January?

It's been clear and warm for the past month...no measurable precipitation for about 2 months. Andy's philosophy? "It's a desert." Mine? BORING...and wrong. We had some clouds today, but no actual "weather". It's been a weird winter.
I've been busy singing...there were 5 concerts before Christmas, and we just did 2 performances of Gilbert and Sullivan for the St. George sesquicentennial (it's just fun to say) celebration. This was my first time singing any Gilbert and Sullivan...fun!
Also going along with the weirdness...football? We are rooting for the 49er's over the Giants next week. But how did the 49ers beat the Saints? And what happened in Green Bay?
Well, I thought I should check in and let you know we're still here... We're both back in school, the dogs are doing well, and things keep clickin' right along. Thanks for stoppin' by!

Christmas Greetings

Merry Christmas to all! We are having a quiet Christmas this year...it's the first time since the nieces and nephew were born that we aren't with extended family. Meisels and Brethours are celebrating in Bali, Whites are in Colorado, and we (and the dogs) are chillin' in Apple Valley, UT. We have a beautiful tree (thanks to the girls), cookies (thanks again to the girls), lights around the house (thanks to Andy).  There's a warm fire and Neverland on the DVR.  I decided I should update the blog, since it's been a while.

Andy and I had pictures taken this year. One of my kids last year gave me a gift certificate for his mom's photography business. She did a great job and we got a CD with a bunch of pictures. One we used for the Christmas card, and I'll post another couple here. Now, people will wonder why we didn't include Sadie or Tempest in this photo shoot. Truth is, they just don't love picture-taking...

We will be guiding a Mild 2 Wild tour tomorrow...should be fun and beautiful weather. New Year's we will hang with Dee and Steve. Then I go back to work on Jan.3, and Andy starts back Jan.9. If 2012 is anything like 2011, it'll pass in a blink of an eye...

Andy's HOME!

Happy Fall...it's turned chilly here. We woke up yesterday to a little bit of snow! Not enough to stick, but a nice thin coat of white. Then we went out and did some errands. It is so nice to know that everything here is not just on my shoulders! We've been resting and catching up...  I will post more later, but for now, things are good here in So. UT!

Still here...

Dear Family and Friends...
as far as I know, everything is okay. The house is still standing, not as clean as it would be with 2 people doing maintenance; the dogs are good, a little bored because they don't get as much exercise as they would like; there are 2 less of them, since Gus and Rebel have officially gone home;

 and I am surviving. Andy is in CO, being a fantastic uncle and brother, and enjoying several inches of snow as of this morning. When the storm passed through here a couple days ago, it was all rain, so I have...mud. It's not as bad as it was a few weeks ago (see pictures of Lake White), but the dogs track it in, so I am taking a few minutes out of my sweeping to update the blog posts. 

I am also including this year's school picture. Don't you "regular" grown-ups miss this? It's official, I am getting to look less and less like the "me" that's in my head.  I don't look this old in my head - where are those wrinkles coming from?  The blond is my "scar" from where I had blue this summer. I really loved the blue, but am considering another color for next summer... I'll take suggestions!

 On Wednesday, I am headed out to CO for my fall break long weekend. I will trade cars with Andy, who will need the Nissan for the mountains. MB will come watch the dogs and have a little "me" time. She so sweetly purchased us a spa package from one of the hotels there in Central City for our anniversary, which we will celebrate a few days early while I'm out there. It's been 13 years! (ouch, but better than the 24 that we've actually known each other)  Sarah's birthday is the next week, also. She will be 4...such a big girl. She's REALLY calmed down in the last year. I can trust her to hang in the general vicinity and not be too pesky, so she and Sadie came to a neighborhood get together last weekend. Everyone was happy to see us, and missed Andy...but not as much as I do!  Going to Dee and Steve's for a wine-tasting this year, the grapes had a rough summer, so no stomping this time. Will catch up with other mutual friends as well. Then I have my first performance with Lieto!, the choir I joined this fall at Andy's urging. We are doing a short set at a ceremony for the Hunstman World Senior Games. I love when people from all over invade Southern Utah. There's a bigger crowd everywhere, people actually go to the liquor store, and there are the inevitable gawkers at the ladies of the FLDS. It always makes me happy to see different cultures interact. Hope your fall is starting off well...I am enjoying the lower temps, it makes it bearable to exercise later in the morning and earlier in the evenings, so I can get some walks and bike rides in and still sleep! Signing off for now...

8 Days and counting...

I thought I was tired before? HA!  Just as we were settling in to a "normal" routine, life up and happens again...

Andy has been in Colorado for a week now, hangin' with the family (there's more to it, but we don't do laundry here :) Anyway, he's being Uncle Andy and chillin' with Justin when he's not at work. MB is there to provide maternal influence. Evidently the girls are doing well in the new school year, and things are as positive as can be expected!

I am (at this very moment) surrounded by SIX (yes, 6) dogs. Sarah, Sadie, Gus & Rebel, Mojo & Gracie... it will be VERY QUIET when the number drops.  Diane got a chance to paddle from Glen Canyon dam to Lee's Ferry, so I said, "the more the merrier!"  And of course, we had bad weather move in. So they stayed inside today, which was good for me because I had to come straight home. It's possible Gus and Rebel could be leaving us in less than a month! Abby's doing so well, they may be home (STG) the beginning of October - can you imagine? Heart transplant 7/12 and home (5 hours from major hospital) in 3 months?

I take my husband for granted... I'm still NOT a morning person. He helps me so much in the mornings! And since I can't function for myself in the am, I've taken to setting up as much as possible the night before. Even when I try, I am not getting to bed before 11pm, and usually not getting to sleep before 12, and getting up at 5:15. It's just not enough sleepy time.

School is going pretty well, though. I still love all my kids...yes, even 6th period. End of the day, 21 boys to 8 girls, tween craziness. Yep, I love 'em.  Hard to get back in the Language Arts swing, and I hate having to justify my effectiveness by creating my own job description when it comes to GT, but we do what we gotta do, right?
Love you guys...gotta go grade. I'm aiming for a 9 pm bedtime!

A Whole New Year...

It's amazing how tired you can be at the end of one week.  I think I like starting school in the middle of the week; it's nice to have a few days and then a break.  This has been a wicked-long week, but a lot of fun.

My schedule runs Prep- Social Studies-Language Arts-Language Arts - Lunch-Language Arts-Social Studies...and we haven't started Thunderbolt time yet! I didn't appreciate having that break in the middle of the day until this year. 1st period prep may wear me down! (Judging by the exclamation points, my enthusiasm lingers despite my protestations :)

The kids are good...many have had older brothers or sisters in my class, a bonus of having stayed put for a few years. Most of us are loving the increased focus on reading; we have adopted the Book Whisperer "method" this year for 6th grade language arts. I love my 2/3 period combo for Language and Social Studies, I'm just going to have to remember - BALANCE.

With the Gifted services, the new language arts, the new grading, keeping balance in everything else in life is going to feel like a real challenge. I am determined not to backslide with the health changes or to become old and stodgy (never willing to learn something new). It just feels like there's SOOOO much! I want to spend more time doing EVERYTHING, but there's not a lot of wiggle room right now.

Andy's all ready to start back to school as well. He's got his books and schedule all printed out... The Summer of the Rattlesnake is over! He enjoyed his internship, and will continue to do volunteer work for the Parashant office throughout the fall.  By the way, he's living proof that too much candy is not great for you. He had 2 new crowns, a root canal, and a cavity the other day. He's sworn off study aids with processed sugar!

Just had the Doman clan over to visit Gus and Rebel...they were loved and petted for a good 45 minutes, and are currently curled up dreaming about it!  Abby looks good; I can't believe that just over a month ago (July 12), she got her new heart. Cross your fingers that she'll be back in school in November, their family reunited permanently (with all members, 2 and 4 legged), and life, sort of, back to normal. They have persevered during this obstacle with faith and determination...I certainly shouldn't complain about my burdens!

 Well, it will be an adventure, as always... stay tuned!

Just in time for Back to School...

I would have said, "Back to Business," but you know we don't do that here ;)  Anyway, we've had some good times with John and Amber the last 2 weeks. Just before they came, Andy went to California for Megan's 9th birthday party...

...lots of fun, lots of pool time. Andy even got a makeover from the girls (no pictures of that tho' :( )

Things went pretty smoothly, we had a GREAT long rhino tour with Buddy (Mild2Wild) the first day,

then Vegas for a couple of days for the wedding, then back home for some more local fun!

We did the Rainbow Bridge boat tour - which was fun, the water is HIGH this year.

They spent a couple of days exploring the local parks, Amber's got a real gift of the photog...she caught this desert storm from the moving car..

We did some local sightseeing last night - petroglyphs and dinner in Springdale.

Then Andy drove them back to Vegas to catch their flight this morning...that's when it got bumpy! Security took too long, and they ended up missing their flight (well, evidently you can't catch your flight with 5 minutes to spare, even if it isn't your fault). So they will fly out tomorrow, but fortunately another stranded passenger (same flight) was able to get them a room for a discount - who says people aren't nice to strangers?  Anyway, we are watching Shark specials, and I'm trying to get my summer reading crammed into the next 3 days... then back to the grind! I'll be trying LOTS of new stuff, so I may forget to blog for a while, or I may get on and vent... stay tuned.