My Faves

As I was uploading pictures, I ran across a few of my favorite photos of the kids. This was in Zion Canyon in 2009. We stopped for a break and Drew went right for the water, Theresa went to look over the edge and Heather started snapping pictures of everything.

This is Drew in a nut shell. Imagine my delight when I found that he had taken this picture of himself in 2008. A picture is worth a thousand words.

This is Theresa about 2 years ago. I love the grin, the fact that she still loves the tire swing. It seems like this moment captures the "kid at heart" that she will always have.

Heather on the Cedar Canyon trail in 2009, laying on the rock to look over the cliff, the back back with all her most important things in it, the smile over the shoulder. She loves this trail and I love her distracted smile.

Out of the Stone Age

I have my own lap top and internet, at MY house! I love it! I had gotten so accustomed to doing things online when I was at the college everyday. It was honestly an inconvienence to have to go out to pay our bills online or order our basket. Now, I can do all that in my flannel PJ pants. Dave is awesome. But, now I want a scanner, an external hard drive, printer, etc. Does it ever end?

Homecoming 2010

Theresa and Mitch

Looking Spiffy!

I am noticing more and more gray hairs. I was frowning at them in the mirror. Then I did a quick inventory of my face. There are those zits on my chin. I am almost 35 years old, and I still have acne. Then as I was scrunching my face I noticed that the wrinkle around my eyes are getting deeper. And my hair is fuzzy. And my eyebrows need plucking.

As I was leaning over the counter and plucking a few eyebrow hairs, Dave came into the bedroom and stood behind me. I watched him watching me and offered an awkward smile. "What?!?" I asked him, a little annoyed that he was staring at me, feeling self conscious and unattractive and.........old.

He replied with "I was just thinking of how pretty you are". How does he know just what I need to hear?

Woa, when did that happen?

Kids grow fast. I am sitting here at the library with Drew while he types a paper for school. He doesn't need any help from me, other than a ride to the library. He types and prints his paper, reads it, makes corrections, types and prints again. He won't let me read it. I have mixed feeling of being proud and a sadness that his childhood has passed. Did I do a good job? Did I teach him what he needs to know? Will he be okay despite the many mistakes I made? Will he come to me when he needs help? I could go on and on.

Now that his paper is done, he is goofing off on myspace, asking me when we are leaving. I want to tell him to stop being in such a hurry. The ault world will come to you soon enough. Just sit here and be with me, let me remember you, just like this--a young man with ambition, a strong sense of adventure, silly and loving. "Let's just hang out for a while, I have a few more things to do", I tell him. He pats my back and returns to his myspace. I look at him from the corner of my eye. Then I turn to him and watch him type for a while. He catches me watching and smiles at me. When did my little guy turn into a man with arm hair? It all happened so fast.

Biology know- it- all

With all these college credits and pending Nursing school applications, what is a girl to do? I went in to talk to my adviser at SUU. I knew that I had enough credits to get an associate's (just needed to make it official) and I wanted to see how close I am to a bachelor's degree in Biology
( have about 36 credits to go). Though a little disappointed because it is not what my ultimate goal dictates, I am now the some-what proud owner of an Associate's of Applied Science in Biology. The advisor sensed my disappointment and patted me on the back when he said "This is an accomplishment, be proud of it! You worked hard for it."

So maybe I should not be so hard on myself. I have done quite a lot. Bear with me while I give myself a pep talk: I graduated high school 5 months pregnant, went to college part time while raising a young family and nurturing a new marriage. I worked 30 hours a week and attended SUU as a full time student for 3 yrs. I have an Associate's degree.

I think I feel better now. Now, we play the waiting game. I will find out about Mohave early next year, my application is turned in and waiting for review (SUU transcripts included--I called to make sure). I may take a few classes this Spring and summer to get a little closer to that Bachelor's degree which will help me in the long run.

I just wanted to say "thanks" to all of you for your continued support and faith. I need it and appreciate it more than you will ever know.