Not quite ready for this one...

Today, we were getting ready to go to the library for Family Night and Jake comes to me and asks me, "Didn't you get Beth that drivers handbook from the library? I need one so I can start studying."

What? Jake...driving!?!

I'm so not ready for this.

Here's how I'm feeling today...

Mentally, physically, emotionally EXHAUSTED.

I need a vacation!

Here's to Family Reunions!!!

Over UEA weekend, we went down to Cedar City to bring Elisabeth home for the weekend.

How great it was to see her!!!

I knew she was doing great but it was good to actually SEE that she was doing great. We were all excited to see her again!

It was so nice to have her home!

Everything felt complete again. We filled the whole row again at church and the sweet smell of her perfume filled the house again. But, she had to be back by Monday so Emma and I drove her back Sunday and we stayed in her little dorm room till Monday morning. It was fun to spend that extra time with her and get to know her roommates better. She really lucked out in the roommate department. What a bunch of beautiful, fun girls! I know Elisabeth is having the time of her life so far and enjoying every minute of college life. It was hard to leave her again but she suprised us by telling us she'd be home again the next weekend!

Yea! Two weekends in a row!

Her roommate drove her home last weekend and it was great to see her again! This visit was way more low key. It was just so much fun to sit around with the whole family laughing, telling stories, reminising, and just enjoying each other!

I love that my kids love being together!

I hope they'll always be friends!

Now, we have to wait until Thanksgiving to see our Elisabeth again but at least it's coming soon!

We love you Elisabeth!!!

Miss you already!

Well, I actually did it.

I quit my job today!

I know, it's only been 2 1/2 or so months but it had to be done. I struggled with this decision for the past month. We've tried different schedules and cutting back on hours but it just won't work without getting a babysitter for Emma and I refuse to do that. Not just because I don't want her to have to go to a sitters, but also because after paying for the sitter, I'd only be making about $5 and hour and that's not worth working.

It's funny how things look great on paper but in reality

it so doesn't work!

Not that I have enjoyed working so much, but this really has been a struggle for me.

I feel so lucky to have even been given a job in the first place since I haven't had a real job for thirteen years. (I don't count cleaning the BYU law building or graveyard at Target real jobs. They only lasted a month.) My Manager is such a nice guy--one of the best bosses I've ever had. I've known for the past month that this job thing wasn't working out for me or my family but I felt an obligation to my boss. He's been so nice to me, I didn't want to let him down. But I had to "think eternally" as my mom counseled me to do and honestly, a job wasn't worth my family's well-being or happiness. My Manager was so nice and understanding today when I told him, which I guess I knew he would be, but I always picture the worst possible outcome and I guess that's why I waited so long. I don't handle confrontations well and I was genuinely afraid. But, it all turned out just fine. He thanked me for a job well done and thanked me for sticking it out through the busy season. So, October 28th will be my last day.

I won't miss having to be away from my family and I certainly won't miss pulling that stupid trailer around or working every Saturday. I will miss being told that I'm doing a good job or at least feeling like I'm doing a good job. (Is that stupid?) Being a stay-at-home wife and mother, you almost never get the praise. I know that's not what it's all about and it sounds kind of selfish but once in a while it's nice to hear a "thank you" or "you did really well with this". Oh well, I guess I need to forget that and concentrate on my family. I do feel relieved to have the "quitting the job" part over with. My Manager is going out of town until next Thursday so I pretty much just need to get things in order and go to the service projects I've set up already for next week. I can do that.

So, I again join the stay-at-home club.

I'm happy about that!

Sometimes You Gotta Stop and Enjoy ...

What do you do on a beautiful fall day?

Enjoy being outside of course!
I took Emma to the park to feed the ducks but ended up giving another family the bread we've been saving because Emma was terrified of the ducks. That's okay! We still had fun!

We walked around the park and Emma took some pictures of the beautiful fall leaves.

(I held the camera and she pointed it where she wanted and pushed the button.

I think we make a good team!)

Here's her pictures:

She loved the red leaves!

Here's her view of the trees. I was impressed!

This is off the bridge at the "Hidden Park". She likes the bridge.

After taking some pictures, we went to play on the toys and walked down the river trail to another park and played there for a while too. Two fun parks walking distance from one another, a beautiful trail, and gorgeous scenery! I love living in Provo!

(Look at the gorgeous sky! That my friends is one reason I love Utah!)

Along the trail, we stopped quite often to enjoy the many different colors and make tons of wishes on every dandelion we came across.

We gathered leaves on our walk down the trail to take home to make this picture:

What a fun day!

A few months ago, my father-in-law, out-of-the-blue, bought me an iMac.

(I know! Pretty cool huh!)

It's one of those cool looking ones with everything built into the big 22"monitor and it has a little metalic stand holding it up -- it's a beautiful looking machine! Since I'm more a PC girl, I'm still trying to learn all the cool new programs and trying to get used to the Mac-way of doing things. Well, there's a built-in camera and a program called Photo Booth. It's pretty fun.

Well, apparently, Scott and Cole have found a new hobby! They wait for me to go to work and go and play on

my beautiful machine!

(Which, by the way, is strictly forbidden! Little Turkeys!)

The reason I know this is the evidence they have left behind. They have been playing on Photo Booth and discovered the effects buttons.

I found the evidence last night. Lee and I

laughed our little hearts out!

Here's some of my favorites of the over 20 images they left behind:

(Brace yourself...

Some of them are disturbing!

Disturbing, but funny all the same!)

Jay Leno look-alike!

Freaky alien!

Just plain freaky!

In his dreams!

Just hillarious!

Max -- The Ladies Man

This morning was "Dad's for Donuts" at the elementary school. This is for dad's to come with their children before school to read books and eat donuts. I was informed last night that it's not just for dad's so the chillens wanted me to go.

So, after waking up late, we made it in time to get the cardboard tasting glazed (yuck) donut

and we read one book before the bell rang.

(Mental note: Next time don't sleep in and skip the donut!)

But it was fun to go.

Max asked if I could stay and read with him during his

reading time in class.

I noticed something kind of funny. We walked into his classroom and the cutest girls, one by one, make their way to Max to say hi with the batting of eyelashes and their huge smiles and giggles. It was the funniest thing. Then I realized...

Max is a ladies man!

Then we start reading and I notice that he's not paying any attention to the story. He starts making up words and stumbling over words I know he knows. I tell him he needs to pay attention and he says okay and then he does it again. I look up at him and he's totally smiling this goofy smile at this girl and she's smiling back! Then he waves and yells out, "Hi Abby (named changed)!" and continues smiling the goofy smile! I couldn't believe it.

Max has a little girlfriend!

She's a little girl that was in his class last year and I kind of noticed it on a field trip. They were never far from each other the whole trip but I just thought it was cute. Well, today after he yells out I say to him, "Oh, Abby's here! That explains why you can't concentrate!" He turned all red and embarrassed --

but still smiling! Oh boy!

If it's like this at six, I'm in trouble!!!!

(We need to have a talk!)

Emma's Busy Day

The life of a two-year old

can be hectic.

I mean there's the playing, running, whinning, more playing, make believe,

talking to imaginary friends, making messes, singing songs, drawing pictures,

even more playing, dancing,

and trying to squeeze in your daily dose of Blue's Clues.

Whew!

It's exhausting just thinking of it!

Here's a few things Emma managed to fit in to her busy schedule today...

Here, she is walking her baby to Mimi's house.

Notice the choice of aparrel -- especially the shoes. Lovely. She gets her great sense of style from me -- of course.

You can't really see it too well, but she managed to find the time to put on "her" lipstick. She actually did a pretty good job. A natural, I think. Nice purse choice also.

Adds just the right amount of pizzazz to any outfit!

Despite her busy schedule, she found the time to help

Max make Halloween decorations

for the front door.

Amazing! I don't know how she does it!

It's no wonder she fell asleep at 7:00 tonight.

Being two is exhausting!

Brother Elvis

Elisabeth sent me this in an email today.

....

How cool would this be?

"And now it will be our priviledge to hear from

Brother Presley ."

"Thank you Bishop.

Thank you very much."

I don't know. Pretty interesting.