Bit & Pieces

• WOW, only 30 days left

• Ordered Trans-Siberian tickets

• Seriously, I have THE BEST kids ever...

• Husband ain't so bad either

• I love watching Dax read to Jace...
  

• I cannot believe something "blog worthy" didn't happen to me today, hence the "Bit & Pieces". Maybe something did, I am just way too tired to pull it from memory

• That was weird, my internet just crashed and came up again. I thought I was in luck and could post something more interesting tomorrow for today

• Jill made me drive around a block on main street yesterday because she thought she saw a mannequin in a store window move. Turns out, it was just a saleslady

• I am special... I have to be to work at an alternative high school

• When I drove home from work this afternoon I thought I saw a big, hairy Sasquatch in our public pool. I wished I had my camera. Maybe he will be there tomorrow
  

Mock - yah ing - yah bird - yah...

OK, so the whole time I was reading Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, I would sing a little tune in my head... and still a day after finishing the book... I sing this little tune in my head!

Dax kept asking me what I was singing and why and I told him we would have to watch the movie sometime. Do you think a 6 year old is too young to see Dumb and Dumber? Seriously, this movie can still make me laugh when I think about it, and I have to say this is definitely one of my favorite scenes!

Book Review - Mockingjay

Dang. From chapter to chapter, I had a hard time putting this book down. Well written and an easy read. Nice escape...

Pet Peeve #15 - Hole #7

Hole #7 at Logan River Golf Course is a long par 5, especially for women.

While it is a beautiful hole with open fairways, cattails on both sides, a beautiful little stream breaking it up and a nice large green, it is my most hated hole. And not for the openness, or the cattails, or the fact that I have to lay up with my second shot to get over the stream, but for...

Pet Peeve #15 - Stupid Tree

No matter what... no matter where I am... no matter who I am with...
I almost always hit my second shot, usually my third, into this tree.

I always joke that someday this tree will no longer be standing there because I am going to hack it down in the middle of the night!

Fairways & Greens

Justin and I were able to get out and play a nice round of golf. It was so quiet and peaceful and the best way, I think, to spend a Sunday afternoon.

After the disastrous first nine, I was hesitant to play the back nine. Thankfully Justin convinced me that since I was all warmed up and couldn't possibly increase my score, to just keep on swinging. I am glad I did because like any golfer knows, one bad hole (or nine in my case) does not mean all bad holes. I took 13 LESS strokes on the back!

Logan River is such a beautiful golf course...

The Hills are Alive!

Today we went 4-wheeling with my in-laws, Dave and Marie. It was such a fun time together and the scenery was just spectacular! It had only been a couple of weeks since Justin and I had been up to Franklin Basin and what a difference in color... We went up both Steep Canyon and White Canyon which are off the main road from Franklin Basin.

Steep Canyon. Same dam place we always go. This is also where we went with Matt and Kristy. It gives you a nice range of terrain, from flat and easy to steep and rocky.

White Canyon. Justin and I have never been here... until today that is. It was an awesome trail with a lot of water and narrow trails through tall pine trees.

It was such a beautiful day and even more so to share it with family we love.

Guilty Pleasure - Stuffed Crust Pizza

Sometimes I just get a hankering for some stuffed crust pizza... like right now. Often I don't indulge... like right now. But about a month ago, Justin, Jill and I were watching a few episodes of The Office and, if you have ever watched The Office, you would know that they eat pizza quite a bit. While watching one pizza-eating episode, (I think it must have been just after midnight) I commented on how yummy it looked and how I would like to be eating my own piece of pizza... Justin and Jill responded enthusiastically and wouldn't you know it, about a half hour later we were eating of own pieces... my favorite topping combination consists of pineapple, green peppers and mushrooms with a nice hot wing/ranch dipping sauce. Oh yeah, babe...

Bits & Pieces

• I like the meaning, look, sound and spelling of pedagogy

• Only one month, one week and one day left to blog. Should I keep going for another 365 days? Should I try 52 weeks of Jenn? Maybe just blog when I want to? It's become somewhat of a habit, but can I continue to entertain?

• I cannot wait to finish the 3rd book of the Hunger Games

• This is Justin's 3-day weekend and I only have to work a 1/2 day of school tomorrow - yes! I am pretty excited about our plans to 4-wheel with the in-laws and some golf with my sweetie on Sunday

• My job can be so challenging at times, but I still love to wake up in the mornings and go

• Full moon tonight... WAIT A MINUTE! Kids are a challenge, job is a challenge, marriage is a challenge + Full Moon = teary, frustrated, angry, bloated, tired, anxious Jenn. Phew, it's not MY FAULT!
  

Aunt Bessie

Holding Jace - 2008

Bessie celebrated her 90th birthday this month. She is my dad's sister and the oldest of 13 children (dad, a twin is #12).

Bessie lived in Petersboro (just off the highway) on a farm and I remember visiting her house when we would come for our yearly summer visits. I remember looking at all the pictures of family that hung on her walls and filled her curio cabinets. I also remember her offering my brother and I licorice treats from a gaudy crystal bowl and how I thought that was just the coolest thing and couldn't wait to grow up and get one of my own. Since I moved to Logan, I have had the pleasure of running into her in random places at random times. She always knows who I am and asks about my mom, dad, and brother. It is always nice to see her...

I am a little bummed that I missed her birthday party, but I wanted everyone to know what a beautiful, special aunt I have.

At the farm - 1991


Logan River Golf Course - 2006

To read or to blog?

Well, I can't put the 2nd book down either. Sorry, but I am choosing to read!

Book Review - The Hunger Games

I snagged this book out of our school library on Friday. This morning I returned it and snagged the second book with the hope of getting to the third and final book by the weekend... Yes, it's an easy read and you just keep turning the pages because the story is so interesting. I would recommend it.

Beans & Wieners

OVER BEANS & WIENERS

Jace was looking over Jill's shoulder tonight while she was browsing the web. This picture came up and he says, "Look, a spider monkey!"

Fall on the River

This tournament is one of my favorites for many reasons:

1. The tournament is for Juvenile Diabetes and is named after Dax J. Olsen, the son of a wonderful couple we know. He had diabetes and lost his life a few years ago in a scooter accident.
2. It's in the fall and pretty much ends the golf season with a bang.
3. I get to play this tournament with my favorite people, my hubby and Jason & Leslee.
4. Great tee prizes - this year we each got a pair of Foot Joy golf shoes and a Live Lucky hat/visor.
5. Nice lunch before and a yummy dinner afterward.

This year the weather was perfect and Justin and I both hit the "jackpot" on a couple of holes. I won $500 worth of tires from Les Schwab on hole #3 and Justin took home a nice pull cart on hole #15.

L-A-M-O Jokes

#1 - Why don't humans eat clowns?
Because they taste funny.

#2 - Knock, knock
Who's there?
Interrupting cow.
Interrup...
Moo

What can I say? The last couple of days at work were productive, but overwhelming. I can't think...

Clementine

Holly, a friend of mine, fellow golfer and mother of 2 boys, gave me her family's fire-bellied frog. He sits at work and keeps me company during the day. I named him Clementine until one of my students comes up with something better.

Each Thursday, a student volunteers (by being late for school) to clean out his home. Well, today I had a heck of a time getting him to jump into his little bowl where he is kept while the cleaning is happening, so I decided to just pick him up and put him in it myself. I washed my hands and scooped him up and... we had a bonding moment. I love this little frog and I am not embarrassed to say that the smallest, silliest things give me joy!

Brother Bears

Justin's mom and dad go to Jackson Hole, WY every year over Labor Day. This year they brought the boys back matching pj's... There aren't too many things better than new pajamas.

Thanks Grandma Marie & Grandpa Dave!

More on golf...

Tonight was the closing social for the Ladies Association. Despite the lightning, thunder, and rain, it turned out to be quite a nice evening.

This year I was the historian, which meant carrying my camera while on the golf course and being the "annoying" person taking pictures of people and the main events. I then compiled a scrapbook of the golf year. It was fun. Next time (if there is one), I would do a few things different; like making sure my battery was charged (long story, sorry Les) and having incentives for other golfers to take pictures as well. Next year instead, I volunteered to be the secretary and the responsibilities (I am told) are not so big.

Me, Tora (president), Leslee (vice)

Autumn

Fall is in the air and yes, it really is in the air. Cooler temperatures, a woodsy smell and the sun lighting up the eastern mountains. Fall also seems to happen overnight. I love looking out my front windows in the evening and seeing this:

What a beautiful time of year! I will spend the next few weeks enjoying the leaves changing color, the warm rain and that frosty bite each morning when I wake up; even though it means the real cold weather and snow are right around the corner.

Funny Dam Story

Welcome everyone... today our family went up Steep Cliff Canyon to see our dam project.

A couple of weeks ago my boys, who are now known as my dam boys, tried their best to redirect a stream from fully flowing to one side of some dam sticks. They did this by setting up some dam mud and piling up some dam rocks and a dam log in front of the first dam flow. It looked like it was going to work, but when we came back today, there wasn't any dam water on the other side like they had hoped. Well, I couldn't just sit back today (like I did the last dam time), so I started piling on my own dam sticks and stones in a different dam spot. We will have to see in another couple of weeks if my dam abilities are any better...

Now I am about to show you all the dam pictures, so please do not wander off this dam page and also feel free to leave any dam comments.

DAM DAY #1

DAM DAY #2

Now can anyone tell me where I can get some dam bait?

Go Aggies

We were really looking forward to a nice wheeler ride today and the weather was certainly cooperating but we decided to go to the Aggie football game instead. Why? Well, I have had a "belly" problem for the last couple of days and I wasn't comfortable going up into the woods and not having the comforts of modern plumbing available to me... Too much info? Too bad!

I haven't been to an Aggie game since '97 and I had totally forgot what fun it is to go and watch live football. It was a great time and our boys loved it. They even got to meet Big Blue... I didn't watch the entire game because, seriously, there are just too many people around to entertain me. Coin slots and fake boobs, big hair, drunk college kids and chubby men with their faces painted... what more can you ask for? You ought to be thankful I forgot my camera at home.

The Red Bull

The Red Bull




This afternoon, I overheard the following conversation between Justin and Jill:

Justin: Let your dog out.
Jill: No, he can get out of the garage now that the door is broken.
Justin: Well that is better than him peeing in the house.
Jill: No, it is not.
Jill then reluctantly gets off the couch and goes to let the dog out the back door, where she waits for him to get his business done. While she is waiting...
Jill: We really need to put up a barrier out here.
Justin: We had a barrier and you drove through it. It was called a garage door.

My man is a funny, funny man.

It Wasn't Me!

As I have said before, my kids always give me something to blog about...

I purchased a new dining set last weekend. A teacher at work was moving his mother-in-law across town and she was selling her table. Since the price was right and Jace is about done with the high chair, we decided it was a good time.

It has been sitting in my garage (remember, I can't open the garage door) until tonight when we finally took it apart and moved it in through the back door. It looks marvelous! Anyway, we were taking the old table apart and this is what Justin found written underneath...

MOM IS U WACKO

I think it was Jill since we bought the table when she was about 7 years old. She has no recollection of doing it and is pretty adamant that she didn't do it. Dax however, says it was him but I have my doubts that he could spell the word "wacko" correctly. It couldn't have been Jace. Maybe it was Justin. What do you think?

I Wondered Lonely as a Cloud

I didn't sleep too well last night; the wind, thunder, lightening and torrential downpour woke me up and kept me up. I had realized around 4 this morning that I had left my golf clubs outside the garage (can't open the door remember) and I had to run out to prevent the bag from filling with water. That being said, I give you another L-A-M-O post.

I took this picture that last time we went 4-wheeling. I love puffy clouds... Edmonton has the BEST clouds ever. I think it's because it is so flat and there isn't anything breaking them apart. My friend and I would just lay on this one hill by my house and watch them pass by.

I didn't see THAT coming...

With Jill's permission and in hopes we will all be laughing at this at a later date, I give you the following:

We have all done it. Maybe not quite like this, but we have all made mistakes when first learning to drive. Hell, I did exactly the same thing, in the same car. The only differences were: the garage hadn't been built yet and I high centered the car on the foundation wall, I had to call Justin for help (him and his friend had to lift the car back over) and, I had been driving for many, many years and should have known better. It sucks, and it's embarrassing and you just wish you could go back and start the day over again.

Well, the embarrassment passes and you just continue to drive and move forward (when appropriate-haha) and thank your lucky stars you weren't hurt and it wasn't your friend's garage! :)

Happy Labor Day... that'll be $40!

Did you know...

• Labor Day was first observed on 09/05/1882 by the Central Labor Union in NY
• It became a federal holiday in 1984 following the deaths of a number of workers during the Pullman Strike (nationwide conflict between labor unions and railroads)
• At first celebrated with a parade and speeches by a few prominent men and women
  
• Symbolizes the end of summer and the beginning of the football season
• Family pictures NEVER run smoothly, even if you are having a great day
  
• Beads that have been lodged into the nasal cavity can quickly be retrieved with pressure on the virgin nostril and a quick, powerful, breath into the mouth of the victim

Have I got your attention?

First, I must say that this for the most part was a nice holiday weekend. The kids were feeling much better, I got some cleaning done and the weather was beautiful. Second, I was pretty excited to have our family pictures done this afternoon. Justin's grandma and grandpa Marcusen are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary and the "daughters" thought it would be nice to have one, huge family picture done of all their children, grandchildren, great-grandkids, etc. Considering there were 50+ people to manage (most of them children), it went surprisingly well and I am excited to see how they turned out.

Anyway (I am getting ahead of myself), things were going well at my house getting the kids ready and I thought we were all going to look smashing and be on time for the event when... Jace started crying and throwing a fit. Justin called for me to come and help, and told me that Jace had shoved something up his nose. It was 2:30... pictures at 3:30... I was almost ready...

Sure enough, when we held him down for a closer look, we discovered a purple bead up his nose. Just like this one...I didn't think it would take much to get it, maybe just some tweezers and if Jace had been calm and not wriggling and kicking, we probably could have gotten it out. Nope, I tried and Justin tried and Jace was NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT. I threatened him with a trip to the doctor and he called me on it... "I want to go to the doctor." Seriously? 2:45... I finished getting ready and we left for the emergency room... Jill and Dax were to meet us for pictures (if we made it)...

Apparently, the ER doctor had seen this too many times. He took us back and told Justin to put pressure on Jace's unplugged nostril and then blow into Jace's mouth real fast. Sure enough, after a couple of tries, out popped the bead! Who knew? 3:05... After 5 minutes (tops), we were off to meet up for pictures!

Spectacular

My father-in-law, Dave, took this picture while at the Logan River Golf Course. At the same time, I was sitting at home on my front porch enjoying this beautiful sight. My camera batteries were dead so I was very thankful that Dave snapped a picture and it was even better from the golf course.

Pet Peeve #14 - Hunker

Well it doesn't look any better when I see it either... I want to thank my cousin for giving me another peeve. I was reading his blog a few days ago and there it was, in print, being used like it was just an every day word... (I forgive you cousin) Funny thing though, as I was re-reading his blog, I could not for the life of me find the word as I was going to quote it... Did I have a nightmare, or did he change his post? Mmmm...

Pet Peeve #14 - The Word - Hunker

Oh boy, how I hate this word. I don't like hearing it said and I have NEVER said it. I don't like the look of it and I certainly don't like what it means. If you say it in front of me, you will get a reaction! And don't try and be funny now that you know I hate it either...

Oh baby... gross!

Happy Birthday Nathan!

Today is my littlest brother's birthday. Nathan is only 6 months younger than Jill, so I forget sometimes that he is my brother and not just one of my daughter's friends! I have tried not to play the mother role, by bossing him around and getting into his grill when I see him, but I haven't really played the sister role either... like teasing him and snooping for presents and pinching him when no one is looking... I think it's the age difference.

Nathan is certainly his own person and that is what I like most about him. He is also a bit of a nerd (in a good way) and has a quiet, shy personality. I think it's pretty cool that he will be graduating this year (it makes me feel young to have a sibling just graduating high school) and my hope is to get to know him and hear about his plans for the future. I'd like for him to just come and hang out sometime...

I Got a Fever...

For whatever reason, Jace spiked a 104.6 degree fever on Wednesday night. We gave him some Tylenol and then 2 hours later some Ibuprofen and it only came down to 102. This morning he woke up like nothing had ever been wrong with him... sometimes you just can't figure kids and their illnesses out.

Sick lil' guy...

Logan & Dax - 2010 Concert

There are so many great things about this:

1. Cousins are having fun together
2. Logan singing, playing the keyboard (very seriously) and still putting on a great light show
   
3. Dax is using his light saber as a guitar
   
4. Logan is up on the "speaker"
5. Dax does a fantastic job of the guitar solo
   

This reminds me of singing and performing Neil Diamond (Song Sung Blue) and Prince (Purple Rain) with Matt. We were so proud of our mad singing and dancing skills. I wonder if our parents enjoyed our performances as much as we enjoyed this...