Ahhh. . . summer!

Summer has finally arrived.  It is going to be in the 80's and 90's all week.  That is welcome news to those of us who don't really enjoy the snow!  It has been a cool spring, but there is a benefit- Utah is beautiful and green.  Quite possibly the greenest I have seen over the past 16 years of living here.  That probably means we will have a lot of fires later in the summer, but I am going to enjoy it while it lasts.

The weird thing is that I haven't planted any flowers this year.  Not one.  I usually get flower baskets and seedlings for Mother's Day, but it was so darn cold that Ed didn't buy any.  I think that was wise as some people have planted two or three times!  My backyard is a jumble of color with my roses and perennials and the front yard looks awful.  I am not pleased with how the landscaping has evolved, but am too lazy to want to do much about it.

We spent the weekend at the cabin where the scrub oaks are gorgeous.  We managed to get two sides of the cabin stained a very dark brown that I love!!!!  Murphy's Law was at work, but we triumphed.  Now we just have to schedule the other two sides. . .  Ed had a load of gravel dropped off as well and I cannot believe what a difference that has made in the look of the front of the cabin.  I will post photos when we are all done.  Right now we still have two sides and a mountain of gravel to deal with.

Hmm. . .

I love being a mom. 

• I love that I never open a door.  There is always a handsome young man opening doors at church, school, stores, and even the car!  How pampered am I?  
• I love watching my kids do karate, play baseball, play euphonium, and the dozens of other things they do. I am WAY more proud and excited about their accomplishments than I am about the crazy things I do.
• I love hearing my kids laugh.  I think my kids are generally witty and hilarious.  Sure, we border on the crude and socially unacceptable. . . but these are BOYS I am dealing with!
• I love being loved.  There is absolutely nothing better than a big bear hug from your son.  Especially when they are 17 and still give hugs- even in front of their friends.

But being a mom is scary, too.

• What if I haven't taught them everything they need to know?
• What if they aren't happy?
• What if they get sick?
• What if they end up just like me?
• What if they end up hating me?

I can't dwell on the "What ifs," because they will drive me CRAZY!  I will just be happy with my awesome kids today. Now. 

Deja Vu. . . All over again. . .

In the summer of 1997 I was hired to be the Band Director at Lehi High School.  It wasn't much of a job- since there were only 15 students on the first day of class.  Eight of those students were horrified to find out that they actually had to bring (and play) their instruments, so I sent them to drop the class.  One moved away in November, so for most of the year the band consisted of 6 students.  I had no real idea how to be successful
with that group, so I decided to make them successful as individuals.  Three of the six made All State that year. 

Since the JH was in much the same condition it took a while to grow. Pete Swiderski was a brand new teacher that year and as his program grew, we added students at the high school. I was a half time teacher and the seams were starting to stretch by 2003.  We added some classes, did some additional recruiting, and made the position full time beginning in the 2004 school year.  I was excited for the new challenge. . . until my mom broke both hips.  The stress level in my life had exceeded my ability to handle it, and I ended up quitting my job.

During the last six years, I have had very little to do with music.  The stress of dealing with my mom clouded my memory and made me think that I was done teaching forever.  I watched what was happening at the high school, but stayed away through three teachers in 5 years.  This became increasingly more difficult as Colby became more and more of a band geek!

Everything changed in December.  Our band director, who is also a member of the Army National Guard, was activated.  He announced the news to the students and sent out an e-mail to the parents.  I was blissfully shopping and ignoring my Blackberry's message features when I got a call from Ed asking if I was ready to teach.  After he read me the e-mail, I called Mr. Seamons and offered to substitute whenever he needed me.  Little did I know what that would mean!  I taught most of January, most of March and I will be back at the school on May 6 until the end of the year.

I was pretty nervous about subbing so much, but it has been a joy.  I re-discovered the love of music and I remembered why I became a teacher in the first place.  What a great group of teenagers!  After much talk and discussion, I decided to apply for the one year position to cover for Nate while he is in the Middle East.  There were 14 applicants for the one-year position! I got the news this afternoon that I was chosen to get the job.

So, deja vu.  Same classroom, same office, new students, more classes.  A little like 1997, but it's going to be a whole lot more work!  Watch out Lehi High- I'm coming back!

Spring?????

I am really sick of snow.  I grew up in Maine, live in Utah, and plan to retire somewhere WARM. . . and alone.  Ed is one of those crazy people who enjoys the snow, but I am planning on going anyway.  There are some sure signs that spring is coming. . . or could possibly be here already.

• The snow isn't sticking.
• My crocuses (or is that crocii?) are blooming.
• My furry boys have new short hair-dos.
• It's spring break.  Aptly named?  We shall see.
• It is baseball season.  

This last one warms my heart in a big way tonight.  There is nothing better than having the whole family snugged up on the bed while we cheer for the Red SOx.  Colby really does not enjoy baseball, but he humors us once in a while.  Tonight he called it quits at the beginning of the 9th inning.  Heelllooooo!!!!  Three outs to VICTORY?????  Oh well, at least he was with us for a while!

For those of you who aren't baseball fans,

The Red Sox kicked the Yankees butts!!! 

Oh, yeah, baby!  It's spring all right!!!!!

My Speed Machine

At first I wasn't sure.  Which model?  Which color?  It was bigger than I was used to and had a lot more power.  The features were amazing, but how would I ever figure out all those buttons? And the cost. . .  was I really ready for that monthly payment?  Would it be worth it?


After almost a year. . .Oh, yeah. Definitely.  :)

Caucus

It was an absolutely crazy day, but there was no way that I could miss the caucus.  We adjourned the City Council meeting at 6:24 and I was out of there in just a couple of minutes.  I ran to McDonalds because I was totally starving.  After bolting down several hundred calories, I headed into the high school.  I didn't pick up any information about the candidates because it all looked like the pamphlets that I already have, so I just found Precinct 16.  I was surprised and pleased to see the room fill up with lots of people I know, several I recognized but couldn't place, and a bunch of people that I had never seen before.  We had a good turnout. 

The business of the precinct was taken care of in fairly short order.  That occurred because there were lots of people who were willing to serve.  I am the Treasurer.  That is a job I can probably handle!  I want to be involved, but my City Council duties have to come first.  After the meeting there was a little paperwork to do and, of course, some chatting.  I was stunned when I was leaving to see how many people were at some of the meetings!  Some precincts had to be moved to the commons and cafeteria because there were so many people!!!

I am really happy that so many people came out to the caucus meetings tonight to get involved at a grassroots level.  It's too bad that they had to be there, though.  What I mean by that is it is too bad that our country is in such a state of confusion and mess that people are willing to get involved.  What a change!

My predictions based on tonight's observations:

Bennett loses his seat.
Sumsion re-elected.
Steve White is not going to be re-elected.

We'll know how I did in a few months!

10 Happinesses for Today

1.  It's SPRING!!!!! (the calendar says so. . .)
2. My guys
3.  Lehi High School Band (most awesome students. . .)
4. Philosophy Products- especially Amazing Grace
5.  Short hair-dos
6.  My Blackberry keeps me in touch with loved ones
7.  Irish Water Spaniels (my furry children, Lewis and Clark)
8.  The amazingness of digital photography and editing
9.  Cold medicine
10. Pens with colored ink- especially purple!