Sooo this is one of those insane weeks. Don't get to stop moving until Friday afternoon!! Monday, Tues and today I spend at the ortho. Monday morning (3:40 am) Katie started throwing up. Thank goodness in the bowl that I had gotten her. She was funny I tried to get her to throw up in the toilet but she refused:) She wanted the Tupperware bowl instead. Poor Chris took care of Katie while I took Jacob to get his braces off. It took them almost two hours due to all the metal in his mouth:) and they fitted him for a retainer(comes with a tooth to hold the space open for new tooth) that comes out on the top and one that will stay in the bottom of his mouth permanently. He was sooo cute. He was sooo excited. We went to Chili's for ribs (that's what he wanted) then we went to the gas station and he bought Skittles, Hubba Bubba gum and an extra big Twix bar. He showed me that he can now "spit correctly" no more long strings of spit hanging out of his mouth (lol) and he was thrilled to not have to push food through the gadget in the roof of his mouth anymore. I took him back to school after lunch (under protest) but I told him he would have a lot of fun showing off his mouth:)

Tuesday, Tay had his taken off. Took about an hour and a half. Because no restaurants were open when we got done we ran errands (lucky tay), picked up Katie from kindergarten and then headed to Ab's (hamburgers) for his lunch. He had a hamburger, fries and a milk shake. He said it was nice not to have food stuck in the front of his braces to gross people out:) We then took him to the gas station where he got 6 (he wanted more:) Laffy Taffy sticks. He unwrapped all of them and braided them together to make a "new flavor." It was fun watching him. He just kept looking in the mirror at his teeth. They look very nice. I told my boys "Smile, I want everyone to see where $4,ooo went!!!" Under protest I also took him back to school after lunch. (Tay had celery with peanut butter for breakfast this morning - best day ever:)

Yesterday, Rye started track practice after school. He also had to work at 4:45 as the cow at Chick fil a. At 4:30 I was panicking. I looked all over the inside of the school and then went outside to find that he had decided to run distance so he was running what's called "the library loop." Thank goodness just as I came out of the school he came running toward me. We got him to work on time but not without adding a few gray hairs to my head. Thank goodness he was the cow - he smelled awful after running:) After that craziness I ran home and picked up Tay and Chris and we headed to Parent Teacher Conferences at the the middle school. We visited with each of his teachers. He is doing well and the teachers enjoy him (at least that's what they said to us - who wouldn't love tay?) After that we ran Tay to scouts. I dropped off Chris at home he was exhausted and then went and picked up Rye from work. I felt like I lived in the car yesterday. It stresses me out when we don't eat as a family or read scriptures (Two very big goals of mine, I feel more pressure because Chris is dieing and someday won't be here for these things) - that's Tues, Wed and Thurs. NO Time!!! After picking up Rye from work I dropped him off at the church for YM's. Came home and started all the nightly rituals. At 10:30 pm Meg called and we talked to her for a little bit (she had to get to class:). She had soooo much fun in Beijing they saw the Great Wall of China, Forbidden City, Tat. Square and a couple of other places. She rode her first subway and went with a friend who was sick to the hospital. They had to go to three hospitals until they found a doctor that could speak English. Kind of crazy but the doctor never told her what was wrong just gave her some medicine. LOL. Thank goodness she is doing better and didn't miss any of the trip.They went to church on Sunday. It was a ward with lots of babies and the meeting was in a Mall! Glass floors. She said the people were sooo nice. Gave them suggestions on places to eat and things to see. That in itself is a great experience especially only having lived in Utah with beautiful ward houses. (I grew up going to church in a bank and then a grange hall in Colorado) she also went to the Antique Market and the Pearl Market, she showed us all the things she bought (she got me a pearl necklace and her and Katie matching kimonos). She has a great time getting the price down (that's how we ended up with the hamster!!). Her favorite thing is to "walk away" then they chase you down and give you the price you originally asked for. Her hamster died while they were gone (go figure?) and she added 169 pictures (she says she has more to upload:) if you want to see them on my face book page (or hers). she continues to use a proxy so she can face book - don't ask me how it works. What a wonderful experience for her.

Rye asked a girl to Prom (March 10th).

Ha, ha I'm going to end this entry now because it is Monday, March 5th so I'll start a new one:)

Thanks to skype we've been able to speak to Megan every day this week. It's fun to hear about her day. She is very, very cold but enjoying her time there. Meg received my $68 package yesterday. Tressa was very happy to have her retainer and Meg wanted to know where the homemade chocolate chip cookies were!! We have run into a glitch that I've been trying to fix from here but no one can seem to help me. Meg hasn't been able to get any of her money out of the ATM machine in China so right now she is either going without or borrowing. She tried five different ATM machines. Today she is going to go to the Bank of China and see if they can help her. Kenzie (who banks at the same bank as Meg) was able to get money out at that ATM and the train station ATM so she hopes to get some out today. She called us very upset Saturday, I called bank and went in. Talk about a knot in my stomach!! They are going to Beijing Thursday (Wed to us) to hang out for four days it takes 13 hours to get there. They are riding a train. They will go the Pearl Market, Great Wall of China and some other places. Soooo excited for her. Got to get this money thing figured out. Tomorrow if it's not working I will wire her money or transfer money from her account to Kenzies. Ahhh, what fun:) She loves the kids she is teaching and is constantly telling us how smart they are. Tomorrow she is going off campus with some other teachers to teach English at a preschool and she will also teach a kindergarten class starting soon. Boy, have they got her busy:) That's a lot of lesson planning. She is frustrated that ILP didn't prepare them better for teaching she could have done more prep work before she left for China. And. . .. she is already planning her next adventure!!!! She wants to be a head teacher, go to either Thailand, New Zealand or the Ukraine! I do hope she will finish at BYU (she's a junior!!) but she doesn't know what she wants to "be when she grows up." "The plan" work this summer and then head out to "some place."
The van is "some what fixed" the insurance company won't fix the sliding door because they don't believe it is related to the accident!! Also today a nice man told me that my brake light and back up lights were all messed up - not working!! Grrrr.... Last accident Enterprise and Larry H. Miller did a great job. This time totally disappointed with BOTH!!!! Won't use either of them again!! (Better not need too!!!!- Quick knock on some wood!) Soo, today I will be taking the van back into the shop and lucky me sitting there while they fix it.
Friday and Saturday, Rye was the cow at work - he really likes it and is good at it. Someone called the store and told them how great "the cow was!!" (and no it wasn't me:) He is excited to get his first paycheck. He was funny, we had to go and buy him black work shoes and he was flipping out about how much the shoes cost, that he hadn't even made that much money yet:) What a good boy. I will say "I miss my Megan" when it comes to shopping. Rye was no fun!! Get the shoes and lets get out - no looking around.
Chris taught Gospel Doctrine on Sunday. I couldn't attend because I teach Primary but I'm sure he did a great job. Usually, he doesn't make it through the three hour block because of being sick or tired or both.
I have finally come up with a menu for the teachers dinner on Wednesday (yikes!! tomorrow). Going shopping today and will put the soda in the fridge at the school (the cafeteria ladies "love it" when I take over some of their fridge (hee, hee). Rye works tonight and Tay has a Scout/parent meeting tonight to discuss this years activities. Jacob has scouts tomorrow and the teacher dinner. Thurs, Chris has ward ball (ahhh), Tay has CAP - going to the Airport to the Control Tower and I work in Katie's classroom (probably Chris also - Katie always wants Chris also:). Next week at this time Jacob and Taylor will be out of braces!! They can't wait.
Happy to report not much drama here. Thank goodness, and it didn't take me four days to write on the blog:)
"Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you, but on what happens inside of you." Harold B. Lee
Love ya, Ricki

Spoke with Megan last (Sunday) night. It was very cool she skyped us about 7 pm and all the family was here (aunt, uncle, grandparents, cousins). We made her start at the beginning and tell us everything. Saturday night Meg (it was Sunday afternoon for her) and I spoke by phone she had me use Tango so it didn't cost anything. You need Wifi and she happened to be at the Branch Presidents house in SuZhou where they went to church. It took along time to get there and about $15 for all the transportation costs. The Branch Presidents wife fed them lasagna and popcorn, they used forks, let them use their computer and the biggest luxury - THE TOILET!!! Meg said she used it a couple of times just to remember how good it felt to "sit down." Kenzie said "it was the best day ever!" They are planning on going to church only once a month because of the cost. They also ate at McDonald's. Meg says they have the best orange/icecream drink there that we need here in the USA. If you saw the pictures Kenzie took you saw that the food looks just like it would here.

Ok, now it's Tuesday. Spoke with Meg this morning, 11pm her time us 7 am. Poor girl she was so full of life and talking a mile a minute and I had to keep getting people ready for school, drive them to the bus stop (we made it to the last stop:), get people out of bed etc. . . . Sooooo grateful for Skype what an amazing thing!!! Can't imagine waiting for a letter in the mail to tell me she got there safe. Ahhh technology:) Tressa forgot her retainer so yesterday I mailed it to her along with some hot chocolate packets, flavored oatmeal packets, Crystal Light, a Valentine, and soup in a packet. Yeah, that's the LAST time I mail anything!!!!! I'm sure I can do it cheaper - I'm learning but it cost $68!!! It's all about the retainer - hee, hee. The package should get there on Mon Feb 20th. Meg is teaching 3rd grade spelling and reading and on Frid she is teaching an art culture class to 8-12 year olds. She is really enjoying herself - not homesick (I told her I'm glad - makes it easier on me:). She says that she is very tired after teaching. She drew very cute pictures of different fruits and glued them on Popsicle sticks to teach them different fruits in English. Such a creative girl:):) (so fun to see them thanks to Skype:). She needs us to send pictures of our family and places we've been so she can show the kids. she says the children are all so cute - but "smelly" lol!! She still hasn't gotten used to the food. She has gotten used to bamboo shoots but can't gag down tofu yet. She says that "I have ruined her," she can't eat chicken with a bone in it!!!!LOL I don't use/cook meat with bones. Yuck!! When we have a turkey it is Chris' (or my moms) job to clean it. They love to go to the out door market and buy food. She says she can eat for under a $1. It is still very cold, she wears three pairs of socks and she says that doesn't ever think she will feel her feet again.:(

Ok, Ok now it's Wednesday morning. Just got off Skype with Meg. She bought herself a PET!!! A dwarf hamster!!! $3.00 for food, cage and hamster. she says it smells!! She doesn't care for animals so I'm not sure how she ended up with it. Oh, yeah she was having fun haggling with the street vendor:)

Did Katie's Valentine party, I was in charge of Bingo. Then we went and picked up the rental car. Got there and it was DIRTY!! They tried to tell me it was clean! It had dog hair everywhere, dirt on the floor mat. I wouldn't even get in! They brought out another one that they said "was clean" it wasn't!! I must have high standards on what is clean and what isn't:) We didn't have time to wait while they cleaned it because I had to get to Jacob's valentine party. Got in and Katie found cheerios in the back and soda down the door! Sound clean to you?? Later we would find that it had been smoked in (I called and let them know it wasn't us and how unhappy I was with the service). Jacob's party went well. My mom and I did the chocolate fountain. It flowed beautifully. Lots of treats brought in and the kids were well behaved. I only got a little chocolate on my shirt and pants:) not like last year when we did it for 6th grad (Taylor's class) it was everywhere!!! After that I ran home and started on are family Valentine dinner which consists of everything either being red or pink. Lasagna, pink rolls, cherry jello, strawberries, (green salad -need vegie), sprite and heart shaped ice cubes in fancy glasses and for dessert this year chocolate pudding with whip cream and a strawberry cut in half to look like a heart. A fun tradition that the kids look forward to, funny story: timer went off to tell us the lasagna was done, I wasn't home and had asked others to take it out. Well they "thought" they turned off the oven but instead had turned it to broil - needless to say it was black on top and a bit crunchy:). We did are other family tradition earlier - we went to Famous Dave's for dinner before Meg left for China.

So, now it's Thursday morning:) Spoke with Meg this morning via Skpye:) Kenzie bought a dwarf hamster so now there are two. Meg is getting a room mate. One of the girls decided to go home so they are moving the other girl into Meg's room. Poor girl she isn't to happy about it she has enjoyed putting her stuff everywhere and using that other mattress and blanket. Tressa and Kenzie said that she could move in with them if it doesn't work out:) She didn't eat anything for dinner last night because it was sooo gross - one of the dishes they served was chicken legs with the claws still attached!!!! Yuck!! They went to the out door market and got something to eat and Meg bought two dresses, a ring, a pair of shoes -which says are hard to find in her size because Chinese have smaller feet and a bunch of packaged goodies "that looked good" she isn't exactly sure what they all are can't read package but she is willing to try them:) She said that the washing machines are worthless!! They don't really clean the clothes and there is no dryer so they have to hang their clothes up on rope that they brought, she also says thank goodness they have heat in their rooms other wise she isn't sure how they would get dry:) She doesn't know if she will be able to talk with us tomorrow because of having a roommate - she usually calls us around 11 pm her time. Katie doesn't like to get up for school and the last three days have been "a little" easier because I can bribe her with talking to Megan:)

Other things that are happening are: Chris was called as Gospel Doctrine teacher, Jacob has to do a science fair project (Grrrrr...), Rye starts working at Chick fil a on Friday (part of his job - being the cow:) will let you know when so you can visit him -hee, hee), additional damage was found inside the car when they went and pulled it apart. They said that the sliding door (drivers side) is under warranty so it will also be fixed. Can't wait for my car back - at first I disliked the light colored floor etc. in the car but after having this car with dark everything I'm glad I have light - doesn't show the dirt as much:) Monday for FHE we went and saw the Muppet Movie (poor Rye and Tay they were both asking if they could leave hee, hee) at the dollar movie.

So, I'm not trying to brag or say that "We're so nice" but I myself am writing this so that I can always remember what a wonderful man Chris is (then I can cry even harder:) and I would try to write it in my personal journal but I just don't seem to be able to find the time. LOL so bear with me or just skip to the end. Last Friday when we got to talk to Meg for the first time Tressa didn't get to talk to hers. Her family (Tressa's mom is a single mom, father doesn't pay child support or alimony) didn't have skype set up or a camera on their computer. We saw Tressa crying behind Meg and she walked out of the room (this was midnight to us). We told Meg that we would go over to Tressa's moms house tomorrow and set it up for her (her name is Michelle). We called her and set up a time to come over. Chris went and bought a camera to put on the computer. We couldn't get Skype to work on her Macintosh and the camera wouldn't work either. We were all discouraged trying to figure out how to get this to work. We went home to think and get on line to see if we could figure out how to do it for a Mac. Chris remembered that we had an old tower (broken) and a monitor. So for 7 hours and two trips to Best Buy he got it up and working. At 10 pm he and Rye took it over there and I stayed here so that we could try out the Skype. We got it working and it was ready for Tressa to call. Michelle left skype up waiting for Tressa. Meg called and we told her to get Tressa but Meg had gone to church (she was using the Branch Presidents wifi, using his toilet, and eating lasagna and popcorn, oh and don't forget using a fork lol) -Tressa had stayed back at the school in bed because she was sooo homesick - I would be also if I hadn't talked to my family since Tues. They finally got to see each other Sunday/Monday and usually when Meg is on with us Tressa is on with her family. Tressa is enjoying herself and happy to be in China. This is when I have to remind myself that the Lord knows "the bigger picture" as to "Why, is he taking Chris" such a great guy always looking out for others. It would have been easy enough for him to just give up on the Mac but instead he fixed a broken computer and made a girl and her family less homesick for each other. Again this is when I wonder "why?" Take a rotten man instead of my wonderful one!!! Ahhh. . .

This week we just have left, me working in Jacob's class, CAP, Jacob's last bball practice (and game on Saturday - Yeah!!!), Chris has a bball game:), Rye working and working on a science fair project. Monday, no school. Next week I feed the teachers and very, very exciting Tay gets to go and tour the Air Traffic Control Tower at the Salt Lake International Airport! How cool is that!! I tried to see if I could go but only CAP members who have done the special training can go.:( (So I get to sit in the car and wait lol) This month is just flying by!!

HOPE - H appiness, O ptimism, P ersrverance, E ternity.

Love ya, Ricki

Yesterday we left Skype on all day hoping that Meg would call us. Finally at midnight we got to talk to her. She looked good, she had showered and gotten some sleep. Because they don't heat the inside of their buildings we could see Meg's breath as she spoke to us!!!! She said it is very cold. She was wearing two jackets and her gloves, she said that she wished she had brought more warm clothing especially socks. She said that it seemed warmer outside then in the building. There are 17 adults in Meg's group so odd number Meg got her own room. She said the beds are hard but that she got to make hers a little softer because she used the pad from the other bed and comforter. Megs BIG complaint is that she "thought" that the teachers would have an "American" bathroom- but NOPE!! Poor Meg has to use a squatter there are no toilet seats to sit on and NO toilet paper!! Good for the thigh muscles -lol. She showed us pictures from her camera (how fun is that?!!) of the building, the city, the pollution (said it smells like car exhaust fumes and you can't see the blue sky or the mountains) she tried to email them to us but it wasn't working so hopefully soon will have some pictures to show you. She told and showed us all the things that they had been fed. She tried bamboo shoots but said they are gross. Nothing on the plate looked good - poor girl. She did eat the rice, she said that she is going to come back skinny:) They went to a store to get some supplies had fun trying to figure out what the items were. She said that people stared, pointed and followed them around. Some Chinese people had their pictures taken with the girls. Two blonds and a fair skinned brunette:) She said on the plane ride over they watched lots of movies. When they got to Shanghai they took a four hour bus ride to Changhzou. They will start teaching on Monday. They have had meetings and one of the head teachers won't call Megan - Megan. She says her name is Maggie. Megan tried to correct her a couple of times but gave up:) She said she doesn't know what they will do this weekend. They will try to go to church but it is far away. She hopes that she can find a place that sells hot chocolate and oatmeal:) They do have a microwave and washing machines (yeah). She also said that it was cute when they went out of the teacher building the kids would call "Hi teacher, hi teacher" This weekend kids get to go home and visit their families so she was greeted also by parents who said "hi" in Chinese (so she now knows how to say "hi":) It was wonderful to talk to her. She seemed happy. she did do alot of comparing America/China - but hey, there's alot of new stuff to get used to, especially the toilet - or lack of!!! For those of you that know Megan she can't do outhouses. She will hold her pee for days if she can. So we had a great time teasing her last night. She showed us a picture and told us it could be worse. Very proud of her:) Don't know when we will get to talk to her next but now I can finally eat - the knot in my stomach is a little smaller:) Won't be completely gone til she gets home. I am sooo proud of her, so excited for her adventure and all the things she is learning. All the new friends that she will make, and the children that she will teach and grow to love. To see places that most of us just see on tv. (yes, I'm crying:) I shall miss her tons but am very excited to hear of her adventures.
Love, Ricki
P.S. Appraiser came out last night to look at van. Now it goes to the shop! Rental car here I come - hope I don't like you, hee, hee:) I hadn't noticed that the trailer hitch is bent!! I'm taking it to the same place that fixed it last time - they did a great job. Hit twice in less then TWO years!!!
In case you are keeping score: Megan 4 accidents. Ricki 2 accidents. (in 2 1/2 years!!!) LOL LOL LOL LOL

Just got a message from ILP. Everyone and their luggage have arrived safely:) My Megan and her friends are in China.

As of Friday Chris isn't allowed to pass away until July when Megan gets home. I told him it is now to late!!:) Can't throw a funeral together by tomorrow afternoon and don't want to pay for Meg to come back from China. She leaves tomorrow night. Crazy to think that tonight is the last night we have with her for awhile - can't go and visit her when I miss her like I did when she was at BYU and the most disheartening thing is that this could be her last few hours with Chris. The next time she might see him "in a box" (according to Chris:) Yes, the next few days are going to be filled with lots of tears. I am excited for her. So proud of her. Especially for being so "brave" I don't think I would have ever done it and the things that she will learn and see - priceless! Something to remember forever. Packing has been a BIG job. Mostly just having her pack up her stuff from college and empty her car (so we can get it fixed) and running around making sure that she has everything. She isn't taking a lot of clothing because she wants to be able to leave it there if she needs to (suitcase to full:) somethings that she will need they don't sell there for example contact solution - and boys turn your heads - tampons!!!! Can you imagine??!!!!! So if anyone checks her suitcase they will get a good laugh tampons and contact solution hee, hee. Meg and I were laughing in the store about are cart items, we took half the shelf:) Ahhh to be a girl:) So, basically my life has been very busy thanks to Megan:) Today my mom is being kind enough to run her around so that I can get other things done that I need to. Water proof mascara tomorrow:)

Ha, ha it is now Wednesday morning. Tuesday was soooo, sooooo crazy finishing up all the last minute things before Meg left. At 5 pm my mom came over so she could come with us and take pictures and video. Whole family went to the airport. Meg had two big suitcases one weighed 48 lbs the other 42 lbs. and a 20 lb carry on:) Oh, and a purse:):) Where you check bags in is where we met the ILP people and Meg was given her flight info and her passport. We took lots of pictures of family and with her friends that are going also. After checking in we walked them to security where we said "good bye." Meg's friend Kenzie cried but Meg just kept saying "I want to go, I want to go!" she was wayyy excited and I'm sure "a little" tired of us. Her other friend Tressa was fine also:) We did find out that Meg didn't get the visa that would allow her to go back and forth. I'm going to contact them today. When we found that out a very large lump welled up in my throat. I don't want Meg to have to make a decision between China and her dad's funeral. I had a very hard time in the airport knowing that this could be the last time that Meg sees Chris alive. I just have to have faith that the Lord knows the "big picture" and won't give Meg or I anything that we can't handle. I've come to realize that this isn't just my trial. It feels like it but this belongs to all my kids. Having Meg fly back alone would not only be my trial from here wondering if she was safe but also hers. I haven't been able to eat since yesterday morning I'm afraid I will throw up. Such a big knot in my stomach. It is a total of 33 hours to get to where Meg is going. She flew to LA and then to Seoul Korea. Seoul Korea to Shanghai. Train or bus from Shanghai to Changzhou. ILP has a website to keep us up to date on where they are. Meg last texted (she's in trouble!!) Korea. She said that it smelled like "dirty feet" and that she couldn't understand anyone. There are 17 of them along with guides.

As you can see it has been a crazyyyy week. It is now Thursday morning and I haven't finished this blog:) Meg still isn't in China (well maybe she is). I received an email from her at 3 pm yesterday saying she was in Korea and that it was Feb 9th. Tressa, Kenzie and Meg have also put pictures up on facebook. I was laughing so hard because they look exhausted and nothing like when they left. Kenzie left with beautiful curls in her hair (now straight). Meg was wearing her glasses and Tressa had a ponytail that had strands of hair sticking out everywhere. Thanks for the laugh girls. I'm sure I wouldn't be looking to good after that many hours either. I hope they take a picture of themselves before they bathe:) I called ILP yesterday and they gave me the "low down" on what happened with Meg's visa. They said that the visa had been denied, sooo the process will be as soon as Meg arrives home have someone drive her to Provo to get new passport pictures and drop off passport and pictures at ILP. They will take the stuff to the consulate to have it expedited. It will take about four days. That's about perfect. It will just have to be one of those things that becomes a top priority (along with everything else:). When we came home Tuesday night Katie found somethings that Meg had not put away and poor Katie was running to us yelling that Meg had forgot these things and that we needed to take them to her. Sooo cute.

After we said goodbye to Meg we drove right to the church for Tay and Rye's Court of Honor. Thanks to amazing leaders Rye received a bronze palm, Tay received his On My Honor award, 10 Merit badges and his Star, and Chris was surprised by receiving his On My Honor award and a special religious knot. Verrryyy cool!! I did have a hard time concentrating - kept thinking about Meg. She texted me during the meeting - said that they were closing the doors of the plane. Headed to LA. Yeah, I started crying. Between the awards and Meg I was a mess.

Feb 1st was the one year anniversary of Chris quiting work:( Can you believe its been a year?! It has flown by.

At the end of the month Tay AND Jacob will get their braces off!! How exciting. TWO retainers to keep track of. LOL. Jacob gets his off Feb 27, have to go twice in one day because his retainer will have a tooth on it:) and Tay is Feb 28 and 29. Braces off the 28th and then come back for his retainer on the 29th. It will be very weird not to go at least once a month!! We've been going for at least 5 years!

I realized this month that I am now a mother of 2 teenagers and 1 adult!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where has the time gone???!!!

Yesterday, we took Meg's car into be fixed and not even an hour later . . . . are you ready?. . . . Can you guess what happened?. . . . . . The van. . . . . . was . . . . . REAR ENDED!!!!!!!!!! I was stopped at the stop sign and she hit me. If you remember the van was rear ended before it was even a year old and received a new door. Well, the van isn't even TWO years old is now going to need a new door!!! It was just Rye and I and we weren't hurt. The funny thing is that it happened very, very close to where I was hit a year ago at! What's funnier is that Wed. I was driving home and I have a tendency to do "California stops" at stop signs. Little did I know that are friend who is a police officer was behind me in an unmarked car as I "rolled" through the stop sign. He gave me a warning:) Sooo, after I was rear ended I called him and told him that "If I hadn't stopped I wouldn't have been rear ended -therefore I am justified in rolling through stop signs!!:)" and will tell any police officer who pulls me over that I have found that stopping just gets me rear ended:) I'm sure that will go over well - hee, hee.

Katie has been sick the last two days - fever and cough. You wouldn't know it if you came to our house:) Chris is also sick - cough and sinus'. No matter how hard you try to keep germs out they always find you.

I have had a crazzzy week (did I mention I've had a crazzzyy week?!). Meg was all my time Monday and Tuesday. School started Monday for Jacob and Katie which is always an adjustment. Tues. sold candy grams at the middle school, court of honor and airport (exhausting day).

Wednesday, breakfast with books at the elementary, orchestra practice, Katie sick, PTSA meeting (thank goodness I have Chris:), Rye had a job interview (we were just coming back from it when we got hit), and a car accident. I took the boys (Katie and Chris ill) to the fitness center so they could swim or play ball while I attended a Kick Boxing class. I ssooooo needed it. Let a little stress out:) Still can't eat much. Just enough to not pass out but not enough to make we throw up. China is soooo far away. I will be ok soon - five months from now!! LOL.

Today, Katie is sick - I was suppose to work in her classroom. We have "bring your family to lunch day" at the elementary school (Jacob wants us to bring Del Taco), Tay has CAP, Jacob has Jr. Jazz practice, and Chris has ward men's bball game (that boy causes me stress!!!). Since it starts out mellow and most people know Chris is dieing I remind them that if my husband ends up on the floor they will be dealing with me!!:) Last game Chris ended up on his rear. After the game I gave the guy grief.

Tomorrow, we need to be at the elementary school at 8:25 for Soarin in the Mornin news. Then the boys will get together - like every Friday and play Dungeons and Dragons. They continue to enjoy it til Oh, 12:00 - 1: 00am. Fun for them they are learning to use their imaginations:).

Next week is Valentine's Party - I am doing a center for Katie's class and the chocolate fountain for Jacob's class. He is wayyy excited. Also starting to think about what I am going to feed the teachers for SEP dinner.

I will TRY to write to let you know Meg got there safe. If you have facebook you can click me as a friend and see what's happening. See pictures of Meg, Kenzie and Tressa.

Don't have a quote to end on - too tired and just trying to keep my own head above water.

Thanks to r friend who fixed are garbage disposal, my dad for fixing everything else and my mom for helping with whatever I need.

(sorry for the mistakes but if I work on this any longer it won't get done til - - maybe tomorrow, hee, hee)

Love ya, Ricki