I guess it's about time to get going on this again so here's a new question for all of us to answer - even you Nathan. What is a special smell you remember from your childhood?
I haven't had time to get back to working on my page yet. I have to teach in YW this coming Sunday and I'm leaving for girl's camp Wednesday morning and won't get home until Saturday. So I've been trying to get my lesson figured out but it just isn't coming together. I'll take my notes and work on it at camp. Maybe I'll get something posted next week before we leave for Las Vegas, but maybe not.
I hope everyone is healthy and happy and I've enjoyed the updates on the pages, too.
Love ya,
MOM
Monday, July 31, 2006
Poor Bryan
Jared and Michelle, I saw the pictures added to your page from the reunion. Pretty sweet. I had forgotten that Bryan fell and hurt his face on the second to last day. I hope that he is doing better and healing up quickly. Does school start for Brooke soon? I start in 29 days. I bet Brooke is more excited about school than I am, but that is because she is smarter than me and knows that school will do her good. anyways, where's a new question for me to ignore, mom? I have not seen one in a while.
Nathan
Nathan
Blog FHE
Since it was the last Sunday of the month (and I was gone for several of the earlier ones), I got visit taught. Our lesson was on strengthening families. The main points emphisized were temple work and family history. Those can be done at any stage in life; as a child or teenager, all the way up to retired adult. It is something that can bring your family closer, learning about the family before them, more than just names and dates (if possible), but stories as well. Other strengthening activities mentioned were family reunions and activities, traditions, FHE, dinners, etc. I overheard Tawnia getting visit taught, and because we are all "in between" families, they talked more about things we can do now to strengthen ourselves. It is hard to take care of a lot of other people, when you don't take the time to take care of yourself. Although you are part of a group, you are still an individual, and you still can have things that just you like to do. Take the time to get away and read, draw, hike, swim, anything that makes you happy. You will always be you, no matter who else comes into your life, so be sure you know who that is.
You can find a copy of the visiting teaching message on lds.org under Gospel Library, and it is under monthly messages on the right-hand side. Or look in the July 2006 Ensign.
You can find a copy of the visiting teaching message on lds.org under Gospel Library, and it is under monthly messages on the right-hand side. Or look in the July 2006 Ensign.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Sounds like us
Hey Emily,
your trip around Washington DC and looking for metro stations and finding different ones and then coming above ground and not knowing where you were reminded Amanda and I about our trip to Europe in a round-about way. We had lots of times where we didn't know where we were when we popped out from the underground, or we couldn't find the places that were right in front of our faces. The place that I am thinking of however is an internet cafe that used to be in one place that we were sent, and it ended up not being there anymore. Big cities have a way of sucking people in and not letting them go until the city has played a few tricks on them. But once you get used to the metro systems, I am sure that they aren't as bad. It wasn't as bad for us when we figured them out. But then again, we never completely figured anything out.
Nathan
your trip around Washington DC and looking for metro stations and finding different ones and then coming above ground and not knowing where you were reminded Amanda and I about our trip to Europe in a round-about way. We had lots of times where we didn't know where we were when we popped out from the underground, or we couldn't find the places that were right in front of our faces. The place that I am thinking of however is an internet cafe that used to be in one place that we were sent, and it ended up not being there anymore. Big cities have a way of sucking people in and not letting them go until the city has played a few tricks on them. But once you get used to the metro systems, I am sure that they aren't as bad. It wasn't as bad for us when we figured them out. But then again, we never completely figured anything out.
Nathan
Round and round and round I go
First off, I did not get lost yesterday. I always knew exactly where I was. Where the place was that I was trying to get to -- that's another story.
Yesterday, Trina dropped me off at the Metro Station, and I rode down to the Mall. I went to the Natural History Museum (I got lunch there). They had an exhibit on Antarctica (and you all know how I like penguins), so I wanted to see it. The problem was, I couldn't find it. I knew it was on the first floor, so I walked around in circles until I was able to get directions.
Then I went to the Art Gallery. There's a huge dome in the middle, and then many galleries, one leading into another. So I looked at the paintings (I liked the Monet paintings and landscapes). And it just went on and on, and after about an hour, I started wandering in circles again trying to find my way out. (Good thing there are exit signs near the floor beside the doors.)
When I was leaving, I asked for directions to the Metro station, because I wanted to go to the National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum which had just recently opened. Next time I must ask which street I should cross. I never did find the station in question. But I eventually (by following a family of tourists) found another station. And then I had to find out which way it was to the gallery, which was four blocks from the station.
The Portrait Gallery was nice. I saw portraits of Civil War generals, Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, and the founding fathers -- in that order. Yes, I went through all the exhibits backwards. I did the same thing with the American President exhibit.
I actually skipped the modern art exhibits, because my feet were hurting, and I made it back without getting mixed up once. Although there was a truck parked in the middle of the road.
And today, my adventure involved a vacuum cleaner. It was not working. So I starting pulling hair from the rollers. And I cut hair and yarn from the rollers. And I pulled some more. And more, and more, and more. (I am in no way exaggerating.) But it still didn't work, so I pulled off the catcher and dumped it out. And Trina asked if there was a filter in there. And I found the filter, buried under a mountain of dirt. And now the vacuum works.
Yesterday, Trina dropped me off at the Metro Station, and I rode down to the Mall. I went to the Natural History Museum (I got lunch there). They had an exhibit on Antarctica (and you all know how I like penguins), so I wanted to see it. The problem was, I couldn't find it. I knew it was on the first floor, so I walked around in circles until I was able to get directions.
Then I went to the Art Gallery. There's a huge dome in the middle, and then many galleries, one leading into another. So I looked at the paintings (I liked the Monet paintings and landscapes). And it just went on and on, and after about an hour, I started wandering in circles again trying to find my way out. (Good thing there are exit signs near the floor beside the doors.)
When I was leaving, I asked for directions to the Metro station, because I wanted to go to the National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum which had just recently opened. Next time I must ask which street I should cross. I never did find the station in question. But I eventually (by following a family of tourists) found another station. And then I had to find out which way it was to the gallery, which was four blocks from the station.
The Portrait Gallery was nice. I saw portraits of Civil War generals, Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, and the founding fathers -- in that order. Yes, I went through all the exhibits backwards. I did the same thing with the American President exhibit.
I actually skipped the modern art exhibits, because my feet were hurting, and I made it back without getting mixed up once. Although there was a truck parked in the middle of the road.
And today, my adventure involved a vacuum cleaner. It was not working. So I starting pulling hair from the rollers. And I cut hair and yarn from the rollers. And I pulled some more. And more, and more, and more. (I am in no way exaggerating.) But it still didn't work, so I pulled off the catcher and dumped it out. And Trina asked if there was a filter in there. And I found the filter, buried under a mountain of dirt. And now the vacuum works.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
look around
If you checked out the sister blog earlier, you can check it out again, because I changed it again. I think I'll leave it like this for a while, until I decide to play with it again. I hope you like it!
While you're looking around, you can also see the portrait I did for Sam on my page (there is a link for my page on the sister blog) .. it is at the right end of one of the rows .. it's worth finding.
While you're looking around, you can also see the portrait I did for Sam on my page (there is a link for my page on the sister blog) .. it is at the right end of one of the rows .. it's worth finding.
Hola
I think this blog is feeling a bit neglected (as I'm sure all the other blogs owned by members of our family are feeling also.) I realize that we all just saw each other a few weeks ago... but life is still happening, and I still like hearing from people.
Mom and Dad - Congrats on the new car! I'm excited to see it when you come through Utah in a few weeks. (But more excited to see you.)
Eric, Laurel and Stevie -- I want to see more pictures! I really miss seeing that boy. I look at the videos I made of him a lot and I am already thinking of when I can come to Cali to see him again.
Jared, Michelle, Brooke, and Bryan -- I miss all of you too. What have you been doing since being back in Texas? When does Brooke start school again? Have you been doing lots of swimming? What fun things have you been doing as a family?
Nate and Manda -- Could you put a page of all the Cathedrals and Castles you went too (or saw) and where they are... and also any stories you want to share about them. I teach my class about the Middle Ages and it would be cool to have those to share with them. Thanks. (It doesn't have to be right away... I don't teach about that until later in the year.)
Sisters -- Look at the sisters blog to see questions I have for you and Mindy's newest arrangement of things. It looks pretty cool.
Love you all.
Tawnia
Mom and Dad - Congrats on the new car! I'm excited to see it when you come through Utah in a few weeks. (But more excited to see you.)
Eric, Laurel and Stevie -- I want to see more pictures! I really miss seeing that boy. I look at the videos I made of him a lot and I am already thinking of when I can come to Cali to see him again.
Jared, Michelle, Brooke, and Bryan -- I miss all of you too. What have you been doing since being back in Texas? When does Brooke start school again? Have you been doing lots of swimming? What fun things have you been doing as a family?
Nate and Manda -- Could you put a page of all the Cathedrals and Castles you went too (or saw) and where they are... and also any stories you want to share about them. I teach my class about the Middle Ages and it would be cool to have those to share with them. Thanks. (It doesn't have to be right away... I don't teach about that until later in the year.)
Sisters -- Look at the sisters blog to see questions I have for you and Mindy's newest arrangement of things. It looks pretty cool.
Love you all.
Tawnia
Friday, July 28, 2006
Hello friends
I was just looking around at Mom's page and saw many of the changes. I like your new car. Every time I talked to you since you got it I forgot to ask what color it was. I should have known that you would have picked red. I like your matching outfit too. Are you going to put pictures on your traveling page of the reunion, even though you did not need to travel to get there? My camera was either full of pictures from our other trip or the batteries were dead, or we forgot it at home, so we did not get very many pictures from the reunions. We did however get some of Stevie. Are we going to get copies of all those family ones soon? Anyways, I hope that everyone is healthy and well, and I am lonely now that all you guys are gone. Obviously mom and dad and Clarissa are still here, but it was fun having everyone around.
I just wanted to add that I saw Mindy's new piggy on her page, and that her school page has a lot of pictures from her class. I don't know if that has been there for a while, but I just noticed. I also saw the pictures added to Jared's page. I saw them a little while ago but failed to meniton before. I like the cannon shot.
Nathan
I just wanted to add that I saw Mindy's new piggy on her page, and that her school page has a lot of pictures from her class. I don't know if that has been there for a while, but I just noticed. I also saw the pictures added to Jared's page. I saw them a little while ago but failed to meniton before. I like the cannon shot.
Nathan
Thursday, July 27, 2006
the past few days
Thank you all for the birthday wishes, either on the blog or by phone. I heard from just about everyone. I was very happy to get sung happy birthday four times on my phone, because that's the only place I heard it (the song, not the words "Happy Birthday"). But I had a nice breakfast out with some friends, and it was a good start to the day. I went to work for a majority of the day, but one of the girls bought me a little cake, and I ate that for dessert during my break. Afterwards I got to go to tap class for the first time in a month. Turns out they changed the time it started, so we showed up at the end, instead of the beginning, but Charlee stayed the extra hour so we could have our class. We learned a ton, so I had an excellent time. Around 11 o'clock, we went out to the parking lot and set off a few extra firecrackers from the 4th, and danced around with sparklers.
Yesterday, because I didn't have to work until three, Tawnia and I started to look around for furniture for our new apartment (that we will hopefully move into next weekend). We didn't find a whole lot at WalMart, but she did buy me one of those collapsable butterfly chairs for my birthday (and after sitting in it a while will probably get one herself). While I'm at work today, she's going in to find out about some six foot Monster Sacks (aka giant beanbags) that we might use as our couch.
I got a phone call from the principal at Reagan Academy. He told me that I'm not going to be working with the same teacher this next year, or even stay in the same grade. I was a bit shocked by the news, and although he assured me that it was because of anything I did, and it was just because they thought I would do well with the new teacher, I was still sad to move up. I'm moving up to the sixth grade. I sat and cried for a few minutes, because I was so surprised, and because I'm really really going to miss working with all the cute first graders. But I just might like sixth grade, and I could probably use the challenge.
Yesterday, because I didn't have to work until three, Tawnia and I started to look around for furniture for our new apartment (that we will hopefully move into next weekend). We didn't find a whole lot at WalMart, but she did buy me one of those collapsable butterfly chairs for my birthday (and after sitting in it a while will probably get one herself). While I'm at work today, she's going in to find out about some six foot Monster Sacks (aka giant beanbags) that we might use as our couch.
I got a phone call from the principal at Reagan Academy. He told me that I'm not going to be working with the same teacher this next year, or even stay in the same grade. I was a bit shocked by the news, and although he assured me that it was because of anything I did, and it was just because they thought I would do well with the new teacher, I was still sad to move up. I'm moving up to the sixth grade. I sat and cried for a few minutes, because I was so surprised, and because I'm really really going to miss working with all the cute first graders. But I just might like sixth grade, and I could probably use the challenge.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
A few updates
I've been working on my page lately. I have a new picture on "What's New" and I have part of our DC pictures on my travel page. Trina asked me to put up some pictures of Summer. I'd been working on my vacation page so I just put up what I have done so far. There's still a lot more to do on it.
Life is still busy here at home, a little quieter but still busy. Next week I'll be at Girl's Camp from Wednesday through Saturday and the following weekend we're going to Las Vegas for the McCune family reunion. We'll stay with Jen while we're there and we have a couple of stops on the way, so I'm sure I'll have more pictures to post.
After that it will be time to start thinking about school starting. Then there's wedding plans and whatever else comes along, but life is supposed to be busy. It's what keeps us out of trouble. No boredom around here.
Love ya,
MOM
Life is still busy here at home, a little quieter but still busy. Next week I'll be at Girl's Camp from Wednesday through Saturday and the following weekend we're going to Las Vegas for the McCune family reunion. We'll stay with Jen while we're there and we have a couple of stops on the way, so I'm sure I'll have more pictures to post.
After that it will be time to start thinking about school starting. Then there's wedding plans and whatever else comes along, but life is supposed to be busy. It's what keeps us out of trouble. No boredom around here.
Love ya,
MOM
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Another happy birthday
Hey, Mindy.
Have a great birthday. Do you still have those fireworks you were saving from the Fourth of July? Have fun with Tawnia.
Emily
Have a great birthday. Do you still have those fireworks you were saving from the Fourth of July? Have fun with Tawnia.
Emily
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Happy Birthday Mindy!
I hope you have a great day even though you have to work.
Eat some cake!
We love you!
Eric, Laurel & Stevie
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MINDY!!!
Today Mindy is 23 years old and she is done being 22. It is sad, I know, but life will go on. Mindy, do not worry about not being 22 anymore. I had a rough time at first, but I overcame the difficulties of turning 23 and have since turned 24. The numbers are all starting to jumble together now and I really have not cared what my age is, except that at times I wish I was still 22. If you want I could keep telling people you're 22. Anyways, happy birthday and I hope that Tawnia makes you a cake or something.
Nathan
Nathan
Monday, July 24, 2006
Work
Well, I know it is a struggle for Mindy to work 40 hours this week.... but it is forcing me to come over to the school and get to work. I am also doing better about getting up early, and trying to get to bed earlier. I actually feel that I have accomplished some things today. My classroom is still a mess, but it's slowly getting better. I like having windows, but I can feel the heat seeping in from the wall. Hopefully the same thing won't happen with the cold. So yeah, ummm... I'm going to go home now and do more stuff there.
Happy Pioneer Day.
Love,
Tawnia
Happy Pioneer Day.
Love,
Tawnia
I did it
At 3:16 pm Eastern, I e-mailed my resignation letter to Susan, Jeremy and Carl - my 2 bosses and our executive director - effective August 31. This is almost a bigger leap of faith than moving out here to DC with no job confirmed. I've gone around and around with this for months - do I stay full time, go part time, or quit completely ... it's done now. No going back.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Summer's newest thing
Summer rolled from her back to her front this morning. I noticed her lying on the bed on her front, and asked Adam why he put her down that way. He hadn't - he'd put her on her back. So we turned her onto her back, and she flipped over to her front again. She hasn't been particularly happy this weekend - very, very fussy all the time. She seems to calm down the most when Adam or I are holding her, so I'm wondering if it's something to do with the fact that I was back at work this past week and away from her most of the day.
Back to work ... I have to learn a piano piece in about an hour right now to play it at a baptism this afternoon. Bye.
Back to work ... I have to learn a piano piece in about an hour right now to play it at a baptism this afternoon. Bye.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
HOT
It is 4 in the morning right now, and it is hard to sleep because it is so hot here. We do not have air conditioning and so we are cooking. It is about 80 degrees outside and so very uncomfortable. We have a ward breakfast we are going to tomorrow morning so hopefully we get some sleep. It actually starts in about 4 hours. I don't have to do anything for it except eat, and I am pretty good at that. I hope that you guys have better luck at staying cool than we do.
Nathan
Nathan
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
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