On Friday Josh & I went and had a tour of the University of Utah.  Spent 3 hours up there & saw their amazing library, Student Union with gaming area, food court, pool tables & bowling alley.  Also got to take a look at the dorms.  Josh said he could see living there.  He should find out if he got accepted on Wed.  

The first term of his senior year just got finished.  Tomorrow starts the second term.  Last term he took 3 classes at the Advanced Learning Center in computer gaming, programming, & design.  He really loved those classes (obviously).  This term he is only taking 2 classes at the high school; US Government & English.  He has to take a  financial literacy class too but u guess he can do that one online.  

The Eagle Scout project got started yesterday too.  Marlin got it all cut now the scouts & Josh have to prep the wood, paint it, assemble it & deliver it.  Should be done by the end of the month!

Marlin & I went to Sofa Mart today to find a new sofa.  Found a really nice set with a sofa, love seat & recliner.  Marlin decided that if we're going to get new furniture we should also get new carpet & paint the living room too.  So I guess I get to start packing up the front room.

Updated picture

Senior pictures - done!  Here is one I snuck into with him.  We don't have many that are with me & him since I am usually the one taking the pictures.  I have to extend my deepest gratitude to the teacher and friend who took the pictures.  I loved every single one of them and I'm going to have the HARDEST time picking which photo to use for the graduation announcements.  I STILL can't believe he's a senior this year!  We have even started filling out the application for the University of Utah. 

Swim is going pretty good. There's only been one USA registered team meet and the high school has started practice but no meets for them yet.

School year under way

Senior year!  AH the memories!  Can't belive how fast the summer has gone by!  This time many years ago I was...well, never mind.

Josh only had 3 credit hours left to get at the beginning of this year in order to graduate.  After meeting with his school counselor we discovered that in order to meet the NCAA requirements for college he had to also take another science and math class.  There were also some classes that he wanted to do at the ALC (Advanced Learning Center).  They have classes that are leaning more towards the major you want to take.  He enrolled in the computer programming 1 & 2, Linux (this one wasn't planned but it turned out that way), a gaming app class, and a mobile app class.  He was really excited for the gaming and mobile app class (go figure).  So far, he is really enjoying them.  He has a program called RPG Maker that helps you make your own games and he has made a game with the program.  His gaming teacher found out and asked him to save the game to a flashdrive and bring it in so they could show the class.  Cool~!

Short course is now underway as well.  Practice just started this week so Josh is having to get back into the groove of practicing every day now that he no longer is working. 

I have been at Wasatch for 8 years now!  My anniversary date was Aug. 21.  Can't believe it's been that long....  And two days are still never the same.  We are a little short handed right now as one of the secretaries went on maternity leave and decided to be a stay-at-home mom.  There are now just 2 full time secretaries at the front desk and 2 part time.  Some days get pretty stressful but I think we're handling it great. 

Marlin has been busy planning for a garage.  We spent the last Sunday out in the backyard working on de-junking.  Nate & Amber came over and needless to say, they did most of the work out there.  Nate spent his day splitting the wood that has been out there drying out and Amber, Josh & I got to work on the ivy that continues to grow over our neighbors fence into our yard. 

Long Course Season is over

Wow, what an end to the long course swimming season it was for Josh.  We went to Cedar City for the Beehive Finale State Meet July 20 & 21.  He swam 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 back, 200 back and 200 I/M.  Busy couple of days for us both.  Here are his finishes respectively: 2nd, 3rd, 1st, 6th, 5th and 1st.  He also had some big time drops which hasn't happened for him in a while so it was really awesome that Marlin came with us to watch him.  His biggest drop was in the 200 back with almost 6 seconds!  I spent the weekend officiating so I got front row seating.  Makes it hard to be a mom however cause I want to cheer for him (I do sneak a couple of screams now and then) but it's frowned on because we are supposed to be unbiased officials.  I really try to make it so I'm not on deck when he swims and I take my credentials off so I can cheer. 

The last and final meet was the Long Course State Championship.  He qualified to swim on Thurs. July 25th for the 200 fly and Sat. the 27th for the 100 fly.  He also swam on a couple of relays; the 200 free and 400 free.  This meet didn't turn out quite like he had hoped but he still was amazing to watch.  He wasn't able to medal or ribbon for the 100 fly but he did metal in 8th place for his 200 fly.   His coach told him that leg of the relays were fast enough to be state cuts (why he doesn't swim that fast when he's in the individual events is hard for me to understand).  I've told him if he can swim them that fast in the relays, he can swim that fast in the individual events.  Time will tell.  He is very excited for next year, both short course and high school. 

Speaking of high school, I can't believe he's going to be a senior this year!  I know I'm going to be the biggest baby all year long.  Everything that happens in senior year just seems to be extra special. Makes me want to cry just thinking about it.  More about high school soon.

Lifeguard

Another thing I forgot to post...

Josh got his first job this summer!  He is working at the Spanish Fork Rec. Center as a lifeguard.  He says it's boring but then I remind him that boring is good for that job cause if he's busy that means someone needed to be rescued and they're doing something wrong.  I'm hoping that when school starts he will be able to go to the Springville or Provo pool and work so the income will keep coming for him.  I think Provo would be better with more hours but Springville is closer (obviously).

Califonia meet

Back in April we got the privilege to go to California for a swim meet for Josh.  He qualified for his 200 fly for the Far Western swim meet in Morgan Hill.  I was hoping to be able to spend a week traveling but I didn't have enough leave from work.

The day we left, we drove to Reno and spent the night at Circus Circus.  Marlin hit the gambling tables and me & Josh went to the Midway.  The next day we woke up & drove to San Francisco.  We went to the Golden Gate Bridge, drove down the crookedest street, visited the Coit Tower, and then went to Pier 49.  While we were there we ate dinner at Bubba Gumps.  Then we finished going to Morgan Hill.  We hit there about 9:30, kinda late for Josh since he had to swim early the next morning.

When we got to the meet the next morning it was kinda chilly.  Josh was the first event of the day, the second heat.  He got to the blocks and got set.  As the starter went off, someone had false started and the swimmers were called back, unfortunately Josh and the swimmer next to him didn't hear the call back sound and swam a full 50 meters before they were stopped.  Their heat had to get out of the water and got to the area where the starter & referee stood.  The next heart went and then Josh's heat got ready to go again.  Good start this time but by the end of the race Marlin & I could really see Josh was struggling to get to the wall.  He did finish the race but was TOTALLY exhausted.

We went back to the room and let him rest for a bit and then decided to go to Monterey and spent some time at Cannery Row. That was a pretty cool place.

The next morning we got up and drove to Lake Tahoe and saw Emerald Bay and then drive back to Reno.  Spent more time at the Midway and Marlin at the tables.  Then it was back to home.

We had a great time and me & Josh really enjoyed being able to spend some VERY nice quality time with Marlin and each other.

Had an awesome weekend!  Josh had a wonderful birthday...had 3 friends stay Friday night and Saturday had more friends & family join us at Hang Time in Orem.  2 hours of jumping, cake made by my fabulous sister & ice cream and it was back to the house to play some Wii games that he got for his birthday.  Then Saturday night Desi got to spend the night with us.  On Sunday Tyson, Ashly, Amber, Nate & all the kids were at the house for the afternoon.  Need to have more weekends like that!  Enjoyed every minute of it!

Here we are in St. George so Josh can swim in the Senior Champ State swim meet.  Today he swam in the 100 fly, 50 free & 100 back.  His seed time in the fly was 57.45 and he ended with a 1:00.something.  So, not a great time but oh well.  He was on his seed times in his 50 free & 100 back so that's good.  Tomorrow he swims 200 fly which is his best event and the 100 free.  

Last weekend he swam in the high school 4A state meet in the 100 fly.  He went in seeded in the 18th place statewide & finished in 10th.  He won his heat but had to come back from a slow start.  At the end the first leg, he was in 4th & overtook 1st place the last 10 yards.  Very exciting race!  It  was awesome!  I wasn't officiating so I got to scream & boy did I!

Thanksgiving

Can't believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone!  We went to mom and dad's house in Kearns this year.  Mom wasn't feeling well so Clint and Debbie stepped up to the plate and made Thanskgiving dinner.  Yum!!!   It was great as usual!

Trying to get the tree up this weekend...Marlin has it up so it's my turn for decorating it.  I should let him do it but he says he's not an inferior desecrator.  Guess if I want it looking good I better do it.  Hoping to get most shopping done this weekend too.  Busy, busy, busy. 

News flash - I haven't posted in a while.... now on to other things.  Josh had a meet last weekend and was able to take 2nd place in the 200 butterfly.  Still continues to be his best event.  We are planning to trip to California to a meet called Far Westerns so he can swim it there.  He's very excited!  School is going pretty good for him.  We figured that at the end of the year he will need 3 credit hours to graduate high school.  Maybe a job is on the horizon?  He tried to get hired as a lifeguard last summer but was a little slow on getting his applications in and everything was filled already.  Better luck this year!

I am not looking forward to the cold!  We got about 12 inches at our house from this last storm.  Luckily most of it has melted.  I am still running occasionally (about once a week) but I've decided now that this time of year has rolled around, I better start doing more time on the treadmill.  I was track running when Josh was swimming early morning (5:30) but now it's too cold.  Saw a picute of myself when I was at my lowest weight and I can't believe I've gained it all back!  The battle is back on.  If I did it once, I guess I can do it again. Seems to be harder the older I get (go figure).

School is now under way and Josh is liking all his classes.  Now if I could just get him to turn in the work after he does it...

We found out that his 200 butterfly that he did so awesome in long course qualifies him to go to the Far Western meet in California in April!  He's WAY excited about that!  So we're saving money to ensure that there's enough to get us there.  This will be the first time he's been to California. 

Work is still work for me.  Each day is different and we all certainly keep busy!  Still trying to work my fanny off at the gym too.  Not being very successful but a good workout seems to help keep me sane. 

IT'S A CUT!!!!!

4th of July has come and gone...We got up that morning and did some things around the house, washed the vehicles and then went to my mom & dad's for a bbq.  Kinda weird celebrating the 4th on a Weds. and having to go to work the next day.  Too many Mondays!!!  It was all fun though. 

Josh is swimming in another swim meet this week, too.  Yesterday he swam the 200 butterfly, 50 freestyle, and 200 breast stroke.  Not a bad way to start a meet...he dropped 13 seconds and the 200 fly and got a state cut and then turned around and dropped 7 seconds off his 200 breast!  Amazing drops!  I was SO excited I think the whole pool heard me scream!  We had a little delay, too.  Nice little lightning storm stopped the meet for about 45 minuntes.  Today he's swimming the 100 free and 200 I/M.  He has a shot at the state cut for the 100 free so I'm excited to see how he does. I think after yesterday's cut he's going to do good!  Saturday he will be swimming the 100 back, 100 fly, and 200 free.  Got a chance at a couple of state cuts there, too.  Actually, if he keeps doing as well as he is (is this asking too much?) he could get cuts on all 3 on Saturday.  Wouldn't that be AWESOME!!!!!!!

After the meet, we are celebrating Marlin's birthday.  The whole family is coming and we're going to smoke some ribs and whole chickens, have grilled zucchini, bell peppers, and onions, sweet potatoes and salad.  I think Debbie's going to bake a black forest cake for him, too.  Can't wait!

Week over yet?

Well, this week has found me without my Joshua.  He went to scoup camp on Tues. and won't be back till Sat.  I know he was really excited to go because he got out of swim practice almost the whole week...


I have been keeping busy; Tues. night I went to Golds on University Parkway to go to a Zumba class with a friend from work.  Boy it was fun!  Haven't done Zumba in a VERY long time!  Surprisingly wasn't that sore, either.  Like that!  Then last night I went to my regular gym and worked my biceps & triceps.  That made me MORE sore!  Tonight I get to run!  Maybe one of these days I'll lose what I've been trying to the last 3 years or so.  If not, at least I'm doing something!


We got out garden planted about 3 weeks ago and the strawberries that I planted last year are really producing some good ones this year!  Love strawberries!  Can't wait to see what else grows.  We planted zucchini, red and green peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and I even tried a watermelon plant.  Hopefully, something will come out of it. 


Been wondering if I should get one of the Pass of all Passes and if I did, how much I would use it.  Hmmmm?


Marlin had a good Father's Day.  The whole family came over for a BBQ.  My mom, dad, sister, brother, sis-in-law with her daughter, Amber, Nate, Desi, Lillie, Ty, Ashly, Jaxson, Carter and McKinnley!  What a group!  Had lots of fun with the kiddos though.

Offically certified

Well, Josh is officially certified to become a lifeguard!  He took the lifeguard training this week since it's Spring Break and now he is ready to become employed.  I can't believe he's old enough to hold down a job.  He's pretty excited about lifeguarding this year.  Hope he can find something pretty soon.  He did get an application from the Provo Rec. Center yesterday so it's just a matter of getting him to fill it out.

High school swimming

So Josh did the high school swim team this year along with the USA team he is on. I can tell you that it's quite the experience! Meets are done SO differently and, of course, I was there to officiate. There's never enough of those! So I've definitely put my training to good use this year! Josh did well on the team and says he wants to swim on the team the rest of his high school years. I think next year he will definitely be competing at the state meet. Unfortunately he didn't make it this year but he will be there to cheer his teammates on. Go Red Devils!

So, the school year is off...fall is just around the corner...

Josh is swimming both UV Rays and the high school team this year. Busy, busy. I guess he is liking school so far. Really doesn't say much about it. He did get his Kindle stolen from one of his classes. Really sucks!

Marlin just got a denial from the VA about his claim for his paralyzed diaphram. Really don't understand how they can not see how it's all connected and he deserves to be reimbursed for how they screwed up. So, we file another appeal and see what happens.

Oops again...

Looks like I'll never learn my lesson of trying to stay on top of this blog thing....

Well, here it is the first ofJuly. What do we have planned? Marlin is up in Montana so Josh & I get to go play for the WHOLE weekend. We're going to spend the weekend up at my mom & dad's place with my sis and her kids and my brother, Rease andSuzi. Gonna plan on going to the Kearns Water Park and barbecue and be lazy. We might even try to squeeze some fireworks in there somewhere.

Josh is still swimming his heart out. Two practices for him in the summer. First is at 5:10 am in Spanish Fork and then at 4 pm in Provo. Been kinda hard getting up in the morning to get him to practice and thank heavens it's almost finished.

Marlin's in Montana working on the cabin up there again. He's planning on being up there for about a month. Of course, I don't know if that means 1 month from when they started working or when he left. Been gone for a week tomorrow. Boy, time is FLYING by!

We had Josh's birthday on the 19th & 20th. He had invited about 30 people (that included family). About 6 of the boys were able to stay over the night. They spent most of the night outside playing night games like ghost in the graveyard and other stuff. We they got up the next morning we had pancakes and then they all went home about noon. Taylor, Josh's best friend since elementary, was the only one that stayed for when the rest of the family came on Saturday a bar-b-q. Can't believe he's 15 now.

We went to a swim meet on Friday and Saturday. This meet was called Last Chance because it was the last chance to get any state cuts. Josh didn't manage to knock any time off the things that he usually swims but he did achieve one of the goals that he had set for himself. He wanted to swim a 400 yard event and he did that this weekend. He swam the 400 I/M (which is all four strokes in the same swim). He swam it pretty fast, too. Not fast enough for a state cut but he did really good! Next weekend is the BC State meet that he's swimming in and then he'll get a little break until long course starts.

We've also had to check out what he needs to do to get his learner's permit for driving. Marlin had a driver's book for him to study and he read it all in one day and told me he was ready to take the test. Today I had him do a practice test and he missed 1 question. Yikes! I guess he is ready. We probably won't get him to the Motor Vehicle Division this week since it's going to be crazy again but I told him to keep things in his mind and we'll see about next week.

Here we are at the end...

Why oh why does time have to go so fast???? I really don't understand where all my time goes and why God hasn't seen it in my best interest to answer my prayers and grant me 24 more hours in my days!!!

Well, this month has been SO busy! I've managed to make it to work every day, host 2 baby showers, visit the newest member of our family (Mckinnley), have an overnight birthday party for Josh (can't believe he's 15-almost), get 11.75 more hours of swim official training in, and I still have most of my skruples in tact! Needless to say, I haven't made it to the gym as often as I had been but my goal is to get back to at least 3 days at the gym and 3 days at home. After all, once again, summer will be here before I know it & I won't be any closer to my goal weight than I am now. Better get it together!

Josh has been sick the last 3 days. He was supposed to swim this weekend for the team Heart Attack meet but ended up staying home from school Thursday, running a slight fever; I made him go to school Friday morning because he wanted to swim in the meet (I'm such a mean, ole' mom) but ended up calling Marlin to come get him and bring him home at lunch, and this morning was still running a fever of 100. So, no meet, no state cuts (we're still praying for a miracle to happen next weekend at the Last Chance meet though). He's bummed he ages up right before state but is still happy he was born on Leap Day.

We had a parent/teacher conference just over a week ago and after the threat of grounding for having any '0' show up on his on-line grades, Josh has managed to get everything turned in--and on time! Of course, I'll have to cut him some slack since he's been sick for the last 2 days. I think the last parent/teacher conference we went to was the faster one we have ever been to. It went something like this: Teacher-Hi thanks for coming. Me-Glad to be here. Teacher-Josh participates in class, stays on task and gets his assignments in. He's a pleasure to have in class. Me-I'm happy to hear that. Teacher-Do you have any questions? Me-No. Teacher-Thanks for coming!

Marlin is still have set-backs from his surgery but is also looking forward to being able to go to Idaho and do some work with his brother, Lynn. Not quite sure how that will go but we're definitely looking towards this will high hopes. An attorney finally got back to him and we've been told that the VA probably won't respond to the lawsuit we're filing for about 18 months! We are certainly hoping that things will start to improve with the warming of the weather (if THAT ever happens!)

Another month bites the dust

Today is now 21 months smoke-free! Can't believe it's almost been 2 years already! Debbie is doing good now that they seem to have her fluids corrected. She's dong 2 2-liter bags a day now but that seems to be helping her improve her levels. She did get another phone call letting her know that there might be another liver for he but itwas a long-shot and they would let her know for sure. The next day they called and said they had to give it to someone else. Bummer! Hopefully it won't be much longer and she will get the call for her.

Josh has really bumped up his swimming times, too. He swam a 200 butterfly at the meet in December in Kearns for the first time and took 1st place! Then at the meet last Saturday he swam it again and dropped 9 seconds off! He also swam the 200 IM on Saturday and dropped 2 or 3 seconds, and anoher 2 seconds off his 100 butterfly! He is really starting to excel. He probably won't have any state cuts this year since he ages-up right before State is held but he'll have an awesome shot at getting them next year.

Marlin is still fighting with the VA trying to get them to realize that his diaphragm got messed up when he had his neck surgery and get them to pay for it. Seems that we are going to have to file a suit. Can't wait till the weather gets better and maybe then he'll feel better.