A New Resolution

I don't make new year's resolutions.

To write a list of resolutions, to me, is to write a list of my failings.

I try hard to be good every day and to be better tomorrow.

I don't need the pressure of a list hanging over my head.

But this statement from Sister Hinckley speaks to my soul.

It is my now and forever resolution.

“We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are.” Marjorie Hinckley

The Card and More Than You Ever Wanted to Know

Well, there she is, in all her glory.

I am not super excited about how this card turned out.

I had this idea in my head of how it should look and this was NOT it.

For one thing my picture looks like a mug shot. (it was the only one in which my "j" was not backward)

To find, after 30 min. in a cramped photo booth and $18 spent that I was not happy with the results and wanted to scrap this idea and do a different one, Randall was none. too. pleased.

I can't blame him, if you scroll down you'll see that it would have been the 4th family photo shoot I'd make him endure in as many weeks.  I really didn't think I could force the issue.

So this is what you get folks.

I was feeling the pressure of last years card...I don't think I can ever top it so I should stop trying.

Next year will be better...I hope.

Now on to an update of how the "job situation" is going.

Right now Randall is clerking for a small firm in Provo. 

He's studying for the bar in February.

We've been here over a year and he's just taking the bar you ask?

Yes.

We were 1) dissolusioned that we might be able to find a job outside of Zion...not happening.

2) that darn exam is expensive and we just didn't have the money.

So.

We finally saved, begged and borrowed enough money to take the exam,

filled out the ENORMOUS application (4 times the size of the NY application...who does Utah think they are?!) then,

started planning the ever tricky studying/work/family schedule.

When all of a sudden the Bar committee didn't want to let him take the exam.

Why?

Too many student loans.

WHAT?!!

How, might I ask, do they expect him to pay them off if they won't let him get lisenced.

Randall was very calm during all of this, he just kept sending in all the information they requested.

And then all of the information that they wanted but never requested.

I, was a wreck.

After all of that they were still on the fence so they had him come in for a hearing to try and explain why they should let him take the Bar. (Seriously! you can not imagine my fury.)

He came out not knowing if it went well or not.

They let us cool our heels for a day.

Then they said, begrudgingly, that he could take the exam.

Hallelujah.

Randall remarked that the exam is tourture enough without having to go through all that other stuff.

I have some serious choice words to say to/about the Utah State Bar but I'm afraid they're all against my religion.

Where we are now:

Randall is studying and working.

I am working part-time to supplement that fantastic clerk pay and running Addi to and from the pool every day.

Addi is loving school, doing very well in swimming, and loves to sing, write and create.

Tommorrow:

We have some exciting/scary plans for the new year but it's a little too early to explain.

How's that for a cliffhanger.

31 Today

Well, I went and turned 31 today.

I'm not really fussy about my age.

Probably because I act like I'm still 13.

 My Mother-in-Law went to a fancy bakery and got my favorite cake (carrot).

And she even had them put my name on it!  

I can't remember the last time I had my name on my cake and when I saw it I really got excited.

Here I am nearly dipping my nappy hair in my beautiful cake.

In primary they sang "Happy Happy Birthday Children Dear" to me...I think it was appropriate.

Good Parent, Bad Parent

 On mornings when Addi is especially lucky Randall will walk with her to the bus stop and wait with her until the bus comes.

She talks his ear off from the moment they step out the door until the moment she steps foot on the first stair of the bus.

 They are both pretty stoked to have these mini dates.

What a good parent.

All I want for Christmas is...

 We noticed last week that Addi's front teeth were loose.

And this close to CHRISTMAS!!!

I told her that she HAD to get them out before Christmas so she could sing the song.

She worked and worked and got one tooth out.

It's pretty much adoreable.

I told her that if she could get the other one out by Christmas I'd give her $5 on top of whatever the Tooth Fairy brings.

I know I sound sadistic making my child pluck out her own teeth for a song but

THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY!!

...don't judge me too harshly.

 Toothless wonder.

(plus scabbed over scratch thrown in for good measure)

Yes, I am the bad parent.

Breakfast with Fancy People

We are not fancy.

Maybe someday we will be fancy but certainly not today.

Randall got an invite to a fund raising breakfast for Mitt Romney with Ann Romney as the speaker and there was an extra ticket.

So we had an early morning breakfast date.

We had fun talking with Randall's colleagues, the food was good and Ann's speech was very nice.

I made Randall take this picture with me before we walked to the breakfast to commemorate the day...

I'm thinking the picture might have been more beautiful as a memory.