Blue-Eyed Boy

Colby has had a frustrating couple of weeks.  He got hired at WalMart for the Christmas season and did really well as a cashier.  On the Monday after Christmas they told him that they were going to keep him on even though they were letting everyone else go.  He filled out some paperwork and was happy about having a job- even if WalMart wasn't his first choice.  That Friday he went to work and was given his last paycheck and a termination notice.  Not a good day for a young man getting married in two months.  The HR director told him that they were waiting for permission from corporate to rehire the temps to permanent positions and that they would call him the next week.  They didn't call until yesterday, but he was clearly relieved. 

Today he had an interview at a call center that deals with people who are interested in taking online college classes.  He got hired on the spot for $1.10 an hour more than he was making at WalMart.  And if he does well he can increase that by $3.00 and hour with commissions.

When he came home he was happy and relaxed.  He plopped down on the couch and chatted for a while.  He looked so handsome that I had to grab my camera and take a few shots.  Don't get me wrong. . . I am happy that Colby is getting married and moving out on his own in March, but. . . I am going to miss having my blue eyed boy around.  Isn't he handsome?

Recap of 2012

I can hardly believe that it is already 2013!  There were certainly times when 2012 seemed to drag, but taken as a whole, it zoomed by.  So much happened- here is a quick run down:

Ed:

• Lost 100 pounds.
• Opened an office in North Dakota in April.  And just finished their second office a few weeks ago. 
• Wired up the cabin so that we can see what is happening down there.

Kaye:

• Got recertified to teach for another 5 years but discovered she is no longer marketable.
• Bought a serger and spent many happy hours sewing- especially for Baby Gracie.
• Still serves on the City Council.

Colby

• Spent the summer working in North Dakota.  He made a pile of money.
• Got engaged to Danaca Moore on Halloween. 
• Worked at WalMart this fall, but got laid off last week, so he's looking for a job.

Parker:

• Healed his separated shoulder but then had surgery in November to remove an osteochondroma on his knee.  Soon he might get to wrestle again.
• Got his driver's license. . . and wrecked his truck.
• Hit six feet tall and size 14 feet.

Reed:

• Played baritone in the Lehi High School Marching Band and went to Washington, DC to march in the 2012 National Independence Day Parade.
• Is on the Lehi High School wrestling team and has a JV spot at 113 pounds.
• Has six happy chickens and sells eggs to the neighborhood.  We also eat lots of omelets.

Lewis and Clark:

• Big Lew got hurt fetching the tennis ball at Thanksgiving with Madison.  He couldn't even get on the bed, but now has his hops back.
• Clark sliced his tail open in January which resulted in a partial amputation of his tail.  This fall we have no idea what he did, but we came home one day to find a big chunk out of the end of his tongue.  
• They are the funniest, best dogs around.  Except when they are being sneaky and stealing food off the counters! 

I Finally Achieved the Perfect Weight!

It's not what you think, though. 

It has been a weekend of endings and beginnings.  Culminations and commencements.  (That sounds a little Jane Austen, doesn't it?)

Colby graduated on Friday from Lehi High School.  He had a rough start and still has horrendous handwriting, but he made it.  In fact, he was never in peril of NOT graduating (we had several of those students) so I was very happy.  He even has a half scholarship to UVU for next year, so things are looking good.

Friday night we had a graduation party for Colby.  (Thanks to all who came! We love that our friends support us since we have no family nearby!)  It's funny how one minute you have the party under control and the next you can't scoop ice cream fast enough!  What a blast.  Thanks to Scott and Cathrine for all their help!!!  (Ice cream has NOTHING to do with the weight issue, by the weigh way!)

Saturday was family portraits.  Close your eyes and imagine it.  We all go through it.  Why?  Because we are crazy.  I haven't seen the proofs yet, but I will share! 

This morning Colby was ordained to the office of an elder.  We were all bawling by the end of the blessing.  Bad enough that it would have been embarrassing to go to class, so we went home to get him ready for his flight to Arizona where he will march with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps.

Time flew.  We managed to get everything done and stuff his duffel bag full.  As I looked down at the monstrosity sitting in my kitchen I mused that it was pretty darn heavy (probably over the 50 lb limit) but there was really nothing we could do about it.  Ed said that we would just pay the charge for it being too heavy and off we went.  We went through a LOT of tissues on the way to the airport.  I am pretty sure that Colby was dehydrated by the time we got there.  He hates goodbyes.  So do I.  I am always dehydrated from crying, so nobody thinks that is weird! 

We stopped at the Sky Cap and wrangled the duffel out of the back of the Suburban.  Ed swung it up onto the scale and I said, "How far over are we?"  The Sky Cap said, "You're OK."  with disbelief we all looked at the scale.  This is what it showed!  Finally, the perfect weight!

An Evening of Excellence

When I was in high school, back in the days when the stars shone brighter because they were new, it was a big deal to get a scholarship.  Most students did not get scholarships to go to school and if you did get a scholarship it was probably a fairly small one.  I think that I got one scholarship for $500.00.  And I graduated 6th out of about 500 seniors in my class.

Tonight we attended the Evening of Excellence at Lehi High School where we witnessed over 2.5 MILLION dollars of scholarships being given out to the senior class.  I was just happy to be there because it wasn't that long ago that I wondered if Colby would make it through school- nevermind continue on to college.  But because of his involvement and excellence in music, he has been awarded two half scholarships for next year. . . one at Weber State University and one at Utah Valley University.  He also received the Semper Fidelis Award from the US Marine Corps for musical excellence.  (And I had absolutely nothing to do with any of these awards!)

After the ceremony Ed and I took Colby out to Winger's for a late dinner.  While we were there he thanked me for making his senior year so great.  he said that he had loved having me as a teacher.  I managed to not bawl, although I could not talk for a while.  So, what I am tonight is one proud mama.

Seminary Graduation

It still amazes me that LDS teenagers attend a religious class as aprt of their school schedule.  And it amazes me even more that they GO and for the most part they ENJOY the class.  The church hires some great teachers who are energetic and spiritual.  Colby has been blessed with several great teachers and tonight he, and hundreds of his classmates, were awarded a diploma for finishing four years of seminary.  It's a good thing we took pictures before the meeting, because afterwards we had an outrageous downpour complete with lightnigh, thunder, and hail.  Hmmmm. . .  maybe they all didn't deserve those diplomas. . .

An Unwanted Show of Affection

It seems to be a rite of passage for adolescents. . . since they are uncomfortable with their changing minds and bodies, they often engage in inappropriate activities in an effort to impress others or to show affection.  For adolescent boys (and apprently adolescent girls as well. . .) the "Doorbell Ditch" and  "Toilet Papering" are popular stops on the road to adulthood.

In the past month we have had the dubious honor of being the recipients of these displays of affection not just once, but twice.  These visits appear to coincide with the birthdays of Colby and Parker.  The first clue was the doorbell ringing at 12:30am.  When I looked outside I was met with a vision of white strips of paper fluttering in the breeze.  I know it is hard to believe, but my first inclination was to feel anger and frustration, not love and acceptance.  I stand chastened.  Maybe the frustration comes from the fact that the perpetrators went all the way around my house and not once did the dogs give any indication that there was something unusual going on outside!  No treats for Lewis and Clark today.  I went back to bed while Ed watched for sometime, hoping that the delinquents would come by again, but to no avail. 

At about 7:30 this morning, after taking these beautiful photos, Colby, Parker, Reed and I  spent the better part of an hour pulling toilet paper out of our trees and bushes, cleaning it off all the vehicles, and stuffing it into four large garbage bags.  Since we found the wrappers, I am confident that the paperers used 48 double rolls of toilet paper in their quest for decorative domination.  At least we can be comforted by the fact that they did not scrimp.  I thought the draping of the fence was really quite well done and the paper that is stuck on the roof attests to a strong throwing arm, so I think they should get an A for effort.

This is Colby and his beautiful Homecoming date, Brittany. Sounds like they had a great date. . . I know the restaurant was excellent since they ate at Big Ed's Steakhouse (aka our house!) There were five couples in the group and they had smoothies at Roxberry and went bowling for the day date. Photos were done by Phil Struthers and then we hosted dinner- prime rib, smashers, green beans, rolls, and a Ceasar salad. Cindie Roberts and I were the "waitresses". And yes. . . they left us tips!!!! After the dance we cooked up a bunch of Belgian waffles for dessert. I think they were all tired. I know we were!