preschool

Today, Erica got the news that she has officially qualified for preschool. She will start on Jan 7, after the Christmas holidays. She is so excited! We bought her backpack and water bottle! I am equally excited. I will only have one child at home! That hasn't happened since Heather was born just over nine years ago! I will actually be able to do my shopping with only Lillian! I can't wait. We are all excited for the Christmas holidays to start. Their last day of school is December 14. We miss you all and are thinking of you all!

geography

Well, I'm not as good as I wish but I was only 1100 points from level 7. So I only finished level 6 and I really blew some of them. I could do it again but I think that would be cheating for this post. Maybe andother time I can post how good I've gotten. Now on to other things. I want Jayson to come soon but I am willing to wait for his time because it will be better in the long run. I am excited for Christmas and for seeing most of the children. I think that during the holidays the only ones I won't be seeing are Jen's family and I will really miss them. Samuel will be coming through Vegas on his way to Logan and the rest I will see as I come and go for Jayson's birthday.

geography

I fell VERRY short of being able to go to level six!

Where in the World?

Ha, Ha!!

I was 17 points short to be able to continue to level 6. Sad!!! At least most of the time I got the right country- most of the time. I missed Paris, France. I clicked somewhere in Spain. SAD, SAD, VERY SAD!

I fly to Vegas the morning of the 15 of December and I would love to ride back to Utah in your COOL van, Keryn!!

Telima- I love you and that little Jayson!! I suppose he'll come when he is good and ready. What does that tell you about his personality?

Oookay, World Travelers!

How well do you know geography? How fast are you? Check this awesome game out:

Know Your World?

(And, just because I'm competitive like that, come back here and tell me how you did? I got to level 10 with 384,094 points.)

Of snaky rolls and small fires in the kitchen

Ezra almost burned down the house today.

I was downstairs, and Ezra decided that he wanted to have a leftover "snaky" roll (crescent roll). But he wanted it hot. So he put it in the microwave and started heating it up.

Only instead of heating it up for "one hundred" (one minute, or 1:00 on the microwave), he must of hit an extra zero (I guess). All I know is that he comes downstairs and says "I pushed the wrong number". By the time I understood what was going on and rushed upstairs, the timer on the microwave was at 3:47, the house was filled with acrid smoke, and there were flames dancing inside my microwave.

So. Now my house smells awful (so do my hair and clothes), my microwave is sitting outside of our side door, my eyes are smarting, both doors are open (and it's going to snow today), and Ezra is contrite but confused. "How can the microwave be broken? I don't see any cracks!"

And throughout the whole experience the smoke detector never went off. Yes, this is the same smoke detector that goes off at least once a week during dinner prep. Comforting, huh?

**Giggle**

"The son of a Carthagenian general" fitting "nice and snuggly" in your suitcase gave me a serious fit of the giggles just now.

Thanks for the update on Jayson, Telima. Bummer about him not feeling like coming out--I can't blame him, it's nice and warm and dark and mostly quiet in there. But he'll have a lot more room to stretch on the outside--and we're so excited to meet him. Remind me on the due date again? I keep getting mixed up with all the boy birthdays we have this time of year.

But if he doesn't feel like coming till later, don't you worry, LaDale! I will seriously jump in my van (hee hee, I love love love my van) and drive down to get you from Las Vegas if Mema is still up north taking care of Telima and babes. Wouldn't that be a hoot? When is your flight, anyhow?

And it's Christmastime, it's Christmastime!

MAGO

It's the son of a Carthagenian general in a Caribbean hotel playing a 1971 rock album on the stereo and it fits nice and snuggly in my suitcase.

No, my Mago is what my dentist calls the splint I still wear every night to straighten that silly jaw of mine.

Ahh- but think what a hotel in the Caribbean would be like if I could pull it out whenever I wanted to sit back relax. Of course, with the rock music playing, it might not be so peaceful.

Updates and such

Well, according to my doctor, Jayson is in position and ready to come whenever he feels the urge...but apparently, he's not feeling that urge yet. I'm not dilated at all, and as much as I want it to be true, Dr. Gordon said that just because Katy was early doesn't mean that Jayson will be. Quote "One does not a pattern make." He said it was just as likely that Jayson will be two weeks late and two weeks early. *SIGH* Oh well. I can only hope that Jayson is like his older sister and decides he just can't wait to get here. Anyway, so no baby yet...Keep us in your prayers!

Also, LaDale, I'm glad you got your luggage back, but I have a question...what is a 'mago'? I tried googling it, but all I came up with was "the son of a Carthagenian general", a 1971 rock album, and a hotel in the Caribbean. Since none of these things seems likely to have been in your luggage, I find myself curious as to what it is.

Love you all!!!

Necessities

It is amazing how not having what you usually have leads to thought provoking reflection about the true necessities of life.

Yesterday my luggage did not arrive in Colorado Springs when I did. I sincerely hoped it would but I knew it wouldn't. After getting to the Las Vegas airport quite early (ask mom, she had to get up and drive me out there) I waited patiently to board when the powers that be at US Airways up and changed my flight, throwing me aboard another aircraft with the push, "Hurry, they are boarding now. I'll call and let them know you're on your way!!"

This was preceded, ominously, with the words, "Now, what does your luggage look like?"

So, I'm home, in Colorado Springs, missing my things and wondering what would happen if I never got my stuff back. My first thoughts were makeup, blow dryer, the cider I got in Las Vegas (Mom- money is on the way), the contact case- wait, second thoughts began intruding, "My GLASSES" (not something I can replace in Wal-Mart so easily) then, "My MAGO!" (Certainly not something easily replaceable without another day of missed work and a whole lot of money) finally, "My SCRIPTURES- OH NO!!" and, "ALL My CHRISTMAS MUSIC!"- piano and CD. It took years get all that music.

On the other hand, might be kind of fun to replace the clothes and shoes.

Of course, all this speculation was moot- my luggage was safely delivered to my door at 9 o'clock last night. I was exhausted (4:00 a.m. wake up call Saturday morning) and was ready for bed by 6. I couldn't have slept anyway- my downstairs neighbor played soul jarring music until 10 o'clock. I could feel the bass up through the mattress of my bed to resonate in every minute fiber of my being.

I look at yesterday and think, "WHAT A BOOB!!!" None of those things were truly irreplaceable and my neighbor turned her music off at 10 o'clock not 3 o'clock in the morning and the plane did not crash nor did I miss my connection in Phoenix and they DELIVERED my luggage right to my door.

Blessings remember! You just celebrated Thanksgiving with your wonderful family what could be greater than that?!?

Love you all, thanks for listening (ahem- reading-) my ramblings!!

Merry Christmas

LaDale

"Jenafer's" Church Fire Update

Here's a news article about the chapel fire in Mesa, Arizona:

ATF looking at LDS chapel fire

(And dude! It says it serves 3 wards, with 3,200 members. Those are some HUGE wards.)

Many Happy Girlies

Happy Birthday Heather!

Happy Birthday Erica!

We love you!

Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving!

Accents

I don't know! Maybe I overthought it!

Weird!

Hey, Jen, why do you have such a different accent than Samuel and I? Weird!

Re: Accent quiz

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland   "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The Northeast
The Inland North
Philadelphia
Boston
The West
The South
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Your Quiz Results - Post to MySpace or Your Blog

Your Quiz Results - Post to MySpace or Your Blog

Bag Vauge Collar Caller

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The West
The South
Boston
North Central
The Inland North
Philadelphia
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

fire

It wasen't in Queen Creek! Just in the Phoenix valley!

Yikes, Jen!

You all in the Queen Creek area need to repent, obviously! First hail, then fire? Better make sure all your window screens are up. Sounds like a plague of locusts is next on the agenda.

Eat your heart out, Jeff

Jeff, you absolutely have to check this out: Star Trek themed home theater.

Fire

We had an LDS church burn to the ground in the area last night. No, it was not our church, or even one in our stake, but it was still strange to watch. All LDS churches look alike. All I could think of was how much was lost, in the cabnets and such. Not to mention what those three or four wards would have to do before church next Sunday! Finding a new building and time to meet would be the least of it!

Hail!

Last night we got hail!!!! It was really strange. It had been overcast all day. Not much rain, only a few sprinkles, but around ten last night, it began to really rain. Then I heard some pinging sounds. I turned on the outside lights and looked out, and yes, hail was coming down. Not very large peices, about the size of a pea, but still. It was the closest to snow I think Phoenix will ever come. However, we are still suposed to be in the high eightys today! Oh well, I really don't like snow anyway!

Top 10 worst toys!

Here is a link everyone needs to check out!

http://www.toysafety.org/worstToyList_index.html

Halloween Party at Aunt Kim's

Movies and Dreams and Christmas, Oh My!

Caren...um, what are you saying? That hot pink ISN'T a selling point? Dang. Now I better go back to Home Depot and get some BORING blue paint to paint over the pink on the car. Shoot. What a waste of time! (And welcome back!!!! We've missed you SO MUCH!)

Speaking of dreams, what does it mean to have a dream about junior high school, only you are your current age and have three kids? And you can't remember your locker combo and forgot where your math (and it's always math) class is?

So, anyway, the great movie question! Do you all remember? I was going to make up a list of our favorite movies? So we've been sick and traveling and lazy and stuff, but I'm ready to do it. So you have 48 hours to finish your movie lists! And this is the reason why--when we've finished the top movies list, I want you to write a post (or amend your original post, whatever) and indicate which movies on the lists you DON'T have but would LIKE to own. That way if anyone is having a hard time deciding Christmas presents, they can just look up your movie list and pick something.

And I was just made aware of an awesome website that sells movies for VERY VERY VERY cheap. It's called Deep Discount, and they have good prices (as good as I've seen online anywhere) PLUS free shipping. AND, for a limited time (until November 25th), if you put in the code DDAF in the promotions box in your shopping cart, you get 20% off your purchase. (I sound like a commercial. Sorry, but this is very exciting!)

Only don't buy any Backyardigans DVDs for my family. I, uh, already took care of that.

caren's weird dream

so i haven't posted anything in a very long time. i've left it all to samuel. Sorry guys, i'm trying to be better. I've just been so wrapped up in kips therapies and my health problems. So i decided it's time for me to back on the blog and share my craziness with all of you once again. He, he, he.

I had this dream the other night that Samuel and i and kids went to utah to visit all of our various family members out there. In my dream all of us had gathered at the Ross home. Keryn then pops out to show us the newest idea they had to try and sell their Focus. She pulls it out of the driveway and guess what color they painted it. It's bright pink!
It was quite amusing. Sorry Keryn and Brad if you were honestly thinking of painting it pink as a selling point. I don't think that it'll work. Now maybe if you were to do it zebra striped or even a leopard print that's a whole different story now.

{this of course is coming from the woman who is all so sophisticated who's 28 and still has hello kitty seat covers and a hello kitty steering wheel cover}

Another One

This is another one of those I Love Sunday blogs, but I can't help it. Often it is my favorite of the ten commandments (or at least one of them- I love, for instance, honoring my parents also). In any case, Sundays lift me up, boosting my flagging spirits for another week of fifth graders.

It has only taken months but we actually had a great discussion in laurels today. I always make them sit in a circle because then it is harder to write notes back and forth, play games or text on a cell phone or fall asleep. But usually, with the exception of one or two of the girls, all I get is total silence with a few nods. FINALLY, today we got a good discussion going and lots of comments. The only bad thing was the length of the lesson. It was more of a spiritual thought and a full length lesson. We had to practice our song for Young Women in Excellence which is tonight and including all the announcements and everything, I ended up with only a half an hour. It did appear to be a productive half an hour though.

I am now home to quickly eat dinner, practice yet another song I am accompanying, then heading out to accompany. Do you know that in the last six weeks I have played for or have been practicing to play for eight different songs and that does not include ward choir. It always comes in fluctuations like this. I will be so overwhelmed with 6 flatted and 4 sharped pieces that I go insane and then it falls away again and I do nothing on the piano for seven months.

That's okay. Compensation- six days and I can play on my own piano!!!

November...that means it's almost Christmas!

LaDale, when you wrote about hearing Christmas music in Wal-Mart, I had to laugh. When I was driving through Las Vegas to get on I-15 to go home last Friday (November 2), I saw a Christmas tree lot being assembled. It didn't have any Christmas trees, yet, but the red and green striped poles, light standards, and chain link fence sort of gave it away. It gave me the shivers--half of delight, half of apprehension. Christmas?!?! Already??? But I'm still enjoying the fall--and Christmas is always over too quickly, and that means my baby will be ONE, and...but mostly excitement. Christmas this year is going to be really fun, with a brand-new Jayson, and visits from Mema and LaDale and possibly even Samuel and Caren, Grandma and Grandpa Ross in South Jordan, and a four-year-old who is old enough to REALLY get it this year. I'm probably as excited as he will be!

Speaking of Christmas, and toys (although I got my Christmas toy early!), have the recalls been wigging you out like they have me? Not that I have had to throw out any toys because of lead paint, tiny magnets, etc, but it still worries me a little. And then I have to be careful of latex now, because Gid-kid is mobile (not crawling, but rollin' rollin' rollin', get those dogies rollin'...), and everything he grabs go straight into his mouth.

So now I'm totally enamored of European toys. Sigh. Expensive, but totally awesome and not so...commercial. (Hush. I know I'm being unreasonable. Having Dora or Polly Pocket or Shrek or Batman products never hurt anyone. But gimme a break. I'm still in the dreamy phase of children's commercial desires, because my kids are so young yet. I can dream about them wanting non-branded, good solid hand-painted wooden toys made by little elves in a German forest, right? Right?) And the toys are so CUTE. And long-lasting, too. I'll have grandkids, someday, right? So really, I'm planning ahead. Or something.

Hmph. So I'm dreaming. But it sure is a lot of fun to dream. If you want to see some great examples of what I'm talking about, you should read this blog post at Mormon Mommy Wars. I love Tracy M's writing, and she gives great links and even answers questions in the comments. My favorites are these carved wooden figures from Ostheimer. Amazing! (As are the prices. Amazingly high, that is.) But what fun!

Lest you think I turn my nose up at plastic, check these out! My kiddos actually have several of the farm animals, because our local Cal-Ranch store sells them. (Mercy loves them. "My [Holstein foal, Lipizzaner foal horses! My [Holstein calf] cows! My [Bernese mountain] doggy!") Go ahead, I dare you to look at these toys and not want some for yourself! (Er, I mean your niece Mercy and nephews Ezra and Gideon.)

Okay. I've calmed down a little now. Sort of. But I have a suspicion that Mercy will be getting a few more farm animals to play with for her birthday. (I've already got her Christmas present--my old stick horse. She really loves horses.)

David and Amy's house

I am only posting because I know that they don't come on often, if I thought otherwise I would not post, it's their news!
No, they didn't sign today. We tried and tried and in the end the title company said they didn't have any available appointments until Monday at 11:00 am. That is their official appointment time. However, it ends up as the same thing, as the banks are closed on Monday anyway, so we wouldn't be able to fund until Tuesday, regardless.

RE: Happy Anniversary

Oooooh, ooooh, does this mean that David and Amy signed today? Oh, oh, do tell! And happy anniversary to them, and to Grandma Tobler, too.

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary David and Amy.
Many, many, many more happy years in your marriage!
We all love you much and wish you all the best.
Good luck in your new home!

Thanksgiving and Christmas

Ummm...wasn't Halloween only last week??? I honestly didn't realize that Thanksgiving is only 2 weeks away until you posted, LaDale! I read your post and then thought "Wait! It can't be that soon!" I am excited about Thanksgiving this year, but a little sad too...it's going to be the first time that I won't be in Vegas for Thanksgiving. Oh, well...count your blessings, right? After Thanksgiving, Jayson can come any time he wants to and I won't complain...I just want him to stay put until at least then!

I'm also excited about Christmas this year. Katy's getting a doll and all the doll accessories that used to be mine but are now just taking up space in mom's house. I don't know how she'll react, but I'm hoping she'll love her doll as much as she loves that silly teddy bear, Uh-oh. I'm also hoping she'll love Jayson more...that remains to be seen. =)

LaDale, I can't wait to see you too, if you're able to come one way or another to Provo over Christmas break. I'm glad you had a good Halloween and that my dress fits you! We'll have to see if I can ever get back into it again. =) Besides the fact that Katy is teething again, this time with molars (fun, fun), we're all doing well here. I hope that everyone else is doing great as well! I love you all!!!

Blessings

In one week from today our first presentation of the Exhibition starts.
In one week and one day, Exhibition will be FINISHED!
In one week and two days, I will be finishing the last day before a week long break!!
In one week and three days, I will be FLYING HOME!!!

Count your many blessings, name them one by one.

I LOVE you all so much. I can't wait to see you all- whenever I do.

Halloween-Christmas

Thank you, Telima, for the use of your dress. It occurred to me the night before I was to wear it that the costume might not fit, having been made for you when you were in high school. It has been MANY years since I was in high school. It fit, barely. The problem was in the arms. My arms are obviously too thick. The seams are now a little stretched.
It was dreamy to wear, though. I never did get the hair piece on but it hardly mattered. Most people in ward thought I must be Snow White, a charming compliment. At school, the student couldn't figure out who I was exactly. They were looking for the Grim Reaper.
All in all, I had more fun this Halloween than I have in a while, although, again, no trick-or-treaters. The ward party was fun and, since the young women were in charge, i played a bigger role than normally.
Three days later I was in Wal-Mart buying supplies for my students' presentation that are coming up and they were playing Christmas Music!!! Now, I admit to a certain amount of cheating before Thanksgiving but I was disappointed to hear a favorite Mannheim Steamroller over a loud speaker in a WAL-MART store.

SIGH!! Commercialism rules!!

Uh, Caren...

Happy Birthday, Gorgeous!

Thanks for taking Samuel off our hands. (Hee hee, love you Samuel!) Thanks for bringing such marvelous boys into our family. Thanks for being so WONDERFUL.

Have a great day.