One year ago today

Today marks the one year anniversary of Michael's accident

I pray every morning that Michael makes it to work without injury. I am so thankful that he is still in our lives. He had a doctors appointment yesterday to check everything. It still looks like things are healing up pretty well. He has to go back in a year for more x-rays and see how the hip is doing. He deals with pain pretty much on a daily basis and usually does not take anything for it. I try to encourage him to take some ibuprofen on days that he has over done it and he normally listens. I just pray that he continues on the path of healing and that he never has to go through anything like that again. I can still remember the phone call that I receieved and it makes my heart break.

My tackle for the day is to finish wrapping a few items, clean my scrapbook room and work on the scarf I am making.

I hope everyone has a fantastic day!

Oh, here is my Menu Plan Monday (just a day late)...


Monday: Crunchy Tacos (Cameron's request)
Tuesday: Cheesy Chicken and Rice with broccoli
Wednesday: Chili and cornbread
Thursday: Spaghetti with salad and garlic bread
Friday: Whatever we eat on the road

NO MORE MATH!!!

HOORAY!!!

Today was my math final. I am so glad that it is OVER!! I missed 4 on it. That gave me an 85%. I should not have looked it over when I was done as I changed two answers...I would have had a 93%! Oh well! I figured out my final grade for the class and I finished it with an overall score of 94%!!! That's a freakin' A! Can I just say that I am thrilled to death?!?!?! I haven't gotten an A for math before!!

I start school again on January 9th. I will be taking Biology this next semester. I could take more classes at once, but I am just too chicken to have too much on my plate.

I took Cameron to see Santa yesterday. Here is his picture...

He really wanted to ask Santa for a Nintendo DS lite and a Pokemon game for his gameboy. Santa was done with his gifts already, but I have a feeling he might be getting what he asked for from him. When we were in Colorado for Thanksgiving Cameron had fun playing and watching the children play with their Nintendo DS and was determined to ask Santa for one. That was the first thing out of his mouth when he sat on his lap. Too cute. Before Santa arrived we were standing in line and Cameron said, "I think I am going to be too shy" He wasn't!

Off to knit a scarf. I got the knitting bug last week and decided to give it another try. I tried last Christmas and actually succeeded so I thought I would do it again.

Menu Plan Monday!

Monday: McDonalds...YUCK! Cameron was good all week so he got to choose his reward.
Tuesday: Soup & Sandwiches. Swimming night and we get home too late.
Wednesday: Tuna Casserole
Thursday: Chili Macaroni
Friday: Pork Carnitas
Saturday: Dinner at the Desert Star

I am so excited to almost be finished with my math class! I have my final on Saturday. I will be a studying fool tomorrow. I'm going to find a friend that Cameron can go visit for a few hours too. I just had my 5th test on Saturday. I was crying Friday night because I just wasn't getting it. Well, Michael is pretty fed up with my freaking out over my tests. The reason he is tired of me freaking out is I have gotten an "A" on every single test! YEAH me!! I always come home and tell him I did really well. He told me the other day if I say anything about not understanding stuff for the final he will not listen. So, I will just say it here!

I am signed up to take Biology this next semester. I just can't take more than one class right now. I will be taking Chemistry the following semester and "might" take a Nutrition class online to get that one out of the way too. School costs soo much these days. Just this one class in January is just over $500. When I went to the University of Washington back in the early 90's I was paying $571 for 18 credits! I am scared of what it is going to cost us when Cameron is in school.

Well, off to start a scarf or clean the house. I haven't decided which one I want to do. I really should clean the house so I have most of the day tomorrow for studying and not feeling guilty that my house is a mess while I am doing it. Ok, so I guess I am going to clean the house tonight.

We're home

We went to Colorado to spend time with family on Thanksgiving. It was nice to actually be with family this year. We haven't been with family for the past two years. Michaels dad and step mom went to CO to visit her sister and mother so we drove over to be with them too.

Dana (Step-mom), Angela (her sister) and I went shopping on Friday. However, we didn't go early in the morning. We got a few things that we were looking for. Dana bought us all some boots! I love my new boots! She also bought us all candles! I LOVE candles.

Michael wasn't feeling to well so he slept most of Friday. Cameron had a blast playing with Sophia. She is just a few months younger than him. They had so much fun. Each night they would just play and play. They both have SOO much energy!

We drove home yesterday. Michael should have drove, but he was sleeping pretty much the entire drive. Until I got pulled over! I got my very first ticket on this trip. UGH!!! At least he only caught me when I was doing 10 over. I didn't even see him. He must have been driving coming from the other direction on the freeway. I KNOW he wasn't stopped anywhere. Who knows if I really was doing 10 over. Oh well. It ended up taking us longer to get home than it did to get to CO. I set the cruise control for 5 over the limit. I think those Wyoming officers just like to pull over out of state drivers so they can make some money. They know that we will not drive back to go to court. So, I get to pay the state of WY $95. FUN!

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving.

Girls Night Out!

Shannon and I had our Girls Night Out that we have been talking about doing for MONTHS! It was so nice to actually get out and do it. Last week I asked her if she has ever gone to a ceramic paint studio. She had not and I haven't been to one since living back home. So, that is what we did. We went to Provo and had dinner at Olive Garden then drove all over creation to find the paint studio. Eventually we were near the mountains with no paint studio in sight. So, Shannon called 411 to find out how to get to the place. We pretty much drove back to the freeway, decided that we could find the place, turned around headed back in the direction of the restaurant, called the bookstore that was supposed to be near the paint studio, and FINALLY were headed in the right direction. We had already been pretty close to it by the restaurant. At 9:00 we pulled into the parking lot...good thing the place closed at 11:00.

The studio is called Color Me Mine! It was date night at the studio so it was quite crowded. I honestly didn't think there would be so many people there, but we had a great time. We were told to find a piece to paint and we could then be on our merry way to creating something. Shannon and I both picked a Christmas tree candy dish. Too cute!

I can't wait to see the finished product. I added a few dots to the bottom of my tree and would have shown that picture, but it was blurry. I will be heading back down to Provo on Friday to pick up our trees.

I can't wait to have another Girls Night Out. We are just hoping it doesn't take us another 6 months to actually do it!

I don't have a picture for today's tackle. I have homework that I need to get working on. I have about 6 sections of radicals and exponents to do. Not fun! I am sure it will take me most of the day.

Monday: Chinese Chicken Pasta Salad (never did make this last week)
Tuesday: Chicken Noodle soup with sandwiches
Wednesday: Salmon with salad (yuck!)
Thursday: Grilled cheese with soup
Friday: Tacos
Saturday: Eating out with Shannon

I have to figure out a way to cook the salmon on Wednesday. I can't stand fish, but Michael loves it and I should eat it for health reasons. Last time I cooked it I just grilled it in foil with lemon and onion, but it was too lemony for me. If you have any ideas for me please let me know.

Here is the recipe for the chicken salad

Chinese Chicken Salad

Bake 4-6 boneless skinless chicken breast sprinkled with lemon pepper seasoning at 375 degrees for about 35 minutes or until done. Cool and slice diagonally.

Dressing
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 tsp. each salt & pepper
1 tsp. dried parsely
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 cup sesame seeds
Mix well

Pasta
1 - 12 oz bag bow tie pasta, cooked
1 bunch of green onions, sliced
1 green pepper sliced
1 yellow pepper sliced
1 red pepper sliced
snow peas (optional)

Toss pasta and chicken with dressing and refrigerate. Before serving add approx. 1/2 bag spinach leaves and 1 small bag of almonds.

A new post and lots of pictures

I feel bad that I haven't really updated my blog with pictures and such. I will try to give a brief summary of what has been happening around here. Not that it is very exciting, but there has been some activity.

First Cameron had his birthday on October 24th. We had his Superman party on the 28th. Here are a few pictures from that event.



Next we had Halloween. Cameron was Superman. No surprise there!


My boss became a grandfather for the very first time on October 30th. I made this little pillow for his daughter Nicole. They are so thrilled to be parents and my boss is elated to be a grandfather. He never thought it was going to happen.



Today is Michael's 36th birthday! Happy Birthday to him! Sorry, I don't have any pictures to share of him today. He is downstairs playing some new Xbox 360 game that he bought Friday night. He had a few guys over for dinner and games while I was at school. They left around midnight. It's always fun for Michael when he has people over to play with him. We are heading over to Gary's house in a bit for a dinner/birthday thing. Gary called to ask me for a meat thermometer, but he won't tell me what is for dinner.

I just finished another book...this one wasn't from my list. It was Until Proven Guilty by J.A. Jance. My mom reads her books so I thought I would give it a shot. Not bad for a mystery type book.

Well, I am off. I will post my menu for the week tomorrow. Sadly, I haven't followed the few days this past week that I was supposed to do. I will be cheating and adding some of the same things to the list since I don't think I cooked one time this past week.

It's been a week!!

I can't believe it has been one week since I have updated my blog! YIKES!! Sorry to all of you that check it for updates. Cameron turned 7 on Tuesday and I was just studying for my exam. I only ended up with a 91 this time. Still an A, but I could have done better. Oh well, there is always next time.


Monday: Tuna casserole
Tuesday: Pizza
Wednesday: Whatever the guys eat. I have an OSHA class that evening
Thursday: Grilled chicken with salad
Friday: Chinese chicken pasta salad
Saturday: Out to dinner for Michael's birthday


I'm still working on my Fall Into Reading challenge. I started These is my words by Nancy Turner again. I am just having the hardest time getting into it. It could be because I am trying to read it during Cameron's swim class. I'm also reading another book that is not on my list, but I am caught up for the month so all is good.

My list to read by the end of the challenge (December 21st):

1. These is my words - Nancy Turner
2. 2nd Chance - James Patterson
3. Pope Joan - Donna Cross
4. The Memory Keepers' Daughter - Kim Edwards
5. Night - Elie Wiesel
6. Key of Light - Nora Roberts
7. The Known World - Edward P. Jones
8. The Guy Not Taken - Jennifer Weiner
9. The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck

Menu Plan Monday

Last week I didn't follow any menu plan. I think we only ate dinner as a family twice. This week I vow to be different. I haven't been doing very well with my daily blog updates, but again, I vow to be different.

Monday: Taco Soup with chips
Tuesday: Sloppy Joes with fruit
Wednesday: Cheesy Chicken with Rice and broccoli
Thursday: Mock Chicken Pot Pie
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Chili with cornbread

I have a test this Friday and this time I really am freaking out over it. We've done 11 sections in the past two weeks and some of them are downright HARD!! Can I just tell you that I HATE story problems?!?!?

Tomorrow is Cameron's 7th birthday! Boy does time sure go quickly!!

So far I am doing pretty darn good on my Fall Into Reading challenge. I have read two books and am trying to figure out which one on the list I want to read next. I think I am heading towards Night since it is pretty small. I am half way through the month and 2 books done on my 3 book per month goal! I've been doing more reading at Cameron's swimming lessons and before bed. I am even taking the books to work with me and reading on my lunch break. Much better than going out to spend money.

My list to read by the end of the challenge (December 21st):
1. These is my words - Nancy Turner
2. 2nd Chance - James Patterson
3. Pope Joan - Donna Cross
4. The Memory Keepers' Daughter - Kim Edwards
5. Night - Elie Wiesel
6. Key of Light - Nora Roberts
7. The Known World - Edward P. Jones
8. The Guy Not Taken - Jennifer Weiner
9. The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck

Photos from our weekend

There aren't too many photos from our weekend, but I will share a few with you. I also have NO idea how the pics will show up on your monitors because they are all wonky for me.


















The last picture is soon after we arrived at the Homestead. Cameron and Michael were watching some cartoon on tv while I was putting my hair up to go to the pool.

The Other ramblings

Blogger is being a booger! I can't upload anymore photos right now so I can't share our time at Heber/Midway from the weekend. I will try later. Off to clean the house and get ready to pick up Cameron from school.

Tackle It Tuesday and other ramblings

My tackle of the day is the pantry. This has been a bother of mine for some time and I just needed to set some time to just clean and declutter it. Some of the appliances and other items that aren't used that often have been banished to the basement. I have a few other areas that I am going to tackle as well today, but after I take care of some basic household chores.

BEFORE

AFTER

Menu Plan Monday

Today is my first Menu Plan Monday. We have a fairly busy week so it will be fairly simple.

Monday: Soup and Sandwiches
Tuesday: BBQ Pork Sandwiches (crockpot)
Wednesday: Meatball Minestrone Soup, Rolls
Thursday: Cheesy Chicken with Rice
Friday: Pizza

I hate it when my weeks are so busy that I have to do things quick. Today and tomorrow we have swimming. Then I work on W, Th. I have school Friday night so I will pick up a pizza on the way home. How boring is this week?

We had a great time this weekend up in Midway and Homestead. Cameron has only stayed in a hotel once before so they whole way there he was very excited and asked if every building was the hotel. When we finally got to the hotel he wanted to go swimming right away. We made him wait about 30 minutes before we went and he had a BLAST! Tomorrow is his last night of this swimming session and he is doing awesome! He is finally moving up to the second level. I just loved watching him tonight. He was so confident in what he was doing. He would swim back to the wall from his teacher then look at me giving me the "thumbs up" sign. Too cute!

I will post pictures tomorrow from our Heeber Creeper outing. I don't think I took any pics at Homestead to share, but I might have. I will have to look tomorrow.

YIKES!!

So, this is what my scrapbook room looks like yet again!

Why, oh, why do I have such a hard time keeping this room clean?!?! I have been busy working on my All About Me swap and I really don't have much room to work on it. I guess I could clean the room, but I have more important things to do today. None of which has gotten done. I did clean two of the bathrooms. I have one more to do and then some light picking up. I have SOOOO much tv that I need to catch up on as well. I just haven't been in the tv mood lately.

Friday Feast

Appetizer
Name a song you know by heart.
The Itsy Bitsy Spider (I know, that is lame, but that is all I could think of. I'm sure I know lots by heart.)
Soup
What will you absolutely not do in front of another person?
Umm, pass gas.
Salad
How often do you use mouthwash and what kind do you like?
I never use it. I don't like the stuff. It's all too strong. They have a new kind out that doesn't have alcohol in it, but it leaves an icky aftertaste.
Main Course
Finish this sentence: I am embarrassed when...
Hmm, I don't get too embarrasses so I don't really have an answer for this one.
Dessert
What was the last food you craved?
The Pie pizza (didn't get it either!!)

Today is going to be a pretty lax day for me. I'm going to work more on my swaps, declutter some areas of the house, pack a bag and do some reading. We have Michael's company picnic tomorrow up in Midway. Michael is staying up there tonight with a bunch of guys and I will be picking him up before the picnic to take a ride on the Heber Creeper then we will head to the picnic for a late lunch. After the picnic we will be heading to Homestead to spend the night. I have stayed at the Homestead resort twice and LOVE it. Each time it has been this weekend too. The days are usually pretty nice and the evenings a bit chilly. This is the first time we will be taking Cameron with us.

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I have to do today
(Thursday Thirteen)
1. Remember to leave earlier to take Cameron to daycare.
(They've closed down a road for construction for a month)
2. Take some change to the bank for deposit
(It's been sitting here way to long)
3. Try to collect money from a patient who refuses to pay.
(I don't like confrontation so this will be hard)
4. Take Cameron to swimming.
5. Vacuum the house.
6. Clean off my scrapbook table.
(I need to work on a swap and there's just too much stuff on it)
7. Pick up books from the library.
8. Do some spelling with Cameron.
9. Scrub the toilets, counters, showers.
10. Finish up some laundry
11. Read a few chapters before bed.
(Need to work on my Fall into Reading challenge)
12. Work on swap
13. Make a list of what needs to be done Friday.
(I'm sure that will be longer than this list.)
14. Sweep off porch.
15. Get out Halloween decorations.

Gosh, that was a hard list to type up today. I normally have about 7 things I need to take care of, but today there is just a lot to be accomplished. I hope your Thursday is more relaxed than mine will be.

Wordless Wednesday...Homework

I have been checking out so many blogs lately that have all these fun activities for each day of the week. I decided that I am going to join them on their quests, visions, chores, whatever they may be. So today is:

For my first "Tackle It Tuesday" I am going to tackle the basement landing. As you can see by the picture it could be a chore to get to the basement in an emergency. As if we would have an emergency in UT that would warrant going down there, but anyway...

Basement Landing Before

Basement Landing After

Another challenge I found today was "Fall into Reading" hosted by Katrina. This is one challenge I am definitely up for. I have WAY to many books sitting on my shelves begging to be read. I have 2 in my car.
My list to read by the end of the challenge (December 21st):
1. These is my words - Nancy Turner
2. 2nd Chance - James Patterson
3. Pope Joan - Donna Cross
4. The Memory Keepers' Daughter - Kim Edwards
5. Night - Elie Wiesel
6. Key of Light - Nora Roberts
7. The Known World - Edward P. Jones
8. The Guy Not Taken - Jennifer Weiner
9. The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck

I figure I could do this challenge. It's only 3 books per month. I have been slacking a little on my reading, but really wanting to catch back up. Now is my chance.

Here's what I read the last 2 months.

August

The Husband by Dean Koontz

Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher

September

Prep:A Novel by Curtis Sittenfeld

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

Out for a Sunday drive

After church today we went up Butterfield Canyon. What a beautiful drive! The road is pretty much only big enough for one car and I really recommend a 4x4 if you head up to the very top. It was pretty bumpy! Here are some pictures from our outing.


We stopped for lunch in Tooele, grabbed some stuff at the store and now we are finally home.

I had my test yesterday. I wasn't feeling all that confindent when I went in, but I got a 100%! My second one ever on a math test! Yeah me!

Soundtracks of your life

I saw this posted over at Becky Thompsons blog and thought I would try it.

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?

Here's how you play:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button

Opening Credits:
Wasted-Carrie Underwood
Waking Up:
Stickwitu-The Pussycat Dolls
First Day At School:
Welcome to the Jungle-Guns N' Roses
Falling In Love:
Not the Doctor-Alanis Morissette
Fight Song:
Romans-Jennifer Knapp
Breaking Up:
No One Needs to Know-Shania Twain
Prom:
Turn it up-Josh Gracin
Life's OK:
Far Away-Nickelback
Mental Breakdown:
In Me-Casting Crowns
Driving:
All Consuming Fire-Jennifer Knapp
Flashback:
Everybody's Fool-Evanescence
Getting Back Together:
Ready To Run-Dixie Chicks
Wedding:
A Public Affair-Jessica Simpson
Birth of Child:
Sitting, Waiting, Wishing-Jack Johnson
Final Battle:
Disco Club-Black Eyed Peas
Death Scene:
Sexyback-Justin Timberlake
Funeral Song:
867-5309-Tommy Tutone
End Credits:
I've Loved Enough to Know-Deana Carter

So....share yours!

Another weekend

I am taking a quick break from my Friday cleaning just to post here for a minute. There isn't much to report from the past week.

Cameron started swimming again 2 weeks ago and so far is doing well. I'm pretty sure he will move to the next level this time. They've had him at level 1 for so long...we actually stopped going because they weren't moving him up. We knew he could do everything they wanted him to do, but they always had the "report card" done before classes were even finished. Now they have a new standard so we shall see.

I really need to mow the lawn today as I haven't mowed it in 2 weeks! The backyard is pretty long. I'm sure I will need to go over it a few times to get it to the length we usually keep it. I wish Michael could mow, but it is too hard for him still. Our backyard has a bit of a slope so it makes it difficult for him to walk straight.

I have my second test tomorrow. I'm not feeling all that confident. I hope I do well. I should be studying right now, but I have LOTS to do in the house. The house hasn't had a GOOD cleaning in awhile so I am doing that today. All I really have left to do is dust and mop. It's 9:15 and I am almost done! I guess I should stop typing and finish cleaning.

I hope your weekend is good. We don't really have anything planned.

It's been awhile

Well, I haven't posted in awhile so I suppose today is as good a day as any. There will be a few pictures in this post today.

On Tuesday of last week Cameron and I met up with Shannon and her kids to check out the new Children's Museum. What a fun day was had by all. Shannon was tired from her late night out before and I just kept yawning. Here are some of our pictures:



This is what it looks like right now when you walk in from the garage. I say, what is the point of the shoe rack if the shoes don't make it on there. As you can see I am also to blame for the mess. The Walmart bag contains Cameron's towel and swim trunks from Thursday. Normally the shoe area is pretty clean on Tuesdays, Fridays (I clean on T & F) and the weekend. As you might have guessed I didn't clean on Friday. I will be cleaning this up today. I just hate walking over shoes to get to the laundry room so I kick them out of the way. I need to get better about this spot of my house. The rest of the house looks pretty good.


After church today we will be heading home to watch the Seahawks game at 2:15. I will most likely be reading the paper and finishing up some homework during that time. I also need to start thinking about what we will have for dinner tonight. I picked up the new Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine yesterday and there looks like a pretty easy and yummy Chicken w/Rice recipe in there. Perhaps that is what we will eat tonight. Yum-O! Have you caught the new Rachael Ray tv show yet? If not, you must. I watched 3 episodes yesterday while doing homework. I love it. She sure makes some yummy looking items.

I hope you all have a great week!