Family Update

Life is busy and happy for us.

Bob is enjoying school.  This semester is a busy one for him, he is involved with the "IBC" program (Integrated Business Core) It is a unique program at BYU-Idaho where the students start a business and run it during the semester.  All four of their classes during the semester tie in to the business they are running:  finance, marketing, operations management, and organizational behavior. Bob's group's business is "Ultimate Idol", a Rexburg version of American Idol.  They will be having auditions soon.  It should be a fun event for the BYU-I community.  He will be right in the middle of the whole production just about when I have the baby. 

Last semester Bob did well, he earned a 3.94 GPA, but was put on academic probation because he withdrew from his Anatomy & Physiology class.  He dropped it when he changed his minor to business, and he withdrew just how he should.  Next thing he knew, he received an e-mail informing him that he was now on academic probation.  Of course he felt like that was ridiculous, so he went in to the counseling office, expecting that they wouldn't want him to really be on probation, since he had a 3.94.  No, he was told that if he has a "W" on his record, he will be on probation for the next semester.

Not only that, but he soon received the first in a series of weekly e-mails reminding him that he was on academic probation.  He fired off a quick "venting" e-mail expecting that the e-mail was probably sent from an account that wouldn't accept return e-mails.  Nope, he received a lengthy reply from one of the deans of students.  They corresponded back and forth a bit, and Bob was able to be removed from the e-mail list so that he doesn't have to be reminded every week of his status at BYU-I.  Pretty funny. 

Bob's favorite class last semester was a business class where they had to do business simulations, where they make decisions just as if they were running a business.  Then they see the results of their decisions in stock value, income, etc.  Bob's group did amazingly well.  Bob loved the experience, he was always so excited to see how they did each round.  Their group had top scores, even among groups from all over the nation.  The "final" in that class was another simulation, done individually.  Bob did really, really well on it. 

He finished teaching seminary this week.  Recently he has commented a lot on how much he has learned from this experience.  He has become a really great teacher, especially this semester. He was told that if he ever feels that he should become a seminary teacher, to come back and they would love to hire him.  But, after lots of prayer, we've felt that being a seminary teacher is not the direction God wants Bob to go. 

I am feeling very, well, pregnant.  I have been in a lot of pain in my back, hips, etc.  I looked it up and found that I had a condition called "pelvic girdle pain".  No fun.  I went to a chiropractor, and he found that my right hip was higher than my left hip.  He gave me two adjustments, and it has helped immensely.  I am still not exactly comfortable, but at least now I can go back to walking, and my back and neck pain are gone.  Yeay.  This past week I was quite sick with a bad cold, etc.  It made me so thankful for my usual good health. 

This coming week we'll be going up to Green Canyon for a week of swim lessons and camping.  My kids have been so helpful in getting ready.  I hope I survive the trip, and don't go into labor while we're up there. Well, actually going in to labor might not be so bad...

I've been working hard on my YW personal progress program.  All women in the church are invited now to earn their Young Womanhood Recognition award.  I received mine when I was a young woman, but I am enjoying the experience of going through the new book.  It has enriched my scripture study, journal writing, and goal-setting in such a wonderful way!  I recommend it to any woman or young woman.  It is a fabulous program. 

The children finished up their gymnastics classes this week.  They had such a fun year this year at gym.  Our kids seem to spend as much time upside down as they do right side up now.  Aliysa, Jace, and Courtney are taking piano lessons through the summer, and the 5 oldest children are taking voice lessons from an extremely talented world-class voice teacher.  She is the wife of another seminary student teacher, and we attended her senior voice concert she gave when she graduated from BYU-I this last semester.  Both Bob and I were simply amazed.  I never knew someone could such incredible things with their voice!  We feel very blessed to have her teaching our very "untrained musically" family. 

Aliysa was recently called to be the first counselor in the Mia Maid presidency.  She still misses our old ward terribly, but she is having a good attitude and enjoying our new ward, too.  She is so, so excited to go to Green Canyon.  Some of her best friends will be there, and it should be a fun week for her and all our kids.

Jace is enjoying life.  In our ward there are 13 deacons, and he enjoys all his time with them.  It is a fun group of boys.  He is serving as the first counselor in the quorum presidency.  Jace has recently decided that he wants to own a machete.  For the past couple of weeks, he has been extremely helpful, obedient, and always saying things like "yes, mother dear, what else would you like me to do?"  All this in an effort to show he is responsible enough for a machete.  He still has not convinced me as to why a 13-year old should own a machete, but we'll see if he succeeds. 

Courtney was able to attend a young woman activity last Tuesday.  The Beehive class was welcoming in all the girls who will be coming into YW this year.  They had a "crazy hair" activity where they did the new girls hair, then the new girls were blindfolded and fed ice cream to the Beehives.  They had so much fun, and Courtney is now even more excited for October when she'll be joining them. 

Spencer is loving life, doing things with his friends, roller-blading (Jace, Courtney, and Spencer wear roller blades almost all day long lately), biking, and cub scouts. 

Mallory is so excited for the new baby to come.  She is such a little helper as usual.  She keeps us laughing with her funny little sense of humor.

Zach and Andrew are loving the weather when it is warm.  They love being outside, riding bikes, and having all sorts of adventures.  Abby loves to boss them around and tackle them.  They are so cute with her, they love being big brothers to her.  She keeps us laughing constantly.  We have no idea where most of the things she says come from.  Here's some favorites lately:

She sings the ABC song, putting letters in whatever order she desires.  She ends the song lately with "Now I know my ABQ's...next time won't you sing with me?"

The other day Andrew was pouting about something, and Abby went right up to his face, pushed him in the chest, and ordered: "Don't talk like a baby!" He furrowed his brow, stuck his lip out and looked at me.  She shoved him again and repeated the command.  Nothing like being encouraged to be macho by your little sister.

She just has to know the names of everyone she meets.  It amazes us how she remembers the names of all of our children's friends.  When she sees pictures of people in magazines, she always asks "what is her name, Mom?"  She isn't satisfied if I say that I don't know, so I've started asking her what she thinks her name is.  She comes up with some great names.

Well, that's our update...Life is good.