The Lovatos

It's finally here! It has been a long year so far. The count down to the end of the school year has finally begun. 52 and counting.

Ashley competes in State Dance and Cheer this week. The KWHS Dance team is awesome. She had a terrific weekend in Billings last weekend. Her duo that she choreographed won a "Diamond" award. That's the highest they give. It also got 2nd place overall in the teen division. THe solo she choregraphed also won a "Diamond", Judge's Choice Award and 4th place overall in the senior division. She also won the Title , Senior Miss Spotlight. Pretty awesom since this is her first year in the Senior division in dance. It seems like just yesterday that she put on the first little red tutu! You can check out pictures of her solo, "COme Down To ME' at propix.com. CLink the Spotlight DAnce Cup link. Then go to Rocky Mountain School of Dance and then look for the name of her solo. There are also pictures of her Senior Miss Spotlight interiview and dance combination as well as her duo called, I Wanna Be like YOU.

Stephen had a lot of fun in Evanston last weekend. He really liked meeting his cousin SAvannah. He also thought his uncle Troy was really cool. He can't wait to see his grandpa again and thought he looked good. I have only heard him say, "Oh Hell" once so grandma Janice didn't wear off on him too badly. Did I mention that Stephen won an award at school in the Young Author's Contest? He wrote a story called "Stephen's Hurt." The little bugger forgot to tell his family that he won and that he recieved and award at school. We got the honor of finding out about it by reading the school newsletter a week later.

This is our last weekend before we won't know if we are coming or going. State Dance next week, dress rehearsal for competition next weekend, Competition the weekend after, Tae Kwon Do tournament in Worland the weekend after that, and then another competition and tournament the first weekend of April. And then just like that ...it is over! Well, almost...

Ashley and I are headed to Billings, Montana this weekend for another dance competition. She is going for title in the Senior Divison. It seems just like yesterday that she donned that first little red tutu! She is nervous but is well rehearsed. This magical power seems to come over her when she gets on stage. She knows how to work the audience and judges. Oh yea...she THINKS she is driving on the interstate!...not sure about that one.

Mike and Stephen are headed to Evanston to see Mike's dad. He has been in Hospice since January and seems to be getting better. He is dropping the water weight that was putting the strain on his heart. I am not sure why they moved him to Hospice in the first place. He is definately showing a will to live. Still goes out every couple of hours and smokes though. Stephen is excited to see his cousin Savannah. She is one month younger than him and he has never met her.

Tally is off to the kennel. She is going to be so confined. With all of this beautiful weather she has worn out the backyard. We have to coax her in at night.

We have all gotten really hooked on the stupid facebook thing. We spend a lot of time checking people out and keeping in touch with family and friends. I have had fun talking to people from high school that I had forgotten about. (Not because they are forgettable...it's just been a long time!) I feel like we have neglected this site. So much for New Years Resolutions!

One of our busiest times of the years began last weekend. Ashley had her first spring dance competition in Denver. We have 5 more before recital and possibly Nationals again. She has also been keeping us busy going to watch Kelly Walsh High School basketball games. She performs at half time and I have to say it is actually fun to go and watch the games. I can't believe how many people I graduated with have kids attending the same school we graduated from. It's kind of like a mini reunion every weekend!

Stephen is now a brown belt. There is a video of him breaking his first "real" board with his foot in my mom's picture gallery. He has three tournaments coming up by the middle of April. He also won the Science Fair again this year. When I get off of the Facebook thing I will upload pictures of this year's project.

Mike and I are just the driver's to all the events. Speaking of...it's time to go and get Ashley from dance. I am dreading next year when she will be driving herself home! or am I?

It's the middle of January and the weather is reaching 50 degrees. We went from 50 mph winds to 50 degree temperatures. I can hardly wait to see what is next.

Ashley has been performing at the half time of the basketball games with the high school dance team. We got to go and see the performance last Saturday. The girls were awesome. Too bad Kelly Walsh doesn't relly have a basketball team. She has been busy with the new semester and dreams of getting her ideal car in nine months. She is pretty sure that she can pay for it at the end of summer if she gets a job for the summer. Reality check is in store.

Stephen has been working on his science fair project. He is motivated to win again this year. He has a good project: Why don't penguins freeze in Anartica? He has been taking a few private Tae Kwon Do lessons because the testing date for his brown belt is just over a week away.

Talladega has been going stir crazy. We have had to leave her in for at least half of the days because of the winds and cold temperatures. She is such an outdoor dog! When we get home we have to let her in and out at least 50 times an evening! Thank goodness the temperatures should allow her to stay out. We discovered today that she can open the pantry and really likes to eat oranges! She doesn't seem to be fond of the peels but seems to love the insides. She at least ate them on the kitchen floor so we didn't have to clean up the new carpet. My grandma's dog used to like oranges. I haven't seen another dog eat oranges until Tally! At least she isn't eating or destroying anything else...yet!

We didn't make it to Evanston to see Mike's father last weekend.  Wyoming go hit with a winter storm and it prevented us from traveling.  His dad is now in a nursing home and seems to be in good spirits.  He hopes to lose some of the water weight he has gained so their is less strain on his heart and more time to live his life.  It is hard to imagine what he must be feeling sitting in the nursing home wondering when...or what's next.  Mike's brother Troy lives in Utah and makes the trip to see his dad almost every weekend.  We feel some comfort knowing Troy is there to keep an eye on things.  Mike's aunts and uncles have also spent a lot of time with Floy and are there to be supportive of Floy and see that he is taken care of.  Family is the best medicine.  

Other then the wind driving us all MAD,( I actually go hit in the face with the lid of the garbage dumpster causing bruising and a cut finger!) our busy lives have started up in the new year again.  The Christmas break really gave us a lot of rest and time to relax.  We really spent a lot of time together and even got to go and see a couple of movies.

School starts for the kids next Monday, I went back to work yesterday and Mike will actually work his firt full week in a month.  2009 has officially begun!  Enjoy the next 13 days, I hope you find some normalacy in it.  Change isn't always as great as we are led to believe.

2009 began with gusting 50-60 mile an hour winds. Surprise! We have been our usual busy selves. In fact, I just typed my Christmas letter yesterday. I will work on getting the cards done on our road trip to Evanston this weekend. Ten hours in the car ought to do it!

We are starting this year with a black cloud hanging over head. Mike's dad is being put into hospice by Monday. He was given one day to six months to live. However, since that diagnosis he has rapidly gone down hill. He has round the clock care at his house and they have increased the morphine to keep him comfortable. His organs are beginning to shut down and his body is filling with fluids causing too much strain on his heart. Mike knows that this is probably his last chance to see his dad. It is a huge dark cloud hanging over head. How do you say goodbye to a parent? Stephen is also having a hard time dealing with this. He hasn't seen his grandpa much but seems to feel the urge to say goodbye.

We are also taking Tally with us. That should be fun! She can't be outside because it is suppposed to snow and be cold. The kennel is full and I can't leave her in the house for those long hours alone. So she gets to go in the car...all the way to Evanston and stay in a hotel room with us. I will decide after this weekend whether or not she is still a GOOD dog!

Teacher's go back to school on Tuesday. We get four days of inservice before the students arrive on the 12th. I really don't like this schedule that the district has implemented. Ashley and Stephen are left to themselves because I have to work.

Stephen tests for his next Tae Kwon Do belt on the 24th of January. He will be a brown belt. Only two more levels until he can test for the black belt.

Ashley has at least three definate competitions coming up and two possibles. She was also cast as the lead in the dance production: "Alice in Wonderland." While we are thrilled that she got the lead roll there is a lot of extra practice involved. I complain a lot about having to drive her everywhere but I am not ready for her to drive herself. So I guess I will keep complaining. There is some comfort in that.

Happy New Year!  Make the best of it!

The house is mostly decorated, the smell of pumpkin bread is drifting through the house and as usual I am too tired to even enjoy it all. As Thanksgiving approaches here is my list of things I am thankful for:

I am thankful that the Stone Soup feast for my students is OVER!

I am thankful that the pie sale is OVER and all pies have been distributed!

I am thankful that the computer that stored all of my grades for the first two quarters of the year and ALL my report cards crashed last Thursday and CANNOT be fixed. The hard drive cannot be repaired! My grades can't not be found! I get to re-enter everything including report cards...word for word!

I am thankful that both of my children are healthy and loved by their parents.

I am thankful that I can pay for my house, cars and well being of my family.

I am thankful that Grandpa Cookie and Grandma Hot Shot are still with us.

I am thankful for Braelyn's first Santa picture.

I am thankful that Mike didn't kill Talladega when she stole his pizza off his plate when he wasn't looking.

I am thankful that my friend Karen in once again entertaining the idea of moving back here.

I am thankful that Mike has made it for a year at WYOMING MACHINERY.

I am thankful that the Christmas lights have not blown off the roof.

I am thankful for all of my family.

I am thankful that I have a job.

I am thankful I only have to eat turkey twice a year! (I really don't like it!)

I am thankful that Weight Watchers is still working in my life. (I would be more thankful if it worked more quickly!)

I am thankful that we still have two months without Obama in the White House.

I am thankful that it takes only $30 to fill my Yukon!!!!!!!

But most of all I am thankful for 5 days off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A lot has happened since the last time I have given everyone my two cents worth. I buried another student on Thursday. It seems like Brad Johnson died while text messaging. Scary thought since I now have a teenagae driver at home. Brad was a wonderful kid. He made me laugh every day and when I saw that he graduated with honors two year ago I was somewhat proud thinking that I had a little to do with that. What a great kid...what a great memory...what a tragic loss for his family especially his twin sister who was equally as wonderful.

I sent my daughter to Denver today to a dance competition. It is the first one I have ever had to miss. I feel somewhat like a dead beat parent. I always want to be there for my kids. I really wish I wouldn't have committed to the volleyball tournament that I signed up for this weekend. I know Ashley will thrive and do well but I love to be there and watch how well she does. I do take great pride in all of her accomplishments even though I am only the person who signs the check so that she can go to these things. Her talent is definately not inherited from me.

Both of my children did exceptionally well in school this quarter. I am so very proud of them. I learned this quarter that perserverence is often better then the letter grades that a child receives. A valuable lesson as a parent and teacher. Thank God that I was blessed with these wonderful human beings that can still teach me so much in my (what I consdider) extremley well educated 42 years of life.

Mike is now entering his one year anniversary at Wyoming Machinery. What a great gift that has been for him. He is finally reaping the benefits of being a wonderful, kind human being. I know more wonderful things will come for him thanks to his job and the happiness it gives to him. I still hate the 9-6 shift though.

As for me I have been blessed? with my greatest challenge this year as an educator. I truly believe it is time for me to make a decision about my future in education. I am facing the most difficult class of students I have ever had. I find myself involved in too much drama thanks to their little, complicated lives. I wonder daily how parents can treat their flesh and blood so evily. I have more sleepless nights this school year then ever before. How can a legal system let little children endure what these kiddos live day to day. I can't even begin to share with everyone the heart wrenching day to day struggles these little beings go through. I know that wishing I was in another situation is a sin...but I am truly envious of my son's second grade teacher. It seems like he lives in the perfect little world of what I wanted when I became a teacher. Stephen is truly lucky to have a teacher that gets to be an awesome teacher each and every day thanks to the caliber and well being of his students.

OK enough of the whoa is me crap...As I look upon the upcoming holiday season I am looking for the splendid feeling that I always get with enjoying the spirit of the season. 48 days to go until...Christmas! C'mon feeling...I am so ready!

Oh, yeah...Obama is already on my bad side. He interrupted thirty-two minutes of Days of Our Lives today thanks to his stimulus speech. I am so looking forward to the Clinton vs. Palin cat fight in 2012!!!!

Yesterday was the end of the first quarter of school.  Time really has gone by quickly this quarter.  We are on Fall Break today.  I wonder why we only get one day?  This is our only day off before parent/teacher conferences so guess what I get to do.  Yep, report cards!  Some day off.

Life is  busy as usual.  We get home every night at about seven.  We leave every morning at seven so the days are long.  Stephen plays his last football game tomorrow so the evenings should be one less thing hectic for awhile.  It never really works that way though.  One more thing always replaces the one less thing.  Hmmmm,

Mike got a flu shot on Monday and became very ill right after.  He is on day 5 of all of the great symptoms that go with the flu.  This happened to him last year when he got the flu shot also.  The University of Utah wants him to get them but his body doesn't fight the immunity very well.  He  needs to feel better soon so he can keep the anti-rejection drugs in his system!  Mike getting sick is a very scary thing to us!  Keep him in your prayers!  ~Steph   

Talladega will be 2 on Thursday.  It is hard to believe that she has already been with us for that long.  She is really a sweet girl.  I think she may have calmed down sooner then any other dog I have had.  I also believe that she was the most destructive puppy I have ever had.  Whew!  We seem to be passed that for now.

Ashley did well in the pageant.  She is already planning for next year.  She didn't make the top 15 but had a wonderful time anyway.  She looked beautiful and we are really proud that she tried something like this.  However, she does work a stage pretty well.

Stephen is another step closer to his Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.  He received his Blue Belt last Saturday.  He has red and brown left before he can test for his black belt.  He has really learned control and matured in Tae Kwon Do lately.  He has two weeks of flag football left and is up to 9 touchdowns for the season.  Look out Brett Favre!

Hug your children!  

The Miss Teen Wyoming Pageant is finally here. Ashley has been getting ready in her mind for this event since June when she decided she wanted to try it out. We have had a hectic week getting ready. She has to have four different wardrobes just for the pageant. She is very excited and very apprehensive. It should be fun to watch. The new competition dance season is also in full swing. She is up to 12 dances for competition so far this year. Oh yeah...she got her Learner's Permit. It is very scary. I have let her drive to school which hasn't been too bad yet. Tonight however, I let her drive from Stephen's school to Tae Kwon Do. I should have used better judgement because rush hour and a new driver don't mix. I so wanted to visit the bar after that little trip. So far... we are all still alive.  Ashley also found out today that she made the dance team at Kelly Walsh High School.  I would have been very worried if she didn't.  Freshmen can only be on the JV team but hey, she will get her JV letter in dance before actually attending the school.  I'm not sure when she will have time for this added committment but she usually makes it work.  Thank goodness the gas prices have dropped a little bit.

We found out yesterday that Stephen made the testing list for his blue belt in TaeKwon Do. We were really surprised because he just tested for his purple belt in July. It usually takes 3 to 4 months to demonstrate the compentency to move up a level. Testing is next Saturday. I can't believe that he has moved up so quickly. September 29th was this first test for the yellow belt. If all goes well next weekend Stephen will only be 3 belts away from his black belt.

Talladega is an absolutely wonderful dog. Her second birthday is October 9th. She has really settled down into a big old lovable lap dog. She's a keeper!

Mike and I went to Deadwood this weekend for my second annual birthday trip. Two other couples joined us. We had a lot of fun and still are not millionaires, or even thousandaires, or even hundredaires. I did win $21 on the penny slots so I left winning more then I spent. Mike cannot say he even won a penny. He spent a lot more then a penny. But we did have fun. Deadwood is beautiful in the fall and cold too. We stayed at Cadillac Jack's this time. Huge rooms and very clean!

Everybody says that Christmas is the busiest time of the year. I totally disagree. Trying to begin the school year which demands a lot more time then the 8 hours a day I am paid to put in. Getting rides arranged for my own children. The beginning of the dance season (don't think last year ever ended), Tae Kwon Do tournaments starting again, football practices, volleyball and birthdays galore! The fall is definately busy.

Every year I take pictures of the children on the first day of school in front of the apple tree in the front yard. It seems like just yesterday that Ashley wore the little red and white gingham dress to kindergarten and now she is a freshman! I see less of the tree every year in the background of this beautiful young lady. Then there is Stephen. I only have three beginning of the year pictures of him but he has grown so much since the cute little five year old standing proudly with his backpack around his shoulders. It is weird that I can remember taking those pictures so vividly.

Tally is enjoying the weekends home with us. We have been taking her to our weekly mountain picnic campfires on Sundays. She is such a good dog on the mountain. It helps that our friends bring their 6 month old St. Bernard with them. The real purpose of bringing Tally is to wear Beau out but Tally feels special anyway.

I have wasted enough time right now. I have to get my papers graded and play in my first volleyball game of the season at 9:00 p.m. ARGH!

Steph

One of my favorite children's book to read to my students is The Relatives Came. The author escapes me at the moment but the book reminds me of this past week. This book is filled with quirky family members and their ride in an old galopy to the relatives house. This past week could be a sequel to the book. From the moment the motor home was parked in my parents backyard until the moment it was pulled out this evening the week was jammed packed of constant excitement. Just like the book the memories made will never be forgotten. Thanks for the good times! Steph

I finish my three week stint of teaching summer school on Friday. Other then the heat of the classroom it has been really fun. I have enjoyed most of the time with the kiddos. I will have a challenging little girl this year but I can't think of a year where I haven't had at least one. It has really been fun having Stephen in class. He really is a bright little man and absorbs all information like a little sponge. Our PE teacher has been teaching Stephen how to play golf and now he wants a hundred dollar bill and golf lessons for his birthday. (Thanks Kalen!)

Ashley co-taught a ballet dance camp last week and has just been hanging at home this week. She must have been bored because she did the dishes one day and even mopped the kitchen floor without being asked. Next week she will beyond busy with the arrival of family and her mentoring responsibilities at the junior high orientations. Ashley's newest venture is the Miss Teen Wyoming Pageant. She was picked as a contestant and is now working on getting everything together for the pageant in September. She is still in need of sponsorships if anyone is interested. I didn't realize what a process the whole pageant thing is. There are a lot of neat prizes for the person who wins including scholarships to college. This pageant is at the state level of the Miss America Pageants run by the Donald Trump organization. This should be a fun experience for her. I hope she does well!

Talladega has been injury and illness free since our return from California. Yea!

Mike's dad checked out of the nursing home last Friday. It was against his doctor's advice but he was afraid he would lose his house if he had to start paying for the nursing home. I feel for the man. Mike says he sounds happier now that he is home. Mike is working the early shift this week and next. It is good to be able to count on him in the evenings again. Oh yea...he turned 41 last week also. We didn't get to celebrate because of his work schedule. We went out Friday with mom and dad and then Mike and I went to see "Step Brothers" on Sunday. Pretty low key.

ttfn~steph