Sunday, October 24, 2010

October 4-24, 2010

I am not used to the blogging thing, so I have to remember to log in a make a new post more often.

Nana went back to Phoenix on October 4.  We enjoyed her company and the kids miss her.

The weather has been pretty nice until yesterday, when we could feel winter coming on.  Yuck!  It's been cold and rainy, but in the days previous, it has been beautiful, sunny, and warm. 

Emily and I went to the Utah Symphony on the 9th to see a 16-year old pianist play "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini."  We met my parents there.  We saw Igor Pianykh, who was one of the first students I worked with, back in 1996.  He has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair, now 26 years old.  He graduated from SLCC this year.  It was fun to see him.

On the 15th, the kids met my parents and cousins (David's family) for a field trip to Temple Square and downtown SLC.  They had a great time riding Trax, going to the top of the Church Office Building, and having a tour of the Conference Center and Temple Square.  I was at a school event so I did not go.

My parents are currently on a cruise to Italy, Greece, Israel, and Croatia. 

Last night we went to a Halloween Party at the Milners' house.  Emily's costume is a pirate girl, James is a cowboy with a horse, Kevin was Phantom of the Opera, and I was a polygamist (or pioneer), wearing my mom's old maternity dress from the 70s.

Emily has been off track. We've done some fun things like see the movie "Secratariat" and go to Wheeler Farm.  She's been busy making crafts (purses from the pockets of James' old pants) and playing with James. 

Work has been busy for me.  I have been doing SEOPs (Student Education Occupation Plans).  I meet with a few students per week online or in the office. I enjoy talking with them and seeing what their plans are after high school.  In preparation for the meeting I do a credit audit, to see whether or not they are on track to graduate.

Kevin is busy at work too.  He has been training for the new Epic billing software which goes live throughout the entire University of Utah Health Network on October 31.

The studio in our home is done!!!  We are thrilled with it.  It took about 4 weeks.  it is beautiful!  We had a contractor and subcontractors do it.  Kevin has moved his computer and speakers, drums, instruments, microphones, etc. into the new studio.  We set up an old computer of my dad's for the kids to use.  They are loving it. 

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Animal Names

When Emily was 2 or 3, she had some very creative names for her stuffed animals, and imaginary grandma for one of her dolls, and a name for a silk scarf.

Ossia-lamb
Inksaw-ghost
Ashlista- scarf
Adeeja Azeeza-Sally the doll's imaginary grandma who lives in Waterfall Falls
Enine-tiny dollhouse dall
Sally-baby doll
Monel-rubber duck
Princess Ike-dog
Azza-dog
Seeley and little Seeley--dogs
Zonesaw-doll
Buster-dog


As she grew the names became more normal, like Kaitlyn, Jordyn, Morgan, Ivana, etc.  She currently has 17 stuffed animals on her bed.

James has some favorite stuffed animals too:
Parch Peach-large bear
Henry- dogs (little Henry and big Henry)
Deadman Pete-ghost

Week of September 27-October 3

It has been unseasonably warm this week.  We love it!  It has been in the 80s and 90s.  Monday and Tuesday were regular days for us, with Kevin at work, Emily at school, James at preschool, and me working from home.  Wednesday 9/29 James and I drove to Logan to get Rene.  I scheduled some appointments with students at the library.  I enjoyed meeting with 6 students and parents.  I drove Rene to Ogden and dropped her off there, then headed home.

An hour or so later, the kids and I drove to Park City to meet my parents at their condo (Marriott Mountainside at Park City Ski Resort).  We enjoyed swimming in the warm outdoor pool under the stars.  The next morning we all took a drive to Deer Valley.  The fall colors were beautiful!  We went to a new fancy hotel called St. Regis.  To get to the hotel we took a funicular up the mountain.  The hotel was gorgeous as was the weather.  We hung around and enjoyed the nice weather and good view.  We drove up to Guardsman's Pass area where we could see Heber Valley.  It was a nice drive.

The kids went swimming again, with Grandpa.  Later we all went to the outlets then the kids and I went home.  The kids had skating that night and did well.

Friday I went to a counselors conference at the U of U.  It was fun to be in the union building on the college campus where I went to school.  So much has changed that I didn't really know where I was.  The dorms I lived in (Van Cott Hall) have not existed since 2002 when the Olympics came to SLC.  The student housing is now at Fort Douglas.  The conference was good.  It was mostly about being admitted and attending the U.  Kevin and I went to lunch together then I went home.

We picked up Rene at the Trax station that evening when Kevin was home.  We went to Sigfried's Delicatessen (a German Deli) in downtown Salt Lake. 

Saturday October 2 was another beautiful day.  We went to Ikea and got a cool lamp for Kevin's new (forthcoming) studio.  Later that day we went to Park City to the outlets and got some great deals.

Today is Sunday, General Conference Day.  We are going to my brother Mike's house in a while for a family get-together.

Jamesims of the week:  We saw a baby deer along the highway.  James was sad because it was alone and without its mom.  He said when he grows up he wants to be an animal saver.  I said "oh, how precious."  He said what would be even more preciouser was if we took the deer home and had it for our pet. I told him that wouldn't be good because it would eat all our grass and poop in our yard.  He suggested we get a deer toilet.

Emily is an awesome reader.  She is quickly reading the "Ramona Quimby" books and the "Magic Treehouse" series.  She is a great student and a cute cute girl.