Sorry Its Been Two Weeks but .....

1. Chris finished his first semester at Georgetown. His first final was in October.  He had three take home exams and two in class finals.  One test was completely multiple choice; 20 questions and 3 hours to complete.  The sad part is that all three hours are needed to complete the final.  The other in-class final was for partnerships.  Two separate students that it was "honestly thee hardest test I have ever taken in law school."  Chris survived, not too bad.  Now we wait for grades.
• Two of the other finals were accounting spread sheets.  The goal was to determine the tax liability based on fact pattern.  One was 10 questions based on property.  The other test was 30 questions based on the timing of when the tax liability was due.  Got to love that tax code.
2. Georgetown was an interesting experience.  On the first day of orientation the school made it very clear that as students you went to Georgetown and not to any of the other JD programs we matriculated from.
3. LL.M. stands for the Latin phrase Master of Law.  Curious I did a little research.  Originally the Juris Doctor degree was award as an LL.B. or a Bachelor of Law.  That later changed to JD; however, the LL.M. never changed.
4. The Georgetown Law Center is literally five blocks from the Capital Building.  Every once in while a politician or high ranking Judge will cruise through the law center.  Early in the Semester Antonin Scalia wondered through the campus.  He is shorter than I thought. 
5. Traffic is as awful as advertised here.  On the bright side it is not quite as bad as L.A. traffic.  We still have a while to reach that level.  
6. As the Christmas time comes around it is interesting to see lack of faith of those in the DC area.  Very few lights or other holiday celebrations.  The country is clearly moving away from God and at a very dangerous rate.
7. Karen's brother Rob came to visit.  During that time we went to the nations capital building and some of the surrounding museums.  It was good to see that kids have their own personalities completely separate from their parents.  For example Taylor looks nearly identical to his cousin Drew physically, clearly coming from his parent's, but acts nothing like Rob or Jill.  Makes me wonder how our children will act when they hit the teenage years.  (Well mostly Jeff and Jed)
8. Speaking of the Dynamic Duo, we went to the Temple with Rob and Jill.  We took turns watching the other's children.  Those two can nearly do nothing good when Chris is around then behave like angels for Jill.  I guess the reward of gummy worms help.
9. Henry now walks around the house calling "Mmmmrrry, Mmmmrrry" (Annmarie).  When he finds her he demands to be picked up.  She does so.  I think this is replacement for Brooklyn, Brianne, and Belle.  He then usually bites or hits her.  (little stink-pot) 
10. Will's for some reason does not think it is cold.  He tells us every morning he is "Iowa Boy" and there is no need for long pants until the temperatures crack the teens.  One day he will learn the hard way about being cold.

Snow day post

We are on snow day 2. Needless to say I have a better attitude about it today. I got off my bum and played out side with my kids. Here are photos, and this will be our pot for this week. I love this season!

This was why there was no school monday

This is all from today. Henry's first time in the snow. Love him and his faces

10 on Tuesday

1. Ah where to begin. How about Henry, following the examples of his siblings. They set a supurb example for him in everything.

2. 2 saturdays ago Chris and I headed up to beautiful Annapolis and ran 13.5 (yes not 13.1 but 13.5!) miles. It was a way to hot 33 with a cool wind that made for perfect running conditions on the perfectly flat course (or not flat at all!!) we were trashed but still smiling as proof of the 2nd photo.

3. A kind friend decided to give Henry some of their very quiet Elmo toys. Henry does not like them at all. (ok done with the sarcasm) He loves them and I love turning the sound off. 

4. I know overload on the Karen photos. I loved this moment. I was swinging with Henry while Jed was pushing us and Annmarie was taking photos. Jeffrey was having a play date 20 feet away playing hockey. While Will was a half mile away playing football with a friend. Oh What a great moment this was and I want to remember it!

5. Jed did something. This was his punishment (for all of 15 seconds, he really wanted photos of it)

6. Decorating our house. For some reason Jed seems to end up in odd places when someone is home.

7. When we moved, I got rid of all but 1 box of Christmas decorations. I must admit this was very very hard. I had houses, and more houses that I had fond memories of buy with my sisters on Black Friday. It was hard to not have them this year. We also got rid of our Christmas tree because it didn't light up any more. So we improvised this year. We got picture hanging wire and hung up all our decorations. Personally I think it is pretty cute. 

8. We spent Thanksgiving with 2 families in our ward. We had a great time eating, and chatting,and eating again. The kids played in the basement for hours. It was a wonderful day and we had lots to be thankful for. 

9. This weekend we spent watching College football. How can you not when such amazing games happened. first off Way to go ASU!!!!! hopefully they can beat Stanford and go to the Rose Bowl. 2nd Auburn's win was . . . wow words cannot describe that one. 3rd Michigan's loss was heartbreaking. But hey they went for it. We don't love college sports at all. (but Hey the Broncos beat KC in KC!!)

10. Chris has his last week of classes this week. Finals are next week. It has been a very very difficult semester for both of us and we are not sad to see it go. It has flown by and we cannot believe he is almost 1/2 way done here. Now to figure out where we go next?

Thanksgiving thoughts

Warning I'm getting on my soap box. (OK it is actually both of us)


For some reason my perspective is a bit different this Thursday. Yes it if full of thanks but more of an understanding for the true reason for the Holiday we are celebrating. There have been 2 things that have stuck out to me.

1. I guess I was very ignorant of why this Holiday became a national holiday. We always assume the pilgrims etc. Which yes that is truly important. But when I read the proclamation of President George Washington about Thanksgiving things really started to hit home. Here is the first paragraph.

"Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor, and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me ‘to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.’ 

First off he the President of our Country told us it is our duty to recognize the wonderful things God has done for us. And both parts of congress agree (this is amazing) that is should be a day of thanks and prayer. To remember what great things Heavenly Father has done for us. 


How many of us really do this? How many of us actually take the time to think about what Heavenly Father has done for us today? Yes we give a few things we are thankful for. . . but do we really realize what he really has given us? EVERYTHING! It seems so sad that we as Americans think we only need to do this one day a year. Most of us don't even spend 1/2 of today thinking about that. Half of America will be hitting the stores at sometime today. Some where I read that today we give thanks for all the stuff we have then go out and buy more stuff that we really don't need. Is this true for you this Holiday? 

2. Chris helped Jed write a talk a few weeks ago. They choose the parable of the 10 lepers. Chris related how we as Americans are the 10 lepers. Christ bestowed this wonderful gift upon us (our freedoms, and wonderful lands we have to live and our opportunities that others never will have, plus many more). Are we too busy with Christmas to turn around and thank our Savior? Don't get me wrong Christmas can be wonderful if you focus on the correct part. If you focus on Christ, spending time/making memories with family, and serving others. Do we need to be as selfish as the 9 other lepers and not thank Heavenly Father? Do we really need to go out buying "stuff" today? that will be there tomorrow, or weeks later? Yes you might not get that thing you must have for $30 cheaper. But in the long run Don't you think Heavenly Father will notice that you chose to spend the day giving thanks and being with family? 

3. We are very thankful to our Heavenly Father on this day.  He has helped in in marvelous ways.  Last spring we felt that we should come to the DC area to go to school.  We never knew the full reason for the need to come here.  After we left Waukee, a friend told us that the new family living in our house began to investigate our church.  That family whom we may never know is coming closer to God because we listened.
    
I know we are sounding preachy today but This is how I feel. I am so thankful that I live in a country that set up a holiday the give thanks to our Almighty. I hope I do a better job in the future of making sure that I keep Thanksgiving for the reason it was set up. I hope that I remember to give thanks to Him daily not just once a year. I hope that I can be thankful for what I have and not put what I want before what I am thankful for. 

A friend who has been having a difficult year said "I find blessings "hidden" around almost every corner. They are there you just have to recognize them as such." Such true words. This Thanksgiving I hope we can all find our blessings that have always been there, that are there just today and that we will having to come.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Stepping off my soap box

ten on tuesday

1. I have been leading an exercise group at the church on Mondays and wed. it has usually been pretty small like 6 people. yesterday there were 12!!!! I miss teaching, I really do. I am so glad I get the opportunity to teach these ladies.

2. Chris only has 3 weeks left in this semester! (plus finals) I cannot believe how fast this semester has flown by. Prayers are starting that he does well on his finals.

3. Will got to start using a bow today with his violin. He was so excited. He came home and showed me. He played almost all of twinkle twinkle without messing up and without sheet music!!! I'm so excited for him.

4. Annmarie was very excited for anti-bully week last week. She loved crazy hair day, as did Jeffrey. Needless to say Jeffrey got a hair cut as soon as he got home from school.

5. Last night I read some amazing conference talks from way back when (ok early 1990's) Wow they were amazing. I'm so glad that we have the ability with the touch of a finger type in a topic and have hundreds of talks, and scriptures to look at.

6. Jed started Preschool Monday! I figured we would a. not find a place with an opening here and b. find one we could afford. After my friend Michelle told me to look at her child's preschool. We found a great match. Jed didn't even say good by. He was so happy to be going to school. I am happy for him as well. 3 mornings a week.

7. Henry is beginning to voice his displeasure more and more. He is also learning what timeout on your bed is like. Oh the joys that are beginning!

8. Jeffrey got to spend extended 1 on 1 time with Chris this weekend. I think he truly loves being the guy to go do things with his dad.

9. Saturday evening we got to watch some college football. Oh how I love watching great games from the warmth of my couch.

10. random fact - I love love love to wear hooded sweatshirts with college (or other schools I've been associated with) names on them. They are warm and I love sporting my pride.



 random photos

My boys! I love this photo

Henry fell asleep on the way to Costco and staid asleep the whole time.

He is just too cute