I only have time for a quick review of the month before it's over!
Mary and Jack started taking tennis lessons. They love it and are doing really well. They only go once a week to a class, but the instructors are great.... I'm very impressed, and the kids are learning a lot.
We went to see "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" at the Mesa Arts Center, by Heritage Academy high school students. It was fantastic, and the kids loved it!
The kids have been busy writing reports and doing projects for school.
I've lost a total of 36 pounds and I'm training to become a health coach, and loving it!
I sang a solo in sacrament meeting; Rob Gardner's "Savior, Redeemer of My Soul." It's an amazing song!
Collin is planning his Eagle Project.
We attended a family reunion.
Jay did a 30 minute stand-up comedy routine for a fundraiser and did a fantastic job! (I will post video if he will let me.)
Jack made a cute "heritage" poster for Cub Scouts which he displayed at Pack Meeting.
Collin went on the Jr. high History/Science trip for 3 days last week to northern Arizona.... Grand Canyon, Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater, Bearizona, Lowell Observatory, Sedona, Montezuma Castle. He loved it, and came home exhausted. Next year it's southern Arizona. The 9th and 10th graders go to southern California one year and northern Cal. the other year. Jr. and Sr. students go to Washington, D.C. and Boston one year, and New York the other year. (Something like that. High school trips are a whole week.)
We are looking forward to more busyness in May (it's that time of year), including Collin's birthday, our 15th wedding anniversary trip, my nephew's wedding, and the end of the school year!
April 30, 2012
April 21, 2012
Heartbreak
It occurred to me after my husband and I stayed up until 2:30 last night this morning watching the last five episodes of season 2 of Downton Abbey that although none of us would actually want to endure the gut-wrenching heartbreak that these characters experience, we certainly enjoy watching it! We might be addicted. But I think a lot of people are.
During several episodes I actually said out loud, "I can't stand it! It's just too heartbreaking!" I felt like I was about to explode. It just feels so real that I felt like my own heart was breaking. It's so emotional and powerful....and human.
During several episodes I actually said out loud, "I can't stand it! It's just too heartbreaking!" I felt like I was about to explode. It just feels so real that I felt like my own heart was breaking. It's so emotional and powerful....and human.
April 14, 2012
Bees
I know it's completely irrational, but I am deathly afraid of bees. Actually, anything that flies-and-stings (bumblebees, honey bees, yellow jackets, wasps, hornets, you name it). I mean, I despise those nasty stinging scorpions, but bees totally freak me out.... probably because they fly right at my face! In broad daylight! The audacity! (Scorpions don't even do that.... they mostly just sneak around at night.) I'm a grown woman with a college degree, and I know bees are very beneficial (and I love honey), BUT I just can't help it. I freak out when one comes near me.
There IS a reason. When I was about 9 or 10 years old I was on a picnic in the woods with my family. It was a lovely day and after eating lunch my siblings and I all explored the nearby area. I think every child is intrigued by a fallen tree and seem to have a natural instinct to walk across it, don't they? I certainly did. I proudly walked the length of all the fallen trees I saw, large or small. One particularly large one seemed especially old and very interesting.... almost enchanting. As I walked happily along it my foot suddenly sank right through the rotted wood (yep, you guessed it) right into a bee hive.
As you might imagine, the bees did NOT like my foot in their home. Neither did I. Nor did I like their response, which was to swarm around me as if I did it on purpose! Naturally, I was stung many times (I don't recall exactly how many, but around 10). So, yeah, I FREAKED OUT!
Thank goodness I didn't have an allergic reaction, and some calamine lotion and Tylenol helped me recover pretty quickly, though I seem to recall being pretty miserable for a while. It was pretty traumatic.
So, yes, bees still freak me out. I guess it scarred me for life. I've just accepted it. I try not to over react when I am confronted by one, especially in public, but they always seem to catch me off guard. I especially hate it when I'm warily pruning the rose bushes in my front yard and a bee appears; I can't help jumping a little, and it always seems to happen at exactly the moment that one my neighbors drives by. They probably think I'm crazy. I guess I am.... just a little.
My mother claims she does not remember this happening (I certainly wish I didn't!), or thinks it happened to one of my siblings instead, but I guess I shouldn't blame her.... she had 11 children to worry about.
So, if you are ever talking to me outdoors and I suddenly jump and wave my arms around, please don't laugh or make fun of me. I probably just heard a buzz in my ear as a bee flew right in my face... in broad daylight.
There IS a reason. When I was about 9 or 10 years old I was on a picnic in the woods with my family. It was a lovely day and after eating lunch my siblings and I all explored the nearby area. I think every child is intrigued by a fallen tree and seem to have a natural instinct to walk across it, don't they? I certainly did. I proudly walked the length of all the fallen trees I saw, large or small. One particularly large one seemed especially old and very interesting.... almost enchanting. As I walked happily along it my foot suddenly sank right through the rotted wood (yep, you guessed it) right into a bee hive.
As you might imagine, the bees did NOT like my foot in their home. Neither did I. Nor did I like their response, which was to swarm around me as if I did it on purpose! Naturally, I was stung many times (I don't recall exactly how many, but around 10). So, yeah, I FREAKED OUT!
Thank goodness I didn't have an allergic reaction, and some calamine lotion and Tylenol helped me recover pretty quickly, though I seem to recall being pretty miserable for a while. It was pretty traumatic.
So, yes, bees still freak me out. I guess it scarred me for life. I've just accepted it. I try not to over react when I am confronted by one, especially in public, but they always seem to catch me off guard. I especially hate it when I'm warily pruning the rose bushes in my front yard and a bee appears; I can't help jumping a little, and it always seems to happen at exactly the moment that one my neighbors drives by. They probably think I'm crazy. I guess I am.... just a little.
My mother claims she does not remember this happening (I certainly wish I didn't!), or thinks it happened to one of my siblings instead, but I guess I shouldn't blame her.... she had 11 children to worry about.
So, if you are ever talking to me outdoors and I suddenly jump and wave my arms around, please don't laugh or make fun of me. I probably just heard a buzz in my ear as a bee flew right in my face... in broad daylight.
April 13, 2012
Jay's "New Suit"
Jay had to wear this lovely tuxedo to work all day today as part of a charity fundraiser. Pretty sweet. Totally QC.... about 1970.
He's handsome even in that awful thing.
He's handsome even in that awful thing.
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