A Tale of a Tail...or two or three

Parties Involved: Joseph, Valerie, Speckles the cat, Spot the snake, a mysterious noise under the fridge & myself of course.

Our silly cat has been stalking the fridge for a couple weeks, which isn't out of the ordinary she has the habit of stalking the dishwasher while it's running. But a few days ago both Joseph & I heard a mysterious noise coming form under the fridge. With Valerie's help we cleared off the fridge and pulled it out . it was dirty back there so we grabbed the broom and mop, I swept across the back of the  fridge and out popped a little brown mouse! Within seconds Speckles had the mouse & ran down stairs with it, and released it! Right into Mom's sewing/ craft area! So we immediately started tearing apart the whole area. Val wearing gardening gloves (to get the mouse from the cat) and I was armed with a flashlight to see into the many areas the mouse could be. That's about when Mom and Dad got home.. to a path of wreckage from the kitchen to downstairs. The cat was going crazy in the confusion. Eventually it came down to one box we lifted it and before any of us could blink the cat had the mouse again, Val grabbed it from her and dashed upstairs to feed it to spot the snake.

The End...

P.S. Mom has now completely reorganized and cleaned her sewing/ craft area. The cat was rewarded with treats and the mouse was eaten by Spot (the next day). Mystery of the noise under the fridge? Solved and Resolved.

You may have noticed...

We are not a private blog any more! Yay. Feel free to follow us and comment at you leisure. Our blog was fast approaching it's allotted amount of readers (blogger limits you to 100) and our blog wasn't as accessible  to read because of being private... anyway we just didn't feel the need to be a private blog anymore.

:)

Enjoy

Stuff

Work: I  now have 30 students! Holy Cow! We celebrated with ice cream cake. (that was the deal we made when I hit 20 students).

One new little student "I" (6 yrs old) on her first day sat on the piano bench, looked me straight in the eye and says " I have something to tell you.. Why did the music teacher need a ladder?"

Me:"Why?" I: " so she could reach the high notes!" So cute huh? It totally made my day! I am so glad that I had my notebook on hand to record it. Oh and another funny, "L" my 4 year old student (yes, 4 but that kid is a freakin' genius). He got really excited and told me that he heard a Beethoven Bear song at preschool and he wanted to sing it to me (Beethoven Bear is a character that we use in his lessons) "Beethoven's wig, is REALLY BIG!" sung to Beethoven's 5th. What is awesome is that I know exactly what he sung, its from Beethoven's Wig or Sing along symphonies, a neat collection of classical songs with hysterical lyrics, some that deal with the real facts about the composer. Apparently "L" had been singing it all day so he couldn't forget. Adorable!

Church: A new year, a new batch of sunbeams- fresh out of nursery. 11 am church may be good for some but not great in junior primary, it's definitely nap time and lunchtime for most of them. Which makes it a little rowdy- and being in the presidency and not having a child in sunbeams makes me the official sunbeam-wrangler- and I'm good at it. Sure there are some tears and boogers but they also cuddle. One kid "T" had a hard time at first then she was really happy the rest of the time- after I wiped the sad away I got some serious cuddles then she was fine. I even ended up taking her to the bathroom and it was an adventure, I'll spare you the details. Another sunbeam "A" was having a full blown meltdown we spent a lot of time together- until class time when he totally passed out asleep. LOL. Speaking of bathrooms, while I was out in the hall tacking up letters on our bulletin board CTR4/5 class was taking a potty break, soon out came 4 screaming little girls- there was a dead fish in the toilet! True Story. It was hilarious, but luckily it was girls not boys since I am pretty sure we would have heard what one of them did on time of it. Primary is so fun- yet so exhausting- at least until the sunbeams adjust. Then I may get bored!

Joseph is team teaching Valient 10/11 boys with two other teachers one is Bro. Stites who is pretty awesome, but I think that he and Joseph get along a little too well sometimes! And Joseph is subbing in seminary tomorrow for Bro. Moses, and again next week for Sis Wright, I am so glad that he gets to do that!

2010 wrap-up

November: Thanksgiving, Forgotten Carols, Black Friday shopping, Reception.

Thanksgiving was awesome we were lucky enough to spend it in Spokane, staying with family, and being able to spend it with our Idaho family. There was soooo much food! As all way too good. Spokane was beautiful and snowy.

We got to go to the Forgotten Carols performance while in Spokane, a performance in which Mom & Dad Mecham, Jessica, Sam & Kaelee, Landon, Ashton & Raelyn Toth participated in. The rest of us were up high in the balcony watching. It had been almost 6 years since Joseph and I saw it together (that was also my first time) It was amazing as always, and fun to know so many people in it.

Black Friday, umm well I hadn't really planned on going out shopping in Spokane. But John really really wanted to go shopping, especially becuase no one else is really into Black Friday Shopping. We left just before 6 am, we felt a little like we were sneaking out, since everyone was still sleeping! We had a lot of fun, and were quite successful too. We got back to the house and Joseph asked about one item, and we had forgotten to get it, it was still early. John was wired and we didn't want him to wake anyone up, so we all got dressed again and went to get the special item and breakfast. The special item was a gift idea for Sam and Kaelee (we hadn't given them a wedding present, and Kaelee expressed  interest in ....a garden gnome!)

here is Nacho the Gnome!

 Reception. There was tons of snow the day of the reception and when everyone went to decorate we were left behind, something about too many "helpers". So we decided to shovel the driveway and stairs etc, but when we had finished there was already another couple inches covering up our work. so we went to the backyard where Joseph made a snow man (which was later wrecked by boys jumping into it from the balcony, lol) and I took pictures. The reception was beautiful, we had fun. We even created a little sibling mischief  (J&S, Jessica, John Aston and Landon) which I don't think Sam and Kaelee know about yet. We took bets on when they would find it, but we all agreed it would be a LONG time. And no I am not telling, lets just say it is payback. We all ate too many desserts but they were amazing! And visited with some great people. 

self portrait of us at the reception, please notice Joseph's bow tie.

 He LOVES doing that!

December: Random stuff leading up to Christmas....

Igloo! Joseph had started making an igloo, he didn't finish before we went over to a friends house for dinner. We had an awesome time and stayed up wayyy too late. When we arrived home (after 2 am) we found that Mom and Dad had finished it for him! 

Here is T-Bone inside it, to show the massive size.

yes, he insisted on having his ear up, in all the pictures!

Christmas was spent at Ensign Ranch (Cle Elum Washington, about 2 1/2 hours away) Our Family, Dad's side had rented out the main lodge for a few days. It is the second time I have been able to go, the best time to be sure (I was really sick the first time and quarantined to a room. And there wasn't any snow last time)

Here are some trees in Cle Elum that Mom and I found while exploring!

And here is the view right out our bedroom window during the stay.

A view outside toward the pasture with an awesome snowman. 

This picture just looks like Christmas to me.

Christmas morning was eventful. After stockings were opened my uncle Ron opened his hand with his knife. So after some quick First Aid and Preisthood blessing, the men were off to Ellensburg for the Hospital, he needed 5 stitches.( his 20th set of stitches) so the main present opening was put off until the men came back so we did breakfast, of custom omlettes (our family was in charge + Bentley filling in for Dad) We wore aprons and chef hats, it was a lot of fun. We did our best keeping the kids occupied while waiting for our Dads to come back. Once they were back we fed them and Christmas continued. Other things we did: sang Christmas carols, children 1/2 pound gift exchange, adult 1 pound gift exchange, lots of card games, sledding, snow ball fights etc.  And to finish this post... the Swanger family nativity!

There were shepherds in the fields, herding pillow pets!

And wise men who saw the star!

and followed it riding camels (or ripsticks!) to see the baby Jesus

and the whole cast

shepherds, wise men, angel , mary Joseph and the Donkey resting.
minus the narrator in the rafters.
sorry there aren't more pictures, we didn't have the most reverent nativity and there was much laughter. Considering that the gifts from the wise men included a slinky, chocolate and a guinea pig. The angel was shy, the donkey past out after the long journey, the  shepherds had animals of all kinds, Joseph had a headache and Mary has an attitude.... lol.


Goodbye 2010.
I missed a lot of things I know,
but that's what happens when you wait soo long to post.

A letter...

So Long 2010,
We're sorry to tell you that we did  not like you very much. Don't feel bad, it's not all your fault, your predecessor  left us in a state of shock & disbelief- a direct result of Joseph's being diagnosed as legally blind. Not to worry you, we were very quick to act, even before you came around. Our time with you tested the very limit of what we could endure, in a very different way than ever before. No, you are not the worst year we have had, but you are still not looking too good. Please don't think that we hated you, our time together wasn't all bad. We've had some great adventures too: working with DSB, amazing DSB counselors, braille classes, computer classes, flying to Idaho, 1st TL Mecham family reunion,  camping at Mt. Rainier, getting two nieces, Sam and Kaelee getting married, working in Primary, Joseph subbing for seminary, Thanksgiving with the Mechams & Toths, among other things....ending with the Swanger family (extended too) gathering at Ensign Ranch for Christmas. There are some things about you we'd like to forget but also good memories that we will hold onto. We rang in 2011 (early) with our family at Diana and Matt's log cabin, with giant bonfire. During our year together we learned that we are both stronger and braver that we thought possible and plan on rising from the ashes o 2010 with renewed hope for good things to come in 2011. No hard feelings.

Sincerely,
Joseph & Shaylee

Updates coming soon, I promise

But I am a busy lady.. concert tonight with Kennewick High, Recital tomorrow with my students (and dress rehearsal for Stake Choir), Stake Choir Saturday and Sunday! Nope, not overwhelmed yet. Maybe tomorrow, that's when the scheduling gets funky.

We printed our blog through blurb.com for all those who wanted to know.... and we LOVE it! I really recommend the site, you can customize all you want and have a lot of creative control, which I like. Ordering is simple and easy and it is shipped fast!

See you when I am done performing!

Shaylee

Joseph has an interview tomorrow...  please send positive thoughts and prayers his way.


**Update***
The interview went great! Unfortunately there is no open position, even for an internship, yet. The interviewer was really happy to meet with Joseph, impressed by his resume  he even  kept his resume. A foot in the door...hopefully. But it was a good & positive experience for Joseph. I am a very proud wife!

Quickly before bed...

Joseph does NOT have to report for jury duty!!! 

Can I hear you say "Hallelujah!!" ??

So we are heading to Spokane for Thanksgiving...
plans a little different than before.. 

But going to be oh so fun!

We saw Harry Potter 7 this morning... AWESOME!

Loved it! so so much...

Went to a friends Harry Potter Marathon...

Tasted butter beer (alcohol-free)

Finished some crafty Christmas presents 

(can't tell you what, someone might read)

Joseph Birthday/ Christmas shopped for me
 (with my parents)

Made treats for Primary

(read: 80 mini chocolate chip cookies, 

 baking while I was working on my crafts. 

Joseph told me I was doing too much all at once...

 but did I burn any cookies? Nope!)

Oh, we got our blog published...

came in the mail last week...

LOVE it! I am so glad we did that,

it's gorgeous, and amazing to have.

Sorry this was random,

but I am tired, and we are just so excited,

we can see our family for Thanksgiving...

And I got my scarves and gloves etc. out of storage...

there may be snow on Monday.

Bring on the Hot Chocolate!

Goodnight.

When life throws you a curveball....

hit that sucker out of the park!

And lately we have been up to bat, a lot.

I hate not making solid future plans with family and friends.

The thing is, we just can't. 

We don't know what life has in store for us even a month or two in advance,

sometimes even the next week, even day to day,

so I feel guilty making plans if we'll have to break them. 

Life right now has made this absolutely impossible!

This month's example (and reason for no updates):

we had made plans to stay a few days in Spokane,

in a cute inn,

for Thanksgiving (with the Mechams and Toths),

Forgotten Carols,

Sam and Kaelee's reception.

And just some quality alone time.

We had budgeted the money and I have that week off anyway.

But we had received an email from our adoption caseworker,

 a very strongly worded email,

 about possibly closing our adoption profile.. 

it has been inactive for over a year.

 and to keep it active we would have to pay the transfer fee,

 (which happened to be the same amount we put away) 

then bust our butts to finish again. 

Now for the clincher, given our current situation we may not even be eligible anyway. 

So sent off an email back explaining that although we would love to adopt, 

but our situation is what it is,

 and it isn't going to change instantly. 

And that we understand and accept that it may make us ineligible, 

but we needed to know before we handed over the fee. 

We waited impatiently for two weeks before he got back to us, 

then he set up an appointment for two weeks later... 

giving no hint at all as to whether or not we even had a chance. 

That appointment was Thursday. 

We politely chatted with the man and when he finally asked if we had any questions, 

we had only one...

 and the answer is no. 

We are not eligible to adopt with LDSFS.

 And we're okay with that, 

but he could have told us a month ago, 

in an email!! 

We just needed an answer! 

But he did have to forward our blunt email on and up,

 to the head honchos of LDSFS to get a real answer,

 our situation being very unique. 

 He said " I felt inspired by your attitude Joseph and Shaylee. How you have accepted your blindness and are in training for full time employment. Such a healthy desire, thinking, and a beautiful attitude backed up with inspiring actions."

So we were free to go forward with our plans... almost. 

Now we wait to see if Joseph ends up having jury duty... 

which happens to fall right at the same time as our planned trip.... 

this week he doesn't have to report,

 but now we have to wait until friday to see about the week after.  

Whatever, so we already cancelled our reservations. 

 We will have to wait and see.... 

and we are getting tired of waiting.

I love it!

About 3 times in the past week, we've been asked if we were newlyweds. I then ask why, people have offered a few answers, the way we look at each other, the way we sit together, etc. 

It's sweet. Well we're not really newlyweds, coming up on 5 years in May.

Here we are fresh out of the temple, newly married newlyweds.

This was just the beginning.

The beginning of our love.

The beginning of some of the biggest challenges of our lives. 

But we're here together

Always together.