A Full Day

Talk about your crazy days...this one has been a doozy! I had two big exams today, Zac had a huge presentation and Tyson had early out for parent teacher conferences (of course). Zac's presentation prevented him from being available to get the kids off to school. I had arranged for a neighbor to help out with getting Tyson to school(A, thank you tons) and another neighbor to pick him up (thanks S-you're a lifesaver). I thought I had it all worked out until 6:50am this morning I woke up to a text from a friend alerting me to the snow storm and a message from my professor. Aaghh! It's a terrible feeling when someone throws a wrench in your carefully thought out plans!

Somehow I managed to feed the boys (forgot to feed myself), throw on clothes and get everyone where they needed to be by 7:30. The snow kept coming but with the help of a good Christmas CD I made it to my 8:30 exam on-time (despite the horrendously slow traffic) and with a decent attitude. I took my test,pushed through two other classes (with the help of the clementine I happened to find in my book-bag) and took my aural listening exam as well. By 2pm I was on my way home.

Zac was able to book it home via public transportation,slosh through the wet snow (the snow changed to heavy rain) to pick Tyson up at a decent time and even did my dishes for me. I arrived home with enough time to eat a bite (literally one bite) of his delicious guacamole and tamale and head to the middle school to pick up Tim and his friends. The poor kids were soaking wet after just a few minutes of waiting outside for me.

After that...forty-five minutes of pure bliss, aka nothing...

Then piano lessons, dinner and Tim's band concert to top the night off. The band's rendition of The Raiders March (from Indiana Jones, Raiders of the Lost Ark)was my favorite. Phew! It has been crazy, but all-in-all, it was a good day!

Happy Halloween!

Another B+ Paper

It's not a bad grade, quite the opposite, however, I really put in an A effort as in "A" lot of time. Better luck next time, right?

Come on Neurotransmitters!

Yesterday I had my piano lesson and my teacher helped me figure out some new fingering (this is the song I'm working on). I had practiced quite a bit the previous week, yet after receiving the new fingerings I found myself absolutely stuck. My fingers simply sat there frozen. I kept looking at the music then looking at the keys trying to figure out how in the world to make it work. My mind hurt it was thinking so hard, in fact I wouldn't have been suprised if a cloud of smoke had started spewing from out of my ears. Yet try as I might I couldn't force my body and mind to make the connection; the synapses were not firing. Eventually, with tedious amounts of repetition, I was able to push through the passage and make some headway. Unfortunately, I still left feeling so flustered! I haven't felt that way since AP Calculus in high school!
Luckily, tonight my workload was much lighter. What did I inflict upon my brain instead? Not much. I went for a much needed haircut, fixed dinner and then sat down to update my blog. Aaaahhh!

Tyson's Baptism

My baby was baptized this past weekend. Because our ward clambake ended up being scheduled on the same day, we were given the option to have the baptism at the beach. Tyson decided that he liked that idea and so, on Saturday we got together with friends and family and watched Zac baptize Tyson in the cold, Atlantic ocean at Crane's beach.
It was a wonderful sunny, windy day. I'm not sure I ever quit smiling. One of the highlights was having our bishop accompany the songs on his banjo. Our friend (and ward relief society president) took some perfect pictures of the event. Thanks EP!
I think one of my personal favorite parts was watching Tyson splash and play in the waves with his friend just before we got started. The other nice part of this baptism was being able to see all three of my boys take part in it. Tyson was baptized, Zac did the baptizing, and Tim gave a talk. Pretty cool. Oh, and it was really awesome being able to actually see the baptism. I've attended many in the last four years, but Tyson's baptism was the first I've actually ever witnessed in New England. Neat stuff!

Wahoo For Me!

After almost a year I finally beat the last level in my Wii DDR!!! WAHOO!

Scout Camp

I just wanted to post about Tim's scout camp experience. It was actually a couple of weeks ago now, but I thought I would still write about it. It rained at least half the time he was there, but he said he still had a great time. Best of all, he said he was really happy to be home. Yay! I was glad too!

Cholera Anyone?

I just finished reading this book. I found it in a clearance bin at the bookstore. It sounded interesting. It took me a couple of months to actually get around to reading it (too many other school books to read). At first I thought it was a fictional story about the 1854 cholera outbreak in London, however, once I started reading I found out that it is simply about the 1854 cholera outbreak in London-talk about exciting!!???!

Anyway, Zac ended up looking at it over my shoulder eventually stealing it from me (I had to go and check out another copy at the library to accomodate the two of us). The funny thing is, it isn't the greatest book to read. There are some sections that are very interesting, but overall it was a bit disappointing (Zac agrees). So why I am writing about it? Because it did make me think about a lot of things that we just take for granted like clean drinking water, sewage pipes, and an abundance of water in my own home with the turn of a faucet. I love imagining the victorian era but I am positively glad to live in this day and age.

p.s. I did learn that if you ever end up with Cholera make sure you replenish your bucketfuls of lost fluids like crazy! Although it's probably best to make it to the hospital and have them help you with that intravenously.

What I've been up to lately...

Life hasn't slowed down since Hollie's visit and youth conference. I just finished a summer class (short narrative). I really enjoyed it. There were only eight students and all were great writers. If anyone is curious enough to want to read my stories just email me and I'll send them to you.
Also, this week I have the opportunity to play for a children's theatre. Hanscomb Air Force Base's youth center has theMissoula Children's Theatre come each year to put on a fun musical. I've had the opportunity to be the pianist the last three years now, and I love it. The whole process takes a week and the kids in the community learn parts, songs, and actions in time for their Saturday performance. I have been so impressed with Missoula Children's Theatre. They are efficient and extremely talented. This year's show is King Arthur's Quest.

Other than that we have had Tim's high adventure kayaking on the Annisquam river, Tyson's summer reading camp, volleyball and trip to the res.
The only thing that would make it better would be if everyone I love could be here with us.

Tide Pools

Baby sis Hollie is here visiting just in time for it to rain every day. We decided to go to the beach anyway and check out some tide pools. Hollie, silly girl that she is, brought her cell phone down with her, slipped on a mossy rock and dropped the phone in a salty, sea pool. She was pretty sad, sore and her sweater might carry a permanent souvenir of a stain (That's a lot of s's).

May Photos

We've had some fun this past May. Here are a few photos...one from a Harvard Square adventure, one of my look alike boys and a bunch of others from the state park Halibut Point that we visited with some friends on Labor day. Fun Stuff.

One of THOSE days

Do ever just have one of those days where you just feel miserable...like you just can't do anything right or there is just too many things to worry about? Oh yeah. I feel like I've had one of those days. There's always tomorrow!

Another Semester Down...

I took my last exam today. Hooray! I made it!

LDS Church Catches Fire in Cambridge

We had our stake conference today (it was a broadcast from Salt Lake City) and at the end before the closing prayer, Clayton Christensen stood up and informed the congregation that one of our chapels in Cambridge, the Longfellow Park chapel, had caught on fire and was burning down. The broadcast for our stake conference was taking place there as well. Luckily, it sounds like everyone was able to get out safely. This was a historic chapel for the saints out here. It is so sad. Here's the story off of Boston.com. One of our ward members, Ellen Patton, also has some pictures posted on her blog. Pretty sad...It will be interesting to see what will happen next and where they will have the three wards attend services. Work has started on a new chapel in Cambridge, but it won't be done for quite some time. At least the steeple is still standing.

On a personal note, I have finals this week. I have a French Oral exam and two finals for my other two classes. I'm not planning to cram too hard, I figure I have gone to class the whole semester, participated and done the assignments, I should be okay. But...if you feel like it, an extra prayer in my behalf would be more than welcome.

Zac finally received permission to play volleyball again and around a month later, he went to practice, landed on a kid who had come underneath the net and sprained his ankle. Hmmm...he's not too happy. He's been being super careful and taking care of it pretty well. He has nationals in Minnesota this coming weekend. I'm sure he'll still have fun, I mean it is volleyball afterall!

The kids...they are doing well. They made it through another dentist appointment without cavities. YAY! They are mostly concerned with how much playtime they get, especially with the nicer weather we've been receiving.

So...that is my update...exciting and not so exciting, but there you have it!

My Little Karate Master

Tyson has been loving his karate. He just achieved his yellow belt. Here's a video of him after having just received his yellow belt. He's in the back row (with glasses).

Spring Break?

It's my spring break and I have a load of things to do. Here's a bit of my list:
• Taxes
• FAFSA
• School Financial Aid Forms for next year
• Buy stamps and mail everything that has been sitting around for a week
• Finish up lingering French Homework
• Laundry
• Schedule Dentist Appt
• Visiting Teaching
• Get a head start on School Reading
• Get new backpack for Tim
• Scrapbook (I hope so)
• Music Practice
• Piano Lessons
• YW Meeting
• Clean House

I don't know if one can call this much of a break. It's more of a catch-up session. Also, it still isn't feeling too much like Spring yet. Who came up with the term Spring Break anyway? Well, at least it's a week off of classes. It's nice to be able to focus more on my family again.

Saturday Chores

Tim and Tyson are on bathroom duty for their Saturday chores. After Tim had finished with the cleaning of the royal throne, Tyson went to start on the floor. He directly came back out, hands on hips, looked sternly at Tim and said, "There's still bubbles on the toilet, Tim. Why is that?" It's nice to know I'm not the only one expecting a job well done. Oh yeah, and have I mentioned how much I love my awesome boys? What troopers!

I just wanted to say...

I love my sisters and I miss them like crazy!

In Memory of Mrs. Fisher

My mom sent me the obituary of my high school orchestra teacher Mrs. Vanessa Fisher. I am so sad to hear of her passing. I really enjoyed her class. She was a tough teacher that expected a lot from us. She presented some fun, tough pieces to work on and helped us to perform well. She was also a lot of fun. I can still remember her deep laugh. One of our orchestra trips was spent in Seattle, Washington. One of the nights the boys were pranking our room. Mrs. Fisher had come in to check on us and tell us good night. The phone rang again while she was there and we encouraged her to answer it for us. I could've sworn there was a twinkle in her as she announced in her most authoritative voice that they were indeed speaking to Mrs. Fisher. We all had a good laugh. She cared about the students as individuals as well. I was grateful for her help. She was an awesome teacher and should be applauded for all she did! I wish her family peace and comfort.

Happy Valentine's Day to the Ones I Love!

Clementi's Sonatina in C, Op.36 no.3

This is the new piece I'm working on in my piano lessons. The boy who plays it on the youtube video is 6years old. Now...if he can do it, so can I-right? I'm loving it actually. If you are lucky I'll play it for you some day!

Snow Day

Yesterday the Arlington School District decided that the forecast for today's snowstorm was good enough to call for a snow day. I'm always shocked by the amount of snowdays or delays we end up with each year. Well, it has been great so far. We slept in (always nice), snuggled and watched movies, played boardgames, and Tyson even had a playdate. Zac and Tim have now headed for scouts and Tyson has given me suggestions of what the two of us can do for the rest of the evening: Snuggle, snuggle and watch a movie, or play a game (a little familiar to the earlier part of today but good all the same). Maybe we'll be able to do all three! Either way I'm just bragging up the fact that I have had the chance to hang out with my awesome boys today and I LOVE IT!

Books Galore

This coming semester I am taking a Shakespeare class and an Arthurian Legends class. I am pretty excited, however, when I went to the bookstore yesterday to buy books I was shocked to realize how much reading I'll be doing. I ended up leaving with 11 books (yes really ELEVEN) for just the two classes! WOW! Luckily, it should be interesting material...right???

Christmas, Cake and Teeth

Sometime in the first week of December I finally made Tim's birthday cake. Late, yes, but Tim was still excited.


This season Tyson heard a lot about the song, "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth." Can you guess why?