So I am a little frustrated with myself right now. I looked in my planner and saw that I had written down "take Exam 1 & 2" on Thursday of next week. I wrote that down during class on Saturday. I am trying to do as much as I can this week because Katie comes home next week and I only have one night to do it all in. I thought I would come to SCC tonight and while I was signing in on a campus computer (an assignment for the class - like we really can't figure that out without being assigned to come this week) I would get the first exam over with. I studied for a few hours and drove down here all excited because I am really prepared. I believe I know almost everything I need to from the first 5 chapters and I am ready to take this test so I can get going on the next chapters. (Exam 2 only covers 1 chapter). I walked in and asked to sign in for the test and the guy gave me a blank look. He said it seemed early for the first exam. He asked, "When did your teacher tell you it would be available?" Then it hit me. That's why I planned on taking two exams on one day next week. They aren't available until then. Ugh. Well, I guess I will just work on two more papers, take another quiz, read 4 more chapters and study my little brain out until then.

This just gives me a little more time to get smarter, right? hahaha

I really am enjoying the EMT book. This weekend we start the lab portion which is all hands on life-saving stuff. So awesome! I am looking forward to doing more than just reading about it. :-)

Have a great week!

Hello! I am still alive... at least I think I am. hmmm

No pics today and probably not until spring break if my schedule keeps up this way. Here's an update on what is keeping me from blogging:

EMT program: 8 hours every Sat. and 16 hours of outside work
Work - wonderful! Wouldn't trade it for anything!
Children - doing great, except for colds
Housework - Jay is pitching in though. He is the BEST husband ever!
SOLE - I am co-facilitating this group and I am running the whole thing next week. Ahhhh.. it's hard to speak therapy speak when my brain is not fully fuctioning and full of medical stuff.
I think there's more stuff, but I am choosing a shower over blogging at this point. Just wanted to let you all know we are alive and Kickin'!

P.S. Katie comes home from her mission next Tuesday night. My parents are leaving tomorrow to pick her up from VA. They are going to freeze! I am excited for her to be home!

:-)

A little girl at church said the cutest thing in church today. We were sitting quietly during sacrament meeting and she was sitting in front of us coloring in a bible coloring book. She lifted up a page and said, "Rachel, look! It's Heavenly Father with a Candy Cane!" It was a picture of Moses. His staff looked like a candy cane I guess. It made me laugh.

Early on New Years Day we went hiking with Damien and Kalet and their three kids. We went to Usury Pass and hike to the Wind Cave.

The kids on a boulder.

Mommy and Rachie

Rylan
King of the Mountain!

Jason and Shiloh

(Don't worry, I packed my EpiPen!)

Hiking with Daddy

We had a great time! I sure was sore the next day. I decided to run down the last half of the trail. It felt great until the next morning!

Relaxing at the Wind Cave

Family pic
Kalet, Damien and their kiddos

More pics

We finally made it! Actually, we took this pic on our way down.

That's right... don't mess with these girls!

Here is the view from the bottom. We hiked the switchbacks up to the wind cave which is on the top right, where the shade is. It's over 3 miles total.

A different view. It's still shaded.

Rachel made it almost the whole way without being carried.

Way to go!

We had a great time and hope our girls love hiking more and more as we do it. Jayne stayed up with Cyanah most of the time and finished way before we did!

We spent New Years Eve with Kalet and Damien. We told the kids it was midnight when it was bedtime at 8pm. We had fun with poppers and noisemakers in the back yard, then they put their kids to bed and Jay took our girls up to my parents for the night. We played Quelf, watched a movie and came home before 1am. Kalet went to bed before the movie and I ended up on the couch in the front room with a migraine so Jay and Damien enjoyed the movie by themselves. It was still a lot of fun!

Kalet decided she was the queen. This is her royal cloak.

Despite what she thinks, she really is a great mom!

I love ya Kalet! You are a wonderful friend!!!

Over Christmas break Faith was in town and got some of us Westwood girls together for breakfast WITHOUT KIDS! It was fantastic!

We all got a kick out of Karen's breakfast. She has always been the healthy eater. We all ordered french toast, but Karen ordered a granola/fruit parfait. When this came out I had to laugh. It looks like a huge ice cream sundae.
Myself, Nicole (and her baby), Rachel, Karen, Faith and Jennie

Thanks girls... it was so much fun!

A few random pics...

Here is my mom, the mummy. This was one of her tasks while playing Quelf. Jay got Quelf for Christmas and it is the most random, fun game ever! Uncle Cam and Rachie

Jayne and her new bike.

Rachel and her new bike.

I posted this in a montage a few weeks ago, but I love this picture so much I had to post it by itself.

Liam, Jayne, Quinn and Rachel... aren't they adorable?

A few cute pics of the girls with Cinderella's Fairy Godmother.

Here are some pics from Christmas Eve through Christmas day. We started Christmas Eve morning at Nielsen's Frozen Custard for a family breakfast - thanks Duffy and Marie Anne! Then I ran over to Caliber in Tempe for Jay's Christmas luncheon. Christmas Eve dinner at my parents, then Christmas morning at our house and my parent's. So much fun!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

If you want to laugh until you cry and see a very different side of Jayne, click on this link to Jessie's blog and watch the video. She really does take after mommy. So scary. :-)

http://jessieadaline.blogspot.com/2009/01/christmas-2008.html

Jay took the girls with Damien and Kalet and their kids to hike Camelback Mountain. Rachel keeps calling it "Camel Rock" & "Camel Hill". They both hated it and vowed they would NEVER hike again. So... we took them on another hike the next week. They are learning to appreciate it, little by little. :-)

Jayne and her primary teachers from last year. She loves them so much.

They just had a new baby.

The Hardy's came and played for a while when Jay was home. He did such a great job taking care of Stacey for me. He was trying to rock her to sleep. I love this picture. He wants more kids so badly.

The Hardy's came over on Christmas Eve to exchange gifts.

Stacey wouldn't open her present. She had been scolded so much for trying to get into the presents at home that she was afraid to open it. So funny.

Ivanah and her new shoes.

Jason and Joey at Caliber's Christmas Lunch

Joey looks so goofy. Jay only wishes he had a 'stach like that.

We went and visited Grandma and Grandpa a few days before Christmas.

Kisses

This is my brother Cam. He finally submitted his mission papers to the Bishop. Hopefully they will be sent to Salt Lake soon. Until then, we wait...

Almost done.

The pool decking went all the way to the fence. We tore it out and replaced it with landscaping.

Debb and myself. We are two of the amazing board members for our HOA. :-)

Working hard to remove the rest of the decking.