cave men!

Steve took his scout troop on an exciting campout this past weekend. They stayed in a cave. My brother (uncle A) and his kids are very familiar with this cave so my nephew William helped out by being the cave guide!  They had so much fun. I don't know who had more stories the boys or Steve and his brother Bruce!  Fun memories but I'm so glad I didn't have to go to sleep in a cave!

I can't believe it!

On Tuesday I will reach the ripe ole' age of 36. IN JUST FOUR days. OH MY GOSH! This really is starting to get on up there in my book. The beginnings of the 30's weren't so hard for me. 35 still felt ok. BUT 36...holy moly seems like a whole new thing. The 40's are just around the corner. I used to say this: Have my babies in my 20's, raise them in my 30's and send them off in my 40's, party and plastic surgery in my 50's! But now I am thinking maybe I should start the party and plastic surgery now! YEAH sounds good to me!
Ha!!!

BTW...school went great. All that anxiety. The kids did great and while I sat in class, although overwhelmed, It felt good to be back. It's good to feel like I have something for just me! It feels great to stretch my brain and learn and accomplish!

roller coaster of feelings

Hitting the snooze button this morning a flood of emotions attacked me. It's already time to go back to school. I am down to the nitty gritty. This is it! My last semester of classes. Could it be that I am already finishing my practicums? This is it before I student teach. The summer of 2008 seems like yesterday when I decided to go back to school. Packing in as many semester hours as they would let me;it didn't seem possible to be where I am now. Then- I never thought I would be taking all my practicums or the Praxis II test. 5 semesters then seemed like a lifetime. It's almost like when you have a new baby and the La Leche league lady says if you can just nurse 3 weeks you can nurse this baby a whole year. Those 3 weeks feel like a decade but then at the year mark you pick up your precious little stinker and you think where did my year go! We made it!
So today I am a basket case.
I am happy that I am finally where I am.
I am sad to loose the month I just had with my kids just being a SAHM and part time photographer.
I am stressed to begin this semester with all the work that is going to be due.
I am overwhelmed with a messy house that I meant to get all organized before I returned to school.
I am amazed that I am in the program and finally finishing up.
I am scared..What happens if I mess up when I'm in the first grade classroom-what if I teach for fun instead of by the state standards! Ha
I am worried about my kids when I am trying to juggle them around.(they are the most important thing in my life-I don't want them to feel like they are on the back burner)
I am grateful for this opportunity to spread my wings and for steve for supporting me in this journey.
So today, I am going to be hitting my knees, praying for strength in all these things because for sure one thing I have learned is I can not do this without a higher strength of help.
My schedule is:
Mon-math lab(teaching math to students-HA! I know me teaching math)
Tuesday morning-practicum lab
Tuesday night -Literacy practicum lecture
Wednesday morning-Practicum lab (1st grade)
Wednesday night -Math lecture
Thursday morning-Practicum lab
Thursday night-Literacy lecture
Friday half day...8-2 practicum set up and lecture!

I can smell graduation just not taste it yet! This is a journey that I wouldn't trade. The lessons I've learned have made me a better wife and mother. So on with this roller coaster i'll go. I guess I'll just keep being an emotional basket case. When I sit in class tonight I'll be missing blake's wrestling match, and wishing I was picking up andrew from practice and going over Leah's spelling words and watching zack and cody with caroline but when I do get the night to be with them again (Mond. martin Luther king day -no school) I'll be far more grateful for the time. It's kind of like sweets...when you take them out of your diet you'll start wanting them more!
So here's to the curvy, bumpy, upside down ride-I think I'll keep my eyes opened!

thankful thursday!

My mom loaded this on facebook this week. I laughed so hard at my bangs (what happened to my bangs!) I knew this one had to make it to the family blog! This is Lisa, Joy with me. We are hanging out at a slumber party when Joy came in for a visit! We've all been friends since we were 3! The great thing is Lisa and I still see each other a couple times a week. We carpool, trade kids, we are wrestling moms, seminary moms, scout moms and church moms together. Joy is far away but we keep up with her fam. through facebook. It's fun to go through life with people you love and they love you back! This Thursday I'm Thankful for good friends and family.

Food Storage

In our church we have been advised for years to have a reserve of food. Store some food for emergencies...also have a 72 hour emergency kit. It's better to be prepared than without. I don't doubt the council. Each year I have this on my goal list. I have done it before. Stored up the basics. Only to let the food go to waste because I didn't rotate it or I put it some where and forgot about it. At my old house Wears Drive house we had a pantry. It was big enough to designate a few areas for storage, but here I have no place for extra food. I understand what to do, how to do it, but can't for the life of me bring myself to storing food every where. One lady I knew had food under her bed, closets, etc. I just can't do it. I feel cluttered enough as it is. I just can't imagine storing food under my bed. So it brings me to this problem... I need a solution. Where do I put food storage? We have a huge 21/2 car garage but I've heard you shouldn't keep it there because of the temperature changes. Is that true? We have huge storage spots of attic areas. They are full of junk that needs to be decluttered, but if they weren't full of junk could we store it there or it the same idea...temperature changes? I could sure use some advice in this area!

New blog for my primary calling

http://www.mcminnvillestakeprimary.blogspot.com/
2010 primary themes are amazing. I have been president to this crazy stake calling since April of 2009 and still can't quite wrap my head around it. Just when I think I am getting it-I realize that I'm really not!!! But I am so excited about the 2010 guidelines. They are layed out exactly what we need to do. It makes it so much easier for all. If you are not serving in primary it has great ideas that we can use as parents to supplement for FHE. Also the song for the year is there in a link. I always get so so excited about the primary theme! I guess that's why I have served in primary for 13 years!

Pass along any links or ideas you may have to me. The email is mcminnvillestakeprimary@gmail.com.

Families are Forever!

finally over!

Just finished my last 18 hour semester EVER! Well I have one more small thing to do on Tuesday but as far as finals....I did it! WHOWIE! It feels so good that I could drive with the top down in 18 degree weather! If I had a vehicle that the top came down! HA!

This little picture is from practicum these girls are my little practicum buddies we team teach together. They call me mom. I told them to call me sister but they insist on mom! I'm not that old ok.just 35..but really if I had them young they could be mine they are pretty young..and amazing friends to work with! Ha One more semester of practicums then finally student teaching!

I feel like a party! I wanna shout! I wanna go shopping! I wanna sleep! I wanna scream! It feels so so good not to have to worry this weekend about 20 assignments due in the week ahead of me on top of all my family and church stuff. I am going to love this Christmas break and let my fried brain relax!

YIPEE YIPEE YIPEE

Back in Season!

I wish I could explain the fire that lights under Blake when he hits the wrestling mat. He has found his sport and it shows! Here's is a post from the DNJ from yesterday's county duals.

http://www.dnj.com/article/20091206/SPORTS08/912060336/1089/Blaze+roll+to+3rd+straight+county+duals+championship
I am amazed at his hard work. I really wondered if he could still stand strong as a freshman-the youngest instead of the oldest like last year. He is proving well. So far he has lost 1 and won 12 matches this season. It is so fun to watch. I have been so pumped for him. Wow what a day we had yesterday at the county duals. Our school hosted the duals for the first time ever. Our little 1 A school held tight and opened some eyes throughout the county when we beat some huge schools like riverdale and Lavergne and almost beat some others. We don't even have enough team mates to fill all our weight classes which makes us a negative 6 points each weight class unfilled before the matches even start. We still need to fill two weight classes. We wrestled teams that are 6A here in the county and have more wrestlers than they know what to do with! We held strong and did so well only loosing to Oakland by 2 points and blackman 11 points. I am so proud of our litle team and can't wait to watch them grow! Blake wrestles on the same team with Parker and Joseph P. They rocked the house yesterday too! It makes it more fun to wrestle with people you love to be around!

10 things we are thankful for this year

Leah Beth

1. Family

2. Clothes

3. Food

4. Money

5. TV

6. crafts

7. friends

8. bed

9. Toys

10. jobs



Caroline

1. Mom

2. Dad

3. Blake

4. Andrew

5. Leah

6. Bella

7. house

8. Food

9. water

10. friends



Andrew

1. family that is caring

2. friends

3. a home that is in good shape

4. a free country

5. food and water that is safe to drink and eat

6. a job being a scorekeeper at the park

7. a education from a good school

8. a great life

9. electiricity, phones and tv

10. a good church



Gretchen

1. The gospel of Jesus Christ

2. A good husband that devotes his life to me and the kids on a daily basis.

3. Four amazing children that still kiss me goodbye in front of their friends.

4. my dad being on the heart transplant list

5. the opportunity to get a college degree-and a supportive family while I go

6. a part time job taking pictures of fun poeple and experiencing their lives with them and that steve has good steady employment.

7. Good teachers for my children that love them and put effort into their jobs.

8. my iphone that makes my life a lot easier and keeps me from getting lost when I drive to wrestling meets!

9. My health and a good dentist that didn't hurt me when I had to do a root canal this year.

10. supportive extended family members-parents, brother, brother in laws sils, and nieces and nephews that bring me joy and happiness.

11. Good friends that help me, talk me through things and love me just for me!

12. a beautiful piece of land with a creek that I can retreat to and relax and forget the busy life.

13. To finally pass the praxis I math section and be admitted to the teacher program.

14. To learn more about food allergies and how they affect our children's behaviors and health.

15. The knowledge that I have been reminded this year over and over that truly thru HIM all things are possible.

Blake

1. Family

2. Friends

3. my dad's job during these times

4. a house to live in

5. wrestling

6. The support of my parents and all other family

7. all the extra things in my life that I don't need

8. the church

9. knowing that there will always be food on the table

10. everything

Steve

1. a job

2. all of my family (near and far)

3. the Gospel of Jesus Christ

4. the freedom in this USA

5. Caroline - always making sure she is daddy's girl

6. Leah Beth - always holding my hand and rubbing my fingernails every morning on the way to school

7. Andrew - for all his efforts and never giving up in all he does

8. Blake - for always working hard to achieve his goals

9. Gretchen - for keeping this family all together as a mom and a wife

10. Dr. Pepper

a new heart!

Psalms 147:3

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

yesterday we found out the greatest news. My Dad is on the heart transplant list!!! After being very sick and weak for a very long time his whole entire body was tested. Actually his test were not suppose to be until next week but we almost lost him last week. He collapsed at home with my mom. She called 911; he was taken to the hospital. While he was there they moved up his scheduled test! All of his organs and body parts had to be well enough to withstand a transplant. Yesterday we got the greatest news he is now on the list. It could be awhile or it could be tomorrow. We have been blessed with a miracle and the tender mercies all along the way have been amazing.

Friday foto

Blake finally making his appearance into this world!

NO SHOW!

Our house was suppose to show today at noon! I went to school to take a mid-term and rushed home in between classes to do the final touches only to find out they cancelled because they found a house yesterday! BUMMER!!!!!

Aux. Training!

Last night was our auxiliary training at church. Before I had this calling I used to look forward to this night. It was a time to feel uplifted, motivated, and refreshed in my calling. (If you don't know what I am talking about-in our church we don't have a paid ministry. We all have callings-assignments where every member has a job that we volunteer to do. We feel that a calling is from God and we are put in certain positions (callings) to learn things and share with others ) 7 months ago I was called to be the stake primary president. (more explaining-primary is the organization over the children. A congregation is a ward and several wards together make up a stake) Ok so back to the calling. One of my duties is to be in charge of a meeting that is held twice a year called auxiliary training meeting. This is where all the primary presidencies come together and be trained! ( Yeah a joke right be trained by me!!! ) This has really been a challenge for me. I liked to just go for these meetings not teach them. This calling has made me have to step out of my comfort zone a lot and really have to rely on the Lord for strength. Last night we joined together for a training. There was the sweetest spirit there. I felt such a peace and grateful for this opportunity to serve. I have learned so much already from the amazing people that work in primary. They may not be learning a thing from me but I am learning so much from them. When I was driving there I was dreading it. I had an hour drive alone to really take some time to think and try to get a better attitude-but as I drove home I felt so much more uplifted. I was so rejuvenated to be a better mom and wife. It works...service takes your worries away and lets you focus on a better more eternal things.

college fall break!

Today and tomorrow I have fall break from my college classes! I was able to do the preschool that I shoot twice a year to schedule on my fall break! So today and tomorrow I will try my best to make around 160 total children smile at me! Thank goodness preschool parents usually think their children are cute even if they don't smile! CHEESE :)

Friday foto

My niece Lucy posted this old pix on her facebook and it brought back a flood of memories! Here is Harrison-2 (about to turn 3 the next week), Andrew-2, Blake-3, Rachel-4, and Lucy-4 are all at the fair with my folks! It was Sept. 17, 1998. I had just delivered Leah Beth and was in the hospital! Which meant Ella (my niece) was about 6 or 7 weeks old or something like that and William was around 6! We didn't realize at the time how crazy busy we were or how crazy busy we would be when we had teenagers and how they would all start college and missions the same time. Now I wonder if we should have spaced them out a little so we could've helped each other more! But it sure is nice how my brother's children and mine are so close in age and are so close growing up! It makes life an adventure!

Fall Party time

This past Sat. night the boys had a couple of school/church /cousin friends come over to hang out and play games. We did this a couple of times last summer but since putting the house for sale we really haven't taken the time. We all had so much fun-we can't wait to do it again...sale or no sale of the house we are going to plan more of these fun nights! The only hard part is not being able to invite every single person. Because we are so limited on space we made them limit their guest list to kids more their age and their siblings instead of all their church friends! Having teenagers is way more fun than I ever imagined!

Friday foto

My sweet Granny and little Caroline 5 years ago!
I stole this idea from my friend Lisa. I don't know if I can keep up every Friday but I thought it was a cute idea!

Mourning the loss of summer

I love fall. I have always loved the fall-cool weather. But this year as we have started to pull out the jeans and sweatshirts I am not ready. I am still missing summer. Time is going so fast. I miss....

sleeping late with the kiddos and hanging out.... road trips


remote control car races


sweet little nieces and nephewsWashington DC

The Lake with friends

The beach

Popsicles

Blake's first youth conference in New York

camping with friends and cousins

Ice cream

Horse shoes

Lawn mower rides

Blake's first electric razor shaving experience!

Rat tail wars

Paper mache' crafts

cliff jumping

scout camping

bike rides

So farewell summer till next year!
Since school has started back life seems to be moving at an incredible fast pace. Steve is staying busy with work, scouting, and young men. Blake is training for his first year of high school wrestling. High school and early morning seminary-youth conferences-efy and life has been such a smooth transition for Blake. It is fun to watch him grow. Andrew is finishing up his first year of cross country and beginning his last year of middle school wrestling! He and Blake just finished their fall job keeping score at the ball park. Leah Beth is doing great at her new school and making lots of new friends! Caroline is our spice and keeps us all on our toes making sure we are on target with scriptures, prayers and kid dates! I am trying to juggle my last big 18 hour semester. I swore I wouldn't do 18 hours again to myself again but I only have 4 more classes next semester left to take so why not! I started my practicums this fall and I LOVE LOVE IT. I can't wait to finish! I am still stake primary president love traveling through out the stake getting to visit with all the primary. It is amazing the neat ideas I have taken from them! Our house is still for sale. It has been 7 months now. Showings are slow but I am sure in time we'll get to the land. We are hanging onto every last moment with our dear friends the Matheny's as they are preparing to move. We will miss them so much and can't imagine life here in Murfreesboro without them.