They bloomed!

Okay so I am slow at keeping this up dated! I just get sooooo busy this time of year. Anyhow my poor tulips did bloom, I just haven't taken pictures. Between the snow last weekend and the downpours this weekend I just haven't made it out there to prove it. Hopefully next weekend we will see the sun at least on Saturday. I need some sun and cheer. This is high stress season for me with the end of year testing and end of year crazy students! Enjoy your spring whereever you are!

March Comes Marching In!!

Well here March has marched in as a sweet lamb!! I am so glad--winter has been long, snowy and just dreary. We have had very bizzare weather like ice rain--in Utah??--, snow and more snow and very cold, foggy weather. I need sunlight---they say it helps blood pressure but I need it for sanity! So I have high hopes for March. Besides there is so much to celebrate this month--Marlie is 3 on Friday (yikes where did the time go--trio 2 is turning 3!), the "spouses" except Jason have birthdays, and SPRING officially begins around the 22nd! I feel less stress with parent conferences over and now I can hopefully concentrate on teaching my gang what they need for end of level test. Plus spring break is just one month away and it is a whole week---yahooo! Oh St Patrick's Day is coming along with our traditional corn beef and cabbage dinner--sorry Janeece and family can't be here to enjoy (inside joke there)! So here is to March and sunlight and an exciting new season for us to enjoy!

MLK Day

So I know I am slow at this but am feeling reflective today. Most of you are too young to remember this country when African Americans were treated horribly, but I do remember and most are sad memories. So I honorably observe Martin Luther King Jr, Day and hope we all educate future generations that the freedom we ALL enjoy were hard fought for, even if we are not of African American decent. I am looking forward to the inauguration tomorrow and witinessing history. Those that know me know that I am a big history buff and surprizing so are my kids (hmmmmm, wonder where they got that from ---goes way back many generations!)
This week is has another big milestone. Our school is FINALLY totally done and is going to have a grand opening ribbon cutting on Thursday. We are all working to get the building it top shape and to welcome many big wig guests. It will be fun and anyone is welcome to come and see our new building--9 new classrooms, a huge gym, new office area and enclosed stairways on both end of the building. Another good thing is to walk from my room on the west end to the farthest door on the east end twice is a quarter of a mile! So we are now usinh our school as a work out area too.
Hopefully that will help melt the pounds off.
Here's to wishing all a happy holiday and a challenge to witness the inauguration tomorrow at noon(est). It is your priviledge to be part of that swearing in process.
Does anyone know why it is always at noon Washington DC time? Just wondering.

Holidays at grandma's has been great. I was so glad to have 2 weeks to sleep, regroup and enjoy family. We as a family have enjoyed just being together and watching the kids play and enjoy being friends. The only downer was that mother nature decided to give Utah a major dunping of snow on Christmas day which prevented Janeece and John and family from coming up to join in all the celebrating and fun!
It has been a great blessing to have everyone close and healthy this year. I feel very blessed to have such great children and grandchildren who are so much fun to be with and who enjoy being with each other. I am sad to see the holidays come to an end and then having to return to the stress of everyday. But I see spring break in the future and then I may also see grass and new bulbs and a lot less snow. ( I am not a snow fan and the older I get the bigger bother it is!) Maybe come spring the Mesquite family will be able to come up and celebrate Easter with us in the north. Hello out there to all I haven't heard from or gotten in touch with. May the new year bring you all that you need and wish for.

This is Zak and Daylarie's new "baby" Angus. He is big and black and part Newfoundland. He is none the less absolutely darling. But nooooooo I don't want another puppy! That is for the younger gang now. This is Adam and Christine playing with the new nephew.

Marlie had Christine baysitting her new baby. Christine is so great with kids.

We were all busy with Webkins on Christmas night. I like how they teach about money and have games that actually teach and measure learning. I guess that is the teacher in me. Jayden, Izak and Daylarie are hard at work here.

I couldn't resist publishing this darling picture. Rhett loves to take pictures so I let him take my camera and this is what he took---his dad asleep on my couch Christmas Day. I know another sleeping holiday picture but keep in mind Rhett is only 2 and a half and he was so good at getting that perfect angle.

Okay so this is the post package opening and dinner of Christmas Day. Jason and Adam just couldn't keep their eyes open any longer even though there was an uproar going on in the other room. Plus I had to get some new holiday sleeping pictures after Zak's last year, Please note Zak wants all to know he wasn't asleep this year!

Marley had to get into the act of decorating cookies also but she loved putting on the sprinkles and then eating as fast as she could---watch out Mrs. Fields!

Jayden and Izak were at grandma's making Christmas cookies. They were eating as many as they could. We all had a ball.

Here are two great cookie helpers. We had a great day creating great cookies most of which were eaten as fast as they were frosted and decorated. Jayden and Izak had a great time as did grandma!