Raising Monkeys...?

I'm always amazed when I go grocery shopping of what it really takes to feed a family! Especially in the last year I've really noticed a difference. The amount of money that I spend has almost doubled, however the amount of family member's hasn't! Should I be taking a personal inventory of my own caloric intake? or..... perhaps it has to do with having three teenage boys in the home.

Let's take banana's for example. When I buy banana's I don't just buy one bunch of banana's - I buy three or four bunches of banana's in hopes that it will last at least one week. I can buy apples and no one touches them for weeks! Not sure what it is about banana's, but it seems to be a favorite quick snack for everyone.

For blogging (and your entertainment) purposes I decided to document the banana's day by day. I know Matt was curious as to the reason behind my banana picture taking during the week. Well, honey, here ya go!

Saturday - Grocery shopping day!

Sunday - A Day of Rest (lookin' good)

Monday - Can we make it?

Tuesday - What the?


Wednesday - What am I raising... Monkeys?

Where's Annie's monkey call when you need it?

We didn't even make it the week that I had hoped for! It's back to the grocery store for me. I guess it could be worse. =)

Crazy Jazz Band Train

Today I had the pleasure of listening to a Jazz band. This Jazz band is made up of 8th and 9th grade students at Tanner's school. Tanner (14) plays the Saxophone.

It was very convenient for me to attend as the band was playing in the same building where I work. I did have to kick myself for not bringing the camera! It was the first time that I've had the opportunity to really watch Tanner up and close. My favorite piece they played was a jazzed up rendition of Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourn. I enjoyed it immensely!

In Jazz band it's protocol for the musicians to play solos. The conductor moves the microphone in front of the musician and they stand to play an impromptu solo. I watched as the conductor finally arrived at Tanner, Tanner's eyebrows raised, then he stood and played his little heart out! That makes a Mother's heart soar! So proud of you today Tanner-man!

Fine...I'll just use my OWN Credit Card!

Having been married to the same man for 20 years we've had our wonderful ups and some major downs. During a time of struggle, where I was pretty difficult to get a long with (yes I'll admit it!), there were times where I wanted to go shopping, work on a house project, or go to various activities, but did not have the financial means to do it. Matt and I would firmly and gently discuss the reasons why it couldn't happen. Then being the stubborn person that I am would say, "FINE....I'll just use my OWN credit card!"

I can honestly say that phrase was used on many of occasions.

Today, having gained life experience, more maturity and such a profound respect for my husband, those difficult days are in the past. However, the phrase "FINE....I'll just use my OWN credit card!" has become a inside martial joke between Matt and myself. Basically making fun of the Walker girl stubbornness! (or i.e....if your not going to help me now...I'll figure out a way to do it anyway!).

On Monday, as we were helping the boys with their Physical Fitness Merit Badge for Family Home Evening, I watched the Walker girl stubbornness attitude unfold before my very eyes. However, this time it was from the male teenage gender.

My eldest Son, Joshua (16), had been talking about making an item in the shop to help him build his arm strength. He wanted Matt to go out into the garage to help him build it. We had just finished up FHE (with some attitude teenage issues) and honestly Matt wasn't in the mood to help. Josh says, "Fine...I'll just figure out how to build it on my own!" and headed out to the garage. I just smiled at Matt with a HUGE smile and said "Matt....just let Joshua use his OWN credit card!"

Matt lovingly tapped me on the shoulder as he headed out to the garage and said "Humm..I wonder where he gets that from?"

I love my family!

Watchdog saves the day!

Yesterday as I drove into the driveway at 3:45pm, Landon quickly was in the garage waiting for me to step out of the van. I opened the door and Landon immediately opened his mouth telling me of what just happened just 10 minutes earlier. Josh and Tanner had left to visit a friend in the neighborhood. Landon was fixing a snack in the kitchen,

heard a van pull up in our driveway, then our front door open, and Clover went crazy barking!!! He then heard the door open again. This understandably got his attention and he went to the front door. At this time he saw a young boy about 9-12 years old dressed in black running towards a turquoise mini-van parked in our driveway. The boy quickly got in and the van drove away. After Landon relayed the story I gave Matt a call to see if this would be something that I should report to the police. He agreed. I then called dispatch and an officer came to our house and took the report.

At this point we are grateful for our little 16lb Clover who isn't afraid of barking at a stranger at the door! Whatever was this boy & driver's intention we are grateful this incident was as uneventful as it was. We are hoping it was an innocent mistake, but now a days you just can't be too careful!

I have a feeling that Landon will be locking the front door diligently!

We're Babysitting!

Today Matt called me at work and said "We're babysitting this weekend!" It was unlike Matt to committ to something like this, so I was curious to know who it was? He said "It's Milli!"

Milli belongs to Matt's work-bud, Jordan. Jordan and his wife were headed out of town today and it just seemed like the neighborly thing to do to take her so she wouldn't have to stay in a kennel for the weekend.

Clover and Milli are having a blast!! Clover seems to have the upper hand with the speed, however Milli is learning about shortcuts.

Plus, I always welcome another "girl" in the house! =)

I'm amoungst Thespians

On January 28th, 2008 I started a new chapter in my working world life. I left a job that I have had for over 10 years. I was comfortable there, I loved the people there, but it was time for a change. I had to travel too much (away from my family) and my job responsbilities were getting overwhelming. Not to mention that I was extremely bored with the subject matter (roads and transportation). I know enough about alligator cracking, chip seals and dust control to last a life time!

Which of these pictures do you find more interesting?

See what I mean!

I interviewed with the local University Theatre Arts Department on a Thursday and Friday morning they called and offered me the position as the Department Business Manager. I accepted!

For two weeks after that I was in constant turmoil of "did I do the right thing?" I also happened to be traveling to Washington D.C. the day the job was offered to me. I made up my mind during my travels that I would give my old boss two weeks notice the very next day as we would be face to face and the Theatre Arts Department wanted me to start ASAP. It was one of my more difficult days in life.

So here I am almost 6 weeks after starting my new job. Did I do the right thing? YES I did! My first day was very rough as the office was not left in good standing. Could it possibly have to do with my own admitted obsessive orderliness when it comes to my own office space? =) Maybe. However, after about 3 weeks of sorting, shreading (which by the way I found documents back to when I was born!), asking questions, always keeping an listening ear and having an open invitation from the Department Head to visit him anytime, I am starting to feel more and more comfortable every day.

In fact.....TODAY I received an email that our department will be audited! The Department Head was frazzled with the news, but already knowing what is expected (having gone through it before in my prior job) I assured him that we will be able to pull it all together and pass with flying RAINBOW colors.

One of the activities that I really enjoy is going to the theatre! Any kind of theatre really. While I was in D.C. in January, I had the privledge of going to the Kennedy Center and seeing My Fair Lady. Awesome! Two weeks ago my son, Joshua, participated in the musical Fiddler on the Roof and we went as a family to watch him in the live band. Very impressed! Two days after that I went with my four sisters to see Ballet West perform Cinderella. Delightful!

I am really enjoying being amoungst Thespians!

Remembering the Past

I want to start to document and share some of my favorite family pictures from my younger years. I have them hidden away on my computer and it's time to get them out and share them with the rest of the blogger world.

This picture is one of my all time favorites of myself (Keri), Kim and Kristi. In fact I've tried on many occasions to re-create the pictures with my own three boys only to fall short! It's such a sweet precious picture in my humble opinion! I must be at least 5 or 6 years old in this picture.

This family picture was taken in 1977. If I do my calculations right Dad was 37 and Mom was 30! I'm almost certain that my Mom made the dresses that the three older daughters wore. She made many of our dresses in our year childhood years. She was (and still is) a very talented seamstress. Not sure why we were NOT smiling -- It wasn't taken back in the Pioneer days and I'm pretty sure we had white teeth! ?? hummm......

Here are some fun pictures of my younger sisters:

This is my 2nd sister Kimberly. She is AL-most as old as I am, we are 1 1/2 years apart! She is now a mother of 5. Amazing how much her girls look like her!!

This is my 3rd sister Kristi. She was honestly one of the cutest little girls! This picture depicts innocense to me. It reminds me of my Primary children! =) Can you see her daughters smile in this picture? Kristi is now the mother of 2 children.

This is my 4th sister Amie Jo (or AJ). I always loved her name as she was named after my Grandmother, Amy. She was our shy one with silver teeth. I always loved it when my Mom would do Amie's hair like this! She had such cute feathered bangs... Amie has turned into a wonderful Mother of 4!

This is my 5th sister Annie. She was born one year after Amie Jo. Yes, my poor mother! However, what would we do without our dear sister Annie!?? She makes our family complete! I'm pretty sure she won't be pleased with this picture I found, however I had several to choose from and I think she'll be glad I chose this ONE over the others. Annie is the mother of 3 (soon to be 4!!).

These are pictures of my parents - Dave and Dix on their wedding day - September 19, 1966! I really love these pictures as they show that they were a "cool" young married couple. What we wouldn't give to have that car back in the family!