I always feel like I can't post with out a picture hence the lack of posting! :) I never feel like I have time to post at home where I have access to my photos. Odd that at work I have more time to play on the internet. I thought I would give an update of a few thing going on in the world of the Dudley's.....
Adison is almost done with preschool. CRAZY!!! She is all registered for Kindergarten. I am such a proud mama! I don't want to brag but it is worth bragging about in my book. (She does have a small issue with separation anxiety but, with time I am hoping she will grow out of it. ) At her kindergarten testing I had to go with her for the first few minutes. The first thing they did was test her eyes. She could see great even through the tears. Next was to draw a stick person. She is amazing!!!! The average score is 10 points and my little artist received 14!!! Her preschool teacher said that is the highest number she has heard of!! She used details and was very neat in her drawing. They also did a hearing test. Her hearing is great. Another thing was to listen to a story and then retell it to the lady. She told me she was so proud of herself. They also did vocabulary and literature. When I saw the note they had written I was confused. It said "did not ceiling" I thought what the heck does that mean? When they explained it she said it means that she never really topped out, she never hit the ceiling. She could just keep going and she would do great! The average for that one is 100 and Adison's note said 116+!!! As a mom you want your child to be the best and I was floored at how well she did!! I love you Adison! I am so excited you are excelling and loving every minute of it!
Also a shout out to Forever Young Preschool here in Vernal. If anyone is looking for an AMAZING Preschool they are well worth the money!!! Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Young.
Kenna is getting too big too fast! She is now potty trained!!! Yeah. I still put her in a pull up at night but she does a good job of keeping it dry most nights. She is growing like a weed. She is getting to where when Adi grows out of something I move it to Kenna's drawer. This morning she actually got herself dressed in one of Adison's shirts and you couldn't tell the difference. She LOVES to talk on the phone! She has to call her Aunt Meika, Grama Nutt, and Papa Moe everyday. She is so hillarious she keeps us consantly laughing. She weighs 31 pounds! I was contemplating buying a new carseat to put in the truck and then realized she is big enough to sit in a booster with a back. Cool.....yet my baby is growing up. She loves it!
Rafe has been on cloud 9. In February we had to put down his dog Jenga. Since then he has been talking about the next dog we get. I wasn't quite ready for a new dog yet but he talked me into it :) After he got his bonus from work he really wanted to save some of the money for a dog. He has always loved American Bulldogs (nothing like English Bulldogs). An American Bulldog is the one on Homeward Bound. Anyway he was looking at them and at KSL and he found a lady that had just had a litter and she was selling them the cheapest he had found. He finally talked me into getting it and he called her and someone had just taken the last one. He was devestated. BUT that all soon changed....a few days later he was on KSL and saw a brand new ad for puppies to be born in April. He called me and I told him to call on them. Our new puppy was born on April 12th. We have seen a few pictures of her but have been unable to go out to West Valley to see her in person. The family we are getting her from has been really good to deal with. They have kept in touch with us and are emailing us to keep us up to date. They even mailed us a book all about American Bulldogs. We will head out to West Valley around May 14th to pick which girl we want and then bring her home on May 28th. I am more and more excited every time I see her or hear more about her!! Still deciding on a name.
I feel like I am still doing the same stuff....I picked up an extra 1/2 day at work. So now I am officially part time. I still do my bunco group once a month (although we don't play bunco every month we still call it bunco :) I have been doing Zumba and it is so much fun! I had to quit for a month or so but I am excited to go back on Monday. One of my last posts was about my calling in the Primary at church. I am sad/glad/teary/happy to announce that I have been released. About a month ago they called me in the bishops offfice and told us we were going to be released that day. It was a sigh of relief knowing that I could relax again and just go to an adult class. Now, I miss my primary kids. This last week I had to go check on Kenna in nursery so I stuck my head in primary and just watched the kids for a few minutes. I learned to love them so much!! I am very greatfull for my calling and everything I learned from it. I look forward to the next one.....maybe Young Womens???? I have always wanted to be in Young Womens but, only the Lord knows where I will be needed.
Okay, now that I have written a novel I think I am gonna go get some lunch! Man! Hard day at work today :)
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Memories
This is a picture of me when I was younger. I don't dare say an age cuz I really have no clue. But I remember this day like yesterday. My best friend Kalli and I wanted to play outside in the mud and being the good kids we are we ask our mothers, of course they said no. So we went out and made mud pies anyway. We were such a mess!!! It was a blast! Our parents got so mad at us but my mom took a couple of pictures of us before hosing us off. This one has been a long time favorite of mine and hers. It has been lost for many years and my mom happened to find it about a week ago and made me a copy. Crazy! I kinda think my girls may look like me.....whatcha think?Thursday, December 30, 2010
Inspiring
Some of you may know that I have been struggling with my calling in the Primary Presidency. I keep telling myself that I am where I need to be and The Lord will put me where I am needed when I am needed. This last few months have been extra hard! I haven't had the greatest health and am trying to cut back where I can. I have had my calling doing on 4 years now and I think 'It's been long enough! I need to go to Relief Society.' A couple weeks ago I had had it with some of the kids and my sharing times aren't going as well as I feel they should. I got really frusterated and told Rafe that I had enough I needed to be released. Well the bishop has been busy and I have been putting off going to talk to them about my feelings. Then today I ran into this from one of my FAVORITE chruch blogs. I have no idea who Sofia is but to me she is an ispriation! she is so amazing! She plans a sharing time every week of every month (usually several ideas each week) and shares them with the blogging world. So thank you Sofia for all that you do! I feel good and I am going to keep on truckin!!!
www.sofiasprimaryideas.blogspot.com
Have I ever mentioned that Honest Abe is my favorite.
I mean really, he did it - He said, slavery is wrong, let's do this.
Let's end it and be a nation.
And yet, his courage and bravery and brilliance came in the face of much failure.
Our most successful president, faced defeat often. (Thank you google search)
•1831 - Lost his job
•1832 - Defeated in run for Illinois State Legislature
•1833 - Failed in business
•1834 - Elected to Illinois State Legislature (success)
•1835 - Sweetheart died
•1836 - Had nervous breakdown
•1838 - Defeated in run for Illinois House Speaker
•1843 - Defeated in run for nomination for U.S. Congress
•1846 - Elected to Congress (success)
•1848 - Lost re-nomination
•1849 - Rejected for land officer position
•1854 - Defeated in run for U.S. Senate
•1856 - Defeated in run for nomination for Vice President
•1858 - Again defeated in run for U.S. Senate
•1860 - Elected President (success)
And why would I bring this up. Especially right before Christmas, thank you happy happy joy joy. It's because on Sunday, I bit it hard. I had one of the worst sharing times ever.
Pause and rewind 8 years. BYU, I'm student teaching at a title one school with the urban education cohort.
Wait. I promise I'm not quite at dementia yet, rewind 20ish years ago when I'm in 6th grade. I have a reading buddy, Mary who is in 1st grade. She can't read. And yet with our time spent together she learns. Granted, was I the one who taught her, no. But I felt like I had. It was my first inkling that my purpose in life was to teach. I loved her joy as she learned a new word or could sound out a difficult word. It was so crystal clear to me, even then that teaching children would be for me.
OK. Back to the cougars. I'm student teaching and I have a boy who is bipolar, ADD, and prone to violence. And he disliked me. A couple lessons were rough and I always ended up in tears when I got home. It got to me and I vowed I would never have bad lessons again. I worked through it and ended up confident that one day I'd be a good teacher.
Fast forward to last Sunday. Chaos. 10 nursery kids coming in to see what primary is like, 1 eating the microphone on the pulpit. At least 3 children scattered throughout the room crying. 30 others were completely done with sitting. I have exactly 7 minutes to teach about the 2nd coming. We're doing pictures so children are in and out through the door.
Did I not pray?
Did I not spend time preparing?
What did I do wrong?
I tried to do too much with too little time. I tried to get too many children up and out of their seats. I was talking over the children/adults talking (who were only talking because they were trying to calm children) and trying to move on without everyone's attention. I was forgetting names.
BUT I'M OK WITH IT.
I feel so peaceful about it, is that weird and strange?
I know I can do better, I know I can learn from my mistakes, I know I am far from perfect and most importantly... I know God loves me.
I've learned it's OK to laugh at yourself everyone once and awhile.
President Monson of course says it much better, "Our responsibility is to rise from mediocrity to competence, from failure to achievement. Our task is to become our best selves. One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final." (Thomas S. Monson, "Never Give Up", New Era, Sept. 1994)
Now is it OK to cry. Of course! Failure can be so annoying and frustrating!!!! Our prophet continues on and says, "We are success-oriented, striving to become “wonder women” and “super men.” Any hint of failure can cause panic, even despair."
But you know what, at least we're trying. At least we're there and doing our calling to the best of our ability.
"U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena” (The American Treasury: 1455–1955, ed. Clifton Fadiman, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1955, p. 689).
Unfortunately, too often we're our own worst critic.
The beautiful talk is ended with " Each of us is a runner in the race of life. Comforting is the fact that there are many runners. Reassuring is the knowledge that our eternal Scorekeeper is understanding. Challenging is the truth that each must run. But you and I do not run alone. That vast audience of family, friends, and leaders will cheer our courage, will applaud our determination as we rise from our stumblings and pursue our goal. Let us shed any thought of failure. Let us discard any habit that may hinder. Let us seek; let us obtain the prize prepared for all, even exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God."
So this post is for me and all my fellow sisters who have failed miserably. I'm cheering for us. We can do it, because God will help us! Next week will be awesome! Next week will be fabulouso!!!
We may not end up Presidents of a great nation, or freeing a noble people... but we are important. We are the instruments in the Lord's hands. We are His children who will help gather and usher in His glorious reign on earth. Life is good. Keep on truckin.
www.sofiasprimaryideas.blogspot.com
Have I ever mentioned that Honest Abe is my favorite.
I mean really, he did it - He said, slavery is wrong, let's do this.
Let's end it and be a nation.
And yet, his courage and bravery and brilliance came in the face of much failure.
Our most successful president, faced defeat often. (Thank you google search)
•1831 - Lost his job
•1832 - Defeated in run for Illinois State Legislature
•1833 - Failed in business
•1834 - Elected to Illinois State Legislature (success)
•1835 - Sweetheart died
•1836 - Had nervous breakdown
•1838 - Defeated in run for Illinois House Speaker
•1843 - Defeated in run for nomination for U.S. Congress
•1846 - Elected to Congress (success)
•1848 - Lost re-nomination
•1849 - Rejected for land officer position
•1854 - Defeated in run for U.S. Senate
•1856 - Defeated in run for nomination for Vice President
•1858 - Again defeated in run for U.S. Senate
•1860 - Elected President (success)
And why would I bring this up. Especially right before Christmas, thank you happy happy joy joy. It's because on Sunday, I bit it hard. I had one of the worst sharing times ever.
Pause and rewind 8 years. BYU, I'm student teaching at a title one school with the urban education cohort.
Wait. I promise I'm not quite at dementia yet, rewind 20ish years ago when I'm in 6th grade. I have a reading buddy, Mary who is in 1st grade. She can't read. And yet with our time spent together she learns. Granted, was I the one who taught her, no. But I felt like I had. It was my first inkling that my purpose in life was to teach. I loved her joy as she learned a new word or could sound out a difficult word. It was so crystal clear to me, even then that teaching children would be for me.
OK. Back to the cougars. I'm student teaching and I have a boy who is bipolar, ADD, and prone to violence. And he disliked me. A couple lessons were rough and I always ended up in tears when I got home. It got to me and I vowed I would never have bad lessons again. I worked through it and ended up confident that one day I'd be a good teacher.
Fast forward to last Sunday. Chaos. 10 nursery kids coming in to see what primary is like, 1 eating the microphone on the pulpit. At least 3 children scattered throughout the room crying. 30 others were completely done with sitting. I have exactly 7 minutes to teach about the 2nd coming. We're doing pictures so children are in and out through the door.
Did I not pray?
Did I not spend time preparing?
What did I do wrong?
I tried to do too much with too little time. I tried to get too many children up and out of their seats. I was talking over the children/adults talking (who were only talking because they were trying to calm children) and trying to move on without everyone's attention. I was forgetting names.
BUT I'M OK WITH IT.
I feel so peaceful about it, is that weird and strange?
I know I can do better, I know I can learn from my mistakes, I know I am far from perfect and most importantly... I know God loves me.
I've learned it's OK to laugh at yourself everyone once and awhile.
President Monson of course says it much better, "Our responsibility is to rise from mediocrity to competence, from failure to achievement. Our task is to become our best selves. One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final." (Thomas S. Monson, "Never Give Up", New Era, Sept. 1994)
Now is it OK to cry. Of course! Failure can be so annoying and frustrating!!!! Our prophet continues on and says, "We are success-oriented, striving to become “wonder women” and “super men.” Any hint of failure can cause panic, even despair."
But you know what, at least we're trying. At least we're there and doing our calling to the best of our ability.
"U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena” (The American Treasury: 1455–1955, ed. Clifton Fadiman, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1955, p. 689).
Unfortunately, too often we're our own worst critic.
The beautiful talk is ended with " Each of us is a runner in the race of life. Comforting is the fact that there are many runners. Reassuring is the knowledge that our eternal Scorekeeper is understanding. Challenging is the truth that each must run. But you and I do not run alone. That vast audience of family, friends, and leaders will cheer our courage, will applaud our determination as we rise from our stumblings and pursue our goal. Let us shed any thought of failure. Let us discard any habit that may hinder. Let us seek; let us obtain the prize prepared for all, even exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God."
So this post is for me and all my fellow sisters who have failed miserably. I'm cheering for us. We can do it, because God will help us! Next week will be awesome! Next week will be fabulouso!!!
We may not end up Presidents of a great nation, or freeing a noble people... but we are important. We are the instruments in the Lord's hands. We are His children who will help gather and usher in His glorious reign on earth. Life is good. Keep on truckin.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
I love Fall
I absolutely LOVE Fall! We (mainly I) have always wanted our family pictures taken in the fall leaves and needless to say, it has never happened......until this year! (yeah)
My awesome Sister and Brother in law caught some great memories on camera and we love them! so watch out for a picture over load.
ha ha! I had to put this on in because my Brother in law pointed out Rafe's finger! Makes me laugh! But I really do love the picture!
almost the last picture taken.....and one of the only ones Kenna is smiling
We were doing everything we could to get Kenna to smile. Tried Peek-a-boo and still a straight face!
Adi was loving "posing" for the camera! (treats may or may not have been involved)
I am in love with seeing the "sisterly love"!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
I have been such a slacker. I am really bad at taking my photos from my camera and getting them onto the computer. Plus, I feel like my house is never clean enough to sit down at the computer for an hour and upload pictures and blog about them. So today I decided the house will wait until I get my blog updated. I have really been trying to spend time with my family more and not worry about how the house looks (and right now it looks like a tornado hit!) but, the blog is mostly up to date. I do have one more set of photos I would like to put up. Adison and I went to Grandma Rosie's one day and I hadn't done her hair or anything, we had just finished a bike ride and we decided to do a photo shoot. Given the situation I think the pictures turned out really well. I am no professional but I decided I am getting a little better. I tried to go through my pictures and pick just a few so it's not too bad of a photo overload....I hope.
Dance like no one is watching!!
Adison's dance recital was on May 29th. It was bitter sweet for me because we decided not to put her back into dance for the summer and she will start preschool in the fall. I am undecided if we will put her into a ballet class in the fall or not. I need to check around and see if there is one that will take a 4 yr old and how much it costs. Adison LOVES to dance!!! She made a lot of progress in the two years that we had her in dance. The first pictures are the dance recital. I didn't get too many good ones because my batteries in the camera died. Thank goodness my mom had her camera too so I took some pictures after the recital in her tutu and they turned out cute. She can be such a model when she wants to be!! One of the last days at dance I took the camera along and got some picutes of her tumbling and practicing "put a ring on it." The chipmunk version of Single Ladies. It was my favorite dance this year. Kenna still dances and sings the tune to that one. I am so grateful that we were able to let Adison dance! She is such a great dancer. I love you princess!
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