Utah!

 We were lucky to make a quick trip back to Utah to see the college kids.  We stopped on our way and visited Jacquie too!  (I'm sorry I didn't get any pictures with Jacquie and Ben!!)

We got to Utah, went to a basketball game.... the snow was really coming down!  The Cougars WON! and we got a lot of free t-shirts. :)  The next day was the last home football game.  It only snowed about 6 inches... no worries.  Holy Moly it was COLD!!  Kevin hosted a tailgate party-- baked potatoes, chili, and hot chocolate! YUM!

 I was so happy to have some hot chocolate.  Jessica was too!

 The boys actually went to the football game!!  We girls went to a movie... where they have HEAT!

Hi Zach ;)

Andrea and Marissa loved spending time together :)

We even have a little video footage!

Thanks for the fun night Kevin!  You are the ultimate tailgate host!

Riley's Birthday Recap

 Finally...

Settlers of Catan.

I actually want to play this with Riley!!

 Seriously!!

The best birthday present was the GIANTS WINNING THE WORLD SERIES!!!

A beautiful shirt to go with that great win :)

 Imagine Dragons.

So cool.  A big thanks to Marissa who got us addicted to this awesome music!!

 This... was the trickiest wrapping I've ever done.  The exterminator bug zapper was hidden in the 49er trash can!!!  SO so clever!! ;)

 The bug zapper is crazy.

I now have a live in exterminator!! Bam!

 This is the biggest 49er trash can I could find.  

Perhaps he'll only need to take out the trash once a year!!

(his dad will have a heart attack about this for sure!!)

Riles is 17!!

Happy, happy birthday to this sexy guy. No one can rock his sister's Hannah Montana shirt like Riley :)

Television Debut

In Bakersfield, we have a local TV show for the hometown football season. They call it 'Hometown Sports' which I don't understand because it is exclusively about football and only football.

Should be called 'Hometown Football!'

Enough about that.

We watched this week and caught a little bit of our favorite #30!!!

Go get 'em Riley!!!

Sums up my day!

Enjoy stepping into my world for a moment....

teaching is a joy

At the start of every new story my 3rd graders have get to do a vocabulary assignment.  They write the word, the guide words (from the glossary), the part of speech, the definition, and then they draw a picture showing that they understand the word.

This student understands celebrity.

Love it.

One Direction illustrated perfectly.

Some days Most days teaching is filled with awesome things like this!!

I love my job!!

J-Quizzle!

 Oh yeah!

It's Jacquie's birthday!!!

We call Jacquie many things...

JQ, Jaquiqui, J-Quizzle

just to name a few.

I devote this birthday blog to her gangsta side...

 I had to dig deep in the family photo files to find these gems..

But she is rockin' the gangsta!!

 I wish I could have posted every one of the photos in this series...

there were about 30. (all taken in my bathroom, I might add!! lol)

I must say-- I love the hair :)

 She usually gets everyone in on her gangsta style.  We all know a few rap songs because of J-quizzle.  That girl can memorize lyrics like no other. 

Forever our middle child. Where would we be without our Jacquie!!! (seriously I just wrote a poem!!)  Speaking of poems, JQ can write poems like no one else too!  In many ways, Jacquie is like my mini-me... I was very, very much like her when I was a teenager.  Rap wasn't in, but I loved rock.  Jacquie always makes every party fun. She is the most social butterfly I know. In kindergarten other children got into fights trying to decide who got to sit by Jacquie at lunch. (True story told to me by her teacher!!)

Best thing happened when her plans of working at Disneyworld turned out not so great and she came home to work.  I am so grateful we had those months with her-- especially since Ben stole her heart and made her his bride!!  I loved when we were wedding planning, because she called me almost every day!!  I love shopping with Jacquie.  Jacquie always makes us laugh.  JQ can clean my kitchen the best. :) (that's a key to a mother's heart......hint, hint to Riley and Andrea.)

Happy 20th Birthday dear daughter!!

I am thrilled to be able to celebrate in Texas with you!!