Still Happy

Michael took our whole family out on the town yesterday.  We went boating, had dinner, and then went moonlight canoeing on the Provo river.  This guy knows how to have fun!

I continue learning and growing at school.  I understand that's what it's for.

Lane started school again this week.  He is quite adept at imitating the teachers he doesn't like, and makes it so funny and real, I feel that maybe I don't like them either, even though I've never met a single one.

Joshua is growing three inches taller as I sit here typing.  He will be another three inches by tomorrow morning.  And his hair is magnificent.  He continues to live solely to play soccer.  On the off chance that he is not at a soccer game or a soccer practice, he does go to school.

Evan and Emily spoke in their church meeting today.  They did a fantastic job.  Emily used excellent scriptural examples of people using their agency wisely.  Evan taught us all well about how to use our agency to apply the Atonement in our lives.  Good stuff.


My gold star for happiness typically involves food and/or family, and this week is no exception:  so glad I got to eat food and see Dana, at the same time!  Bliss.

Happier

My friend introduced me to a great podcast (apparently also a book and a blog and a Facebook page...but I haven't looked into any of those yet) called...

It's pretty great.

Anyway, one of the "gold star" awards given in an episode (#3, maybe?) was for boring family updates.  I thought, "I can do boring."  So, in the pursuit of happiness...here goes boring.

Michael and Lane went camping/hiking with the scouts.  They climbed King's Peak.  Michael and the boys played on a city-block long slip-and-slide.  Michael has to work for two more weeks, and then he is going to Lake Powell.  Michael likes to have fun.

I am back in third grade.  School started Wednesday.  I have 39 students in my class.  That is too big for me to wrap my little brain around, so I have given it up to the Lord. Truly.  So, instead of stressing too much about school, I listen to podcasts, go hiking, and shop.  And so far that seems to be working all right.  

Evan and Emily are happy.  He plays with her hair.  She makes us all laugh.  They have a sweet little apartment filled with newlywed bliss.  

Lane is back from Peru.  Lane is back from hiking King's Peak.  Lane bought a new car.  Lane is looking for work, applying to schools, and hanging out with friends.

Joshua started his junior year in high school.  He asked a girl to the Homecoming dance (still a month away), without even a smidgen of parental encouragement.  Let's not dwell on the fact that he asked the twin sister of the girl who previously took Joshua to a girl's choice dance; their family drama/dynamics are for their own blog update.

And finally...

My happiness gold star of the week:  grabbing from my barrel full of options (yes, my life is that blessed), I'm going to go with my unexpected sister-date with Lindsay.  That was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon, and her money.

Getting Older

                                  Happy Birthday, Joshua!

Scouting Around

 After months of deliberation, delay, deliquency, and debate...Joshua finally finished his Eagle Project.  Upon completion of the "ordeal," I asked Joshua some questions about the experience.  Here's a small bit of the conversation:Q:  What was your project?A:  Making "phonic phones."Q:  Why would you do that?A:  Because my mom told me to.Q:  I see...And whom, exactly, are the phones supposed to help?A:  Me, to get my license (M told J that he couldn't drive until he had his Eagle...hence the frequent debates about the fairness and necessity of the whole thing).Q:  Ah, well, according to your Plan, who will benefit from your phonic phones?A:  (in a very official sounding voice) 'These devices will be of benefit to students during reading/speaking instruction time and an aid to teachers, as well, in their classroom management."  Ta da!
(This picture collage is an attempt to "scrapbook" with a new app called "Project Life."  I really like the app, but haven't figured out, yet, how to transfer my "creations" here.  I'll have to try again (and again, and again, and again...).

me

I once read that a person can never see their actual face; mirror image, yes, but never the real thing.
I'm not sure why, but that kind of freaks me out.
I've gone cross-eyed trying to prove the statement wrong, and, in fact, have seen the tip of my nose, the tops of my cheeks, and my upper lip when puckered for a big ol' smack-a-roo (SMOOCH!).
I still haven't, however, seen what it is that others view of, or in my face.

I've never really seen my face in pictures, either. Seldom do I recognize that person there in print.

Or, (and this is the really freaky part: freaky in the way that I might not know what my laundry soap smells like to others), maybe pictures do show a perfect representation, and that really is what I look like...

Not that it really matters one way or the other, because either way, this is me.  Still, I wonder.

Just this week, though, I was filming my two-year-old nephew as he sang "Let it Go" while caressing his fake blonde hair, when he told me it was his turn to take pictures of me.  I obliged and diligently smiled through the photo-shoot.  And, funny thing is, although most of the pictures were of my hands, the counter, or the refrigerator, Ben also caught me.  

This actually is how I see myself.

And, just in case you were wondering, this is how Ben sees himself, blonde tresses and all:

hearing things

Though there are some who might argue the point...

to me it just may be that the very best thing ever

is to hear your fourteen-year-old son singing Newsies in the basement.

Next favorite moment is probably

 the joy of walking down to the basement

and finding aforementioned fourteen-year-old son

listening to the scriptures 

while doing a P90X ab workout.

except-ing

We just passed mid-terms.  Grades are coming due. 

Favorite moment of the day?

When a little sweetie of mine came up, sporting the greatest look of pride and joy, and told me, "I just turned in ALL of my assignments!  Except some of them."