Four more weeks until I'm an INTERN!

My College Career began in January 2015, Spring Semester.  My goal was to get into a classroom as soon as possible.  After many evening classes and working around my Math Planning Time Technician job (14 hours a week, but in the middle of the day), I finished my Associates Degree and began my program.  During the first meeting to orient us to our teaching program the option of being a Clinical Intern arose.  There was a meeting in the other room directly after the orientation.  

The Clinical Intern program would be a pilot program.  Basically, this meant that I could be immersed in a classroom up to two days a week and that I would practice what I was learning in the UVU classroom, in an actual classroom.  I jumped on it, signed up, and the rest is history!

So, I've worked with this group of incredible people for the past three Semesters and have come to LOVE them!  Front row, L to R:  Caroline, Makayla and Heidi

                             Second row:  Christine, Rachel, Megan, Xela and Hailey.

                             Third row:  Candace and Lisa

                             Fourth Row:  Dr. Sandy Jan and Me

                             Fifth row:  Izak and Justin

I have loved every minute of my education.  I can count on one hand the times that a wave of dread passed over me.  The incredible thing is that the dread passed as quickly as it came.  I know that I'm meant to be a teacher, that my education has made me a better, happier person and that because I prayed for direction my decision to return to school was right and confirmed.

The timing of my education was  perfect.  I would not have wanted to change the lessons that my life has taught me outside the classroom and I would not have wanted to be away from my role as a wife and mother.  Being an at-home-mom allowed me the full-time focus required to be the best I could be, learning lessons that I cherish.

Next?  I will intern at Foothills Elementary in Salem, Utah, teaching fifth grade.  I am working on setting up my room, working on routines and procedures and making decisions that will make or break this next year for me and my students.  Fairly daunting!  I'm excited to put into practice the incredible things that I've learned from my professors.  So EXCITED!!!

I LOVE MY LIFE!!!

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Day 1:  Amsterdam, Netherlands

Anne Frank Home

Sealed for Eternity

May 7th was an incredible day! Mom/Grandma Terry was sealed to her Mother and Father in the Provo City Center Temple. Paul and Pat were able to serve as proxies for Rose Ellenor and Ollie. The temple workers treated her as the queen that she is. She was able to prepare to be sealed in the brides room which made the day even that much more special. We love you Mom!

Bored to death. . . .

Perhaps it's the two weeks of sickness, holidays and eating

that has our two youngest children on the verge of bored chaos!

It seems that our evenings begin with the usual "what should we do tonight:  read, 

watch a movie, play a game, go out?"   

And it ends with Scott and I on our computers, Joshua playing a video game

and Addie and Zach terrorizing each other. . .  for sport!

With sloppy, numb-armed movements one will pick up the other. . . 

or sit on the other, at which point their fun (and our irritation) begins.

Whines, grunts, giggles and the occasional tattle-taling wails remind us, as parents,

of our responsibility/stewardship to teach, direct, guide, and (most acutely) entertain.

Scott and I wait and watch to see who is going to break first and get up to re-direct their

behavior.  On a good "mommy" day it's me, on a bad one, it's Scott.

We are learning to block out feelings of guilt, esp. since we broke our tails with our first three

and it didn't seem to make much difference :)

This photo sums up the joy. . . and chaos, of bored siblings, and the guilt-less parents night at home!

Somehow, Josh ends up "helping" with the distracting . . . 

now, back to facebook!

The First Day Back!

Today was our first day back to works and school.  

Well, for almost all of us.  

Scott had one last day off and needed it to recuperate.  

We all seem to love structure and thrive when we have 

somewhere to be and something to accomplish.  

Don't get me wrong.  

We love our down time, and we love being together, 

but the lack of accomplishment makes us restless and a smidge irritable :)

One thing I LOVE about our routine, is bedtime!  We gather for

family prayer, then take time with Zach and Addie to get in PJ's, 

brush teeth and say prayers.  

We are able to read, talk, or just snuggle!

That time of day reminds

me of why I'm a mom and why everything I do is for them.  

I LOVE being a mom!  It's worth every inconvenience and is truly divine in mission.

I suppose it's the sense of accomplishment, in an eternal sense, 

that makes me love it so much!

All Kinds of Happy!

This photo sums up our incredible year!

2013 was so good to us! 

The highlights would be . . .

Becca and Trevors sealing in the Mount Timpanogas Temple

Our trip to Bear Lake with Jensens

Tylers Mission in Taiwan

Robertson Reunion at Heber Valley

Welcome 2014

Welcome 2014!

We are so excited to begin a new year and a new chapter!

We celebrated by recovering from an awful flu/cold bug that hit

every member of the family over the holidays.

On the positive side we were able to . . . 

1.  Watch 5 movies:  White House Down

          Epic

                       Man of Steel

             Turbo

                                 Now You See Me

2.  Have a nap every day of the holidays

3.  Have Scott all to ourselves for 8 whole days!

Needless to say, we are ready for the NEW YEAR!

Missionary Christmas 2013!

We had a great Christmas this year and the BEST part was talking to our missionary (Tyler) from Taiwan on Christmas Eve!  We had Becca and Trevor over for Christmas Eve and enjoyed a good meal and lots of R& R!  Tyler skyped at about 7:10 and be talked for about an hour and 20 mins!  We actually ran out of things to say!  He looks great!!!  Here's a photo that Tyler was tagged in on facebook!

Becca turns 23!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECCA!

 Welcome to your 23rd year of life on this incredible planet!  

You have blessed our home and we will LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!

  

And there's no better way to celebrate the big "23" 

than to eat out at the Red Iguana!!!  

It was worth the wait. . .  MMMmmmmm!

Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas Day . . . began early.  By 6:30 the pitter-pat of little (and big) feet could be heard.  For the first time since I've had children, I wanted to stay in bed. . . and sleep . . .  on Christmas Morning!

I was a bit taken aback by the sentiment, but gradually the feeling went away as I heard the whispered excitement and pent-up attempts at patience.  I have to admit that I love that bit of time between waking up and going into the family room to begin Christmas morning traditions.

Here's a glimpse into our Christmas morning 2013

Happy 21st Birthday, Becca!!!

Happy 21st Birthday, Becca!

We had a great Salmon dinner and celebrated with our FAVORITE people (yes, including Trevor :)

She's as adorable as ever!

Our Pumpkin Patch!

 Addie chose a perfect pumpkin!

  Zachary, always helping!

 

Joshua after helping with his machete!

  Tyler, my right hand man!

The whole crew!  (including Brook)

Halloween is Almost Here!

                            We can't wait for . . .             Halloween!  We will make our traditional caramel apples and try a few new recipes.  Tonight. . .  apple crisp.  MMMMmmmmmm.

Wow, I love this man!  He can do it all . . .  holds down a demanding job, is mr. fix it (ask about my new, beautiful chrome bathroom faucet :)  takes me on fall drives, listens to a myriad of rambling thoughts. . . daily, and makes us all incredibly HAPPY! 

                  We LOVE fall!!!  We took this photo while out on a drive.  The boys had machete's and couldn't wait to chop down the tall, dry grasses.  (Really. . .  machetes?  I'm rethinking that purchase)

Tyler gets his Call!!!

Tyler opened his call on October 5th, 2011!  He has been called to serve in the Taiwan, Taichung mission and will enter the MTC on Feb. 29th, 2012.  He is excited!  This is the place he most wanted to go and with three years of chinese under his belt he will have a little head start on the language!

Our ADORABLE Addie!  She brings us Joy, Sweetness, Beauty and Kindness!

Mother's Day this year began with Breakfast In Bed!!!!  I'm sure I've had other Breakfast's in Bed, but this was a special one made and delivered by my sweet Joshua!  12 years old and treating his mom like a queen!

This made for a VERY special Mother's Day!  Thanks Josh!

High School Grad!

Tyler's graduation from SFHS!

Kindergarten graduation!

Addie graduating from Kindergarten!