for annie

 one style of chair... the others are by Haley.  she took pics of those ones.

 here are the tables.  kind of smallish.  maybe 6 folks?  or 7.......

 the serving tables?

 this is the front view looking to the entry doors where guests enter.  the wall does wave in and out......

 the serving area, it's biggish

 see.  big.  look how small brian is in this place!

 the fridge and freezer (Brian said they have an icemaker close by also?)

 this is the little hallway to the room... where the guests will enter

 hallway...

 this is the grand hallway to the room.  no lights are allowed in the plants... i thought that would be pretty but BYU is really strict i guess

 hallway again... there's the pudge.

serving area....

 so the door w/ pudge is the entry...  the serving area is directly to the left, then the wall curves, then curves to the front of the classroom w/ the white board....

 where Haley and Brian are standing, this can be an exit only door, or only the "servants from the kitchen" door.  I thought if that's the case, we could block it off w/ serving tables there.....

 the curtains do close to cover the white board, other fabric to hide them though?????

hi. it's Joanie.


i just finished my midterms
A's on both.
Yay!  or "phew!".  
I suppose my kids could tell I was quite overly stressed about these tests.
they kept me in our family prayers, "please help mom on her tests"  
while, I am certain, in their subtle pause afterwards, they were most certainly thinking
"she is going completely psycho and we are afraid she might to something harmful to herself, or to us, if she doesn't  have your help.  thank you."


I can now have a week of me.
for a short pondering pause.....


Nellie, this is becoming a me and you blog.
sisters... write a note or 2.  


I am pondering away at what to do w/ my life.
Mike says he thinks I would be great at HR.
annie... @ social work (I don't have time to do a masters)
education system would make sense....  until I go bald from stress.
(I have a mumbled up mixed up thought of something in my head to go w/ the bald thing, however I am much too tired to put it out in words, so laugh.... it was funny in my head.)


I need to decide.


Sydney Leigh keeps asking me if she can have a "boyfriend".
Mike and I had a "frank" chat w/ her tonight....  
really frank.
she's a cutie.  we trust her.  we don't trust boys.
(except dave and pudge.)


a lady I work w/ was explaining to me about a small guy getting into a small brawl w/ a very large boy who has anger management problems.
she was explaining to me that this little guy shoved the big guy, then the big guy fell down, got up and punched the little guy in the face.  I said, "was it Andrew".  she didn't respond, so I suggested that it couldn't have been, he would have for sure told me, and he didn't have a mark on his face.  She then proceeded to finish the story by saying:
"and then a throng of girls --- a small crowd --- came over explaining that the little guy was not at fault, they had his back and wanted to make sure that he DID NOT get into trouble for this.


yep.
it was my little guy, Andrew.  
as soon as she said "crowd of girls" I knew it.
dang.    
the boys are more drama than the girls at this age, so I guess I shouldn't be too concerned, right?


sigh.


I'm off to finish making my cookies, I may fall asleep walking to the kitchen.
love you guys.
don't punk out on us here.

What's goin on...

I really have no excuse for not writing... I'm online all the time really.

Bonnie got me hooked on Pinterest, so I've been obsessed with that for awhile. I've actually made quite a few things from there, like faux roman shades, hair bows, and some really good recipes. It has slightly sparked my creativity. I also discovered a fabric/trim store that makes Joanne's look like the corner gas station. This place seriously has a room the size of my entire living area dedicated to just "trim."

I've also slowly but surely been getting ready for little boy. I have anxiety that I won't love him  as much as Bridgette, but I see how you ladies love all your kids, so I'm fairly confident I'll make room for him. I've bought some material to make baby blankets (hopefully Anne's blanket lessons will come back to me.) I also am going to make some of those onesies that have like a vest/ tie combo sewn onto it. Hopefully it won't look too dorky. We still have no names (or maybe too many ideas.) For some reason I've been thinking I have 18 weeks, and then today I was like, NO! I have 16 weeks left! I already feel 40 weeks pregnant, so I can't imagine how 56 weeks pregnant feels! I should ask an elephant...

I've also decided to try and be a less crappy mom & enrolled Bridgette in a "mommy & me" preschool. It's twice a week, for just an hour. A girl in my ward teaches the class at the rec center, so at least I know someone there. Bridgette's slowly coming out of her shell, she's so freaking shy in public! She's also  so big now! She really enjoys playing dress up with her play jewelry & she likes cooking for me in her kitchen. She's obsessed with this British cartoon called "Peppa Pig" and started saying "mummy" in a British accent. I should just start calling her Madonna.

Dan's also doing pretty good. He joined a racquetball league, so he's getting to know some guys through that. His work's going good, it's a bit slow right now, so we see him a lot more. It's kind of the calm before the summer storm. I'm nervous about having a baby and he'll be working really long days. Oh well, you guys did it & survived, right?

Other than that stuff, not much new is going on. I've been meeting some people in my ward, I've been trying to put myself out there. They're definitely more friendly than my Eagle Mountain ward!
The weather here has been really warm, like 65-70 degrees & sunny. Today I was so hot, I wore shorts. I was not fit to been seen, my pale legs & un-pedicured feet, but it was too hot! I only wish I could go running! I went running about a month ago, and it felt great, but I had to pee after about 10 minutes. (I have stupid Strep B, and it won't go away which is probably the reason for constantly having to pee.)

Well, I'm done with my journal entry for now. This has been a boring post, but oh well. If any of you ever want to visit Dallas, please do! I'll kick Bridgy out of her room & you can have the toddler bed all to yourself!

Love ya! Write more (Bonnie & Anne!)

bons... look what I found while doing my Reagan report

haha... pretty funny.
(I never knew where mom & dad got this saying from..... tah dah!(or duh!)

this flower reminds me of mom.
I remember when we lived in Utah, mom had a bushel of these in her flower garden
I can recall her holding them in her palm and asking me:
"jo, what do these look like"
she then explained to me why they are called
"Bleeding Hearts".


Happy early Valentines Day, sisters!
I hope you are all doing well.
respond....  dorks.
;)

one down....

one week of school down.  
math hasn't been bad at all so far, though it's mostly reviewing.


but here's a david story for your enjoyment!

so.
about 3 weeks ago, David stepped on a stick.
a sliver of this stick went into his foot.  he informed me that he pulled some of it out, but some of it was still in his foot.  I told him it might not be, but he could go get my tweezers and try to get it out.  Nope.  not happening.  
so i informed him if it was in there, it would eventually make its way out.


the next day he said it bothered him a bit.
then.... nothing.


2 and a half to 3 weeks later:::::
Yesterday he starts texting me at 8 am.
"mom... my foot is killing me, 
I went to a reliable source.
she told me I needed to get it taken care of."


what?
huh?   who's this "reliable source?
and ... why is your foot killing you?


"yah.  she said that I would need to go to the ER and get it out and get stitches."


what?
who?
what are you talking about?


"the sliver.  remember?  It's still in my foot"
"the medical teacher."


buddy... that was a long time ago.
medical teacher?  you don't have a medical teacher!


--- so after an HOUR of this.  I asked him what it looked like.


"it's about as big as my big toenail.  
it's kind of reddish/brownish/purplish.  It has a zit on it.  a white zit."


I drop off Pudge, tell my boss I'll be back.
I call the high school and ask them to have Dave come to the office.
they don't.
they forget.


they tell me I can go grab him 
they send me to the classroom.  
I walk in the doorway - 30 kids are looking @ me, I can't see Dave nor the teacher.
he (the gray haired teacher) is trying to be "cool" in the back of the room.  
after what seemed like an eternity of being glared at by 30 seniors, most of them of the male brand.....
he finally asked if he could help me
"I'm just here to grab David White for a minute"


who?


"David White"


I don't have a David White..... I don't even have a David.  I do in another class on another day.  but it's not this hour nor a White.
(ugh!)


race back to the office, thinking that for sure there are red stripes making their way up his leg... because he needs to have his foot cut open and stitches given -------


The office gives me the right David.
explains to me that he was in great pain and couldn't walk very well
so they sent him to the ...
P.E.!!!! female coach (aka: medical teacher - because: "mom.  she knows stuff.")
and she offered the suggestion of crutches (or something like that... in the end.  he had crutches.)


20 minutes after pulling up to the school:  I make it to the right room.
I walk into a classroom of about 100 students.


I get stared at.
and wait.
wait. wait.
the teacher finally notices me:
"can I grab David White"
.... sure!  
and then 
the teacher announces:
"HE HAS CRUTCHES....."


sigh.  I know.  (seriously?  the school made him use crutches?!!!  SERIOUSLY????)


"No.  he doesn't need to bring those"
he limps down.  


I make him take off his sock and shoe.


the small puss is surrounded by.........


you ready for this.....


skin toned dry foot skin.


- Dave.  what happened to the big red pussy sore that was going to be needed to be operated on????


(I think I heard a cricket chirp.......)
"mom.  it's really swollen.  see?  It's hurting me really bad".


I check him out.
take him home
2 flips of a needle.
the sliver flies out.
I pore on alcohol.


all is well.


I AM a DOCTOR!


(I should charge the emergency room fee for that.)


I love my teenage son.
and this school that has some great things about it, but oh my....  
seriously?
the wrong room
crutches
stitches
.........................................
or --- no one looked at his foot.
asked him if that was what it looked like
he said yes'
and....
tah duh!
you have a Dave story.................


I would like to think ....
I don't want to think
I want to go to bed.
goodnight my darling sisters.


Nellie.... 
Annie, Bonnie.  where are you two?
Nell --- guess it's just the 2 of us.  You and I.
(we can make it if we try!  just the two of us... you and I!) 
haha.

This is How we Roll

We walk around/ color naked (not WE really, just Bridgette at this point)

Are lazy and eat breakfast in front of the TV

And about 98% of the pictures I have of Dan he's in his G top.

So don't be upset with me for not writing anything. I'm pretty lame lately.

My daily goals include:
-make my bed
-change Bridgette's diaper before she has an accident
-eat breakfast by 11
-try to make it to the gym 3 X a week.

I know, poor me. You probably all just shed a tear for me right : ) I'll shut up.


We really haven't been up to much. Bridgette basically had her baby period this week, meaning she was hyper-emotional and I now know how Dan feels when I'm PMSing.

Other than that, no news. You all know we're having a boy, due May 21st. His current hobbies include squirming around and jumping on the trampoline, aka my bladder. I have a list of 20 names that I like, Dan likes 2 of them. I hope we don't end up with some stupid name.

Joan-you talked about New Year's Goals. I usually don't make them, but I have some tasks that I'd like to complete. I really need to decorate our apartment. It has some cute features like built in bookshelves, a marble fireplace with a cute mantle and lots of windows. I just need to figure what to do with them. The one big downfall to Christmas is after Christmas, when all the sparkly decorations are put away (unless you live with Joan the glitter goddess) and the house looks bare. So that's my task for Jan/Feb.

I was also thinking of trying my hand at potty-training. I figured that I have to use the restroom every 20 minutes, so having Bridgette use the toilet every 20 minutes would be easy since I was already there. I've decided to put that on hold for now. Girlfriend has no desire for it.

Well, my princess just walked up and asked if I could please kiss her, so that's my queue to go.

ok.  since no one else is posting
and since I will be incognito here in a bit
I will post away!


I saw this.
just for the fact that her dress is simply perfect
and for the complete beauty of that brick road
this is almost too... idealistic - but I find it to be so incredibly ... perfect.


I adore the idea of a dad walking her daughter proudly through town
on their way to the chapel
with family and friends filling the sidewalks - 
edging a pathway for the lovely bride and honored father


this is a tradition that was performed in the days of Christ
I don't know if it's still around
however.... 
it's just --- almost --- enchanting in a way.
this is one of those traditions that should have stuck around.
*dreamy*


p.s.  Mike is going to wonder how I became such a romantic.  I don't know.  I do love this though.  How can you not?

I have the best sisters!
Love you girls.
Hope your new year is amazing!!!!!


What are your New Year Resolutions?
(Nell - you can't use "have a baby boy".)


mine:
1. get past college algebra (yikes!)
2. balance life in a manner that I can fit in both school work & spirituality....  that's hard for me.
3. be more consistent
4. make family home evening a priority
5. find out what I want to be when I grow up - special ed? Health Services Administration?
wish me luck.

I love glitter.
Sydney Leigh and her cute friend were over making shirts for a Basketball game during school for charity?  I kept begging her to add glitter.  Her friend doesn't know me, and is shy, so she didn't comment - but Sydney kept laughing and then telling me... MOM!  KNOCK IT OFF WITH THE GLITTER!!!!  YOU AND GLITTER!!!!


Tomorrow I have my first finals.
I know.
Only two.
wah wah wah.
cry you a river...
blah blah blah.


I am having a very hard time concentrating.
I can't focus.
I pray I will do well.
we shall see.


Do you ever go through phases where your spirituality is at a complete low?
where you feel lost in yourself.
where you go to church hoping to feel uplifted, only to leave feeling frustration because you feel insecure in yourself anyways, and you feel alone in yourself?  does this make sense.....
I try to be a good mom, going to church... etc.  etc.
I feel an inner tug-of-war between myself and trying to make everyone happy, however sometimes that leaves me feeling alone and frustrated... spiritually.
am I making any sense?


So, maybe it's just the fact that school has taken over all my time and my thought process.
Or, maybe it's a phase I am going through.
Or maybe.. maybe I'm exhausted.
who knows.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>..
so miss Sydney has to go to a choir thing tomorrow during the day.
They are singing at University Mall.
she asked to wear my SUPER DUPER high heels.
(excuse me while I laugh so hard it hurts)


Mike may have broken one of his toes tonight.
while wrestling with my pudge.
ouch!  his poor toe is very purple and swollen.
we use frozen peas as ice packs now because my Pudge decided to take a knife to my really very nice expensive ice pack that I use for my back... to see what the insides look like.
brown oozing clay.
now we know.


David decided to rake leaves today.. on Sunday.
to kiss up for spilling a coke in the fridge and leaving it
btw.... coke was on every shelf, in every drawer, and coating all 3 sides of the fridge.
(he claims he didn't think it spilled that much.)


anywho.
back to math.
prayers my way?


love you girls!

Stupid Blogger.

Am I retarded, or is there some tricky way to leave a comment on posts that I'm not bright enough to figure out?

I was going to say to Fats that I don't think Joan's post was about you being selfish and we don't want you to keep what stresses you out to yourself. I think she was just trying to say that as a sibling sometimes we're asked to do service that we may be hesitant to do (b/c of time restriction, inconvenience, cost or whatever) but you never know when you may need something and that's what we're here for, to try and help the best we can. I'm sure Joan LOVED having an extra child for 8 months back in '04, but I appreciate it more that she'll ever know. You never know when you're the answer to someone's prayers!

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. We were going to have dinner @ our house with some friends, but her parent's flew in at the last minute, so we decided to do our own thing. We saw the new "Muppets" movie. It was cute and nostalgic. Bridgette kept saying "where's Cookie Monster?" I totally understand, I kept waiting for Elmo to pop in. Then we just went to dinner later in the afternoon. It was good, nothing fancy, but nice that we could spend it together (and no dishes!!)

It was kind of sad not to be going to Mom & Dad's though. It still hasn't sunk in that we're so far from everyone, and that we're permanently. Our ward is nice, and I try to go to all the activities, but I still haven't really made any friends or anything, so I get kind of lonely.

I try to go to the gym 4 days a week, but lately Bridgette really gets pissed when I bring her to the daycare. She covers her eyes the entire time she's in there! I asked her today why she doesn't like daycare, and she said "because get away from me." But she wasn't telling me to get away, it was like she was saying someone said that to her. That made me really sad to think that kids that small say things like that, especially b/c I know they've probably heard their parents say it. Hopefully she will get over it soon... And hopefully kids are nicer than that normally.

On a lighter note, I can't believe it's almost Christmas! We were going to Colorado, but decided to save the money & driving time, and just stay here. We bought a real Christmas tree last weekend, I haven't had a real one in such a long time! It smells so good, and it's so much prettier than the crap fake one we've used since we got married. I also put a 3ft tree up in Bridgy's room in hopes that she'd be so into that one, she'd leave the big tree alone. We've also been super excited about buying pressies for her. Dan's going nuts; he bought like 4 board games, an xbox game and Barbie doll for her, and he's still going strong. I keep telling him, "look, she doesn't care, just spend all your money on me."  : )

Well, I think this post is going on...and on... I could go on all day about nonsense. I really need to just do better about writing in a journal.

I hope you're all doing ok & that Haley didn't get engaged (ANNE, did she?) b/c I think she's still got some fun single things she needs to do.

BYE! Love you gals!

I should be doing math.... history ....
but instead I am learning how to dance the DOUGIE and the SPONGE BOB.
I'm awesome!
(@ looking like a dancing monkey. haha)

Bons... I totally understand.
I think everyone lives and learns though.
sometimes family members take advantage - when they don't know they are taking advantage.
I don't think he is trying to take advantage - I think they are struggling.
I understand you wanting vacation time with family.
I see my family on the weekends... that's about the only quality time we have.
I think that all of us have - at one point or another - taken advantage of other family member's time & talents & financial ability w/o meaning to "take advantage".  It's a learning experience.
I am not trying to chastise, I'm just trying to say that we can all empathize w/ Danny's situation.  I think he is trying to make the best of their situation.  He has a darling wife & 3 little one's he is trying to provide for.  I think maybe he is just swimming to stay above water, like we have all done.
I can empathize w/ you also though.....  I understand the "family time".
I think we grew up w/ dad who would have dropped anything to help anyone while on vacation or even when on his "death bed"....  and so maybe we assume sometimes that everyone in our family would push vacation aside to help a family member.
I understand it is a lot of time and $, but sometimes you have to eat up $ to help family.
(I'm not saying at all that you should rush over and do his whole house for free.....  just saying that have a little sympathy for Danny. he could use it right now, just like 90% of us could.)
Just use this as a lesson.... if you are feeling like you are being taken advantage of, it's a good lesson to learn.  I have felt that way, and I know I have taken undo advantage of others before - and I regret it.

Have fun at moms!
love her cooking!!!!
love being w/ her and dad!
their home has a lovely feeling that I miss.....

Charity??

So I got a text the other night from Daniel asking if Shane would help him (do it for him) put carpet in their new house while we're there for Thanksgiving. Now, I'm all for helping family, but this is a vacation that we never get. And it would be so hard to take all of Shane's tools down (they take up the whole back seat of his truck).

Not to mention, I have said many times how many hours Shane works and that is the last thing he wants to do on a vacation. Well, when I nicely said that Shane really wanted to have this be a vacation and Daniel put me on quite the guilt trip. Then I asked him how big the space is --- it's the entire house: 5 rooms and 2 closets. When Shane figured out the size, it would take him literally, about 12-15 hours to do. That's a whole full day of our vacation.

When I said that, his response was that he didn't want to pay someone to come do it. This job would be about $500 dollars for Shane to do just as a regular job. And I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE NOT WILLING TO HELP FAMILY, but that is a lot of time and work to just do [on your vacation] to be nice.

Then Danny said "well can he give me some pointers on how to do it then? It can't be too hard to lay carpet, I've just never done it before". Is it just me, or is that kind of a mean thing to say - like if Shane can do it, then he definitely can.

Sorry - I just have to vent. I don't want to complain to Mom because I know she doesn't love hearing the kids complain about each other, but am I totally over reacting? We never mind helping family, but if someone was coming for a vacation, with no prior knowledge of this situation, would you ask them to spend one FULL day helping you out?

Then, to top if off - a comment was made on Facebook by Andrea about how hard Danny's been working on their new house - getting only 4 hours of sleep - blah blah blah.... I'm so bothered by this. I know it shouldn't bug me and obviously I will not say a thing to anyone outside of this blog - you all know how much I LOVE confrontation. And I know that Daniel is still going to guilt trip us down there and I'm worried its going to affect the whole trip.

I'm not saying that we don't like to help family, but usually it's something that is planned - we've done the carpet for other family members, but the trips were always for that specific purpose and we knew ahead of time what we were getting in to - totally different situation (so Anne, don't start thinking that I'm referring to you :P)

Anyway, I'm glad I remembered about this site. I'm sorry if my ranting offends any of you, but I am really protective of the little time that Shane actually gets to rest and enjoy himself. I feel so bad that this happened, but with the time and space it takes just to even bring his tools, we would need to make this a trip JUST for the carpet. GAH!! I don't like getting so worked up about it. And now I'm so worried about Thanksgiving just being awkward. Advice? Please? Sympathy even....??

too busy!!

I really should not be doing this because Shane is about to wake up and I still don't have his lunch made or clothes but away or floor swept or diaper bag packed for tomorrow... But... I guess I need to check in with the world.

We have been beyond busy - what else is new? Work, work, work, house upkeep, HALLOWEEN! Thank goodness that is over. Chloe loved it. She was a little fairy princess.

Anyway, the land thing is on hold. We didn't realize that you had to have such a huge down payment. We do not have a dime to spare for something like that. We were both really disappointed but we can't come up with $30,000+ anytime soon!!

I'm still having a hard time finding time to "work out". And sorry everyone - I'm not the kind of person who can do videos or work out at home. That's why I am IN this predicament! I don't have the will power. Going to the gym and being ashamed and embarrassed by getting off the treadmill too soon or not running enough - that's the only thing that works at this point in time. It's hard. Very hard. THAT is our struggle right now.

We are looking at SUV's right now. We actually did buy a lemon a couple weeks ago. But the dealer was so amazing that they paid off the load we had taken out and gave our car back. So that was a learning experience. There's one that we're going to look at tomorrow. We shall see --- hoping to have something by Thanksgiving to drive down to Mom's. Gotta have something comfy for all of us (that includes our dogs!!)

I just a new position at work. Well, I won't start it for a few weeks, but it will be nice. No more customer service and a nice little pay raise :)

Anyway, life is hectic - don't get to see my kids enough - never see my husband - getting fat - behind on chores - work work work. Same old, same old...

Nellie.
You always make me laugh.


I forgot about the chicken!  I don't blame you!  


We have been so busy.  Miss Sydney has done a pretty good job staying drama free @ the Jr. High, however she has been having some "sad" days...  She thought she finally had found a friend close by that she could consider calling a great friend... but to her dismay, this friend doesn't treat miss Sydney like she should treat a friend.  So - the sad days of Jr High are kicking in.  On the bright side, I hear a lot about boys, who she refuses to "crush on" ...  but "they're so hot!".    And... she was asked by one to dance @ the Halloween dance!!!! SERIOUS!  I mean, isn't that like just totally amazing!  ....  :)
I love my girl.


I have been doing ok.
I am excited for Thanksgiving break.
I am thinking of going into Special Education.  At the moment UVU does not have this program, which is crazy because they are becoming "known" for their elementary education school...  ????  We shall see.


This is short.  However, I really need to go and study.  or sleep.  both.  
I feel as if every day -- another mental breakdown is on the horizon.
So sleep is probably something I should consider doing more of, right?


Love my sisters!

Long time, no post

I feel bad for not posting anything in so long! I really haven't been doing anything of note, just moving, sleeping & playing with Bridgette.

Our move was fairly uneventful. We stayed & Dan's parents on the way. While there his Dad had a bbq (b/c Bridgette LOVES Papa Joe's hot dogs.) To preface this, before I left I went to lunch w/ Joan & got a chicken sandwich & it looked pink inside, but I realized it was just a vein in the chicken. Still gross, but it was cooked.

Well, he made hot dogs & chicken. I took some chicken and cut a small corner off of it & it looked slightly pink & it was kind of cold. I just thought to myself "Quit being paranoid!!" Well, I managed to get it down. Then I cut right through the middle of the chicken & it was totally RAW! I seriously almost vomited on the table. I was sitting right next to Joe & he gave me this look of, "why did you take a whole chicken breast and not even touch it?" Well I actually ran upstairs & threw up (my stomach was a bit weak before dinner anyways.) Later that night I told Dan's brother about the chicken & he said "Yeah, that happens all the time. He always undercooks meat and gets mad at me when I won't eat it!" So Joe probably thinks I'm a huge brat now.

I know that was a dumb story, but he didn't know I'm pregnant & I was super paranoid about getting listeria or e coli or something.

Other than eating raw chicken we're good though. We went through a rough patch with Bridgette, but after she sprouted her 4 molars in a week she's been a sweetie pie. She carries around the pictures of "her baby" (the ultrasound) and says it's a girl. We'll see.

I found a good Dr. here, I was actually trying to get into another Dr in the practice, but he was booked solid. The one I got is only 2 years out of his obgyn residency, and he's quite young, but I like him. He's very thorough and talks to me as if I were talking to Anne or a friend who's in the medical field. I actually had a UTI & he found strep B in my urine so I have to have an IV when I have the baby. I was also nervous that I became "sensitized" after my miscarriage (I'm Rh negative) but he had already run all the tests & said everything looked great (preemptively) which my old doctor wasn't usually on the ball like that.  Hopefully I'll continue to like him & hopefully everything will be smooth sailing. I'm only 11 weeks, so I have a ways to go. He brought up the genetic testing, and I keep going back and forth in my mind b/c it's only 60-80% accurate.  Any advice?

Sorry this post is getting so long-winded. I feel like I haven't talked to another girl about any of this well, because I haven't! Hopefully I'll make some friends soon. It does get a bit lonely, but luckily I'm really tired all the time so I just feel like napping, so I am not awake being bored, just dreaming about it!

It sounds like all of you are super busy, which is good. It's good to be busy, right? Joanie, I'm sure you'll make up for your mid-term grade. I'm positive you'll make a better grade in math than I made!

Bonnie, have you had any luck in the land hunt? Have you talked to Dan's real estate guy? Annie, you better make sure Haley dates her boyfriend for at least another semester before they talk of marriage (tell her I'll beat her kidney infected butt if she doesn't!!!)

Well, I'll shut up now. Write when you have time! Love & Miss you all!!!!

ladies

long time.....
etc.....


so.  
life.


life has been incredibly busy.  
I am so sad that you are gone Nellie.


halloween is upon us.
I WAS going to be the above.
however.  with time NOT on my side...  
I have decided to be a "cat fight"
a cat.... 
with a torn skirt, freaked out hair, etc.....


or I could still do the above.


I found amazing fabric @ Joanne's - torn black on top
gray underneath.


we shall see.


besides thinking of Halloween....
school is going fine. 
I screwed up big time on a midterm for math.
I was really upset with myself.


I think I did ok on my chapter test though.


I had to type a paper for History....
let me pause for a moment while I laugh my heart out
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
the last time I typed a paper I used a typewriter.
and format was:


there was no format.  just have margins, a title, a bibliography, and a cover page.
that's it.


she was very kind though.
she just took off 2 points.
yay!


this week is fall break.  
I am very VERY excited for the break.
we will:
put up a shelf w/ a rod on it for Sydney's clothes in her room
borrow Kaylene's darling twin beds that she wants to keep, but not store, so she offered them to us
I will sew my costume
come up w/ something for syd and dave, since this is the only time I can do so
I will do homework
maybe attempt some halloween decor.
(yup.  I am behind on that this year.)
and 
we have dentist appointments for the kids.
and maybe... we might get the flu shot.
(have I mentioned syd and pudge's deathly fear of needles?)


that is all folks. 
hope you are all well!
I love my sisters!
Love, 
Joanie Bologna

Dreaming

So we are starting to look for land. Somewhere preferably between Mapleton and Payson. Hopefully as “in the middle of nowhere” as we can get. We have a 5-year plan now. Kind of…. Buy land and build in 5 years J (Does that count as a plan?) We started talking about house layouts and decided that we better start deciding now because we cannot agree on ANYTHING. I keep having to remind Shane that he is not that one that will be cooking/laundering/cleaning/organizing/etc…. so I should get more say in the design. He doesn’t like hearing that though.

I have become addicted to Pinterest (look it up!!) and it is helping me find very efficient, space saving design ideas. Also little crafty projects that I feel like even I can do! I’ve already done a couple of things and I really like it. I just wish I had more time and talent to devote. More money would help too. But there are so many ways to reuse your crappy old stuff. I am glad now that I saved my baby food jars! I will say though – I might need some keen design eyes when it comes time to {hopefully} design a new house…. Ladies…… --- because I surely do NOT have that keen eye.

Chloe starts preschool on Thursday. I’m taking a half-day so I can be with her on her first day. She is so excited about it. She keeps talking about going to school and her teacher and everything. I know she will do well. I can’t wait to get her little creations and all those other things they will make.

I FINALLY made a dent --- Shane agreed that if I could find enough people to watch kids for, that I could do that as an income, rather than have a job. I would have to be able to find like 4 or 5 kids though BEFORE I could make any changes. I guess I need to start being more active in my Relief Society, huh?? But that would be so nice. I could be a present figure in my kids’ lives!! I wouldn’t have to pay someone else $500/month to watch them! I could maybe have a clean and organized house!! I have so many dreams….

Anyway, those are just the happenings/dreams for the week.

UUGGGG!

So Haley informed us tonight she now has a boyfriend. We knew she was spending time with this guy, but he asked her to be exclusive with him. He is 24, works where Shane does, has his realtor's license, owns a house in Provo. This is soooo not cool! I do have two implants/crowns holding over her head. She knows if she gets married she has to pay for them. That's all I have to say for now because I am speechless!

Life!

I truly love reading all your entries, the good, the bad, the complaints, the worries, the fun stories, etc. It makes me feel like I am actually part of your lives. I had a nice quick trip to Mom and Dad's place last week. It has been a LONG time since I was able to just visit with them. It seems like every visit I've had with them there has been a lot going on behind the scenes so I haven't really "visited" with them. I needed that time. We all need to take that time with them - do it! Abbie and Sophie had a blast as well. I loved that little bit of time with the two of them. They were really good.

Haley has finished semester #1. She has quickly learned she has to really apply herself with her studying. I know it has been a big transistion for her, and us. She has really stepped up to the plate and been really responsible. I can't believe I am that old! UGGHH!

Joanie, I am leaving work at 6:15 am and I take lunch between midnight and 1am. I usally check my phone at lunch so feel free to text! I am so sorry you didn't get the jobs. Have faith. You are such a good example to me with your faith. I bet someday you'll look back at this time and see miracles you don't even realize are taking place. Dad told me that has happened to him. I can say that has happened to me at times as well.

Nellie, I hope your drive back gets less "eventful" as the time passes. I hope you find a place to live quickly. What an adventure you've had. Kyle and I have decided we are going to move south after he retires, just for a change-up! I can go anyplace and get a job. He will look for work someplace far away from Idaho when he retires. It's never too late for an adventure right?

Bonnie, Thanks for your help with Haley while she was in transition. I am so grateful she can call on you and you are so willing to go to her aid! She needs that support so you rock! I was reading your last entry and I thought about when my kids were little like Chloe and Adam. I really had no social life as well. I had one friend I went to lunch with once a week and I took Haley and Kylee. We went to Wendy's and ate from the dollar menu. Haley and Kylee would share a 5 piece chicken nugget and fries and I would visit with my one friend. It was a good and hard time. I Loved being with my babies, but sometimes I felt lonely for a friend. Now I don't have time to even think about a social life. In fact, my favorite outings are with Kyle or my kids. You should never feel bad about saying no to a night out to be with your kids. This time with them will pass way to fast so absorb every minute you can!

Now that I've bored you all to tears, we are planning on coming down over Conference weekend. I hope I get to see all of you if only for a little while. We are planning on going to one of the sessions, hopefully on Sunday.

In the meantime -- Keep posting!