Moving forward...

The past month or so I have been given an opportunity to explore new horizons with a new company.  I have been working for WSU for nine years now, I love WSU! It is my alma mater, but not only that, I literally grew up on this campus. It's filled with people who I feel are family members and is considered a second home to me - truly. Since I was 10 years old I have only been disconnected from this school for maybe 3 years total. It has been loyal to me and I am grateful for the experiences I have had while here. Thus, choosing a new opportunity with a new company, for me, was a big deal. I know some of you may feel that is WEIRD! to have such a connection to a school/job, but I am a sentimental fool - "It's my one weakness!"

The new opportunity though has brought with it answers to some long waited prayers. I know that it is the right move for me right now. Some of the benefits are that I will be able to work from home thus being more accessible to my children and a bit of a pay increase, and who can argue with that. I will be working for the company SunGaurd Higher Education who is currently undergoing a merger with Datatel. In very basic terms my responsibility will be interpreting institution's catalog degree requirements and inputting them into the computer program so that students can pull up a check list of sorts that helps them see their progress. For those who attend WSU, they call it "CatTracks."  I love higher education and could not have asked for a better compromise of being home with my kids and still keep my foot in the door of the career field I love so much. Definitely a miracle from above.

As my time at WSU comes to an end I am feeling a little emotionally bipolar! So for those who interact with me in the next couple weeks - please be patient as I will most likely be a bit of an emotional mess. That said, be comforted, as I am, that it is the right path for me and any struggle will be met with faith, hope, and smiles all around.

Christmas Eve

So I decided to take a bit of time and space to go through our Christmas holiday. It was fun filled and packed with excitement during that week, so I don't want to skimp. Not to mention that January is only busy with school **BOOO RING**. A lot more fun details with Christmas!





Christmas EVE: Nicholas Family



We spent Christmas Eve with the Nicholas side of my side of the family. I know, a bit confusing, but basically it's my mom's side of the family. In any case, we had a lot of fun with cousins, extended cousins, aunts/uncles, great aunts/uncles, grandpa Choate, and Grandma & Grandpa Nick.

Since I was a baby this family has been getting together on Christmas Eve. There was a split second a couple years ago when I thought it would be over, but we pulled together and have been continuing the tradition. I LOVE THIS FAMILY - they have been a major part of my life!

First, FOOD! It was great, THANKS KATHY for doing most of the work! Next, the nativity where Rhett was the inn-keeper, Keni - angel gabriel, and Roman - a wiseman (holding a sheep cuz we thought he was a shepard). This is a tradition I participated in I believe from birth. At least for as long as I can remember. After this is the Talent portion - oh what fun. Now my kids are older and can really prepare. So we went down stairs and pulled out my mom's OLD music book with all the songs we use to sing with her (and my Aunt Kathy's) children's singing group. Keni only had one front tooth missing so they decided to sing "Nuttin' for Christmas" - I don't have the music with me so I'm not sure who wrote it. Here are my kids... *warning; mom forgot music sheet and so the kids felt they had to read it - and there is no tune for them to follow, listen at own risk*

THEY SOUND BEAUTIFUL

is my official statment

Finally, presents! THANK YOU Grandma & Grandpa for the always great extra cash in the pocket! You are the best grandparents anyone could ask for, and I am humbled and grateful to be in your family tree! All my family's love! We'll see you soon - hopefully prior to *'our family's month.'

*For those of you who don't know or understand why I would quote that - Every year four families go together on a "CALENDER" - it's been a great gift that my late (amazing) cousin Jill thought up. Basically three months out of the year our family (the other families take the other months) go visit my grandparents and help around the house with odds and ends. It has been a great experience for both them (or at least that's what they tell us - and I believe them) and MOST ESPECIALLY for us!

THANKSGIVING!

This year we had a great time at the Millers. It is an exciting time as we are in great anticipation for Aaron's brother Benjamin to come home December 19th from his mission. I do need to say that the first picture and the last picture are two heros for me this year. My dear cousin Trudi and her girls stayed up all night and was able to get Zhu Zhu pets for my kids... yes THREE ZHU ZHU PETS + their home, a car, and slides that will just be fantastic for the kids. THANK YOU TRUDI and girls!!! Also, this year Aaron came with me to doorbust WALMART! WHAT.... yea you heard me - WALMART! It wasn't too bad as we were not getting a ton of stuff as this year we are taking the kids to a special place. Yea - I'm not even writing it out for fear that they may for some reason see the name and find out. In any case - I'm excited for the season of joy and happiness!

BRING ON CHRISTMAS!!!

Football UPS & downs!

In case you didn't know, I LOVE FOOTBALL! And this weekend was filled with UPS & downs! First came the downs. Weber State had an amazingly devastating loss to Montana State. It was a good game, with awesome gains on the field and a few problems on both sides. The end was a nail bitter... to read more go to WSU ATHLETICS.

NOW FOR THE UPS!!

My BRONCOS, who I was very suspicious of how this season would be when they let go of one of the most amazing coaches Mike Shanahan, is 4-0!! YOU READ IT RIGHT! 4-0!

WAY TO KICK SOME BEHIND BOYS!!


MY MAN CHAMP!

Boredom in class - trouble - devistated mommy...

So yesterday after homework was done, and we were eating dinner I noticed Kenidy's hair was not looking quite right. I began to panic - and excused Kenidy from my sight. I was afraid I would either physically or mentally abuse her because of the travesty she had committed to her hair. I didn't know that I would respond quite as drastic as I did because I would have guessed due to my mother's experience with loosing hair to chemo that hair wouldn't be that big of a deal. But when I had my Keni, and she had her beautiful long hair I made a decision to do everything possible to keep it long, healthy and beautiful. It became her trademark, AND NOW - she had made cuts shoulder high that would not be easy to fix. I also am ashamed that I let it affect me so -

It all happened at school. She was bored, couldn't find paper to cut while the other kids were finishing their craft project, and thus - snip, snip. My first response is to beat down her teacher for not watching her more closely, then I realize that is not the solution. So I would love to hear from anyone reading what you think, if anything, I should do.

In the mean time, here are the pictures of what my FABULOUS hair dresser was forced to do to make things as best as they can be. THANKS COURTNEY!! You were so understanding of my devastation, and hopefully Keni will listen to you.

Swiss Days in Midway

My friends and I have been attending the Swiss Days festival in Midway for a few years now. It is always the weekend of Labor Day, and we usually go up Thursday night to Park City (about 20 min. away from Midway) and then head over around 7:30 in the morning. Some of my friends have been going for the past eight years. We have a great time together, and I am grateful to have these friends in my life. We did spend too much money, and could have stayed much longer. However, I got a darling new temple bag and the cutest hand made winter hats for me and Kenidy. I'll have to take pictures of us in them, cuz darn it - THEY ARE CUTE!! In any case, this was just a taste of what is to come - our SCRAP RETREAT. I am getting so excited, and will have to move up my count down so that it's up where I can see it...

Any way - if you have ever been to Swiss Days go ahead and let me know what your favorite thing about it is, or let me know why you don't go. I'd love to hear from you all -

I wanna be in a PARADE!

On July 24th, as the family watched the Utah Pioneer Parade on television, my sweet Keni said, "Mom, I want to be in a parade!" I explained that the parade season was coming to an end and that there was not much I could do this year, but maybe next year. Kenidy is a very smart girl, and decided to take her desire to the only person she knew could help - the Lord. I heard her pray that night that she could 'make it in someones parade.' What faith she has because that next week I recieved an email from my cousin Katie that said Maddie (a neice on Roy's Cheerleading squad) was wondering if Keni and Skyler would like to do a Cheer camp and then 'perform' at Roy's parade. WELL, faith of children is great! And so my little sweet heart got her prayers answered and was able to participate in the Roy City Parade.

BY THE WAY...
Keni's father is an alumnae of ROY HIGH SCHOOL
however, it's her mother's arch nemesis
(as high schools go any way - GO CHS).

Taylor Swift No Doubt... or is it the other way around?

In just one week I will be experiencing an amazing couple of nights!! I have been so fortunate to have tickets to both the Taylor Swift and No Doubt concerts. I didn't realize until after I purchased one set and Aaron gave me the other that they were just a day apart! SOOOO... I'm pretty sure that come next Wednesday I will be dead (that's funny if you remember that Monday is Memorial Day) - k, not that funny, at the very least - I will truly be feeling my age. BUT COME ON - who wouldn't love to just go to concert after concert.... sing, dance, scream, and pretend that you are between the ages of 12 and 21! I said this was going to be the year of dreams... and so it shall!

Now, to plan my outfits... any suggestions? I have two very different looks that I'll be going for - so cowgirl it up and punk rock it out - give me some thoughts!

RACE FOR THE CURE!

What a great time we had as a family racing in honor of my mom, Patti, and my cousin, Jill! I love my family so much and this was our second year to participate in the Race for the Cure in Salt Lake City. We go down Friday and shop, eat (of coarse), and swim prior to waking up extra early to go to the race Saturday morning. This year we had a hard time getting on Trax to get us down town for the race. So we all kind of started our own race from the Trax station. It was still too much fun! Next year we plan to go down to MOAB for the RAFT for the Cure. HOW FUN FOR US!! I would definitely recommend getting a group of family members or friends together to do this - we raised over 500$!!!! HOW AWESOME! And curing cancer can't come quick enough!!!