounds and I still wish that but losing weight should be the result of a healthy lifestyle and not an end in itself. Because what happens when you do lose the 10 pounds? What's next?? More often than not, they come back and we're back in the cycle. But if we focus on developing a habit of eating healthy, exercising, getting enough sleep, and learning to deal with stress then we're on the road to a healthy and strong body. We will feel good physically, mentally, and emotionally. We won't worry about those 10 pounds and we can free ourselves to focus on other important aspects of our lives. We will be able to tackle life and accomplish our goals.
I feel good that the one thing I did consistently was exercise regularly. I started using exercise videos to do cardio and strength-training exercises last January and have stayed with them throughout the year. There were a few days and weeks when I slacked off due to illness, travel, and blood donations. Other than that, I exercised 30 - 45 minutes a day, six days a week. You would think that I would look amazing with all that exercising but, alas, exercise is only one part of the fitness equation. I still need to work on eating healthier. My main problem is: I LOVE FOOD. Period.
We all know New Year resolutions tend to go by the wayside after a few weeks. It's because we have high hopes of turning over a new leaf with the start of the year but reality sets in and we cannot sustain the effort required to meet our unrealistic expectations. This year I will take small specific steps everyday towards meeting my goals. Instead of saying I will lose 20 pounds, I'm going to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, six days a week and be more aware of the quantity and quality of food I eat at each meal. The long-term goal is to have a strong and healthy body so that I can better fulfill my roles as mother, wife, church member, etc.
Other goals I have are:
* Be more focused with my time. I will only spend time on things that matter most: spirit, family, home, health, skills, talents, and service.
* Learn 5 Chinese characters a day and spend 20-30 minutes a day reading and studying Chinese. Eventually, I will be able to read the newspaper without having to look up 50% of the words.
* Practice playing the piano 15 - 30 minutes a day. (I never had the opportunity to take piano lessons as a child but have always been interested. This will actually fulfill a Young Women Personal Progress requirement! My long-term goal is to be able to play church hymns.)
* Spend at least 15 minutes a day reducing clutter. Be careful of the stuff I buy - ask is it something I really need? Do I have space for it? Does it fit in my budget?
Basically, I'm trying to be careful not to overdo. I'd love to hear what your goals are!
Every new year, I look back and wonder how the last year went so fast. It's true that time speeds up as you get older. I often wonder if I've done enough but that's probably the wrong way of looking at things. Sure it'd be great if I accomplished some great feat. But I need to think about whether I've done my best at those things that matter most to me.
One of the things I wanted to accomplish last year was to be healthier. I know that most of us wish we could lose 10 pounds and I still wish that but losing weight should be the result of a healthy lifestyle and not an end in itself. Because what happens when you do lose the 10 pounds? What's next?? More often than not, they come back and we're back in the cycle. But if we focus on developing a habit of eating healthy, exercising, getting enough sleep, and learning to deal with stress then we're on the road to a healthy and strong body. We will feel good physically, mentally, and emotionally. We won't worry about those 10 pounds and we can free ourselves to focus on other important aspects of our lives. We will be able to tackle life and accomplish our goals.
I feel good that the one thing I did consistently was exercise regularly. I started using exercise videos to do cardio and strength-training exercises last January and have stayed with them throughout the year. There were a few days and weeks when I slacked off due to illness, travel, and blood donations. Other than that, I exercised 30 - 45 minutes a day, six days a week. You would think that I would look amazing with all that exercising but, alas, exercise is only one part of the fitness equation. I still need to work on eating healthier. My main problem is: I LOVE FOOD. Period.
We all know New Year resolutions tend to go by the wayside after a few weeks. It's because we have high hopes of turning over a new leaf with the start of the year but reality sets in and we cannot sustain the effort required to meet our unrealistic expectations. This year I will take small specific steps everyday towards meeting my goals. Instead of saying I will lose 20 pounds, I'm going to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, six days a week and be more aware of the quantity and quality of food I eat at each meal. The long-term goal is to have a strong and healthy body so that I can better fulfill my roles as mother, wife, church member, etc.
Other goals I have are:
* Be more focused with my time. I will only spend time on things that matter most: spirit, family, home, health, skills, talents, and service.
* Learn 5 Chinese characters a day and spend 20-30 minutes a day reading and studying Chinese. Eventually, I will be able to read the newspaper without having to look up 50% of the words.
* Practice playing the piano 15 - 30 minutes a day. (I never had the opportunity to take piano lessons as a child but have always been interested. This will actually fulfill a Young Women Personal Progress requirement! My long-term goal is to be able to play church hymns.)
* Spend at least 15 minutes a day reducing clutter. Be careful of the stuff I buy - ask is it something I really need? Do I have space for it? Does it fit in my budget?
Basically, I'm trying to be careful not to overdo. I'd love to hear what your goals are!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Five Ways to Enjoy the Spirit of Christmas
Christmas time is hectic!! Everyone is busy decorating, buying presents, baking, and attending parties. It's a great time of the year but sometimes it can be a little too much. I've been trying to keep in mind the true meaning of Christmas and not worry about the little things that can overwhelm us if we let them. I'd like to share five things we've done as a family that have really helped us have the spirit of Christmas.
1. Decorations. Keep them simple. This year, we mainly decorated our living room with a tree, nativities, and a few other items. I went ahead and ordered myself a nativity set because I didn't really have one. Well, we have a one-piece display that included Joseph, Mary and Jesus that we bought the year we were married but I've always wanted a set that included animals and other people. Having the new set as a centerpiece on our mantle was really nice!
2. Treats. It's so fun to make treats to share with others! I stuck to a few relatively easy to make treats like pretzel turtles, dipped pretzel rods, and peanut brittle. By far the most popular treat was the pretzel turtles! Everyone who's had them has raved about them, which was great because they literally took minutes to make. I made almost 150 of these yummy things.
3. Meaning. I've been telling my kids that Christmas is about Jesus; we're celebrating his birthday. We've been reading different scriptures that talk about the birth of Jesus every night this month to help us focus on why we have this holiday.
4. Family Time. We've been doing a few activities as a family that have been fun and festive. We attended a nativity open-house and Christmas play put on by the Stake activities committee. Our ward put on a breakfast with Santa that was very well-done but not too elaborate or extravagant. We went and looked at Christmas lights that various people in our community have put out around their homes. Some people have some spectacular light displays!! We're also looking forward to a trip to see Dan's family in Michigan.
5. Cards and Gifts. Gifts are always the big thing for Christmas so it's been really hard not to go overboard. To help in this area, I've actually been setting aside money a few months before December so we won't be taking all the funds out from this month's budget. Also, I should've gotten our cards out earlier but it didn't happen so I'm not going to stress out about it. However, I've decided to make sure I mark when I'd like to send them out next year so I can be better prepared.
I'd love to hear about how you've kept the spirit of Christmas!
1. Decorations. Keep them simple. This year, we mainly decorated our living room with a tree, nativities, and a few other items. I went ahead and ordered myself a nativity set because I didn't really have one. Well, we have a one-piece display that included Joseph, Mary and Jesus that we bought the year we were married but I've always wanted a set that included animals and other people. Having the new set as a centerpiece on our mantle was really nice!
2. Treats. It's so fun to make treats to share with others! I stuck to a few relatively easy to make treats like pretzel turtles, dipped pretzel rods, and peanut brittle. By far the most popular treat was the pretzel turtles! Everyone who's had them has raved about them, which was great because they literally took minutes to make. I made almost 150 of these yummy things.
3. Meaning. I've been telling my kids that Christmas is about Jesus; we're celebrating his birthday. We've been reading different scriptures that talk about the birth of Jesus every night this month to help us focus on why we have this holiday.
4. Family Time. We've been doing a few activities as a family that have been fun and festive. We attended a nativity open-house and Christmas play put on by the Stake activities committee. Our ward put on a breakfast with Santa that was very well-done but not too elaborate or extravagant. We went and looked at Christmas lights that various people in our community have put out around their homes. Some people have some spectacular light displays!! We're also looking forward to a trip to see Dan's family in Michigan.
5. Cards and Gifts. Gifts are always the big thing for Christmas so it's been really hard not to go overboard. To help in this area, I've actually been setting aside money a few months before December so we won't be taking all the funds out from this month's budget. Also, I should've gotten our cards out earlier but it didn't happen so I'm not going to stress out about it. However, I've decided to make sure I mark when I'd like to send them out next year so I can be better prepared.
I'd love to hear about how you've kept the spirit of Christmas!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Christmas Photocards
Disclosure: This post is in response to Shutterfly's 50 free photocard offer.
I'm a little behind on sending out Christmas cards this year. With Facebook and email, it seems rather old-fashioned and costly to send letters or cards in the mail. But, I love getting pictures and letters in the mail from people. I enjoy hearing from family and friends and catching up on what they've been up to this year. I do enjoy getting the email updates too but a card, picture, and/or a letter just seems so much more personal.
The downside to sending out cards and letters is that it seems to take so much longer than you think it would. Also, there are so many options. You could do a letter with a family picture, a photo card, just a plain card with a handwritten note, or, a homemade card (which is really personal). I'm very much leaning toward a photo card this year. In the past, I've written letters and included photos, which is a fine option. I just feel like I don't have enough to tell for a letter this year. Also, I feel like I say pretty much the same thing every year so it's time to do something a little different.
I've been impressed with the photo cards Shutterfly has to offer this year. As I look through the many designs and layouts for Christmas Photo Cards that they have, I find it hard to narrow down to just one design. There are also many pricing options so you can pick one that fits your budget. Here are a few designs that I really like.
I love this design because you can write a little update on the kids. Since I have two kids, this would be perfect.
I like how you can put three pictures on this one. The background is very nice. I think "Oh Holy NIght" is one of the most beautiful Christmas songs.
Simple but so very cute!
This might be my favorite. You can list ten things about the year - perfect for me since I don't have much to say!
Ooh! This one lets you write a little letter along with the pictures! Hmm... it's going to be hard to decide which design to go with.
Christmas photo card to http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards
I'm a little behind on sending out Christmas cards this year. With Facebook and email, it seems rather old-fashioned and costly to send letters or cards in the mail. But, I love getting pictures and letters in the mail from people. I enjoy hearing from family and friends and catching up on what they've been up to this year. I do enjoy getting the email updates too but a card, picture, and/or a letter just seems so much more personal.
The downside to sending out cards and letters is that it seems to take so much longer than you think it would. Also, there are so many options. You could do a letter with a family picture, a photo card, just a plain card with a handwritten note, or, a homemade card (which is really personal). I'm very much leaning toward a photo card this year. In the past, I've written letters and included photos, which is a fine option. I just feel like I don't have enough to tell for a letter this year. Also, I feel like I say pretty much the same thing every year so it's time to do something a little different.
I've been impressed with the photo cards Shutterfly has to offer this year. As I look through the many designs and layouts for Christmas Photo Cards that they have, I find it hard to narrow down to just one design. There are also many pricing options so you can pick one that fits your budget. Here are a few designs that I really like.
I love this design because you can write a little update on the kids. Since I have two kids, this would be perfect.
I like how you can put three pictures on this one. The background is very nice. I think "Oh Holy NIght" is one of the most beautiful Christmas songs.
Simple but so very cute!
This might be my favorite. You can list ten things about the year - perfect for me since I don't have much to say!
Ooh! This one lets you write a little letter along with the pictures! Hmm... it's going to be hard to decide which design to go with.
Christmas photo card to http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards
holiday cards to http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards
photo calendars to http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars
photo calendars to http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Thanksgiving
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! My parents came on Monday and stayed over a week. It was great having them here. I know the kids enjoyed it as well. Here are some highlights from their visit:
* Dan and I planned to go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Wednesday night. I'd seen the show times in the paper a couple days before and it was the perfect time, 8:15 PM. We were able to get the kids in bed by 8 and had plenty of time to get there. We got there AND... they told us that the times were different for that night because of the opening of several new movies. The next showing was 10 PM. We left disappointed. We could've gone back and seen the movie at 10 PM but we didn't. You know you must be getting old if you don't feel like staying up late, even for a movie you really want to see.
* Our Thanksgiving Day was great! We decided to keep our menu traditional this year and it was not as stressful. However, as seems to be the case with most of our Thanksgivings, this one had a couple of memorable events. In the late morning, as Dan was beginning to make the rolls, he felt water dripping down on him from the ceiling. We have an exhaust fan that vents out of the kitchen through the roof. The fan is right above the stove. At first we thought it was snow melting and dripping through the vent cover. Then we realized that it must be the warm moist air from the kitchen condensing inside the cold vent. In any case, we lost some time trying to figure out a way to prevent the dripping water from getting into the food we were making. I'm sorry to say, we didn't get any pictures!!
After lunch, we were able to catch the Harry Potter movie. Loved it! It made me want to re-read all the books.
* Every year in Cheyenne, there's a Christmas parade. It starts at 5 PM so all the floats are lighted with Christmas lights. Luckily, this year it was as cold as usual. We watched it from the same spot we watched it last year because it's not at the beginning of the route so we had more time to park the car and get there. Ellie was so funny - she clutched the candy she got in her hands and wouldn't let go for anything. Her poor little hands were freezing cold!
* I was assigned to speak in church that Sunday. My topic was the creation. I found an Ensign article by Bruce R. McConkie and based my talk on it. I learned SO much preparing for my talk! It was nice that my parents were there for my talk, even though they probably didn't understand much of it.
* The day before my parents left, we went to visit the Wyoming State Capitol. It was my first visit there myself. We got a tour and it was neat to learn more about Wyoming history. I learned that the state of Wyoming was the first government in the world to grant women the ability to vote and the first state to elect a female governor.
* Dan and I planned to go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Wednesday night. I'd seen the show times in the paper a couple days before and it was the perfect time, 8:15 PM. We were able to get the kids in bed by 8 and had plenty of time to get there. We got there AND... they told us that the times were different for that night because of the opening of several new movies. The next showing was 10 PM. We left disappointed. We could've gone back and seen the movie at 10 PM but we didn't. You know you must be getting old if you don't feel like staying up late, even for a movie you really want to see.
* Our Thanksgiving Day was great! We decided to keep our menu traditional this year and it was not as stressful. However, as seems to be the case with most of our Thanksgivings, this one had a couple of memorable events. In the late morning, as Dan was beginning to make the rolls, he felt water dripping down on him from the ceiling. We have an exhaust fan that vents out of the kitchen through the roof. The fan is right above the stove. At first we thought it was snow melting and dripping through the vent cover. Then we realized that it must be the warm moist air from the kitchen condensing inside the cold vent. In any case, we lost some time trying to figure out a way to prevent the dripping water from getting into the food we were making. I'm sorry to say, we didn't get any pictures!!
After lunch, we were able to catch the Harry Potter movie. Loved it! It made me want to re-read all the books.
* Every year in Cheyenne, there's a Christmas parade. It starts at 5 PM so all the floats are lighted with Christmas lights. Luckily, this year it was as cold as usual. We watched it from the same spot we watched it last year because it's not at the beginning of the route so we had more time to park the car and get there. Ellie was so funny - she clutched the candy she got in her hands and wouldn't let go for anything. Her poor little hands were freezing cold!
* I was assigned to speak in church that Sunday. My topic was the creation. I found an Ensign article by Bruce R. McConkie and based my talk on it. I learned SO much preparing for my talk! It was nice that my parents were there for my talk, even though they probably didn't understand much of it.
* The day before my parents left, we went to visit the Wyoming State Capitol. It was my first visit there myself. We got a tour and it was neat to learn more about Wyoming history. I learned that the state of Wyoming was the first government in the world to grant women the ability to vote and the first state to elect a female governor.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Crazy Morning
Do you ever have crazy mornings?? Or, am I the only one?
This morning was crazier than ever. Ellie woke me up at 3:30 AM and I had a REALLY hard time falling back to sleep. So, I didn't get up until... 8:01. School starts at 8:35. SO...
I got up and pulled on my gray sweat pants and a gray shirt - the first one I saw in my drawer. Yeah, very stylish. I didn't care. I was in rush mode.
I got Ellie up. Fed the kids cereal. Used the bathroom. Helped Charlie pick out an outfit and told him to put them on. Thank goodness he can dress himself now! Got Charlie's lunch together while he got dressed and brushed his teeth. Dressed Ellie. Got her socks and shoes on. Fixed Charlie's hair - his hair is always a mess in the mornings and needs lots of water and gel.
I look at the clock and see that we have 10 minutes to go. Yay, we're not going to be late!! Until...I realized that my car keys which also includes my house key were missing.
I must've left them in Dan's car last night and he's already at work. I search for the spare key - do we even have a spare house key??? I grabbed the spare car keys and all the extra keys from the key drawer. None of them worked on the garage door, which is not attached to the house and has a separate lock that uses the same key as the house. Which I don't seem to have at the moment. I tried the emergency key hidden in a special location, which has a combination lock which didn't want to open. Meanwhile, the minutes seem to speed by and we've missed the first and second school bells. Finally, I figured out a way to get in the garage.
I got the key for the lock to the back gate and grabbed the garage opener and hurried the kids out the back gate and opened the garage door using the electronic opener. I speed (or try not to speed) to the school which fortunately is less than a mile away. We go in the office so we can get a tardy slip, our first one ever! Whew!
This morning was crazier than ever. Ellie woke me up at 3:30 AM and I had a REALLY hard time falling back to sleep. So, I didn't get up until... 8:01. School starts at 8:35. SO...
I got up and pulled on my gray sweat pants and a gray shirt - the first one I saw in my drawer. Yeah, very stylish. I didn't care. I was in rush mode.
I got Ellie up. Fed the kids cereal. Used the bathroom. Helped Charlie pick out an outfit and told him to put them on. Thank goodness he can dress himself now! Got Charlie's lunch together while he got dressed and brushed his teeth. Dressed Ellie. Got her socks and shoes on. Fixed Charlie's hair - his hair is always a mess in the mornings and needs lots of water and gel.
I look at the clock and see that we have 10 minutes to go. Yay, we're not going to be late!! Until...I realized that my car keys which also includes my house key were missing.
I must've left them in Dan's car last night and he's already at work. I search for the spare key - do we even have a spare house key??? I grabbed the spare car keys and all the extra keys from the key drawer. None of them worked on the garage door, which is not attached to the house and has a separate lock that uses the same key as the house. Which I don't seem to have at the moment. I tried the emergency key hidden in a special location, which has a combination lock which didn't want to open. Meanwhile, the minutes seem to speed by and we've missed the first and second school bells. Finally, I figured out a way to get in the garage.
I got the key for the lock to the back gate and grabbed the garage opener and hurried the kids out the back gate and opened the garage door using the electronic opener. I speed (or try not to speed) to the school which fortunately is less than a mile away. We go in the office so we can get a tardy slip, our first one ever! Whew!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
This is SO cool!
I'm a geek at heart. I love learning about how stuff works and hearing about cool things that are being developed. I love listening to NPR and learning about different subjects like the science of cooking or why the annual performance review should be ditched. One of my favorite NPR shows is Science Friday where guests talk about science-related topics.
I really enjoyed the one time they had Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway, on the show talking about the FIRST robotics competition. He wanted to get kids excited about science and engineering so he started this competition where kids had to build these robots and have them compete each other in playing games. I wish I could've participated in something like this when I was a teenager. It sounds SO fun! Here's a video of Dean Kamen talking about FIRST:
I really enjoyed the one time they had Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway, on the show talking about the FIRST robotics competition. He wanted to get kids excited about science and engineering so he started this competition where kids had to build these robots and have them compete each other in playing games. I wish I could've participated in something like this when I was a teenager. It sounds SO fun! Here's a video of Dean Kamen talking about FIRST:
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Happy Halloween!!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
5K
Today, my friend and I did the Cheyenne Schools Foundation 5K. Both our husbands were not available to watch the kids so we took them with us! It was fun! My time was about 5 minutes off my usual because I was pushing an extra 90 lbs. It was windy and kind of chilly but we did it!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
PTA Adventures
So, I joined the PTA. I read somewhere that the kids that do well are the ones with involved parent. Well, I'm nothing if not an involved parent! Well actually, I've always wanted to be in the PTA and I was curious what it was like. Okay, so the first meeting was a little disappointing. I was a few minutes late and wondered if I'd find a seat. I was expecting the cafeteria to be filled to the brim with parents, standing room only. Like in the movies. Not so. There were a couple of long tables with the PTA officers facing two rows of ten chairs. A little over half of the chairs were filled. After me, a couple more people came - one of them was the principal. Oh, and it was all female, which I expected.
They started talking about all the stuff they're doing. It's pretty much all fund-raising stuff. The first big activity was the Fall Festival in October. It's like a carnival. There's going to be food and games. There will be baskets that are raffled off. The baskets are to contain stuff donated by people, organizations, and businesses. They started asking for committee heads - I refrained from volunteering. Once upon a time, I did a lot of heading up of organizations and got burnt out so I decided to be a helper but not head or leader of anything. One mom volunteered to do the decorations and somebody else offered to help her. Another mom offered to do the food. Baskets are next. That sounded like A LOT of work. I just sat there. Certainly someone else would volunteer. A someone did! Hmm... I do want to help! Another person said she'd help with that. Oh good! I said, "I can help you with that too!", now that there are two other people involved and I don't have to be in charge!
So, I talked to the mom in charge of the baskets. Her name is Laurie. I saw her in the school yard, while dropping off and picking up Charlie. She assigned me to call the restaurants in town. Perfect! I can do that! It took me a while, a couple of weeks actually, to get around to calling them. My daughter got two colds and I was busy with stuff. But, finally I got the phone book out and made a list. I decided to pace myself and just call ten places a day. My first day was pretty disappointing - I got two places to donate gift certificates. After that, it seemed to get easier. I had a script and it was friendly. I didn't care if they said no as long as they weren't mean about it. Just about everyone who said no was nice about it. EXCEPT for this one place....
It was this Italian place in one of the back streets across from the mall. Dan and I had gone there once on a date. We had to wait a long time to be seated and a long time for our food. The people behind us in line had raved about the place. I didn't think my food was anything to write home about but Dan thought his was pretty good. However, he didn't think it was good enough for the wait. He said he'd never go back there. I would've given it another chance... Well, now I know that I would never set foot in that place again!!
I called this place and told the guy who answered the phone that I was a member of the Henderson PTA and that I was calling around for donations for our fall fundraiser. Did he know who I could talk with about this?
He said, "That would be Al* but he's not here right now." I asked when he'd be in and he told me.
So, at the time that he'd be in, I called Al. Al answered the phone. I gave him my schpiel.
He asked, "Linda, do I know you?"
I was puzzled. For a minute I thought he knew someone named Linda and that he was thinking I was her. So I said, "No, why?"
He said, "I don't know you and you're calling me. Why would I want to do business with you?"
All I could say was, "Okay..." and something to the effect of I was calling all the restaurants in town, blah, blah, blah.
He said, "I only do business with people I know and who help me."
Well!! I was speechless. When I found my words, I said, "Okay. That's fine! Thank you!"
When I hung up the phone, I was literally shaking and tears came to my eyes. I couldn't forget the meanness in his voice and felt utterly flabbergasted that someone could be so cutting. I mean, it wasn't like I was demanding anything. He could have just said, "No, thank you."
I told Dan about the incident. He told me that he'd heard rumors that this family who owned the restaurant were from "Jersey" and that they were tied to the mob. The business was probably just a front for their "activities." Dan said that if I'd told him I was going to contact this place, he would've told me not to bother. Hmmm! That explains a lot!!
I talked Laurie about this the next day. She told me that the owner was a convicted child molester. Yikes!! Well, I'm glad he didn't donate anything then! I don't want to do "business" with anyone like that!!
So, the moral of the story is - Being on the PTA can be quite an adventure! I'm actually excited to help out with the projects and activities of the PTA. I want to support the school and make it a good place for all the kids, especially Charlie. But, you know, I am going to be careful what I volunteer for in the future and be prepared to meet some "interesting" people!
They started talking about all the stuff they're doing. It's pretty much all fund-raising stuff. The first big activity was the Fall Festival in October. It's like a carnival. There's going to be food and games. There will be baskets that are raffled off. The baskets are to contain stuff donated by people, organizations, and businesses. They started asking for committee heads - I refrained from volunteering. Once upon a time, I did a lot of heading up of organizations and got burnt out so I decided to be a helper but not head or leader of anything. One mom volunteered to do the decorations and somebody else offered to help her. Another mom offered to do the food. Baskets are next. That sounded like A LOT of work. I just sat there. Certainly someone else would volunteer. A someone did! Hmm... I do want to help! Another person said she'd help with that. Oh good! I said, "I can help you with that too!", now that there are two other people involved and I don't have to be in charge!
So, I talked to the mom in charge of the baskets. Her name is Laurie. I saw her in the school yard, while dropping off and picking up Charlie. She assigned me to call the restaurants in town. Perfect! I can do that! It took me a while, a couple of weeks actually, to get around to calling them. My daughter got two colds and I was busy with stuff. But, finally I got the phone book out and made a list. I decided to pace myself and just call ten places a day. My first day was pretty disappointing - I got two places to donate gift certificates. After that, it seemed to get easier. I had a script and it was friendly. I didn't care if they said no as long as they weren't mean about it. Just about everyone who said no was nice about it. EXCEPT for this one place....
It was this Italian place in one of the back streets across from the mall. Dan and I had gone there once on a date. We had to wait a long time to be seated and a long time for our food. The people behind us in line had raved about the place. I didn't think my food was anything to write home about but Dan thought his was pretty good. However, he didn't think it was good enough for the wait. He said he'd never go back there. I would've given it another chance... Well, now I know that I would never set foot in that place again!!
I called this place and told the guy who answered the phone that I was a member of the Henderson PTA and that I was calling around for donations for our fall fundraiser. Did he know who I could talk with about this?
He said, "That would be Al* but he's not here right now." I asked when he'd be in and he told me.
So, at the time that he'd be in, I called Al. Al answered the phone. I gave him my schpiel.
He asked, "Linda, do I know you?"
I was puzzled. For a minute I thought he knew someone named Linda and that he was thinking I was her. So I said, "No, why?"
He said, "I don't know you and you're calling me. Why would I want to do business with you?"
All I could say was, "Okay..." and something to the effect of I was calling all the restaurants in town, blah, blah, blah.
He said, "I only do business with people I know and who help me."
Well!! I was speechless. When I found my words, I said, "Okay. That's fine! Thank you!"
When I hung up the phone, I was literally shaking and tears came to my eyes. I couldn't forget the meanness in his voice and felt utterly flabbergasted that someone could be so cutting. I mean, it wasn't like I was demanding anything. He could have just said, "No, thank you."
I told Dan about the incident. He told me that he'd heard rumors that this family who owned the restaurant were from "Jersey" and that they were tied to the mob. The business was probably just a front for their "activities." Dan said that if I'd told him I was going to contact this place, he would've told me not to bother. Hmmm! That explains a lot!!
I talked Laurie about this the next day. She told me that the owner was a convicted child molester. Yikes!! Well, I'm glad he didn't donate anything then! I don't want to do "business" with anyone like that!!
So, the moral of the story is - Being on the PTA can be quite an adventure! I'm actually excited to help out with the projects and activities of the PTA. I want to support the school and make it a good place for all the kids, especially Charlie. But, you know, I am going to be careful what I volunteer for in the future and be prepared to meet some "interesting" people!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
First Day of Kindergarten
It was Charlie's first day at Kindergarten today. I can't believe he's old enough for school! He seemed pretty excited to go. I'm just so glad he took this new, huge milestone in stride. I think it helped that he's had so many different experiences with going to classes like Nursery, Sunbeams, CTR 4, gymnastics, and preschool. Both Dan and I think that attending preschool was key to helping him be prepared to going to Kindergarten. It was just a stepping stone for him.
We live close enough to the school that Ellie and I were able to walk there with him. We were actually a little early so the kids got to play at the playground right next to his classroom. When it was time to go inside, I helped him find his seat. He actually said, "Mom, why are you still here?" Where was the little boy who had such a hard time going to Nursery and Sunbeams?
Many other moms I've talked to have told me about how they just cried the first day they took their kids to Kindergarten. Maybe there's something wrong with me because I didn't cry. No tears. I did feel a little sad but I think it helped that I had Ellie so I was busy with her this morning. It was nice to have some one-on-one time with her. Also, I felt good knowing that I'd done everything I could to help his first day go smoothly. He actually got the teacher I requested for him because I'd heard so many people rave about her. So, that was a comfort to know he was in good hands. Ellie and I went to the school and at lunch with Charlie, which was another source of comfort for me just to know I can go and spend a little time with him if I wanted to.
Lastly, I'd always enjoyed school so I feel that it would be a good experience for him too. I'm just excited for him to start on his educational adventures! It was just fun to walk him to and from school and to see all the other school kids there.
Friday, August 13, 2010
A New Calling
I got a new calling! I was beginning to think the Bishopric had forgotten about me because I was released from my Nursery calling several months ago and hadn't gotten a new one. I still had my calling on the Enrichment (um... Relief Society Meeting?) Committee but it doesn't seem to count since we haven't been having very many activities. Although I am also in charge of playgroup, which technically isn't a calling but I do have to coordinate it and attend every week.
Anyway, we're in the midst of many changes in our ward since a new ward is being made from our ward and the other ward that meets in our building. We've already had about 6 families move out this summer and add at least 10 active families that are being taken because of the new ward and our numbers have diminished significantly. So because of all the changes, people are being shuffled around and everyone is going to have to step up and do more work. We got asked to meet with the first counselor in the Bishopric and I had a feeling that it was me that was going to get a calling in a certain organization. I won't get sustained until Sunday and there's kind of an unspoken rule that you don't tell people what you're called to until after being sustained. But I just wanted to say that I'm really excited for this new calling and opportunity to serve. It will be a challenge but a blessing as well. It's kind of exciting to be on the front row of growth in the church!
Anyway, we're in the midst of many changes in our ward since a new ward is being made from our ward and the other ward that meets in our building. We've already had about 6 families move out this summer and add at least 10 active families that are being taken because of the new ward and our numbers have diminished significantly. So because of all the changes, people are being shuffled around and everyone is going to have to step up and do more work. We got asked to meet with the first counselor in the Bishopric and I had a feeling that it was me that was going to get a calling in a certain organization. I won't get sustained until Sunday and there's kind of an unspoken rule that you don't tell people what you're called to until after being sustained. But I just wanted to say that I'm really excited for this new calling and opportunity to serve. It will be a challenge but a blessing as well. It's kind of exciting to be on the front row of growth in the church!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
July
As I'm sitting here in front of my computer, I'm supposed to be doing stuff - laundry, dishes, sweeping, packing, etc., etc. But, I'm procrastinating and wiling away the minutes doing meaningless things.
This month has been a difficult month. It's gone by pretty quickly, which is good since a lot of times time seems to go by slowly when things are not going well.
I got some sad news on the 4th of July. My dad got shot. Fortunately, he's okay now. He was in the hospital for 10 days and has been recuperating at home. But, yeah, that's the kind of news that stops you in your tracks. I have been feeling fine - I mean, I feel terrible that it happened but I'm okay. You never want something like this to happen to your own father. It's unthinkable even though it happens everyday. Just not to anyone you know and love. You hear it in the news and you don't really think about it. You never wonder how it affects the people it happens to.
Well, I know now.
I'm relieved he's okay. But, even though I'm okay and he's okay, I think deep down, we're all a little shaken. I haven't been sleeping well. The past few weeks since I got the news, I've been having difficulty falling asleep and getting up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back to sleep very well. It's been better lately. I think it's just the shock of the news and my mind processing it.
This month has been a difficult month. It's gone by pretty quickly, which is good since a lot of times time seems to go by slowly when things are not going well.
I got some sad news on the 4th of July. My dad got shot. Fortunately, he's okay now. He was in the hospital for 10 days and has been recuperating at home. But, yeah, that's the kind of news that stops you in your tracks. I have been feeling fine - I mean, I feel terrible that it happened but I'm okay. You never want something like this to happen to your own father. It's unthinkable even though it happens everyday. Just not to anyone you know and love. You hear it in the news and you don't really think about it. You never wonder how it affects the people it happens to.
Well, I know now.
I'm relieved he's okay. But, even though I'm okay and he's okay, I think deep down, we're all a little shaken. I haven't been sleeping well. The past few weeks since I got the news, I've been having difficulty falling asleep and getting up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back to sleep very well. It's been better lately. I think it's just the shock of the news and my mind processing it.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
18 Years Ago
18 years ago yesterday, I was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was the most important decision of my life.
I was fifteen-years-old. I had questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? What is the purpose of life? Is there life after death? These are the questions many through the ages have asked. I was trying to find meaning in my life. I felt depressed - I think it's a common feeling among teenagers trying to figure out what life is about and how they fit into the big picture. I am grateful I received my answers.
On an Easter Sunday, I was flipping through the channels and saw part of "The Easter Dream", a production by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the end of the program was an offer for a free video, "Our Heavenly Father's Plan". A free video? Cool! I called the 800-number to request it. A few weeks later, two young missionaries delivered the video and shared the first discussion with me. I felt the spirit. They taught me the gospel and I accepted it. The message they taught me answered all my questions.
I am a child of God. I am here to experience life and to choose whether to follow God and Jesus Christ. Each person on earth has a purpose and a mission. Because of the Fall of Adam and Eve into mortality, a Redeemer is necessary to provide a way back to God. Jesus Christ is the only person qualified to perform the atonement which allows us to overcome mortality and gain eternal life.
The truths and principles I learned have guided my life since then. My conversion has literally changed my life for the better. The teachings of the gospel has helped me to become a better person and to make better decisions. I was able to face my challenges with greater perspective and to not let them discourage me too much.
Before I joined the church, I didn't understand the role of women. Even after baptism, I didn't think too much about it. However, through the years I have come accept that because families are essential to Heavenly Father's plan, the most important thing I as a woman can do is to be a mother. Of course, there are some women who do not have the opportunity to be mothers but they are still valued. The idea that motherhood is sacred and divine became evident to me when I became a mother myself. Contrary to our society's views, motherhood is not a denigration of womanhood. Men and women are equal in the sight of God and neither is less than the other. Husband and wife work together to make the family a successful unit of society.
I am grateful that I found the truth when I did. Because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have been blessed with strength to endure my personal trials. I have joy and peace in my life. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Joseph Smith, Jr. was an instrument in the hands of God in restoring the Church of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is the word of God, as is the Bible. Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today.
I was fifteen-years-old. I had questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? What is the purpose of life? Is there life after death? These are the questions many through the ages have asked. I was trying to find meaning in my life. I felt depressed - I think it's a common feeling among teenagers trying to figure out what life is about and how they fit into the big picture. I am grateful I received my answers.
On an Easter Sunday, I was flipping through the channels and saw part of "The Easter Dream", a production by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the end of the program was an offer for a free video, "Our Heavenly Father's Plan". A free video? Cool! I called the 800-number to request it. A few weeks later, two young missionaries delivered the video and shared the first discussion with me. I felt the spirit. They taught me the gospel and I accepted it. The message they taught me answered all my questions.
I am a child of God. I am here to experience life and to choose whether to follow God and Jesus Christ. Each person on earth has a purpose and a mission. Because of the Fall of Adam and Eve into mortality, a Redeemer is necessary to provide a way back to God. Jesus Christ is the only person qualified to perform the atonement which allows us to overcome mortality and gain eternal life.
The truths and principles I learned have guided my life since then. My conversion has literally changed my life for the better. The teachings of the gospel has helped me to become a better person and to make better decisions. I was able to face my challenges with greater perspective and to not let them discourage me too much.
Before I joined the church, I didn't understand the role of women. Even after baptism, I didn't think too much about it. However, through the years I have come accept that because families are essential to Heavenly Father's plan, the most important thing I as a woman can do is to be a mother. Of course, there are some women who do not have the opportunity to be mothers but they are still valued. The idea that motherhood is sacred and divine became evident to me when I became a mother myself. Contrary to our society's views, motherhood is not a denigration of womanhood. Men and women are equal in the sight of God and neither is less than the other. Husband and wife work together to make the family a successful unit of society.
I am grateful that I found the truth when I did. Because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have been blessed with strength to endure my personal trials. I have joy and peace in my life. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Joseph Smith, Jr. was an instrument in the hands of God in restoring the Church of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is the word of God, as is the Bible. Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today.
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