I've Been Tagged: 4th and 4!

Sounds like a football game? NO, I have been tagged. Thanks Vicki! So, I am supposed to dig through my folders of thousands of pictures and pick the 4th folder, post the 4th picture, and explain it. Well, as you can guess, its Saige and Savannah! Hmm, what a surprise.
One morning, I went in to get the girls as they were waking up. Usually Savannah wakes up first, but this time, Saige woke up. So when Savannah wakes up, we both go check to see if her sister is awake. Well this time, Saige finally got the chance to peek at her sister and when we looked over the gate to the crib, Savannah gave her the biggest smile I have ever seen. I couldn't help but to put Saige in with little Savannah and snap a few pics. It's amazing the connection they have with each other. When they are playing, I think it is just second nature for them to feel the other is near. Its weird and I'm not quite sure how to explain it either. But, they sure do enjoy looking at each other and smiling!

I tag: Mindy P., Jamie S., Sherri M., and Michelle M.

Blog Safety

Hello,
A few days ago I saw on KSL a clip about blogging safely. They did a story on a blog that had a picture of a boy with his haircut like a mow-hawk and sides were shaved. Someone that was just searching through blogs got a hold of the picture, posted swasticas on his forehead and drew all sorts of inappropriate things on his face. Also, now-a-days, people can find out any kind of information they wish through computers, so I decided that I should take blogging safety precautions to protect my family. If you would like to view our blog, please email me and I will add you to the list. I will make the block active at the end of November. My email is shihtzucrazy@hotmail.com.

To adults, the kids' issues seem so small. But to the kids, its their life!

Here is my office at School. I have been super busy at work the last few weeks. I teach lessons to 34 classes (1/2 hour each) every week, keeping up with conferences, meetings, trainings, and doing individuals. I feel like I have been holding my breath by day end! Oh, not to mention I am the chair of Student Council and I am on the Local Case Management team, which is a group that is a support staff to help the teachers with interventions for students with behavior and/or academic difficulties. My day is always jam packed, but luckily I do not sit in front of a computer all day long, which would allow my behind to take form of the chair! Nope, I basically take laps around the school all day, running from class to class to teach another life skill lesson to the students. So, lately that has been my form of exercise!


Hmmm. I love my job, but believe it or not, it gets hard....when I let it. I am the type of person that doesn't bring home the work baggage. When I am at home, I leave work at work. When I am at work, I work...I really am pretty good at focusing on work. I consider myself a very dedicated person and want to do well at what I do, this is why it will be difficult for me to explain this without sounding negative. After-all, I am the school counselor and it seems like there is a stigma that says school counselors don't have a negative bone in their body or appear like they have no stress of their own. At least that is the feeling I get from others. I don't think I could express how important it is to have school counselors in the schools. To adults, the kids' issues seem so small. But to the kids, its their life! My job is to help those kids cope with their problems by figuring out the problem out for themselves, but with me as a guide to help them do that. Then there are those students that have more to deal with than I could ever have imagined anyone having to go through.


Student Leadership Conference, November 5th, 2008:

Today, I went with the officers of student council to the Student Leadership Conference. It was pretty darn good! There were lots of speakers, Jason Hewlett, John Bytheway, and Brad Barton. All three were phenomenal at sending a great message to the students and myself. John Bytheway is such a great motivational speaker, you will never forget anything he has to say. He teaches that it is important to watch out for what you put in your backpack. You can make the trail much harder than it really is, if you keep loading it up with negativity. There are a couple of individuals in my life that I really wish they could hear his message....it would really benefit them tremendously!


Student Government Blog:

I also created another blog for student council advisors as a resource for new advisors starting out or experienced advisors without ideas. Check it out at www.studentsservingstudents.blogspot.com. Feel free to leave a comment if you have any ideas of your own, regardless if you are an advisor or not!

BYU vs. UNLV Football Game

We took the girls to the BYU football game last week. It was busy! Bryce and I debated if we should take the girls, but we opted for it! We missed a lot of the game because we were trying to keep the girls content. But, it was still fun! BYU won 42-35.

OUR FIRST HALLOWEEN!

Hi Friends and Family,
This is Saige and Savannah. We just wanted to share our Halloween pictures with you because we had a very fun night. First, Mommy came home from work and got us dressed up. Then of course, Mommy just had to do a photo shoot. Then she put us down for a nap so that we can be happy for our halloween party. When we woke up, we ate some orange, goopy stuff (but fun to get our hands messy in) and then a bottle. When we woke up, Daddy just got home in time to take us over to the Trunk or Treat. There, we got a sucker, but Momma wouldn't let us eat it. :( Then we went back home and only had 2 Trick or Treaters come to our door. But then, we were too busy to notice because our family and friends came to visit. Mom made some really good chicken noodle soup, Grandma Debbie made chili, Grandma Paula made mexican salad, and Grandpa Jim brought soup bowls. Lots of people played with us and loved our costumes! Here are some pictures of the photo shoot and people at the party! Thanks for look'n!

UEA Break--Moab

The girls and I headed to Moab for the weekend of UEA. Bryce had to work and get some homework done, so we said "See ya, we are going to have fun!" Bryce was bummed that he didn't get to come, but it was fun for us girls to go to Papa's house in Moab and spend some time together. Anyway, we of course went to Pasta Jay's and on got my favorite pasta dish on Thursday night. Then, Dad had to work a little bit before we could go hiking and stuff on Friday. We went to Landscape Arch in Arches Nat'l Park and went to see Wall Arch that fell a couple of months ago. So, I had to go see Landscape Arch before it falls! A piece of it fell 17 years ago, but who knows how much longer it will remain. Then on Saturday we hiked up to see Moab Rim Arch after a picnic lunch and then to another arch that starts with a T, but I can't remember the name cuz it's a long, funny name. Sunday, I took the girls to church while dad went on a bike ride at Slickrock. We left to come home Sunday night and the girls and I stopped to see GGPA (great-grandpa), Verna, and Grandma.

The four of us at Landscape Arch....

Standing by the fallen Wall Arch...

Dad and girls looking down, but it really wasn't as intimidating as it looks.

The girls playing...

Girls playing, their first time with dirt. Savannah ended up biting a chunk off one of her rocks!

Our end route during our hike to an arch that starts with a T. I don't remember the name!

Bryce Has A Moment to Breathe!

Bryce has been going to school at West Minster to get his MBA. His classes are Monday and Thursday from 6:00-9:20 PM. He is usually busy doing homework, writing papers, studying and taking tests, and reading what looks like a bunch of blah! He also is putting in about 50 hour weeks at the office, has a calling in the Young Mens, not to mention he works in SLC so he is commuting as well. It feels like I am a single parent, but I don't mind spending the one on two time at all! Us girls, miss daddy....a ton! It gets lonely sometimes and a little frustrating when both girls are screaming their little heads off and I can't figure out what is wrong, like tonight. I tried everything....changed, fed, played with, walked with, and even acted goofy for them. Finally, by just letting them cry, they eventually started to play and were happy again. I wished Bryce were here to help at that what seemed to be the breaking point, but he had school tonight. However, last Thursday was the last of one of his classes, so now he has a moment to breathe.....for the time being! I don't tell him near enough, how appreciative I am of him and what he does for me and our girls! He is a great father, husband, and friend! I am so very lucky to have him, what would I have done with out him? Well, for one, I wouldn't have my two cute little Bugg-a-Boo's!

Saige Has Been Tagged!

Saige has been tagged so that means I get to rack my brain to tell you about her!

Here are 5 things about Saige that you may not know!

1. She seems to be the dominate one of the two girls. When she sees something she wants, she will go for it. When she decides she is going to get something, she usually succeeds. Most of the time the things she wants are what her sister has! I think she thinks she has an unlimited reach radius and takes a lot of nose dives.
2. She is a blanket cuddler and definitely prefers to sleep with a soft blanket against her face. I was teasing her the other day when she was just coming out of her nap by pulling the blanket away and she would freak out. Then I would put it back against her face and she settled down immediately and was very content.
3. Very serious one minute, laughs like crazy the next. Its crazy how serious she can be and appear to be studying everything that is going on around her in deep thought. What I would pay to see inside her mind to know what she is thinking! Chances are...."What a silly Mommy, she sure (literally) jumps through hoops just to try and get me to laugh!"
4. First words: DA-da-da-da, Na-na-na-na. Her words are constant and I can't get her to say much else (yet). Not to mention she loves to grunt!
5. Prefers to stay grounded. No, I don't mean like she is in trouble, she doesn't like to be tossed in the air, spun, or test gravity. I definitely think she will be our sporty girl as in, softball, soccer, and such!

Now, I tag:
1. Brinley D.
2. Hailey M.
3. Tyson M.
4. Zachary M.
5. Carlee P.

Never Say Never!

Well, it has been a while but things have been a little crazy! October is a busy month for us, filled with weddings, birthdays, our anniversary, work, girls, housekeeping, showers, and uggh, when do I get to breath? But, its nice to be busy here and there on occasion.
My very best long-time friend, Karianne, went to the Ogden temple for her very first time on Friday, October 3, 2008! It was amazing to see her in the temple with her families. The first time she saw Craig (Fiance) she started crying, which then (of course) triggered my emotions and I cried too. She will be getting married on Oct. 24th to a wonderful, supportive, dedicated, and fun person! She definitely deserves all that she has, plus more! She has been on some bumpy roads and it is awesome to finally see her live her dreams and preparing herself to marry the man of her dreams as well! I am so very proud of her for overcoming the many challenges that have come her way. I don't know what I would have done if I HAD lost her! She often doubted that she could be so lucky to find someone to treat her the way she deserves, but I had always told her to never say never and don't give up hope, because he will come when she least expected it. And so it was true! Congratulations Kari and Craig on your upcoming wedding!