School Bound Kids

Noah, Brayle & Hunter start school this week. Who is more excited, the kids or parents? Last week everyone checked out their school, visited the new teacher, bought a few clothes and finished up summer activities.

This week its go to bed & wake up early, get dressed, eat quickly and ready for new experiences. Oh, the joy of learning, making friends and having structure, it provides a great pathway for life. Have a great year, work hard & you will be rewarded.

Two Love Birds Together, Two Months

NOW
Today marks the two month, 1/6th year anniversary for Jory & Sarah. How time flies. It seems they just got married this summer. Oh wait, they did. We're glad the date was moved up so all the family could enjoy being together, but have summer left to do their own thing, too. Their pictures are back with great shots of every minute of the blessed day.

The happy couple also did many things together with the extra time. Sarah was busy keeping Dr. Foot Surgeon's patient's coming and going smoothly, while Jory tidied up their home, fixed meals and read all those books he skipped as a youth.

Now he's back to school heading up the fourth grade at Saratoga Springs. He & Dad installed a new starter motor hours before the bell rang. He was stranded a few times amidst meetings & such, with a dead car.
THEN
Marriage: Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably.
Family: We can't live with them & we can't live without them.

Two on the Town for $20 + Me & $3

I hosted Brayle & Hunter a few hours this week, after begging Mom & Dad to let them come stay. Baseball games & 40+ miles has kept them away. Driving by after a few days in southern Utah, they couldn't resist a drop off & overnightter. I put them to work trimming & raking in the back yard jungle, when a hearty breakfast was finished.

After more than enough computer games, we headed to Target with Mauri's $75 gift certificate using only $10 on 2 school shirts for Brayle. Nothing Hunter's size met with his approval. J.C. Penney's had 2 tops for him & one for her, as I put my 2 $10 coupons to work with any $10 minimum purchase. My out of pocket was $13 for both kids.

We hit Arctic Circle with more coupons, walking away with three yummy chicken burgers and an armload of hot french fries for $6. 'Night at the Smithsonian' had it's $1 special as we enjoyed the afternoon movie for $3. Poverty generates creativity.

A neighbors swimming pool was all ours, as the kids took a cool dip chasing one another around & doing tricks from the diving board. We were all smiles at the rendevous point meeting Mauri & getting a nod over the clothes we got.

Please, come again.

Where Can I Go Peace?

Sunday mornings have been peaceful the past four years. With Dad in Bishopric meetings, I've had the house to myself and quite liked it. His release brought an abrupt end to my so called 'do what I chose' Sunday morning life.

In no uncertain terms he says at 8am, we are to leave fifteen minutes early, making sure to get our usual seat at church. That's fine for him, but I'm busy making a gourmet breakfast (Void of thanks, that was delicious), flower arranging, checking the garden, etc,etc.

The announcement is made again, from his lounge chair on the deck at 9am, as I clean up after breakfast, start lunch (no offer of help, from him, here)& assemble things for Church.

When the Tabernacle Choir ends, he reminds all present (Me) time is running out & gets a book to read. I finish phone calls, watering plants, & scale the stairs to get ready telling him, I don't need a baby sitter. Twice late, in 52 weeks is good.

At 10:44am he lays on the bed, shouting that we are leaving in 1 minute. "Go without me!" I say, "I'll come when I'm ready & good," which I'm not feeling right now!! (Did you notice I've been somewhat busy?)

Marching out the door to the car, I slam it, for effect & he follows behind. We sit in stone cold silence on the way. Our seat is gone at 10:55am, as I let him choose a hard seat in the rear of the chapel.

What's wrong with this picture? He wants to be early & I want a bit of gratitude.
Goal for August 23rd: Me- Be early & Him-Thank & help me or drive separately.

Backpacking, the Bold & Beautiful Newly Weds

Jory & Sarah braved the Uintahs with their wedding gift camping gear. They arrived after dark & hiked in a mile or two for their first real live camping overnighter. Many of the comforts of home were loaded on their backs (50 lb+), making the going rough, but well worth the challenge.


Arising that morning they spotted life on the opposite side of the lake, as well as a mom & baby moose. After a scrumptious breakfast cooked on their new Coleman stove, they hiked around a bit. After this adventure, they rode to the park on Jory's scooter to catch a few minutes of Brayle's ballgame, then crashed for an afternoon nap at their apartment.

To see more of their pics, invite yourself to be a friend of Mrs. Jory Schmidt on Facebook.

Game On, Game Over

The last baseball games for Brayle are this weekend in Weber County. It has definitely been a marathon for Mauri, Aaron & the kids to attend each one. Through sunburn, breakdowns & schedule juggling, they've attended every game possible. Hunter has become a pretty loud heckler/caller to the opposing team.

Brayle has faced tough competition and grown in ways like no other. The players are true sports as they face off with strong, average and mediocre teams. Standing in the sun for hours isn't easy, but these future winners have endured thru thick and thin.

A row of shade awnings help keep the spectators from over heating as we guzzle water, goodies & more.

Kudos to those that coach, teach and stay true to the end. You are the best in the west, Miss Brayle Crosman.

Lost Anything Lately?

I'm forever losing books, eye glasses, dvd's, phone, papers & such. My "A place for everything & everything in it's place" doesn't always work. Prayer often does, especially when you get desperate. Money is a definite motivator.

When a dvd from the library disappeared and could no longer be renewed, my method of searching changed from occassional to desperate. $30+ replacement fee was the driving force. As I quietly listened to the Spirit, I was encouraged to:

Clue No. 1 'Look where you haven't looked before'. That's helpful but still alot of ground to cover.
Clue No. 2 'Where would a toddler drop or put it?' Common sense said, look between the floor & three feet up. This narrowed my area.

Crawling around the Family Room for the umpteenth time, I spied the dvd/vcr player that I'd previously all but molested without results. This time I was looking in 'places that I hadn't looked before'. Flipping up the VCR door, there sat the skewed 'Ducky's Word World' dvd. Yeah! Super yeah!

BINGO!! Saved by the 'still small voice'. It works, when you listen.