New E-mail Address

I have a new e-mail address its

etr2003 at gmail dot com

I am in the process of transferring EVERYTHING including my blogs over to my new e-mail address. It is turning out to be quite the process. However, I thought I'd throw it out there so if any of you are needing to contact me you could. It's going to be hard to get used to a new e-mail address after 13 years of the SAME one!

Also, if you have a private blog please re-send me an invite at the new e-mail address and you can delete the old one. Thanks so much for all of your help. I hope I'll like gmail. Nothing will ever be as simple as my old one (which they've told me isn't going anywhere, but I don't believe them!).

E-mail issues

My e-mail all of a sudden disappeared today. Meaning, the site I always log in on said it was no longer able to be used. Why, I'm not so sure, other than the fact that i've had that e-mail for 13 years... which is why I love it so. I mean, I know changing e-mail isn't a big deal for most people, some people I know change it ever year. However, for me, because I've never changed mine and I've always had the same e-mail, I have a feeling it's going to be a very big deal. There's no way I will remember to change my e-mail address with everything I'm supposed to. It's my log in for everything, attached to everything I do, and so unfortunately It's going to be a while trying to set everything up for a new e-mail address. Right now its working, but I'm not sure for how long.

So leave me a comment with your email if you want me to have it when I make the transfer over to something else... I'm just not sure where to take my e-mail business quite yet!

Happy Birthday Miss Dana!

My kids have been writing to Miss Dana while she is in Jerusalem for BYU study abroad. She has been writing back too and they are LOVING it! Her birthday was 3 weeks ago and I'm finally getting these up. I posted all their letters on her blog in the comments but these pictures were too cute not to share, and since this is one of the only ways I KNOW she can get them I'll share them with all of you! We LOVE you Miss Dana! Happy Birthday, even though I'm a little slow!

Walmart....Mesquite Blow out!

I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with Walmart. In general I love walmart and it's endless aisles of low priced merchandise. HOWEVER, the walmart in Mesquite NV is where the HATE part of the relationship comes in. It is the closest walmart to me, but it is a "little" walmart. "little" translating to mean smaller without all of the things you come to depend on walmart having. Friday night was a breaking point for me.

I shop with coupons. I will not buy something that I have coupon for without using the coupon and most of the time we try and only buy things that are on sale and use the coupons to maximize our savings. Which is why until the last 2 weeks I haven't stepped foot in the Mesquite walmart (well that and all the traveling, swine flu, etc).

I was there last Saturday so 8 days ago and had a mostly fine shopping experience. The downfalls were that they've stopped carrying my yogurt and my favorite flavor of my favorite brand of ice cream. But alas, all was well, I got most of the things on my list and had NO PROBLEMS checking out with my 20+ coupons (all printed from the Internet on reputable coupon sites).

This Friday we went again to get a few things and we had a bunch of coupons expiring that we wanted to use. We get the cashier from _______ who doesn't even try scanning all my coupons (which this time I only had 6) but throws a fit saying they don't take Internet coupons. So we wait for the manager who because she doesn't want to type the numbers in off the coupon (a whole 10 seconds) agrees saying they don't take coupons printed from the Internet. I explained that their coupon policy was online and it said they would accept them. But the lady just kept insisting that they didn't accept them... So I spitefully told her she'd better inform the rest of her employees that they should break company policy and not take them either.

I WAS LIVID! (and that's probably and understatement!) OK, lets be honest... I still am LIVID (I'm writing this aren't I?)

I told John to get out all of the items we were planning on buying with the coupons. (The one item I found I basically threw it at the cashier lady). We paid for our items and left. By the time we got to the car I was telling John I was never going back because not only were there items on our list they didn't have, but that I didn't need my blood pressure shooting up at Walmart higher than it does at the school board meetings... so I'm done.

If I need to go to Walmart, I'll be heading up to St. George, because this isn't worth it. Fairly soon however, I think I will not be doing ANY grocery shopping at ANY walmart so I don't have to deal with it.

Hope

Hope is something I've been lacking a bit of as of late. It is also something that I've been clutching onto the little bit that I have like its my life preserver. This hit me like a ton of bricks. I LOVE IT, and thought I would share. Because we all need a little more hope!

I'm still here... barely

Well it has been a crazy beginning to the school year!

We've been in school for 8 weeks and in that 8 weeks I've missed 6 days of school plus two more half days...(which may not seem like a lot... but it really IS!).

I started off the school year with bronchitis and laryngitis. So for the whole 2nd week of school I couldn't talk... (OK only half of the 2nd week, til Thursday when I yelled at a kid and my voice came back!)

The next week I was in Phoenix for 2 days.

Needless to say, my classroom, and my class, and myself had a really rough beginning. There was a good 2-3 weeks where we flat out didn't like each other.

During this nightmare I was in Indiana for 2 days.

In those 2-3 weeks there were 4 days where 14 children went to Think Time. 1 student went 2 days in a row... His mom called and asked that he be removed from my classroom because I'm too mean... I invited mom in to see I was equally mean to each of my students. Mom hasn't ever come in, he's still in my classroom, and he hasn't been back to Think Time since. (And all this about 1 of my 23 darlings)...

When I got back I was in my classroom for a whole week and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT! We fell in love with each other, my students and I. It was a turning point for all of us. Since we've only had the occasional Think Time and they've earned their first party.

The next week I missed a half day to go meet my student teacher and learn what I needed to do while she was in my class.

The following week my student teacher started and I was supposed to go to Phoenix for 2 days... Lucky for me (so I thought) our ELL director hadn't gotten a substitute so I got to stay home. YAY! But in reality it was most lucky for the other 3 people that had to go to Phoenix. On the 2nd day I would have been gone I GOT SO SICK! So I left halfway through the day and went to the doctor while John was in class (Oh did I forget to mention he's back in school!).

2 words


SWINE FLU

Yup, me of all people had swine flu.

(Here's what went through my head in 1.2 seconds...
I was in nursery on Sunday, I babysat the girls on Sunday, I taught my class for two days, I've graded all their papers, I sent all those papers home, I've touched everything, I have a funeral to go to, I have a baptism to go to, I have a RS activity to go to, I have to call SO MANY PEOPLE!)


We take a break from the "Back to school story" for the "Swine flu story"
I'd been texting my mom the whole time so she was the first to know... But I called my principal first. He was literally speechless, thought I was kidding, and kinda freaked out. Then I called my friend, whose girls I had watched, she's also my superintendent's wife so that worked out. I called everyone that I had spoken with in the last 3 days... It was loads of fun telling all these people they were possibly exposed.

Anyway, the first day was awful... after I got home from the Dr. office I hurt so bad I could hardly walk... But by Friday I was fever free for 24 hrs and feeling lots better.

There is nothing worse that being told you cant leave your house until ____ especially if you're a control freak like me! So I stayed put till Monday like I was told... grr

We no return you to the regularly scheduled "Back to School Story"

Swine Flu, home for 2 days.

So my poor student teacher go her first go at teaching a little earlier than either one of us had planned... but she did GREAT!!!

Anyway, I was at school all last week feeling much better, and loving it all, kids, student teacher, teaching in general...

Until I happen upon all the things I HAVE to do DIFFERENTLY this year because I'm teaching first AND second graders.

Just think; spelling tests, homework, reading material, not to mention all the different variable in WHAT they know. So, it is DEFINITELY been a learning experience for me, and I'm only motivated by my desire to have them learn all the can. Perfection at certain things is possible.

Some of the things we hope to perfect this year:

• Walking down the hallway correctly
• Capitol letters and punctuation in our sentences
• Short and long vowel sounds
• Addition
• Subtraction

Anyway, I'm alive... I survived the Swine Flu... All is well.

Where are you from?

Right now I'm sitting in the very kitchen that I ate thousands of meals in, mostly pizza or hamburgers, had many birthday parties at, and helped my mom tape straight lines so she could paint :) I'm using the computer I helped my dad pick out and buy for my mom at least 5 years ago if not longer (I'm thinking 8). It is missing the apostrophe key, hence all the I'ms(oh wait spell checker fixes them! lol)... So much has changed, but much has remained the same.

People ask where I'm from all of the time. I always give them this long drawn out story of how Ive lived in different places equal number of years so each is part of me. This is true, but riding in the back of the car this time down my street it was different. It hit me like a ton of bricks.

THIS IS HOME.

Walking in the door was very different this time. My mom is in Utah with Bob, he had surgery yesterday. Dana is in Jerusalem. Logan is in California. And of course, my dad is gone. But my two youngest brothers, who are both much littler than they were the last time I saw them (I think together they've lost 75lbs) greeted us at the door. Along with Griffy the family westie.

I love Indianapolis and actually, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the town my family has spent the last 14 years in. Its definitely not the same as when I lived here over 8 years ago, but it is still home.

This house, this kitchen, this yard, this dog is all home. It smells like home still, too. I love this place, I love being here.

Even though my dad is gone, this place still is home.

Even though Ive grown up and moved on and have John, all that started here. This is home.

A huge portion of my heart will forever be in this place. First, a chunk stayed when I left for college. Another chunk stayed behind when I left this place as a wife. The largest portion stayed behind when my father passed away and I rushed HOME to be with my family.

I think for all of these reasons, I feel most complete in this place, as a human being. Everything seems to fall into place a little easier, I think more clearly, I am most like the me I remember before LIFE happened.

I love my life now. Sure would I change a couple of our current situations if it were up to me, probably... but I love it. However, I now know I have a very simple answer for a very simple question. This is the place I will ALWAYS call home, no matter who lives in the house, or where I spend Christmas or Thanksgiving holidays. This very house, where I no longer have a room, will always be HOME to me.

It's been a while!

Hey Everybody... I'm sure most of you know who read my blog that I've been on many adventures over the past month. I'm working on getting posts up with LOTS and LOTS of pictures for you! It will be my weekend project to keep my mind off of school, plus I have to get it done before John goes back to school next week and I'm back to very rarely getting to use the computer. But not to worry I keep up on all of your blogs from my couch using my iPod. A very neat tool but not conducive to posting (since it only lets me write in the title part ;) Oh yeah, you'll have to scroll down past this post because I'm back dating my posts to when they should have gone up ;) O how I love blogger's ease at keeping my journal writing in cronological order (and letting me cheat, just a little!)

San Diego with Cousins :) Beware MONSTER POST!

***I'm going to post this without all the pictures just to get it up but will be adding slideshows all day as I get the pictures uploaded and made :) I can't just sit here all day anymore though waiting A) I'm way to impatient! B)I have a very dirty house to clean!***





We had a grand time on our last hu-rah of summer. We headed to our favorite vay-cay destination... San Diego! And we didn't do what we always do... ok yes we did, but we did more too! We expanded our eateries, and our sight-seeing spots. We had a blast!

One of the first things we did was go to Sea World which was open until 11:00 or so and tried to catch a bunch of their night shows (which of course they schedule them all at the same time or overlapping). Anyway we had fun, and that's all that matters! We didn't take nearly as many pictures as we did last trip, but I did take a bunch of videos!

The next morning we headed to Point Loma and Cabrillo National Monument. IT IS AMAZING! This was probably one of the highlights of our trip for me. I loved sitting up on the point and watching the ships, boats, etc head from San Diego Bay into the Pacific ocean. The best part was hearing all the sea lions barking. I couldn't see them, but they sure are noisy! After exploring the history of Point Loma and learning about Cabrillo's many adventures we headed down to see the tidal pools! I was so excited about this. Unfortunately it was high tide so we didn't get to explore the tidal pools, however watching the waves crash against the rocks and feeling the spray was lots of fun too! The coastal rocks have some very cool looking formations as well!

After Cabrillo National Monument we headed to Old Town... we were planning on Old Town Mexican Cafe... but we decided we should try out one of the other 100 restaurants in Old Town, especially this one


Yup that's right Cafe de Reyes! So COOL! And honestly SO DELICIOUS! I of course ordered the Chile Rellano, I've been on the search for my favorite one, and this one is close to topping the list. The only reason it doesn't is because it's in San Diego, and my other topper is 15 minuts away so much more convienent to be my favorite! Here are some more pictures from the Cafe de Reyes area of Old Town.

That evening we headed to the zoo with Tyann and her family. We rode the bus and the skyfari and got our first glimps at the new elephant exhibit. I also got this video of the lion... he was pretty fiesty each evening we were there! Pacing around, growling/grunting, and spraying the onlookers. This video was right before he sprayed the first time, and I about got it, but didn't thanks to John grabbing me out of the way.

Thank Heavens! That night we had our first taste of "parenting" lol ok so not really, but Kamryn did come spend the night in our room, in our bed, right between us all night. It was a lot of fun, and worth it for one night :) The funniest thing is that Kamryn talks in her sleep so in the morning we asked her about all the things she told us and she didn't remember a thing! OH and this I didn't even remember to tell Tyann, but I have to share with you!!! It is so funny, but also a little TMI so if you don't want to know stop reading!

That night when Kamryn(5) got to our room she went in and used the bathroom. She came out and declared that in the morning I HAD to put lipstick on her. I don't own any lipstick and told her that. She said, well what's in the box on the back of the toilet then? I just told her it wasn't lipstick. She said oh and dropped it (thankfully!) I wasn't sure how I was going to explain tampons to a 5 year old! TOO FUNNY! I love kids, they say the greatest things!

Here are some more pictures of, OF COURSE, the Pandas :) We took Lauren and went early (we waited for at least 30 minutes before the park opened) to make sure we got lots of time to spend with the panda bears. They had the sisters out since mom had just had a new cub the day before! I started getting really annoyed with all the people asking where the new cub was and why it wasn't out on exhibit with mom... (John had to remind me that not everyone knows as much about panda bears as I do) So for those of you that don't know much about pandas, they are 4 ounces when they are born. That's the size of my cell phone... The mom is only considered pregnant for 6 weeks. This is the 5th cub bai yun has had. 2 have been sent back to China, the other 2 girls should be there as well, however China has allowed us to keep them since the earthquake there destroyed their research facility. There's tons more I could tell you but...OK well enough panda 101.

We also decided to do breakfast with Shamu when we were let into the park 30 minutes early, hadn't eaten breakfast, and they still had poolside tables! It was fun, but nearly not as GREAT as it usually is. We were told it was because they were practicing for their morning show, but the food was good, and they refilled our big cup for FREE! so that was great. I did get some great video though! Here you go!

Here are some other random pictures from our vacation. I'm going to have to steal some of tyann's pictures because somehow I have NONE with any of them! This was one of the BEST trips we've had. Thanks to Tyann and her family for letting us play tour guides for them and show them around some of our FAVORITE places!

Visit to Salt Lake/Provo areas

The last week in July we headed up to northern Utah to see Dana(my seester) doing here thing (archeological dig) in SLC. I love my sister and she ALWAYS does the COOLEST things! Take for example... in just 1 week she will fly halfway around the world and spend the next 4+ months in Jerusalem! See I told you she's cool, waaaaaaaay cooler than me!

Did I mention that we have a blast together? We did some shopping, ate yummy food, and went to through the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open house.



My wonderful friend Jessi whom I didn't get a picture with (!?!?! not quite sure how that happened) went through the open house with us.

Such a beautiful place.


It was a very different Open House experience for me. Basically we walked through the whole temple in a giant line. I felt like I was a cow being herded... the problem with this was the lack of reverance and lack of time to linger.

But it did not take away from the beauty. The best part was the couple at the end bearing their testimonies of eternal families in one of the sealing rooms. That was a great experience!


Afterward we went to dinner at Johnny Carinos. Very Yummy! I mostly ate John's dinner though (which was the point since I just ordered an appetizer) He had Pepperoni Macaroni... IT WAS SO YUMMY! We had a great time catching up with Dana and Jessi. It was great to see you Jessi! We've decided it was time for Jessi to come visit us next. We can't wait to have you at our house!


We had an amazing time... One of the highlights was Dana showing off her tan lines, they're pretty hilarious! I can't look at her feet and not laugh... it shows what a white girl she really is :) Here are some pictures :)