Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Elf Yourself

I saw this on another blog (yours was great, Gretchen!) and I had to do it...you can only put in 5 people at a time, so darn it, we just HAD to do more than one. One is a disco theme and one is a country theme. We were cracking up and the kids agree that it's more fun than embarrassing! Although, Zach does want everyone to know that he "wouldn't be caught dead in an outfit like that!" We had a Merry Christmas and hope that you did too!

Disco Baby!!!!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Christmas Hoe Down

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Christmas 2008

Christmas at Grandma Sandy's
Bowling and movies at the Red Rock
Gardens and Giant Chocolate Fountain at the Bellagio
with Great Grandma Kae
Card Playing
Clothes, Easy Bake Oven and Wii
Haircuts by Jacquelynne
Napping
laughing with Uncle "Go-go", Ashley and Jack!
Not to mention...tons of YUMMY FOOD!
And best of all...lots of family fun!
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Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Now, it's officially official...


We're in Las Vegas for the week, but I just found out that I passed my classes (one B+, one B) and so I will keep my spot in the nursing program! Yippee!! This has been an EXTREMELY stressful semester and I have had nightmares about not only losing my spot, which would be bad, but about repeating the semester all over again...I don't think that we would survive!!! Anyway, I am so grateful for everyone's prayers and well-wishes. I'm especially grateful for my dear friends, Wendy and Michelle, they babysat, picked up kids from school, and cheered me on. I couldn't have done this without everyone's help! And Jeff is happy that I might even go back to cooking again!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

What we've been up to this past week...

Enjoying Thanksgiving flowers from Grandpa Ted...



Having a "car picnic" at the Springville Museum of Art...
Trimming the house and the tree...


Star of the Week...Jaymison brought her favorite foods...Doughnuts and Grapes!


And studying lots of things like...your average everyday protozoan, Giardia lamblia.... Yay! It's finals time!








Saturday, November 29, 2008

Hey everyone!
It's Jacquelynne and apparently I get a turn to write on the family blog. I'm not really sure what to write so here we go...
Just about everyone knows that I'm going to Cosmetology school. I started in June and I'm just about to the halfway mark [1000 hours down, 1000 more to go]. Don't get me wrong though, I LOVE it! I can't think of anything else I would rather be doing. I could go on for hours about it...

In addition to hair school, I go to early morning seminary Monday through Thursday, then I have a first period at my high school. This makes for about 12 hours of school everyday. I know, it's long.

Well, a few weeks ago I decided I should get a job in all my spare time. I can handle it, right? Lucky for me a brand new Smith's Marketplace [think SuperTarget] got built down the street and that's where I spend what time I have left in the day. It's INSANE! I usually work from about 6 to 12 most nights plus Saturdays and Sundays. It's basically a zoo there. But on the bright side, people are starting to get over its brand new-ness and things are slowing down.
I just tell myself everyday to count my blessings. It kinda works. Try it. =]

Along with work and school, it's time for college applications. Yay. Last week, I applied to BYU-I and the "regular one" [Provo]. My cousin, McKenna, was the inspiration on that choice. If we both get into BYU-I, we could be roomies. =] Go us. Today, I applied to the University of Utah. Talk about the Holy War. Pray I get into the U and get a scholarship. It would be my dream come true.
The U had a tour thing a few weeks ago where you could go up there and go around the campus and see the doorms, ya know. I went up there with my mom and my boyfriend, Richard. He's a cutie. =] Anyway... The doorms are like 752 miles away from everything else and it took forever to get up there. After seeing the dorm, we ditched for lunch because all that walking made us hungry I guess. This picture looks really really bad. It's from a phone. Look at it, and then pretend you didn't... This was the bridge that linked the dorms and everything else. Depite the distance, I still want to go there. You have to get exercise somehow.
Okay so I guess that's the main points of my life these days. It's pretty much the same routine everyday. I really have no idea what's going on with the rest of everyone in my family which is sad. And I miss them. But maybe they'll post soon and I'll be able to read about it! ;]
Peace!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today we're grateful for all of our blessings! We had a wonderful day hanging out with our friends, Rachel, Brian, and their kids, and our family, including Nate and Jessica. Having Thanksgiving with the Parrish's is becoming an annual tradition! And even though we are so lucky to have Nate and Jess close by, we haven't seen them in at least a month, so we're glad that they picked our house to come to! Both Brian and Nate are two of Zach's favorite people-so he was really happy!

So, I had this great idea to have everyone dressed to take a family picture when the Parrish's got to our house. That way, everyone would be fresh (hair, clothes, smiles) and then we wouldn't have to worry about it later. Well, with the wind, the cold, and the swaying grasses-wait, weeds with stickers in them, the only thing that was fresh by the time we were done was the language some people were using! (I hate my hair, Jaymison is doing some sort of pee pee dance, and Zach kept making weird faces!) Next year, I'm going to do one of those family pictures where you just see the back of everyone. That way, we won't have to worry about smiling or whether everyone is at least looking at the camera. No one will like that either, though...who wants a picture of their bum?!? Anyway...While the photographer, aka Brian, did the photo shoot, Rachel put the green bean casserole together and finished the salad (thanks, Rach!). We took a little longer than I expected, and Nate and Jessica arrived while we were out in the field.

I was not as organized as I thought and this little adventure made the food timing a bit off...I realized that everything was pretty much ready, but yikes! The rolls still needed to be rolled out!! Luckily we had plenty of appetizers to keep us busy while we waited for the rolls to rise (thanks to Brian who rolled out the dough!) Jeff tried to help me with potatoes, but then I bossed him around too much, so he gave up and moved on to making sure that we had enough chairs. We finally got everything done- everyone pitched in to get drinks on the table, food on the table, people at the table. We had a great feast that included: turkey, potatoes and gravy, stuffing, rolls, cranberry sauce, strawberry pretzel salad, and green salad. We followed that an hour or two later with pumpkin pie and a delicious grasshopper pie that Jessica made (thanks, Jess!). That might have to be a new tradition!

We all have our expectations about what holidays should be like or include, so I hope that everyone had fun! We are so grateful for our family and for our friends, but we're especially grateful for Heavenly Father's plan and for the meaning that it brings to our lives!





Friday, November 21, 2008

Ok, here come the gratitude posts...



Here's my first gratitude post...We do have a lot to be thankful for, and today I'm starting with friends...Let me first just say that it's a blessing in itself to have one person in your life to call a friend! It's an even greater blessing to have more than one friend. And I don't know why, but I have won the lottery when it comes to friends in my life. I don't know what I did to deserve such good friends and I don't know where I'd be without them! I am especially grateful for my little group of friends from Temecula-Julie, Kate, Amy, and Tammye! I have been lucky enough to keep these friendships going. Since we have moved to Utah, as a group, we have met halfway, gone on trips together, stayed at each other's homes, and some of us still talk on the phone at least 2 or 3 times a week. We have made alot of memories together...most of which involve lots of yummy food, some sort of craft experience, and little or no sleep! Life is so much sweeter with friends, and even more so, when those friends are kind and thoughtful! Case in point...Check out my fabulous new apron from my friend Kate...this is an early Christmas present from her...I don't do it justice, but trust me, it's the cutest thing ever! Thanks Kate, for all of your good advice and being such a good friend! And thank you for the apron, too!



Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Loathing!

I've really enjoyed what some of you have been writing about gratitude. So, I've been thinking about jumping on the gratitude bandwagon, too...maybe like...TOMORROW! Today, though, I'm in a funk, so I've added a song from the Wicked musical, that just about sums it up...Loathing, unadulterated loathing...let's just say, I loathe it all...Except, don't get me wrong here, this is not about a person, it's just about everything that seems to be piling up...kids fighting, bills, bad attitudes (mine included), kids fighting, homework, oh yeah, did I mention kids fighting?

Sunday, November 9, 2008

BIG NEWS!!!

I just got the letter in the mail...I was accepted to the UVU Nursing program!!! I will start in January! I don't want to sound pessimistic, BUT... it does depend on me finishing the two classes that I'm taking right now, Microbiology and Anatomy- plus their labs, with a C or better. This is looking a little "iffy" as these are super hard classes and it doesn't feel like I'm doing that well. So, I honestly have no idea what will happen.


These past few weeks have been especially stressful with mid-terms and we've had to do an awful lot of juggling with schedules, sick kids, work and callings. I think that everyone is feeling a bit overwhelmed! However, I have felt all along that this decision was inspired and I know that things will work out if they are supposed to. So, I'll just keep doing my best...it's all I can do. Jeff has been totally great!There have been many days recently, that I've been gone all day, like 9 am to 10 pm, and he is doing a good job of picking up the slack! He's always really positive and good at making me feel better about things and good at helping the kids keep everything in perspective, too! I'm so lucky to have him! So, we'll just keep going forward, but just wanted to share the news!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

What??? Yep, that's snow!

We got our first snow on Wednesday. Here's the what it looked like from our back window...please say it's not winter, yet!!! It's already got me dreaming of a warm, sunny vacation!





Trick-or-treat!

Gigantic pearl-wearing, neck-biting, Elvis-loving, fairy dust-sprinkling, purring, Jacq-o-lantern FUN! Dad took the kids to the trunk-or-treat at the church, followed by a lap around the neighborhood. It was a little rainy, but that didn't stop them from collecting over 20 pounds of candy!!! (Yes, Zach and Kirsten weighed it.) We finished the night with home-made potato-cheese soup. Yummy!









Zoe and Jaymison with one of their best friends, Katie!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Yes, I'll Admit It...The Rumor is True!

Jeff's been worried for some time now. What, with going back to school, surrounded by lots of HOT, younger guys...eventually, he figured, it was bound to happen. And after two years, Jeff's fears have come true...Yes, I have a boyfriend. I know, I know! What am I thinking? But let me explain- I met him in the lab and at first, I didn't think too much of him. But once I got to know him, after just a handful of late nights together in the lab, that was all it took to realize that he was the guy for me. With all he had going for him, it wasn't too hard to win me over. He's a great listener, and although he's never actually said it out loud, I can see by the way he looks at me, the way that he nods in silent affirmation, that he really understands me. I know some of you might be a little disappointed, but c'mon, how could I resist? He's always there for me, whenever I need him. Even when all I have time to do is study, he patiently stands right by my side, willing to lend his helping hand. Why, I think that he'd even give me a foot or a rib if I asked! And of course, without an ounce of fat on him, his body rocks! I know it sounds weird, but I think that once you get to know him, you'll fall in love with him, too! Until then, here's a picture of us together, where we first laid eyes on each other...well one of us, at least...


Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Pumpkin Carving

Tonight was my ONE night home from school this week, so we set it aside to carve PUMPKINS! We went online and found some patterns, and the kids each chose one. As luck would have it, not everyone could be home at the same time, so most of the fun was had by me, Jeff, and the three little kiddos. We put on some music and Jeff made dinner, and we talked about our day and everyone laughed. Of course, it wasn't too long before they decided that they didn't like the GUTS, (Dad tried to tell them that the guts were the best part, but they said it made them itchy and slimey!) So then that left just Dad and Mom. I think that they turned out pretty good and the best part was that we had FUN!








































Sunday, October 26, 2008

Boo at the Zoo!

Saturday was a busy day... Jacquelynne took the ACT, again, and then went to hair school. Emma babysat for a couple of moms while they attended a funeral in our ward. Kirsten came to school with me while I studied in the Anatomy lab and then she and I went to the mall so she could buy a few things with her birthday money. And Jeff took Zach, Zoe, and Jaymison to the "Boo at the Zoo" at the Hogle Zoo.

The zoo does this every year and kids can dress up and trick-or-treat around the zoo. Poor Zoe tripped over her Belle costume and skinned her knee on their way in. She recovered and all of them had a good time. Jeff was amazed at how many people were there, and at some of the exhibits people were so jammed in that there was gridlock! Here's a picture of them while they stopped to eat their picnic lunch that they brought with them.

Friday, October 24, 2008

California Fun!

Here are a few pics from Disneyland and
Kylie's birthday...
We had a great time and enjoyed visiting with family
and friends. We wish we could have stayed longer!

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Thursday, October 23, 2008

We're new here...

Ok, we're jumping in, but I can't promise that we won't sink. I started this blog about a month ago, but in my spare time I have chosen to goof around on Facebook, instead of reading my instruction manual, "Blogging for Dummies". I hear this is supposed to be soooo easy, but I can't seem to be able to make our family picture not be so big that it hits you in the eye when you visit! So, please, please, be kind as I try to figure this thing out. Also, I am aware that I am not the best writer. So, hopefully, everyone else around here will take turns keeping all y'all informed, so I'm not the only one doing everything around here. Wait, did I say that out loud?