COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET

WHEN I MOVED TO OUR CONDO, 8 1/2 YEARS AGO,

IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT!

WE MOVED IN ON THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING.

IT WAS SOOOO FUN TO HAVE EVERYTHING NEW!

ALL THE FAMILY HELPED.

BUT, I WAS ON MY OWN FOR PACKING UP THE HOUSE!

I HAD WORKED ON IT FOREVER!!!
(CHRIS & McKAY MOVED THE STUFF)

LITTLE THINGS LIKE PURGING VIDEOS TOOK FOREVER!

AND, EVERY PAPER, EVERY LITTLE THING,

I HAD TO GO THROUGH.

I SPENT HOURS AFTER THAT NOVEMBER DAY

GOING BACK TO THE HOUSE AND WORKING!

I SPENT EVER SATURDAY IN DECEMBER FOR ABOUT 16 HOURS.

AND A COUPLE OF DAYS A WEEK FOR 3-4.

OUR HOME HAD BEEN THERE FOR DECADES,

WITH THINGS IN THERE FOR OVER 75 YEARS.

ALL OF THIS WAS DONE IN THE MIDDLE OF

POM POM PILLOWS, CHRISTMAS VILLAGE, 
UNITS, CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, JAZZ GAMES,

PREPARING TO SPEAK IN SACRAMENT MEETING, ETC.

OVERWHELMING!!!

A LOT OF THINGS WERE MOVED TO THE CONDO,

BUT NOT ORGANIZED.

I HAD NO TIME.

SINCE RETIREMENT, THE DECORATION/STORAGE ROOM 

WAS ORGANIZED WITH THE HELP OF ASHLEY, KIM, AND COURTNEY.

KATIE ORGANIZED MY HOLIDAY TUBS EARLIER.

SHELVES WERE PURCHASED.

(SOME THINGS ARE STILL NOT OUT OF BOXES FROM MOVING,

BUT IT'S BETTER.)

JAYCIE HAS HELPED ME WITH ALL THE DRAWERS

AND CUPBOARDS DOWNSTAIRS THIS SUMMER.

YAY FOR FINDING THE "CONTAINER STORE!"

ALSO, BEFORE I MOVED, I PURGED MY CLOTHES.

I TOOK ALL OF THE REST TO THE LAUNDROMAT TO WASH

THEM ALL!  I WAS THE ONLY ONE THERE!

AND THEN, HERE CAME McKAY!  I WAS ABLE TO FINISH!!!

SO, FOR 8 1/2 YEARS, MANY CLOTHES HUNG IN CLOSET...AND THAT

WAS ALL THEY DID!

I HAVE THE MOST WONDERFUL CLOSET!!!

THE PLUMBER FORGOT TO PLUMB FOR THE BATHTUB, THEN

HE WENT TO EUROPE.  IF I WAITED FOR HIM TO RETURN,

SOMEHOW IT AFFECTED THE OTHER 2 CONDOS.
SO, I SETTLED ON A TINY BATHROOM WITH NO TUB (2 UPSTAIRS),
AND WE TOOK THE SPACE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
THE BATHTUB, AND ADDED IT TO THE CLOSET!
BEST DECISION OF THE CONDO!

SO, BRITNEY, THE GIRL WE WORKED WITH,

HELPED ME DESIGN A DREAM CLOSET!

AND...EVERY SQUARE INCH WAS FILLED!!!

I SPENT A WEEK AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS AUGUST 

PURGING MY CLOTHES.
(I'VE COLLECTED WHITE, PLASTIC HANGARS . . . HUZZAH!)

THEN, ASHLEY'S KIDS HELPED ME WITH ONE RUNG,
THE SPORTS, AF, ALPINE, DIXIE RUNG.

IT WAS A GREAT SORTING ACTIVITY FOR THEM!

WE TOOK 5 HUGE GARBAGE BAGS OF CLOTHES TO THE D.I.

PROBABLY WORTH $1,000 - $1,200!

ALL THE ALPINE ELEMENTARY SHIRTS THAT I GOT RID OF,

WE THREW AWAY.

(WHO WANTS AN ALPINE ELEMENTARY SHIRT?  ALPINERS

DO NOT GO TO THE D.I.)

I WAS TEMPTED TO TAKE MANY "BEFORE" PICTURES,

BUT, IT WAS EMBARRASSING.

I WISHED I HAD.

HERE'S MY PROJECT:

BAGS OF CLOTHES FOR D.I.

LARGE SIZED WOMEN SHOULD BE ECSTATIC!!!

FROM THIS PROJECT, I HAVE REALIZED I HAVE A "CLOTHES PROBLEM."
EVERY GIFT SHOP ON EVERY TRIP, I DIDN'T BROWSE.
MY MINDSET WAS:

BELL
SPOON
MAGNET
SHIRT

I'M A COLLECTION HORDER!
(ALSO, CHRISTMAS, DISNEY, US HISTORY, HOLIDAYS)

THE KIDS SORTED, AND COUNTED.
JAZZ SHIRTS . . . 41
(SHIRT ON TOP IS THE JAZZ 9-11 SHIRT)

JAZZ SHIRTS SORTED BY COLOR


AMERICAN FORK . . . 9

ALPINE ELEMENTARY . . . 23
ABOUT 25 YEARS WORTH
(TOP SHIRT WAS OUR 2002 OLYMPIC SHIRT)

BYU . . . 20

DIXIE . . . 8

I ALSO HAD 12 "HOPE OF AMERICA" SHIRTS.
KEPT 1 OF EACH COLOR, AND 2 WHITE THAT I WEAR
OVER SWIM SUIT.

COMPLETED:
TOP RUNG
SPORTS, AF, ALPINE ELEMENTARY

BOTTOM RUNG
TRIP SHIRTS AND DISNEY

TOP OF BLOUSES & PANTS ARE 
STADIUM OF FIRE PICS I PARTICIPATED IN
PICTURES OF THE KIDS FROM AGE 3-13

SHELF
TOP:
JOSEPH SMITH BUST, GORDON B. HINCKLEY "B's"

TWO:
DISNEY FROM TRIPS WITH CONRAD

THREE:
LADY & THE TRAMP FROM McKAY'S FAMILY

FOUR:
SLIPPERS

FIVE:
SHOES

AND I HAVE TONS OF SHOES ON FLOOR
ALL STRAIGHT AND MATCHED UP...JUST IN CASE
I CAN WEAR THEM AGAIN.
WITH MY CHARCOT FOOT, I WEAR
BLACK DR. SCHOLL SHOES, AND I DON'T CARE!!!


LOOKING DOWN CLOSET.
AT FAR END, ARE SKIRTS AND DRESSES.
MY HOLIDAY CLOTHES WERE SQUEEZED INTO THERE, 
BUT THE HAVE BEEN PURGED, AND FOUND A HOME
IN THE GUEST BEDROOM CLOSET.

BLOUSES ON TOP
PANTS/CAPRIS ON BOTTOM

 DISNEY/STUFFED ANIMALS

 LONG SHELVES
THE TOP ARE PICS OF THE KIDS AGES 6-16
SCRAPBOOKS FROM 1ST 5 YEARS TEACHING
UEA PLAQUE
MIDDLE SHELF HAS
 6 WHO'S WHO AMONG AMERICA'S TEACHERS PLAQUES
(NOMINATED 7 TIMES.  2 IN ONE YEAR)

BLANKETS
BYU RAIN PONCHOS & PJs
(the white...booties to slip over shoes)
3 LAUNDRY BASKETS ON FLOOR UNDER LONG BOTTOM SHELF

 

BOOKSHELVES
AND OF COURSE, CRUTCHES.

HOW SCARY WILL THIS BE WHEN I 
"KICK THE BUCKET?"

I HAVE VISIONS OF MY FAMILY ALL SITTING AROUND,
DIVIDING MY STUFF (ESPECIALLY ORNAMENTS!)
BUT, IT WILL PROBABLY BE PUTTING IT ALL ON E-BAY,
AND MAKING A LITTLE MONEY!

NEXT PROJECT?
CHEST OF DRAWERS!

MITCH

MITCH VREELAND WAS NOT IN MY CLASS FOR THE

FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR.

ON THE LAST DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS BREAK,

MY GIRLS WERE HELPING RUTH FILL HER STOCKINGS AND

THE BOYS WERE HELPING ME TAKE DOWN CHRISTMAS,

AND PUT UP JANUARY.

THIS WAS MY CLASS DURING 9-11. 

 ALEX & AUSTIN HANSEN AND RASHELLE BROWN HAD ALL

GONE TO THE US TENNIS OPEN, AND WERE ON TOP

OF THE TWIN TOWERS ON 9-10.

ANYWAY, MY BOYS STARTED TELLING ME THAT

MITCH WAS BEING MOVED INTO OUR CLASS.

I TOLD THEM, "NO WAY," CUZ I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

WELL, IN CONFRONTING MY PRINCIPAL, YUP...IT WAS TRUE.

MITCH WAS PART OF THE WARE/VREELAND/PENNOCK
FAMILY THAT I TAUGHT.
(I EVEN HAD NICK WARE'S DAUGHTER, BO!)

IT WAS HARD AT FIRST, UPSETTING THE BALANCE OF A

NEAR PERFECT CLASS.

I WORKED HARD WITH HIM, AND BY MAY, I FELT

LIKE I HAD MADE STRIDES WITH HIM.

THROUGH FACEBOOK, I SAW THAT HE WAS IN 

THE MILITARY, MARRIED, FATHER,A PHOTOGRAPHER,
INSURANCE AGENT, AND QUITE THE HIKER.

WHEN HE POSTED THIS...I WAS THRILLED!

SOMETIMES A TEACHER DOESN'T FEEL THEY'VE

TOUCHED A STUDENT UNTIL YEARS LEATER.

#PROUDMISSMITCHELLMOMENT

READY FOR ANOTHER SEASON

THANKS, @azianbaby86!


IT'S ALMOST THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON!

HALLELUJAH 
AND
RISE & SHOUT!!!

THIS IS YEAR #23
FOR ME TO HAVE SEASON FOOTBALL TICKETS!

SINCE BYU WENT INDEPENDENT ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO,
IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT.
I THINK THEY WENT INDEPENDENT BECAUSE
UTAH WAS ADMITTED TO THE PAC-12.
(WE WOULD NEVER BE INVITED...BECAUSE ALL SPORTS,
EXCEPT FOOTBALL, ARE PLAYED ON SUNDAY.)

MOST GAMES ARE SEEN AROUND THE COUNTRY,
THROUGH ESPN.
BUT...ESPN DICTATES THE TIME!
MOST GAMES START AFTER 8:00 P.M.
I LOVED THE YEARS AND YEARS OF 1:00 P.M.
STARTS ON SATURDAY AFTERNOONS!!!

ALSO, WE ALWAYS HAD 2 HOME GAMES IN SEPTEMBER,
2 IN OCTOBER, 
AND 2 IN NOVEMBER.
THIS YEAR...1 IN SEPTEMBER,
4 IN OCTOBER,
AND 1 IN NOVEMBER.

BUT, THERE ARE GREAT GAMES ON THE SCHEDULE.

SEPTEMBER 5:  BYU @ NEBRASKA
SEPTEMBER 12:  BOISE STATE @ BYU  8:15 P.M.
SEPTEMBER 19:  BYU @ UCLA
SEPTEMBER 26:  BYU @ MICHIGAN
OCTOBER 2:  UCONN @ BYU
OCTOBER 12:  EAST CAROLINA @ BYU
OCTOBER 16:  CINCINNATI @ BYU
OCTOBER 24:  WAGNER (WHO?  WHERE?) AT BYU
NOVEMBER 6:  BYU @ SAN JOSÉ STATE
NOVEMBER 14:  BYU @ MISSOURI
NOVEMBER 21:  FRESNO STATE @ BYU
NOVEMBER 28:  BYU @ UTAH STATE

NEBRASKA, BOISE STATE, UCLA, MICHIGAN, 
MISSOURI, UTAH STATE

UCONN, EAST CAROLINA, CINCINNATI, WAGNER, 
SAN JOSÉ STATE, FRESNO STATE

TWO EXTREME ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM!!!

THE ALTERNATIVE FUNDRAISER

I AM A SEENAGER

ALL BUT THAT AGE PART!

BACK TO SCHOOL . . . PART 5

"The Littles"

"The Littles" are the kids in the family

between Preston & Haley and Ally & Brooklyn.

Carter is 5 months older than Addie.

They're 5.

Lily is 3 weeks older than Oakley.
They're 4.

The 3 girls have close birthdays,

April 18, May 5, May 6.

 Carter . . . Kindergarten

Sage Hills Elementary

Carter with friend, Hudson and cousin, Addie.
They go at the same time, but are in 3 separate classes.

Addie . . . Kindergarten
Sage Hills Elementary

Well, well, well . . . Look who's first in line!!!

Oakley . . . Preschool
Valley View Elementary

Heidi's 1st child to go to school

And don't forget . . . Lily.
She started preschool last week in Genola.

FAMILY COUNT

Since Katie received her Bachelor's in May,
she's off the family count.

1 - 9th grader
1 - 6th grader
1 - 5th grader
1 - 4th grader
1 - 3rd grader
2 - 2nd graders
2 - kindergarteners
2 - preschoolers
2 - twinners (2 in November)
1 - 7 month old
1 - coming January 2016

SO BLESSED!

BACK TO SCHOOL . . . PART 4

SALT LAKERS

Shayla & Camille started school at Reiley Elementary 

on Monday, August 24th.

Shay is now in 3rd grade.

Camille is still helping with Reading Recovery.

Camille posted this on Facebook:

Monday was our first day back to school. 

Somebody loves her new backpack. 

According to Shay no princesses on her backpack this year 

because 3rd graders are too grown up for that!! 

I can't believe she's in 3rd grade!

Camille is 4 months along.

Due on Ryker's 1st birthday.

When the baby is Shay's age, 

Shay will be graduating!

BACK TO SCHOOL . . . PART 3

ALPINE ELEMENTARY

RETIRED FACULTY & FRIENDS

WE CELEBRATED OUR 3RD ANNUAL 

1ST DAY OF SCHOOL LUNCH.

AS PER TRADITION, IT WAS HELD AT BLUE LEMON.

THIS TIME, WE HAD A SPECIAL GUEST.

FORMER (AND FAVORITE) PRINCIPAL, DAVID STEPHENSON.

HE CAME AND DELIVERED US COMMEMORATIVE COINS

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF ALPINE SCHOOL DISTRICT!

HE IS HEAD OF PR FOR THE DISTRICT.

DAVID & CATHY

JANE & HEIDI

VICKY, JAY, & DAVID

VICKY & JAY

CATHY & BRAD

DIANE, BONNA, & MARY

DAVID, LYNN, & CAROLYN

DON & DIANE

CONNIE, LORETTA, & CATHIE

YUP.  MY PURSE IS JUST THAT BIG.

WITH MY FAVORITE PRINCIPAL

WE ARE SOOOO BIG, I HAD TO DIVIDE THE GROUP IN HALF.

CAROLYN, ME, CONNIE, LORETTA, CATHIE, CATHY,

ADONNA & JANE

VICKY, HEIDI, LYNN, DIANE, BONNA,

MARY, DON, DIANE

15 TEACHERS

3 SPOUSES

1 PRINCIPAL

DO WE CALL THIS
"BACK TO RETIREMENT?"