Stuff....

I am home on a Friday.  We didn't have school today because the TATC had a teacher development thing going on for all teachers.  I am excited to be home and spending a little time with Scott.

We (the girls and I) are going off to Minnesota tomorrow morning bright and early...it might actually even be dark and early.  We have to be at the airport at 5:00 am!  I am excited to see some friends and just take it easy for the week.  I hear it will be beautiful weather in Rochester and that makes me very very happy.

I don't have much to say....so enjoy some pictures that I took at school yesterday.

One of my favorite activities at school is having Emma wax my face :)  I am blessed with the wonderful trait of having lots of blond facial hair from my Grandam Virginia on my Dad's side.

More waxing!!

Silly Emma

My new little friend Natalie.  She took the picture of Emma above :)

We had a birthday party for one of the girls at school.  I made the Texas Sheet Cake.  Yummy.  One of the young girls asked me if I made the cake all by myself, funny.  (I wonder if her mom makes cakes all by herself??)

Life lesson, be kind :) even to old ladies

I have come to realize that some young women in my school are not very smart, they always turn down clients...

I am in cosmetology school to learn.  I would think that all of the girls in school are there to learn.  How do you learn a trade like cosmetology??  By doing.  Most of the girls who are there are very, very picky about what kind of services they will do and who they want to do them on.

In cosmetology school we learn to do all kinds of things...
1. cut hair
2. color hair
3. perm hair
4. nails
5. feet and hands mani and pedi
6. waxing
7. eyelash extensions
8. eyebrow tints, eyelash perms
9. makeup
10.  up-dos and other hair styling

...and I am sure some other things that I can't remember right now.  Many of the young girls only want to learn to do color and nails.

I am so surprised during the day when I hear a girl complain that she doesn't want to do a service for a client.  It happens all day long.  Today one girl came up to me and asked me to take her appointment because she didn't feel like doing an "old lady".  It was a hair cut.  I asked her what she was going to do and she said she was going to have her friend come in and do a hair color on her.  I told her sure I would do it.  I love to have "real" clients.  I learn so much from each one.  I love to cut hair.  This sweet woman came in and I had the most enjoyable visit with her.  She has worked for the school system as a school teacher for the last 28 years.  She is almost ready to retire.  She told me all about how her husband and she are looking forward to retirement because they will travel and go to car shows.  This opened up much conversation because my husband has just gained a new interest in cars and he would LOVE to go to car shows.  We also talked about her daughter and how she almost lost her life from a complication from having surgery and how she has lived with her for the last year.  I learned so much from this woman.  I got to know her.  I gave her a head massage while shampooing her hair.  She said none of the other girls even offer to wash her hair.  After cutting her hair she left by giving me a $5 tip.  The girl who was suppose to originally cut her hair saw this and then came up to me and said that she has never left her a tip before and on top of it her friend never showed up to have her hair colored.  It is not about the tip to me.  It is about the smile that was on my clients face when she left that is more important to me.  I made a friend.  I had my life enriched by my association with her because I took the time to sincerely care and get to know this person.  When these young girls learn this then they might be successful.  Until they learn that I am happy to take any of the clients that they want to give away...that is more smiles for me and more money too!



I am grateful for a life that has taught me to be kind to people.

Emma and Grandma, two important women in my life!  

These two have taught me much about kindness and patience :)

My mom just got home and shared this "Mother Tree" with me.  Today is the anniversary of the death of her mother, my grandmother Elaine Palmer.  My aunt Luann did some research and has been able to trace back to a woman named Sally with no other info besides that.  I never knew before today that this line of maternal grandmothers originally came from Scottland!  WOW, I am a Scott!!  I love genealogy :) 

Distopia....welcome to my world

My new obsession....

Draw Something!!

I want to thank my friend Gailynn right now for getting me hooked.  Thanks for helping me waste endless hours of my time.

 Have any of you read the book 451 Fahrenheit??  This was a favorite of Tanner's and one time I decided to read it so I could understand Tanner a little better...well I am not sure it it helped me understand Tanner any better but it was an interesting book.  Most of the people in this distopia society were like zombies watching TV and didn't have any emotional connection with other people.  Well this is the way I am starting to feel about my life when I play Draw Something.  I spent a total of 4 hours playing this game last night until I finally put myself and the girls to bed.  I can never get that 4 hours back...oh well.  At least I am connecting with all of you by drawing really stupid pictures of polka dots, lasso, and other dumb things :)

Now I must go....I need to check Draw Something and see if any of you have replied back to my drawings.

I am grateful for technology!  It keeps me connected to my friends, family and it is very entertaining!

The girls playing Draw Something (sadly I got them hooked)

Sisters before, now and forever!

I had a stupendous weekend.  I know include Mondays in my weekend time because I don't have to go to school and I get to pretty much veg and run and do errands and have fun if I want on my Mondays.

My last post I mentioned all the things I was planning on doing and for the most part I did do all that.  Except for taking Bridger to the movie (there is just not much showing that is rated pg right now), I told him we would go laser tagging when I get back from spring break.

Scott left to go to Oregon today.  I will miss him.  I love having him home.  He is my favorite person in the whole wide world :)

Today I went to see the Hunger Games with my sisters and mom.  We had a little sister's day.  The best reason to move back to Utah is to have my sister's days!!!!  I love them.   I have the best sisters in the world.   They make me laugh.  Like today Katie ordered a BLT at the restaurant and they brought her out a sandwich with bacon and lettuce on it.  She threw a fit.  When the waiter came back to see if our meals were okay she said no they are not, where is my T on my BLT sandwich.  The waiter then mumbled that he forgot to tell her that they were out of tomatoes.  Well that wasn't good enough for Katie.  She gave him a bit of a scolding and the waiter then decided to go get the manager.  It was all pretty funny.  I taught Katie all she knows about being assertive....

I am grateful for my family.  There is something special about sisters!

P.S. We missed you Sylvia, sorry you couldn't make it!

Don't let that beautiful smile fool you!  Katie can be as mean as they come.  I never want to tell her I am out of tomatoes if she eats a sandwich at my house!

Emmy was the lucky girl who got to join us on our sister's outing.  Allison is obviously trying her hardest to get her to smile but it is not working.

My favorite 3 year old!!!!!!  It took her 4 hours to get up on my lap and she only did that because she wanted to see my draw something game.

Busy Weekend

What a long Thursday.  I am pooped.  I am looking forward to this weekend.  I plan on relaxing all weekend long.

First I will start with going to school for 10 hours tomorrow.
Then Emma will have friends over Friday night to watch Star Wars.  That should be a nice quiet evening.
Then I will get up early on Saturday to take Elle into a interview at the Zoo, she wants to be a volunteer and must go through an interview process.  (I guess many kids apply for this program and they only choose the best applicants).
I will be taking my nephew in with me to the zoo and then to a movie and lunch because he is awesome and I promised him a special day if he got 100% on his geography test...which he did!
Then home to do laundry all night and hang out with Scott and I am sure hear all about The Hunger Games that he will have seen twice by Saturday evening.
I also need to prepare my Sunday lesson for my favorite 12 year olds.  The lesson is on faith in Jesus Christ.  LOVE THIS TOPIC!
I think I will also do some toilet bowl scrubbing some time on Saturday, probably in-between some loading of dirty laundry into the washing machine.
Also I will make dinner some time and then try to just veg out....I really hope I get to do some vegging :)
My favorite activity will be on Sunday.  I plan on getting a restful nap in.  Please everyone pray that I will get a nap.
Monday I will get up bright and early and take my mom to The Hunger Games and then out to lunch for her birthday and a sisters day!!  I LOVE SISTERS DAY!
Okay I am kind of tired after thinking about all the things I need and get to do this weekend.  I am not so sure there will be much relaxing going on after all.

I am grateful for having clean carpets.  They got cleaned today.  I will shoot any dog that pees on my newly cleaned carpets.  I mean that :)

The furniture pushed into the kitchen so the carpets can be cleaned.  Scott will have to put moving all the furniture back into place on his to do list tomorrow because I just don't have the time :)  Thank heavens Scott is home this week.  I love that man.

Hunger Games Mania!

Thank heaven for Elle.

I mentioned that we got a new computer and I feel like I am computer stupid or in other words OLD!  If I didn't have Elle here to help me do a few things and help me save my blog to the favorites I would be lost.

We are all getting excited to watch the Hunger Games movie :)  Scott even read the books this weekend.  (He read one book in like 4 hours!  It took me like 72 straight hours of reading, just saying...)  He is way more excited then even the girls to go to the movie.  Now all he does is watch Hunger Game movie trailers.  I asked him what he was doing one time when I saw him watch a trailer and then immediately after watch the same trailer again.  He told me that it was a different trailer, but really???  Aren't they all the same trailer...really??

Elle and Scott are going to the movie Friday afternoon.  Scott and Emma are going to the movie Saturday afternoon.  I am going to the movie Monday morning with my mom and sisters for a sister's day/mom birthday outing!  (I wouldn't be surprised if I caught Scott in the theater a few rows in front of me:)

It is fun when as a family we are all looking forward to a new movie release.  The last time that happened was for Harry Potter VII part 2.

I am grateful for this beautiful weather!!

My computer mentor and favorite buddy Elle!

Jackson

I came home from school one day (last Friday to be exact) and found that Scott had bought me (really Elle and I) a new apple computer :)  This is my first time using it.  I just haven't had the time to get on and explore.  I am not really exploring my new computer right now.  I am just trying to figure out how to get on  my blog without having it saved on my favorites.

This last weekend we had Jackson come and visit us for a few days.  Those of you who don't know, Jackson lived with us in Minnesota.  He and his sister stayed with us for a year.  It has been 2 years since I have seen him.  I think of him as my own son.  He now lives in AZ.  The girls loved having him around.  They miss him so much.  I have missed him too.  We had a really great time hanging out with him.

Emma, Elle and Jackson

Thursday, Caucus Day, Makeup Day, Scott Comes Home Day, Someone's Hair Falls Out Day

Couple of things.

1.  Emma and I attended our first caucus meeting tonight.  Emma is just starting out on this adventure of becoming a "real voting" citizen by being proactive and involved in the political process.  This was also my very first caucus meeting!  I am a little bit ashamed to say I have never taken the time to be involved as a voting citizen.  Don't get me wrong, I do vote, but I have never been active in this part of the process.  It was a great meeting to learn how our government works,  and be an active participant.   It was interesting.  I encouraged Emma to go with me and she was bored out of her mind but I think in the end she was pleased that she saw how our elections work.

2.  We had the opportunity to learn makeup application today :)  Emma did my makeup and I did hers.  We watched a few videos on how to do contouring and fix problems areas of our faces.  It was informative.  (I learned I have a short nose and Emma has a long nose).

3.  I saw an interesting thing happen to another student's hair today.  She had bleached her hair so much over the last few months and then yesterday (against my instructor's best advice and him telling her NO a hundred times) she got another student to perm her hair and then it literally fell out.  It was so damaged that as soon as a comb went through it broke off like it was cotton candy flying around the area.  I still am amazed that she permed her hair.  To her defense I think she is a young woman who doesn't know and understand limits.  She is a little off.  Then she shared with Emma and I that she was born 3 months premature and it all made sense.  I say this in the nicest way, but I am sure she had a little brain damage.  I have never seen anything like this in my life...sad.

4.  I am grateful that Scott has returned safely home.  I love when Scott is home. 


I am  grateful that I am a citizen of a country that has a constitution that allows me to be a part of the process of electing our leaders.  I am so grateful for my beautiful model Emma who lets me apply makeup to her face and to lessons learned in school...do NOT perm hair when it is already damaged, it will fall out!!!

before

After

Emma filling out her voter registration card, (I had a republican!!)

Wednesday...

Today I was able to cut a older gentleman's hair.  He told me a story of his dear wife who has passed away.  It was a very moving story.  I think he needed to have an opportunity to speak about his wife who passed away more then 15 years ago.  It was very tender and it brought him to tears.  He has so much love for his wife.  I think one of the reasons why I like this profession is because I enjoy listening to people.  People tend to open up to me and share very personal things with me even though I don't pry.  They always have.

I am grateful for my husband.  He is the love of my life.

Baby you will always be, Elle

Last the best of all the game...

Elle.

This post is dedicated to my sweet, sweet, sweet daughter. 

I am not sure sweet is the best adjective to describe my youngest child.  Don't get me wrong, Elle can at times display a very sweet disposition but to describe her as sweet just doesn't fit her personality.

Lets see I will use some of the first things that come to mind when I think of Elle's personality and spirit.

1. Strong
2. Intelligent
3. Hilarious
4. Interesting
5. Curious
6. Imaginative
7. Defender of animals
8. Independent
9. Seeker of knowledge
10. Adventuresome
11. Explorer
12. Beautiful
13. Kind
14. Supporter of the less fortunate
15. Loud
16. Crazy
17. Cluttered
18. Inappropriate
19. Stubborn
20. Procrastinator
21. Angry
22.  Oh, I can't forget BOY CRAZY!!

These are just a few of the words that describe Elle.  But most of all she is wonderfully herself.  I love to have conversations with Elle because she always has something interesting to say and makes me really think about things in a different out of the box way.  She has some very noble goals in life and I think if she would stop procrastinating then she could achieve anything she sets her heart to.  Elle has brought such joy and fun to my life.  I can't imagine what my life as a mother would be like without Elle, she enriches it in every way!  Fer shore it would be less exciting and fun!!  I thank God for giving me such a wonderful spirit to raise.

This is a picture that Emma took of Elle

Emma Kate, my daugther and friend

When I blog about Tanner, Emma gets rather jealous.  I told her I would dedicate a blog just to her.  I don't think she believes that I am going to do that.

I love Emma.  She has changed my life.  She was my first baby girl.  I always wanted a girl.  I dreamed about being a mom to a perfect baby girl and when it finally happened she did not disappoint any of my expectations.  This experience of being a mom to a precious daughter of God actually exceeded my greatest dreams of being a  mommy to a little girl.

Emma has helped me grow so much as a mother and person.  I think we knew in heaven we had a very special bond and wanted to come to earth together in order to be each others greatest support, cheerleader and friend, we understood that we would have some special moments in life and would need to help lift one another in difficult times. 

When Emma was little she had a bit of a mean streak in her (I know surprising...not Emma!).  But I knew in my heart that she would learn to love others and have great compassion for her family, friends and people in general.  She has not disappointed me.  She has become a beautiful, thoughtful woman that I knew she would develop into.  She means the world to me and I want her to know I love her with all my heart.  She still has many things she needs to learn for herself but I am confident that in her own time she will one day be the daughter that her Father in Heaven knows she can become, someone who is not perfect but perfectly tries to do her best and give her all to her savior and this world.  I can't wait for the day when she becomes a mom and she can experience the great joy that a special little spirit will bring into her life just like she has done for me!

I love you Emma Kate, thank you for choosing me!

P.S.  Thanks for going to school with me....you make it awesome!

Good times. 

Emma made a hole in her manikin's hair!  Don't worry, this is why we practice on "pretend" heads before we get our hands on the "real" thing :)

My beautiful Emma Kate

Tanner, I miss him :)

Wednesday.

Good day.

Tanner sent his pday email today.  Every six weeks on transfer weeks his pday switches to Wednesday instead of Monday.  I love getting his letters no matter what day of the week they come.  His letters  are actually the high light of my week.  It is so weird to not be able to pick the phone up and call my son whenever I want.  To not have any real time conversations is so difficult.  I miss him so much.  I miss his spirit being close by me.  I miss his sense of humor and his crazy intense research he does for things that interest him.  I miss his tender heart, his dorky laugh and sharing funny insights about people with him (he really, really gets my sense of humor).  I miss having deep religious conversations with him and even talking politics (especially this year).  I am starting to get so excited about his return.  It is still months away but I know it will be here before I know it :)  I never imagined that having a son serve a mission would bring me such joy and such longing for him.  I feel that Heavenly Father has blessed me and our family beyond words because of his sacrifice.  I love Tanner and feel so blessed to have him as a son.

Tanner's baptism.

Tanner almost has as much hair as Allison!  Got to love the early 90's!

crazy

Crazy...

Crazy weather.

I just washed my car 3 hours before this.  What a waste of $10.  Oh Well...Crazy.

Crazy kids

Elle and Emma did not get along today while Emma took 3 hours to give Elle a weave.  Elle was irrtated with her sister and Emma was irritated with her mom!  (It's a vicious cyle)  But we all came home tonight and made up and eveyone is hugging each other!

Crazy sisters

Katie and I had a fun day of cooking for 6 long hours to provide or each of ou families with 13 different freezor meals.  This is our first attempt at combining our talents an sisterhood and doing this.  We did feel a little crazy after a the first couple of hours but we endured and when it was all finished it certainly was worth it!!!  But a little CRAZy!

Crazy Dogs

This weather is crazy, therefore our front door is crazy, therefore it is driving our dogs crazy.  They can not get out the door bcause all the snow and wind are blowing tumleweed after tumbleweed right to our door  They dogs can't get out!!!  CRAzy

I am grateful for a crazy life.

Thursday is a special day...it's the day we get ready for Friday!!

Another great day.  Scott flew into town today and drive right to my school.  I then had the opportunity to do my very first man's cut on his hair.  I think I did a wonderful job of it.  I think he liked it too :)  After the most amazing hair cut of his life he then put his life into Emma's hands as she gave him his first straight edge razor shave.  She did such a good job.  No nicks or stitches required, just a beautiful smooth face.  Tomorrow Scott will be coming in for a pedicure that I will give him while Emma cuts Elle's hair!!  There is much trust being extended by our family to allow Emma and I do some of our first non-manikin cutting.

Having fun watching A.I.  one of our family favorites!

Scott's face as smooth as a baby's bum :)  I love when he is home!