Ancestry

So the last few days Ive made some really fun discoveries with my family history. Having NEVER done it before I figured I should take advantage of my company’s site which is free to me, to plug in some information. I started with information that I knew, then what was so cool is that the site gave me Ancestry “hints” about those I entered. Some of those hints lead to new information, new relatives that I didn’t have full information or any information on at all! I’ve been working on my Dads line- and so far I’ve got details that are fascinating. I can see how doing genealogy can be addictive. Just having access to the Census records are awesome ( here is my plug for you all to do your census data in the future!) …anyway so viewing census data on family members can reveal more than you would think. I now know the occupations of family members, maiden names, where and when people immigrated, which generation did spelling changes, age of marriages, divorces…etc.
My goal over time would be to help do each of my childrens lines as Elijiah has a whole side of his family history still in East Africa, and to gather information for him would be very cool. I also want to see how far I can go back on either of my parents side and have all the information in one place. I think that’s one of the coolest things about what Im doing. Having it all in one document!

a quote id like to remember

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that hes been robbed. The fact is that most putts dont drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey....delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts...interpersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.
The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride"
President Gordon B. Hinkley

Housekeeping

Goodness where does the time go? We remain as usual beyond busy( who isnt) but it seems that my personal time in front of the computer is limited these days.
Several housekeeping items:
1. Im not coaching anymore. My new job is fabulous- but likewise I put in much longer hours and I just wasnt willing to be away from the kids anymore than I have to. So that along with my seat on the board of directors of UAC has been eliminated.
2. My job- loving it. On a side note, was in Berkeley this week. Its been years since I was on campus and I just totally forget how awesome it is to get out of Utah, be around such brilliant students, and have that real college campus vibe. Food was awesome....it also was a reminder about how lacking we are in our schools. One of the execs that recently moved to CA from UT said that his 2nd grader was FAILING 2nd grade. He was astounded. In utah she was doing great! He said that all his kids including his 2nd grader have typically 2-3 hours of homework a night, and should they have had 30 minutes of homework in UT they would have thought that excessive. We chatted about that for a bit, as I grew up there and noticed a HUGE difference in my education VS my siblings who went through school in UT. Anyway causing me some additional and reinforced anxiety about what we are going to do with Elijiah and Tristan. I want them to be ahead of the game, not behind it.
3. Jonathan has received this AWESOME promotion at work. Its sooo exciting. His hard work continues to pay off. He is now managing a group of engineers and analysts and is effective next week. Hes thrilled. Im thrilled. :)
4. We are pleased to announce that while we were referred to the infertility clinic, we didnt have to do any expensive treatments. We are expecting! Due late summer! YIPEE!!!

So there it is...some of the updates over the last couple of weeks!

Jonathans new hobby

Jonathan told me a few months ago that he wanted to start making pens. Little did I know what he was talking about. He always has had a slight obsession with pens, appreciating the workmanship and liking to collect a few.
So when he started to put away some money for all the tools and get serious about it I wasnt sure what would happen. Hes needed a creative outlet for some time now, and something for himself so I was fully supportive of him trying it out...well a basement full of tools and hours dedicated to getting better at his craft- he has started to put out some really cool pens.This is a pen he just finished for himself, and below pen is he did for me this weekend. I love it! These two are done in acrylic, not wood- but the wood ones hes done are pretty awesome too.

Ready for children??

Lesson 1

1. Go to the grocery store.

2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.

3. Go home.

4. Pick up the paper.

5. Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2

Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...

1. Methods of discipline.

2. Lack of patience.

3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.

4. Allowing their children to run wild.

5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.

Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3

A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...

1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)

2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.

3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.

4. Set the alarm for 3AM.

5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.

6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.

7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.

8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.

9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)

Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

Lesson 4

Can you stand the mess children make? T o find out...

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.

2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.

4. Then rub them on the clean walls.

5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.

6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allowed for this - all morning.

Lesson 6

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.

Leave it there.

2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.

3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.

4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 7

Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 8

1. Hollow out a melon.

2. Make a small hole in the side.

3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.

4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.

5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.

6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.

Lesson 9

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.

Lesson 10

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 11

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

This is all very tongue in cheek; anyone who is parent will say 'it's all worth it!'

* just a fun forward I was sent and thought to post*

Go go go

Wow - where does the time go? After a 24 hour migraine followed by an ER visit, transitioning out of one job, starting a new job-- this week has gone by in a flash!! Everyone has new schedules and new routines, and unfortunately it hasnt been adopted with great excitement. Lots more driving, more hours at the office, and less free time but I think after a few weeks things will mellow out and it will become second nature. Im very excited about my new role. My boss is AWESOME and the work seems not only very challenging, but will give me the kick in the pants that I was looking for. ( one could only be on the internet so long each day before brain cells start to deplete!) So Im am super excited about this coming year. Lots of changes, wonderful things to look forward to and us meeting a lot of our financial goals( paying off loans) which will feel so good! So heres to a good 2011( fingers crossed, knock on wood- please please!)

Christmas take 3

*a couple more from the other night*

**
So a late Sunday brunch at our house was in order so we could see Grandma, and exchange gifts. It was a lot of fun, and this time the boys were well behaved. It was great to have more time together and enjoy another day of food and family.

*the only problem was that we stopped taking pictures half way through the day! So hello siblings...send a few my way???