Eric...he SWORE...

Eric swore today. Swore to...I don't remember..."uphold the law..." or something about duelling.....It was great! But the drive down to Frankfort was icky. Emily decided not to eat dinner last night (homemade chicken pot-pie) and this morning didn't feel good but ate a few bites of pancake anyway. I packed her some yogurt and a pancake for the road and, thankfully, an extra outfit. About half an hour into the drive she burped (you know the kind that comes right before the eruptionl...) I asked her if she was going to vomit and she said "I don't know..." and just then it spewed all over. It hit the back of the driver's seat, and she put her hands over her mouth so it was spraying out the holes (you know the way it does when you cover part of the hose...). Yeah...so...I switched places with Tayler real quick (after Emil finished puking in the bucket), and I spent a good 20 min. cleaning up puke. The van is stinky. We made it to the ceremony just in the nick of time and were late enough to get the best seats in the courtroom!!! I am thanking our Father in Heaven for blessing me with the wisdom to have brought all the things necessary for this day to be successful, if not ideal (including the newly purchased -FOR THE VAN- antibacterial wipes that I put in the van yesterday)!!! Anyway, Eric is officially an attorney in the state of Kentucky! We went to Texas Roadhouse to celebrate (3 of the kids had free kid's meal coupons). Mmmmm. And now what??? Time for a new adventure...I'm waiting...

YAY, WE DID IT AGAIN!!!!

12:21pm I found out that Eric passed the bar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Tears of joy and relief and gratitude here!

My Dear Emily; How She Brings a Smile to My Heart (and face).

Emily just came in from her morning run and said that crows were playing tag with a pigeon and a crow tagged the pigeon and it died. "It had a peck in it", she said as she was using her little hands and fingers to "peck" at her side. I said "Really? You SAW that?" and Emily said, "Well...I know they were playing tag because Haley told Tayler 'Look, Tayler, it's been tagged!'"

Oh she is so much fun, can't she just stay this way! Innocence truely is blissful! What a great start to my morning!

Grandma and Grandpa Came to Town!

I don't like that these go in reverse order. But I guess you'll get the story from the end to the beginning. We saw this huge frog! I should have put my foot in the picture for you to understand what I'm talking about but this was BIG!!! It was in the middle of the road (to the entrance of a parking lot by a lake/pond. My dad tried to catch it in a McDonald's cup and ended up holding it for a bit. I wish I had it on video. My dad holding this big frog out away from his body and the frog winding its back legs trying to get away. It was comical.

We went to Fort Boonesborough where this lady taght us about making soap. I wish I could remember what she said the consistancy the soap was in the old days but she said it twice and it was funny because she acted like she hadn't already said that to us. Maybe a little too much lye on the brain.

After we got to the motel we went to this nice park and had a picnic. It rained a tiny bit but we had a good time. That night we went swimming. We had a great time.

We went on a B.B. Riverboat cruise/tour of Cincinnati. It was a little hot and humid but not sweltering. We heard about things that we should have seen but had trouble finding what he was talking about. We did see a church that was mentioned though. I also saw a man riding a bike on a part of a road that was parallel to the river and he was going faster than we were (and he wasn't racing).

Dad and Mom (Grandma and Grandpa) came to visit in June and we are SO glad they did! We love when we get to spend time with them and see and do new things. Thanks for the great time!

Two Months Ago...

I took the kids to the zoo.

To see the gorillas and such...

The girls got real checks!

All because it was their Birthday!!!

Aren't they beautiful young ladies!?!

Go Here!

If you want to see someone with lots of creativity and adventure, who whirls like a tornado but doesn't cause destruction, go HERE.

YAY, WE DID IT

The day of his FINAL, final!!! He's protesting the picture because he's "really not DONE". Oh well...the FINAL, final day is picture-worthy to me.

Someone in his office (I don't remember her name...) decorated his cube. For sweet!!!

Dressed for graduation (well...without the robe), keepin' busy.

Finishing busy work before we leave to graduation...

If he'd just hold STILL one second...and look happy? (BTW he was happy, just a bad pic, he really wouldn't be still.)

YAY, WE DID IT

The graduate!!!

The baby...

The boy...

The proud, happy wife...
(the twins rode with grandmom and grandad in the truck behind us. But not that red one you see :o), my big head is blocking the view to their truck).

Waiting in line...

YAY, WE DID IT (cont'd)

The line...

The photo...

The walk...

The proud parents (with grad.)

The proud and VERY happy family.

The ("so-close-I-can-smell-it") end.

Our Spring Break Trip to the Zoo!

Sweet little Emily.
Crazy Hazey.

Super cool, Chase.

Tater-gater. Joe. My morning sunshine.

Jess in the background with Haze.

Myself packing mini-me.

We love the zoo!!! Thanks babe!!!

I WON! THANKS RITE!

Graeter's Buckeys (YUM!), book of funny animal pics (sure to make you smile), fabulous soap, gel, and lotion plus the hand loofa, back loofa, and wash-glove thingy!!! All to pamper myself with. And I did. I love it. Thank you Rite!!! You TOTALLY rock!

Picture Time!!! Yay!!!

So....a loooong time ago my awesome sis-in-law had a contest and I won!!! She sent this

Isn't she FUN?!!! Wait til you see what's in the box!

I Did It!

Last night was the play. I messed up on my song a little but it all went so quickly...it's done.

I had fun. I am SO glad that we have activities at church that let us have experiences we would NEVER get otherwise. Ie. I would never have been able to be in a play if I had auditioned for it.

I really had fun. I made a cool dress out of a sheet, and I wore dark lipstick, and liquid eyeliner out to the end of my eybrows...I wore crazy earrings, two bengals, one huge ring, and a scarf on my head... It was fun.

And now I'm done.

Not a Spring Chicken Anymore!!!

Does anyone else feel like they're aging in fast-forward?

I FEEL droopy.

Tell me it's just the lingering winter and that soon I'll be back to normal...PLEASE!!!

These "fine lines" creeping upon my face are NOT fine with me! Gone are the days of naturally Rosy cheeks and where is this hair coming from!?! I don't want it! Even my lips have "fine lines". This is not to mention everywhere else that tends to droop and change with every passing year...why? It seems like I was holding up just two years ago and all of the sudden my wax is in full heat and melting fast.

I might be fine with that if I felt mentally sharp and felt a fulfilling sense of well-being, but I don't. (I'm not depressed, by-the-way, I've been there and this is not it). I just feel BLAH!

So in looking for a "new" me or a new way to express "me", I highlighted my own hair. Tayler said I look like a brown skunk "not to mean any offense or anything".

So, I guess that's it. I stink. (Not really, I hope. I don't need to smell old, too!)

I guess I should know I couldn't pass for 24-25 for too much longer.

Have you noticed how YOUNG High Schoolers' look? They look SO young! (That's another sign that I'm getting old). Eric and I saw some kids dressed up for prom and some of them didn't look any older than 14 (and that's with the dress, hair, makeup, and heels)!

And just in case you don't remember...Tayler and Haley will be 12 in just 3 1/2 weeks!!!

Where does the time go? (I know, I wish it away, too.) Some days I wish it would last a lot longer (but those aren't school days).

There are two good things that come with looking older, a little more respect and (oh, the word slipped my mind. It'll come back, just give it a minute) oh, credibility.

That slippery-brain syndrome has got to go. (Or maybe it's to help me get through the kids being teenagers. In that case, it can stay.)

I know this is random, but, really, I haven't posted in so long I had to do something. So there you go...

Hi!!!

I know, I'm getting few and far between but really, my life is not action-packed. (Or at least, I don't really think so). But...

I've been playing volleyball on a recreation league and I LOVE it. I really like sports. (Playing them, not watching.) We haven't won any whole games (you know, you play 3 games but whoever wins at least 2 actually wins) but we have fun and we're getting better. I think I sprained my finger this week. I REALLY killed my knee like the 2nd or 3rd game we played and that was AFTER I broke down and bought myself some knee pads to spare myself injury. I wonder what I'd be like if I didn't have any kneepads on that night. Hard to imagine. It's been weeks and weeks and my knee still bothers me. My finger/hand/wrist seems to be getting better everyday and seems to be healing quickly. I hope it's all better by Tuesday. Next week is likely our last week unless we get lucky and win 2 whole games. Anyway, I think we should get something going at the church every week, we could even make it co-ed if we need more players (and muscles to put the nets up and down :o) ). I'll be sad when I can't play anymore.

With that, piano lessons, Scouts, Activity Days, church, presidency meetings, etc. I guess I'm not completely boring. Just the same stuff over and over again.

I got my hair chopped yesterday. I like it. I think I'd like it shorter and I'm tired of my color, BUT, I SURE AM HAPPY I HAVE HAIR!!!!!!!!!!

My lil sister's coming to see me next week! My bro. and sis.-in-law invited us to go camping next Friday night and that should be really fun! (I really hope the weather's nice). ;o) I do like camping.

And...Eric gets to keep his job. Macy's gave him his 3 weeks of vacation and 8 days for personal leave of absence so he can study for the bar. Then we will have a four-day weekend and that will be all our vacation for the year. (We'll go down to TN for the 4th of July weekend to see Eric's sis that's coming down from VT). We haven't seen them in a LONG time. We have a nephew we've never met. (Hmm...we have one of those in UT, too. We need to get out more! Ha, ha!).

Ahhh. The sun is shining and it's 60 something degrees outside, so I'm feeling pretty good. (Now, if only my house were clean!)

So I'm not dead. I just have to think of what to write. Hi everybody/anybody!

Things and Stuff

I've been wanting a new vacuum for a very long time. My vacuum was purchased in like, 1998 and even then it was the cheap of the cheap. It's a Bissell that cost <$70 (though I think it was around $50. I know we didn't spend a lot on it). So I've been doing a lot of reading, searching, studying vacuums to find the best bang for my buck. I decided on a Dyson.

After Eric sold his Patent Bar Prep. books, I took the proceeds to my local Bed Bath and Beyond. Using a 20% off coupon, I purchased my Dyson DC25 and took it home smiling and excited.

After the 3 min. assembly (it was SO easy, I tell ya!), I was ready to see what it could really do. (I'd already read too much about it). So I started vacuuming (of course). Can I just say that in the canister when I was done I could see the different particles and I could see both dirt (which looked a lot like sand) AND skin dust! Gross. I know. But, it was coming out of my carpet and that's exactly what I wanted to have happen. Without more details I will let you know, I am happy with my purchase, even if it is considered a "luxury" vacuum. (I feel justified because I saved $100 with that coupon! AND if it lasts at least 10 years, which it had better, it will end up costing me less than the other vacuum I was considering because I don't have to buy filters. Well I think even if it lasts 5 years it would be cheaper than that other one.)

Then there's the matter of my laptop. I don't even know how old my laptop is. What I know is that it's old, slow, cracked, and it blacks out all the time. So to save part of my sanity, I had to get a new one. This time, I used Christmas money, (thank you Dad and Bonnie and Grandma) and some of our own, to land me this baby! Wow, I love it. It's quiet, much cooler (temperature-wise, and whatever you'd describe the other way as, as well.), it doesn't black out on me, it doesn't have an annoying wireless card sticking out the side, is faster, and it does the job well.

Ahh. So nice to not be shopping for those anymore! I find myself a little more content and happy!

And that brings me to STUFF! A couple of months ago the RS Pres. came in to Primary and handed me a script, with "my" part highlighted, and a cd. I had never heard that this was going to happen, nobody asked me anything or even mentioned a musical play around me. And this is what begins "stuff".

I have never been in a play. I am not the best singer (or even close). I am, however, a pretty passionate person and theater is a great venue for that, I guess. Anyway, (the play is the 10 Virgins' story) my part is Adi, who worries too much about what other people think about her and about her appearance, to fill her lamp. So she's foolish. We had microphones at our practice last night (I've never sung a solo in a mich.) and I was the only one that that was criticised. I was told to step back from the mich. So I guess I fit the role perfectly because I was really embarrassed.
After watching everyone else and not hearing them when they sang, I thought I had to stand close to the mich. But before my part they turn the music down and at my part they turn the music back up so I guess I was too loud, let alone the fact that I was nervous and very pitchy...ugh. RS Pres. is going to see when we can practice BEFORE the next practice. Let's say I "stink". Oh well, I guess there's only one way to go from here and that would be up (Better. Improvement.)!!! I really think that if I am not hitting the notes they should include that in their criticism, right? Let me know everything that needs improvement. If they want me to be quiet, I can, but I still might hit the wrong note (I guess you might never hear it then, though). Ha! I'm overthinking it. I know. What's a girl to do, I'm 1/11 of the play!!??!! EEEEKK!

More stuff. Eric's been told that if he has a job to keep it. Lawyers are not in high demand at the moment. Just lovely. Didn't we kind of go through this when he graduated with his Computer Science degree? I guess we'll have to keep our eyes peeled, and ears perked.

Even more...We went to the Cincinnati Tea Party. It was not as crowded as I would have liked. We got there about 1/2 hour-45min. late and we still could manouver our way into the square. There was a stay-at-home mom who spoke and I thought she was awesome. I asked Eric if he could see me doing that. He said "Yes." and I said, "me, too! (As long as I really knew what I was talking about)". (I had just given a talk in Sacrament Meeting and did Sharing Time in Primary, so I think I had my public speaking shoes on that day). Who knows, maybe I really could/would!

A Looonnng While Ago I Promised Food Storage Pictures...

24 Five-gallon buckets of food. And we still need more!

Runnin' out of green beans, but have plenty o' peas!

Tomato soup, anyone?

Yes She CAN!!!

I've been trying to think of something to blog about. (I love it when others have new things so I figured that they'd like to see something new from me, too.)

I decided to see if Emily could tie her shoes. Well...she can!

Right away she was involved with the laces. I guess I decided to let her do it instead of just showing her first. She crossed the laces, pulled the end through the hole, made a loop, wrapped the other lace around, (as I told/helped her do), then when it was time to push the lace through the hole to make the second loop she got a little confused, we finished together. We did this about 3-5 times before she did it ALL BY HERSELF!!! Then she said "I can tie a bow!"

She ties beautiful bows. Just look!

P.S. I have no idea how to turn the picture. Sorry.

I'm a "Connector". What are you?

Emily's at it Again...

This kid!!! She's amazing and growing so fast! Not only are her pants quickly becoming capris, she is SMART!

Yesterday she read the story "Zac the Rat". I had shown it to her a few days ago and had her read it then, working out the sounds and stuff. This time I helped her with the "sight words" like "the" and "to" and she sounded out the rest. She is doing AWESOME!!! (And I was worried that I'd never be able to teach her how to read).

While she was using that website, Chase said, "Oh! I've done that! I love that! We did that in public school!" So now I know. In public school they use some of the same tools I get in my own home. It's not magic. Fwew! I thought I was in for it. Now I can see the sun. Yay!

Go Emily!!! I wonder if she can tie shoelaces...

Girls Rule!!! (And we LOVE boys).

Last Friday "Twilight" came to the dollar ($3) theater. So I called up my friend, Liz and asked if she wanted to go. (Eric did not want to see it). She wanted to see it but said she had plans to go to the Gap Clearance Center with Anna.

Then we got to scheming.

She said she didn't think the Anna would mind if I went shopping with them and then we could go to "Twilight" afterward. Lucky us. Anna didn't mind AND even wanted to see "Twilight" with us!!!

So Liz picked me up. Then I hopped in the back seat when we picked Anna up. Then it was shopping time. With NO kids!!! (That is near heavenly). I actually was able to find five shirts and a pair of jeans (for myself) and spent a whopping $20.10 with tax!

Then it was off to the 9:40pm showing of "Twilight" where we got a pretty good spot to sit and shared popcorn while laughing and wondering at the movie.

We didn't get home til after midnight.

It felt SO good.

Girlfriends ROCK!!!

I don't think I'd been to a movie with girlfriends since before I was married! It was EXTREMELY refreshing to my soul to get to do that.

Thank you to my hottie/hubby for encouraging me to go, and to my great friends (and their families) for giving me a great "girls' night out".

Aww NUTS!!!

On the way to Kroger with Emily I told her we were going to "Krogret" and she corrected me!!!

"KrogER," she said.

"KrogRET," I stubbornly replied.

"KrogER," she stated again.

And again I told her what I wanted to hear but she wouldn't give it to me. Instead she told me how Chase "learned" her to say it and how she doesn't like Chase "learning" her things.

To which I said, "teaching. Teaching you...". And so it goes...and so she grows...

Why do they do that to us??? Couldn't she just have stayed 3 forever? Potty-trained, able to speak, small enough to pick up and carry on occasion, cheap to feed, not a lot of attitude, lots of WONDERFUL hugs (with arms AND legs wrapped around), sweet chubby cheeks to kiss, cute clothes to dress her in, little treats that make everything better...and so much more...why couldn't it be like that forever?...

I wish my memories would do me justice in this department. I forget far too quickly how absolutely precious and adorable my children were when they were little. (Perhaps to help me keep from comparing their younger days to their present ones. There could be wisdom in that). Still. I don't want to forget how cute, sweet, and fun the young days were/are.

The precious days of toddlerhood are disappearing fast and most of the sweetness with it. She is developing some pretty rotten attitudes about chores and anything else she doesn't "want to" do.

I'm not ready for her to change. Not yet. Not yet!

Say WHAT!!!!

Someone in our ward got up today in fast and testimony meeting and publicly removed himself from the church. It was so out of nowhere I couldn't believe it. This person was one that nearly every month bore testimony, and a strong one at that.
Shocked? Uh-huh. I still don't believe it. Surely it's some sick joke.

And the Answer is....

Kentucky.

If you have a problem with it, you know who to talk to. He knows all, so...good luck with that.

Thankfully Utah accepts reciprocity after 3 years so, maybe then. IF we get done whatever it is we need to do here within that time frame.

Who knows what's to be?

I have so many questions of my own but I trust in our Father in Heaven so I know He'll work it out. I hope I like whatever He has planned.

It's so hard to not know the answer to "why" before you make a monumental decision. It's scary and irritating. But when I give my worries over to the Lord, I feel peace. He will help us. This is about the only comfort I have. (It's a good thing it's a huge comfort).

So...Anybody want to visit Kentucky?!?

Hurray for Eric!!!

HE DID IT!!! HE PASSED THE PATENT BAR!

Eric took the 6 hour test on Saturday and passed! He is so relieved and I am so proud of him.

Now, where to take the state bar...

With no "foot in the door", no "leg up", and no leads, where do you get a job?

So Utah is not saturated with Patent Law opportunities, but neither is Kentucky. So....what do you do?

Pray. I know.

Didn't I Say Something About...

"After-series depression"?

Well, it's here. Love stories are such a high...
And you know when you're high there's only one place to go...yup...down.

Do you know I have had dreams about Edward and Bella? Yeah. The picture is totally black but words about them and from them whirl through my head like a tornado. I can't remember any of it; it happened too fast, but I know it happened.

I read the Midnight Sun part that's on Stephenie's website and...well I'm mad at whoever it was that ruined it for us all. Reality bites with all its venom!

What a sweet escape it was, while it lasted.

Now what? Laundry? Vacuuming? Early Spring Cleaning? Yeah, that doesn't sound fun to me either. I think I'll write a book and make other people go crazy. Then I'll get rich and be able to live a bit of a fantasy myself. Ha, Ha. I know it doesn't work that way but, hey, ya gotta do something! Life doesn't have to be so boring, does it?

Still Here...

Don't worry 'bout me, I'm still here. I'm just reading the Twilight Series again so I can give the books back.

It really has been a nice break from reality to read the series. It sure would be nice if there were more "Edwards" in this world. So many happy marriages and families... women being treated with respect and gentleness... self-control... fidelity... compassion... passion... selflessness... forgiveness... love...

Reality sure can sting, even if it's somebody else's problem.
I've had a difficult week made better by our Savior. I am SO grateful that we can cast our burdens on Him and He willingly takes them from us.
I had a friend share some horrifying news with me this week that was tearing me apart because it is something I fear in my own life and I was really dragged down by it. With a priesthood blessing, prayer, and talking to my hubby, I feel much better. Not perfect, but better.

Reading the books with the tremendous bond of love between Edward and Bella helped, too. (Even though it is fiction. We can still dream...wish...desire...work toward...)

Marriage; to leave it idle is to kill it.

What gear are you in? (Please, don't answer to me.)

"Breaking Dawn"

Finally. Aaahhhh. That was an adventure.

Doesn't it make you wish that Edward and Bella had a blog so you could read what's going on in their world often? It's not like it didn't end well but I just didn't want it to end. It could be a Soap Opera, don't you think?

Oh well.