Halloween and State

This year for Halloween I was at state for Volleyball. Our high school team made it and it was all the way in Couere A'lene (it is ten hours away in a Charter Bus.) Our girls ended up taking 3rd place. They did awesome and our only losses were to the 1st and 2nd place teams. State in Idaho is much didffernt then State in Colorado and so much more intense and exciting. While I was at State Brandee my great sister took my girls. She dressed them up for Halloween and took them to the ward party. Brookelyn then got sick and then Kira got sick. (Sorry Brandee I didn't want to get your family sick.) Yesterday I took the girls to the doctor and they do not have the Pig Flu (as Arik calls it.) They are just sick. A viral thing that they just had to deal with. They are feeling much better and I get to go to work again tomorrow. Arik and I gratefully did not get sick. (Knock on wood.)
Here are some pics from Brandee's ward party. Thanks Brandee for taking the girls.

Brookelyn bowling. Arik just loves Kira's face in this one.
Brookelyn wanted to be Cinderella. So she was.

For one last year we just had Kira be what Brookelyn was at that age. I think that next year Kira will not be okay with just anything anymore. She poses so cute.

Arik stuck candy outside the door telling everyone we were sick and just take a couple pieces of candy. Someone stole all the candy and my bowl. Not cool!

We are doing much better now. I have my first basketball game tomorrow. I am a little nervous and stuff.

One last bit of information. Arik got a new job. It is in Pocatello. We are just deciding if we want to move there or stay here and have him commute or have me commute for a couple of years. If I work for one more year we will have the van payed off. We also like our house but if we can't sell it the government will pay it for us. They will also pay for the move and it is a total full time job now. There is no chance of a 8 week lay off like before. He is the AFMO fire. Whatever that means, I am not sure but it is a step up. Also Arik is defending his thesis on DECEMBER 7th.
After four years of work we are final finishing it all. He is working his behind off but will be done in a MONTH!!!

Happy Halloween to everyone!!

The Teacher Wins...Holy emotions

Okay today for P.E. we played basketball, that is a sport I can handle. A little group of us (three boys and myself) played 21. I hit 3 after 3 and made all my free throws and WON!!! That is right. I might be 12 or 13 years older then them but I totally took them. They couldn't believe it. They complained that most of my points came from free throws and I told them that that just shows how important they really are.

So thanks to my dad for spending part of every Christmas break for 4 years making me shoot 500 free throws. Also thanks to my dad for letting me steal his routine when shooting free throws. Shooting free throws really wins games!!!!!!!!



Okay this needs a preface. I was a week late on that monthly thing. Then I woke up around 4 in the morning yesterday morning to use the bathroom and was bleeding. I cried a little (yes we would like to have another one but things just don't work out the way we want them to) and I was in a lot of pain. A lot more than usual for that thingy. Anyways, I came to school and during my first hour a student would not work. I asked him to start doing something. He told me he was and held up a little bike. (It was one of those that you have to glue and put together yourself). I told him to put it away and get to work. 5 minutes later again I asked him to start working, he told me he was and held up a bottle of super glue. I told him to put all that stuff away and to work on English. I then told him if I saw those things again I would take them away. He stood up looked right at me and said, "Oh, no you didn't." With the attitude and hand and head shake and everything. I lost it. I was so mad. (Remember what happened earlier that morning. Hormones were crazy.) I yelled at him and told him to get out of my class and I walked down to the office. By the time I was at the office I was in tears and I told them what had happened. Now it seems silly that I got so mad and cried but it was a bad start to a bad morning. How dare he talk to me like that?

Anyways, things are going better and I am starting to feel better now!! Too bad I care so much for these kids otherwise why would I put up with stuff like this all the time. Isn't teaching great???

It's about time

I know. It has been a while since I posted anything at all. And the only reason why most of you look at this is for all the cute pics of my girlies. I do have some and will add them soon. Our computer died and I can't scan pictures right now so birthday pictures that we got from Sears are still waiting to be added. I do have some other pics that I will add when I am on my computer again.
Here is an update.

Christina:
Life has been crazy. Starting my day at 5:30 AM reminds me so much of Seminary. I miss Seminary but I do not miss getting up that early. Volleyball will be over in a week and a half so then I can sleep in another hour or so. My team started great and then has slowly fallen apart. We are 3-4. (But given that last year they never won a game. We are doing okay. Also they have a rookie coach who keeps learning new stuff all the time.) Two weeks from today bball starts. It is not quite as demanding as volleyball. I am looking forward to the season. I will be coaching the 7th grade team again. I don't get to move up with my 8th graders but it is fro the best of the program so as much as I am sad over it I am okay. At least I still get to coach. We just hit the mid term of the 1st trimester and have parent/teacher conferences this week. I am really not looking forward to them but it will be nice to get a better glimpse of what these kids live with and deal with at home.

Arik:
Arik has finally been home for a weekend. Now that snow has fallen (yep SNOW) he has really slowed down. He keeps waiting to hear from his professor at USU so that he can finish up loose ends and finally graduate. He has been awesome cooking meals and taking care of the girls. He supports me 100% in my coaching and that really makes all the difference. He has applied to a job in Pocatello and another here is Soda.

Brookelyn:
Is getting way too smart. She now knows her address and phone number. She is learning to write numbers now and likes to correct mom all the time. She has the red headed attitude and temper and we are learning to adjust to it. She is a big helper most of the time and loves to help Kira. She knows she is smart and uses that a lot. She loves preschool and always tells me everything she did that day. (I just love coming home and having her give me a play by play.) She also learned to whisper in ears so she loves to tell me secrets that she doesn't want Kira to know.

Kira:
She has learned the phrases: Leave me alone, Go away, and Never, ever, ever. These are moms least favorite words and has a hard time with them. She is getting to the point when she knows she goes wet and poop. We are starting to work on making it to the bathroom and to the potty. Maybe by Christmas (that would be nice). She is growing all the time. I jsut pulled out the winter clothes and she is wearing all of Brookelyn's old clothes. I can't believe how big she is and how fast time has flown. she can count to ten and knows about 7 letters of the ABC's.

My Broncos are undefeated so far this year!!! Much to my surprise. Also, BYU is coming back a little bit. Too bad they blew one game. Now we can only hope they keep winning and beating these other teams. The Rockies made it to the playoffs this year without haiving to win 22 games in a row and didn't even need a play in game to go either.

Life is great and conference came just when I really needed it. It was nice to get uplifted a little and to hear words of counsel and support from our prophet and leaders.

Saving Madeline

As a public defender, Caitlin McLoughlin dreams of someday locking the bad guys in prison instead of defending them. But prosecuting jobs are scarce, and Caitlin’s future seems bleak. When her current client is about to walk away from a brutal crime, she risks her career to make sure he doesn’t hurt anyone else. But how far is she is willing to go— especially when she needs her job so she can continue caring for her mentally disabled sister? Then Caitlin meets Parker Hathaway, charged with kidnapping a four- year- old child. Just another criminal, just another job, Caitlin thinks. But when she learns the real story, she realizes that she must put everything on the line to defend her client and save the little girl before it’s too late. Saving Madeline is the story of a man determined to protect a child he loves, and the woman who dared to trust him.

I read an advanced review pdf copy of this book. I have always been a big fan of Rachel Ann Nunes and this book is no different. This book is also different from many of her other writings and asks many thought provoking questions. It takes you inside of the legal system and gives you a better understanding and closer look at how things happen and what it trying to be done to protect children and people from all the evils that are attacking our world today.

It was a book that I had a hard time putting down and afterwards kept my mind going and considering things I have not thought of before. It took me to a world inside our own world, that for me really doesn't exist in my little bubble, and got me to ask myself, what could I be doing? I really enjoyed this book. Whether you have never read Rachel's books before or if you are a long time fan, all will enjoy this latest book by her, Saving Madeline.

Rachel is also doing a drawing for this book. Everyone that comments on this post will be entered in a drawing for a copy of this book. So please post your comments and I hope you win!!!

You can read sample chapters at Rachel Nunes' site

Where to buy and general info:
Amazon.com
CedarFort.com
DeseretBook.com
Shadow Mountain Softcover Tradeback $17.95
Romance, 321 pages.
First printing in September 2009
ISBN 13-978-160461-049-3
Book also includes a discussion guide.

Do you remember...

I am sure we all do. I was on a little island in Washington, near Seattle. We were shut off from everything. No one could go off or come on the island. We didn't know everything that was going on, just that something terrible had happened. (Thanks mom for the call or we would have been clueless all day.)

I do not have school on fridays so on Thusday we talked a little about Sept 11th. I realized that these seventh graders were 4 or barely 5 when it happened. They do not care and they have no real love for thier country. I wanted to scream at them that they should respect the flag, the country and the president. Now I do not agree with a lot of what the president of the US is about and what he does BUT he is the President and we should respect him. My students feel like they can talk so badly about and disrespect him greatly. In my class I heard them using words that I never say describing our president. I finally told them that I didn't care what color, or party, or sex our president was, as the president they should be respected. I told them that in my classroom I would not allow or put up with them talking about the president that way. It makes me sad to see what thier parents must be saying and doing at home for these 12 and 13 year olds to have such strong opinions.

I am grateful for a mom and dad that taught me to love my country and to respect the flag, the president and the men and women who fight every day so that I can say and do what I want and live freely. If only some parents would do the same.

So, I am asking you all to teach your children how lucky they are to live here and to have the freedoms we do. We may not like certain things about our government and how things are run but that should never deter us from remember how we got the freedoms we do and how lucky we are.

I am proud to be an American. I can not thank in words those that have sacrificed thier lives and thier time to keeping me free. I thank those who are the families of the military men and women that go out. They deserve just as much for what they do at home while thier loved ones are fighting for all of us. THANK YOU!!!!!! Thank you for everything a million times over. Don't forget that there is still a great majority that are grateful for you and what you stand for. Don't let the negative cause you to forget those that truly care and are truly grateful!!!

Are you ready for some football?!!?!?!?!

Yes, it is the greatest time of the year again, football season. What a way to start. GO BYU!! That game was awesome. Our defense was amazing holding their star QB to 10-14 for 96 yards and 1 TD. True he got hurt and couldn't come back but they were great!!! Some respect for the MWC!! (Rob did you cheer for the Cougars). My parents went to the game and told me all about it. So much fun!! They bought the family matching BYU shirts just for this game. When my mom handed Arik his shirt the conversation went the follwing:
Mom: Arik, I know you hate BYU but would you for one game wear this shirt.
Arik: Which game?
Mom: The first of the season and then you don't have to wear it again.
Arik: Who are they playing?
Mom: Oklahoma.
Arik: (long pause, deep breath) If there was a team I hate worse then the Cougars it would be the Sooners. Okay I will.

Saturday we headed to some friends house to watch the game. Arik wore his UTAH shirt under the BYU shirt so that he could have the correct team close to his heart and the minute the game ended, the blue shirt was off. Thanks sweetie for wearing the shirt for 3 whole hours. Arik wouldn't let me get a pic of it.

Also, this week the NFL starts. My Broncos are going to get thier bums beat hard this year so I am ready to take all the crap from everyone (Rob). Also, our fantasy football has started again and I am ready to take down ROB!!! (Anyone see a theme, Rob). It is a fun time of year. All the upsets, all the excitement and all the cheering. just wonderful!!!


Also, Arik didn't want me to mention it but we got a new van. Okay it is not new. We got a 2005 Pontiac Montana (which Brookelyn calls the Hanna Montana van). Sorry no pics. And just so everyone does not have to ask us. NO we are not pregnant. We found this van for a great deal and decided to go for it. We wish we needed the van but for right now we are settling for being grateful that we were able to get one.

Bring on all the trash talking and all the hype. I am ready for some football!!!!!

Birthday, first day, and stuff in between

September 1st was Arik and Gail's bday. (Just for those of you that don't know, Arik has a twin.) Marti and I planned this for them:

That night we had a party at Mom and Dad J's house. Gail came home from Boise. We went to dinner at El Toro (the only "real" restaurant in Soda). We sang and then had Arik and Gail blow out the candle, Brookleyn actually did it all herself and Kira wanted a try so this is the second verison.

Marti and the girls made this cake while the rest of us were at school/work.

Marti's birthday was on the 29th. The crown was the one from Brookelyn's party.

Gail was so very happy to get a pic with the crown.

Arik being a great sport. How can you turn down two little girls begging him to wear the crown.

Brookelyn holding her crown waiting for the ice cream and cake.
Kira waiting for cake and ice cream.

Arik and I debated for quite awhile about weather or not to put Brookelyn in preschool. After a long debate we decided it was probably the best thing for her. She really wanted to go too. That helped make the deicision. So here she is ready to go. Since I had to be at school an hour before she went to school, here she is.
I love this picture.

One morning I went in to the girls and this is what I found.
Brookelyn then wanted a picture of herself because I can't just do something for one and not hte other.

On wednesday I had my first volleyball game. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. We won!!!! I felt so good. Last year the girls only won one game and they were not very confident. This helped them. We play again on Wednesday and I am nervous again but at least the first game is over.

School is going good. I am crazy busy and having three different classes is insane but I think things are going good. Getting up at 5:30 am for practice is not fun but well worth it in the end.

Happy Anniversary to Brandee and Spencer and Katie and Steve. They each just celebrated thier 6th!!

Also, congrats to Mo and Alicia for having a baby girl!!!