Weird things to do when you can't sleep...

1. Check on all the kids... at least twice.
2. Dishes... oops didn't mean to drop that... hope no one woke up with that ear splitting noise.
3. Write thankyou cards ( something I should do more often).
4. Sit there and think about all the other stuff I should be doing.
5. Throw in a batch of laundry-- why not the dishwasher is already making plenty of noise-- what's another hum right??
6. Read scriptures-- maybe that will put me to sleep.
7. Not tired yet, write birthday cards for the next month.
8. Think about calling mom, heck, she's probably awake watching HGTV or English comedies.
9. Check the clock-- darn--- still not sleepy.
10. Write to Justice since I forgot to this week.
11. Paint something, anything!!
12. Make a blog entry, haven't done that in a month or twelve.

Well, I know that everyone out there has dealt with a late night a time or ten, so I'm sure that this list will ring a bell or two. I hope that this blog finds you all well and well rested too! Have a good one!

Vote for McKenna

McKenna Zentner is one of my favorite students, and she has qualified as one of the top 24 finalists in the We R Talented contest sponsored by KSL. If she wins Morgan High School will get $10,000 which I will hopefully get to use part of to buy some technology based reading programs for some of my struggling students.

Anyway, you can all help me by spreading the word to have all your friends and family go to KSL and find the We are Utah link on the bottom right side, click on that watch this weeks' finalists and please vote for McKenna!!!!

Thanks everyone!!

Gratitude!!

Well, never a dull moment right? I want to thank everyone who has checked on me the past couple of days. I am feeling much better... nothing that an IV won't cure. Just ask John, I bawled like a baby. The doctors will run a couple tests next week, and hopefully we will know more then. I'm certain it is just stress related, and I am really trying to stay calm. I've spent more time on my knees lately, and I'm sure that is helping.

I really just wanted to thank everyone for their texts, phone calls, and prayers. I'm really doing great, but thanks to all of you for your help and visits too. I appreciate you all.

Love ya, Destiny

Be Still My Soul....

Ok, so in all the hullaballoo that is life... it has finally hit me that I need to slow down and remember who is in charge of it all. It is definitely not me! The school year started with a bang... one teacher short already due to budget issues, and four weeks into the year the other one in my department resigned to leave teaching for more money in private business. So with a gargantuan case load and feeling like I'm the only constant these struggling kids have, I've been taking on a lot of extra worry. --Not so good for my own kiddos that deserve to have a not-so-crazy mom.

I got to go to a Time Out for Women conference... and have decided that I should have put myself in "time out" long before now. It was wonderful to spend the weekend with some of the ladies in my life who I love and who constantly inspire me to do better. (Thanks girls!!!)

Anyway... between that and a break down in the park watching soccer practice, I think the Lord has finally shaken some sense into me. And I appreciate His love and mercy in my life. Here are a few more things I'm thankful for...

• I'm glad that SUV stopped three feet before hitting Carter today.... That was bawl-my-eyes out scary!!!


• I'm thankful for the smell of rain.


• For kids who can pretty much wipe their own cute bums!


• For the scriptures and the guidance of the spirit. (I hope I don't slip back into neglect)...


• For a mom who doesn't mind if I call her 17 times a day... ha ha


• For a husband who does laundry, dishes, toilets & tubs, buys dozens of roses, and who (mistakenly) thinks I'm the bomb.


• For three little kids who constantly remind me what is really important.


• And lots more.....

I realize that no one may read this, but even so it is still good to express my gratitude. :)

ONE WEEK LEFT!!!

Holy Cow!!! I only have one week left in my graduate degree! I'm so excited that I don't quite know how to contain myself! There have been some trying times, but I know that both my family and I have been hugely blessed!

I have been thrilled with my program from Grand Canyon University, and would encourage anyone who is working or home with kiddos and wants to further their education to look into on-line programs. It was so nice to be able to work from home after the kids went to sleep, and I never had to travel to a class. It also forced me to do my own research and study a little harder rather than just listen to the professors and regurgitate what they want to hear.

I hope that the schooling will pay off in the long run and that the end result will outweigh the costs it took to get there. But for now, I'm just happy to be basking in the light at the end of the tunnel. Hallelujiah!!!!!

It has been... a long time!

Well, a lot has happened over the past two years since my last blog. My kids have grown like weeds, my little brother has served a quarter of an LDS mission, my hair has changed in various shades and lengths, my husband has spent significant amounts of time doing laundry and other household chores....

The good news is that at the end of July I will be done with my master's degree, and hopefully I can take a deep breath and enjoy my kids growing! I decided to persue a masters in educational administration because I think that will open up several different options for me, allow me a good pay raise while still teaching, and hopefully pave the way for John and I to serve a humanitarian mission at one of the Church's Pacific Island schools someday.

I've already instructed John that if I ever mention the term advanced degree or doctorate degree to shoot me on the spot. My kids are excited to have me "unglued" from the computer, and I'm excited to use what I've learned. Anyway, HAPPY SUMMER!!!!!!!!

Family Pics

During Thanksgiving, Cheree took a bunch of pictures for us. So here's our cheesiest grin! It has been crazy getting school started and then being in the play "Grease" and then starting my masters program. So that has been my last few months in a nutshell; sorry I'm not the most up-to-date blogger, but I still love ya all! Have a Merry Christmas! ME

Thanks!!!

I have to give a big thanks to Steph and Melanie for helping me figure out my other blog and get slide shows of my paintings going. Wish me luck and thanks a bunch girls! You ROCK!!!

My Wonderful Husband!

The other day I came home to a wonderful poem and these amazing flowers. He is just too thoughtful! What a sweetie!

A little cleaning never killed anyone!!!

Well, the past few weeks have been really nice. Believe it or not, I actually enjoy doing some deep cleaning around the house after 9 months of scratching the surface. So I consider "mission organization"-ing my house very cathartic. We've had some fun too, so I'll be posting some cute pics of the kids soon.
I hope all the wonderful men in my life have a great Father's Day tomorrow. Love ya all!

Almost there!!!!

The expression in this picture represents how teenagers are tap dancing on my last nerve!!!
School is almost over for the year, and I can't be more excited. Needless to say, this year has been really challenging, and I'm more than ready to have a few weeks to be a mom and not Mrs. Field. I think my kids are excited to have me to themselves for a little while too!

Welcome Spring!!!

It has been way too long since I posted last, but between school and home... well, you all know how that goes. So, my kids have loved every minute of nice weather we've had, and I can't say that I blame them. I even decorated my classroom window with a huge sunshine because I was sick of the snow. Here are some updated pics. It has been so fun to hear from people I haven't talked to in years, so keep the comments coming in! I hope everyone has a great day today, and remembers to "soak up the sun"!

Hey it has been so fun to hear from a bunch of you that I haven't seen in years... I'm still new at this blogging thing, so any tips to make it a little easier would be great please email me!

Sledding!!

Sledding with our cousins was a blast this past weekend. Brooklyn and Ambria were a pair of snowmen before the day was over. Ryker just wanted to go and go until he finally crashed and zonked out for a nap. Carter had so much fun trying to keep up with Trason that he thought he was big stuff too. I was a little nervous that Cheree was going to go into labor, but the day went well and no baby yet. The weather couldn't have been better!

Snow Angels

The kids have been begging me to go outside.... so finally I gave in and took 45 minutes to get them all dressed in their snow gear for their 20 minutes of fun. But these pictures are worth it. They had a blast. They must have a bit more of their daddy in them than their mom when it comes to playing in the snow. As for me I have found that I have a bit more of Mom's allergic-to-cold gene than I had originally thought.

Easy Bakin'

Brooklyn has loved her Easy Bake Oven, and we have learned how to make even better tasting brownies in there too! (Our first attempt was a little nasty). We have both loved our new aprons (thanks mom!) They bring a little sunshine into our kitchen.

Christmas...

So far, I think that I'm just like everyone else running around like crazy trying to make this holiday season special (or just survive it). These are a few pictures that help me remember what it is all about. I absolutely love the one of Ryker... he has been so good about not destroying the tree. I hope all of you have a happy season too!

On Tour...

We had a really fun Thanksgiving break, ate way too much, toured the coal mine where my dad and brother work, traveled all over the face of Wyoming and Utah, and cut a beautiful Christmas tree. Needless to say, it was an eventful weekend. Here are a few pics...





On the right, is my dad standing by a 240 ton dump truck. These trucks are flat out amazing.

And on the left, is a picture of us standing in front of the bucket of the main digging machine. It takes three scoops from this machine to fill up one of the dump trucks. It was a little cold there (imagine that)!

John and I had a blast driving around the mine, and our kids were amazed at how huge everything is. It is also really cool to see my dad in his element. Anyway, thanks for the tour, Dad!!

Ryker

What can I say about my little man who seems like triplets. He is so fast at scattering laundry, pounding on pots and pans, pouring sand on my kitchen floor, and generally terrorizing his brother and sister that I can hardly catch my breath. He loves to play ball.... any kind of ball, any time, and anywhere. I have never seen a kid quite this young who really loves to play sports. Ryker is my eater too. He can out eat anyone in the house except me. When he finally starts to wind down he likes to put his hand on my cheek as he falls to sleep, and that is quite possibly one of the sweetest rewards of motherhood. He is the thunderstorm and rainbow all mixed into one.

Carter

Well, Carter is funny because half the time he is not even Carter; he is too busy trying to be Scooby Doo, Leo, Diego, Mr. Incredible, Woody, or Aladdin to spend any time just being the wonderful boy that he is. He has discovered how much fun it is to be a big helper, and is constantly in competition with Brooklyn to see who can help faster, better, or bigger. He loves to do puzzles and is amazingly fast at them. He also is learning how to defend himself from our other little monster and is trying to stand up for himself without landing his rear end in time out. His kisses are some of the best I have ever had... so I'm afraid he's going to be a heart breaker some day, but for now, he's such a wonderful ray of sunshine!