Prom '97

Sorry ladies! I'm a day late here. Last week as an absolute whirlwind (I had my all day Orientation at USF *Go Bulls!*, a Relief Society Weekday Activity to get ready for and carry out AND I had a ton of preparation for Sunday with my new calling as......Primary President! All in one week! I kid you not! Two awesome Counselors, many, many emails and one long meeting later, we were ready to face the kiddos on Sunday!)

Anyway. Enough about me now, let's talk about me then! Prom pictures, I promised and Prom pictures you will get. In fact. Here's my whole scrapbook page!

Prom was, as you can see, interesting. Not so fun then, but a super fun story to tell now! I mean, how many people end up going to Prom with their ex and spend the morning in the ER to find out you've got strep throat? Looking back, I wonder, why we just didn't say "forget it" and bag the night. Then I remember. We  were two stubborn kids. I had gotten it into my head that for some reason my high school experience wouldn't have been complete without going to Prom. I reeeeaaaalllyyyy wanted to go. And my date, bless his heart (I guilted him into taking me in the first place), worked really hard for his $ and probably was thinking, 'I paid for all of this already, so I'm taking her even if she's on her deathbed!'. Okay, who am I kidding. It actually wasn't as bad as I let on. We had a nice dinner with our friends (or, he had a nice dinner...I had Jello), we got all dolled up and we danced. What more can you ask for, right?

BTW, I hate this picture of me! I think I must've been trying to swallow or something. Strep hurts!

Not exactly Jacob Black...

but he did have long hair. Braids as a matter of fact. LONG braids. Who am I referring too? My Senior Ball date of course! Good ol' James what's-his-name. No seriously, what's his name? Even if you asked I couldn't tell! I don't remember!!! :| I know his name was James and I know he was some kind of Native American and I know he was a super nice guy and he asked me to prom super last minute through a mutual friend that knew neither of us wanted to go stag. Also, I know my mom dug his super long braids even if I didn't. Also I know that never ever in my life will I post those pics on this here blog. Any blog for that matter! AND, I know that I chickened out and gave him a quick hug before I scooted along in the house. POOR GUY! I'm pretty sure he was hoping for a bit more after going to the trouble of taking some girl he didn't really know to prom but...he really wasn't Jake-maybe if he was the night would have ended differently! ;)

PS- It's good to be back! I'll not let so much time pass between posts again. I'm trying hard to keep the hubs healthy and out of the hospital and trees in their upright and locked positions NOT smashing sheds/garages and the like!

It's Travel Time!

So, it's starting to warm up (in some areas anyway.....actually, here in Florida, it's just starting to get *hot*), school is out soon and everyone in America is making some sort of plan to make their summer a memorable experience. Some of those days will probably be spent traveling (near or far) to someplace other than home.

Though my family isn't gearing up for the most traveled summer (we're actually planning on keeping this year low-key), we are planning a road trip in August to....drum roll please.....middle of nowhere Columbus, Mississippi! Woohoo! I know. Goin' crazy. Of course, the only time we'd ever go to such an obscure place would be to visit family (the hubs' youngest brother and his wife are planning their wedding reception there....a year after eloping).

So. Me, Drew, two kids, grandma, grandpa and a two day car ride. What's our plan? Here's our list so far:

1. Pack lots of DVD's (including some possible new ones)
2. Books! (for me and the kiddos!)
3. "Sunday Toys"....the kind that I'm currently refusing to bring to church until my children learn how to sit still for 30 minutes.
4. Check out this website: Mom's Minivan
5. Stop at a beach and play in the water for a little bit (this will be at the end of Day 1)

What do you think? Keepin' it simple. Keepin' it exciting. We're looking forward to seeing and spending time with family! (BTW, next summer, previously brother-in-law and sister-in-law will be in Italy....Drew and I will definitely be planning a trip sans kids on a little European Vacay!)

ketchup week

Woops! Oh my! I cannot believe I've let so many cool post topics go unwritten. So, this is my goal this week to 'kepchup' or rather, 'catch up' on the past few posts. If all goes well, you should be seeing Prom pictures by Sunday! ;)

A Shout Out for Lisa!

Okay, so I mentioned in my last post that one of the ladies who writes on our blog has been busy with a new business. As any entrepreneur knows, starting your own business is tricky and can take up, well, time. A lot of it. And then to balance a home and a young family...not so easy. So, you'll only see Lisa post as much as her time can spare.

But one thing about Lisa, besides being one of the nicest people in the world, is that she is a super talented artist! She's found a knack in the art/craft world and she's taken off with it. If you get the chance, stop by her little online shop and oogle over all the cuteness and hey...maybe even buy something! ;) Here's a sneak peak at what our Lisa can do! (Pst! She does custom work, too!)

Visit her Etsy shop here: The Little Gift Box - Etsy

OR

Visit her webpage here: The Little Gift Box

We love you, Lisa! Keep up the great work!!!!

Jessica's Book List

Okay, so, it looks like we've all taken a week off from the blog here! (for those two people who may actually follow this blog, besides ourselves, these last few weeks have been keeping us busy with family emergencies, moves, a new business...you know...life!). BUT, this week's topic I have been looking forward to for a long time, because it's a topic that initially brought us all together....BOOKS!

My very first Sunday in our new ward here in Tampa, a few ladies came up to me and introduced themselves. One of them asked me if I liked to read and would I be interested in joining their book group. Of course, I said yes! I love books and I needed to meet some people and make new friends desperately. I have been to three meetings so far and am already slotted to host the group next month. So, I thought I'd pass along the books that the ladies here have chosen to read. Maybe give anyone who is looking for some good summer reads some ideas!

FEBRUARY

• Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrove Manor by Stephanie Barron - Jane Austen a sleuth? Hmmm. Those of us who love to read Jane Austen know she has a knack for building characters who are very good at observing...and isn't that what makes a good sleuth? Observing, being unseen, and then understanding people more than they understand themselves? This is a cute "who done it" book and the heroine...finally...being Jane! :)

MARCH

• A Tree Grown in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - Set in the early 1900's, this is an awesome book about a girl, Francie Nolan who beats the odds. Francie is a third generation American who lives in Brooklyn with her alcoholic father, a mother who works to keep the family afloat and her younger brother. Where most children born in poverty in Brooklyn are destined to follow in the footstep of their parents, Francies parents are determined (despite their shortfalls and trials) that their children will have a better life. I cannot say enough good things about this book! Each character is so well developed, by the end, you'll be routing for each one of them.

APRIL

• The Help by Kathryn Stockett - 1960s...Martin Luther King, Jr., Vietnam, JKF, Hippies, Civil Rights, first man on the moon...there is one word that comes to mind when I think of this decade in America...change. Most of the time change isn't a dramatic thing...people naturally don't like it, it takes time to get used to it, there is an aspect of "unknown" that frankly scares some people. And that's just what three women from Jackson, Mississippi set out to do. Change. Change the way people are treated and how their perceived in society. This is another must read book. *Pst!* Read it quick! There's a movie adaptation coming out this August!

MAY

• Matched by Ally Condie - Okay, so we obviously haven't meet to discuss this book yet, but, it's the book I chose and I just finished it yesterday! I chose this book because, well, I went to high school with the author! Okay, so don't get too excited. I didn't actually know her, but I knew who she was. She graduated a year ahead of me, but, small town, small high school, we all know of each other, even if we don't actually know them. Anyway....since I claim to be from Cedar City, UT (I figure I've moved around enough times I've earned the right to claim anywhere I've lived as "home", and since Cedar holds so many good and important memories for me, well...) I'm always interested in what my fellow Cedarians are doing! ANYWAY...so, if you loved Hunger Games then you'll love this book (also set to be a trilogy...and....as word has it....a movie!). Cassia is a 17 year-old girl who lives in a dystopian society. She's told what she'll wear, what she'll eat (how much she'll eat!), what her job will be and, of course, who she'll marry, or be "matched" to. Her optimal match that Society has paired her with is a boy she's know all her life...until Cassia discovers that there is a glitch in the system and it's possible that she is actually supposed to be matched to another boy she's known most of her life. The only problem is, it's not up to her to make the choice. But, is the choice that Society has made for her the one she would have made? Hmmmm. guess you gotta read the book to find out! ;)

So. There you go. I hope this helps in getting your summer reading list together! I don't think you can go wrong with any of these books. I've enjoyed reading them and I've enjoyed getting to know the ladies in my book group (though I do miss the ones in my old one, too!). Happy reading everyone!

a week in my shoes

Instead of boring you all by telling you all about my hum-drum week, I'll just let this picture and quote do the talkin'!

“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.” - Jack Handy