The Last Few Months...

Life has been pretty boring the last few months, yet very different. I am adjusting to life as a stay at home mom. I still search daily for a job and have interviews almost every week, but nothing seems to materialize. The kids are normal, with school and friends and piano, we are all wishing for warmer weather.

Mike is enjoying his new job at work and his new schedule. He leaves the house sometime in the AM, between 3 & 4 and gets home between noon and 1. It is really great to have some one-on-one time in the afternoon together. Different but great. We haven't had alone time like this since the kids were born. The good thing is that he doesn't go to bed any earlier and he doesn't smell like cheese anymore.

The kids spent spring break with Jennette & Janell- and they had a blast! They are wonderful sisters to take them for 4 days to give me a break. It was great for us to have a little vacation at home....

For the Easter weekend, we had Bob and Dani and Addie stay with us! It was so fun and conference was wonderful. I am grateful for family and the joy they bring into my life. I love having company- it is a great excuse to clean the house.

Last Friday night- I hosted a leadership training overnighter for the YW leaders and class officers. It was so much fun! The girls were so sweet and fun. Olea came and gave a wonderful talk about service and how each YW are superheros in these latter days. She explained how to keep their "super suits" strong. They are each "incredi-girl". It was awesome to have the spirit here. The girls laughed and talked for hours. Erin, Ruth and I, found ourselves upstairs with some yearbooks and laughed as much as the girls. What a great night, what a great calling, what wonderful sisters I serve with!

Enough for now-

Juli

Will and the pants

Today was the Valentine's Tea at school for Will. Everyone dresses up and they have a lesson on manners and escort a girl for punch and cookies. After the tea and lunch, Will packed regular clothes to change into. This morning, I told him his clean pants were in a pile and to grab clean pants to wear, which he did. About 30 minutes ago a got a call from him, he was whining and I was annoyed- what could be wrong??? Well, he grabbed my pants instead of his. He was laughing so hard. I ran up to the school with a pair for him. I am so thankful that he found the humor in the situation as he held up my pants with one hand as he headed to the bathroom to change. I am great that his personality was such that he didn't cry or be embarrassed. His whole class new what was going on and he laughed his way through the situation. I love that kid!

Life Without a Job

My life has been flipped upside down since I lost my job last September. That week was full of ups and downs. After I returned from my week in Las Vegas for work and turning in my last assignment to complete my Master's degree and I got the call. If nothing else this time has allowed me to put my faith in my Heavenly Father. Mike and I both were comforted by the spirit and we knew that we would be OK. I have been blessed in so many ways over the past few months, I can't begin to count. Unspoken prayers have been answered and the simple desires of my heart have been granted.

I don't have a job yet, but I have been able to strengthen my interviewing skills and meet some new people. I am preparing to take the PHR exam (a test for HR professionals) and I have had some wonderful time with my family. I was so busy before that the Lord knew I needed a break from it all. Thanks to all who have supported and blessed my life.

My life, I must admit has become a little lazy and too full of TV. I have cleaned out almost all the closets, cleaned almost everywhere and painted a wall in the front room, dark brown. December was full of homemade crafts and that meant a lot of trips to Hobby Lobby. It was fun to be creative. I have taken up beading, just a little and even homemade valentines. See the picture....

I really think the worst part of it all is the hours it takes the kids to get their homework done everyday! ugh! I do love them! They are wonderful kids and so very smart. Mike has been so supportive and understanding, since I feel so displaced and sometimes the self esteem got low. He loves me- no matter what and I love him in return. Happy Valentine's Day everyone.

-Juli

What can I say???

hello to my fellow bloggers. i am sorry i have not posted anything forever but life just took control and i never got a free moment to write. i am happy to announce that i have completed my master's program and the university of phoenix. it was a wonderful program that allowed me to travel, work and be a mom while i furthered my education. i hope that having this degree will pay off. i am now on the job hunt to see if there is anything out there that i could love as much as my current job and perhaps it will pay a little better.

Mike keeps teasing me that i should continue on and get me doctorate.... no way. LOL

below is a picture of me at graduation and I waited to post it to make sure that i actually finished and didn't die along the way.....

a big thanks to everyone who supported and help me along the way, Mike, Mom, Jamie, Jennette, Janell, Erin, Ruth, Chelese and my kids!!

Enough about me- here is an update on the kids....

Will started the 4th grade. He has Mr. Nagata and loves it. He got an iPod from his best cousin Daniel for his birthday and he is constantly singing Lady Gaga. it is great. He is very musical. He is still doing piano and loving it. He got a new bike for his birthday as well and is constantly gone. Next he'll need a cell phone... ok not quite yet. :)

Olivia loves the first grade but isn't too keen on the lunch menu. I see a lot of packing lunches in my future. She likes riding the bus and riding her new bike as well. She has started piano and loves it. she is growing up so fast.

Mike still makes cheese!

that's all for now- i have some homework to get working on... oh wait... I done!!!!!

(more pictures and summer highlights to come!)

-Juli

Spring! Spring? Where Are YOU??

Today is Sunday the 29th and it is snowing.... Yuck. I am ready for flip flops and sitting outside in the evening air. So, in the event of summer ever coming, I will day dream about the things I like about summer and warmer weather.

1. I love painting my toe nails for wearing sandals. (you won't catch me with bare toenails!)
2. I love sitting out side in the evening, enjoying the CV cool air.
3. Reading in the sun
4. Baking in the sun @ Bear Lake
5. Walking in the morning hours before it gets too hot
6. Working in my flower beds (I really wish I had a "flower bed" like the DeMille’s- that just cracks me up!)
7. Smelling fresh cut grass
8. Mike worrying about mowing the lawn each week before the Williams girls (lol- he is just too funny!)
9. Eating outside at my Mom's - on the deck. The sound of the river is mesmerizing.
10. Feeling a burst of cold air when I step inside the AC house!!!

Another great thing about summer is the kids play outside a lot, but that comes with bumps and bruises and bike crashes. Yesterday, Olivia has a dozy and has a beautiful purple bruise on her chin to show for it! I'll post a picture!

TTFN- Juli

Broadway Words of Wisdom

Many of you may know, or not, but I like to listen to the Broadway channel on my satellite radio. The other morning, I shared with my sisters three words of wisdom that came from songs I had heard... They were pretty funny so I thought I would share them with you!

"It's a beautiful day for saying it's a beautiful day"- (Can't remember)
"Don't be stupid, be a smarty, come and join the Nazi party" -The Producers
"When life throws you garbage, you can use it to climb." - The Wedding Singer

Don't you just love the wisdom!??

-Juli

Hello Hello...

I few house keeping things....
First I took the music off. As much as I LOVE 80's music- it just got annoying. So I hope you don't mind.
Second- thanks everyone for your comments! I am really slow at reading them- but when I do, they brighten my day.

OK- life....
It is has been crazy. Between school, work, YWs and trying to keep the house clean, I just haven't had time to do anything other than the basics. Can I just tell you all how wonderful my husband is. Because of him and his willingness to help and support me, I had a companion at the temple on Friday and I, now, understand the wonders of the "magic" underwear drawer. LOL. It seems to re-fill it's self. (if you don't get the joke, call me!) I love Mike!

One other thing- I have been thinking a lot about my womanhood roles and working and teaching these principles with the YW has helped, but I wanted to share with you a little poem that I found. Please share your thoughts about the poem. I just love it. I think I will frame it for Olivia one day. I shared it in YW's today as part of my lesson.

"You never know what a girl is worth,
You'll have to wait and see;
but every woman is a noble place,
A girl once used to be."

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts. I think you are all "girls" and you can change today to be the person you want to be!
TTFN-
Juli