Phones...College (Not)...Pets (dog or cat that is the question)

Where do I start today? Lets see...how about the dreaded teenage cell phone account! I can feel for you Al! Cell phones....what a racket! Emma's is confiscated right now because of slipping grades. I would lay down some conditions to go along with the phone if I were you. Emma is now getting serious about doing her homework because she is going through with drawls! What kind of job does Kayla have to support her phone habit anyway? You are getting her started on it and then expecting her to pay for it in 6 months....with what moola?? I wouldn't allow her to take it to church or YW during the week because the girls are so disrespectful with their phones during lessons and activities they have no phone manners. Good luck with navigating teenage land!!!!!! It only gets better!

Tanner is the biggest procrastinator in all this earth!!! It is college application time and the deadline is looming HUGE right now. The problem is, to get into any respectable school you can't wait until the deadline you have to get your applications in the first week or two when the schools start to accept the applications not the last two weeks before the deadlines! Tanner has got it backwards....and now I am not sure if he will even get into any of his choice of schools. Only time will tell. He always loves to save things for the very last day of the deadline no matter what it is for.

Now lets talk pets! You need to just give into it Al! Aren't we willing to do just about anything for our kids happiness?? I am mean you just gave into the pressure of teenage bugging about cell phones and those things can do much more damage then any cat or dog will ever do in your house! Have you heard about all those kids in Utah and other places for that matter that share special pictures over their cell phones?? And you are worried about a little dog poop! Lets keep things in prospective. Let Lauren nurture her love of animals in a very good way...getting a little kitty won't hurt anything and they are better then dogs when you have to go out of town they don't have to be babysat like dogs. They are much better to potty train and they are calm and peaceful like you! What is the hang up about cats???

Okay I hope I haven't brought anyone to tears today!! I love all you who read my blog and may be having spasms right now. I know you can do it!! Just take some deep breaths and know that you can survive all things! I hope you all have a great Christmas...I will be missing you all on that special night of visiting with the family that is out on parole.

I say this all in joking...I know that what ever you decide to do about pets will be right for your family!

Love you all

fall pictures

I often go with the missionaries to teach the investigators. Sister Alki is from Japan and she is the best!! I will miss her when she returns to Japan.

This is the day I highlighted Emma's hair. It is always fun to spend 2 straight hours with Emma talking while I do her hair!

Elle had a fun skating day with her school on Halloween. Instead of having class parties they take the school to the local ice skating rink and party!

Christmas Is Coming The Goose Is Getting Fat And Lots of Parties Are Coming!

Can you believe I have already done 20 posts?? It is almost Christmas...14 days and counting. I have almost got all shopping done! I love Christmas with all the decorations and smells and glad tidings! I am going to miss my family this year but we are planning on a really fun Christmas Eve with the missionaries and some families in the ward that we are close to. The great thing about living outside of Utah and away from all those Mormons is your ward really does become your family.

We are planning a huge party for next Friday...probably 30 or more teenagers will converge on my home and it will be great. I love the youth of the ward and all my kids friends. We are planning on caroling and then lots of games and food afterwards to warm up.

I just got done Christmas decorating my friends house. It was beautiful. I love to decorate and especially Christmas. We are doing an exchange...she is going to give me massages...hour for hour. I already have put in 10 hours that means that I get 10 hours of massages!! If you even know me a little you know that I think I am getting the best end of this deal! But of course Ann thinks she is getting the best end. I love massages, I am always trying to get Tanner, Scott, Emma and even Elle to give me little shoulder rubs or feet or anything! My family is tired of me asking so they are just as happy that I made this little trade out!

Blogging, Face Book, Emailing,...oh my!

Well I haven't blogged for a few weeks. Part of it is I have started my own face book account and it is kind of addicting. Someone asked me what really is the difference in all this blogging, email, and face book stuff? I look at blogging as a form of journaling and I guess my face book account is a way to keep in touch with people quickly. You get to know what they are doing in their lives in a quick snap shot but on the other hand they also get to see your life just as well. How much do I want Joe Blow from high school to know what is going on in my life? It seems a bit intimate? I am happy to share with my close friends and family but I seem to not know how I feel about people I have lost contact with for years suddenly being able to access my life. At the same time it is a great way to keep in touch with those you love and care about without picking up the phone or even sending them a personal email especially considering that I live so far away from many people that I love. I think it has wonderful pros and a few cons. I do know that Tanner is very unhappy that his mother has a face book account and is friends with some of the same friends as he is. He would like to think that face book is his own space without having to worry about his mother knowing what he is saying and doing in his social circle. I see his point and I am trying to respect his privacy but I have been enjoying being Emma's friend and it doesn't seem to bother her.

Thanksgiving is a few days away!! I love Thanksgiving. I am looking forward to putting up the tree this year with the girls. Emma made me promise her today that we would put the tree up on Thanksgiving. I think decorating reminds me of my mom. She always went way out in the decorating area and I was always her helper. It brings back many fond memories of my mom and the holidays when I put my own decorations up. I have learned a lot from my mom about decorating and I am glad that she invited me as a girl to help her.

I have just finished a really busy time in my life with R.S. I now have a bit of a break before I have to start planning for next year. I am glad to have my big enrichment meeting and craft group over with. They were a big success but a lot of work goes into the planning and executing of activities like this.

I am working on a couple of special projects for my kids for Christmas. I hope that they like them because they are going to be very time consuming. I will tell you what they are after I give them to my kids.

Stupid Thoughts From Me!

Brrrr....I think it is officially winter here in Minnesota! I now have to wear long johns when I go walking in the morning. As soon as the snow starts falling we will be moving into a indoor walking area. If it wasn't for my walking routine I am sure I would be 20 lbs heavier!! I just love to eat and especially sweet things. I don't know what has happened to my will power. I crave sweet everyday and find any way to meet that need even it means sending Tanner out on a doughnut run at 10pm! His drivers license needs to be good for something after all just think of all those years of running him all over it is now his turn to do a little running for me!

It is so cold ....I think we will have a ice storm today. I never understood what that was until we moved here. I couldn't imagine why the rain wouldn't just come down as snow if it was that cold. But it really rains and then instantly turns to ice when it hits the ground and then the streets are like ice skating rinks literally, it is very dangerous to drive in those conditions.

I am getting so good at highlighting Emma's hair. We did her hair yesterday and it looks beautiful. Some day I should think about going into that business! The great thing about doing it is that it saved me $80.

Well I have lots to do today....

Church, Turkeys, and Diapers!

It is official. I am set apart as the Relief Society 1st counselor. I feel very humbled by this calling and feel as though I will have the opportunity to grow in this capacity both in spirit and in mind. I will be working with a wonderful presidency and look forward to getting to know and love the sisters of the ward even better. It seems as though every few months I have been given a new calling in this ward so we will see how long this one lasts! But for now it feels like the place Heavenly Father wants me.

It is finally the "holidays" isn't that what they call it after you get through Halloween? I love the holidays and am looking forward to Thanksgiving this year. I am hoping that it works out the way I have planned. We are looking forward to go up to the cities this year and stay in a hotel and then go to a play "Wicked"! I love doing different things for holidays although I didn't use to have this attitude. I use to in my younger years feel like it wasn't a holiday unless I was doing the same thing as everyone else (stuffing my face with turkey). I don't know why I feel differently now but I really enjoy doing unusual things for traditional holidays. As long as I am with my family building memories I am happy doing anything.

The first quarter of school is almost over...this is the last week. I am so glad!! Emma is struggling a bit with some of her classes and Tanner seems to procrastinate everything until the very last minute before he decides it better get done. I will be very happy the day all three of my kids are done with school!!!! Although I will be immensely sad that they are leaving me for adventures in this world I will be very happy that I don't have to worry about another teacher calling me to tell me my child is not living up to there potential (tell me about it...I am their mother!) or getting another recorded message from the school to tell me my child missed 4th-7th period that day just to find out that that particular child thought that they knew best by staying in the study hall that day to finish assignments that are due in 8th period! I love teenagers but they are the most difficult age to parent!!! I would give anything to be able to change their diapers and lay them down for a nap once in a while!

family pictures

pictures turned out great!

halloween, callings, and talking about weather!

Okay! No more mushy stuff.
I have talked my girls (mostly Elle) into bagging Halloween this year!! I told them that we would go to the movies instead of dressing up and knocking on strangers doors and begging for candy. I told them that I would split up the candy I have bought to hand out to kids with them instead and that way they would get a boat load of candy but not have to get cold and we could go do something fun in a warm building! Emma was into that because we she doesn't trick or treat any more and she saw that she was going to get a bag full of candy and a movie! I am so proud of myself for getting out of trick or treating.

I have had a very busy week getting ready for my Relief Society Retreat that we held last Saturday. It was very successful and everyone enjoyed themselves very much. I was called into the Bishop's office yesterday and given a new calling....You will have to tune in to find out what it is. I have been moved around a lot in this ward not holding a calling for very long. We will see how long this new calling will last. Can you guess what the calling is???

This is a really sad story....I went walking this morning and the last 100 yards felt as though I need to get to a bathroom (my stomach didn't hurt but I felt the need to find a toilet) the sad part was that my next door neighbor was outside waiting to catch the bus and she wanted to have a nice neighborly talk! Well this wasn't going to due...after about 30 seconds talking about the weather and feeling the urge to poop swell within my bum I ran into my house and ALMOST made it but not quite. Oh well that is the fun in my life!! Close doesn't count when you are talking about poop.

Fall Activities

This is a sunset at the golf course we played at over our anniversary. It was a beautiful ending to a wonderful day!

Scott and I spent the weekend of our anniversary in the cities. We had a blast exploring down town Minneapolis and golfing. I love my anniversary!

Tanner had a birthday this fall and is now 17!! He is still just a little boy at heart though as he plays with his pet snake finally given a name "snake". He is preparing to apply to schools soon and so we will all be holding our breath as we wait to see which school he will be attending next year.

Emma with her horse Zan. Emma placed 2nd and 3rd in a couple of the horse show competitions. The girls both learned how to handle and ride horses this summer and had a wonderful time. Tanner thinks that Emma makes a very good "cowgirl".

Elle is standing by her horse Miss Muffy. The girls had their end of the season horse show the last weekend in Sept. Elle won a couple of ribbons that day. She really enjoyed her summer of horse riding and is now saving her money to buy her very own horse!...But where will she keep it? ....maybe in her bedroom!

Getting Ready For Winter Means No More Golf

Lets see....what should I blog about today??? Today Scott made a comment to me about golf. He said that he wanted to go this weekend (we have gone for the last 4 weekends) and he was mad that he has made a commitment to do something else because now he can't have a golf day. I told him it was okay it is a good thing to do other things especially if they involve your kids! Then he sadly reminded me that this is the last weekend he may have to golf before winter hits Minnesota. It is such a long winter here that we will not be golfing until at least next May. I have to say I felt a twinge of sadness for Scott but overall I am actually sad that we are going into a long winter and more then missing the golf I am going to miss spending time with Scott. Scott and I have been spending 4-6 hours together every Saturday and it has been so wonderful. I hope that we can find something else to bring us together the way golf has this winter because it is different when you are home and all the stuff of home seems to get in the way of the one on one time together. Hopefully we will have one more weekend left in Oct. where we can get out and hit some balls and spend some time together before we have to settle down for a long winters nap!