SNOW!!!

What an adventure we have had the last few days!
Early this week the weather man predicted light snow for the weekend…it got bigger and begger as the days went on.
Friday I spent my afternoon hunting down ice melt. I finally found out that Pitkins (Ace Hardware) was getting a truck in with a fresh supply of ice melt, sleds, and shovels at 7pm…so after dinner Pam and I went and ran some errands and then headed to get the ice melt at about 8:30. We got there to find a line through the store, and no truck yet. They employees were very nice, and so we waited. Mike came to wait with us, but had to stay in the truck because they locked the doors. At 11pm we headed out with ice melt and a new sled for Isabella. On the way home Pam was ahead of us and was sliding about. She got stuck and so we used the 4-wheel drive on our truck and pushed her car all the way up the hill. She made it to our house and she stayed for the night.
Saturday we woke up to a “Winter Wonderland.” Lots of snow, and it was still coming! So we got in the truck and went to Costco…it was great, no one was there! We also hit Wal-Mart, and then headed home. In the afternoon we had to go get my brother Eric because he had flown in from London, and then trained to D.C. We spent a lovely 4 hours in the car…not an experience I would like to repeat.

I-95 North...we sat for 2 hours to go 5 miles!

We finally found this problem...it was the first of many...we bailed to Rt. 1

This is was Southbound looked like the whole way!!!

Today Mike and Eric shoveled a lot and Eric went on his way to be with his family. Later in the afternoon we heard some funny noises outside and we found our road being plowed by these!

It was a great weekend to be “snowed in” that ended with dinner at Tammy & Ken’s house.

Enjoy the pictures!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

I love this season! We had a great Thanksgiving, and it was so nice to have Mike here for it! We had a quiet day and then had everyone over on Sunday for dinner.

We have gotten our Christmas tree up and it looks amazing. I like to sit in the room with all the lights off except the lights on the tree and listen to all the great music. I love it!

Today made the season even better! We got our first snow. It’s so beautiful, and I just wanted to sit in front of the window and watch the world turn into a marshmallow.

It would have been better if it were a weekday, but I’ll take the snow anytime!

Veteran's Day

Some people fly this flag for months and years of their lives. This is the symbol family members display while a loved one is serving overseas. They see this everyday knowing that a person they love is in harm’s way. They display this so that we can all live free under this flag.

So today I say thanks to those who have served, those who serve and those who will serve for securing our freedom. This sight always makes me tear up…it something that I respect, and brings joy to my heart. I hope to continue seeing it for the rest of my life!

On a totally different note…Happy 234th Birthday Marines!

What a Weekend!

It all started out “normal” with some added rain, but the end of the weekend was the BEST! At 1:30 am on Monday morning Pam, Tammy, Ken and kids all accompanied me down to Marine Corps Base Quantico. We got to the gym and took our spots. At about 2:30 they marched in.

After a quick command there was a rush in the room and there he was…my husband is BACK!

He found me long before I could find him in the crowd of Marines dressed alike. He is home from Iraq and gets to stay home! No going back anytime soon!

Isabella was very excited to see her favorite uncle…

…and then we showed off her new brother Bryce. Isabella kept touching his face and pointing to him and saying his name. It was really cute!

After the hellos and many, many hugs we got our stuff together and went home. The first thing that Mike wanted was a hot shower…he was also a fan of properly functioning toilets. After we ate a good breakfast we crashed…that was about 5:30 am

This poster has a picture of all of our families...I wanted everyone to be there.

Lunch was at his favorite restaurant, El Charro, and then we grilled a tri-tip for dinner. It was a great first day, and it is WONDERFUL to have him home!

Tonight we went to the ward Halloween party and surprised everyone. It was fun to see the looks on people’s faces.

Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers while he’s been away!

In Case You Were Wondering

• I started my 6th year teaching at G-F this September.
• Mike is still gone.
• I still miss him.
• He has several more months to go.
• I still have good days and bad days.
• The work on the house has not made much progress.
• School is going well; we have had a very smooth start this year.
• The temperature in Iraq is cooling off…now they’re in the 90s.
• I don’t like living alone.
• I like having the whole bed to spread out on though.
• If I had 4 more hours in everyday I’d get A LOT more done.
• Mike and I talk a couple of times a week.
• He found a friend at church there that we knew here in the singles branch.
• I email him everyday, he emails me almost everyday.
• The base he is at has lots of Army coming in…the locals know it…they aren’t afraid of the Army.
• Mike likes letters, but I haven’t been a good pen-pal since school started.
• Mike has a busted lip from training…I’m still waiting on pictures.
• He’s been gone for almost 11 weeks…it’s hard to believe!

Back to School

School started this week…I should say that students started this week…I went back on August 31st. Things went very well! It’s hard to believe that I’m already back in school. I feel like we just got out for summer.

This year it feels almost surreal to be there. I fell back into the routine so easily its as if I never stopped. I’m teaching the same classes as I have for the past 3 years, so it’s nice to feel like I have a firm grasp on the subjects.

My students seem good. I have several “younger siblings” from past students, and I’m keeping the tradition of having siblings during the same year. Most years I have siblings…not always in the same class or even the same grade, but this year I have 3 sets I think. I enjoy the siblings because they will rat each other out all the time…not usually about school stuff, but about things they did at home or who’s on restriction. It’s entertaining.

I’m hoping that things continue as smoothly as they have been! Here’s to a great year!

My Garden

I grew up with a garden next to my house. When we were little we would help pick whatever needed that day, when I got a little older, we had to help prep whatever had been picked (snap beans, or pod peas). This year while I have access to a great garden plot (thanks dad!) I decided that I should take advantage.

The biggest thing I have going for me is tomatoes! This is what my plants look like every 2 days! It’s a bit insane.

I also grew corn. It’s done for the season now, but was good…even some critters thought so—they stole a couple of ears and left the cobs for me.


I did zucchini, and got several at the beginning, but it has kind of stopped producing now…maybe it needed a few weeks rest.


I have green beans. They are growing like crazy! Next to the tomatoes these are my biggest producer.

I also have green and red bell peppers! They are starting to come in, and they are sooooo good!


My watermelon plant, which I thought was dead, has now sent vines across a good part of the garden, and has a melon on it.

I did cucumbers, but this is what I’ve gotten so far…this is only the second one all summer…not normal for this garden, but I’ve got plenty of other things to work with.


A garden this size has a lot of work that comes with it. I have realized that weeding is not my favorite thing in the world! I also have realized that sometimes you get surprises in your garden like these…

…yup more tomato plants! These have grown from seeds from last years tomatoes…I know that because I didn’t plant this variety.

So, if you want tomatoes or green beans…I just might know where you can find some.