School-Again!

Summer has gone by way too fast. We had a great trip in July to Alaska. After that Delaney attended a piano camp at Utah State University. Both girls then took a 3-week summer P.E. & a summer band class. We wrapped up the end of all that with the death of Darren's aunt, Gaye, and the marriage of our niece, Nicole. Now, we are officially back in the swing of school, and I can't say that I am complaining! We had SO much going on over the summer that it is kind of nice to be in a regular schedule again.

I wanted to post a couple of pictures so you can see what "regular" life is like for us!

Delaney is back to her nightly homework routine. She is now equipped with a new laptop computer that is "ice blue" (matches her glasses). She saved her cold hard cash to pay for half of the computer because I'm a tightwad!

Addy actually has to read again now that school has started. Unlike her older sister, she doesn't particularly enjoy reading. She would rather spend her time making earrings or playing with friends.
Once home from school I quickly change out of my super-teacher costume (something other than sweatpants & a t-shirt) so I can cook dinner, help the kids with homework, correct papers that I can't get done at school because I have 32 students this year, throw in a load of wash, and pay some bills (among other things).

Princess is doing the same thing she always does-ruin my couch with her fat belly and shedding hairs.

And finally, the "master" of the house doing what he does best-reclining!

Alaska 2009

We returned this week from our yearly trip to Alaska to see my family. I know that I have posted A LOT of pictures, but we had a ton of fun & I wanted to share some of that with you!

Probably the best part of the trip was seeing that my Dad's health seems to be mostly back to normal. He has gained back the weight he lost while fighting cancer last fall. He is also getting stronger, and having only one lung only slightly slowed him down. He looks great and I am thankful to my Father in Heaven that Dad is still alive & kicking!

Mom & Dad with Delaney, Addy, and Duffy the dog
The Alaska cousins (minus one)

Delaney & her pal Duffy

Dad & my brother Dave hanging out on the deck we helped build while we were there

Delaney & Alaska cousin Carol

Addy and a really weird little fish that was inside a 40 pound halibut that Utah cousin Anna caught

Addy & Alaska cousins Shane & Tyler with Utah cousin Anna-They played A LOT of Phase 10 & bandmitton

Delaney reading again

Dad & Darren working on the roof of the deck
Addy & Utah cousin Anna playing Phase 10 at my parent's cabin in Caribou Hills

Delaney's first driving lesson with her Uncle Dave at the cabin

Addy bathing in the lake at the cabin

My dad enjoying the fire pit at the cabin

Delaney on one of our 2 Kenai River rafting days

Off to Camp They Go

Delaney & Addy are off to camp! They will be attending Heber Valley Girl's Camp until Friday afternoon. They are very excited to go.

I have mixed feelings about the week! I have plenty to do to keep me busy-house cleaning, picture projects, etc. The days will go by quickly, but I have a feeling that once I lay down to go to sleep each night the realization that both my children are out of the house may be a little more than I can handle!

My mom always told me not to wish away the days of diapers & bottles. She has always said that before I know it the girls will be grown up and gone away. I think this week will give me a little taste of times to come. I don't think I am ready for it! Am I the only mom who feels this way????

I Am So Thankful for Another Father's Day With My Dad

Dad & I-July 2007-Anchorage, Alaska

I am grateful that my dad is around for another Father's Day. If you would have asked me last October whether or not I thought he would live to see the spring, I probably would have said no. He has overcome so many obstacles through the help of his Heavenly Father and the prayers and support of hundreds of family members & friends.

The hardest part of seeing my dad in the hospital with cancer was the fact that his physical body was not the physical body he had for so many years. In all of the years he has been my dad I can think of only one time that he went to the doctor---that was when he severely cut his leg with a chain saw. I never saw the man go to the doctor for any other reason. Whenever he got sick he would fix his problems with "monkey's blood" (merthiolate) or a leather man. I have actually seen him pull out a sore tooth with his leather man. Whenever we got hurt with the typical cuts & scrapes of childhood, he would say, "Sheri Lee, I've had worse burns (from welding) on my eyeball." And he probably had! My dad is a tougher than nails kind of guy.

Although he is physically tough, he does have a soft side. As a kid, not a night went by without my dad giving me a hug and kiss and telling me he loved me before I was off to bed. To this day, whenever I visit him, I still get the same hug, kiss, and loving words. I hope he knows how much this has meant to me over the years.

Dad, I love you more than these words can express. I can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks. I can't wait to help you rebuild the deck on the house. I can't wait to get those hugs & kisses & token "I love you" each night before I go to sleep. I can't wait to hear you tell one of the grandkids to toughen up, because you've had worse burns on your eyeball! I can't wait to have you around for many, many more Father's Days. I thank my Heavenly Father for giving me the gift of you this day.

School Is Out-Let the Medical Bills Begin

School has been out for 3 days, and I have spent each of those three days at my gynecologist's office, the ER, and the dentist. Wow! I hope it goes uphill from here!

The ER visit was for Addy. Two nights ago she spent a miserable night with severe pains on her right side. By the morning I decided that she probably had an appendicitis issue, so I called the pediatrician, who sent us to the ER. After several hours of blood work, CT scans, and ultrasounds, the doctor determined that a cyst on Addy's right ovary had ruptured. By the time we were discharged from the ER Addy was no longer in pain, but was really hungry! This picture was taken after several long hours of waiting without any food (thus the frowny face).

Testing Blues

I haven't posted anything in awhile, mainly because school has been sucking the life out of me. May is a stressful time of year for me (and probably many other teachers) as I try to cram every last bit of learning into my little lovelies in hopes that they will do well on the end-of-level tests. This year we are taking our tests online---I know this sounds like a great idea, and it is for some. However, the same students that randomly fill in the bubbles with pencil can now move much more quickly by clicking on any old answer that looks good. With much frustration, I watched one of my students move through a 54 question reading test in less than 10 minutes. Keep in mind that there were 7-8 passages that went along with the questions. Now, I consider myself pretty smart. I also consider myself a quick reader. However, there is no way in ---- that I could have read those passages and answered all the questions in 10 minutes!

May will soon be over, along with testing---only 14 more days to go!

Happy B-day Delaney

My girl is turning 14. She is already taller, smarter, and more well-read at 14 than I am at almost 40! She is an excellent pianist, who spends every waking extra minute on the piano. She is an excellent French horn player. She is learning to speak French. I can't believe that I-a girl who was raised in Sterling, Alaska riding horses and 3-wheelers & eating moose meat-am raising such a sophisticated kind of girl!

Since I have previously written about Delaney's "amazingness" I won't write another big, long list of the great things about her. I do want the world (and Delaney) to know that I thank my Heavenly Father each day for sending me such an amazing girl. I love her very much & am proud of the person she is. HAPPY B-DAY DELANEY!