Hope of America

Our sweet Kelsey participated in the Hope of American Student Showcase this week. It was held in the Marriott Center at BYU. Morgan also got to perform in this a few years back and it's quite the inspiring production.
Thousands of 5th graders from Utah County demonstrated their patriotism through song and dance. Our Kelsey was in yellow and was at the top of the flag. In this picture (below) she is in the top row, second inside from the aisle (next to her good friend, Dessa). They were obviously jamming on this song with sunglasses on.
Kelsey's grandparents, Carol and Lynn, are always so supportive. They joined in the fun of the evening. I think Lynn's favorite part was watching Jean's Golden Girls. I haven't heard him "hoop and holler" that loud in a long time.
Jean's Golden Girls is a group of more than 100 women between the ages of 50- and 93-years-old. This sweet 93-year-old ended the show with her own dance and splits. Crazy huh? I didn't get a good pic of her that night but found this pic online. Those splits have made her a local celebrity.
Morgan had to miss a "mandatory" girls' camp meeting to attend. (bummer). I told her Kelsey sat through her performance a few years back and now it was payback.
Jake wanted to act miserable but truth be known I think he enjoyed it. Here he is doing the wave.
It was a long but enjoyable evening and I was inspired to be more patriotic, more grateful and more willing to serve. Good job Kels!

District Science Fair

Morgan & Katie in front of their project, "Just Chillin'"
(Not referring to what they are doing, but the name of their project)

Award Ceremony
Katie (second from left) & Morgan (third from left)

The girls look like Olympic Gold Medalists!

Congratulations to Morgan and Katie for moving on from the Alpine District Science Fair to Central Utah's Science & Engineering Fair! This will make THE 4th YEAR IN A ROW for Morgan. I don't emphasize that to brag, it's more a proud grumble. :) Anyone who knows me, knows the kids' yearly science projects have become my nemesis.

I have to admit that between my "OCD perfectionism" and Morgan's "teen attitude" we did not see eye-to-eye this year. So....I chose to let go of the situation and Morgan and Katie completed the project all by themselves. I have a feeling that makes their win feel that much better, as it should.

This is the first time Morgan has participated in a "group" project and she really enjoyed having her good friend next to her to keep her company through out the judging process. With the iPod, throwing candy and making fun of judges, it sounded more like a party than a science fair. Way to go girls! Thanks for working hard and excelling at all you do.

Holy Cuteness!

Can you say CUTE!!!

Front view

Print on back

It's hard to admit when you are not good (or even remotely adequate) at a skill. But I must admit, sewing it NOT on my radar of talents I possess. My mom could sew, my sisters can sew, and I can sit at the sewing machine and make a mess! Seriously, my mother and I would sit and laugh our heads off while I sewed. I spent more time with a seam ripper removing my work, than I did actually sewing. Even to this day I sit down to hem or fix something (since that is all I dare try) and I start giggling thinking of my mother and me.

Thank Heavens my lack of talent was not passed on to my children. Morgan took a sewing class this past semester and was so good at it. I am thrilled. She sewed this apron and I think it is adorable. Who wouldn't want to wear that? I wanted to share it with everyone before I mailed it off today. She decided to give it as a Christmas gift but had to wait till she got it graded and back from the teacher before we could send it. (Yes, she got an A.) Hence...a belated Christmas gift.

Way to go Morgan. Just think, someday maybe you and I can sit at the sewing machine and you can sit and giggle while you help me sew.

Science Fair 2010

Kelsey aka "Vanna White"

It's that time again! Science Fair preparations have been on-going in our home since Christmas break. As of 8:15 am this morning we can now relax!! Morgan's project was due the first week in January. She did a team project with her friend, Katie, and unfortunately I do not have a picture to show off.

This was Kelsey's first year for science fair and I wish my enthusiasm matched hers. ;) She did a great job and I'm really proud of our children's desires to learn and their school work ethic. Love you kids!

And the Results are . . .

Please join me in singing... hallelujah, hallelujah,
hallelujah, hallelujah,
hallelujah, ha-lle-lu-jah!

Yep, it's true, I'm a grown up girl now. I passed my RN boards and am a real, certified, licensed RN. As thrilled as I am, I must say it doesn't feel like I expected. It's great...but different. I didn't expect the results until this morning so it was totally built up in my mind as this big count down. Well, last night around 11:00 pm I had Joe go to the Utah DOPL (Division of Professional Licensing) website to show him where to look it up first thing this morning, when I would still be asleep. Well, there it was, already posted. I didn't believe him when he said it and then when I saw it, I just sat there. Weird. Amazing, good, but weird.

I'm excited to go back to work after our Yellowstone vacation and get my name badge changed to RN! Oh yeah, and that little thing called, "Show me the Money!"

Congratulations to my dear friend Suzette who took it the same day and also passed. I knew she would. And good luck to all my other friends still studying their brains out!

Kids' Dance Festival

Kelsey and Jake had a dance festival yesterday at their elementary school. This year it had a super hero theme. Kelsey was NOT happy about dancing to Power Rangers. They were both so cute. My children truly are my Super Heroes! Love you guys.

Field Trip with the Kido

Today I got to hang out with my little Jake-o and go on a school field trip. You know the school district is hard up for money when your field trip is walking to the local grocery store. Got to love it!

I did enjoy being with him and will totally miss the day when the kids are too old to have field trips. They are growing up way too fast!

Love ya Jake. Thanks for not being too cool for your mom, just yet.

Graduation May 1, 2009

So, the big day finally arrived and was great! Commencement was 2 hours and would have been miserable except President Monson spoke and was wonderful. I sat near the front of the McKay Events Center so it was cool to be so close to him. Pres. Eyring and Pres. Uchtdorf were also there and made it special.

Convocation was immediately after commencement and lasted another 2 hours. Holy Long! I know my family and friends must really love me to sit through all that. We were all texting back and forth through the ceremonies and entertained ourselves. Don't worry, I tried to be discreet and hide my rudeness.

Classmates and me after the ceremonies. Can you see the relief on our faces? I know I could feel it!






Me and my honey! I think it's time for some rest and relaxation. Joe deserves a nice romantic weekend getaway to make up for all those nights he went to bed alone while I stayed up studying. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink!


Both my sisters, Debby and Tammy, came for the big day. Debby's boyfriend, Curtis, also flew in from Missouri. Aunt Toni, Uncle Shirl, and my in-laws, Carol and Lynn also attended with us. Wow, THANK YOU so much!


Finally, my dear friends Jae and John and also Susie and Annie attended. (Susie and Annie snuck out before pics were taken.) I love all you guys and am so grateful to have you in my life!

Last Day of Class

Today was our last day of class. I couldn't stop smiling I was so happy. A couple people (you know who you are!) were trying to get me emotional, but I wasn't having any of that. I'll save that sappy stuff for graduation day! Woohoo!

Some of us went out for Mexican food after class. Nothing like ending it all with good food. I'm going to miss everyone!

No More Homework!!

It's 11:30 at night and can I tell you how happy I am??? I just want to jump on top of this chair and do a dance. I have officially just completed every single last bit of homework for my nursing school career!!! No more case studies, clinical journals, evaluations, posters, presentations, community service, continuing education hours, clinical hours in the hospital, etc, etc, etc. Best of all, no more forest green UVU scrubs that make me look like the jolly green giant.

Tomorrow is the last day of class and then I only have the final. Hallelujah!

Kelsey gets what she Deserves!

Kelsey has been bored out of her mind the last couple of years of school. She has been so excited because she recently got to test for the school district's Accelerated Learning Lab. We received the results this week and Kelsey got in! She is thrilled and the icing on the cake is that her two best friends got in with her. They will be attending 5th and 6th grade at a different elementary than they are currently attending. The good news for mommy is we have other mommies to carpool with.

This is the same program that Morgan was blessed to participate in and it was a really positive move in her life, so we are looking forward to more of the same. Way to go my little smarty pants, KK!!

Labor and Delivery

I started my preceptorship in L&D at Timp. Hospital this week. Can I just say it's . . . "Awesome!" I am totally loving it. I've got a cool preceptor and the other nurses are so good to give me learning experiences. Joe thinks I'm crazy when I come home excited about IV's, placing Foley catheters, and the latest . . . cervical checks! It is seriously the coolest thing.

While I was helping take care of a laboring mother last night, I realized that she was in the same L&D room that I delivered Jake in. I got teary-eyed knowing that was the room and experience when I decided once and for all that I was going to school to be a L&D nurse. It feels fantastic to finally be where I belong.

Science Fair Update

Alrighty, here's the UPdaTe! Morgan decided to continue on her science journey and compete in the Central Utah Science and Engineering Fair at BYU. (See previous post.) What a good kid. If it was up to her parents, she wouldn't even get her homework done.

She'll be competing on March 26th and I will be there with a smile on my face. Did I mention it starts at 8 am and finally ends that evening with the award show from 7-9 pm? Oh, I forgot, I'm supposed to keep smiling. We are really proud of you Morgan.

Yet Another Science Fair

It's that time of year again. Morgan participated in the science fair again this year and after going on to the Central UT Science Fair at BYU for the past two years, this year we were not as enthusiastic. We decided together that we'd do an extremely simple and cheesy project that had no chance of moving on.

Part 1 - she participated at her middle school. 10 out of 30 projects were chosen to move on. Guess who was chosen Are you kidding

Part 2 - Morgan participates in the Alpine School District Science Fair in Pleasant Grove. (pics above) We are proud of her but we all blow it off and are giggling and laughing through out the award show since there is no chance to move on. Wrong again! Morgan is called to the stage, wins again, and is to move on to BYU. Is this for reals

Part 3 - The decision Hummmm . . . we have three days to register on-line for her to participate at BYU. The dilemma is this - we don't want to seem "snotty" or ungrateful. Morgan had several friends with great projects and they were very disappointed to not move on. Now Morgan has the opportunity and we really don't want to bother with it. Dang, what's our deal Anyway, we'll let you know if we register or not.

Long story short, we are proud of Morgan Even when she tries to fail, she can't Way to go sis.