it's time! time to RISE & SHOUT

Yesterday

Yesterday was the big day

that

Jack

moved 

back

to 

college.

Now, that was a quick 4 months!

We had a little-- going back to college-- dinner party Thursday night.

This time- no tears- all happiness & excitement. 

I am truly so glad Jack is going- being at the Y was some of the best years of my life & I am Thrilled for him!

I had the table set, etc.

Then went outside to start the grill- and WHAT?!!

It wasn't blazing hot?

happy day

we moved outside

Chickens & Nya

Brett has started calling the chickens

Lavern & Shirley

For dinner we had

salad with ranch

Steak

garlic mashed potatoes.

 Friday just before GO TIME-we went shopping---

Can you believe that some of Jack's buddies buy this deodorant just for the phrase on the back!

HA- funny!

I told Jack if he bought this sponge bob soap it would make him look cool.

He didn't go for it.

But he did find this brand of shampoo that they have in Brazil.

Once at a members house he rushed to the bathroom to throw up...

-made it to the bathroom sink-

The bathroom sink had a tiny drain that instantly clogged because Jack had thrown up a sink full of live worms. He used the cap of the shampoo to scoop them out & into the toilet to flush.

Oh my baby.

thus-

this face of disgust

Trent made it home just in time to say goodbye.

Poor Trent!

It's so hard being the youngest!!

GO JACK

GO COUGARS

I LOVE YOU BYU

AND

I LOVE YOU JACK

here we go again....

last night was family night.

The first family night of the year is always on GoALs-

but not this year....

Stress- Anxiety and Healthy Coping Skills

was the topic

Goals are on hold until next week.Teens are stressed- adults are stressed- apparently even kids are stressed these days. Dang- that's a lot of stress. Our family is certainly not the exception. We briefly discussed ways all kinds of people cope with stress, then listed healthy ways to cope with stress.

The boys ate cookies...
Brian stuffed one in his mouth- so Jack of course, couldn't be outdone--- and stuffed two.
I love this picture of the girls just watching them. My title for the photo-
"so this is what boys do?"

It was good timing- this family night lesson.
A new year, college, high school, jr. high, work, looking for jobs, play practice, homework, mission... there is a lot going on here! We are certainly not immune from feelings of stress, anxiety & depression. How to cope:
Reading scriptures & prayer
Being around people & not "holing up alone"
Exercise
Self pep talks- positive thoughts
service to others
laughing at yourself & having a sense of humor
relaxation exercises
memorize for times of stress- hymns, primary songs, scriptures
having daily- weekly- monthly- yearly things to look forward to
and setting realistic goals

It's a lot of options not a list of things to do...

just before family night trent & the neighbor kid were playing legos in the family room
trent: mom, can friend stay for dinner?
mom: no we are having a special family night.
trent: darn!
trent to friend: do you have family night tonight?
friend: we almost never have family night.
trent: lucky!

Today Brian & I went shopping & packed up a final load of stuff.
Stuff to take to his new apartment.
-dang-
he took some stuff down yesterday
but school starts tomorrow... he had to go.
It was weird.

Like-
shoot, he's not leaving again is he?
cause, ya- I can't take that...

so...

he's all filled up

food

gas

new sheets

notebooks, pens, paper, cell phone....

more food

class schedule.

~sigh~

Ya it's a good thing we had that lesson last night.

loaded with SNOW

Yesterday we got totally dumped on with snow!

Look at this-- six to eight inches- really!

Jack came home for one last doctor's appointment & to get some laundry done.

Lots of studying going on in his life- with finals next week.

Brian is studying too- he is taking the college placement test for math & english tomorrow. It's amazing how much math & english you forget when you've been a missionary in a different country speaking spanish for two years! good new though, he can test out of Spanish & get 26 credits, therefore making him nearly a sophomore right away! He is considering majoring in international business with a Spanish minor. I love having a Spanish speaker in the house. He answers all solicitors phone calls- so funny- and confuses his grandmother who usually thinks she has the wrong number & calls back....

This morning trent bundled up for the two block walk to school. It was a balmy 7 degrees on the front porch, but it stopped snowing. More snow is coming this weekend. It is BEAutiful & so festive.

It surprises me how much I love this snow!

heck, I'm not crying... that's just my allergies

Well, today is the big day-

Jack just left.

We sat here on the porch this morning waiting for his dad to come home from work to say goodbye and talked a bit-- while my allergies bugged me....

Poor kid, has to sit with his sniveling mother.

It's the price he had to pay since we won't be eating for a month or two with all the money we spent getting him out the door. Seriously- new tires& windshield, food, bedding, apartment stuff- it adds up so fast!

I am proud of this kid.

He can do it- I'm am so thrilled he is at my beloved BYU. Living on campus just a walk away from where his dad & I sat talking on the back steps until much too late- just a walk away from where his dad held my hand the first time at a BYU football game in a near blizzard- & just a walk away from where his dad asked me to marry him.

so ya- I'm not sad- not sad at all.


NOpe- I'm not crying either...
or sitting alone in my bedroom with a box of tissue...
or eating pie...
or any of those things
dang kids