Wedding Advice

I saw the advice cards from Lisa's wedding sitting on my dad's desk and decided that if Brett & Lisa didn't want them read, they'd have put them somewhere else. I came across one from my cousin's husband, and he definately had the best advice I've ever heard. So here it is:

1. Tortina's Pizzas are only 99 cents and never get old.
2. Sneeking up on your wife never gets old... ever.
3. When your wife says "it would be nice if..." she fully expects you to do it.
4. Getting your socks into the hamper doesn't count as "cleaning up." Trust me.
5. Everything you will ever need to know about relationships can be found in chick flicks.
6. Always let your wife dress you... its just easier.
7. Driving through Wendy's won't count as "going out" to her.
8. Fixing what's broken is your job. Pointing out what's broken is hers.

Dave - you are a very wise man.

Hogle Zoo with the Vassels & Grandma Tess

We had planned to go camping last weekend, but for various reasons we ended up just staying home. Well, sorta. We didn't camp, but we did have TONS of fun at Hogle Zoo last Friday. (Thanks, Mom for spoiling us rotten) The kids handled the heat really well, and we were able to see just about everything we wanted to. Alex loved the elephants while Adam favored the tigers and giraffes. Take a look!

Employment Change

I guess maybe life has been a little too easy for us lately, and it must be time for a challenge.

The internet really isn't the place for the details, so I'll make a pretty complicated story short. Last school year, my mom, my sister and I were all teaching for the same school, but I was at a different location. Through a crazy turn of events, my mom was unfairly fired, and in the aftermath, my sister quit. I decided that since I was at a different location and a little farther removed I could at least make it through the school year.

After the parents threw a fit, my mom was rehired, but it was too late for Lisa to do anything. She worked at various schools to make enough money to pay her rent, and she got through it.

At the end of the school year, I decided the best option for my family was for me to continue teaching there. I worked very few hours, and the pay was very good. I no longer felt any loyalty toward the company, but I felt I could go to work, do my job, and go on with life.

Over the weekend, however, I learned that one of the people directly responsible for everything that happened with my mom has been transferred to my location. I do not agree with the ethics this person has diplayed, and I cannot be in an environment where I would have to work with her. The school's administration has been showing an ever-increasing lack of morals and ethics, and though I've tried to turn a blind eye in order to make it through one more year, I know that I cannot do this anymore.

So, today I quit. Life could be a little interesting around here for awhile, but at least I know I will not have to face a stressful work environment every day. I can finally walk away and just be done with it.

Home Again!

After a very long trip (or so it seemed), I've now been back home for a few days, gotten unpacked, and found a spare minute to blog. The boys and I spent last Sunday with Grandma & Grandpa Nelson up in Boise, ID. Adam loved to "fish" in Great Grandpa's pond, and Alex loved to paint with splenda.

Monday, we headed up to Garden Valley to see Skye & Michelle in their shows. We enjoyed all of them, but my favorite was Oklahoma. Jack and I also enjoyed rafting down the river, and I jumped off a bridge.

We visited Skye & Michelle at "the compound," which is where they and the other actors live. It has great access to the river with a nice sandy beach. We played down there for awhile, and we even caught a frog and a snake as well as some mussels, which we later ate.

After our Garden Valley stay, we drove to Tremonton, UT for the Nelson Norris Family Reunion. We had a birthday party for my Grandpa, who is turning 80 on 08-08-08, played in a bounce house, and had a flag retirement ceremony among other things. Adam was so worn out that he fell asleep within 3 minutes of getting into the car.



All in all, it was an amazing week, but I sure am glad to be home!

Public Service Employees Read On!

Kirk was recently informed of a program where it is possible that after 10 years of payments on student loans, the remainder of the principle and interest is simply forgiven. As a government employee, he currently qualifies for this plan. I just read the details, and I think that several of our friends may also qualify. Here's the official info from the site:

Public service jobs include, among other positions, government, military service, public safety and law enforcement (police and fire), public health, public education, public early childhood education, public child care, social work in a public child or family service agency, public services for individuals with disabilities or the elderly, public interest legal services (including prosecutors, public defenders and legal advocacy in low-income communities), public librarians, school librarians and other school-based services, and employees of tax exempt 501(c)(3) organizations. Full-time faculty at tribal colleges and universities, as well as faculty teaching in high-need areas, also qualify.

If you are currently employed in a public service job and intend to be so employed for the next 10 years, check out this site: http://www.finaid.org/loans/publicservice.phtml. Be sure to read the section "caveats." I did find that interesting.

Blog Review: Bishop Higgins 3rd Ward

I stumbled upon this blog via a link from a friends blog. The link was posted under the header, "read at your own risk." Of course, intrigued by the header, I clicked and read on.

My first visit to the site caused several initial reactions including:

1. This is hilarious!
2. Is this for real?

After a few visits to the site, I finally decided that this blog is the most elaborate joke ever. The details are so... detailed. Anyway, if you're a Robert Kirby reader, or even if your just open to poking fun at your own religion, check this out. http://bishophiggins.blogspot.com/

Amazing Jewelry

One of my very best friends has started a custom jewelry business, and I just checked out her stuff. WOW! Girls, give your husbands this blog address and tell them this is where they should shop for Christmas. http://drogedesigns.blogspot.com/ Check it out!