Jake's Saturn Project

Jake did his first presentation, project, and paper on Saturn. He worked really hard. We both did. We know a lot about Saturn. Did you know that Saturn had 61 known moons? Did you know on October 9th of this year they discovered another ring? Did you know that it takes Saturn 39 1/2 years to orbit the sun? Did you know that Saturn would float on water it is so light? Did you know some of its rings appear to be twisted into a braid? Now you do. Ask us anything about Saturn we could tell you the answer!...We...I mean Jake got a "100% A!" (that is what Jake said when I asked him what he got on the project). Saturn is pretty cool. So cool it is Jake's favorite planet. Here are a couple pictures of him working hard.

Merry Christmas to ME!

I dropped my beloved camera and broke it a few months ago. I have been using Aaron's horrible old work one ever since...Until today! I saw a camera on sale that called out my name...Well, actually let me back up a few days. On Saturday Jake and I were at Sam's club and I bought a really cheap, (turns out in more ways than one), camera! I was so excited. Until I brought it home. I worried it seemed a little cheaply made. Aaron asked me what drew me to it. Was it the price tag or was this really the camera I wanted? Well, I took a couple of pictures and realized I hated that cheap camera so I returned today. Aaron told me he was going to buy me one for Christmas any way, so not to worry!..Now back to my wonderful camera. Jake and I were at Target waiting for his prescription to be filled and we were just looking around. And there it was. My new camera, on sale for a great price. It was a cheap price but not cheap in quality! I took several pictures with it in Target and fell in love. Don't get me wrong. This is not a fancy expensive camera. But it does what I need it to do. It fits in my purse (Aaron says I should really call it an overnight bag. All my "purses" are big, but I have everything you could possible need in it. I will prove that to you soon, right here on my blog.) It takes pictures right when I turn it on, rather than waiting for it to warm up or something. It also takes pictures that aren't blurry or so delayed people are walking a way before it even takes it! I am so happy. Jake isn't as thrilled as I am. I think it is because I made him pose for a few...okay, fine a lot of pictures. Here are a few of them. I know I am not a photographer, but humor me people. These are pictures that I just snapped and was happy with! You can't do that with just any camera. Definitely not cheap ones or old junkie work ones. Thanks Aaron! I love my Christmas present!

I just had to see if it would focus close up because the old camera never would have!

Just looking up at the pretty trees

My new camera has the squares that pop up to show you what it is focusing on. I wanted to see if it would still focus quickly if I tilted it. It did! Love that face.

Is Jake a cute boy or what? He was waiting for me to feed him in this one...


I took a picture of Emily when Jake started getting annoyed. She is so shiny. I love that dog. She doesn't care if I take her picture.

Just had to see how close up I could get! Jake is excited because I just heard that drinking hot drinks or eating hot soups helps wash virus germs out of your mouth and into your stomach. Supposedly your stomach acid kills a lot of them so he is drinking hot cocoa every night! If this isn't true don't tell me...(I keep thinking how come your stomach acid doesn't kill the stomach virus..), I enjoy imagining that hot cocoa takes care of germs! Any help my germ-a-phob self gets with germs is a good thing.

I can't help it. He is such a photogenic kid! Yes, I did feed him eggo waffles for dinner...Aaron isn't here during the week so easy works.

And here he is ignoring me...I got the picture and put the camera a way...

November is almost over so I better catch up on October!!!

Not having my computer for a few weeks really put me behind on my posts. I have no excuse so I have got to catch up! This is October. I think I started this post last week so it will show the wrong date and I don't know how to change it...11/23 is when I am really posting this!) If you know me at all, you also know that when I do these catch up posts they always end up backwards because I just click and post...So here is October backwards, with very little in the way of journaling:

We went to the Monroe airports Veteran's Day (THANK YOU VETERAN'S!! Just picture this with a red, white, and blue background) airshow and it was fun. I grew up going to airshows all summer. Jake has been to a couple now and just this morning said he wanted to go to another one. This is Jake in the cockpit of the "Candy Bomber". Never heard of it? Google it-it is a cool story.

Jake in front of our favorite plane

Jake and my mom. Jake is pretending to be holding a gun because this was during the grand finale when they were reenacting Pearl Harbor...and he is a boy. That is what they do...

Jake and my dad. My Dad is a Veteran! Thanks Dad! (Jake's t-shirt is from the last air show we went to. My Dad took Aaron and Jake to ride on a Huey, like the ones he was a gunner on in Vietnam.)

"Grizzly Adams did have a beard!" If you can tell me what movie I just quoted than you ROCK! Aaron and Jake.

Can you really go to something like this and not get FUNNEL CAKES!..

..and Nachos!

The fam. in front of a Black Hawk

Carving the pumpkin



This is the part when backwards gets confusing. This is Jake taking a bit of the very first pumpkin pie he (or I-I don't do pies.) ever made. You will see the whole process...backwards. (the burnt crust is my fault. I didn't know you were supposed to cover them with tin foil)






Jake and his new teacher Ms. Swanson. I went in and helped plant bulbs and flowers.


Jake wearing Nee's Halloween costume when were decorating.

When we got to Jake's new school we found out they were getting ready to have a field day and all the classes had made their shirts to match. We missed that part so we found out the colors and made our own (and 2 pillow cases too). Tie dyeing rocks by the way. Jake's was the best if I do say so myself! (we used rubber bands and bottles and it made all the difference!)

Moving!







Jake missed the last day and a half of school at his old school due to walking pneumonia. He wasn't really sleeping. Just feeling not so good. Poor boy didn't even get to tell his class goodbye!

Jake's last shower in his cool space themed bathroom.

The rainbow I saw leaving Jake's old school for the last time.

My last duty as a board member (I was in charge of "Awards and Appreciations") on the PTO at Jake's old school. We made popcorn every Wed. for the teachers.

Week 7, 8, and 9...I am a slacker...BUT WAIT A MINUTE!!!!

I have to keep this short because the real Biggest Loser is getting ready to come on (Merry Christmas Madagascar is on and I am recording it for Jake!)and I need some serious motivation!!! Here are the last three weeks in a nutshell: Week 7-gained 2. Week 8-lost 2. Week 9-gained 1. I am a slacker and I know it. But here is the good news. My period is getting ready to start again. In 9 weeks I am getting ready to have my period for the 2nd time! That doesn't happen for me with my PCOS. It is usually every 3 months (if that)! Actually it is less time than that-I had my period week 4 (just looked back at my old posts) and now week 9 I am getting ready to have it again!!! I am seriously just realizing this!!! This is motivation!

Halloween!

Obi Won trick or treating. (He wouldn't let me paint his face like a "Jake"-o-lantern for FHE this year and take pictures. I did it last year when he was missing his two front teeth. He has 4 spaces this year...It would have been perfect! Stinker)

Emily the pumpkin. Tina (my sis) made this costume for Daisy probably 10 years ago! It fit Daisy a little better, but Emily rocked it too.

Every year Jake asks us at the last minute to dress up with him. You think we would have caught on by now and been prepared. My mom had a cap and tiara (you name it my mom has it), so I was a queen and Aaron was a pirate. Our ward had a trunk or treat the night before and all the adults were supposed to dress up like pirates so Aaron was a pirate. I got the cheesy pirate t-shirt at Walmart (you name it Walmart has it).

Papa G.(my dad) and Jake sitting at the front door.

Nee (my mom) and Jake sorting the loot!

We are finally "homeless"!!!

We finally closed on the sale of our house on Friday, (after many delays-the people buying our home were getting a USDA loan. After seeing how the government handled the processing of their loan, I am even more concerned about them taking over health care too...pray they don't people-seriously!) and I am sooooo glad! That means I have a computer again. My parents let me use theirs but they have had a lot going on and I don't want to be sitting and blogging if they needed it. My mom was getting ready for her last training as the Stake Relief Society President and my dad has been trying to get all the insurance information in order from his old job. He was a pilot for Wachovia and when they were bought by Wells Fargo they laid off the whole flight department. They decided that it would be a good time to go on a mission. They have also been getting all the paper work for that together. During my dad's physical they found out that he has prostate cancer. They caught it very early and he is going to be able to do the radiation treatment and not even delay their mission. So, it has been pretty busy around here!
I don't think I ever explained why or where we moved to. We moved back to the Charlotte area so Aaron can go back to school. In about 2 1/2 years he will have his Bachelors (finishing this off)in Construction management, a minor in math, his masters and teaching certificate. It is perfect timing because with my parents going on a mission we have a place to stay! They didn't want to sell their house and we needed a cheap place to stay. Jake and I came down about a month ago, when we thought we were going to be closing right away, to get him going at his new school. Aaron is going to keep doing his online classes and keep working until Christmas (unless he gets laid off before that...).The only bummer is that he will only be here on the weekends until then, but the money in the bank will make it worth it. It is amazing how Heavenly Father is mindful of our needs and makes the path clear for us. My parents are getting ready to go to Uruguay to visit my sister and her family this week until right before Christmas. My dad will have his surgery were they will implant radiation "seeds" into his prostate when he gets back, so please keep him in your prayers.
So, our computer is sitting on the giant desk in our, room that Aaron will be studying on for a couple of years and I am so happy! We have felt very good about the decisions we have made for Aaron to go back to school and to have the plans all work out is no coincidence. We can see Heavenly Fathers hand in it all and we feel so blessed.

Week 6..a few days late!

I did weigh myself last week I just haven't posted it yet! I lost another pound! Our computer is still at out old house but I will have it this weekend (because we finally close on Thursday!!!)! So expect the rest of October in pictures...I WILL weigh in and post tomorrow for week 7. Thanks for the support! I will really be back to blogging soon...I think it will take me days to see all your posts I missed, but I can't wait!