Happy Birthday

Well we finally had our long over due, early, and extra early birthday party on the 15th. Last time we attempted to get together - it snowed - in Utah anyway and postponed our plans. So we tried to get everybody together and celebrate all our fall birthdays! Needless to say, there was a lot of crazy stuff going on...had to be there:) But the highlight of the evening was Jeremiah serenading us. He did a great job at Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam & I Am A Child Of God ----Jeremiah style. We all had a good laugh. We do know that he will not be going to college on a singing scholarship, but will be saving the video to blackmail him with at a later date!!!!

FRIENDS ARE FAMILY ONE FINDS ALONG THE WAY

Once again, another year has past and Etmo will be leaving to go to California for the holidays and then meet up with Rinse to spend the rest of the winter in Arizona. Couldn't let the opportunity pass to have a dinner to help him celebrate his 93rd birthday this Friday...AND STILL GOING STRONG!!!

What a crew! Etmo has been such an important part of my families lives for years. A grandpa, yard/garden mentor, storyteller, and fantastic friend.

Then there is Wes & Marie - WOW! What can I say. They came into my life when I needed them the most. They have helped me through so many trials and been great parents. Still love the look on people's face when they have introduced me as the "daughter they never had" and boy is that true. I don't know what I would do without them...just wish my dad would have still been alive when we met. Wes and my dad were friends & Marie dated my dad! I think the Lord definitely works in mysterious ways and I'm so grateful he did:)

Top This!

OK, so all of you that know me, know that I love a good laugh! Well today I got one that I'm still laughing over:)

Have a sweet little Spanish boy who is in special education in my class this year. Doesn't talk, but imitates what the other kids are doing. He's also started giving me a "big hug" everyday when he leaves. Anyway, on Tuesday he came about 15 minutes late to class. When his mom brought him in, she showed me a hand written note. See, she doesn't speak English either. We have quite the communication barriers - but we smile a lot and I talk to her in English anyway:) The note said that they were sorry they were late and that he had "tape worms"... OK - we deal with a lot of interesting things in an elementary school. So I called down to his special ed teacher to let them know he was on his way and what the note said.

So, my mind gets racing about what tape worm does to a person (I've only experienced dogs with worms - YUCK!!!!) This was on Veterans Day and I was telling Phil about it when he was in class. He reassured me that it wasn't contagious and I felt a little more relieved for us but not for my little student.

So, on Thursday he was absent. My mind was racing again hoping he was alright! Then this morning his special ed teacher popped into my room and we got talking. She got this big grin on her face and said that she had forgotten to tell me what had happened on Tuesday. Of course she was very concerned too. So she called our wonderful translator and asked her to contact the mom to see how he was doing. Apparently the mom had gotten on the internet and was using some website to help her write her note. What she really wanted to say was that they had "slept in"!!!! For as much Spanish as I know - I don't know if "tape worms" and "slept in" are close:)

Anyway, if I ever tell you I have tape worms, you'll know what I mean!

Veterans Day 2008

Wow! What can I say, but it was quite an unforgetable day!!! So much going on in the world - so much uncertainty, being married to someone who proudly serves our country, and being so grateful for my freedom made me pretty "emotional" (as one of my 2nd graders told Phil I was because I cried).

I volunteered to be on the "Patriotic Committee" and decided that these little kids need to really feel and experience patriotism. So, we started with our "Hall of Heroes" by hanging red, white,and blue stars up and down our halls with names of Veterans that the kids had brought from home. Amazing how many adults came and asked if we could put up friends and family members of theirs too....everyday those stars continued to go up:) It was amazing to see these little kids going up and down the halls reading the names!

We started Veterans Day off by having two National Guard members come and do our flag raising ceremony in front of the school. So happy that the weather was good:) I was so amazed at how quiet 600 kids under the age of 8 could be. Then, when we watched the flag being raised and to hear their little voices so proud and clear echoing back to us - the tears started to flow!!! Every adult there was crying and could hardly finish saying the pledge. What an experience!

The biggest surprise I got was Monday night when I came home - I found my husband there:) I didn't know he was going to be able to come...So, I had Phil and Michelle Halford have lunch in my classroom with the kids (Oh how enjoyable:) ) Then they both talked to the class about their time in Iraq. It was so cute to see the enthusiasm the kids had and how interested they were.

Then off to the gym for our school program. It turned out great! We didn't know how many Veterans we would have but the stage was full. The little ones sang their hearts out to them. It is hard to explain the feeling that fell over the crowd when Taps was played on the trumpet and we had a moment of silence. I remember a similar feeling when I visited Arlington National Cemetary in high school. Then to see the Veterans heads drop deep in thought was overwhelming - and yes "emotional" again!

We ended the program by having the kids line up and down the halls to applaud, cheer and high-5 the Veterans as they walked through the crowd. So cute to see young and old coming together to honor those who have served our country so well! I had Phil be Etmo's seeing eye guide. He informed me he didn't need one, but we thought he might get lost in the crowd if we didn't keep an eye on him.

Etmo, well he's another story! He will turn 93 in a couple of weeks and sharp as can be. I don't think he slept for two nights after I invited him to come to the program. In fact he called me the night before and asked me how long I wanted him to talk and where should he begin - so cute! I told him he can sleep good that night because we were going to perform for him. I don't know how long it took him to get all the way down the hall, but Phil said that he shook every kids hand as he passed by!!!! Then when he was leaving he told me that he had never shaken so many hand in his life...hope this made his day!

So grateful for everyone who has served and is serving our country. We are so blessed to live in such a wonderful country and enjoy the freedoms which we enjoy.

AND A BIG THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL HUSBAND WHO SERVES SO PROUDLY!!!!

Wait a Minute! Where did October go?

I feel like my head is spinning so fast - I can't figure out where October went to. Guess I was just enjoying the beautiful weather AND trying to dejunk our house so that I can move Phil's stuff in - this has been quite an experience:) I am such a collector (of a lot of nothing).

I decided I had better start writing because so much has been happening and I will forget a lot of things if I don't get them down.

So sad when our "Birthday" dinner got cancelled for Rich and Stevie because of a terrible snowstorm. Funny thing was, we didn't hardly get any snow out of it. I think Stevie's final report was 9" for them. Anyway, we got to see them a little between elk hunting - which finally paid off for Rich. I will like to hear the final cost of that elk from Stevie some day:):):) Rescheduled the big B-Day dinner to celebrate with Jeremiah and Rachel's which are coming up quickly...my baby will be 18:( Now, can anyone tell me where that time has gone...WOW 18 years ago I was getting ready to graduate from college!

First of all, the first day of deer hunting was awesome. My kind of hunting. Phil hunted on his way home up through Tin Cup and McCoy Creek and decided that is where we would venture early on Saturday morning. (fun to go to the places that my dad, grandpa and the rest of the hunting crew hunted faithfully for so many years!) Have to say that Taylor wasn't the only one that had a hard time getting up at 4:30 am. Had a rough start (that's a whole other story) but finally got on the road and headed north of Soda. Well as it started getting light we started joking with Taylor that he should probably wake up and probably within 10 minutes Phil stops the truck abruptly and starts telling Taylor to get his gun and "get off the road to shoot". There, right by the side of the road was three 4-point bucks. There was some bang, bang and some waiting and then back in the truck trying to figure out where the wounded one went. We pulled up the road a little ways and there it was. One more bang and Taylor had killed his first deer. This was awesome!!! I really didn't even have to get out of the truck.

Of course, hunting with Phil is never dull and boring. The kill was easy and then we continued onwith our road hunt. Then the weather changed drastically and we ended up in a blizzard. Yes there was a point that my eyes were closed, well maybe a couple times. I definitely trust Phil's driving, but why do I always have to be on the downhill side by the HUGE drop off?!? We safely made it hope - great hunt!

Hunting since that day hasn't been as successful:( Phil and I went out one Saturday to find a big buck. Well after I convinced him that I did not ever want to drive over the German Dugway in a pickup again as long as I live, I took a sigh of relief. BUT WHY? Of course he had to find a road (if you can call it that!) that was even worse than the German Dugway. Oh, and guess who was on the steep dropoff side - YOU GOT IT!!! I couldn't even open my eyes and look at the hillside. Just the feel of the shale rocks sliding under our tires was bad enough. YES my eyes were closed! I can't believe how calm and collected he was. Reassuring me that he had rolled on worse places - he's so funny NOT! Well after a sharp switchback we found a turnout where we parked and hiked. Turned out to be a great hike. We saw some does, put stinky stuff on our shoes:) and came within 30 yards of a bull moose. It was great! We hiked for 4 hours and all the while I'm thinking, "I wonder how in the heck he plans on dragging anything out of here." But I remained quiet and chuckling that we will cross that ravine IF we get to it:) Needless to say, no shots fired, but a great day hiking with my husband. Pretty proud of myself for keeping up with him too.

Well, it always seems to take a baby blessing or a baptism to get the 3 "stooges" together! Oh, I forgot - me getting married too!

It was a great day to go to Orem with Phil, Rachel and Chance to be part of Adam's baptism. Once again, where has the time gone? It seems like just the other day we were bathing him in the sink at mom & dad's house when mom passed away...time hold on!

WHAT A HANDSOME DUDE!

Unbelievable to see how all of my nieces and nephews have grown up! But the ham that took the show was Matthew - a baby last time we saw him at our wedding. What a funny little guy! Took a liking to my high-heeled shoes right off and he could walk in them better than I could:)

It was great to be with my family. Wish all of our lives weren't so busy so we could do this more often!

Well, Phil has finished the job in Kemmer and finishing up the one in Smoot besides doing his college classes on line. I don't know how he does it. When he does have a spare moment, he can be found studying the Cabelas catalogue - making his "Christmas Wish List"! OOPS! That was the Sportsman Catalogue. The Cabelas just came this week - now he can start his wish list from it:)

Me, well I have to take this opportunity to write down some of the funny things that happen while teaching 2nd grade so I don't forget them. I will not post names to protect the innocent little ones who lighten up my life 180 days out of the year:)

• for the first time in 18 years of teaching I got to dress up with the kids for Halloween! It was a blast. Had a hard time deciding whether to be a cow or an M&M. Well the M&M won out and I got to listen to the kids tell me that they wanted to bite me all afternoon:)
  
• we are still losing teeth like crazy. Another one hit in the mouth and has one "hanging". Of course that consumes her. I told them that I will pull them and then they can split the tooth fairy money with me. So far no takers!
  
• It was been hilarious to listen to the kids talk about the elections. Funny what they hear at home and then I get to hear their version! We had our 2nd graders register and vote for the President. They were so pumped up:) I was talking to a mom today after school and she says that she doesn't have the heart to tell her son that his vote really didn't count! He can't figure out how in the world Obama won because McCain won at our school...you've got to laugh!


• Then a little boy was watching the election results on CNN and was so impressed that they had a SmartBoard like Mrs. Archibald does - wow, they are really cool and high tech to be compared to our classroom!!!
  
• We are in the process of preparing for our Veterans Day program. The kids have brought names of family members, neighbors & friends to put on red, white, and blue stars to hang on the walls for our "Hall of Heroes". They are so excited about this. We had put up several names during recess and when we finished I went back to the room. Within a couple of minutes I had a couple of kids come in huffing and puffing. They had seen a teacher moving the stars!!! I reassured them that it was ok...had to go raze her about being tattled on. She reassured us that she was just lining her class' up with ours! They get very protective of things!

Well, those are just a few of my memorable moments. There are some things that I can't post - but I'm having a great laugh over!!!!

Eventful Fall!

Wow, seems like it was just summer (last week) and now there is snow forecast for this weekend...I think it's because Phil started a new job south of Afton. The snow seems to follow him! Hope he leaves it behind in Wyoming though.

We are so excited for our new addition to the family. Mallari & Zach are expecting a baby boy in February. So hard to express the emotions and feelings that come with this expereience. I've been telling "grandpa" he needs to practice his fishing skills so he can take his grandkids out. He has so many fun memories of fishing with his dad and grandpa. Funny thing is a lot of them are around the Preston area...it's a small world!

Hank had a very exciting week too...turned 1 year old and retrieved his first duck on opening day! Way to go pooch:) I think Chance is very proud of him! (wonder how he will act with kids?!?!

Jeremiah has been a little quieter this week after having all 4 of his wisdom teeth out and out of commission with his cell phone for a few days...but quickly recouperating for hunting which opens Friday - oh, I mean he is feeling something coming on. Sure he will be sick by Friday!!! Probably a setback with his knee or teeth:)

Rich - well what can we say - turned another year older! He's been out of town, but made it back right before the big event. We will be "CELEBRATING" his belated birthday and Stevie's birthday this weekend. I can't believe that my daughter will be 26 !!! I'm not old enough to have a child that OLD - guess I had better stop there!

Korahle has been interviewing for a job and sounds like it's going well. Can't wait to hear where Casey and her are going to be and relieved for them when she's done with school!!!

Taylor - well I think that he's given up hope on hunting anything in Idaho! Can't seem to find anything to shoot...but really there is wildlife here:) Just wait until after hunting season and I'll prove it to you!

Rachel was able to have her moment with fame:) While she was in Twin Falls she was a die-hard watching the food network show. She was a hugh fan of Kelsey Nixon who happens to be the niece of one of her boss's at American Secure Title. She emailed me the other day to say that Kelsey was coming to fix lunch for them and she had left her camera at home. Bet she never thought she's actually be eating with her!!!

I haven't heard from Bryce but got a picture text the other day of him with a huge fish...guess we all know what he's still up too!

Makayla & Kyle must be busy holding down the fort on the east coast...sounds like they are having a lot of fun and enjoying the adventure:)

Stevie's Public Relations Representative

OK - it's official. Stevie told me that I can be her PR person (wonder why?!?!) Guess I'm just a proud mom:) Here is the address to the video which she created...the one that has been in the papers and on Fox News. Make sure you watch it all and see her name at the end on the credits!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DByPiCkznE0

(How did I do Stevie?) Am I earning my mother's salary - you know the millionaire mom?

The Cool, Crisp Autumn Air

Huckleberry Heaven

Fall is my favorite time of year. So nice to end the hot summer and to enjoy the cool, crisp autumn air in the mornings - of course that means the "bum warmer" is on in the truck and the heater at 90* because I refuse to stop wearing capris, skirts, sandals and flip-flops to school!

We are finally slowing down with our canning adventure. We did huckleberry syrup, chokecherry jelly & syrup, peach jelly & syrup, fruit leather, salsa and now we are working on apples for apple pie filling and bottling pears. WOW what a year!!! Hey, I know you are all jealous because if it comes down to living on our food storage - WE WILL BE ON AN ALL TIME SUGAR HIGH!

Of course we are on the all-time natural high now....HUNTING!!! Jeremiah is all excited because he as spotted a big bull. Phi was almost ecstatic when he saw a herd of elk on public land that were really close...too bad he was in Wyoming:( He also saw a buck about 20 yards from his pickup when he was at the motel in Kemmerer. Taylor is going to come up this weekend and do some hunting. I would definitely say that there is Buck Fever around here....

Fall Again

Wow, where did the summer go? Had a fantastic summer!!! Was able to finally spend time with my husband and now reality has hit - I have to settle into fall and being back in school:)

Had a great summer vacation! Loved being in Star Valley with Phil and watching him finish the two homes he's been working on. Learned that I shouldn't do "my whistle" and scare my husband to death though:( OOPS! Phil took me to HUCKLEBERRY HEAVEN!!! We had a mid-life crisis together - the new Harley! Great Archibald family reunion - nice to meet and get to know everyone better. Spent as much time as possible with the kids.

NEW ADVENTURE IN 2ND GRADE (after 17 years in 3rd)

I am learning many new things in 2nd grade. I go home laughing every day! A few things that really jump out at me are:

1. I need steel toed shoes - my feet get stepped on daily!
2. 2nd graders lose a lot more teeth than 3rd graders...realized that when a tooth that had been lost the night before was on the floor during reading time. Teaching moment: STOP, do show & tell and put the tooth in the backpack.
3. 2nd graders are great at getting frosting ALL OVER their faces while eating a cupcake. So dang cute to see these brightly, colored smiles as I sent them to the restroom to wash up.

Can't wait for each new day to learn something new!!!

No "butts" about it!

Well, we did it. We got our new Harley home! It was a lot of miles, but definitely worth it:)

I can say that now after 1300 miles of riding that week...wow what an adventure. Phil flew home from Colorado Springs after being there for 2 weeks with the Navy. We loaded the Harley, headed to Bountiful for a going away party for Kyle & Makayla, spent the night with Stevie & Rich and started the adventure.

Monday morning we hooked up with Casey & Korahle and Kyle & Makayla for the trek across Wyoming:) BORING!!! What more can I say...oh, there is a lot of sage brush:) Nice trip - time to talk and relax. Had a chance to stop at the rest stop where Phil had his "heroic" experience at the rest stop. So hard to comprehend it all and the emotions of it, but nice to be there with him and have him tell us the story.

Then down the road - and more sage brush. Had a hard time telling Kyle & Makayla good-bye! But so excited for them and their new adventure.

(so nice to be behind the camera all the time!!!!)

Then we headed south into Colorado and spent the night in Colorado Springs. The Harley store didn't open soon enough - I was so excited to finally see the bike!!! After "Good-bye" to the old one...he doesn't seem to sad about this now does he?!?

We now said good-bye to Casey & Korahle and sent them home on their trek back across Wyoming (thank goodness they came! I don't think my toosh could have made it both ways!) and we headed across Colorado on the ROAD KING...so nice. The trip was wonderful. It was so beautiful despite the few storms we went through. Took two days, rested overnight and was able to spend some time with Mal, Zach and Eliza (Oh and celebrated Zach's birthday!!!) before heading off on the bike again!

Got up the next morning and headed to Twin Falls to go to the temple open house with Chance & Rachel. Some doughhead forgot how far it was to Twin and we raced in, changed clothes QUICKLY and headed to the temple. It was awesome! Was able to watch Chance play in a baseball tournament and to be able to see Chance & Rachel's place too - before they moved back to Preston! We spent the night and "Hit the road" again. I just love sitting back and enjoying the ride:)

Our Newest Addition

Well, if you've ever wondered what Phil does when he goes away for Navy stuff, let me tell you:) He had to go to Colorado Springs for two weeks to oversee a project there. Timing wise it worked out perfect because he has just finished up the two houses in Star Valley.

Anyway, they have been working really hard and ahead of schedule. So for the weekend he was going to relax and go to a Renaissance Festival. But, on his way, he passed a Harley Davidson shop that was having a big shin-dig...you know Phil, couldn't just drive by! (They were having a sale!!!!) So, now we have a problem of how to get his old Harley to Colorado Springs to pick up the new Harley!!!! I know everyone is probably really feeling sorry for us at this point:)

We had such a great trip to Yellowstone over the 4th of July that we talked about getting a bigger road bike "when we get older". Well, can you guess how old I feel now because that was just a few weeks ago....anyway, I'm excited! Can't wait to go on a ride!!!

Can't wait to see what he brings back from New York in September!!!

The Big Day 12-22-07

Our Fabulous Honeymoon

What can I say? My first cruise was definitely worth waiting for. We had a fabulous time. In fact, I don't think I've ever been that relaxed in my life.