Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Super Angie...twinkle twinkle


Recently Tan and I have started singing songs--ALL THE TIME. Our favorites: ABCs, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, The Itsy Bitsy Spider and Way Up In The Sky.

She is also very accomplished at singing all the songs on the Spongebob CD and Alvin and the Chipmunks CDs.

We love to dance together, smile and of course, give lots of hugs and love!

Sure do love you Tan! You make my heart smile.
--Super Angie

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Super Angie...just a day

Today was just a day.

But it was a fun day.

I went to Dallin's school and read a story to his class. Then Brennan and Tanith got to eat lunch with him.
Brennan enjoyed sitting all by himself at an empty desk, and of course he enjoyed making faces when I took this picture.

Tanith LOVED sitting next Dallin, and he liked it too---but again, they must make faces!

After school, it was time for Brennan's weekly ice skating lesson. Its time for just him and me to go to the rink. He really likes this special time. And so do I!
Notice the Zamboni behind him? Ah, he was SO excited to watch it. I think he has found his new profession. :)
Brennan doesn't always pay attention in class--mainly because his coach doesn't command much authority over her students which I feel is a must when dealing with 5 and 6 yr olds. He doesn't act up like this at school, church or other lessons, and I told his coach as much. I don't think she likes me much. lol
But he likes her and the assistant coach and loves just skating. He simply loves to skate--and the faster the better! He is getting better and better at his skills and he seems to pick up on things fast. But of course, he is Brennan and Brennan by nature is wild, and so is his skating.
My happy boy. So proud of himself. He just loves to skate and loves spending one on one time with me. I'm so proud of him. I love watching him, even if he is silly on the ice. The joy he gets from this sport just oozes out of him.

And so it was...just a day.

Nothing special to the world.
No big event, or special meeting with presidents and important people.

But to me...it was great!

I love my kids...
--Super Angie

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Super Angie...a gift of raspberries

Once in a while, if you are very lucky, you will meet someone who changes your life. A friend who connects, not just on the surface, but deeper as well. You may not know your friend for long. You may not even know her that well, but you know she cares. You know you are on her mind. You know she thinks often about you, and that simple knowledge warms your heart.

Having a special friend like this is a gift, much like this beautiful gift of raspberries. Sweet, juicy, and a fun treat. The black and white polka dot bow= total fun and happiness. The giant pink flower= gorgeous and pretty on the inside and out. The fun button in the middle= the attention to small details.

I'm SOOOO thankful for my special polka dot loving, raspberry giving, spirit sensitive friend.

Thanks for listening to me, hugging me, talking with me and helping me. Thanks for loving me despite my actions and words, and for being my friend--even if at times, its really not safe and you are totally risking death! ( LOL )

Your actions and your gift of raspberries mean the world.

Thanks friend.
I love you!

--Super Angie

Super Angie...two dead bodies

August 20th--my friend died. She was the same age as me.
August 25th--her funeral. See her in her casket
Labor day weekend--my sister in law falls out of her car, breaks her nose and elbow and has to have surgery.
Same weekend--my grandpa has a stroke
Labor day--I talk on the phone for the last time ever with my grandpa
September 11th--morning: hear the news my friend's baby dies during child birth--full term healthy baby.
September 11th--night: grandpa dies.
Sunday September 13th--fly to Orlando for the funeral of my grandpa.
Monday September 14th--had a wonder memorial service for my grandpa. Lots of stories, jokes and memories shared. --no casket--
Tuesday September 15th--morning: fly home
Tuesday September 15th--night: go to viewing for friend's dead baby. See baby in the casket.

A few days later--mother-in-law's apartment burns down.

October 17th--burial of Grandpa is to happen in Sacramento. I'm not going.

I do not want to see another dead body.

I'm spent.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Super Angie...Tan's a dancer!

Tan has started a little dance class. Its called TOO MUCH FUN and its taught by Miss Bobi, just a few streets away in her basement. The class is for 2 and 3 yr olds. They use props, dress up and even have a tea party at the end of class. Tanith LOVES it!
She LOVES drinking water from the teacups.

She downs a few cups each class. Phew! Must be tired from all that dancing.
Hula dancing complete with grass skirts and flowers in their hair.
Cheerleading.
Hey Mickey, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind.... Tan LOVES dressing up for the cheerleading song.
Balance beam time is always a treat.
Shes dancing with a babydoll.

She goes once a week and our neighbor takes her daughter, Molly, too. Its just such a fun time. I love the smile on her face and how excited she gets when she finds out she gets to dance with Miss Bobi.

--Super Angie

Monday, September 21, 2009

Super Angie..kitten mania

We have Kitten Mania going on at our house.
Yes, even though we are all allergic to animals, we got a kitten this weekend. Her name is Lucy and shes 7 weeks old.
The kids just adore her!--sometimes a bit too much!
Shes very clean
And very curious
And likes her milk and kitty chow.
But she likes Daddy most of all

Tanni loves her new "toy"
And she tries really hard to be gentle.
Rick gives in and cuddles her while he plays games.
Or walks around the house.
She likes to sit with me on the front porch--in the sun, being scratched and loved while I read a book.
Our neighbors like her too and come often to visit
Its LUCY, our little sweetie.
WE LOVE YOU LUCY!

--super angie

Friday, September 18, 2009

Super Angie...a better me



I'm learning.
I'm growing.
I'm becoming a better me.

I have slowed myself down. I am thinking, "do I want to have any regrets when ____dies? If not, then I better do something about that NOW, not later." So, I'm spending more time with my kids. I'm watching. I'm listening. I'm singing. I'm dancing. I'm making lunch and making memories. I'm cleaning rooms and teaching lessons. I'm folding laundry, teaching reading and smiling. Playing wii and doing math.

I'm making time for myself. I'm facebooking, I'm blogging, I'm cleaning and de-cluttering. I'm organizing and giving things away. I'm healing.

I'm praying and thinking. I'm trying to be more compassionate and understanding. Instead of simply saying, "I'm so sorry" when a friend has a painful day or experience, I think instead of what *I* would want or need, and then act on it. Ah, this has brought me a lot of joy.

At my grandpa's funeral, I sang, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN MUCH. I have this written on a sign in my kitchen. Its kind of "my" saying. Its me. I have been blessed with SO MUCH, I have to give of my blessings to others.

I'm trying to lower my stress level and focus on whats important in life and whats not. Is it important for me to be invited to each and every little outting and girl's night out that I hear about? No. Its not. So instead of being sad and upset that I wasn't included, I'm moving forward and learning and growing from that.

I'm learning.
I'm growing.
I'm moving forwards instead of backwards.

I'm happy.
I'm joyful.
I'm at peace.

I'm Super Angie, and being Super isn't always easy. Its about trying everyday. Its about Rainier--taking things one step at a time. Its about dreaming and setting goals, but not hating myself if I slip up on one of those goals. Its about smiling. Its about being silly. Its about living life and trying to help others. Its about sharing what I've got.

So, I'm gonna climb mountains.
And I'm gonna go for bike rides.
I'm gonna go to the park.
And I'm gonna give hugs.

I'm gonna lay in the hammuck and read a good book.
I'm gonna turn the music up loud and dance in the kitchen.
I'm gonna kneel to pray.

I'm gonna be a better me....

Super Angie...I can Read!


Two days ago, a very special event happened at our house.... Brennan read his first book!

I had told him earlier in the day that we needed to do his 15 minutes of reading for his class and he said, "well, you'll have to read, because I can't." I told him of course thats not a problem and that we would have fun.

A few minutes later, he asked if he could try to read, so we went to the couch in our front room and sat down with one of Dallin's first books.

I helped Brennan sound out the first word, and he did wonderful...and then he jumped ahead and sounded out the third word perfectly. He caught on and continued.

I sat in total shock!

Brennan read the entired book, with my help. After every word, he would leap into my lap, full of love and pride. He was so proud of himself and so happy to be reading with mommy. I am so proud of him. He immediatly wanted to read another book, but I didn't want to have him move faster then he could, so I said we would read more the next day. He went to bed with his book--reading and re-reading it over and over.

In the morning, he read another book and just has reading on the brain. We told his Kindergarten teacher and she was over joyed.

Brennan, I'm so proud of you. What a smart boy you are. I love you, my big bear!

--Super Angie

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Super Angie...desires

I am wanting to be a better person.

I have some ideas of what I'm gonna do...

I'll keep ya posted!

--Super Angie

Friday, September 11, 2009

Super Angie...The Dog Gone Dog is Gone--Woof!

Tonight at around 8:45 pm Utah time, my grandpa, Everett Paulson passed away in Orlando, Florida.

My Grandpa was 87 yrs old. He lived a hard but rewarding life.

My grandpa was a master wood carver. He has made such beautiful carvings through out his life. Some of my favorites: the bed he made for my mom, which I was blessed to use as a girl and that Tanith will get to use when she gets older, the cabinet in my front room, the horses in my front room, the full size-fully working Model T car (what a stunner!!!), the round table, the Vernal Tithing building,my front porch swing, the red truck, boat and trailer he made me as a child, the china cabinet, the green wagon we have in our garage and of course, all the tiny black chairs so man of us have.

When I would visit my Grandpa in Sacramento (when I was a child), he would take just me out for breakfast. We would go to a pancake house type of place. I would always order the same thing--because it was tradition. English muffin, orange juice and a hot chocolate.

When I was growing up, I had a speech problem and couldn't say my S sound right. When I wanted Grandpa to push me on the swing in his back yard, I would say, "TING ME!". He lovingly carved TING ME into the front porch swing I have (its not a swing right now though--its a bench with legs).

Grandpa loved to tell jokes. There was one about a Quarter back, that I still don't understand, but I will always remember him telling EVERYONE these jokes. He would always talk to the waitresses and tell them all sorts of jokes.

I remember my grandpa taking me to Flaming Gorge.

I remember spending several weeks with my grandpa in Vernal. He took me to my first Rodeo. He also gave me a book about drawing.

My grandpa loved serving others. He was a great help at one of the elementary schools in Vernal. He loved helping the kids with their Times Tables. I wish he could have done that with my boys. He had a passion for it.

He was a very tall and big man. Over six feet tall. I remember his cowboy hat size was very VERY big. My brother Paul and his son Andy have Grandpa's big head. :)

He always winked and had a twinkle in his eye.

He loved going to the temple and would go at least once a week when he lived in Vernal.

On Monday, I was able to talk to him in the hospital after his stroke. He had a feeding tube and an oxygen mask on, but I was able to understand him. I told him "I LOVE YOU" and he said it back. I told him, "THE DOG GONE DOG IS GONE" and he said, "WOOF".

When I was a child, my dad's mom (Oma Hilde) died. My Grandpa tells the story that my parents wrote him a letter talking about the death of my Oma. I had no clue what was written in the letter, but on the envelope, I wrote, "THE DOG GONE DOG IS GONE--Woof" which was our little inside joke. He read that, laughed and then opened the card and in his word, "It said, Hilde's dead". LOL He laughed and laughed and made me promise that his tomb stone would say" The dog gone dog is gone-Woof". It was our great joke.

I'm thankful for my grandpa. He loved the Lord. He loved the gospel. He worked hard to be a good person. He loved serving others and smiling and laughing. He had a hard childhood but lived a great life. He was strong and honest and true.

I love you Grandpa. WOOF!

--Super Angie

Super Angie...Ovarian Cancer

Next week, I am climbing in HERA CLIMB 4 LIFE. I'm raising money for Ovarian Cancer Research. Ovarian cancer is an often forgotten cancer. Did you know that there are currently no "easy" tests that are done at your yearly OBGYN appointment? We need to change that and HERA is doing that through their cutting edge research.

Please considering pledging to support my cause. No amount is too small...even $1 helps!

http://www.Climb4LifeSLC09.kintera.org/thesuperangie


Thank you so much.
Together we can raise awareness and save the lives of woman everywhere!
--Super Angie


Here I am climbing on problem number 7 at the 2009 Teva Mountain Games in Vail, CO

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Super Angie... Kindergarten!!!

My big bear Brennan started Kindergarten yesterday (Wednesday). He only goes three days a week (MWF) all day. He was so excited to finally go to school. :) By tradition, he got his Erste Schul Tag Tutte.
Such a big grin!
Ben 10 stuff, dino stuff, candy, gum
and of course, nerf bullets and M&Ms
With his Lighting McQueen lunch box, ready to go in....
Hanging up his backpack.
He got to pick his own seat...he originally picked this one until his friend Thatcher came in. Then he moved to sit by Thatcher.
We stopped by and said HI to him on recess. He was really excited to see us.
He loves his teacher Miss Burrel. She gave him a paperdoll to color that looks like him. He picked a red crayon because he was wearing red, but then I heard him say, "Look! This is all BLOOD!!!" --evil laugh!
Another recess pic. He is growing up too fast.

Brennan I'm so proud of you for starting Kindergarten. You are so grown up and so smart. I love you and know you are going love school this year!

--Super Angie

Super Angie...3rd Grade

Dallin started 3rd grade this Tuesday (day after Labor Day). Of course he was excited to get his Erste Schul Tag Tutte--German tradition that school kids get on the first day. Its filled with school supplies, goodies, clothes, toys etc.
He got, among other things, a glow in the dark puzzel and...
a king size bag of M&Ms.
My parents sent small tuttes to all three kids filled with German chocolates. THANKS GAGA AND POP!!!

Congrats Dallin on being in 3rd grade. I'm sure you'll have a great year with Miss Allen. I love you!!!

--Super Angie

On Belay

On Belay
Brennan Top Roping

Climb On!

Climb On!
Dallin top roping