First Day of School Walk Down Memory Lane

Summer is over?  What the heck???  We've been crazy getting ready for school!  This year not only are all three of my kids going to a different school, they're going to three different schools!  It's been crazy getting everyone registered and ready!  Caleb is at the elementary school, Alyssa is at the junior high and Nina is at the high school... Yes, it's confusing with pick up and drop off times!

It's time for my annual trip down first day of school memory lane:

2012: Alyssa- 7th grade, Nina- 10th grade, Caleb- 6th grade

2011: Alyssa- 6th grade, Nina- 9th grade, Caleb- 5th grade

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006: Our first year at our school. My sister also attended that year.
Nikki- 8th grade, Nina- 4th grade, Alyssa- 1st grade

2006: Caleb- kindergarten (what a cutie!)

HAPPY BACK TO SCHOOL EVERYONE!

Italian Soup and more!

The other day I was talking about canning tomatoes and I started to crave the tomatoes I had in lovely jars from last year.  I whipped together a delightful soup using Italian-seasoned turkey burger, Italian tomatoes, tomato soup, water, chicken bouillon, whole wheat pasta and green beans.  We topped it with mozzarella cheese and served it with flat garlic bread and sparkling apple cider!

As I was cooking, Eric and Caleb worked on getting Caleb's pinewood derby tank painted!

It came out so great!  I have to brag about the dowel/gun... Eric whittled it from a stick he found in the yard!  He has some old school talent!

While I'm bragging, look how beautiful Nina looked for her 9th grade formal dinner at a fancy restaurant!  She got to eat at La Caille and loved every minute of it!

Vegas, Baby!

Spring break is here and we're on our way to Las Vegas to lounge next to a pool!  I found an awesome deal on a hotel a couple of months ago and we've been anxiously waiting!  Eric is coming along with his two oldest boys and this is their first family vacation... ever!  My girls really like Austin and my Caleb loves his Caleb so it should be a super good time!  I promise to take lots of pics!  You'll be entertained by a couple of guest posters while I'm gone, so make them feel welcome!

Gentleman Homemaker

This year has been one filled with a lot of ups and downs already.  It has been surprise after surprise, some good and some not so good.  One thing I've felt impressed to do this year is start dating again.  Last year I slowed down my dating a lot.  It wasn't just my dating that slowed down, it was my social life in general.  I was enjoying staying home quite a bit, even on the weekends when my kids were gone.  Jammies and scary movies became my norm on weekends.  At the first of the year I started to have a strong desire to date again.  It seemed like an odd time because I was also feeling inspired to look towards a move out of state, but when I'm prompted to do something, I do it.  I'm a firm believer in things happening for a reason AND I know that Heavenly Father sees the bigger pictures while we're stuck only seeing what's happening right now.

One night at about 1am I was tossing and turning for no apparent reason and out of the blue I was struck with the thought that I needed to change my dating profile.  My profiles are always fun and creative and get a lot of attention, but this idea was so unique it was quite amazing.  It was a very detailed job posting for the position of being my boyfriend.  It spelled out the qualifications someone one would need, the duties the job would entail, must haves and benefits of the position.  I got more messages and interest and compliments on it than I ever imagined.  I started going on dates and opening myself up to the idea of being in a relationship again, which is something I hadn't had a desire for in a year. 

My favorite response came from a cute local guy telling me he was "overqualified" in every aspect for the job and that he'd like to schedule a phone interview to further discuss the position.  Being very confident myself, his confidence was drawing to me.  Eric and I talked for a couple of weeks over the phone, had Sunday dinner together with my three kids and his four, spent a lot of time talking, texting, bouncing ideas off of each other, spending time with each others kids and then we decided to stop dating other people and get to know each other better exclusively.

I am amazed by this incredible man so I thought I'd introduce him to you.  Eric is a full time father to four boys who are 4, 6, 10 and 13.  He has had some amazing successes and some pretty intense set-backs in his life and especially over the last year, but his cheerful attitude and endless positive energy are infectious.  We are alike in a way that is complimentary to each other... We really balance each other out.  I want you to get to know him and his boys as my children and I get to know them.  I've never done this before on my blog, but he is really special.  Eric has started a blog that I will be co-authoring with him.  It's called the Gentleman Homemaker and I encourage you to check it out.

I spent a lot of time over this past weekend with Eric and his boys while my kids were at their dad's house.  We laughed, we cried, we plotted and planned and it was an fantastic couple of days.  I thought I'd share a couple of pics I took over the weekend so you can put faces to names.

Clark

Ian

Caleb 

(yes, we BOTH have 10 year old Calebs!)

and Austin

My blogland friends are like family to me so if you have any questions for Eric, feel free to post them and he will be more than happy to answer them (((hugs)))

Young Women's Conference 2012

Last weekend my daughters and I had the privilege of attending the LDS Young Women's General Conference. I have attended this conference a couple of times, including once with Nina two years ago. The difference this year was that Nina sang in the beautiful choir with almost 400 12-17 year old girls. They practiced for weeks and it was a fantastic spiritual experience for all involved. As I sat in the congregation and listened to these wonderful girls sing I was struck by the spirit in a really beautiful way. Both of my girls are growing up. In just a few short years they will be out of the house and away from their mom. I have such love and adoration for the amazing young women Nina and Alyssa are. I went through a rough patch with Nina for about a year and I'm facing that with Alyssa right now, but my love is so strong for them.

Being a mother is the most sacred and humbling experience any women will ever go through in her life. I am so grateful to be a mother to three extraordinary children.

We have really set a goal in our home to put a little more focus on things of a spiritual manner. We have never been amazing at fasting on fast Sunday, but we have decided it's something we want to do. We have also decided to start holding family scripture study. I know that by adding these two things into our lives we will be blessed.  I am proud to report we have been doing family home evening on a semi-regular basis.

Another goal I have made is to start doing my Sunday spiritual postings again. I need that focus on gospel topics in my life and sharing my focus on my blog is a really motivating way for me to accomplish that.

If you have questions about the LDS (Mormon) faith you'd like me to address or a gospel topic you'd like me to write about, please leave me a comment or send me an email.

 Happy Sunday!  I included the videos of the choir Nina was a part of.... these girls went from non-singers to this amazing choir in about five weeks! About four minutes into the Primary Song Medley you get a really nice shot of Nina!