Until I get Christmas in here . . .

I thought I'd share this. It's so fun to check out the Astronomy Picture of the Day (http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html), and today's was a video. If you need a few minutes to just sit back, breathe deeply, and enjoy life, visit this link: http://vimeo.com/1250929 . Or go to the NASA link above and find December 31 in the archive. Enjoy!

Obligatory ( Yet Still Fun!) Gingerbread House

Okay, so even though it's necessary to do a gingerbread house each year, it's still fun, right? Even with all the goodies we've been making and such. =) I learned last year that I love the gingerbread house kit for how easy it is to have the pieces already made (and not crumbling), but I hate how little icing and candy come with the kit. So we added icing so we could just cover the sides and a LOT more candy than came with the kit, and viola! Each kid got to decorate a section just as they pleased (hence the hodge podge look), and what did we end up with? A house covered in candy that will be great to eat when we finally break it apart. Of course, the little kids want to eat it now, but they will just have to learn you just have to look at it for a while before you can touch. Kind of like being engaged, my husband says, lol!

At the center of the Milky Way

So proud!!

Congratulations, Marina! We're all so proud of you!! And thank you all who gave such lovely gifts to our grown-up girl! =)

Random Ramblings and Updates

So we had two birthdays this last week. Marina loved her new green scriptures, and Xeneea loved going to go see Twilight with her dad on Friday afternoon. Now we get Thanksgiving and man, are we all looking forward to the break! All the schools here have Wednesday through Friday off, and even Steve took off the extra Wednesday and Friday. So the Tribe Five will go with their mom and extended relatives to Heber, Marina and Jessica will be with their dad, and Steve and I . . . well, we've been thinking about just taking off for one last time when we're guaranteed time just us two. Maybe take a drive to various locations we've thought about moving to in order to view them as something other than a rest stop. (Price, Cedar City, something like that if we leave the valley. And if we don't, the SOUTH end of the valley. Need to move away from certain of the kids' friends, not to mention North Cache. There are tons of bad teachers up there. Don't know how, but man! Okay, I'll close this completely random thought!)

After this week, I have five days of student teaching left. There's a job opening up in Richmond (seven minutes or so from here to the north) that starts in January and would be at an elementary school!!! It's only part-time, but maybe that means it'd work. Hmmm. Just when we've decided for me not to work, this comes along. Maybe part time one semester would be worth it . . . IF it pays off my commitment to my T.H. Bell loan. =) I'm definitely getting a workout in learning how to think through decisions here, lol.

Lacrisha's in choir this year, and she's loving it. She's already had several mini-performances for elementary schools and such and she does very well with it. Jenero's thinking about plans for a catapult now after he build his "monster bike." Love the plans and industry, but where and what will be shot . . . Xeneea like I said just turned 13 and she's been reading this Twilight series each time her mom brings her a new book. I can't believe how much she's grown just in how much I've known her, especially how gorgeous she's getting. Adria also. Adria loves to do well at school and play with her friends and help her dad make her cat a nice house, but get her to sit down so Lacrisha can do her hair? Well, she does it, and she looks lovely when it's done, but her complaints remind me of two other little girls around here. =) Marina is still my little book worm, hooked on Magic Tree House and such, and Jessie is starting to try her own hand at Magic Tree House (a 3rd grade level in 1st grade). She's not near as fast as Marina, but she's improving every day. When she's not jump-roping all over the house. And Simeon? He's still our favorite Mexican jumping bean. He never walks if he can skip or gallop or hop. And we've been having adventures in the most amazing things ending up in his hands (and on sinks and beds and walls), but hey! If he hasn't stopped by the time he's six, I'll worry more.

Steve just came home, so it looks like we're off to Mom and Dad's now. We tried out this new pumpkin chocolate chip cheesecake recipe we're going to share today. Mmmmm. Love the Hershey's cookbook! Happy Thanksgiving!

Hodgepodge

Well, I feel awful today, but I thought I'd share a little . . . catch-up work, lol. But since I am here at home instead of driving to Provo and back to get the little ones (just to let you know how awful "awful" is), I'll let pictures be most of my catching up.

Most of these pics are from our family photo shoot at a park up here. We were GOING to go to the Wal-Mart studio, etc., etc. . . . don't get me started. So we had fun just doing individuals on our own, and I love these of the kids! In order, going down the slide in age order, Lacrisha, Jenero, Xeneea, Adria, Marina, Jessica, and Simeon.

The others are from a camping trip we did in late September. I had to include my little Totoros (everyone familiar with Totoro will recognize the umbrellas!), as as well as the family's fascination with snakes. Well, at least a couple! Jenero caught the little water snake and you can see on Marina's face how fascinated she was with it. She's always loved snakes. (And if anyone knows of a cheap, small domesticated snake for sale, we'd love to hear.)

In other news, I have two full school weeks of student teaching and two days the week of Thanksgiving left. Twelve days in the classroom!! But who's counting? And yes, for anyone wondering, I officially graduate with my B.S. on December 13, though I won't be walking. Woo hoo! Now I'll have a B.A. and a B.S. I've loved the SPED program and am sorry not to be in classes every day with my friends now. Weird, huh?

Got this from Mac Girl, lol!

Here are the rules: I have to answer the following questions with one word answers and one word only! Then I must pass it on to seven others.

The questions are as follows:

1. Where is your cell phone? Bedroom
2. Where is your significant other? Working
3. Your hair color? Blonde
4. Your mother? Canning
5. Your father? Computer
6. Your favorite thing? Lauging
7. Your dream last night? None
8. Your dream/goal? Peace
9. The room you're in? Living
10. Your hobby? Reading
11. Your fear? Failure
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Smiling
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. What you're not? Perfect
15. One of your wish-list items? Home
16. Where you grew up? World
17. The last thing you did? Laundry
18. What are you wearing? Sweats
19. Your TV? Off
20. Your pet? Pending
21. Your computer? Laptop
22. Your mood? Pensive
23. Missing someone? Friends
24. Your car? Dirty
25. Something you're not wearing? Sequins
26. Favorite store? DI
28. Love someone? Numerous
29. Your favorite color? Green
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Week

I tag: Alli, Christine, Michelle, Heidi, April, McKenzie, Erika.

Some boys never grow up, thank heaven!

Yes, this is my man as we were stocking up on some food storage (and buckets!). I love how easy it is for him to make others smile . . . though you should have seen him several nights ago walking out of Wal-mart with a plunger stuck to his head . . . without any hands! One lady laughed so hard she commented, "I love him and I don't even know him!" =)

I didn't do it! The murder, at least . . .

So much fun! I forgot to add this a couple weeks ago when Steve and I went to a murder mystery dinner with another couple couples from our ward. The theme was an Italian murder mystery in New York City. I was the beautiful, vivacious Tara Misu, who may have started as an upstairs maid in Italy for one Rocco Scarfazzi (a wealthy, land-owning, money-laundering gentleman), but soon became affianced to that same Rocco. We came to New York to become reconciled with Rocco's long-estranged family, only to have his brother shot and killed soon after our arrival! Needless to say it was a very trying time for us at this dinner party. Rocco's brother dead, and the rest of us finding out things about ourselves (our characters, thank heaven!) that we didn't even know ourselves. Can I tell you how shocked I was to discover my own inclinations for undercover work? Of various kinds? I don't think I've blushed that much in public for a long time now! Wow, THAT family needed help, let me tell you! =) But it was a fun night!

It's 8:30 p.m. Do you know where you are?

My little bit of security

I guess I'm weird because every time I'd go shopping for groceries and come back to fill my shelves, I'd feel rich. Never mind my diminutive savings account, if I had full shelves, it felt great! Now I realize I wasn't so far off the mark. We eat every day, and pretty well at that. Isn't that rich? But mostly, I've come to realize I love the feeling of security full shelves give me. Money can disappear way too quickly (hmmm . . . an education, a computer, a Civic, a Chevy van . . .), but food ensures you'll at least live to work and laugh again. Funny how I never really realized before what the prophets were telling us while encouraging us to get our year supply (and no, not there yet!). But there really IS something to the whole "if ye are prepared ye shall not fear" thought. Besides, it also gives you some short-range plans each month, lol! (More fuel would be nice now.) So anyway, here's my little bit of "no fear." (And by the way, Steve and I helped bottle the peaches at the bottom of the first pic, and I canned the chicken in the plain cans in the second! Yes, it was my first time at both, lol!)

Happy Day!

Just had to share! Once I figured out what was so special about it, I loved it right away, lol!

Gotta Love Finding New Black Holes!

werid sutff

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Nature's Beauty

This is from the solar eclipse . . . was it last week? Too bad we couldn't see it in this part of the world, but I absolutely love this photo!

Thank you, Aunt Nancy!

Got a couple minutes?

http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

Bollywood

Okay, so I have to thank my oldest sister for recommending the occasional non-traditional form of entertainment. A while ago she got me hooked on the Egyptian style of bellydancing (though I never seem to be able to practice as much as I'd like!), and later she sent some fun links to different Bollywood movies. Now that we're signing up for Netflix, I actually get to see all of “Hum Aapke Hain Koun,” which I've wanted to see ever since I saw this video clip. (Among others!)

Okay, so warning - the resolution is terrible here, but you get the idea. =) To quote my sister, " This is at the main female and male characters’ siblings’ wedding. There is a custom where the girls of the bride’s family try to steal the shoes of the groom. (He has to take them off as part of the ceremony.) The groom’s family tries to guard them. The girls successfully stole them, but the boys managed to get them back, and now the girls are trying to steal them again. If they succeed in stealing and holding them, they get to ransom them back. Yes, our Indian friends tell us it’s a real custom. At the end, you see the groom’s brother ends up cheating, because he’s madly in love with the sister of the bride."

Just click on the name under the address (which I provided just in case), and it should take you there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP1nuf2TIH8
Joote De Do (Salman Khan & Madhuri Dixit)

Love the Bear!

So last week we went and bought a van. We're talking a 15-passenger, huge, enormous van . . . kinda like the one I learned to drive on, lol! And what better way to celebrate our new acquisition then by going somewhere with the whole family in one vehicle? =) Yup, you guessed it -- we packed up and headed up to Bear Lake. (Did I mention we also have a built-in video system? The kids loved "Sgt. Bilko" with Steve Martin.) Everyone had fun, and even I got in the water for half an hour or so. (Other people said it wasn't freezing, but I beg to differ!) So we all played around, got so that we were absolutely frigid on an over-90-degree day, then went and got shakes! Don't ask me, it made sense at the time! It sure was nice being able to go somewhere with everyone and not having to drive separate cars! We just won't think about the hit the bank account took, lol! Thank Heaven for savings, right?

I'm MARRIED TO THE MAN OF MY DREAMS!!!!! And then some.

Okay, so this is a couple weeks late, but hey! What with the honeymoon, a court summons, and trying to figure out my role with each of 7 kids, it's been a busy couple weeks since June 21st. But now I can officially say I am the most incredibly, wonderfully blessed woman in the world. (Note I didn't say PERSON -- Steve keeps arguing that's he, so I decided to keep this blog argument free, lol!) I love my husband to distraction and I have some of the cutest kids in the world.



I have the most unselfish friend who watched ALL the kids outside the temple during the wedding,



a wonderful cousin who came early to keep me company the night before the wedding, and a wonderful family (mine and his) who all rallied around us with such support that I didn't expect but certainly am grateful for.

Another use for wax that holds Baby Bell cheese =)

Why It's Not a Good Idea to Leave When You're Down

Okay, this last Sunday (try yesterday), I was having some trouble staying at church. Hard day, physically and emotionally, and I thought, "Hey, I'm not teaching! I can go home and try to sleep this off." Well, I ended up sticking it out, and as I came to my class (that I ended up teaching because the other teacher wasn't there), one of the little boys in my class came flying at me and gave me the biggest hug! And this kid generally screams in protest at coming to class. Let me tell you, it really humbled me to be nearly knocked over by a three-year-old who was that happy to see me! Not to mention how all the other little kids left the chairs they were in to come sit nearer to me. Didn't cure the headaches, but it reconciled me to staying and winging a lesson on, "I am grateful for my ears." Gotta love Sunbeam topics!

I can wait till June 21st - really, I can (I think!)

It's official!! I'm getting married June 21st! Woohoo! It's been very trying on the patience to have been engaged for over two months and not knowing WHEN the big day was. But hey! Just like I work out my muscles, I gave my patience a workout, too -- and hopefully it got stronger here. Does it count if it's not by choice?

Now I get to tell my parents. I think they're the only ones in the family who don't know, and I'm living in their house, lol! Course, they're in Denmark right now sans telephone or computer or such, so it's not really my fault. =)

15 Things Tag (from Alli)

Post these rules on your blog.
Answer these 15 questions about yourself on your blog.
List:
3 joys
3 fears
3 goals
3 current obsessions/collections
3 random/surprising facts
Tag five people at the end of your post by leaving their names .

3 Joys:
-My kids
-My man
-Being outside

3 Fears
-Animals with hooves
-Riding fast things out in the open by myself (read motorcycles, waverunners, etc.)
-Spiders

3 Goals
-Get my teaching certification
-Read less and work more
-Ride a motorcycle by myself someday without being scared

3 current obsessions/collections
-Harry Potter books
-Candle holders
-Shoes

3 random/surprising facts
-I was first thrown from a horse when I was 8. I was riding my cousin's horse bareback and the horse got spooked. Have you ever seen a hoof REALLY close up a few inches above your face?
-I was running through the house in stocking feet, slipped on the hardwood floor, and bit right through my bottom lip . . . when I was 20!
-I've climbed Mt. Fuji twice. The second time I actually came down on the right side of the mountain! (The first time I ended up with some American soldiers on the opposite side of where our bus was -- great adventure getting home!)

I TAG: Michelle, Erika, Christine, Tamra, and Christy

White and Nerdy

Okay, so I had fun watching both versions. Yes, this is Weird Al, and behind him is Donny Osmond. =) The first link is to the unfinished version, just with Al and Donny. The second link is to the finished product. Hope these links last more than a day 'cause I had fun with 'em! Cut and paste and enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWc6QQ9JlMc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xEzGIuY7kw

The FINAL Final

It's official. I have taken my LAST final exam ever! (Unless, of course, I get some freaky disease and decide to go back to school yet again sometime . . .) So far the grades look good, but as for the ones that aren't in, I at least know I passed. How nice to know that all that is behind me! Now for student teaching in the fall.

The worst part about not taking anymore SPED classes is that now I don't have my built-in support group (some of which are in the pic here) at least twice a week! I love everyone in the program so much that I honestly don't know how it's going to be without seeing them on a regular basis! At least we have contact info, and maybe we can get something set up at least every couple months or so in person, to say nothing of e-mail. =) Who'd thought classmates could become such a part of one's life? History majors were never like this! And we were together for two years. This has only really been two semesters, but it feels like so much more with all we've been through together. Wow. Am I really ready for "real" life? Do you ever get that feeling?

Of course, part of real life is being with my girls this summer. Yay! So our goals there are to go hiking and camping as much as we can, teach at least Marina (and possibly Jessica) to ride a bike sans training wheels -- and (of course) for me, get married, lol! And the sun is finally shining! Gotta wonder about a place where there's a hefty snowstorm on May 1st! Happy May Day! =)