SPRING-Y SATURDAY

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Today is the official, first day of spring. It is certainly starting to feel like it outside. This is what my tulips looked like under today's sunny skies.

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Andrew got dressed this morning with plans to do some winter clean-up in our yard. Holy Hannah. He is such a stud. There's something about those work boots and his flannel shirt that gets me every time. I would compare him to those rugged Marlboro men, except that those guys advertise cigarettes.

And smoking is icky..

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{Hands off ladies.}

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Anyways, thanks to his hard work, our yard is now as prepared as we are for spring to come forth in full force! The grass is still brown, but as you can see...no snow!.
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I would have loved to join him, but I had hours worth of work of my own to get done. Although, I did get to work on our sunny front stoop...with a great view of my man in action.

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Later, as if to honor the first day of spring, Andrew found this little guy hiding in our backyard. It's official. Easter is just around the corner!

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Andrew was so funny about it. He asked me for a carrot and a box, and set them up in the yard. I think he has plans to catch our furry friend..
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But Andrew must REALLY be ready for warmer weather (or really bored), because the next time I looked out our kitchen window, I saw him setting up some tiki torches. As far as I know, we have zero plans for throwing a luau anytime soon.

I still need to ask him about this strange behavior...

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Well, everyone, happy Saturday and happy spring! Think lots of warm thoughts, and who knows, maybe you'll find a luau invitation in the mail soon...

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BUILDING UPDATE

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With the Ashmore's in town, we had to show off Andrew's long time project...the project he blue-printed, managed, and built (with the help of a few first-time builders). I posted about it several months ago, but a lot has been done to it since then. This NAPA Auto Care Center just continues to get cooler, and I think Andrew's skills are The Bomb.

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(Is that phrase still socially acceptable these days?)

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Showing The Fam Damily the shop.

They were impressed.

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Walking through the connecting office building,

Lane apparently, began to get bored.

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Oh well. We're still kind of fond of the guy.

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LAST SNOWBOARD OF THE SEASON

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The Ashmores were in town from Arizona last weekend. We took Andrew's dad and little bros snowboarding. Somehow, between a lack of money and time, Andrew and I hadn't made it to Kelly Canyon this year. We were happy for the excuse.

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Andrew. Striking a pose.
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In Rexburg, the snow has almost melted away, so I was worried about the slope conditions. When we got up there though, it was picture perfect.

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The hero shot: Andrew, Lane, Ryan, and Dad

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A few minutes later, however:

the result of Lane and Ryan trying to exit the lift.

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I may have looked slightly similar in my own attempts,

but it's really not necessary to share those pictures. .
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I'd say it was a pretty successful trip. We had fun, and this time, I didn't have to be rescued, hanging from my fingertips, seven feet from the ground. Sounds like success in my book. And Joel (Dad-in-Law), even proclaimed he was now going to,

"take up snowboarding."

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Afterward, we joined the girls back at our place for a game of Cranium. {I love that I they're looking in every possible direction except for at the camera}

Andrew's parents attempting to act out a card.

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More to come of the Ashmore Reunion...

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OH. MY. GOSH.

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I just read through yesterday's post, and I must apologize. I was annoyed with the whiny-ness myself by the time I was finished. So, in order to bring this blog around to a happier tone, I thought I would share this:

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Kids in my class typed on the computer today. The assignment? Answer the following question:

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"How can the country be improved? Write a letter to the president to share
your ideas."

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This little gal's response rendered me speechless.

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Do I have a little Paris Hilton in training, on my hands?

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THOUGHTS

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I'm feeling...emotional tonight. I don't even know if that's the right word. Pensive maybe? Thoughtful? Sober? Solemn? Withdrawn? Contemplative? Take your pick.

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Not about anything in particular. More accurately, I am feeling this way about a whole lot of things all at once. I've mentioned before, that making lists helps my sanity, so here's one now to help you (and me) understand what I mean:

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1. I hate being shy. I've fought against it my entire life, and believe it or not, I've made significant progress. However, it continues to frustrate me on a a daily basis. For example, why can't I have a natural, casual conversation without being a big, awkward boob? I want to be smiley and flirtatious and funny and pleasant! How does everyone else do it so naturally? I don't want to be overlooked, considered incompetent, or considered a snob, just because I can't think of something to say at the spur of the moment! Some days are worse than others, of course. Tonight, however...was just one of those 'worse than others' is all.

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2. New callings suck. Of course, I'm happy to serve and all that jazz...but why can't I just skip the scary, confusing, trying-to-figure-out-what-the-heck-I'm supposed-to-be-doing part and get directly to the confidently-building-up-Zion-in-my-own-little-way? I like to think of myself as capable and clever, in general. But, I currently feel paralyzed by fear and inexperience...a stupid schmuck.

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3. I love Andrew. At the risk of sounding prosaic, why did the Lord see fit to bless me with such a fine companion? With so many marriages around me fraught with unhappiness and strife, distrust and selfishness, it just doesn't seem fair.

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4. We had the most horribly, depressing faculty meeting about safety and emergency preparedness. In small groups, we were forced to live through awful scenarios of disaster and violence, earthquakes and school shootings, all in hopes of preparing our little school for the possibility of such an event. The scenarios illustrated panic, terror, and students and teachers dieing in gruesome ways...and in many cases, without a thing in the world we could do to prevent it. I realize this was all make-believe. However, it really affected me. To sit there, imagining it happening to people I associate with everyday, made it personal in a way that I can't even explain. It just made me sick. Hours later, I had to sit on my bed, crying my heart out in order to feel normal again. Because quite honestly, if it came right down to it, I would sacrifice my life for those 22 snots of mine.

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That's all, I guess. Goodnight.

Hopefully this mood will be gone in the morning.

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9PM

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Tomorrow...

1. Report Cards are due

2. Ashmore family arrives from Arizona

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Right Now....
{What my dining room table looks like}

{What no-time-to-make-dinner looks like}

{What avoiding laundry for several weeks looks like}



{What the trash doesn't usually
look like--I promise}



{What our naked bed looks like}




{What I wish the guest room didn't look like at this hour}

{what my least favorite chore looks like}



{And what I look like, already--flattering, I know.}


And Tomorrow....
Nobody tell my in-laws what my immaculate
house looked like 12 hours ago. Thanks.
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CLASSROOM TALK

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I so enjoy overhearing kids talk all day. Usually, what makes what they say so darn funny is the fact that it is said with such serious sincerity...as if they were little adults. I especially love it when they don't know I'm listening in. At these times, they aren't trying to be silly or just "putting on a show"...their cute personalities are simply coming out in their purest, sweetest forms. A few recent examples:

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1. Two boys were busily working on a craft together. As I casually walked by, I heard one ask the other:
"Do you believe in Santa Claus?"

"Yes," was the confident reply.
"You do?"

(sounding surprised and even hopeful)

"Do you?" the other boy asked sheepishly.

"Yes... (hesitating) but I

don't believe in the Easter Bunny."

"Me either (very decidedly)."

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2. It is yet another inside recess before school, for below zero temperatures. Two boys are hanging up their coats and backpacks while I work at my desk.
"Do you know what frostbite is?"

(this kid is our constant stream of random trivia)

When his friend didn't answer, he proclaimed:

"It's when your skin is dead and it won't ever grow back. If that happens to your fingers you'd have to chop them off!"

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This last statement hooked the other boy's attention. He looked thoughtful for a moment before saying,

"Not if we drink hot chocolate. It will go through your nerves and to your fingers and make everything alright. It will warm them all up!"
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3. I walked by a boy, full of personality, who was deeply absorbed in his assignment. Sitting at his desk, he talked to himself as he worked. He suddenly stopped, stared at his paper, and exclaimed in a whisper, yet full of exasperation:

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"Dang flabbit!"

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I smiled as I walked by, his page ferociously being attacked by an eraser.

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*The silly things students say will have to become a regular installment of this blog. I have so many of them..

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