Lunar Eclipse

Yesterday morning there was a lunar eclipse. That's one of the advantages of being up at 4:00 am getting newspapers. It was a little eerie when I first saw it. The moon looked red and smoky. By the time I got home to get Bronson, it was a lot easier to see and he was impressed by it. We were done delivering papers at about 5:30 and by then the moon was a quarter of the way back to it's original color. I guess by 6:30 am the eclipse was completely done and the moon was restored to it's full moon state.

I remember when I was in the 4th grade, there was a solar eclipse. I can remember so specifically - my parents sitting me down and making sure I knew NOT to look at the sun because I could go blind if I did. I remember that was so freaked out all day that I might look up at it and be struck blind. I think this lunar eclipse will be something Bronson will always remember because he was able to look at it, take it all in, and he wasn't scared and completely freaked out by it!

Kindergarten 1st Day

The day has come and Emmie could hardly contain herself - she was so excited. She had a great day at Kindergarten. I rode the bus home with her which was really fun. I was asked by the teacher if I could do that and help the driver find her way around the new route and help the kids know where their stop was. Emmie didn't even want to sit by me - she's so independent.

Before we left for school


Posing with Logan in the backyard


Finding your spot at the table




Riding the bus home!

Our Milk Cow

I feel so tired right now. It's been a lazy Saturday - something we haven't known for a long time. Dave took the kids (except for Maddie) with him to Heber so he could help his mom with some things around her house. It's been a very peaceful afternoon. I have a lot of things I could be doing but right after they left, I sat down for a minute (big mistake) and I fell asleep. I woke up 1/2 hour later when Maddie needed me to take her somewhere.

I'm usually not this tired but we are starting week 5 of our paper route (4 weeks with our own route.) Bronson has been SUCH a trooper. He was born to be a "paperboy." He gets up every single morning at 5:00 to deliver the papers and NEVER complains. I go every other day at 4:00 and pick up the papers and fold them. I get to sleep in until 5:00 every other day when Diane brings them to me. We both go on Sunday and I'm so thankful that we do this together. I don't think I could do 4:00 every single morning. The only day Bronson doesn't deliver is on Sunday. I make Maddie do that one so he has a day to sleep in a little and catch up.

This started out being a family project but after Bronson got his first paycheck and I put $150 in his bank account, he didn't want to share.

I'm really proud of Bronson and his ambition to save money - and to work hard. This paper route is our families "milk cow." When Dave was growing up, he had to get up at 5:00 every morning to milk his family's cow. It didn't matter if it was Christmas day or a holiday - the cow still had to be milked. The paper is the same way. There is no day off. I'm thrilled that Bronson is getting such a head start on saving for his mission, college, etc - but more importantly, I'm so glad that he's growing to be such a hard worker like his dad.

So - I'm tired. Dave has been getting up with me on Sunday mornings to get the papers because there is just so much to put together and so many of them. That's been very helpful. I'm hoping to get him trained on the route so I can have a day off now and then!

Kindergarted Testing

Emmie had her testing for Kindergarten on Thursday. She was so excited about it. She knew all the answers and it only lasted about 15 minutes. We found out last night that she will have Mrs. Graham for her teacher (Talbie had her). The other teacher is new so we're excited to have Mrs. Graham. She starts school on Tuesday!

80's Quiz

I just got this great quiz from my friend Shea. Thanks Shea! Dave and I did it together but only scored a 75%. I was a bit disappointed in ourselves. I thought we'd do better. Take the quiz and let me know your score. It's fun!

First Day of School

Today was the kid's first day of school. Everyone went except for Emmie. She won't start kindergarten until August 28th. She was pretty bummed about that. They do that every year and it's so hard to explain to a 5 year old why she doesn't get to start school with everyone else. She goes in on Thursday for testing and then she'll start Monday.

It was a pretty successful day for everyone. The only problem was that Talbie was upset when she came home because they have moved the bus stop and they now have to walk and extra 5 houses down the street. It's a very tragic thing. Dave got on Google Earth and showed her the house he grew up in and how far he had to walk (a visual of "I walked 3 miles to school both ways - uphill). It didn't help her feel better. She'll survive!



Bronson by himself. What a handsome devil!


Maddie leaving for school

FHE

Tonight for Family Home Evening we went to Brick Oven (we seem to be doing a lot of partying lately for FHE - but that will end very soon with school starting tomorrow). While we were there, a man was going around making balloon figures for kids. He was SO good and it was fascinating to watch him. The kids just randomly said things they wanted him to make and he could do it. Here is what they each had made...


Emmie's is Tinkerbell


Bronson - Spiderman




Talbie - the Wicked Witch of the West (or Elphaba for you Wicked fans)



Maddie - Jasmine from Aladdin fame.

Emmie

Emmie has dubbed herself as a "tomboy". She has decided that it's more fun doing the things that boys do. She loves going anywhere with Dave and lives outside - filthy. This is what she has decided to be for Halloween...



But...things changed a little bit today. After church we ate lunch and Dave thought it would be a good idea to bring some food over to my mom and dad's house because they just got home from Las Vegas and my mom hasn't been feeling very well. Emmie wanted to go and while she was there, my mom gave her a present. She gave her this doll that has been in her Victorian living room. It's just about as big as she is. As Dave was driving home with her, she was admiring her doll and she said to him, "Dad, I really feel good about this!"

HSM II

We are just about to start our High School Musical 2 party! We've been looking forward to this new movie all summer and the time has now come. We have 2 Disney Channels so we can watch it at 6:00!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Do any of you remember the Staples commercial that used to air in August? It had the classic Christmas music playing in the background - the song "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." The commercial featured a dad strolling up and down the staples isles, throwing school supplies in his basket as the music played. The 2 kids were dragging along behind him, all forlorn looking. I keep picturing this commercial because the kids start school on Tuesday! They are actually excited about going back. We can't wait!

Dave and Kevin Arm Wrestling

This is funny! Lynn and Kevin came over for dinner on Sunday (Lynn is Dave's sister) and we ended up having some arm wrestling matches. This one was caught on video.

New Anne of Green Gables Movie

I'm not sure how I feel about this. I'm such a devote fan and I can't even imagine anyone being Anne except for Megan Follows. We'll see what happens. This is what it said on the website and why they are making a "prequel." It's to make up the story of Anne - before she came to Green Gables. I say - "Don't mess with perfection!"

SULLIVAN ENTERTAINMENT IS SEARCHING FOR A NEW ANNE SHIRLEY FOR THE PREQUEL TO THE EMMY AWARD WINNING FRANCHISE ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

Open Casting Call on YouTube –
Submission Deadline July 27/07

(Toronto, Ontario) – June 28, 2007: After completing the first Anne of Green Gables, award-winning filmmaker, Kevin Sullivan never dreamed of making a sequel much less a third film to complete his movie trilogy of the Canadian classic. Now, over 20 years later, love of the red-headed orphan Anne Shirley is still strong and spans the globe. In fact, Anne of Green Gables has a cult following in Japan, while tourists flood Prince Edward Island every year to pay homage to Lucy Maud Montgomery and her unforgettable heroine. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the publication of Montgomery’s original novel Sullivan has penned a prequel titled:
Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning.

What was life like for Anne before she arrived at Green Gables? According to Kevin Sullivan in his quest to bring Anne Shirley to life in the original mini-series, “The only starting point that I could find in interpreting Anne’s character was to figure out where she came from before she was at Green Gables. In the book, she just shows up at the train station. But I needed to who she was before she was brought to Prince Edward Island. I could only imagine that a child who had that kind of flamboyant imagination had to have already created her own world out of a need to escape an unusual past.”

Talbie's New Hair Do

Talbie had her hair done today before school starts. She was in bad need of a hair cut and a new look. Here are the before, during, and after shots!


Before she got started


Leslie (my cousin and hairdresser) starting the highlights


Getting ready to sit under the dryer


Getting rinsed


The Final Product! Beautiful!!

Maddie at EFY

I finally got my camera back when Maddie got home from EFY. She had a lot of fun and met some great people. When I talked to her the first night she was gone, I asked her how she liked it and she said, "I like it, but there's a lot of church stuff!" I don't know what she was expecting but she really loved it. She came home and told me about the great speakers they had and showed me all the notes she took. Here are some of her pictures. She made me promise to let her pick out the ones that I post on my blog, but she's not here right now. Oh well!


Maddie and Heather


Maddie and Heather in a mud mask


Maddie and her escort for the evening.



Maddie and her group

Maddie and the 2 counselors. They had to squat down because she's so short

I've been "Tagged"

I was "tagged" by my friend Sommer. This is really fun and I have learned new things about my friends who have been "tagged." Below are my answers but if you get sick of reading them... I am "tagging" four people myself so I want to see your answers (email them if you don't have a blog. And if you don't have a blog - GET ONE!)

* I'm tagging...
1. Caleen Christensen
2. Jill Murdock
3. Lauren Brutsch
4. Britt Mitchell

Here are my answers...

* 4 Jobs I've Had.
1. Concessions stand at local fun park in Boise
2. Mortgage Loan Processor/Officer - 7 yrs at First Security Bank (now Wells Fargo) and 1 yr with Housing Services
3. Piano Teacher (still teach)
4. Paper Route (new job. I get $0 money - my kids get it all - I'm sacrificing!)

* 4 Movies I Can Watch Over and Over
1. Anne of Green Gables (each series)
2. You've Got Mail
3. Devil Wears Prada
4. Ever After

* 4 Favorite TV Shows
1. The Office
2. Project Runway
3. Gilmore Girls (even though it's now off the air)
4. 24 or Lost (because they are Dave's favorites - they then became mine)

* 4 Favorite Hobbies
1. Playing the Piano
2. Quilting/Sewing
3. Shopping
4. Scrapbooking (even though I'm starting to hate it because I'm so far behind)

* 4 Places I've Lived
No where too exciting I'm afraid...
1. Boise, Idaho
2. Twin Falls, Idaho
3. Orem, Utah
4. Dorms at BYU and many apartments around in college

* 4 Places I've Been on Vacation
1. Oahu, Hawaii
2. New York, New York
3. Nauvoo, Illinois
4. Baker/Haines, Oregon (our yearly trip with the family)

* 4 Favorite Dishes/Places to Eat
I'm such a picky eater. I hate meat but I like a good steak (filet)
1. Carabbas
2. Cabo (Mexican Restaurant in American Fork)
3. Macaroni Grill
4. Pizza Factory - Salad Bar

* 4 Websites I Visit Daily
1. LDS.org
2. People.com (I'm an entertainment news junkie)
3. MANY blogs of family and friends
4. Wells Fargo.com (I'm also a "balance my checkbook" junkie)

* 4 Places I'd Rather Be
1. On a cruise - I've never been
2. Palmyra New York church tour
3. New York - of course
4. Anywhere alone with Dave - with no kids

* 4 People I'm Tagging

SEE ABOVE

Sold Out

Brittany and I waited too long yesterday to buy this book when it came out. It's been sold out everywhere. I ordered it on Amazon for $10.44 and got free shipping. I think I scored but I have to wait a week to get it!

I'm Old!

I graduated from high school 20 years ago! That is shocking to me! For those of you that don't know my history, I grew up in Boise, Idaho. My family moved me to Utah before my senior year so I "technically" graduated from Orem High, but Meridian High School will always be my home and I will always be a "Warriorette" (I danced there for 2 years).

My friend forwarded this website to me a few weeks ago. Click here to check out the site and be transported back to fabulous 1987!

How do you like the permed hair and "big bangs" in the picture below. I laugh at this picture now. How do you convince your kids that you really were "in style" back then?

EFY

I just got home from checking Maddie in for EFY. She went with her friend Heather Stratton - and on the floor below them is their friends Carlie and Meera. They were so excited. We checked them in and then found their rooms at Helaman Halls. I was hoping they were staying in Deseret Towers because that's where I lived my freshman year at BYU (19 years ago!) It would have been fun to go inside and see them again. Especially because they are starting to tear them down and are going to build new dorms there.

They got all unpacked and they were just about to go to a meeting and meet their counselor for the first time when I left. I'm excited for them. Maddie also took my camera with her so I'm afraid I won't be able to post any new pictures until Saturday. Hopefully she'll have some great ones for me to post when she gets home!

Room Makeover

We painted and redid the living room on Monday because we found some furniture that we loved and it was being delivered on Tuesday. I have been wanting to redo this room forever. I was so pleased with the final result. It's my favorite room in the house now.


This is an old picture to give you an idea of what it looked like before we remodeled...



The final project. It's a very cozy room now!

New Moon

I tried to wait - but I couldn't. The plan was to NOT start this book until Monday because I had to write and teach a lesson on Sunday. It didn't happen and I just finished the book this morning. I loved it! NOW - I hope I can pull a lesson together before Sunday!