Getting Prepared

I'm not sure if it's because of the situation in Haiti (my prayers go to those in need and to those who are doing all they can to help) or just his love of prepardness, but my Dad has issued another challenge. He likes to invite the ward try out certain challenges to see if they are prepared. This summer it was going a certain amount of time only using Food Storage (including water), going a certain amount of time without going to the store. (I'm not 100 percent sure on the details since I was living at my Aunts.) Last week it was living off 72 hour kits. This proved to be a good idea for us because......

1. I have no idea where mine is.
2. My younger sisters had clothes in there that wouldn't fit AT ALL.
3. The food in the kits was no longer good.
4. Did I mention that I had no kit.
   

I have decided to be sure I have one, it's updated and I know where it is. Our family has decided to update them as families every coference weekend. (which works out nice because we can change for the weather) Here is a project I saw online and re-created for my kit-

Start with a HotPad (ala Dollar Tree)

Hand sew some snack bags in (I only did 4 but you can do as little or many as you would like.)

Make sure you only sew the main part, leaving the pocket open for additional storage.

Add a Button and you are DONE!! YAY!! Isn't prepardness cute!!

BLeSsEd

Driving to work today I was thinking about how I'm so Blessed:

• Amazing friends who listen to me complain, love me and raise my self esteem.
• A Brother on a mission, serving the Lord and being a great example.
• Sisters who are so fun, creative and helpful. Thanks for all you do and for indulging my random Betty Crocker moods.
• Family; Immediate and Extended. (especially you Min, thanks for letting me randomly show up and for listening to my stories and pretending to be interested.)
• A Nephew who is almost here!! Word on the street is this will be the cutest Baby. (Says me!!)
• A Brother-in-Law who plays stupid texting music games with me. :)
• Waking up each day excited for work!!
• Kiddies at the daycare who are sweet and loving. They are all so unique and fun to be around.
• People who I work with, we are a great team. Also a boss who believes in me and gives me encouragement.
• The parents at the Daycare are so great!!
• High Schoolers = FUN!! I was ready to be annoyed or indifferent but I LOVE THEM!!
• My health, Working with 20+ kids... I should have been sick more.

Splish Splash!!

My cousin Melinda is the BEST, she does this every January. I wasn't able to make it last time and was pretty bummed so I was pretty excited when the weather cleared up and I could make it this year!! I had Martin Luther King Jr. day off, and the next (thank you teacher prep day). So I was able to spend the night.

Not a care in the world...

Yes, that is a POOL in her kitchen. didn't I tell you she was the best!!

This cute boy is Carter, Dustin and Carly's kid.

Me and Melinda, yeah we are Hoola Hotties!!

Me and Bella.

Gracie

Ryland

Alyssa (HAPPY BIRTHDAY on the 20th Cute Girl)

Sarah (Notice most of these pictures are fuzzy... I REALLY need a new camera)

Don't you just wanna snuggle this kid!!

The next day after the girls had gone to school; Ryland, Min and I got to work making some Monsters.

We took our job very serious

Very, very serious

My monster

Poop!!

Today at work in the midst of diaper changes:

Brigden, "You like poop?"

Me, "Uh, not really."

Brigden, "Oh?"

I'm not sure if he asked me this because I was changing in poopy diaper, I insist on interrupting his fun to change him if he is poopy, or because he genuinely thinks I like poop. (Poop is a fun word to say though)

2009 Tag

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Sang in a group smaller than 6, in front of a crowd larger than 20.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and did you make more for this year? I didn't this last year, but I have some for this year; being a better friend, doing my Visiting Teaching, gain some domestic abilities, stand up for myself...
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? The question should be, did anyone close to me announce they WILL give birth, pretty much everyone I know is having a baby in the Spring.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Dumbledore did, but I knew it about it before so I was prepared.
5. What countries did you visit? 0 :(
6. What did you get really, really, really, really excited about? Finding out I'm going to be an Aunt, Visits to Friends and Family, Puppies, Making new Friends, Yogurt Stop, Cute Boys, Victoria's Secret Semi Annual Sale..
7. What do you wish you’d done more of? Working on my tan, playing with friends, service.
8. What was the best book you read? Too many to pick just one!! Peter Pan, The Lovely Bones, Sense and Sensiblity, Till the God's Have Faces, Screwtape Letters, Where are You Now, Just Take My Heart.
9. What is something you wanted but didn't get? A New Camera
10. What kept you sane? The TV Show Friends, Actual Friends, Family, Long Walks
11. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? PINK
12. What valuable life lesson did you learn in 2009? To be ok with my flaws, big or small.

Happy Birthday

Went to school, went to work and was greeted by this......

I love my job, these kids are great as are my co-workers. We had a departmental meeting with a yummy lunch, Thanks Cheryl!!

Abbie and Will on their way to Kindergarten.

Me and my BEAUTIFUL cake!! Made by Katie and Grace, Katie works in the daycare after school, Grace did until last week. She is missed but I wish her luck in Softball!!

Katie and Grace displaying their talent. Seriously girls thanks, that was very sweet!!

Back at home was my birthday dinner, Cheese Soup MY FAVORITE!! My Grandma and Aunt were there too. I got some great gifts and then after Cake and Ice Cream I went to a movie with my 2 amazing friends, Traci and Kristy. We went to the Lovely Bones, so weird but still I loved it!! Thanks everyone for the Birthday Wishes!!

(It should be mentioned that a lot of my gifts were Cup Cake related and you should be prepared to see lots of posts about the Cupcakes I have made and the sewing projects with my Cup Cake Material.)

Who Says Growing Up is a Good Thing......

Isaac: "Miss Jacque, you have the most Beautiful Head in the Whole World!!"

At what age do boys stop giving random compliments?? Also, Rachel would you REALLY miss Isaac if I just randomly kept him??

Activities Committee

My New Calling, I'm going to try my hardest at it. Hopefully meet some new people, kind of already did. Wish me Luck!!

Confused.....

On the one hand I love you and it's that time of year, you keep me warm and you are so cute. With these great qualities you would think I wouldn't be torn but I am. Yes, I am talking about you, Long Sleeves. Why is it that no matter how much I pull you up you still manage to get wet when I wash my hands or do dishes, once that happens you never seem to dry. And yet I still pull and bunch you up everytime hoping this time will be different, all the while knowing it will be in vain. Of course after that you are all stretched out and what choice do I have but to pull you up to avoid the awkward stretched out elbow look. We still have a couple of months to go so I'm going to resolve to be more patient with you as long as you promise to keep warming my arms. Maybe by the time March rolls around my feelings won't be so mixed.

The End of 2009, The Beginning of 2010

The week after Christmas was a busy one; visiting family, visiting friends, playing chaperone... During the break I had planned to learn to Knit, I was SO excited, unfortunately I wasn't able to fit that in. (Lowry's, I'm so sad/sorry I wasn't able to, but I still plan on coming sometime to learn!!) I had been looking forward to learning a new skill/craft but there is a reason I wasn't able to and here we go: (It was right here that I had to pause and decide between; List, No List. List Won)

• Saturday - Baby Shower for my Sister
• Sunday - Still Loving my Ward
• Monday - Drive to Vernal to visit Grandma and Grandpa Uresk, quick trip to visit Great Aunt Vee (wishing it were warmer so I could ride her horses) Drive to Roosevelt to spend the night at my Aunt Karen's. Hang out with Nikki, Beau, and Beau's Cousin.
• Tuesday - Visit Jason, Rachel and Miles (played with the new Geo Tracks Miles got for Christmas, wishing they had them when I was living there this summer). Drive to Neola to see Kylene and her kids, Tyson ran straight for me for a big hug, I missed those kids!! Held Kloe D and rocked her to sleep, the best part is she is a cuddly baby and cuddly babys are so great. (again wished it was warmer so we could go see the horses and dogs) Drive home.
• Wednesday - Had plans to go visit Adam and the Bakers. I hate Snow. Thank goodness for Online Scrabble. Also should mention my new favorite phrase: Cuddly Duddly!!
• Thursday - Chaperoned 9 kids at Boondocks, drove a Minivan there and back couple of times. I know what most of you are thinking at this point; A Minivan!?!? Man and I thought Jacque couldn't GET any hotter, well I just did, I just did!! After I finally got the kids back safely to their party animal parents it was off to Grantsville for me. I got to spend New Years with Adam and his Family, played board games, karaoke and toasted in the New Year with, what else, Sparkling Apple Cider!! Also this is the BEST part... wait.. for .. it... I BEAT ADAM AT SCRABBLE!!!! This is a big accomplishment since he mostly doubles my score. I taught them Speed Scrabble, (a Uresk Favorite). While I didn't come in first I managed to beat Adam and that was a good feeling indeed.
• Friday - Made it home from Grantsville without one wrong turn, (this is where I should mention I made it there without getting lost also. Look at me, I'm growing) Finished 3 backdrops for my friend's in-home Photography studio, feel bad it took so long. Took Princess for a walk, did some dishes then came home and fell asleep on the couch for a couple hours....
• Saturday - SCRAPBOOKIN' I got lots of pages done, another long walk with Princess, then off to Logan to have a late New Years Party. I really like the game Buzzword, first round was the boys against the girls, Boys -The Punishers, Girls - Pheobo. I won't say how much we won by, but it was a lot!! ;) Next round we switched it up a little and Missy, Brody and I were Team Crap Bag. Brian, Brad and Traci were team Princess Consuela Banana Hammock..... Team Crap Bag WON!! (the names are from the show FRIENDS) We played other games and watched the Ball Drop in Times Square, thanks to Kristy recording it on her DVR. Later stayed up until 4 a.m. chatting with Kristy. This is the best part of visiting her!!
• Sunday - Write this Blog Post. (among other things)

Here's to you, 2010!!

(Sorry there are no Photo's, I really wanted some but I haven't been good at making sure I take them lately. I'm hoping I get a new camera for my Birthday in a couple of weeks... I may post one or 2 pictures later, but we'll see.)