Athena - Goddess of Wisdom and War

I have a few minutes before my first student shows up - so here are the Halloween pics:


Presenting Athena - Goddess of Wisdom and War (not to be confused with Aphrodite, because "[W]ho wants to be the goddess of beauty and love? Goddess of Wisdom and War is so much better." Hooray, Michenna! I'll remind you of that in 6 or 7 years.) Medusa's head is on the shield.

Michenna reading her bat story at school just before her first book report EVER!

The chocolate rats I made for the Halloween party (I couldn't bring myself to try one):

Halloween was very pleasant this year. It was only about 78 degrees outside with a gentle, cool breeze. (Is this the part where I get to laugh maniacally?) We love living on Guam!

I Love to See the Temple (or What I Did on my Summer Vacation)

One of my favorite things about our trip home (aside from actually being home - and Target) was being able to see some temples that I had not seen before. We started at the Seattle Temple, which was under construction (as you can see in the picture). Michenna took the "engagement pose" picture of Spencer and me. Of course, I never would have worn that jacket in an engagement picture. :)

Also in Seattle, we visited the aquarium (not our favorite) and found a carousel for Michenna to ride.

Next, we drove by the Boise Temple, but we weren't able to stop - mostly because it was right off the freeway and we were in the wrong lane. Michenna drew a beautiful picture of the temple, but I can't find the sketch book . . . so we'll move on to Salt Lake City.

Okay, I've seen this temple before. But it was fun to do a few family pictures.

Next we have the Saint George Temple (yes, I've seen it, too):

At the Albuquerque temple, Michenna learned all about potato bugs. She had never seen a roly-poly before! What a sad comment about her childhood thus far . . .

We took a picture of Michenna and Spencer that turned out really well. We also got a good picture of Michenna and me with the sign.

While we did go to the temple in Dallas, we did not take any pictures there. So I'll post my favorite pics from home.

Pretty as a princess . . .

Working out with water weights . . .

Hypnotized by the DS . . .

And last of all, a picture of Spencer and me back in Guam all dressed up at the Change of Command Dinner. Aren't we cute?

I think I covered August and September now. I'll post the Halloween pics later.

All She Wants for Christmas . . .

Back to Guam, back to school, back to blog

We're home from our 30 days leave. Michenna has started 2nd grade and is loving it! She told us today that her teacher is going to start giving her harder daily work, because the 2nd grade work is too easy. I just thought, "Yep, that's my life. Trying to keep up with an insanely smart 7-year-old."

I was browsing the family blogs and I noticed that Mel had tagged me. Thanks, Mel. I enjoyed my trip along memory lane.

How Time Flies

20 years ago…
1. I was starting 6th grade at a brand new elementary school about 1 mile away from our house.
2. I was playing violin in the school orchestra.
3. I was on the Safety Patrol (with the cool red belt and the stop sign).
4. I, too, was innocently taking piano lessons, NEVER dreaming that the simple act of doing so meant that I could predict my church callings FOREVER! :)
5. I had the meanest English teacher in the entire world – who taught me more about grammar than anyone else had or has. I need to thank her for making my academic life so much easier.

10 years ago…
1. I was positive that I would NEVER get married because boys were such flakes.
2. I was starting my fourth year at BYU, and looking forward to my position as a German TA (teaching 1 section of German 101), because it meant I DID NOT have to work in Food Services/Veg Prep anymore!
3. At some point in 1998, my uncle took me to buy my first car – a Nissan Altima.

5 years ago…
1. I was about to send my husband of 6 months off to Officer Candidate School.
2. I finally had the opportunity to be a full-time stay-at-home Mommy.
3. In June 2003, I took a group of students on a 12-day tour of Germany.

3 years ago...
1. We were living in Florida, and cleaning up the mess from Hurricane Dennis.
2. We had an impromptu vacation to St. Augustine, also courtesy of Hurricane Dennis.
3. I was a traveling piano/organ teacher.

1 year ago...
1. We moved to Guam in April.
2. Spencer left on his first deployment in June.
3. I started lifting weights.
4. I was planning the Fall Festival for the elementary school.

So far this year I…
1. Have sent Spencer off on his 2nd deployment, and welcomed him home 6 months later.
2. Have taught the Sunbeams at church. (Hooray for non-piano callings!)
3. Have volunteered in Michenna’s 1st and 2nd grade classes.
4. Have played a mad scientist in order to teach simple science to 1st graders.
5. Have shown my younger brother around the island.
6. Have foolishly agreed to plan the Fall Festival again this year
7. Have started teaching piano lessons again.
8. Have flown back to the States and been absolutely thrilled to stand in a Target store.
9. Have introduced Michenna to the joys of long road trips. (Except now there are portable DVD players and MP3 players, and the AC works well no matter how hot it is outside. Plus we don’t camp along the way, and that changes the experience.)
10. Have continued weight-training.

Yesterday I…
1. Substituted for a PE teacher for about 2 hours.
2. Went to Michenna’s Open House to “meet the teacher”.
3. Went grocery shopping.
4. Taught piano lessons.
5. Sold my treadmill.
6. Made BLTs for dinner, because Bry got me hooked on them again. :)
7. Played Wii Sports after Michenna was in bed.

Today I…
1. Got up early so I could go lift weights before I went to the school.
2. Volunteered in Michenna’s class (making edible art; it was great).
3. Worked on the booths for the Fall Festival and realized that an indoor football toss was just not a good idea.
4. Taught piano.
5. Made stroganoff for dinner.

Tomorrow I will . . .
1. Work out on the elliptical at the gym.
2. Go to the school and work on the booths for the Fall Festival.
3. Teach piano lessons.
4. Make baked potatoes for dinner.

In the next year I will…
1. Watch Michenna turn 8 and be baptized.
2. Enjoy having Spencer here until it is time for him to deploy again, and then we will keep in as much contact as possible.
3. Start working on my Master’s degree – as soon as I figure out what else I want to be when I grow up.
4. Teach piano lessons.
5. Have a baby?? (I can dream, right?)

I tag Mom and Tracey.