HOT DOG!!!

This is a picture of our dog Copper. I like to call him precious. Doesn't he look happy?

New ward...week 2

Our stake recently re-aligned our ward boundaries, so this was our 2nd week in our "new ward." Today, just before Sacrament started the Bishop and his counselors came to our bench and welcomed us and greeted us. After they left Joseph asked Brent the following question.."Did we get kicked out of our other ward?"

Change.....Sunday stake shakedown.

Well, last Sunday there was a big shake down within our stake. New wards were created and carved and there weren't many tears of joy. When the maps were shown were ward boundaries were created, some people gasped and groaned. There were plenty of people that used the term "you have got to be kidding me!" I was not a happy camper when they showed our subdivision carved 3 ways. We will no longer be in the same ward we've been in for the past 2 years. I'm bummed that I will no longer be teaching my Sunday school class with 12-13 year olds. They were a great group of kids that really knew the scriptures.

On Tuesday we met with our new bishopric and they were very welcoming and nice. They're a great group of men that will make this transition go smoothly. Change is good. This change was inspired of the Lord and the work will continue. As my good friend Leslie said.."ward re-alignments just means more cute friends! People like
- oh say me - who you would never have known had they not realigned the boundaries."
I'm sure this will not be the last change within our stake but it will all work out. This is the Lord's church and all will go as planned.

My Hero!

Last week was a very chaotic week. Alycia's on restriction for a month, and has lost all computer and TV for her choices. So let's just say, she is going to have it pretty rough and I didn't think I was on her good side. Well, she asked me to print a picture of myself that evening for her to which I did. In morning I was getting the kids' lunches ready and looked over and saw her poster she had been working on the previous evening. In the area of "my hero", she taped a picture of me...her mom. Underneath my picture she wrote the following: "My hero is my Mom. She's the best mom ever. She's a great cook and can sew anything."

I pray that she'll continue to think great thoughts of me. She is a very thoughtful young lady and a blessing in my life.

School has started! Yippee!

Well, the kids have already started school. This summer has gone by quickly. Alycia is in the 6th grade CATS program (smarty pants class) and turns 11 in just a couple more weeks. We've already received a call from her teacher. Apparently, Alycia hasn't been finishing up her class work. Her teacher asked her why she's not finishing up her in class assignments, to which Alycia replied that she didn't bother to do the work since she already knows it and didn't want to waste her time. Arrrrrrrgggg! She did this last year with a different teacher. What are we going to do with this girl? Don't get me wrong..she's a very sweet and sensitive young lady. She's just very head strong.

Joseph is now in 3rd grade and turns 9 in a of couple weeks. No big surprises this year. Last year he decided to give me a huge scare by walking home alone and not telling anyone. I went to pick him and Alycia up at school. When I arrived, Alycia said she hadn't seen Joseph at the parent pick up area. Mind you, this school has 1500 students from K-6th. I was totally freaking out...did they put him on a bus? Is he roaming the school? Is he roaming the neighborhood? Where is he? They couldn't get a hold of his teacher and nobody's seen him. I was not a happy mom at the office. The school was paging all the teachers on their walkies to find Joseph..they were very calm and professional. I decided to check the house just in case. When I arrived, there he was, all smiles and proud of himself. I immediately called the school to inform them that he was home. Let's just say, I didn't make my face shown at the office for a couple weeks. Duh Anna? In all, Joseph's doing well with his new teacher. He does not do well with change, but has adjusted to the new routine well so far.

Due to the amount of homework and changes, we have opted to skip Taekwondo for the month of August. Joseph's bummed but Alycia's happy. The kids are still in piano and doing well. I'm now okay with them no longer using their headphones when practicing the piano. (we have a digital piano...nice..)

Right now, I'm trying to get everything at home in order before I go back to school in a couple more weeks. I'm attempting to get 3 quilts and a roman shade sewn and finished in the a couple weeks. Am I biting more than I can chew? Hmmm...we'll see. So much to do..so little time. I am currently enrolled to take a biology and algebra class this semester. My bio class is an ALL DAY Friday class. Yuck yuck. I am so not looking forward to that. Ugggg. I should be done with the nursing program in 4 years. That will be a happy day!

Sweetest daughter ever.....

A couple days ago I really needed to mow my lawn. I couldn't afford getting another letter from our HOA. It was about 9am and about 100 degrees outside. I told the kids to check on me in 15 minutes if I'm not inside. They asked why they needed to and I told them that I might pass out again. Joseph looked horrified and asked what "pass out" meant. I explained it to him and he seem content. Alycia asked if it was okay for her to dump water on me should that happen. To which I replied yes. It turns out it did take longer for me finish up the lawn work, so Alycia ran out to see if I was okay. I was drenched in sweat, but okay. She came back out with a large cup of ice water for me to drink and said "thanks for mowing mom, it looks great."

I was so proud of my little girl. She almost eleven years old and was thoughtful enough to get the water for me without me even asking. That's why she's the sweetest daughter ever.......

I want to go back to work............

Today was the second week of swim lessons. It was about 90 degrees at 8am this morning with not much of a breeze. The kids were doing well at their lessons and listening about 80% of the time. Brent took a sick day off today (Monday) and decided to join us. (He was in church meetings Sunday from 6am-1pm and had been up since 3 in the morning, needless to say, he was tired). As we were driving from swim lessons the kids decided to not be nice to one another with their books, someone got hurt and started crying. By time the instigator got in trouble, both kids were crying on the fun ride home. Brent turned to me ( I was still driving) and asked..."Does this usually happen after lessons?" I laughed and said "sometimes." He then looked forward and said....
"I want to go back to work."