BYU-I here we come!

We are excited to announce that Kayla will be going to Byu-Idaho in the fall!  We spent the week getting her all set up.  We got her an apt (Called Nauvoo!) located right next to the campus.  We declared her major as Marriage and Family Studies- haven't decided which emphasis yet.  It looks like a beautiful campus with so many fun things to do like yoga, and a glow in the dark 5K!  We are so excited for her!!!

Alayna successfully graduated from DARE (define, assess, respond, evaluate), a course they take in health.  She even won a special water bottle because you broke the record for the longest essay!

Tyler had another all day competition yesterday and they made Grand Champions again!!!!

We worked more on our painting projects.  We got paint samples for Tylers room and started the hallway.  I am thrilled with how it is turning out!  Marisa, you will hardly recognize the place when you get back!

(Walls will be Classic Silver with white trim)

(So much better than the brown and wood that I could just cry!!)

One reason we shouldn’t let Alayna paint…

Fancy Dining and Butterflies

We had more snow days.  Monday was a doozy.  We all had dentist appts but the roads were awful, 2 cars in a ditch, semi truck stuck, and got 6 inches of snow…so we turned around and went home.  If we don’t get a snowblower soon….

(Van got stuck too)

Alayna hosted a special “Fancy Night” dinner where she had a menu and made all the food we ordered!  It was awesome!

I spent a lot of time working on décor at both libraries.  I made this awesome display at the middle school.  We have 1 butterfly for every book checked out this year.  There will be thousands!  I also did a bookmark display at the high school.

Rosie is getting spoiled.  One day I found Kayla and Alayna in the closet with her!  Yesterday Bob built her a “playpen” so she has space to run.  She is in heaven now.

Kayla went to WPA this week with some friends.  Of course I don’t have pics   But she did let me share one at the pedicure she got this week.

Happy Valentines Day!!!

(heart-shaped pizza and cookies!)

Had the middle school kids display their monster art work in my library and I just love it!!!

At the high school we did door heart-attacks and blind date with a book!  HUGE success!!

Before and After pics. Be impressed!!

(Not always that dirty but makes the after pics look good!)

(We will be using white ribbon to hang photo frames on it)

(Mirror.  Notice the soft grey closet)

(Nothing better than a quote by Dumbledore, right??)

(not finished with the shelves yet.  Will post when done.)

(Can’t see it too well, but this frame matches perfectly!)

More snow, more cold, more sickness…blah, blah, blah

I apologize for no blog last week.  It has been a tough couple of weeks for us due to illnesses.

First, I wanted to take some picture of the snow for Marisa in case she has forgotten what it looks like.  Marisa, we sure do envy you in that warm climate you have!!  Yes, I know the sun is shining and it looks beautiful and warm.  Its not, my friends….its not!

Some of you may be thinking I’m over-reacting to the cold this year.  Here is proof that its not all in my head…

Like I said before, to combat the winter blues we have been working on some things at home.  Hopefully I will have pics to show you next week.  But my girls were sweet enough to bring me flowers

Bob was really sick last weekend and was down for almost 5 days.  Missed 2 days of work. Thank goodness it never moved to his chest! On Wednesday, Kayla, Alayna, and I woke up with it.  Fever, aches, chills, congestion, cough, sore throat, sinus migraine headache, etc.  It was not pleasant.  Thank goodness Wed got called as a snow day, but I ended up missing 2 days of work and didn’t move off of the couch or out of my bed for 4 days.  realized I had a sinus infection, and I am doing much better since I got antibiotics.  Not only has this been the worst winter cold and snow wise, but we have been trading off sicknesses like nobody’s business.

In other news:

Tyler’s show choir competed last weekend and not only took 1st place, but beat out their main competition for the 1st time in 6 years!

Alayna has become an expert in making balloon animals…

Kayla’s senior announcements arrived…

And very sad news, one of the puppies we regularly babysit passed away unexpectedly due to a fast growing cancer.  This was tough, especially on Alayna, since we have known Taylor since she was born.

What is miserable, dreary, and bitter cold? We know!

This has been our worst winter here.  We haven't even had that much snow.  But I can’t tell you how many days we have cancelled or delayed due to to bitter cold and ice.  I have literally lost track.  And by bitter, I don’t mean, “Oh hey, its cold out here!”  I mean dangerous wind chills that literally chill you to the bone, freeze your nose airs, and really hurts.  Tomorrow we are going down to –40 again with 45 mph winds.  I’d kill to be on a cruise in the Caribbean right now.  I mean that literally too!

I have found though, that you must combat the winter blues with something fun to keep your mind of the misery and the fact that you may die every time you leave the house.  I’ll only give you a hint…

Alayna had a choir concert this week and she did such a great job.  She is looking so grown up.

She also had another basketball game and made a basket.  She is improving and getting more aggressive.  She got several rebounds and even got an assist.  We have lost her team shirt and she is the only kid that plays in yoga pants…

Rosie is fitting right in and everyone loves her.  She makes these cute squeaky noises when she is happy which is most of the time.  She loves to cuddle up on your neck- especially with Alayna.

I have some unsolicited advice for all of you out there.  Never try to cut a guinea pigs nails. We looked it up online and I followed the directions oh so carefully.  What they don’t tell you is that the pig will scream (its scary), try to bite you, and cover you in an endless stream of poop droplets.  It was traumatizing for us all.  So on Monday we are taking her to the vet to get them done.

Tyler participated in the annual Java and Jazz concert.  We didn’t get to go last year since we were ON A CRUISE!  Anyway, the jazz bands have a clinic during the day.  This time they got to work with a sax player whose group just recorded the new theme song for the Seth Meyer Late Show!

Then that night they have tables set up with chocolate, cheesecake and hot chocolate to enjoy while you watch the show, which was awesome.  Also, not only did Tyler tell me he had a solo, but I actually got to see it.  Whoo hoo for communication!  It was such a nice evening.

Well, we are surviving. Barely.  Kayla was down with the flu for 3 days.  Bob has another festering cold.  Alayna missed a couple days of school due to a migraine and stomach ache.  We heard Marisa was really sick last week too- we hope you are doing better! 

Here is our new Slideshow recapping 2013