One week down

Well, I'm back for the weekend from training for scoring NBPTS portfolios. I got good news and bad news. The good news is I get to work an extra week at a good pay rate. The bad news is I had to postpone the family vacation with the Cathers family. We are all bummed, but I don't know what they would have done to/with me if I hadn't accepted the extra week. I'm hoping that by my being flexible with them, they will ask me to go to Charlotte, NC next year to train and score again. That would be a fully paid trip. It would be nice to see a part of the country where I've never been. Keep your fingers crossed. OK, so I won't know until next February, at least, but still.

Everyone did fine without me. Brian kept busy playing golf and video games with friends and his dad. Brad and Sayre went to Cedar City for orientation. He really liked the campus and the area. The second dorm deposit has been paid. Now we wait until August to pay the rest. Sayre has her official schedule and is pleased with it. We'll see how hard it is when the semester starts.

I've enjoyed being at Wendy's house. She and Caitlyn are so glad I'm there. Connor might even like it, because he has someone to drive him to and from the gym. Wendy informed me that I wasn't allowed to leave at the end of my job. She likes having me there way too much to let me go. We've gone to Caitlyn's swim lessons, gymnastics class, and Connor's guitar lesson. OK, so the guitar lesson time was spent at the neighborhood scrapbook store. It was quite fun. I was able to get some cool things and even planned a page for one of the papers. Now I just have to make the page. We'll work on scrapbooking next week. We had to settle into a routine. I just need to make sure I exercise. I didn't walk as much as I had been at home and that's not good with the big lunches they provided. Next week won't be as generous with food, but it should still be good. I'd rather not gain 15 pounds while I'm there. I did find a fun run. Don't know how long it was, but I ran for more than 30 minutes just around Wendy's neighborhood. It was a good feeling to be out there. The treadmill tried to kill my shins, so I'll not be doing that again.

Now I must go and see what I can create. I have a new, borrowed stamp set that I need to use.

Back to work

Well, I am off shortly to Mesa/Chandler to begin my summer job. I will be staying with cousin Wendy and her kids. It should be fun. I'm planning on scrapbooking in the evenings (after my workout, of course). I will be there for four weeks. It is good because I will make enough for tuition, but I'm missing four weeks of summer with my family. Oh well, I'll sacrifice for them.

Last week we were busy with life. It was Papa Jim's birthday. He turned 70. Everyone except Dustin was able to be there, so we had a house full. Even Uncle Tom and Aunt Ginny were here. I was able to get some picture of Tom and Jim.

Brad finally made a gate for the area between the house and garage. It looks so nice. No more Butler gate! Yea! He also fixed the dryer that had been broken for 5 weeks. It is so nice to do laundry when you want to and be able to finish it then. Ah, the luxuries in life!

Well, I'm off. I must hit the road before all the psychos from Vegas do.

Ah, summer time!

Well, I am officially one week into summer and it feels good. I have completed Sayre's graduation present scrapbook, 8 6 X 6 pages for the grandparents, 8 12 X 12 scrapbook pages, and one card. OK, I have tried to be busy. I have plans, man. I only have one more week at home to use all of my supplies. While I am in Phoenix I will be working on my scrapbook of Sayre's last year of high school. I shouldn't need many supplies to complete it, so it will be perfect for taking on the road.

The kids are busy with multiple activities. Brian has been golfing - a lot! He and Brad played three days this week. He has also watched Marissa and Josh at the park to earn a little money. Sayre has been forced to babysit (by me), so she has been at the Dixon's, the Victory's and with the Bonivert's. One way or another she will earn some money this summer.

Well, off to create some more scrapbook pages.