I'm Back, but Only For a Minute

We just returned from our annual trip to Maui. Without question, my absolute favorite place on earth, for two reasons:

1. It's Hawaii, enough said.

2. I get to spend two weeks with my family, my absolute favorite people on earth.

I'm kind of busy with my Master's Program, but my neice, Cori tagged me, and I can never back down from a dare, or a tag. So here goes, for your personal entertainment...

5 Things To Do This Week

1. Write a 15 page research paper to complete my Philosophy of Education class.

2. Buy 2 wallflower Cinnamon and Clove Buds fragrances from Bath and Body works. Cinnamon makes me happy.

3. Meet with our landscapers so we can begin re-landscaping our backyard.

4. Begin my next class.

5. Call my Uncle Cal.

5 Snacks I Enjoy Eating

1. Almonds

2. Wheat Thins

3. Cracklin Oat Bran

4. My homemade chocolate chip cookies

5. My homemade brownies

5 Things I Would Do If I Were a Billionaire

1. Pay for my Uncle Cal's cancer treatments, so he can be well forever.

2. Buy property on Maui so I could go there anytime I wanted.

3. Adopt some kids from Africa and pay for their education.

4. Buy an airplane so we could travel anywhere, anytime.

5. Most important, go on lots of missions with Todd.

5 Places I Have Lived

1. Hollady, Utah

2. Sandy, Utah

3. New York, thanks to my sister and her husband

4. Mesa, Arizona

5. Gilbert, Arizona

5 Jobs I've Had

1. Fashion Conspiracy - in high school. I was poor, but very well dressed.

2. University of Utah Medical Center. Don't be impressed, I was only a secretary in the Engineering Department, but hey, I got 50% off my tuition!

3. Doxey Hatch Medical Center. Again, don't be impressed, I was only a receptionist in the surgery department.

4. Travel Agent. Great Job. Free flights to New York. And our entire honeymoon to the Virgin Islands was FREE!!!!

5. The best job ever ... MOTHER, MOM, MADRE !!!

5 Things You Don't Know About Me

1. I am intensely organized and way too scheduled.

2. I can't stand chaos.

3. I don't handle contention at all.

4. I'm kind of a germaphobe.

5. I love to wear high heels.

5 of My Favorite Bands -Singers

1. Michael Buble not a band, but what a voice!

2. Jack Johnson, also not a band, but he takes me straight to Hawaii.

3. Dean Martin - he reminds me of my childhood.

4. My daughters playling their violins.

5. The Dorsets - Hilary's boyfriend's band

OK, THERE YOU GO. NOW YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT ME THAN YOU EVER WANTED TO.

NOW, I TAG CARLI AND CIRINA

MORGAN HAD A BIRTHDAY

On Tuesday November 6, 2007, the world became the footstool of one Morgan Wood.

Watch out world, Morgan is now 18 years old, and she' comin' to get ya!

Lock your doors!

Protect your young!

And hide all your valuables!

Morgan is an adult (or so she thinks), and she's ready to take you on!

In all seriousness, though. Morgan is a wonderful young woman who is:

Wise beyond her years.

Is responsible and task oriented.

Works hard at school.

Loves her job as a tutor.

Is a fantastic primary teacher.

Is a loyal friend.

Is a faithful sister.

Is a devoted daughter.

And has the best sense of humor of anyone I know!

GET READY WORLD. HERE SHE COMES!

A Visit to SLC

So we flew up to SLC for a 24 hour whirlwind tour last weekend. First, we tried to beat the clock when we landed by sending Todd to pick up our rental car. See how happy Morgan and Hilary were as we waited at the WRONG pick-up curb while Todd waited at the RIGHT pick-up curb.

Then we drove over to Grandpa Wood's house for his 80th birthday celebration. In this pic, he is looking at the photo album all the kids and grandkids contributed pics to for his gift. Great food, and lots of laughter. Living away from family makes us appreciate times like this when we can be together and catch up with everyone.

The next day we spent time with two of our favorite people in the world. Andrea's aunt Kalani and uncle Cal. They pretty much raised me, and since my parents died, they have been the only parents I have. Last December, Cal was diagnosed with a brain tumor. But with surgery, radiation, and some amazing chemo, he is beating all the odds. He never quits. In fact , his doctors keep telling him to slow down, but in reality, he doesn't know how. I owe pretty much all I am and all I know to my aunt and uncle. Cal baptized me when I was eight, so pretty much, my activity in the church is in great part due to him. He taught me to be tough. He taught me to fish. He taught me to work. And Kalani, sacrificed more than I will ever know to take care of me when I was little. She tended me while my mom was at work, raising me with as much love and discipline as she did my cousins. She taught me how to keep a clean house, how to cook, not to whine, and I think I get some of my opinionated nature from her. Yep, these two people are as great as they come. And I'm so thankful, my daughters and my husband appreciate them and love them as much as I do.

Our trip went by way too fast, but we look forward to heading home again soon.

My New Adventure

Have you seen this new book? Let it be known that I learned about it and purchased it way before Oprah featured it on her show. Why do I love this book??? Well, let it be known that I have been hiding healthy foods in my cooking since my kids were born. And this book teaches a new method for disguising healthy veggies and fruits into great food by pureeing them and mixing them in. Can you imagine, carrot puree, or cauliflower puree, or butternut squash puree in mac and cheese? Or how about spinach puree, and beet puree in brownies. Yeah, I know it sounds gross. But trust me, this stuff is delicious. And wouldn't you rather eat a brownie that's good for you to help overcome the guilt of eating it? OK, I admit, I rarely feel guilty eating anything. I just love to eat. But I always feel better knowing I'm fueling my body, rather than just giving in to momentary pleasure. Enough preaching. I just wanted to share my new passion and adventurel. Happy Eating!

Andrea's Happy Tuesday List

Some of the things in life that make me happy . . . in no particular order:

* Having my whole family home for dinner

* The temple

* Skirts - pleated skirts

* Running

* Dunford Chocolate Donuts (found only in SLC)

* My puppy, Mabel

* No make-up Mondays

* No make-up Saturdays

* Mrs. Backer's Bakery cakes (again, found only in SLC)

* Swimming

* Traveling, anywhere, anytime

* Working in my yard

* Fry Sauce from The Training Table (also found only in SLC)

* Eating in SLC!

* Watching whales in Maui

* Doing ANYTHING in Maui

* Listening to my daughters laugh

* Listening to my daughters play their violins

* Sleeping

* Walking the Newport Pier with my uncle Cal

* Visiting with my aunt Kalani at her kitchen table

* Learning to do something myself, and not depending on anyone else to do it for me

* Having my husband to help me do all the stuff I haven't learned to do myself yet!

A Lazy Saturday

You know what happens when you're not in school? You get lazy. It's one o'clock in the afternoon and as of this hour I have done NOTHING today. Seriously. I have officially been without classes for five days, and my brain has gone absolutely numb. It's hard for me to do nothing. I'm not good at it. I'm best at planning, scheduling, organizing and then racing to get it all done. When I woke up this morning I had big plans to run twelve miles and then go swim a mile. Nope. Didn't do it. I'm also not good at being bored. I told myself that after eight years working to complete my bachelor degree, I would take two weeks and do nothing. Day one of doing nothing has me bored out of my head. I am actually looking forward to studying again when I start my master's program in a couple of weeks.


Meanwhile, I can't sit still any longer. The trails and the pool are beckoning me. I'm going running, then swimming. Bye.

Todd Began His MBA !!!

It's official !!! Todd began pursuit of his MBA at the WP Carey school of business at ASU in August. So now, all he does is study. No, seriously, that IS ALL HE DOES! Every night from 7 -10, and all day on Saturday. He is in class every other Friday and Saturday from 8-5, and he owns his own business, serves at Young Mens President, and does his best to spend time with his wife and daughters.
And it's official (2), Andrea FINALLY completed her requirements at BYU. She will officiallyn graduate in December, but she will begin working on her Master's Degree in October. It's not finalized yet, but her program will most likely be with WGU (Western Governor's University). She will master in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Social Sciences. When she grows up, she will probably teach at the junior high level, or maybe part time at the community college level.
So it's official (3), all four of us will be studying our little brains out for the next two years. We will be poor from paying university tuition for three of us. Thank goodnes for Morgan's scholarship!!! And we will be boring. Well, maybe not boring. Keep in touch. We may lose our minds and be rather entertaining!