Wouldn't it be lover-ly

The kids and I made a quick trip to Oregon this last weekend (read: left Friday, got home Monday) to welcome home my baby brother from his mission in Colombia! It was so fun to see him, and it was the first time in 3 1/2 years that all my brothers and I were together. It was wonderful, and well worth the looooooooong car ride.

Anyhow, as I was driving back to Utah I fell in love with the mountains just west of LaGrande - so big and wide and solitary...as I continued home I noticed how bright the stars are in northern Utah, and how peaceful it was. Here's what I'd really like: 100 acres in the mountainous woods, away from everyone and all the busyness and noise that is all around me. A small house, some chickens, a cow, some horses and lots of room. Maybe I've been watching "The Waltons" and reading "By the Shores of Silver Lake" too much, but doesn't that sound lovely? Just me and my family and the big night sky, surrounded by nature. I could get used to that!

I know that will never happen - we are needed elsewhere - but I think I've figured out a way to get a piece of that solitude in my life: instead of having a big house (which I've NEVER wanted), I'll have 2 small houses. One near wherever Stephen ends up working, and one in my woods, with no one near me. I'll spend at least a month a year in my solitary retreat, and be the better for it!

Business name...

I am tossing around the idea of starting to sell FuzziBunz diapers, but need a cute, catchy business name...HELP???????

Mason quote

Yesterday I pulled out the Halloween costumes for dress-up, and there are 2 bird costumes: a toucan and a parrot.

Mason: What is this one?
Me: A parrot.
Mason: What is Sammy's?
Me: A toucan.
Mason: Hmm...is mine a one-can?

Everyone needs to move...

I am of the opinion that people who live in Utah should live outside of Utah, at least for a little while. There is just so much more world than this little bubble. Since moving here I've realized that I really needed to get outside of Oregon - don't get me wrong, I can't think of a better place in the world...but my world view is rather limited, since it consists of...Oregon. My view is already expanding, and (now, Mom, don't get too upset) I don't really want to go back to Oregon for awhile. In fact, I really want to go international and have Stephen do some expatriate work for some years. My one condition is that he make enough that I can fly home at least once a year. :o) And maybe fly my family & friends out every so often, too.

BYU's motto is "Enter to learn, go forth to serve." And they really mean it - they don't want people sticking around Utah. There are enough and to spare of excellent people here! When we first came to look at BYU (last November) we talked with the professor over Supply Chain, Dr. Sawaya, and he told us that the first goal of the MBA program here is to train bishops, stake presidents and the like, and that if we get a good job, that's great, but they really want to train leaders and send them out to the world to strengthen the church. That was a turning point for me in thinking BYU would be okay. Now I know that it is FANTASTIC! Not just okay.

Another professor came to talk to just the spouses (insanely awesome (was that stereotypical Utah talk?) !!!) association, and said his biggest concern was that our husbands don't realize how amazing they are, and instead of settling for a good job they need to decide what it is they really want to do and go for it. Also that the world needs great LDS leaders, and that is what the MBA program at BYU is creating. He also said that we should not be afraid to take risks and go new places.

I'm still anti-big bugs, but not diametrically opposed to anything. Well, maybe New Orleans...yes, definitely there. I for sure want to be above sea level if we live near the ocean. :o) I really hope we get to go somewhere outside of the U.S. for awhile, but who knows where we'll end up! Hopefully somewhere where the church isn't strong. It's always nice to be needed. (I hope that didn't sound egotistical)

NSHMBA

By virtue of Stephen being able to locate Mexico on a map, he went to Atlanta this weekend to attend the National Society of Hispanic MBA student's career fair. Because he is so Hispanic. Or not...anyhow, he spent from Thursday through late Saturday in the peach state, networking and such. He interviewed with Target (located in MN), P&G (Proctor & Gamble, OH) and Johnson & Johnson (NJ), and talked to a bunch of other companies: Ocean Spray (they sound pretty cool! Located 30 miles south of Boston), IBM, Amazon, Campbell Soup Company, Kroger, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Sara Lee Corporation (can't you just see us eating pies all day long...), and a bunch of others. He has an interview with United Stationers (just north of Chicago) on Thursday, and he's pretty excited about it.

He went to a couple of cool parties on Friday night - the best one was P&G's - it was held in the Atlanta Aquarium, and he said there were some whale sharks, a hammerhead shark and other cool stuff. He went to a little hole-in-the-wall diner on Saturday, and ate the best ribs he's ever had! I'm glad he's home now, although he'll probably do some fly-backs for second interviews. The MBA program is definitely an investment, both money- and time-wise!

5th Place!

Not me - Elise! 2 weeks ago she ran a 1-mile race put on by the BYU Cross Country team. There were 15 first-grade girls who ran, and Elise came in 5th! Her time was 10:04 - I was very impressed, and she was so proud of herself! The Saturday after she and I ran 1.3 miles. She is very excited to run with me, Stephen and Uncle Brett.

Also on Saturday she decided she wanted to ride her bike without training wheels, so Stephen took them off and helped her ride. She didn't ride again until yesterday, and I helped her for about 30 seconds - she doesn't need help anymore! My little girl is growing up! She is also so proud of herself for riding alone!

Seeing her ride her 2-wheeler alone after a minimal amount of help helped me realize (again - there have been a number of examples of this) that when she wants something bad enough, and is developmentally ready, she'll pick it up with no struggle. I don't have to push anything on her at this stage. She'll do...whatever...when she's ready.

I'll post some pictures once my computer is back to normal...poor computer! It's tough being sick!

pics from a friend

A fellow MBA friend took some pictures of us yesterday...I think they turned out great! And Missy, she really, really likes your style!!

redtulipphotography.blogspot.com