so close....

2 1/2 weeks. that's as much as i can think right now

I hate being sick

you would think that someone that has been sick in their life as much as i have would just get over it and realize well i'm sick again. well i say pooh! i'm sick of being sick! I've been sick for almost a week and i just do not have the time or energy to be sick. so frankly it just needs to go away because i don't have time to be sick so this stupid sickness is going to a stern talking to and told to get out of town.... somehow i don't think that it is going to work.....

guess what?

WE'S CUTE!!!

SO i know that i haven't updated in a while but here are the important things:

We are alive

We are in school full time

Joe works part time

Lesley is in third grade all day 2 days a week

Joe is Johnny in Arsenic and Old Lace

Both of us are very very busy all the time!!!!

So in one of my classes today we got in a heated discussion about how messed up this countries education system is and how the changes we have coming at us have some good parts but also have some very negative things. As we have reformed our education system we have changed the focus so that testing is the priority- seriously you would be shocked if you went into a school and saw how much we are testing the students. NCLB (no child left behind) has increased testing and the targets are consistently changing. Obviously the people making policy have no understanding of child development either because the standard for proficiency is 100% in 2014. How many of you really know a kid that can do anything 100% perfect every time. Well in 2014 they would have to be 100% perfect 100% of the time to be considered proficient according to testing. Obama's Blueprint would change some of this and some of the things that he is proposing are good ideas but surprise surprise he is going proposing that we add MORE testing! It is just so surprising to me and I wish that the policy makers would actually observe some regular classes. As the policy makers push more and more tests there are more and more teachers who are teaching to the test. And do you know what? It's hard to blame them. The way our system is set up, and will continue to be set up (only with even more severe consequences) with Obama's Blueprint, teachers are the ones that are being held personally responsible for student proficiency scores. I agree that teachers need to do all that they can to help students learn to be proficient but if we threaten teachers with tests then all that occurs in the majority of schools is that teachers teach to the test! we need to hold students responsible for learning and put value on teacher evaluations. anyways with all of my frustration this is a video that you have to watch because it is so sad and so hilarious because it is so true!!!!

www.notonthetest.com

Just think about what message we are sending to our children about life.

updates later

for now this is funny and you should watch it =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGE1tqyyiRQ

Why?

Why did summer run away? I am totally FREEZING in the box office right now...... so so so so cold. and seriously Chris was right when he said I have a two degree comfort zone as far as temperature and right now i am not in it.... FROZEN!!!!!!

2 YEARS

So for our aniversity we ran away to Bozeman to get out of this small little town of West Yellowstone. Stayed the night in quite a nice inn called C'mon Inn. Then spent the next day shopping in a non tax State, it say $12.99 it's $12.99. Gifts to each other consisted of personalized M&M's with a picture and sayings such as 8 8 8 123, Forever & Always. A framed Scripture quote "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord". But the greatest gift was spending it together out of West Yellowstone.

LAS VEGAS

We're going to Las Vegas in the winter semester for student teaching. We won't know the exact placement till November, but hey we can start looking for apartment rates now. Now the discussion is to walk in the fall semester or to come back and walk in the winter. Theoretically the new great and spacious building should be ready for fall graduation, so it would be fun to say we were the first class to use that building. But that's a little awkward to have the binder for the diploma 6 months before we would officially get our degrees. And construction deadlines aren't always reliable.
We're very happy about Vegas, it was our first choice. Plus the possibilities of getting a job are also greater. Also Lesley loves warm, so to get away from winter will be a very good thing.

AWESOME

AWESOME

Have I mentioned?....

That it is a really crazy life we live? It seems like we are always on the run trying to keep up with everything that we have going on. This summer we are working at the Playmill Theatre in West Yellowstone were you should all feel free to come and see us. I run sound fro Beauty and the Beast and Seven Brides and Joe does lights as well as doing tech for The Foreigner (which is thankfully my night off, if I didn't have that we would be in trouble). This technical side of theatre is a new thing to me but I seem to be figuring it out ok so it is not so stressful anymore. Also since all three shows have been open Joe and I work inthe Box Office four days a week- and yes we work the morning shift, any of you who know me may realize that it is a miracle that this is actually the shift that I requested. If we work the afternoon shift we are here from 1 to 11:30 and that just gets extra crazy trying to get the mics ready and everything. So as it is we are at the theatre for 9:45 to 1 and then 3:45 to 11:30. So basically we get up and go to work, eat lunch try to do something quickly (usually homework for me) and then turn around and come back. Did I mention that I am taking some online classes this summer? So yes on top of everything I have school! Crazy I know but it saves me from taking 21 credits this fall so I can graduate on time- instead I will be taking 17 credits this fall.... a little bit better. So between all of our busyness I try to fit in all of my homework (which thankfully is not hard just time consuming). Seriously I am so thankful for having foreigner nights off or who knows when I would finish all of my homework let alone do the laundry. Oh and did I mention that through July we do a matinee on saturdays as well? Yup we are pretty busy people. We really do enjoy it though. We both love to perform and wish that we could be on stage but this is definitely the next best thing and there are even a couple songs where I am enjoying making art with the sound. It was really funny though- I know we are appreciated for our talents in tech but sometimes that can be annoying. They are considering adding a matinee of B&B on day and the girl that plays Mrs. Potts has a conflict and the entire cast volunteered me to play her part for that show- this suggestion although I thought it would be fun was immediatley shot down by the stage manager because she didn't want to have to run sound! Truthfully Joe could do it all himself if he really had to but that isn't going to happen anyways so there isn't any need to get excited about the possibility. I guess I also had a birthday since I last wrote, I am not 21!!! Not really any different since I am mormon and don't drink but hey i'm legal now- could i buy dry ice or paint balls or something like that? Plus for my birthday Joe surprised me and got Mommy and Papa to come up! Which was super cool because I was sad that I wasn't going to have any of my family there because birthdays are important in my family and only Mom knows how things are supposed to go. I remember when we were engaged Joe didn't understand what Robyn meant when she kept telling him that birthdays are important in our family... I think that he is starting to understand now. On a more random note- I have no recollection of when the last time that I went to the grocery store is and cooking does not happen nearly as often as it should but hey we are still alive and have started riding our bikes to work more as the weather cooperates. Oh and also we are officially registered for our final semester of classes on campus and all of our application information is in for student teaching in the fall : finger printing check verification of course work check application check personal introduction letter check (just in the nick of time too!) So now we are just waiting to find out where we will end up being sent! We're hoping for VEGAS but there are no guarantees. When we find out where we are being sent we will probably plan a trip to finalize housing over thanksgiving break sometime but we don't know for sure. If it ends up being Utah then we will just do a weekend trip sometime I'm sure. And family don't feel neglected because Utah is our last choice. Vegas is the most likely place that we can student teach and then be offered an actual job. Yes little Lesley is at the point in her life where she could potentially be offered an actual job soon. crazy I know (do all of my siblings feel old now?)
Sorry no pictures I am actually at work as I am writing this but eventually you will get some to look at I'm sure.

I should really show Joe how to update this- he has more time than me this summer....

Summer

Well I'm pretty busy but just so you guys know we are alive... mostly! We are working at the Playmill Theatre this summer doing lights and sound. We had a sold out opening weekend this least weekend, our first show is Beauty and the Beast. Overall it was a really good opening weekend. Of course there were little mess ups but nothing to major. I am running the sound and mics (p.s. there are 13 body mics that I run... I've never even done this before....). It is pretty crazy but somehow we will survive!

p.s. i will be 21 in like 3 weeks... that is weird....

Convo

i'll catch up on posts later for now an amusing conversation...

L: Will you go get the sheets and towels so we can wash them please?

J: Sure. Should I get the pillowcases too?

L: Yes dear. We'll wash them with the sheets like we normally do.

Silly me I assumed that was implied.... ;)

HOOORAY!!!!!!!!!

hApPy dANcE!!!!! I"M DONE!!!!!!

Updates anyone?

So i know it's been forever since i have updated the blog so here is a bit of an update.

Back in feb. we had a chinese new year- it was fun and low key but an excuse for a party and decorating is always fun!

Ain't we cute?

Then of course there was the Blue and Gold banquet for Cub Scouts. It was alot of work and VERY stressful for me because Joe wasn't going to be there. Luckily he was able to help me set up and we had a couple other people come that helped with that too- thank goodness! We had fried chicken, veggie trays and rolls (and ended up with tons of extra food because 20 less people than we were told to plan for came). We did a pirate them because well- we figured it would be fun and the kids would like it and I think we were right. I made eye patches for everyone and used them as napkin rings on their plates, we had colorful cups and napkins and then put beads and colorful rocks and chocolate coins on the tables as well as blue and gold tinsil. The boys made their own piratey cakes for desert which was fun- some of them were very creative!

We were also able to borrow skeleton pirate stuff from a friend in the theatre department which the boys thought was super cool!

But I must admit it was weird to be driving home with this next to me....

The reason that Joe wasn't able to be there was because he was performing in MacBeth which he enjoyed (although it did make his schedule quite busy!). It was a really good performance and was sold out completely even the third week that they added because of popularity. The hall was always filled with people hoping to get a standby ticket. And for those of you that are wondering- he does have a scar from the wound he got sword fighting but it isn't too bad ( i think he is secretly proud of it- i mean if you're going to get a scar this is a pretty good story to have).

Don't have any pics for this yet....

For their cast party I made this super cool cake and managed to make it bleed with watered down food coloring. Anyways it was cool and it was also a snickers cake which is Joe's favorite- needless to say i spoiled him.

( i can't figure out why this picture is so big...)

That's all for now more updates to come...

one day...

one day i will actually update this blog... that day is not today

We are alive just busy

Life has been crazy as always lately but we are alive. Joe is in Macbeth right now (which is going to run a third week- tickets for that go on sale tomorrow morning) which keeps him very busy. We had our Chinese new year party a couple of weeks ago which was a fun excuse for a party with yummy food- kitchen ala Lesley. For Valentines day we went up to West Yellowstone after church and Joe cooked our stakes and we just relaxed and by monday afternoon we were back to Rexburg and Joe was at work and then rehearsal- yet again. Tuesday was invited dress for the show and it was very impressive and Joe says it is getting better. I am going again this thursday. Wednesday of this coming week is our Blue and Gold Banquet which I am very nervous about, especially because Joe won't be there but the food is ordered so we should be ok- if all else fails there will be food, probably too much food but i'm always worried about not having enough. We're doing a pirate theme which should be fun. Did you know this year makes 100 years of BSA? Anyways that's our life right now busy as always but somehow we will survive!

2 years ago

2 years ago from today was a sunday and during church i sat next to one of my roommates and her boyfriend. that day the ward choir performed "Oh My Father" which is my favorite hymn. I love music (especially singing) and that day a guy had a solo in the choir. I mentioned to my roommate that he had a good voice and with that she ran! Her boyfriend happened to be that guys best friend and through much discussion (and forcing i think) he talked that singer into coming to my apartment after church with them and asking me out.

The conversation went something like this:

J: hi Lesley

L: hi

J: so um. are you doing anything tomorrow night?

L: FHE

J: oh ah yeah... ummm well what about after FHE?

L: nothing

J: Well would you like to join jake and becca and me for some wii playing and watching a movie?

L: sure that sounds fun

J: ok. bye

L thinking.... he's kinda cute and the fact that he was nervous and holding his hands behind his back didn't hurt either... plus there's the good voice....

and then giddyness set in... other than the fact he never told me when he was picking me up...

=) i love you Joe

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee are survivors my fri-ends....

Well we officially survived our first Cub Scout Pack night as the leaders. This past Wednesday was our Rain gutter Regatta. For those of you that don't know what that is it is the sailboat version of the pinewood derby.... and if you don't know what the pinewood derby is.... you need help (google is great, however there are many videos on you tube that are hilarious of dad's getting into it that are much more interesting). So the cub scouts get kits out of which to make their sailboats. The actual racing occurs in raingutters with plastic ends on them to keep the water in. the boys simply blow into their sail to make it go (some dad's get really into the construction of the boat but forget to parctice blowing which is funny to me because that is what get's you ahead). Rather than just doing time races where there is always a winner and a loser we did relays (that way an entire team loses.... just kidding). So we had the boys in two teams and they had to hand off the baton and everything it was cool but CRAZY!!!!!!!! We had to switch up the teams a couple of times to keep it from always being the same people that were winning but the boys seemed to enjoy it. To make it even more interesting we changed up what they had to do every time (sometimes they just blew into their sails, sometimes they had to use a straw, or hop instead of walk, or blow their sail to the end then do jumping jacks before they could pass on the baton). It was an incredibly wild and crazy night but i think that the boys really had alot of fun- i do think that some of the dad's were a little disappointed that their wasn't a chance for their boy to be the ultimate race winner but hey this is actually supposed to be for the boys not the dad's... right? it was a very crazy night and next month is Blue and Gold (which joe won't be there for). I'm not really sure why on earth they would plan to have the rain gutter regatta in the middle of winter in rexburg because we had to have it inside and we couldn't figure out how to empty the raingutters when all was said and done. We ended up emptying it glass by glass into pitchers which we took into the kitchen to empty. Oh well it worked and we had some people that helped us which was great of them. So we officially survived! Here's a couple of random pictures

JOE =)

so alot of people still think of joe as a little kid or other preconceived notions and don't realize that he is actually a stud of a grown up with tons of talent! Joe is a phenominal actor, a technical genius, soon to be a wonderful theatre and math teacher, an amazing husband, devoted and reliable friend, and a million other things! So here are a few pictures of my stud =)

Joe is healing. we have now reached the point where he doesn't have to have a bandage on his abdomen anymore which is a good improvement and it is starting to itch which is a good sign. just for those of you that were curious

So... Joe came home

Well joe came home and after telling me he loved me several times i finally found out why he was telling me he loved me,

Joe now holds the record thus far for worst wound in this production of Macbeth. Jordan rather than pretending to thrust his side with a sword, actually did.

This picture does not do justice but here it is (hopefully this is the worst that happens)

New Year

It's been a while since I've posted and this won't be a complete catch up post but hey it's something! Joe and I successfully finished the semester (thank goodness)! We both did pretty well although i guess there is always room for improvement. my most annoying grade was missing getting an A but only 1%..... oh stink! oh well... It's a new semester now and a fresh start. It is really odd for me because I am only taking two education classes this semester (verses 5 last semester) and they are PE methods (which kinda is annoying because i have knee problems that elementary students don't and consequently my knees are already paying for it... and somehow we have lost my ice packs... this could be a problem) and a lit practicum which is only a block class. Now i am buckling down and finishing up my generals because the college has finally made their decisions about which classes i have to take. I'm taking two english classes this semester to just get them done! they are making me take eng 101 which if you know me you know is absolutely ridiculous!!! thankfully joe talked me into taking it online because it is way too easy for me as is. the main thing is just going to be deciding to put the time into it. I was able to convince the teacher of the other english class i have to complete to let me take it concurrently and i am totally bored in the class... not a good thing. i had to sit through and entire class period of what it means to annotate a text.... SAVE ME!!! i guess for some people that is new stuff but given the fact that i have literally been required to do that since 7th grade i am quite bored with it all. I really wish that there was a way to just clep out of both of the remaining english classes but unfortunately that is not an option. you would think that with a university that is obsessed with getting students out of school asap they would smart up and not make students take classes where they learn nothing (especially since they have switched over to the 'foundations' courses instead of generals). Seriously the 'big' assignment of my higher level english course is to write a research paper... oh no.... whatever shall i do..... (pure sarcasm). Oh well i guess i will just have to find an interesting topic so that i don't sleep through it all- it is really hard because it is my first class of the day so it is hard to talk myself into getting up for a class that i don't learn in, especially because i am such a morning person!!!

Joe is keeping plenty busy this semester already, he's in a statistics class and a math class and as far as i can tell he understands what they are learning so that is good! i'm glad his brain can work that way because mine generally doesn't. he is also in a class where they go to the middle school once a week and teach a health class to 5th graders (wish him luck!) i think he said this friday he is teaching about the lungs. I think he will be great it will just be managing the class clown that will be the trick (especially because he moved into John and Trudy's old house!). The funny thing about that class is that when we were registering for classes Joe was looking for a class that would work around a math class that he has four days a week and this class happened to work perfectly- coincidentally the teacher is our Bishop. I think that is just fine and dandy because he is a smart and generally great guy- definitely one of the better bishops that i have had. I don't remember if i posted that Joe is in Macbeth this semester but he is. Which means lots of rehearsals- both fight rehearsals and regular rehearsals right now so he is putting in lots of hours at the snow- and i think that work will start to pick back up this week so he pretty much lives there. Hopefully he didn't get hurt in fight rehearsals yet again tonight- he always has another story when he comes home that he only cautiously tells me when i force it out of him- the funny thing is it's always his friends that end up hurting him.... i should give them a stern talking to!

Life is pretty hectic already but we are surviving, trying to figure out what in the world to do with cub scouts between everything else... i feel quite lost with it all but somehow it will come together. Well Joe should be home soon so tata