A little different Christmas last year

Our Christmas was a little crazy this year and real different. For the weeks before Christmas we were trying to get AJ ready for his mission to Columbus. We spent a lot of time shopping, playing, preparing etc. Here is one of AJ's pictures in the MTC with his great friend Craig that just happened to be in the MTC when he was.

Yes, AJ was in the MTC during Christmas so we had to celebrate his Christmas before he left. His report date was Dec 16.

This is a picture of AJ helping to decorate the tree. For some reason there is always the tongue.

During that month, Mike and I took AJ to Salt Lake to shop for missionary clothes and to also take him to a couple of temples. We went to the new Draper Temple and the Salt Lake Temple. It was great. This picture is of Mike and AJ at Leatherbys. You just have to go to Leatherbys if you have the chance.

My kids, ever since they were little, usually get a Christmas outfit during the first part of December. This is a picture of them all with their new Christmas outfits. They know that time is running short and they are all going to miss their brother.

We had many friends and family come down for the missionary farewell. We were so overwhelmed with the love and support that we felt. AJ did a great job. SO many people commented that he spoke like a return missionary instead of one just going out. Of course we had to have great food to celebrate. We had a brunch with muffins, fruit, breakfast casserole and other great yummy food.

We did have a special day for AJ's Christmas. He is such a cutie. His Christmas wasn't that exciting, because how exciting can ties and shirts be but we still had fun.

We have the greatest bishop in the world. Anyway, this is a picture of AJ on the night he was set apart as a missionary. We invited our bishop to come too. AJ and Bishop Wilson have a great relationship.

The day that AJ went to the MTC we woke everyone up early and headed to Dennys for breakfast. It was early but well worth it. We had a great time but it was real hard when the kids had to say good bye.

This is a picture of AJ and I at the MTC when we dropped him off. I am trying to look happy but this is definitely a bitter sweet moment.

A picture of Mike and AJ the day that we took him to the MTC. As you can tell it was a hard day. AJ will be a fabulous missionary.

Christmas morning, Angela doesn't look too awake.

Todd is so excited about his external drive and really knows how to show it. He must be from my side of the family.

Christmas morning with Karrilyn is always a blast. She is always so happy about what she gets even though she is my oldest. My kids definitely love Christmas. Wonder who they got that from.

Christmas Eve checking out where Santa has been on the computer. We have to make sure we are to bed on time. Haha.

Christmas morning, my kids are so cute. It was definitely different without AJ for Christmas but we tried to make the most of it. This picture is of Angela, Todd, and Karrilyn. Merry Christmas.

Christmas tree, you always have to have a picture of the Christmas tree. New Year here we come.

It takes me too long

While I am in the process of trying to get caught up with my blog, life continues to go on and on. I substitued in fourth grade at Enoch Elementary today. I think this will be my life for quite a while, not knowing when I will be working and when I will be home. The kids are great and yes I still want to teach.
I don 't know how many of you even care but if you ask how are you doing???? The last six weeks has been very hard for me. The last three weeks while AJ has actually been in Ohio has been a little easier but still hard.
Here is a picture of my boy right before he left.

I just get thinking that I am doing good and then I have a day when I REALLY miss him. I just can't describe how hard it is to have your son leave and not know every day how he is doing. AJ is one of my best friends and that makes it even harder. When he was home he always wanted to know how I was doing and always tried to cheer me up or make me laugh if I had a bummer of a day. That is just my AJ. I miss him SO much and I have so long to go. Having a missionary leave is such a sacrifice. It is so good for them but it is really hard. I just can't imagine life without him for two years. That is a long time. I hope I can hang in there, because today I wonder.

Student Teaching 09

I finally finished my student teaching in November of 2009. My first placement was in first grade at Enoch Elementary. I was really worried about first grade at first but I ended up really loving it and I really enjoyed the teacher that I worked with. She was a great mentor to me. The kids are so cute and so loving. I wish I could post some of their pictures but I haven't received permission from them. I learned a lot in first grade. First grade would be very hard to teach. There is so much to teach the first graders and you are so busy because you have so much that they need to learn.

My second placement was in the same school but in fourth grade. I really enjoyed it also. Fourth grade is definitely different, but they kids are great. This class had 31 students in it. There is so much that is expected of the teachers these days I don't know how they can keep up and do all that is expected. I was required to teach four lessons in each grade that were evaluated but I was mostly teaching all of the time. It is crazy how each teacher is so different on how they discipline, how they interact with the kids and just how they run their classroom. I learned many things that I won't do and many things I will love to try when I get my own classroom. I can't believe how fast the twelve weeks went by, at the time I kept thinking will this ever get over with and now I miss it. I miss the kids, I miss teaching, I miss making a difference. I just hope that I can find a job soon so that I can actually teach.

Thanksgiving 2009

This is the first Thanksgiving that we have had at our house for many years. We usually travel to Salt Lake from Cedar every year and spend the weekend. This year, Mike asked his family if they would be willing to come down to Cedar for Thanksgiving if we paid for everything for Thanksgiving, and they actually said YES.

It just isn't Thanksgiving weekend without Mike playing football. This is AJ and Mike playing with a the Elder's in our ward.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. The food was great and so was the company. We really enjoyed ourselves. We all played Rock Band together and everyone got involved. I think everyone had a great time.

Angela is singing in this picture, but almost everyone took their turn either singing or playing guitar or drums. It was lots of fun. This is a picture of Angela, Anna, Joy, Fuzzy and Liz

Our drum player, AJ, enjoying himself on Thanksgiving. We have to take as many pictures of him as possible because before we know it he will be gone. We are so thankful for so many things and especially thankful for family.

AJ's endowments

It is finally time I get busy and try to catch up for so many great events in our lives that I haven't written about. AJ received his mission call to Columbus, Ohio in October and then in November he went through the St. George temple to get his endowments. That same weekend on Sunday, Mike was made a high priest in our church, the church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. It was a great weekend.

This is a picture of Mike and his dad and my dad the day that he was made a high priest.

The same weekend on Saturday, AJ went through the temple. It was a wonderful experience and we really felt blessed. In this picture is some of our greatest friends that made the trip down for the day. We also had Mike's sister, Anna and her family, my parents, Mike's parents and our friends the Plunketts. It was a great and memorable day and weekend.

This picture is of AJ and his great friend Craig that made it down for his endowments. They are like cousins because they have known each other since babies. They are both serving on their mission at the same time and before they left their friendship became stronger and stronger.

This is a picture of my great family on the day of AJ's endowments. We took so many great pictures of family and friends but I have so many pictures to upload and so much I need to catch up on that I didn't add all of them to this post. We are so blessed to have so much support during this great time in our lives. We are so excited for AJ and his decision to serve.