A's

Today, I found out that I got A's in both my classes. I think I only got a few A's in high school.

In my Skills For Learning in the Info Age, I had to write a Survival Guide for my final project. After I had all my notes done, that paper only took me a day to write. I enjoyed writing it too. Who would have known that I like to write papers, grammar free,and in APA format. I received an A on this paper.

In my Contemporary Business Communication class, I had to make a PowerPoint presentation. I have never done a presentation before so this was kind of new. Thank goodness Dan knows PowerPoint and Excell. He guided me through my presentation. I also received an A. This took me a week to come up with my slides. Then in one day, I wrote my script out and I corrected my grammar, spelling and font sizes. After it was completed, I was very proud of myself.

So, for getting A's in my first two classes, I am going to see Twilight and New Moon tonight. Lea, Chayanne, and I are going to stand in line until they let us in. Twilight will be starting at 9pm and at midnight, New Moon will start. I am soooo excited. It will be nice to hang with my girls to see two great movies. Whoo Hoo.

My girls are going to be tired Friday. They are still wanting to go to school after being up all night with me. I think we will be coming home around 3am unless we are stuck in traffic maybe 3:30. The girls catch the bus at 7am. I think they will want me to drive them to school. If I am awake :p My mom will be coming over to help Daniel with the kids. Dan asked my mom if she would spend the night and help. I am still trying to figure that one out. But in the mean time, my mom will be here. My younger kids are excited.

Tomorrow I will let you know my feelings on New Moon. Stay tune to find out if I am still team Edward or if I turned to the dark side, team Jacob.

Daniel

I could not help myself, I had to post a picture of my wonderful, handsome husband.

Walking every morning

Dan and I have been walking every morning around 5am until 6am. Dan has been doing this for about 3 or 4 weeks now and is loosing weight like crazy. He walks about a mile and a half. He will be going for 2 miles this week. He has also cut back on his diabetic meds and asthma meds. It is great to see him so dedicated to his health.

I have been walking for a week now. I walk a mile everyday. I feel so good afterwards and have more energy. I like that I don't have my kids around and I can have some alone time. I don't mind having Dan with me. We stay out of each others way.

We wake up one of the girls to come lay by Elijah in our bed. That will keep him asleep a little longer while I am gone.

Last week we came home and found Lea and Elijah holding each other fast asleep.

Papa's Visit

My dad came to visit over General Conference. We love it when he comes to visit. We wish we lived closer to him. Someday.

I don't know why I didn't get a picture with the older girls. But than again, these are not the best pictures. I am sorry for that.

When I told my dad to look at me he looked down. In the middle picture, Nathaniel is holding up his Wolverine claws and Ella is just posing. In the last picture, Elijah was wearing my dad's boots. He would not leave them alone.

All my kids loved my dad's boots. They think he is a real cowboy for wearing them. When my dad wears his cowboy hat, my kids are asking him about cowboy things. It is so funny. One question they ask him is if he always wears his boots. I don't think my kids have seen him wear anything else but his cowboy boots.

Fall

You know Fall is here when you can sleep with the air conditioner off and windows open. You know Fall is here when you can leave your air conditioner off until around noon. You know Fall is here when you drive the kids to school with all the windows open. You know Fall is here when you here little voices in the van (with all the windows down) saying,"I'm cold, roll the windows up. You know Fall is here when you wake up and go to bed with beautiful cool weather. I wish it would stay like this all year round. You know Fall is here when the air is nice and crisp in the morning.
YES!!! There is Fall in the city of Mesa. We may not have the beautiful fall leaves, but the nice cool breeze is such a welcome to all that live in this city. Remember it is usually around 110 degrees all summer long.

University of Phoenix ( really long post, sorry)

I have decided to go back to school. I have been talking to Dan a lot lately about furthering my education. Next year Ella will be in kindergarten and I will have Elijah home. It has been so long since I have had only one child home with me all day. Dan said that he has a friend (Janice) that worked for the University of Phoenix. Janice used to work with Dan at the cardiovascular Dr's office.
Before I called Janice, I got on the website a few times and decided to put my info in and have someone call me. Well, as you all know, as soon as I pushed send my phone rang. I was so nervous when I was talking to some guy. When he called me, Elijah was screaming and Ella needed to get ready for school. I told the guy to call me back at 1pm when I got Elijah to sleep and Ella off to school. He never called me. Oh well, his lose.
Another day past and Dan asked me if I called Janice. He said that if I was serious about going back to school I better call. I called Janice that afternoon and she wasn't in. I was so relived.
You have to understand, I haven't been to school since 1994. I got my associates degree in applied science in Cosmetology. That was in 1994. I didn't want to be a hair dresser so I never got my license. Just talking about school was very uncomfortable for me. I have decided my life to my husband and 5 kids and I was okay with that. Until now.
I started thinking that in 5 years I will have all my kids in school and I will be left all alone trying to decided what I want to do. I was again getting scared because I will have no one to care for during the day.
With all that said, I got a phone call. My heart was beating so hard because I thought it might be Janice. I answered the phone and a very nice voice was on the other end of the phone. Janice talked to me like old friends. She was excited about me thinking about going back to school. We talked for awhile and than she said, "I am not an enrollment counselor, but I have a good friend Tanya who is and I will give you her number."
So Tanya called me right away. We talked about why I wanted to attend the UofP. Tanya also worked with Dan. That made a difference because I knew if Dan liked her so will I. I told Tanya that I wanted to go into Elementary Education. Tanya asked me why and I said that I have 5 kids and I feel comfortable around little kids. I know how to work with them. Tanya pointed out that I would be limiting myself to just education. I wasn't sure if I wanted that. So, we both decided that Human Resources would be more rewarding for me.
Tanya and I did my admission and loan all online. Yeap you heard me, ONLINE. When I got accepted and approved for my loan my heart stopped. I have not been accepted for anything in a LONG time. This was huge. I now had a commitment I had to make. No backing out. NONE!!!! It was now or never. I am happy to say I am ready NOW to focus on me (for a few hours a day) and it feels great.
I am proud to announce that I am going to get my associates degree in Human Resource Management. I am going to AXIA through UofP. AXIA is an online college. WooHoo!!! That is just what I wanted. The flexibility of attending my classes any time of the day.Tanya has helped me
all the way. Tanya has walked with me all the way and has helped me with my fear of school. She is a great admission counselor.
I have finished my first week of classes. I attend 2 classes every 9 weeks. It will take me 3 years to get my degree. I have really enjoyed this first week. I know that it will get better. I already learned a lot this first week. A little over whelming but I think I got the hang of it.
Tanya is still by my side and I am so grateful for that. Dan is also happy to see that I am furthering my education and it has but him to ease. My kids are awesome too. I think my 2 older kids are proud of me. I am one lucky wife, mother,daughter, daughter-in-law, and grand daughter because I have a huge support group. They all know I am doing this for ME!!! and also so my family.
Thank you Tanya for all your help and comfort. I will miss hearing from you every day. I know I will be okay. I look forward to getting my degree in 3 years and I owe some of that to you.
I thank my Father in heaven because he has giving me the courage to get out of my comfort zone. He also has blessed to already by opening my mind up to knew ideas that I have had while attending my first week of school. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
So now I will be sharing a little with you each week of what I am doing in my classes. I could also use your insight on the different topic I am learning.

Elijah's Party in the USA

Mother Nature

My visiting teacher came over this week. She always brings me something and my kids something. One visit she brought me vegtables from her garden and she brought some books for my kids so look at while we visit. So is such a sweet lady and I love her so much.

Well this week she brought me some more yummy veggies from her garden and she brought a birds nest that had dropped from the bish it was in by her house. Now this nest is so cool looking. It is very interesting to see what this mommy bird used to make this nest.The kids and I found an old sock and a shoe lace all wound up in this nest. And it had a small leaf on top to hide 3 little eggs. It is sad to say that I don't think the eggs made it.

Chayanne took the nest to school to show her class and it is still there.

13th Anniversary

Today was our 13th wedding anniversary. We really don't do much. It just seems to be just another day. But this year I told Dan I wanted to do something. I didn't care but something. Dan came home early becasue he had a DR. appointment. On his way home he called my girls and talked with them. I was trying to figure out what to make for dinner when Dan came home with a dozen roses. I think this is the 3rd time in all of 13 years he has given me flowers. I am not much of a flower person so I didn't expect this. It was a great surprise. Dan had asked to girls to babysit while we went out to dinner. Another surprise. I didn't have to make dinner. I told the girls to just make Top Ramon or Mac and Cheese. Whe went to dinner at Chili's. After that we went to Famous Footwear and than to Walmart for grocery shopping. When we got home, the house was so clean, all the little kids were nice and calm and the kids made us a Banner that saud "HAPPY ANNIVERSAY MOM AND DAD,"and each of the kids signed their name. That was a great ending for a great Anniversary Dinner.Thanks Dan and Lea, Chay, Nano, Ella, & Elijah for a wonderful evening.

Dan's Surprise Party, Sort of...

I didn't get any pictures and I feel so bad. I had my camera but I forgot pictures.This party was a spur of the moment thing. My nephew needed help with his car and asked my husband if he could help. So Dan had planned for all of us to go to my brother-in-laws house for dinner (fish tacos) and he would help Austen fix his car. So I called all of dan's bros and sis's that live here in Mesa and had a surprise party. Well, when we were leaving to go Dan asked me why I made a cake. DUH!!! I was so busy getting kids in the car and make sure I didn't spill the cake so I wasn't thinking and I said it was for him and Chayanne. I don't remember saying that but Lea and Dan both said I did. So he wasn't really that surprised. It was fun. Dan's sister Sariah and her son came over as well as Dan's parents and Dan's other brother David and his family. It was a nice evening of visiting. The kids were behaving really well.
Dan turned 35 on the 8th of Aug. He shares that birthday with his Aunt Susan who lives in Long Beach CA. We went and visited my Dad on that day. That is one of the things I love about Dan. He is always thinking of others even if it was his birthday. He is the greatest husband and I love him for who he is.
Happy Birthday sweetie.