end of january

 - Tessa is speaking tonight at Standard's Night.  Eeeek for her, but yay, i look up to her so much!! 
She is also in the midst of diplomas and finals.  yikes, busy crazy days. 
- Ayden is also in the middle of finals.  he doesn't worry as much.  he is out for a drive right now.  the ice is all gone and it's so nice out!  it feels like spring.  we are enjoying it while it lasts!!
- Ben is doing well in Maidstone.  so far so good...we will see what tomorrow brings.

- My primary class.  hmmm.  i think i am getting used to it.  Tessa came to it today.  she thought it was terrible, but i thought it was okay.  they were rowdy, but i also had them giving me good answers at the same time.  one kid i was really worried about finally called me sister Wright today, and answered some good questions.  here is a conversation that happened in sharing time:
kid:   (wrote helping elderly people on his paper of what he wanted to do for service)
other leader:  wow, that is a good one!!  will you help me?  how old do i have to be for you to consider me elderly!?"
kid:  uuuuuhhhhhhhmmmm   40? 
other leader:  (gave me the oh brother eye)
me:  wow.  well, how old do you think i am???
kid:  at LEAST 40!!
me:  so you'll be over to my house to help me then??
kid:  yeah, where do you live?

SIGH..i guess i don't have anyone fooled.  i am at LEAST 40.  it is so odd.  i look around at church and i felt like i was one of the young moms like- yesterday.  i remember looking at ladies who are my age now, and thinking how old and washed up they must be.  so i can only assume, that is what the younger crowd is thinking too.  but there are so many great things about getting older.  i love how much more comfortable i am in my own skin.  i love how i don't care as much what people think or don't think about me.  i love watching my kids grow into adults.  i love having enough money to eat!  hahaha.  but only enough for that.  etc. 

We are at about the 7.5 month countdown for Ben!  yes, i will be updating that on the blog very often from now on. 

i never realized while listening to the scriptures- how much the readers put their own emphasis on certain words.  i like it, because i can sometimes hear things in a different way. 

past-half

wow, how is January coming to a close already!  crazy.

this week we went to Unbroken.  wow, it was great!  really good movie, good acting...very impressed.  i read part of the book but quit.   i will have to pick it up again and finish. 

the other night i went visiting teaching for almost 2.5 hours!  to two people!  it was nice, but i was so sore and tired by the end. 
which reminds me- i've been trying to build up some stamina on the treadmill.  i've gone for 45 minutes a couple times.  which is no big deal for most, but for me (and this is walking) it is a big deal.  my body hates me right now- so tight and sore.  it likes to be loosened up more.  sigh.  oh  well.

Tessa got her acceptance letter from the U of L!!!!  YES!  that is very exciting for her!!  it is a bit weird...but will be great.  she is also right in the thick of finals and diplomas right now.  study study study.  she is speaking next week at youth standard's night.  it is a stake event, and she is a bit nervous about it.  she gives great talks though!!

 sooooo.  i have this primary class.  they are- a bit of a, uh, challenge.  i've been in primary for a few years now in the 11 year old class.  love it!  but, i admit, i've been dreading this group.  there are 11.  only 10 regularly show up.  only 10.  ha!  anyhow, the first week wasn't great...the second week was awful.  really awful.  i was panicking!!  but today, it was better.  not perfect, but better.  we talked about John the Baptist, and they actually seemed interested.  i made them locusts with honey, as pictured below.  the liked that.  they get a candy for bringing scriptures, so everyone does.  bribery is alive and well!!   but anyhow, after class i was in singing time...my class was chatty, but they suddenly started singing a really pretty song about when Jesus sat and taught and blessed the children.  i felt the spirit so strong, and felt really good and knew it was what i was supposed to be doing.  it won't be easy, but they are sweet kids and all will be well. 

nothing much has been going on...
we've been thinking about Ben only having 8 months left!  how is this possible!!!  i barely feel like we had hump-day!  wow.  after the first 4 months or so- it just flew by.  crazy.  it seems that he is enjoying Maidstone.  i hope he gets to do some sightseeing too.  and i hope his companion works out. 
one of Ben's best pals growing up just got engaged.  a few of his girlfriends are married.  so strange! 
we need some new ideas for finding a grad dress.  online isn't working.    lethbridge has nothing.  i am not sewing one.  hmmmmmmm
that's it for now

a new year

 our new favourite card game- Dutch Blitz.  who knew playing cards could be so fun?

  

 i love these flowers.

 New years eve- we went to see "night at the museum 3".  it was busy!  good for a few laughs, and about what was expected.  we ate Fatburgers.  we tried to shop but everything was closing down...oh well...we are such party animals.

i wish the temple wouldn't do shut-down right after new years.  it seems like a long stretch before it's open again.  and it's hard to do your temple new-years-resolutions.

we are anxious to hear from Ben- how he is doing in Maidstone! 

it is very cold right now- snowing most days off and on.

i bought myself a second-hand treadmill.  it seems to be pretty good- i have already used it a few times.  my goal is to build up some stamina despite any pain.  i am not going to let pain run my life this year.  maybe.

i have THE primary class now.  the one that people kind of dread.  it is huge- it has some crazy kids.  they are good kids- just a bit crazy.  it will be fine.  maybe.

back to school tomorrow.  boooooooo says both kids.  in a couple weeks Tessa will have finals and diplomas, so she is super excited about that.

our Christmas break was nice...nice not to worry about schedules, classes, visiting teaching, eating properly- etc.  i do like schedules, but i appreciate breaks too.  we have kept things pretty low-key.  played games, done a puzzle, and lots of eating.