2013 Teacher of the Year is...

Brett Schwieder

All the Seniors at Idaho Falls High School had the opportunity to nominate and then vote for the teacher they thought should be the teacher of the year.  Most of the time it is a math, English, science or history teacher, but this year they chose Brett.  Brett truly goes out of his way to assist the students and does all he can to help them succeed.  He cares for the students and inspires them to be better.  After 8 years of service at Idaho Falls High School I am glad that he was able to receive this honor before he left.

We Moved!!!

Our plan this summer was to take the kids to DisneyLand, however sometimes the Lords plans are different then ours.  To make a long story short, Brett was offered an art position in Ranchester, Wyoming.  After a lot of fasting, praying, and going to the temple we felt that we were being guided and that was we were supposed to go.

We moved out of our house and lived at David and Gwen's for 3 months.  We were worried that our house may not sell when we needed to, but with the Lord's help it sold 10 days after we put in on the market.

Andrew, my little helper.

Saying "good-bye"to Grandma and Grandpa Great.  We love you and miss you!

Stuffing the U-haul

Literally!

Sleeping on Grandma's floor the night before we left.  Everything else was packed, less than 12 hours later their little lives completely changed.

All ready!

The boys are packed and ready to go.

Good-bye Idaho, we will miss you!

St. Patrick's Day 2013

In Preschool Mark made a Leprechaun trap, so Mark thought it would be fun to do the same at home.  He painted a picture and had me cut a door in the side.  We also wrapped the box with fun wrapping paper and then Mark put a sock inside for a pillow, so the Leprechaun could sleep.  We then went to church, and hoped that the Leprechaun would come.

The trap is set.

The Leprechaun came however, our cat scared him.  He made a mess of the boys room trying to get away from the cat.  And as he left he dropped his rainbow and pot of gold.

 The mess the Leprechaun left.

And his rainbow and pot of gold.

Little Chick Preschool

Last year Mark went to preschool at Little Chick preschool in Iona and he absolutely loved it.  I was able to work in his classroom once a week and see what he was doing.  I loved watching him learn, grow and experience new things as well as I loved being back in the teaching world.  Here are some pics from last year.

Grandpa Schwieder took Mark on their first field trip because Andrew was 1 week old.  They had a great time.  Thanks Dad.

 Cowboy Mark

 Pumpkin patch--Choosing the very best pumpkin.

Me and my boys!

Wacky Wednesday!  We had to dress up in a weird way, don't we look great!

Different shoes, pants inside out and backwards, shirt backwards, and crazy hair.  You look wacky Mark!

Mom  on Wacky Wednesday.  Wow, I am looking beautiful!

 Preschool graduation program.

 My preschool graduate.

Mrs. Long and Mark.  Thank you Mrs. Long for all you taught my Markie.

Volkswagen Invasion

(Once again this is a post that should have been done last June/July but oh well I hope you enjoy it.)

Last year my dad gave Brett a Volkswagen Bug, and since bringing it back to Idaho he has turned a lot of heads.  Many people told him he should enter into the Volkswagen car show at the end of June.  He was a little worried about not getting things done in time, but after a couple of late nights and early mornings  he was able to participate in the car show and he had a great time.  The sponsors of the car show had some original service vehicles brought from Germany, they were pretty cool to look at.

Original old time fire engine from Germany.

Original German ambulance.  It was pretty cool to see they had chairs that sat backwards and it had a small gurney in it.

Some of the cars were really old, retro, and in need of a lot of work.  But you could tell that the owners really have had a good time with their cars.

Some cars looked really nice and you could tell the owners had put a lot of time into maintaining them.

Three different bugs and each with their own cuteness and personality.  (We like the red one in the middle!)

The proud owner.  Brett really put a lot of time into getting the bug ready for the car show and it was a lot of fun for me to see him mingle with the other car owners.  He has been invited to join the "bug club" as well as go on a few tours with them, unfortunately because of time constraints he has not been able to participate...yet.

"Playin'" around

Once again this is a post that belongs back in July of last year but oh well it was a fun memory that I would like to remember.

Two summers ago Brett was in a melodrama for the city, watching him in the play reminded me of my high school days when I was in plays and I decided I wanted to do that again.  So when try-outs were announced in June I decided to go.  I assumed the director would take one look at my very pregnant belly and laugh me out the door, yet do to the fact that there were only 4 people who showed up for try-outs, including me and Brett, I was welcomed with open arms, pregnant belly and all.  I played the part of Henrietta Grinch, the towns hotel proprietress, and felt it was my duty to look down my nose and scorn the rest of the town.

Brett, of course, played the villain, Tom Bugaboo (if I hadn't been so pregnant it would have been fun to play opposite him as the towns' dance hall girl).  It was also fun to have Josh Simmons, our brother-in-law in the play as well.  He and Brett were brothers in the play, Brett was loud and obnoxious and Josh was a little slow.  Between the two of them I think they stole the show.

It really was a lot of fun.  A few people asked the director if I was supposed to look pregnant and she laughed and said "She is pregnant."  It was a little crazy working out babysitters with all the rehearsals and things, but all in all it was awesome and I hope to be able to do it again.

The Story of the Three Little Cars

(I meant to publish this last June, however my card reader was having issues and all the pictures got deleted.  But better late than never:))

Once upon a time there was a family of 4, a mommy, a daddy, and 2 little boys.  The mommy drove a beautiful silver Buick Century.  She loved her car however when she found out she was going to have a baby she said to the daddy "This car is too small."  So they saved their money and drove down to Utah to look at vans.  The first one they test drove was too expensive, the second they test drove had too many miles, the third one they drove was a burgundy Chrysler Town and Country and it was just right (in fact it was so nice, had more features then the mommy knew how to use).  So the mommy and daddy decided to get the van and they drove home saying "Now everything is just right."

Then a few weeks before Memorial day Grandpa called and talked to the mommy and daddy about a "new" car for the daddy.  The mommy and daddy talked it over and the daddy looked at the car he was currently driving and said "This car is too 'old'".  So the family when back down to Utah to get a 1958 Volkswagen Bug from Grandpa.  The oldest boy said, "Daddy, your new car is a funny car."  But the daddy just smiled and said "No it is just right."

The mommy's grandpa this car new in 1958, and it has been in the family ever since.

So now the mommy had a car that was just right and the daddy had a car that was just right, but what about the 2 little boys?  Well 2 years ago the boys great grandpa gave them a go cart.  It was an old go cart that the mommy drove and played on when she was a little girl.  So the daddy decided to make it look better.  So he took off the engine and he cleaned the frame and painted the frame blue and black, painted the steering wheel, then he added a seat for the mommy or daddy to sit on, and he added carpet for the kids to put their feet on, and then added padding for on the bumper (just in case we hit something).  The boys looked at their newly refurbished go cart and then said "It is just right!"

This picture was taken before the daddy started refurbishing the boys car.  (Current picture of refurbished go cart will be posted when weather permits.)