Little stinkers

Friday foto

wishin I was here!  Summer 2009 Leah and Clayton collecting seashells! 

the smell and taste of home

The smell of brownies and red jello take me  back to home any time I taste, see or smell one of the two! Many times as I was growing up after FHE the dessert was brownies and red jello. Nothing too fancy or expensive-I'm sure the cost of brownies and red jello fit in great with my parents school teacher budget!

Steve's smell, taste and food from home aroma is rice and tomatoes or grits and eggs.  This was something his family had on a regular basis. I am sure my mom never intended on brownies and red jello being my taste of home since she is such a health nut. Of all the things we had I wonder why I loved the brownies and red jello nights so much. Maybe it was our only "junk" and I love junk.  Who knows but I discovered this taste of home when I was away at college. One day my roommates happened to make brownies and red jello and I went crazy. Being 30 hours away from home the first time in my life-I loved anything that reminded me of home!    So do I make a tradition and make a weekly "something"  or do I just let each child determine when they are grown that a certain food or smell is their taste of home?

shouting out!

Straight A's this semester!!! And I had a math methods class so that is really a big deal to me!  Although an easy task for my children I am more of a B student-I feel like I just got a pay check except I'm broke!!!

whoot whoo! whoot who!

Locks of Love

Caroline has been growing her hair out to donate to locks of love! Yesterday was finally the big day. She had just enough to make the donation of 10 inches.

What the day brought

I finished school yesterday it was sweet and bitter! I almost felt guilty for wanting to be happy. One of my favorite things to do when I finished a semester was call my Dad. He was not a big phone person so we would talk all of 1.5 minutes. It would go something like this-
Me-Hey Dad-I just finished my last final today.
Dad-ALRIGHT
Me-I'm so excited-where are you?
Dad-watching Price is right just got back from McDonald's! What are you going to do now?
Me-Scream
Dad-Why don't you go turn some cartwheels in a green grassy field!!!
Me-Yeah
Dad-Good job honey-I knew you could do it. Your smart like your mama!!!

Sounds silly but it just wasn't the same.
Yesterday would have been my parents 43rd anniversary.
and yesterday my mom's brother (my uncle) passed away age 58. He had a heart attack last week.

As our family faces the sadness and emptiness of death I am grateful to know that families are forever and that we will be together with our family again. All that I have known has been tested in the last 2 1/2 months of my life and as I have searched and prayed I have found only more truth to the teachings that I have always known to be true. I am so blessed to have all that I do.


 

One week from today

In exactly one week I will be done with classes!  Finals will be over next Monday by 4:00...I'm so ready for a break and to start getting hyped up for student teaching.
I'm almost there...almost there....almost there...almost there!

Family update:

Grandma got out of the hospital Saturday. We were so glad. We can all start to get back to normal! If there is  a normal here.
Andrew gets back from Dallas trip tonight.. We've missed our boy.
Blake just got his Star in Scouts-six months from now he'll be a Life!
Andrew just got his first class-so glad we are finally moving on with this scouting stuff.
I survived another Aux. training meeting and so glad I have good helpers.
I just finished two preschool shoots. It is always nice when it's over but it kills me while I'm doing it.
Steve is slammed with work since he took time off with his mama so we won't see him for the next two weeks.
We are saving for a car since we will have another driver in the house in 7 months...I can't wait.
Track and football spring are about to overlap for Blake which means a crazy busy boy that is trying to work in between his already crazy life! 
Leah Beth and Caroline are counting the days for me to be done with school so we can take a ditch day!
I can't wait to lay in my bed for a whole week after this and I'm so glad I took summer classes last year so I am almost free now!

Updates on mom's blog

Mom updated her blog. It is perfect...it's beautiful....it's amazing...it's long but well worth the read..take some time and ..grab some popcorn and click on over. http://www.artschangeofheart.blogspot.com/

Loving your work!

Today was my last "lead" teach day in my practicum class. Although I still have finals, portfolios, papers to write, and much to do I feel like I'm on a down hill slide. I found myself in a very ungrateful mood this afternoon as I headed back to night class calling on Heather once again to help with the kids my mother's guilt was looming.
I opened my scriptures tonight and read this quote that was stuck in there....
President David O'McKay counseled: "Learn to like your work. Learn to say, 'This is my work, my glory, not my doom.' God has blessed us with the privilege of working. When he said, 'Earn thy bread by the sweat of thy brow,'he gave us a blessing. Men and women have accepted it.  Too much leisure is dangerous. Work is a divine gift." 
This is just what I needed to read and reread. It has given me the boost to be in a better mood with the fam. and enjoy these last 11 days of school this semester as I realize this is my season for mom and school to enjoy it and stop feeling so guilty all the time for not doing this or that!

Grandma update

Grandma Janice came out of surgery yesterday. Our sweet niece spent the night with her but had to return home to her family today. We miss her already. Steve has moved into the hospital room and hasn't really left his mom's side too much.  His mom is recovering but weak right now. It will take her a couple of days to eat solids again and then recover. Hopefully she'll be able to get out of the hospital next week some time. His brother Bill will get here soon and his sister will be back on Sunday. His younger brother comes right after work every day. One thing about the Solomon's is they all help each other and really stick together.
I have 12 days of school left. I have two more "teach" days in practicums and then just finish up. Thank goodness for Heather who has helped so much with transporting my children through all this. I am going to miss her so much. I am preparing for our big aux. training coming up next week. The bad is I have to miss class to go...the good is I have to miss class to go!  I am so glad I have good helpers who are digging in because I have pretty much lost it spiritually and  in every aspect of my life!

Leah Beth got a new sub this week that finally took over when her teacher left to have and recover from her baby.  She loves her new teacher. She's preparing a new cheer/rap for t-cap. "I'ma be... Ima be...gettin lots of rest. I'ma be acing that test...what!
Caroline is saving her money to get her ear's pierced and nails done...girly girl!
Blake and Andrew are back at work at the park keeping score.
Andrew is getting ready for his big 8th grade school trip to Dallas!
Blake has moved from wrestling to track. He's loving it.

I got a beautiful plant delivered by some sweet girls from college in memory of my sweet dad. It was such a shock to come home and see that big box. It made me smile.  I love it. I am so blessed to have such wonderful people around me boosting me along all the time. The Lord really knows when you need good people in your life!

Say it isn't so!

Steve got a phone call Friday on his way to take the seminary kids to school from Grandma Janice's principle that she was really sick and that he needed to go pick her up. He was half way to school about 25 minutes from Grandma's work so he called me. I was taking the other kids to school and headed to my school. I quickly tried to hurry and re route then we were able to reach his younger brother. They took her mom to the hospital where she was admitted. She is having some stomach problems.  She will be having surgery either Monday or Tuesday. I spent the afternoon with my SIL, niece (the nurse one), brother in law and great nephew at the hospital-the others will be coming soon. I wish she had her spouse with her.
I hated being in that hospital it just brought back way to many feelings from Dad. I am absolutely a freaking basket case!  Not crying and carrying on....I am so mad!  I did ok there but now that everything has settled down the rage inside of me in insane!  I can't believe the crazy stuff that goes on at hospitals and the poor patients are at the mercy of  everyone I could probably go on for 20 blog pages but I will try and contain myself.  Grandma Janice is pretty amazing and tough.We love her. Leah Beth has been with her all day. I am so glad. She's our little nurse.  After I got home from the hospital I was in my room doing some homework. Andrew cooked dinner. I heard him call Ethan (our 3 year old nephew) to the table to eat. He ask Ethan to say the prayer and not to forget to pray for Grandma. The sweetest thing ever to hear your 14 year old son teaching his little cousin the words to say in a prayer. What a good moment to help settle all my rage!

Caroline's Hero!

In Caroline's second grade class they have a unit to study heroes. It is so neat. They pick community and national heroes like presidents or famous people and research them. They dress up like them and tell all about the hero. The next week the students pick their own personal hero. Caroline picked her Nana for her hero.
The class invited their heroes to a luncheon and honored them with a video, lunch and hand drawn art.
Caroline said in her video: my Nana is just like me and I become more and more like her every day.
I feel that she loves me.
My sister and I spent a weekend with her and we got spoiled.

I love her.

In honor

Steve's work gave us my favorite tree "weeping willow" in honor of my Dad last week. And we had a great planting crew!  We found a perfect place for it on the land!  I love it!

The big 14!

14 years ago today at 10:20 AM I was blessed to become the mother of a chubby little 9 pound 8 ounce 22 inch long beautiful baby boy!  Since that day there has never been a dull moment in my life. Andrew changed the dynamics of our family and extended family forever. 

When he was two he was obsessed with anything Mario. He carried around sales papers that had pictures of Nintendo. He slept with the papers, ate with them, played with them.  

This boy must have a heart bigger than Texas-he's such a thoughtful, fun loving person. He loves deeper than anyone I know. He is loyal and compassionate.  He is the one that double checks on me daily making sure I ate lunch, got enough sleep, and took some time for myself.  You can always count on an extra hug and kiss from this guy no matter who is standing around!   He alone made me a birthday cake and had the girls decorate the house while I was gone to class so that we could celebrate on the actual day.  

Currently:

His favorite thing to do is go out to eat or go hang out at the avenue!

 He loves to order pizza and watch a movie as a family. 

He loves sugar cookies with icing. 

He loves to have friends over and is a social crazy! 

 He keeps a cleaner room than I do. He makes straight A's and is working hard on his scouting program toward becoming an Eagle Scout!

He just finished his 8th grade wrestling season and did great.

Things that make him mad...He is protective of his family so anyone that messes with the people he loves drives him nuts!  He is so competitive-and at times his competitive nature gets the best of him. 

  He's the best pray person in the family! He works hard at his job at the ball park keeping score.  He is excited about his first youth conference and EFY this summer.  He says the most random strangest things at the strangest times. He gets stuck on a line in a movie or show and says it over and over and over again! He has done this since he was 2-I thought he'd grow out of it but well no!!! 

We are so blessed to have him. He makes my heart smile.

It was good to be home!

Today I went to my home ward. I haven't been in my home ward in a long time. Some I traveled to visit other units with my calling, some Sunday's I spent at the hospital with my Dad, some Sunday's I spent with my mom (which was more for my healing than hers) in my ward I grew up in and last Sunday I spent home with a sick daughter so it felt like I was finally home today. Even though it was conference in my home ward and I was visiting for my calling as well-I was so happy to hear from our Bishop, to see my boys pass the sacrement in their suits, to sit with my husband and feel the sweet spirit that I felt as I sat in our primary and observed. 
The closing song touched my  heart - I am still so ultra sensitive to so many things!  The third verse seemed like it was just for me..The words come from the song " Precious Savior, dear Redeemer,"

Precious Savior, dear Redeemer

Thou wilt bind the broken heart.

Let not sorrow overwhelm us;

Dry the bitter tears that start.

Curb the winds and calm the billows;

Bid the angry tempest cease.

Precious Savior, dear Redeemer,

Grant us everlasting peace.

Friday Foto!

So many sent beautiful plants when we lost Dad.  Mom and I spent a Saturday replanting and repoting all these beauties.  Here's a few of the memories!  Now if we can just keep em alive!

6 weeks of practicums left

4 practicums
6 weeks to go-
I am so tired!
I am so ready to be done!
I hate night classes...day classes every day and 3 nights a week are KILLING me. I am not getting gray hair from my teenager (well not from one anyway) but I am getting gray hair from all this crazy busy homework and insane lesson planning!  I have never written so many reflections in all my life. If you do anything you have to write a paper on it!

I hate homework but I love 100's,on my rubrics!

I am starting to feel like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I can really smell it and about to taste it!

I am so sick of school nights at schools all over the county  that practicum teachers have to do the dirty work for and teaching lessons to kids that are not my students!  I want my own classroom. I am so ready to be student teaching and graduating.

I am so happy not to have to go to summer school this year! I can' t wait for MAY...hurry up May hurry up! Oh May hurry up!  I know your not suppose to wish your life away but in this case I would love for 6 weeks to be OVER!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I've sure got some cutie  pieces of gold for my pot!  

One month ago today

One month ago today was the hardest day of my entire life. I miss him so much it is crazy.

 I've learned a lot this month. I've cried a lot this month. I've been really mad a lot this month. I understand more this month than I did last month about others who have lost those they love and I never want to loose anyone else!  I need to go first! 

  It drives me so crazy when people say remember the good times and cherish them!  Every time I think about any of it I get so mad!   All the sudden I have anger issues!  When someone says...how are ya'll doing-I wanna scream-this all stinks..it just really stinks!   Still can't really talk about it the way people want me may never be able to!

I'm so lucky to have Steve and I can't imagine trying to deal with this when I was only 15 like he did.  It's a lot to process for someone so young.  He knows exactly everything I am feeling and  he's been so good to me and patient. I am so blessed. 

Friday Foto (Look who's gonna be a freshman!)

High school orientation!  I can't believe it!  Steve and I took this boy Tuesday night to the big high school informational meeting.  He will be changing schools and going to the same high school as Blake.  He is the only one going from our current school!   He was greeted by around 10 other (girl) students  as soon as we walked in the door.  Making friends has never been a problem for this kid!  It was fun to watch him mingle and meet and play the field!  Although he does a lot of flirtin' he sure stay single! (could be  because he's got his eye set on a pretty little blonde from the Blackman ward!)   We will be getting his schedule straight over the next couple of weeks for next year!  Can't believe my boys are both gonna be in high school.  I still feel like i'm the one in high school!