I Love Snow!!

We had a great Christmas, and it was even more great because of the fantastic snow storm!  We woke up to a very blanketed, billowy, white scene outside!  It was made even more interesting by the tumultuous wind that piled the snow into huge drifts all around the cul-de-sac.  We were especially lucky because the wind blew all the snow OFF of our driveway (no shoveling necessary!), and ON to all the neighbors'!  Our sledding hill grew a few feet taller, and we have enjoyed every bit of it! 

I'm sorry that I can't say the same for the neighbors.  Most of them were snowed in until JRock Companies sent over a bobcat to dig them out.  Josh helped too; he and Nate Smith carved a path on the road with the snowblower so the cars --well, our cars-- could get out of the circle.

Back to School!

After much thought, prayer, and general "stewing" about it, I have made the decision to go back to school.  Although I accumulated exactly 100 credit hours while at BYU (more than enough to graduate, given the right combination of classes!), I am not even close to having earned a bachelor's degree in any specific field.  Now if they offered a degree for Everything but Nothing, I might be close to graduation!  

I began college in 1998 and continued until 2002, when I quit unexpectedly due to pregnancy and the challenges that naturally brings.  While at BYU I considered majoring in Music (too expected), Home Economics (too similar to stay-at-home mom), Anthropology (why, I don't know...), English/Journalism (don't like writing that much), Near Eastern Studies (too foreign), Elementary Ed (too generic), and finally I decided on Early Childhood Education.  At the time I really liked the idea of the Music/Elementary Ed double major, but that was a monstrously long and difficult major. Not a chance.

Well, it still is a monstrously long and difficult major, and yet I still like the idea of graduating in both fields!  Yes, I am returning to BYU so that I can earn a degree as an Elementary Education Music Specialist.  I hope to someday use my increased knowledge and credentials not only to teach but also to advocate the importance of music and arts in schools.  My grandmother has been a great example to me of someone who struggles against odds to advocate this great cause.  I would love to be involved in something like that, something bigger than myself.  

Incredulous as it may be, as unachievable as it seems, or as long and hard the road may be, I have come to the decision to go for it!  I hope I can do it!  Hence, I would like to invite any or all of you for your words of encouragement and wishes of perseverance, as I certainly expect to encounter the desire to quit, and the recurring feeling of incompetency!  That said, here goes (well, in January)!

If you would like, you may observe my preliminary audition video to the BYU School of Music!

Halloween Costumes

This year I decided to make Halloween costumes for the kids.  Lanie and Emmy were poodles.  Lanie was light pink with dark pink fur, and Emmy was purple with the same dark pink fur.  Luke wanted to be a character from Imagination Movers (Mover Scott, who sports long hair, a goatee, and goggles - Luke just got the outfit), which is a new show on Playhouse Disney.  I have to say it was fun to do!  

Lukers

Emmie!

Little Lanie Girl