My BDay Deets
K, so I woke up REALLY late and Jamie dropped Abbey off at school so I could lounge in bed until Noon. Jamie and I had a nice lunch (Subway) that we ate in Lil Red while we watched the clouds drift by. We scooped up Abs as she got out of school, and then Ry and Robynn came over and we did the Song & Cake thing and watched "The RM". We all ended up at the Riverton HS Homecoming football game, where Jamie experienced the utter horror of channeling memories of the sickly desperate gut-wrenching feelings that everyone goes through in high school. We left after some kid was run over by two other drunk kids in a stolen golf cart. Teen Spirit!
A Fun Day
Yea! Another year to celebrate with my amazing husband. I love birthdays because you can stop and take time to celebrate life. We have been blessed with another health happy year. You know the old saying "growing old together". Baby, I don't think we're gowin' old together, instead we're growing, loving, living, and learning together. But old, that's not even in the picture yet. I love you and happy birthday.
Way Too Busy
I don't know how I continue packing so much stuff into my life. Maybe it's a great blessing God's only given us one child- I have no idea how people do it with a house full. Here's a summary of this past week.
Monday- up at 6:30 class all day till 4:30- pick Abbey up from a friends who picked her up from school (guilt)- Fix dinner- Run to DiFrancesco's to serve dinner and have FHE (went very well)- Danica and Abbey's homework- My homework up till 1- bed
Tuesday- pretty much the same as Monday- but had a hour or so to chat with Kath, since she picked Abbey up from school- YW at 7, almost died of propane tank on fire- have seriously never been close to death- lesson learned: water does not put out flaming propane
Wednesday- Finally got some of my housework done- Off to Grandma and Grandpas to to their chores and shopping- dinner- YW planning meeting 6:45-10:30pm
Thursday- Jared's Birthday (scrambled and got a homemade cake made, he loved it!)
Friday- Gina and Grandma Van both admitted to the hospital- Taught Abbey's class, very fun- Got take-home projects done for Abbey's teacher- Canned peaches (picked from last Sunday, about a 1/4 went rotten) with Kath (thank goodness for that woman) and went to dinner with her and Eric.
Saturday- Slept In (most wonderful- Watched almost all of conference- Decorated for Halloween with Abbey (she's been asking for days)- Took Abbey shoe shopping (she got boots and tennis shoes) and finally made it to the grocrie store- Got a couple hours homework done for another class starting Monday- and Updated my blog
I've really got to simplify (ie. Elder Perry's talk). Is everyone that busy all the time? It's difficult emotionally. My husband thinks I'm beautiful and appreciates all I do, so I'm lovin' life no matter.
Hot to Trot!
So, Abs has been going through with the purer half of the whole Godiva thing by taking riding lessons from a kind neighbor behind our folks' house. We've been hitting it on and off through the summer, and it's been about a month since her last episode so we were wondering if anything had sunk in enough to last the interim. Unfounded worries - Abbey did great, even got "Wanda" (remember: WANDA, k?) up to a trot! Shoulda seen Abs' face on that one (<=0). Toni, her teacher is planning on unleashing her talent in the ARENA next week. Gotta check the insurance to see if equine paralysis is covered... Out.
Shootin' Up The Temple
Last night we went downtown with Ryan & Robynn to take pictures of Robynn at the Salt Lake Temple in her prom dress. They were nice enough to bring a
bucket o' Panda by the house, and then we aced it downtown fast to get there in time before the sun went down. Got some good pics, had some moments of fear (building access card wouldn't work - Ry fixed it), some moments of terror (up on the roof of the Zions Building - the 30ft ladder didn't bug me as bad this time
THANK GOODNESS), some moments of romance (drove past the Grand America, home of Ry's
intricately thought-out future wedding night) and some moments of Wendy's goodness (after a seemingly endless roundhouse argument over where to eat). The sun actually cooperated, and we didn't get arrested, so chalk up a funkily nice evening. Out.
New LDS Meeting Format Announced
Teaching Again!
I just finished teaching Abbey's class for 40 minutes, a lesson on friendship. It was wonderful. I was nervous, but very excited. I loved it. They were great. Her teacher has classroom discipline down well. I would love to go every day if I could. I'm so thankful for the opportunity. I'll have my license renewed before I know it. : )
My Wonderful Husband
I got home from cleaning Grandma and Grandpa Van's house to a great surprise. Jared had a babysitter and had tickets for a charity benefit (The Road Home- he does their website) downtown. It was a chili tasting contest (between some great restaurants) at the Salt Palace. He knows how I love cooking, it was so fun seeing real chefs show off their best stuff. The New Yorker totally won my vote. It was a 50's theme, so people were all dressed up, there was a live band and dancers. It was a excellent surprise and very fun. Thanks Baby!
Abbey says NO
Abbey's first grounding was the result of tonights mayham. She was getting ready for bed, we were trying to do spelling words and brush teeth at the same time. She was goofing off and shut her finger in the cabnet doors- Screaming quickly followed. It wasn't bad, but she made it out to be murder. Time for bed, we said- once we got her to her room, still in tears. NO- she actually yelled NO to our faces! You just lost one day of tv, now get into bed, Jared replied. NO- she yelled again. Another day of tv gone, just like that. One more NO, and three days of no tv before she decided to get into bed. Jared told her, if you get out you'll lose 3 days of friends too. (she likes tv better than friends now days). After screaming a while longer, she calmed herself down and got out of bed, asking to finish getting ready for bed and finish her homework. We let her finish her teeth and wash up and tucked her into bed. We talked about how it feels crappy inside when you make bad choices, and how she now has to live with the consequences. We made sure she knew she was loved and explained how we were trying to teach her how to be happy. She's a smart girl.
Her first grounding ever! No tv or friends for 3 days. There is no way she can think yelling at her parents is acceptable- or anyone for that matter. Jared and I put together a schedule for the evenings, so we won't have spelling words conflict with teeth brushing any more (we might have overwhelmed her- I don't think can kids multi-task like adults can). Now we start the routine at 7:45 and hopefully have a calm sleeping child at 8:30.
Wow- I so need Heavenly Father's help to be a good parent. Prayer is the only way I made it though tonight. I do love seeing Abbey in the same the way He might see me, and the way my Mom sees me. Makes you realize how strong the bonds of love can be. Mom and Dad, I don't know how you did this with 6! Thank you.
Late Nights
This is Jared, yo. Most nights Babes & I can be found hunkered down in our suburban command center in the basement, yukkin' it up large with
Ry Bread & Red Robynn and figuring out the state of this merrily pathetic world. No Nobels yet, but lots of astigmatic insight as we mark time on the corner of Oblivion & Lost Horizons. Maybe I shouldn't blog...
Anyways, check out the vid that makes us sprout crinkles in our cheeks:
http://www.vimeo.com/1211060Makes me shed a manly tear. Peace, out.
Excellent Renunion
I had an awesome time last night. Anji (Howcroft), Shelly (Jenkins), Jacy (Yates) and I all met together for dinner. We so needed to catch up on each other. We talked for hours. It was so very fun. I hope Shamara and Shauna can make it next time. I did worried Jared by going to "dinner" for 4 1/2 hours -whoops next time I'll call. Luckily he's an excellent man and met me with a sigh of relief, a hug and a kiss at the door.
Pictures from Washington
I posted a couple of pictures from our trip to Washington earlier in the month. Kris and Dave were such excellent hosts. We loved visiting them. I've almost got a book done with pictures from the trip. *Kris send me a picture of Gus if you have one. Thanks girl.*
There is also a picture of Abbey at Great Grandmpa and Grandma Vans garden. Wayne has mastered corn this year. It's excellent.
Perfect Day
My Wonderful Husband- Jared totally surprised me this morning by taking a vacation day to hang out at home with me! We went out to lunch together, did yard work together, and just spent time- one on one. I loved it. It was excellent.
I also got to spend time today in Abbey's classroom. I'm working on renewing my license right- well, her teacher asked if I would like to teach her class every other Friday for about 40 min. I jumped at the chance. Teaching Abbey and renewing my license at the same time- I can't get better. I got to go in today to observe and see how she handles classroom management. Next Friday it's my turn. I've got to turn in a lesson plan to her Monday. Cool, huh.
Thanks
Thanks everyone for your comments. I'm liking this blog thing. Now we have to DO stuff , so I can put up new pictures. : )
Abbey's Back in School
School time again. Abbey started back on track yesterday. It's been an another adjustment. Abs cried going onto school today. I cry all day at home with out her. I don't really like this track on and off thing. Being home alone everyday gets old. Jared is great to help, we talk a lot on the phone. Kath came by yesterday to hang out and help in the yard. Lizzy is cute as ever. She's getting so big. She knows exactly how the home all day thing feels. I love having a sister.
"When I grow up I want to be a perfamous horse rider." I asked, what's perfamous? "You know, when people see you and they say wow."
10-28-08
"Sometimes I can even erase crayon, if I catch it in time."
10-11-08
"The quicker you go to bed, the quicker you go to the morning."
10-9-08
10/30/2008 9:03:17 PM - 000065541432
Yessssss! Ghost won. I can't wait for Halloween.
10/6/2008 3:48:01 PM - 000040670020
What's with all the Farmers Wife votes? We need Abs to be RICH later in life! =D
9/29/2008 3:04:46 AM - 001078807067
Everyone has to check out Mom and Dad's blog. The slideshows are very awesome! I'm so glad they're on the temple grounds.
9/23/2008 3:19:19 PM - 001078807067
Jared Wayne, I did not know you posted the new LDS standard for church meetings. Very funny. You are always full of surprises. Thanks babe.
9/10/2008 1:45:07 PM - 002028670620
Great blog site Jamie, we will enjoy seeing your pictures. We are next to set up a blog site. love mom and dad in Brazil
9/9/2008 9:13:25 PM - 000065541432
Love the pics.
9/9/2008 5:45:08 PM - 000040670020
Awesome Babes! This will be fun! =D
, she's been practicing her BOO!