APAH

Guys, in case you didn't know, I HATE AP American History. If I knew what was going on, it wouldn't be so bad. I'm talking to my friend, and apparently we have to write 2 separate essays, and I thought we only had to write one, which is what I did last chapter, so why the heck didn't he tell me I didn't turn in 1 one of them. I'm getting so confused, and I don't know if i'm supposed to write 1 or 2 essays! BLARGH!!!!!! I hate this, and I want to know when I am moving. harumph!

Home Again!

It was an interesting feeling as we flew into Chicago yesterday and drove home. Suddenly it didn't seem like home. Whether it's not supposed to feel like home, or whether it's just that we've been gone for so long I just don't know. Our home, however, does feel like home. And, it's still as lovely as ever. The yard, however, is in need of some serious work!

We had such a wonderful vacation. It was especially nice for me to be able to spend so much time with Grandpa and Grandma Workman. I don't think I have had that much time with them for a very long time. They are such wonderful, giving people. I helped Grandma finish her preparations for Pam and Lee's family to join them. They could be there quite a while. It was lots of fun to work with her and to just bask in the joy of being with them.

It was an interesting feeling as we dealt with Grandma Hutchings' death and funeral. It was not necessarily a sad experience, however it was the end of an era. We, dad and I, are the next "get old and die" generation. It's kind of a gut check.

The family reunion was a great success and very well attended. Dad did a terrific job with the dutch oven breakfast. We had plenty of food and it was ready as soon as Grandpa and Grandma hiked into camp. Marquie said the hike was the best part of the reunion. I think being with Justin and Jodi during the hike was the major factor in that decision. They made it lots of fun for her.

My biggest worry of the reunion was that we would not have enough food. But, everyone came through and we had plenty to eat. The leftovers will be used on Wednesday for a meal after Pauly's memorial service in Delta.

In some ways its joyful to be home, but I really do miss everyone already. James and Liz, we especially missed having you there. We are glad, however, that you got moved into your new home.

Dad is in meetings this morning, then headed back to DC for the week. Sure is getting old. We're still hopeful that we'll be able to work things out to be together again very soon. Love you all!

Our new house!

Sadly, Jacob's discovery of writing utensils directly coincided with our acquisition of this beautiful space.  We've already got a little cleaning to do; in fact, I just rubbed some pencil off the kitchen tile with my toe.  Yeah, vigilance is key.  We really missed being with everyone at the reunion, but neither our lives nor our wallets could take much more this summer!

We bought our couches yesterday at Sam's Club, and we're quite happy with them.  We're still not sure what to do with the family room, so we're leaving our options open for now.  Sectional?  Couch with chairs?  Just a bunch of chairs?  It's so hard to say.  Maybe we'll just spend the money we would have spent on the couches and reupholster Great Grandma's old chair and have it be the sole piece of furniture in there.  Or maybe it will continue to be the brown flower wonder that it is and we'll find something a little more practical.  Decisions, decisions . . .

(I did just watch the video and the static is horrific.  sorry.  deal with it.)

Summertime

Today as I mourned the absence of any new blog posts (thanks for the update yesterday, Mom!) I thought, "well, we're all very busy, so it makes sense that there aren't a lot of posts."

After another second, however, I realized that in addition to the everyday crazies we enjoy, these busy times of adventure are also times we'd like to capture in our little family history.  So, in that spirit, I commit to blog about our new house before the weekend closes.  I'd like to share it with everyone personally, but the blog will have to do until you all come in December.

The challenge: Share your summer adventures!  Show us photos, tell your stories ("I'm so weak . . .") and let's enjoy our summer together!

Utah

I know most of the family is in Utah this week. But, I also know James and Liz are not. It has been a hectic week, but delightful to be here. Dad flew in Wednesday night--after spending 8 1/2 hours on the plane for a 4 hour scheduled flight.

Our family reunion begins tonight and I think we are about ready. Really and truly, it doesn't matter any more anyway, whatever will be, will be.

We did have a little wrinkle thrown in this morning, Pauly, Aunt Ema's long time friend died, actually at 12:45 p.m. today. Grandma and Emy were there. They are now at the "rest home" taking care of funeral arrangements, transporting the body, etc. She will be buried, with a graveside service, on Wednesday in Sutherland.

We will let you know all about the reunion when we get home next week!

We moved in!

So, we're in our new house and we LOVE it!  We would, of course, love it more if we had furniture . . .

As it stands now our living has a box of pictures and a piano with no place to go.  Really, I don't know where to put the piano.  It's quite the pain.  Our family room has a television bookshelves that similarly have no home, and boxes of books I can't bring myself to unpack until I decide that the shelves are in the right place.   No furniture.  It's hard to fill a new empty house!  Love you all!

What if Fonts were people?

You have to check out this link. It is hilarious! Make sure you play the video.

http://gizmodo.com/5027717/font-conference-shows-your-fonts-as-people-and-they-are-ridiculous

The Calm . . .

I was just loving the name of this blog as it is really fitting especially right now in our lives.  We will move into our new home on Monday, but today I was just sitting and enjoying the calm.  The boys are playing quietly, there is no packing, cleaning or online work to be done and well, I get to just relax.  I have started reading Jane Eyre and am quite intrigued thus far.  But I have determined to enjoy this calm today and tomorrow before the storm hits on Monday and new online classes start and I have a new home to move into, etc, etc.  Here is just a fun late photo Friday of me relaxing . . . when is the last time anyone saw that?  :)  Have a great weekend!

fotos

Well, i don't think anything is really going to top that post, Justin, it was amazing. This has to be quick, cuz we are going to utah today! it's 6:50, and we are leaving in 10 minutes! Here is a fun picture! I'm excited to see all of ya'll in Utah! (I'll miss you guys James and Liz!)

A memory...

Today we write in memory of Great-Grandma, Grandma, Mother, Mentor, and Friend. Grandma was my friend. We had good times together, as did we all with her. She taught us many great principles. I remember when I was finally taller than her...only to later be twice as tall as her. She would always say that what was most important was how tall I was from the shoulders up. Last week Jodi and I spent a few minutes with Grandma, and she said something that I will always remember, the greatest words of wisdom she has ever spoken to me:  "The important thing is that you call upon the Lord and keep His commandments."  Grandma didn't say much else that was audible that Sunday afternoon, but these words she made effort to say so we could hear, it seemed foremost on her mind as the message she wanted to share before our parting that day.  It is seared in my heart and will never go away.  
　

Photo Friday!

I bet I'm the first one!  You likey?  We sure do.  Maybe someone will have to come visit us sometime?  HMMM?

yay me!

Sorry to post after your lovely one, James, but this is exCITING news! I got a part in a PLAY!!!! a PLAY!!!!! I am SO psyched! It's called B-I-N-G-O Spells Murder. It's a dinner theatre, and a VERY funny show. AAAAHHH!!!! I am SO excited! See: here is the cast list! (Although, apparently I don't have a fiance...):

Father O'Sullivan - Chris Brouton
Greg -  TBD
Jennifer - Marquie Hutchings
Judy Tremont - Mandy Habel-Ramsey
Joey Verricione - Charlie Ramsey
Bunny DeVaine - Shellie Disalvo
Claude Chandam - Mark Buchtenkirch

YAY ME!!!!!!

ummmm... BLOG! and my nice Utah experience

COME ON GUYS!!!! WRITE SOMETHING!!!! THIS IS NOT VERY EXCITING!!! I mean, I know I haven't been the best, but Mom and I are the only 4th of July bloggers. well, yes, and James, too. Just not alot... HONESTLY!!!!!
Well, I will update you on my last Utah visit then...short, though, cuz it's 10:17 p.m., and Mom's already going to bed.
Well, I went to a LDS Music Industry Workshop, which was very informative and I was able to have people like Jenny Phillips, Tyler Castleton, and Peter Breinholt talk to me. (not personally, of course, but as a big group). Well, actually, I went up and talked to Jenny and Tyler after which was SUPER fun!!!!! HA! SO cool! Anyways! We heard from other people too. (cool people!) Hilary Weeks, Mercy River, and Peter Breinholt all sang for us, too. And I believe all of them talked at one point or another during the workshop also. SUPER FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I really like Mercy River's CD, they are a new group, and there CD is coming out Super Soon!) :D
Anyways! as I'm pretty sure you all know, I was able to record, PROFESSIONALLY, a song. My very own on a CD now. It was for the Jenny Phillips recording competition for the 2009 Youth Theme CD. If you win, you sing a song on that CD. Super cool, eh? Well, anyways, I would put it on here, but I'm worried about copyright. I don't want it to get stolen or anything, and anyways, I'm going to give you all a CD. (I can copy it! woo for me!) (Except you JJ, cuz you don't want one! Gosh! JK!!!! you have it!!! haha!!! okay...that's over! Love you!) So! I find out by Saturday (probably Saturday, it's on their website...)if I'm in the top 10. If I am, I get to be in the choir on the CD. It would be super fun, but I really don't know if I will make it. There were like, 165 people, I think. Oh well. I have a super cool song professionally recorded now! (woo for me!) (Winner is announced by Monday July 14)
ALRIGHT!!!!!! Now that wasn't as short as I was intending, but it will give you people something to read. Even if it was very wordy and not very you know, super cool. (It was SUPER fun recording, though! Those studios are AWESOME!!!!!!! GOSH!!!)
Okay! BLOG PEOPLE BLOG!!!!!!!!!! GOLLY! THERE MUST BE SOMETHING GOING ON IN YOUR LIVES!!!!!!! Gotta go! Dad's calling for prayer! (literally, calling!) Love you guys!

Photo Friday

Wow! I'm a little late at this. But what a fun fourth we had. Tennis (or fishing, or in Dad's case--a nap), BBQ, and fireworks. We left Heather and Joe's just at dusk so watched fireworks all the way home and then Marquie and I parked in front of my bedroom window and watched fireworks until we couldn't keep our eyes open. Even then, we could hear them, until well after midnight.

So here goes:

LIFE













LIBERTY






















(pursuit of) HAPPINESS

life,liberty,happiness

Wow, guys, we stink at this.....I did start writing this blog last night at like, 10:00, but, I went to watch some fireworks, and then got WAY too tired and went to bed. So it's a lil' bit late....oh well! Here it is! Special Edition Photo Friday!

LIFE:
LIBERTY:












HAPPINESS:

Photo Friday. Special edition. Independence Day.

What do they mean to you?  Any PHOTOS to support your answers?

Photo Friday

For Mom and Marquie -- CHT, CHT!

For everyone -- Just want to let you all know how much I appreciate my family and how important each of you are and how much I appreciate the relationships we have built over our lives that are carrying into our adult relationships. Because of my time in Utah with mom, I have had the opportunity to spend a fair amount of time getting to know Larry and Beverly better. This past Sunday evening I commented to them that at ages 69 and 52 we are just now building our sibling relationship and how much I appreciate it. Larry has been very complimentary to me on our family and also my success in business. Just wanted to share that with you.

I saw this picture come up on my screen saver and wanted to pass it along. It was taken Christmas 1964. This was about nine months before Nephi passed away. I am sure you recognize the other two.

Tuesdays

Mum recommended (and let me borrow) Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Album.  I have been reading it while I lie on the bed with a heat pad or ice on my shoulder (heat come before the physical therapy, ice comes after and is accompanied by electrical shock...most assuredly my favorite part) as part of my physical therapy.  It amounts to about 30 minutes every time and provides for great reading of books that I don't have to read for school (it is my little treat to myself).  Well, that aside, the book was wonderful, exploring life, and its meanings, from the eyes of a man struggling with Lou Gehrig's Disease.  His insight has helped me to explore some of the areas of my own life that I am not finding full satisfaction in (even though for most of those areas I didn't even know were not satisfied until I read).  I would recommend it, and Mum, I will get that back to you when you come out here! 

Dad Who?

It has been a long while since you have heard from dad in these pages. Life has been fast and furious and at times very stressful. I will take a minute and try to update where mom has not already gone as she has done very well in keeping you posted on our move, or lack thereof.

First, the past month at United. You are all aware from the media that United has gone through a “Reduction in Force” and the impact, while not affecting my employment status, has had a deep impact on me. Hours of phone calls, conferences, worksheets, evaluations and so on and so forth. At one point in the process, mom, acting as my sanity safety net, would call every 2-3 hours to just check on me, well, and to tell me what day it was because I really didn’t know. Thank you dear. That is behind us for now. Hopefully for a long time. Bring the price of oil down!

OK, books -- Jodi, I too agree about Angels and Demons and I am looking forward to the movie. However, as a side note, the Catholic Church has banned any filming in European churches. I believe I have read all of Dan Brown's books (lot of air time the past four years) and I like them all. Currently I am working through Tom Clancy. I finally figured out the order and am now going in order of those I have not read. Really should be done that way. Would love to have more of them made into movies, although many have been: Hunt for Red October, Sum of all Fears, Clear and Present Danger and one that escapes me for now. As far as Church reading, my life has been greatly blessed by “Fire in the Covenant” the story of the Martin and Willie Handcart Company and Latter-Day Prophets Speak. The latter is just reference quotes but I have found the source of many quotes that I have heard over the years and didn’t know who made them.

Well, thanks for reading and the pictures, well, they are evidence I really have been to the places I claim to have seen.

More books

I am really excited to read Twilight as Heather has recommenced but have to wait until someone returns it to the library.

Books I have read and recommend.

The Spiderwick Chronicles.  Definitely an easy read for adults but older children would enjoy it as well.  The movie is very different but enjoyable as well.  It is about three children who discover a world of fairies and their adventures.  

Junie B. Jones books. . . Michael and Joshua are enjoying them so they are good for early and late readers alike.  Just fun for boys or girls!

The BFG.  If you have not read this I highly recommend it.  It is a fun book but it really made me think about some things in society. . . very unexpected!  Fun read, but I'm not done yet, so don't tell me how it ends.

And now you can see that I only read children's stories, so I'm really excited to read a grown up book!  :)

For Mom & Dad and Joe & Heather

My Book Choices

OK, since I'm soliciting and complaining that people aren't contributing (or not reading, I suppose—Heather and Jodi aside!) I thought it best that I contribute my own.  At first I couldn't think of any that I've enjoyed besides those already mentioned, but suddenly my mind opened.  We've done TONS of driving this summer, so audiobooks have become our fast friends, and I've listened to my share both on the road and while I exercise.  I love audiobooks for exercise, and all of these are available on iTunes.  Here's what I've enjoyed and/or plan to enjoy this summer:

For the Older Folk:

• The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis.  Better known as The Magician's Nephew, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, The Horse and His Boy, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair and The Last Battle.  It's really hard to beat these for deep, solid literature masquerading as children's fare.  I'm in book 5, and plowing forth toward The Last Battle.  There are 7 in all.  You think there might be something significant about that number?  hmm?
• Home: A Memoir of My Early Years by Julie Andrews.  This is so much different than you would ever expect, and I'm only half way through, but it's magical.  If you can, listen to it rather than read it, because she reads it herself, and you know everything sounds sophisticated, magical, and downright regal when Julie Andrews says it, even "pisspot" (apparently that's just what the British call a chamber pot, no nastiness intended.)  I'm not even half way through, but it's amazing, simply riveting.
• Night by Elie Wiesel.  This is a much-revered holocaust survivor novel, and is one of several of his.  I've not started this one yet, but I'm really looking forward to it and I'm confident recommending it, although I'm not sure how harsh it is.  I suppose I'll just have to exercise more so I can get through the others and on to this one.  If my recommendation changes, I'll let you know.

For Children:

• The Magic Tree House books.  Our children are in love.  They read them, they listen to them, they enjoy the educational guides that are published with them (deeper scholar information that relates to certain ones) and they are downright interesting and fun.  They cover everything from Dinosaurs to the Civil War and more.  It's an amazingly simple way to teach history and lots of it in fair detail.
• The Secrets of Droon series.  Michael enjoys these as well, but I think they were a little more challenging than he wanted for casual reading.  They're a little less educationally oriented, and I think our kids preferred the flat out knowledge soaking in the other series.
• THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS.  No books are more loved in our house than these.  Liz bought like 30 in a set on eBay and we've not regretted a dime.  They are so crammed full of knowledge, information, fact and magic that one just can't deny a child one (or 30) of these.  Yesterday there was one sitting in the bathroom while I was doing my bathroom thing, and I picked it up and learned all about the wastewater treatment process.  Appropriate, I thought.  Who knew you could teach kids about that and make them beg for more?  Joshua recommended the short volume on Bats.  I'll have to look at it tomorrow.

So there you go.  Books from James to you.  The lists are on the left over there, and you'll see if you click on a title, you'll be taken to a website that will let you explore (most are just on Amazon.com.)  May your reading be gratifying and fruitful.  Who's next?

Happy anniversary to like half of us. I also love the Dan Brown books. He has two others I absolutely loved. "Digital Fortress" and "Deception Point". "The Monster at the End of the Book" is also a classic. All the hype aside, the "Twilight" series is well worth a good read.

Books I like

K, I'll name a few books I would recommend.

I like "A Distant Prayer" by Joseph Banks.  This is an LDS man who served in WWII in the air force.  He was shot down over enemy-lines and became a prisoner of war.  The book is about how prayer and his reliance on Heavenly Father got him through it all.  (also, I knew his grandson)

A really exciting book is "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown.  This is the prequel to "Davinci Code" and in my opinion much intriguing and exciting.  It's a thriller.  I heard some girl say the other day it was to sensationalized, so it might be a little much for some people.

Favorite kids' book: "The Monster at the End of This Book", a Sesame Street book.  It's got Grover in it and has a funny/cute/surprising ending of Grover himself being the monster at the end of the book that he's previously scared/nervous about.  Very cute.