JT decided with Paige to sing this song for the family. I will post a video soon. The tune is from George Michael's - Last Christmas I gave you my Heart-
Last Christmas I gave you a fart and the very next day the smell went away. This year I'll put it in a jar so you can smell it wherever you are.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas 2012
We have had a wonderful year full of love and celebrations. So many things have occurred this year that remind me that there is a Heavenly Father that loves me and wants me to be happy. Our family is healthy and well-fed(sometimes too well-fed). We celebrate Gunnar and his mission, we celebrate my moms surgery making her pain free after many years of pain, we celebrate our new additions....Alisa Bremner and the two babies that are coming this year, we celebrate our new little Moose and the joy he brings our family, we celebrate the white Christmas we are having and the snow day we had last week, we celebrate the love we have for each other and the gospel of Christ.
Christ is the reason for Christmas and he is the Light of the World....without him we are lost. We celebrate him and his glory this time of year and wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and wish you a reason to celebrate everyday of 2013.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Snow Day Today!!!!!
I was scheduled to work at the HS today....Oh well instead I will sleep in.
Today: ***BLIZZARD WARNINGS IN EFFECT*** Snow wraps up by 1 or 2 p.m., but strong winds will create ground blizzard conditions making it difficult to impossible travel. Steady temperatures in the teens. Highest snow amounts seen SE. Winds: NW 25-35 mph G 40 mph
Tonight: Mostly clear skies. Cold. Lows in the single digits, nearing 0°. Winds: NW 5-15 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Colder. Highs in the middle & upper teens.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the middle 20s.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs near 20°.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Highs near 20°.
Christmas: Partly cloudy, with a slight chance for snow. Highs in the upper teens & lower 20s.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
1st Semester is Done!!!
I finished this semester with 4 classes and all of them I received A's. Not A-....no all real A's.
I have a 4.0 for the four classes. Only one really caused me trouble.
But I studied for 9-12 hours a week for that class and boom....
97.5 % for the class.
All the other classes I didn't miss a point...Yes I am that Awesome!!!!!
Now on to semester 2 and the yucky weather we have here this time of year. Pray we have a nice mild winter so I can get to class the nights I need to go.
Thanks
Monday, December 17, 2012
Giveaways on Book Him Danno
On the right side bar is a list of giveaways. Jack Templar Swag and a ebook or hardcover book from the Patagonia company. Just leave a comment with email for contact....that easy....enter today.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Zeke took 2nd in the Geo Bee at Ellis.
He said he got tired so he let an easy one go so the whole thing could be over. OK whatever you say Zeke. I have attended these and it is mostly a guess fest and the person with the best guesses wins. Good job Zeke.
BTW the cheese fudge recipe I posted turned out dryer and more crumbly then the one in Wisconsin...I will try more cheese next time. Lots of variations on the recipe I posted all over the net.
BTW the cheese fudge recipe I posted turned out dryer and more crumbly then the one in Wisconsin...I will try more cheese next time. Lots of variations on the recipe I posted all over the net.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Sunday, December 2, 2012
MTLE Basic Tests.....
I took the MTLE basic tests yesterday and it was 4 hours of grueling mind numbing enjoyment. I didn't study anything because the study guides costs over 20 dollars, of course the test cost over 100 so maybe not the best idea on my part.
At the testing center they take your palm print on both hands, they take your photo and scan your ID. Every time you leave the test they take your palm print on exit and on entrance again and check your ID. At the end they take your palm print and check your ID again before you leave and then they hand you your results. I was hungry when I got done and shaky all over from that and the adrenaline pumping now that I was done. I was surprised how calm I was during the test. Prayer really does help with that.
I passed the math and reading portions of the test. The writing test results don't come out until the middle of January. I was surprised I passed after how many times I actually just guessed because I was running out of time. I took all three tests up to the last few seconds. I guessed in the last math question at the 3 second point.
Wow this going back to school thing is much harder than I thought. In my math class I just received my grade for the last 2 tests....100% on both. Studying for 12 hours a week does pay off, on the weeks I was working my grades were much lower.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Study Time.....or Not!!!
They both feel the need to be close to me when I do anything. I now am using Parker as a book holder since he sits on the book otherwise. Crazy study time!!!!!
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Chocolate Cheese Fudge YUMMY
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound Velveeta cheese, sliced
- 1 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped nuts, pecans, walnuts
- 2 (16-ounce) boxes confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
Directions
Spray lightly the bottom of a 9 by 2-inch square pan with a nonstick spray.
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the cheese and butter together, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from heat and add the vanilla and nuts.
In a large bowl sift together the sugar and cocoa. Pour the cheese mixture into the sugar and cocoa mixture and stir until completely mixed. The candy will be very stiff.
Using your hands, remove candy from bowl and press evenly and firmly into pan. Because of the amount of butter in this recipe, pat the top of the candy with a paper towel to remove the excess oil. Place pan in refrigerator until candy is firm.
To serve candy, cut into squares.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving
I wrote Gunnar a letter today and told him all the things I am thankful for....he was near the top! Happy Thanksgiving to you all and I am thankful most of all for my family.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Classroom stories.
This is something that does happen in class and at home.
I told the kids I wasn't coming back after the end of the quarter because of school and home life that I needed to take care of. They asked what I was taking in school. I told them I wanted to be a Special Education teacher. One student asked, "SO you are going to work with the stupid kids?" I almost laughed at that, but kept it inside and then redirected the stupid comment. I love the fact that they didn't even know they were in a Special Ed class.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
I posted grades for my class
All done with my three week assignment and I have posted grades. I enjoyed the time once we all came to an understanding of what was expected and what I wouldn't put up with. Choice is something I pushed. When they got sent to the office it was their choice not something I did or someone else did to them. The five rules worked great...most of the time. Another teacher I share students with told me that his kids will miss me. I told him they would miss the candy and he laughed and said that they said that also,but they did say they would miss me also.
I think I would like to do this for a career, good thing since I am studying that. I don't fear the kids, but I fear for them if they don't change their focus and directions.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Disappointed
Disappointed this morning...in my countrymen and their short shortsightedness. Write your congress and senate. Tax cuts expire and the AMT is going to kill most of us to the tune of 7500...no deductions will count towards this. Write them about patching it now. What a mess we may have gotten ourselves into.
Love this, got it from Heidi's site.
Love this, got it from Heidi's site.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Happy Voting Day
GO and vote and yes I am voting for Romney. America needs a real change for the better after the last 4 years we have had...not to mention the tax hikes that we will all enjoy in January if Obama stays. The middle class is getting squeezed and pretty soon will be gone. NObama.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Teaching
When I started this 3 week job I was stepping in for a new teacher that is pregnant and having issues. She has been at school very little this last month and they have had subs most days now....well the place was a zoo. Piles of papers, piles of things I still am going through. Kids that were out of control from all the lack of consistency. Well I tried a classroom management tool that another teacher I worked with used. It is exhausting at times, but many of the students are responding positively and we are working on the rest. Its called Whole Brain Teaching and everyday we go over the 5 rules. Each student know them and when they use them they get a point and when they don't they get a minus point. Free-time if they have points and class going on if they don't. Most classes have earned freetime everyday at the toon of about 4 minutes. So still lots of lost points since a point is a minute. Watch the video it isn't long, but interesting. We use teach as a student coming to the front of the room since there are only 8-12 kids in a class at a time. I'm in a SPED class this three weeks.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Busy Week
Working full-time and going to school full-time are not working well for me.
I have no time to breathe or eat or do anything. This week I had class Monday, Tuesday and Thursday,
I got home from work after 4 and I left for school at 4:30. Tuesday a replay of Monday and then Wednesday I studied math while the kids tricker treated and I handed out candy. I shut off the lights and sat in the dark with a small light on my book so I could stop with the handing out of candy. Thursday a replay of Monday again.
One more week at this job and then back to working 2 times a week at most until the end of the semester...then back at the next semester. I am cutting from 4 classes to 3 next time. I need time to spend with the kiddos and I am exhausted and feel quite sick today...I know it is just built up stress and not sleeping much hitting me. I get home from class at about 10:45 PM and then up for work at 6AM...I need more sleep than that.
WHINE WHINE WHINE.....
Saturday, October 27, 2012
A women I go to school with had her baby
Baby born in Car. We have three classes together, one in finished one will finish Monday and now the other is until the 29th of November. She was three weeks or more early so after her water broke she took care of her other three and called a babysitter. She was sure she had time and then the baby decided to come in the car on the way to the hospital. Courtney looks about 15, but this is number 4. She thought she would make it to finals...I guess not.
KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Hair Cut
I had my hair cut to just above my shoulders and had it colored darker. I still have highlights and it isn't that short I need a change and this week is so much work with school and working at Ellis all week. A few more bangs to cover my wrinkles.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Saturday, October 20, 2012
A's are overrated? What does that mean?
What would be a good grade, yet not an overrated grade. I do need a 3.25 for the TEACH grant. Is that good enough for school grades in a Masters Degree?
Friday, October 19, 2012
Work and School...I'm not sure how well they mesh for me yet.
This weekend I will study for my math test on Thursday and do my homework due that same day. I finished they draft copy of my research paper and just sent it to the writing tutor to take apart. She is great, but brutal at the same time. But without her assistance I doubt I would get a passing grade let alone an A.
I usually take Thursday off and work all day on math material so it is fresh for the test each week, but last night I thought maybe I would change that to Wednesday so I didn't have so much math in one day. Studying all day and then attending class for 4 hours is difficult. My mind kind of feels numb after an hour in class.
Well I guess this will let me know if I can handle working more. I also got a raise...now I make 110.25 a day subbing. Not great, but not bad either. I need to save for Christmas and our Chile trip in two years. I spent most of the money I earned last year on Gunnar and Gunnar related expenses...but no debt for his first year of college and mission prep...lots of debt for my year of college....but I have a plan for loan forgiveness. There are many great programs for Sped teachers, to help pay for school after you teach for 5 years.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Yummy Fall Recipe love this!!!!
I made this tonight and Yummy Yummy Yummy
Chipotle Squash Soup
Velvety smooth soup with a smoky kick from chipotle peppers.
- Gluten Free:
- Yes
- Serving Size:
- 6
- Total Time:
- 1 Hour
- Preparation Time:
- Under 30 Minutes
- Preparation Method:
- Stove-Top
- Meal Occasion:
- Lunch , Dinner
- Level of Difficulty:
- Beginner
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Cross Country Cold
Zeke enjoys running on the HS team and the friends he has made. He is close with many of them. The captain is always offering to drop him off or pick him up...a bit strange she is a senior for heaven sake. Zeke says they are only friends so I guess she is just saving me time.
Qatar calls Moose a chick magnet, but at the meet only dudes were kneeing down to pet him. One boy ran by and yelled "Moose."
Moose got cold and started to shiver so David wrapped him up in his coat and kept them both warm.
They look cold without much on when it was so cold. My toes were frozen when I got home.
This is Zeke on his second lap. he was getting tired. 3.1 miles ran in 20:30 His personal best record.
He is done and feeling good and yet sick at the same time. I'm glad I don't run.
Qatar calls Moose a chick magnet, but at the meet only dudes were kneeing down to pet him. One boy ran by and yelled "Moose."
Moose got cold and started to shiver so David wrapped him up in his coat and kept them both warm.
They look cold without much on when it was so cold. My toes were frozen when I got home.
This is Zeke on his second lap. he was getting tired. 3.1 miles ran in 20:30 His personal best record.
He is done and feeling good and yet sick at the same time. I'm glad I don't run.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Here is his letter...love the last comment I've said that for years.
Hey Guy's
I'm sending this to all three of the main addresses you gave to me just to make sure that it gets to at least one of you. Sorry that there won't be any pictures with this email, I keep forgeting to bring my camera places and it's not like I've had plenty of time to take pictures either. So Tuesday is my p-day, that's why I'm able to write you today and as of right now p-day has been absolutely great. I've walked around in normal clothes, slept, wrote letters, and eaten. It's basically been perfect. The MTC has been exhausting, overwhelming, inspiring, hilarious, frustarating, unremarkable, and rewarding all at the same time. When I got here they sped me through intial orientation super fast and I had no idea what was going on. I get to my classroom and my teacher, Hermano Law (Hermano is Spanish for Brother), is speaking in Spanish and I have no idea what is going on. I finally meet my companion and I've got to tell you that he is one of the funniest guys I have ever met. Elder Jacob Berrett is from Highland, Utah, is also serving in Chile, Antofagasta, and almost everything he says is hilarious. I'm actually keeping a little book of all of the funniest things that he has said so I can start a Parody Twitter Account or something when I get back. My other two roommates are Elder Kristian Christianson and Elder Austin Knowles. Elder Christianson is from Provo and Elder Knowles is from Logan. Both of them are also going to Chile, Antofagasta. There is also a sister in our district, Hermana Stagg (Hermana is Spanish for Sister), who is going to Chile, Antofagasta. I have to admit I'm surprised at all of the other white missionaries going to Antofagasta. I get along pretty well with my roommates. Elder Christianson is a real stickler for rules and he can definitely get on my nerves but I'm not going to let that bother me. I'm becoming really good friends with another Elder from my District, Elder Tyler Deleon. Elder Deleon is from a town just outside of DC and he is just a super chill guy. I get along with my entire district pretty well but I get along with Elder Deleon particulary well.
I'm tired all the time. That's really the gist of the MTC. I wake up, study, eat breakfast, study, eat lunch, study, go to class, study, eat dinner, study, go to class, study, and then finally get to go to sleep. Learning Spanish is by far the most difficult and frustarating thing I have ever had to do in my life to this point. On our second day they had us try to teach a lesson all in Spanish and it was absolutely terrible. Anyway it can only get better, right? I don't see Katrina nearly as often as I would like, honestly only a couple random moments in passing. Despite the fact that we're both learning Spanish our schedules are completely different. Gym time is by far the greatest thing about the MTC. Elder Berrett and I go hoop it up and basketball here at the MTC is so much fun. You play half-court games to 7 by 1's and 2's and no one is really that great. It's a great time when in almost any given game you're the 1st or 2nd best player on the court. The food is not exactly what was advertised but there's a lot of it and I take advantage of that fact. Elder Knowles is the pickiest eater I've ever met and has cereal for every meal. I eat everything.
Keep using Dear Elder! Every night when they come in I always get twice as many as everybody else and it makes me feel super cool so keep doing it. I sent Jay a letter in the mail today but I'm not sure if it will get to him because I'm not sure if I got his address right, I think I did though. I would love another pair of athletic shorts and if you can easily get to my Inter Milan jersey that'd be great to but I'm not as concerned about the jersey. The thing that would be greater then anything else in the world is an electric razor. With the lines for showers in the morning being ridiculously long shaving is a massive hassle and if you don't shave every day your teachers will call you out for it, so an electric razor would be prime.
As far a conference goes I decided to take notes and I was wide awake for all three sessions on Saturday. I did however sleep for the majority of the sessions on Sunday. Elder Ucthdorf's talk in the Saturday morning session felt as if it were directed straight to me. He started talking about regrets and how we can live life to avoid regrets and since leaving I have been looking back on some of my regrets from high school so that was nice. He also talked about how we need to enjoy the journey and stop looking forward to the end which applies almost directly to my experience here in the MTC. My favorite talk was, not surprisingly, Elder Holland's in the Sunday morning session. We tend not to think about the context behind some biblical stories. We read the words and we try to understand what they mean, but we don't try to understand the emotion that was behind the words. We don't picture the scene we are reading about happening right in front of us. Elder Holland took the simple and short story of Jesus asking Peter is he loved him, shortly after the resurrection and turned it into one of the most powerful and profound scripture stories I have ever heard. One talk that I was very engaged in but didn't exactly enjoy was Elder Oak's talk in the Saturday afternoon session.
Anyway keep sending me letters and Dear Elder's and what not. Mail is really the greatest thing about the MTC. Oh and here are some random things I think Mom wanted to know. I sleep on the top bunk, closest to the door. Elder Knowles sleeps underneath me, not Elder Berrett which people find very strange. I drink more Raspberry Lemonade then any other drink and I have eaten more celery then I ever have before. Love it though.
Well I got to go, I love you all! Have a great week!
Elder Gunnar Peters
P.S. My companion in his letter just described me as brilliant but kind of lazy and that if I get over that I'll be incredible. Probably true.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Dear Elder is so simple and easy to use and best of all FREE
Give it a try you will be surprised how easy it is and he gets the letters the same day you send them. He did say in his letter that he loves all the letters and doesn't want them to end. They are also free to send to Chile since they just email them to the office and print them off for the elders when they see them. Great deal for us and for him. See post below for all the info on how to use this great free service.
We just sent a book from Amazon to him with an electric razor and three blinking lights to place on his backpack when he is walking in the dark so others see him and don't hit him. We have one on Parkers collar since we lose him in the dark.
Use Dear Elder you will be glad you did and so will Gunnar.
We just sent a book from Amazon to him with an electric razor and three blinking lights to place on his backpack when he is walking in the dark so others see him and don't hit him. We have one on Parkers collar since we lose him in the dark.
Use Dear Elder you will be glad you did and so will Gunnar.
We heard from the boy yesterday.
Gunnar wrote telling us all about the MTC and the things he still needs us to send him an electric razor, more athletic shorts, his forgotten garments, and he loves all the letters from Dear Elder so everyone keep it up. Here is the link. Dear Elder Address and then his full address for other things besides emails.
Elder Gunnar Peters
MTC Mailbox Box #254
CHI-ANT 1204
Add this for regular mail
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793
He is having a hard time with the language but since it has only been a few days I think there is hope for him yet.
Elder Gunnar Peters
MTC Mailbox Box #254
CHI-ANT 1204
Add this for regular mail
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793
He is having a hard time with the language but since it has only been a few days I think there is hope for him yet.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
Gunnar is off .....
He used the bags we took to Iceland so hopefully they will make it there and back. I don't think he will regret having less to carry on transfers and things. Those bags are easy to pull or carry...not too heavy and with all the transfers on buses this should be easier for him then taking lots and lots of extra stuff not on the list.
He may not look like he has enough luggage,but we got everything on the list plus. He has two suits not just one, plus 5 pairs of pants and all the shirts he is suppose to have thanks to Doug. He has 6 t-shirts for p-days, jeans and dickies, he has two pairs of dress shoes and tennis shoes for pday. Temple clothes, books, scriptures, photo album, notebooks, pens, pills for everything David could think of he might need them...fiber, anti-diarrhea, pain, vomiting, etc. His backpack was almost empty. But if the list is wrong then I wont be happy, but as long as we realize that before he leaves for Chile then that's not such a bad thing. He only needed two flat sheets and no blankets or pillows, he didn't need a coat, except we got him a black fleece, gloves, hat and scarf for Provo until December. He is to buy a sweater in the field along with a blanket if he feels he needs one. No boots needed either.
60 bucks for luggage...yuck!
David is our packing expert in residence...he seems to get everything in with room to spare.
Can I just go? Its been over 6 months of waiting time.
Good-bye for two years....how does anyone say that?
Off he goes.......into the wild blue yonder.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Not a happy Gunnar
I think anyway with the announcement today at conference. He could have done a whole year already....he will have to think of all his wonderful experiences he had this summer and last year at BYU. I'm sure he would have liked to have gone early and skipped the boring parts of this summer, but it was a good time. Cenny can go at 19 and Zeke at 18 so Zeke will be home maybe by the time she goes...maybe not. JT will be 2 years behind her thank heaven. If Qatar goes at 18 we will still be three years before Zeke, but the problem is that Qatar could be out the same time as Gunnar.....where will the money come for that? WOW....we should see a huge influx's of sister missionaries coming soon.
Exciting news for all! Go Mormon Missionaries!!!!! Yeah Team!!!!
Exciting news for all! Go Mormon Missionaries!!!!! Yeah Team!!!!
Friday, October 5, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)