One

So, it is official! David has ONE more semester left of school! (breathe a sigh of relief).  This semester went well... it had a few bumps along the way (a big one that was out of his control, but not "life threatening") He is done with all of his core classes and just has a couple co-requisites that he has to take in the fall. WAHOO! Way to Go David!! So he is taking the summer off (because they don't offer his classes in the summer - or I would probably be making him take classes!! *whip cracking*)

Right now, with the emotions and stress involved, I can't tell you what I'm more excited about, being DONE with school (for a while - he wants his Bachelors - which I understand) or having him home on a regular basis and less stressed out (and therefore me being less stressed out), but I am anxious for a new, higher paying job, that is for sure.

Just in case you haven't heard  - we are keeping all options open as far as jobs. He will be Nationally Registered, so he will be applying for jobs, not just in Arizona.  So we may, or may not move.  It all just depends I guess and let me be the first to say, that after making next to nothing for the first 10 years of our marriage - Money Talks, as do other factors of course. But there are places that Respiratory Therapists make A LOT more than here in AZ - so those places look kinda interesting to us!!

Unkindness

So I had in interesting experience with someone in my ward the other night.  I've been doing a lot of thinking.  It was a dumb "run in" with someone who has the reputation of being the ward grump (to put it mildly).  I won't bore you with details.  But basically, I was doing my job, and she didn't like the way I did it.  I was stressed, over tired and turned out to be A LOT more emotional than I normally would have been.  Normally, I would have some quick retort to put her back in "her place".  I don't let people treat me that way. But I was caught off guard, and ended up crying - which only made me more upset - to get so worked up over something I would normally solve rather quickly.  I've, of course thought of a million things I wish I had said, had I had my wits about me that night.

But it wouldn't have solved anything.

She was confronted by people who saw and overheard the whole thing and she apologized in her own way.  Which actually turned out to be a sob fest on her part about how she is the victim. Sad really. I've come to see that the reasons she is struggling is she is lonely - much of her own doing, I'm afraid.  She seems to stir up trouble in her wake and wonder why people don't flock around her to be her friend and then feels alienated.  We sat by each other the rest of the night - sort of, on my part, to let those who saw and heard, know that it was all ok. 

The stubborn snarky side of me says - "well, she met her match, didn't she!" I know I can't, and won't let her treat people, including myself, they way she did the other night. I do try, to think before I speak. 

So now I sit here, trying to figure out, what I'm supposed to learn from this and how I feel bad for her.  Sure, I was offended, but I've got pretty thick skin. It takes A LOT to get my "feathers ruffled" and normally the situation wouldn't have bothered me as much as it did.  The part that bothers me now is where she is in her life... playing the victim card, dishing out unpleasantness, and expecting happiness in return. --- and how am I supposed to HELP her... I feel like I'm supposed to (with some armor on though)

(disclaimer : for those of you who know of the situation, or the person I am referring to, please keep this personal post private.  I do not wish to make this bigger. More for people to see that sometimes, everyone just needs to be seen in a different light.  I'm not condoning her actions - nor do I wish to embarrass her or make it bigger than it got.  Just something in my thoughts since it happened)

Bonnie's Wedding

Some of you know my friend Bonnie.  She moved here several years ago from New England to start a new life out west.  She and my mom were good friends.  I taught her mom, Ginny (before ever knowing Bonnie) the Temple Prep lessons.

She recently met a nice man, Arlin Richardson, and got married, April 23rd. Arlin is from Mesa.  They sort of met online, but officially met at a church dance. I was her Matron of Honor and had lots of fun helping make the bouquets and boutonnieres, taking their engagement photos, designing their wedding announcemtents on Stampin' Ups! My Digital Studio (FUN!!)  Deb and also did her wedding cake.  Cannon was one of her Ring Bearers.  (Zach came down with Strep Throat and couldn't even come - and since David was saying a prayer, and Deb had to stay home to be with Zach)

So here are a few photos!

Congrats to you, Bonnie and Arlin!

Love you!

Tastes Like Easter Bunny!

Happy Easter!!

Silly me, I forgot to take pictures of our family decorating Easter Eggs last night.  We had to be really careful with Zach's egg allergy... but as long as the shells don't crack, we are ok... but one cracked which contaminated the others.  So we did the egg handling, while he did the dipping.  I had heard of a technique where you wrap your eggs (cover them) in rubber bands, and then dip them in one color of dye.  Let it dry (it takes a while, so not great for impatient kids, or adults). Then take off some layers of the bands and dip in another color.  Repeat if you want. After it dries, take off all layers and you get a crazy tie dye egg.  We did it with Neon dye and the effects were pretty cool... Again... no pictures right now.  I'll try to post some later.  It was pretty fun.  The boys had a blast too (not just David and I)

After the kids went to bed, The Easter Bunny came.  Zach understands how the Magic of Santa, Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny works now.  Kind of a disappointing moment in a parent's life.  He loves being a secret agent helper though!  Things are still surprises for him, but he had fun helping the Easter Bunny hide eggs this year - and is great at keeping the Magic alive for his brothers!

David had to work this morning at 5 am, but took his lunch break at 7 am to see the kids wake up and see the Easter Bunny treats!  They were a bit groggy, but once he told them the big Bunny came, they perked right up.  (now only if it worked like that on school days!) I was down stairs with the camera ready (I remembered!!) 

I loved the look on their faces... As SOON as Elliot opened ONE egg and realized there was chocolate inside he was a HAPPY BOY.  He started his breakfast then and there.  He was eating a mini Hershey's Easter Bunny when David asked if it tasted like Chicken.  Elliot just laughed and said, "Nope, tastes like Easter Bunny!"  It cracked us up.

Cannon loved that the Easter Bunny (non chocolate kind) brought them all pool toys. His of course is a Killer Whale, Zach's is a shark and Elliot's is a Clown fish. They swim in the water and you catch them with the net.  Zach and Cannon both got new (to them) DS games.  Elliot got vintage Golden Books.  I loved the GIANT chocolate Easter eggs the Easter bunny brought for them.  That Easter Bunny sure does have fancy taste!

We had a nice (semi) quiet dinner. (how quiet is it with kids, really?)  Deb came over. Her kids were at their dads - we sure did miss them. 

I hope everyone had a great Easter! 

Spring School Photos

The boys' school takes photos twice a year... which is fun, but can be brutal on the budget.  The fall one always has them in their uniform, and the spring photos are always casual.  I always flip flop on which ones I want.  As a parent (not as a student, when I experienced it) I love uniforms, so I want to see them in their uniforms. BUT to see them all comfy in their jeans and stylin' is always nice too... so I end up figuring out a way to do a little something of both... because I'm a sucker.  DANG IT! But aren't they handsome?!! How can I really resist?

So the Switch

So, for a long time I've used my beloved Mac blog to blog our little family stories.  But it all started here on this blog a few years ago.  But, I've had a varied amount and reasons of complaints about my Mac blog. So I'm switching back here to the handy dandy one.  I like it. Its easy to post on, customizable. I'm sure there will be lots of changes over the next little bit while I convert everything back here.  SO, in the meantime... here we are, and I hope there are fewer complaints and more blog-loving going on!!

new blog spot

I keep commenting on my friends blogs and it signs me in and probably links you all to this blog... as much as I like it... I never update it anymore... I always blog on my mac account... so here is the link

http://web.mac.com/widdymac/Widdys_Web/Welcome.html

enjoy... leave comment... visit often!

The Widdison's

Brothers

I just can't resist showing all of you this picture of Zach and Cannon. It just captures what they are like together (when they are not fighting or bugging each other). They really are good friends, most of the time, and they are ALWAYS goofy.

Rabies

We couldn't resist taking this picture of Elliot. I'm not sure what he was dreaming of, but he started foaming at the mouth. He slowly kept making more and more bubbles. Maybe he was a rabid squirrel in his past life?

David vs. Mini Van

We have needed new spark plugs in our van for a LONG time. My sister, who has a similar mini-van and a mechanically inclined husband told us to save up about $400 to take it to a mechanic to get it done because they are impossible to get to. The engine is put in sideways, so the spark plugs get hidden behind and underthings. So we have been putting it off and putting it off. It finally got to the point where we couldn't wait any more. Especially when we were planning on doing Elliot's baby blessing in Utah, Labor Day Weekend. So David made a few phone calls, got some quotes and one of the mechanics he talked to told him how to do it himself! SO last Saturday, David put the van up on ramp and took the hood off and got busy. It was about 113 degrees outside (thank goodness for covered parking). It took him about 6 hours to do it, but he did it... He changed the spark plugs and the van is running SO much better. Next time, it certainly won't take him 6 hours to do. It will still be fairly complicated, but he knows some tricks now. Plus, it only cost about $50 after buying the spark plugs and some more tools.

I can't say I have EVER seen David so FILTHY! Good thing Dawn dish washing soap gets out grease!!