THE ELUSIVE TREE

I struggle more and more with trying to go find a Christmas tree every year. I hate it. I don't like the search (especially now that none of the kids ever want to come anymore), I don't like putting the lights on the #@*$ thing either, and I really don't like the arguments that Big C and I have over it every year! I am ready for a fake, pre-lit tree that I can put together in minutes and just decorate. Is that so wrong?

Princess P and me with the tree, such as it is.

This year's tree is just as bad as all of them have been in the past. One sided and scrawny with limp branches that can't hold up ornaments. It is also the prickliest tree I have ever been stabbed by. We keep getting the needles stuck in our feet! Yikes! That's new, even for us.

You can tell with this shot how lopsided the tree is. It is definitely one sided. 

We took the snowmobiles this year since there was lots of snow and only three of us. It worked out alright until Big C wrecked his snowmobile. Oops!

Princess P and her snow angel skills are amazing!

FIRST DAY PICTURES

Darn it! We have to go back to school-- me included. I sure wish summer was a whole month longer, but nobody asks me. C Man is now in high school and Princess P is in middle school. Crazy days! I have no more elementary school kids. I am officially old.

Cutest 9th grader at Manti High.

Prettiest 6th grader at Ephraim Elementary!

THE LAST MAY DAY

I will have to confess my joy at watching my youngest go through the Ephraim 5th grader rite of passage- dancing the May Pole. It really was fun to watch her. She did great and had a good time.

Princess P in the chevron dress and smirky smile.

May Pole dancing- a lost art.

Her cousin, Miss B, and C Man wanted to come watch May Day instead of going to school, so they sat with me.

Miss B (one year older) and Princess P in front of the May Pole.

Cousins!

HANGING OUT WITH AWESOME A

Since A moved out to go to college (even though we live in the same town), we don't get to see him very often. I get to more than any of the rest of the family because he is in one of my classes, but we still miss him.

It's fun watching him do homework for my class. hehe

 We take every opportunity to be with him. He comes every Sunday to do laundry and have dinner with us, so that is nice. I am going to be sad next semester when I don't see him as much.

A few days ago, I had to make a shopping trip up to the metropolis (Provo/Orem) and I asked him if he wanted to come with me. He only had a morning class that day, so we left after that and had such a fun time! He's a pretty good shopping buddy for a guy. (Truth be told, he's probably more of a shopper than I am).

Shopping selfie of Awesome A and me!

PRINCESS P TURNS 11

I can't believe my baby is 11 years old! She is as old as Sister S was when I had her. I am just blown away at how old I am (yes, it's all about me...haha).

The birthday girl!

She got her own purple headphones, some new bedding for her room (we are doing a remodel), and some other things. She was thrilled! She's so easy to please. What a sweetheart!

Candles on the birthday brownies.

Her birthday was a spread out affair this year and she didn't mind at all. She opened her presents, went out to dinner and to the rodeo on the day, but we had brownie a la modes with the cousins the next Saturday.

Baby W! (Photo by Little C).

WE HAVE TO WEAR PINK?

Since some members my family are going to start leaving within 4 months, I decided that we needed one last family picture. None of them are ever excited about taking pictures, but for some reason (might have been because it was Fast Sunday...) everyone was extra rebellious yesterday. I almost gave up, but I am glad I persevered. We did get one that I can use for a Christmas card and blow up and put on my wall. They all thought I was nuts for wanting pink and black, but I really like it.

The One I like.

We took these in my in-law's orchard and the cows were in there eyeing us suspiciously. As I was setting the timer they kept telling me that they were going to come up and gore me with their horns. (They didn't have horns, but they did get really close).

My kids.

                                     I tried to take some of just my kids, but they were VERY uncooperative. They do not respect me as a photographer, so I think I'll have to start hiring someone from now on. Little snots. The one up above isn't TOO bad, except for Little C's tie- I'm not sure what's going on there...

Sassy kids!

These are my smart aleck kids, but I actually like this last one. They are so cute!

PA$$PORT

I have been trying to get my passport renewed this past week. I am hoping to go on the Art Department's trip to Europe this March and will need it then, so I thought I'd try to get it done for the cruise. What a pain!

I am not sure I will get to do both trips, but I am crossing my fingers. Hopefully things will work out. The photos for passports are the biggest pain. You can pay the post office $40 to take a tiny 2" x 2" photo, but I am too cheap. Who do they think they are? Ansel Adams?

My first try.

I had A take this photo for me first and the postal worker vetoed it because it didn't have a plain background (hey, it was white!) and it was a little grainy. So I tried again...

The one I sent in.

D took this one for me and I am REALLY not fond of it (my nose looks huge!- maybe it really is...), but I was sick of the whole process by then, so I just whited out the background and had it printed at Walmart for $7. I was renewing so it ONLY cost me $120 instead of $150. Talk about ridiculous! What the heck do they do with all that money?? Paint it by hand?

YOUNG WOMEN, HERE I COME

I have a new calling in our new ward. I am now the Young Women's President and although I can't say I am 'excited', I'm not feeling the trepidation I was at first. In the last 6 years I have served as Primary President, Relief Society President and now Young Women's President. I am not sure what I'm not learning, but I sure hope I get it this time! 

I don't know many of the Young Women and don't really even know my counselors and the advisors real well, but I think that is one of the reasons we change callings so often in our church. We not only learn new skills and discover new talents, but we gain friends that will last a lifetime. I have become very close to some of the most amazing women through callings I have held and have been so thankful to serve with them. I know this calling and these women won't be any different. 

So, off I go on my new adventure-- Young Women, here I come!

SOCCER SEASON'S BACK

Little C is back in action on the soccer field! Unfortunately, he is on a team with 19 players! He hardly gets any playing time at all. Some kids may not mind it, but Little C LIVES for soccer, so it is a huge disappointment to only get to play about 15 minutes a game.

Nice save!

 I am a little upset with Ephraim City for the situation. They even called me and asked if I would coach. I said yes but never heard back from them, so now we have 3 teams Little C's age with 18- 20 players on each team!  It is ridiculous! It's hard on coaches and the players.

Another fabulous save by Little C.

Little C played goalie (not his favorite) just so that he could get some play time yesterday. He did VERY well, but he was disappointed in his efforts- two balls got by him. Not the most ideal way to start the season, but hopefully he'll learn from his experiences and become a better player because if it.

I HATE GOOGLE +

Just found out that deleting photo albums from Google Plus deletes them from your blog. When I signed up for Google Plus I saw the photo albums and thought, "I don't need those, they are on my blog" and proceeded to delete the albums. Without warning, Google complied. WHY couldn't they have said, "Deleting these photos will delete them from your blog" ? I am NOT going to add all the photos back to all the posts, so I think I am done with the blog. Google+ is the stupidest thing ever! Why did I even sign up for it??? I am so ticked I can't even tell you!!

PROBLEM SOLVED?

I broke my camera again. I am so mad at myself I can hardly stand it. I bought it less than two years ago and this is the second time I've had to send it in for a new LCD screen. I sat on it when we went to Green River. Applause, applause, applause. I know.

I love this camera! It's my favorite! And if I'd just keep the screen shut, it would be okay, but I don't. Hopefully I've found a solution to the problem...

... this Pentax waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof camera. All the things my family and I need from a camera! I'll save my Canon for the less treacherous trips, whenever those might be...

OUT IN THE COLD

We are headed out on a river trip to do the Gates of Ladore (click for link)and I am less than enthusiastic about the idea. The forecast is calling for highs in the 60's and wind. Not a great combination when the water is about 50˚ F! I know the scenery will be amazing and the company will be fun, but the cold is freaking me out. I do not want to get dumped in the drink in those conditions and we are in HIGH water this year with class IV rapids. Pray for me...

PULPIT POUNDER

That's what my husband called me after I gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting yesterday. I had no idea I was so forceful. I KNOW for a fact that no strong contact came from my hand to the pulpit. I have to admit that I did feel a bit preachy, but I always do when I speak. I am far from perfect and so is my family (I spoke on Strengthening Family and Home) and I know it.

Anyway, it wasn't a good feeling. I have yet to feel great about a talk I have given. Why? I can't believe I am so insecure. My husband is great at feeding my insecurities without realizing it. Here's the link to my talk on YouTube. You can watch and tell me what you think.... JUST KIDDING!! HA HA HA

STAYING INTERESTED

I love to read. I have since I was in about 8th grade and my mom gave me my first Regency romance novel. (Romance novels were just about romance back then, not sex). I was hooked and have been ever since.

But lately I have had a rough time finding something to read (besides my beloved romance novels) that can keep me intrigued. For example:

Another 'Paranormal Teen Romance' (I read somewhere that the name of this genre is redundant- ha ha ha). It just kept going on and on without anything 'happening.' I gave up.

I didn't make it far through this book at all. Too much perversion, sex and swearing. Yuck! I wish someone had warned me.

This book seemed pointless. A man and woman are engaged and he cheats on her. I couldn't get into it, so I confess, I read some reviews on GoodReads to see if it was worth finishing. It wasn't. It ends badly- very badly.

I guess I ask too much of a book. I want decency, but also intrigue. I want romance, but I don't want to have to read the sex. I want gritty, but not bad language. I want to go somewhere and get there quickly. I want to be entertained and escape, but not somewhere depressing. (I can go watch the news if I want depressing).

"The good ended happily, the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means."- Oscar Wilde

If anyone has any great recommendations, I'm all ears...

SICK OF BEING SICK

Yes, I am going to whine. I am going on my 4th day without a voice and it is really getting old. I have a bad head cold and for some reason it has wiped out my ability to speak. It usually happens once a year, but this has just gone on too long. Hope I get it back in time for class tomorrow, otherwise my students are going to just have to suck it up. I'm not canceling again!