A job?

Today I applied for a job. At a credit union. I haven't had a "real job" for 13 years. It was quite nerve racking to come up with "past job history" dates and details dating back to 1998 and beyond. And a credit union?? Yeah, math/numbers and I go together like....pickles and m&m's.

Let's try this again....

My poor forgotten blog. 

A casualty in the "social network" outlet war. Facebook vs. Blogger vs. Google+ vs. Twitter. vs. vs.... it seems to never end. Someone is always coming up with the "best thing ever!".  

Looking back over the past several years since this blog was started, I was quite surprised to see that I used to blog quite a bit. In 2008, I had 79 posts. This year....twice (this post will be the third). Lack of interest perhaps? From me? From anyone reading it? I suppose I have felt that the lack of comments meant no one was reading it anyway, so what was the point. 

But there is something I have missed about blogging...writing. Typing I guess would be the more appropriate word to use, but writing in the sense of getting what was in my head, out. Sharing opinions, something funny, something wonderful, something or nothing of consequence. So as this year winds down, I have come to the conclusion that I am not going to ignore this little space on the internet anymore. 

So stay tuned, if you so desire....I'll update you on the Kolsen Family .... bullet style. 

2011

*January - boring month. Took me almost 3 weeks to take down Christmas...so much more fun getting it out than putting it away.

*February - I remember it being so very cold. A quick month. Glad it was over. 

*March - Kendrie turned 12 and "finally" got to start going to Young Women's. She loves it. 

The end of this month was the beginning of some really hard times for us....

*April - Spent spring break in Mesquite, NV. Finally got to defrost for a couple days :) I turned 37 on the 23rd.

*May - Kort turned 9. And the last day of school came quickly. At this point we were pretty sure we would be moving. 

*June - Girl's Camp was right around the corner and I had a ton of things to accomplish before that happened. That and packing the house kept me pretty crazy busy. Jim had already moved to Idaho.

*July - The first weekend, Jim's parents and brothers and nephew came to help finish up the packing and hauling and final move from Layton to Star, Idaho. The packing piles were separated in 3 piles...storage, to Jim's brother's house, and Kendrie and my Girl's camp gear...not to mention the pile we needed when we were in Pocatello for a week. Keeping that all separated was quite the task. Kendrie and I headed to Girl's Camp in Lava Hot Springs from the 6th to the 9th. Kort stayed with Grandma. Jim was in Boise. On the afternoon of the 9th, Jim drove over to Pocatello and loaded us up and took us to Star. Jim's brother and his wife Kim, were so kind to let us stay with them for a couple months while we got our bearings and found a house to move into. The kids and I spent a lot of time at Eagle Island State Park, soaking up the sun. But the best thing about this month? Our new niece Avery was born! I was able to drive down to meet her a week later. What a precious beautiful little girl. So proud of my sister Kourtney <3

*August - We went camping in Cascade with Rod and Kim. Very cold water, but beautiful scenery. A big family gathering in Pocatello to celebrate the 60th wedding anniversary of my Grandma and Grandpa! That was fun! We hadn't been all together as a family for over 15 years. The end of this month brought us to our new home in Garden City and the kids to their new schools. Kendrie started 7th grade and Kort in 4th. Kendrie jumped into cheer and is loving it! They have both made new friends quickly and have adjusted very well. 

*Sept. - The beginning of this month found us driving to Lehi, Utah to be at Avery's blessing. The rest of the month was all routine. Lots of driving (thank goodness for GPS) and lots of exploring. A day spent in McCall (windy roads....much car sickness...not good) Locating new favorite restaurants. Finding the best theaters and shopping. :) My sister, Kourtney came for a few days with baby girl. So fun having them here!

*Oct. - October was a quick month for me. We had a family wedding on the 1st. Jim had his birthday on the 19th and Halloween on the 31st, of course. Jim's parents came over for a visit, hoping baby Caidan (Jim's nephew's baby) would be born, But he decided to come the day after they left :( He has the most hair I have ever seen on a newborn! Such a cutie!

*Nov. - here we are in the 2nd week of November already. It only took me 2 days to get the Halloween decor down. So proud of myself ;) Kort started swimming lessons at the Y. And I found a great new hair salon (which we all know is not an easy task to do) :) Cut 5 inches off my mid-back length hair. It's so nice to sit back and not have my range of motion restricted :)

So that's our update. I will be back with more....Like sands through the hour glass....lol 

Enjoy your day! <3

Penmanship

I don't know if I owe thanks to my 3rd grade teacher, Mr. Nordyke, for forcing me to think about spacing and size of my letters or if it's just a quirky  part of my personality, but I have always loved handwriting. I remember writing my name on every sheet of every spiral bound notebook I could find, trying to make my handwriting look "pretty"....that much practice didn't make perfect, however. It is now just a conglomeration of print mixed with cursive mixed with what-in-the-world-is-that-letter? But MY penmanship is beside the point ;)  

Handwriting played a key part in the whole discovery of jolly St. Nick, you know....my dad's handwriting is unmistakable. Left handed, mostly all capital print with an artistic flare :) My mom's is dainty and pretty, always cursive, evenly spaced letters, evenly spaced words, completely straight lines...even on a non-lined piece of paper. It actually could be a typing font....always perfect, always easy to read :)

But what got me thinking about penmanship was an old box of papers I found in the garage Saturday. I went through it piece by piece last night....excited about what I might discover. Kind of like a treasure hunt, for sure :)

I found report cards, magazines, old school news publications from middle and high school, award certificates from girl's camp and EFY, seminary report cards and study manuals, locker signs from good friends wishing me happy birthday or good luck cheering at the big game that night.....

What I wasn't prepared to find, however, was a birthday card from my Great Grandma Bessie. It was still in the mailing envelope, post marked April 20, 1993....it even had the $5 she had sent me in it. But I didn't have to open it to know who it was from. Seeing her handwriting on that envelope sent me to tears as a flood of memories washed over my mind. Her handwriting still holds the sound of her voice and I can still hear her singing You Are My Sunshine at 6am as she gets started on her yard work, dressed in lavender polyester perfectly pressed and pleated slacks over her tan pantyhose with peep toed sling back size 4 1/2 shoes paired with a flowing pink floral top with ruffles or a bow in the front and her beautiful silver white curled hair. She always called us "tar heels", which I never knew was a good or bad thing....I just chalked it up to a term of endearment, because I knew she loved me....even when I scared her one time and she called me her favorite term for pests..."little sh**".She had a fire about her that I admire.

I miss her. And I am so grateful that I was a pack rat and saved those cards. They are so precious to me now. Thank you, Grandma. I love you.  

I know this is the "computer" age and everything is typed now....but call me old school....I miss the written word. What are our children going to connect with? an email? Write someone a note today....even if to just say hello....your handwriting holds so much more than a motion of ink.

I *heart* this boy!!

Update

Well, at least I tried, right? I got half a month of gratitude recorded before the hussle and bussle out weighed time spent on the computer. And what a fun hussle and bussle it was! :) I am so happy and grateful that my whole family was able to get out here for Thanksgiving. Kelli and Morgan from Texas, Kari and Jamie + kids from Colorado, Kourtney and Kyle from Utah County, and of course the parents found their way here from various places around the country. Lots of laughing, shopping, sleeping (some more than others) ;) , eating, cooking and of course, picture taking.....not particularly in that order.

After a fabulous week spent with family, a quick house pick up and off to Oregon I went for 4 days. Between Portland and Corvallis in 3 days taking 7 photo sessions with some very missed high school friends. What a fun weekend! (despite the OSU loss....which of course was totally expected, but sad nonetheless) Back to reality this past Monday with an all day journey from Portland to San Fran to Salt Lake. Lots of sleep Monday night and in front of Photoshop all day yesterday....and will be for the next week or so. Gotta get those Christmas cards out! =D So grateful for my loving husband who has made this adventure possible and is such a great dad to the boy and girl. They hardly even  missed me.

So that's the update for the past 4 weeks. More pics to come as they get finished. Love to all!! <3

Grateful....

Wednesday Nov. 17th - I was grateful for friends in the tech business, speedy tow trucks, and not having to dress up like an Indian and dance around for Pack Meeting....

Thursday Nov. 18th - I was grateful for Jim's connections in the tires business, quick trips to Evanston, and Macy's coupons  =D

Today I was grateful for a safe trip to and from Park City, people who ask me to take their pictures, and lots of layers...including the ever so wonderful bamboo tights that fit under my jeans  =D

Grateful...

Ha! I was so worried about making sure to get the past 2 weeks posted, I forgot to do yesterday's....
Nov. 15th - I was grateful for finding what I was looking for at 50% off   =) Bedtime, and my pillow.

And today I am currently grateful for warm coats and boots, having the tree finished, and a nice hot lunch.

Grateful...

My goal this month was to list what I was grateful for on a daily basis...obviously, I am slacking. So to make up for lost posts, here is a weeks worth at once :)

Nov. 5th - I was grateful for good music, good food and good friends :)

Nov. 6th - I was grateful for sleep aids, Prilosec and nap time.

Nov. 7th - I was grateful for the ability to stay awake while driving, my husband, and my kids

Nov. 8th - I was grateful for 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep, my soaking tub, and my son's fabulous report card.

Nov. 9th - I was grateful for my persistence in getting my "to do" list items checked off, the laundry being done,  and dinner fixed before cub scouts :)

Nov. 10th - I was grateful for alarm clocks, Kendrie, and rain.

Nov. 11th - I was grateful for Kendrie's fabulous report card, the book fair's BOGO sale, and having cash in my wallet.

Nov. 12th - I was grateful for my time spent with my sister Kourtney, the ability to resist buying the 4 purses I wanted (Kourtney probably isn't grateful for that one), and my husband having dinner ready when I got home :)

Nov. 13th - I was grateful for a wonderfully tasty meal at Maddox (mmm steak), spending time with family, beautiful fall colors (despite the freezing, bone chilling cold)

Nov. 14th - I was grateful for my children's sweet spirits and their willingness to share it, being in a class of great kids, and being reminded that I am loved.

Grateful...

Today I am grateful for:

Talented hair dressers. Fabulous finds (for very little $). Neosporin.

Grateful....

Today I am grateful for:

pain killers. baby oil. Campbell's chicken fajita soup.

Grateful....

Today I am grateful for:

hot showers. the privilege to vote. the bug sprayer guy at my door.

Grateful...

November 1st

On this day, I was grateful for:

a safe journey home. portable game players. my pillow.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

My Family

I have been blessed with being busy taking pictures, but this weekend I made time for my own family's pictures to be taken. With a little wardrobe altering and some "how to smile pretty" pep talks, we wandered out into the fall scenery. With  some help from the timer and Jim and Kendrie, we managed to get some nice "hang on the wall worthy" pictures  =)

 

 

New Glasses :)

My handsome little man in his new glasses :) He is so careful with them, he took them off last night at dinner so he wouldn't get any food on them.

I love this boy!

"Fair-ly" cute pics!

As tradition, we spend Labor Day weekend in Pocatello. The main event? The Southeast Idaho State Fair! :) Oh the food! Love the food! (and the cute puppies :) no tears this year though!)

Cowboy Days - Evanston, Wyoming

We were asked to participate in the Evanston, Wyoming Cowboy Days parade this past Labor Day. It was quite the event! We were up and out of the house early, getting up there in just enough time to help polish the tires and get the candy on board. The kids sat in the back of a 2011 Chevy half ton that Jim drove down the main street of Evanston. I, personally, have never been in a parade of any kind. It was fun to see all the people! I don't believe I have even been to a parade where there was so many people! We threw candy for almost 45 minutes. Jim and I had to laugh this morning when we both realized our throwin' arms were sore :)

Here's a look at the fun!

First Day of School

Here's my kids all ready for the first day of 6th grade for Kendrie and 3rd for Kort. I have retired my initial arguments over what they wear, and they dressed themselves....I must have had some impact on them, they look pretty cute =)  

(Just a side note...Kortlan is the same size now as I was when I was 12....)

They both really like their teachers and had fun stories to tell when they came home. Kendrie's teacher is from Mexico city and has a very strong spanish accent....she thought it was funny when he asked them to get out their "yurnals" to write in. Kortlan's teacher just moved here 8 weeks ago from Kentucky and has a very strong southern accent. Kort finds it fun to listen to.

Three days down and we still have smiles. Here's to a great year!

Update

Just a little update on my photoblog to share :)
(if you check it out, feel free to leave a comment or two. Comments make me happy!)

Not much is going on around here....for a few more days anyway. School starts Monday and we are all so very excited :) (well, some of us more than others...ok, mostly me) It seems to have been a boring yet slightly crazy summer at the same time. Probably because of my travel schedule, but it will be nice to get back to a routine of bedtimes and someone else making my kids lunch  (I am sooo out of ideas for that meal!) I am looking forward to being able to leave my windows open during the day and cooking the Fall meals. The smell of spiced pumpkin candles and football games 2, sometimes 3, days a week (Go Broncos! Cowboys! Utes! and Beavers!!). The changing of the leaves...hopefully that means more pictures to take :) and the visits to pumpkin patches. I love the Fall and the first day of school is just the first gate to step through to get there.

Coming up next: First Day of School outfit pictures :) (it's tradition, you know)

Chelsey and Will's Wedding

Click on the link below to see the (unedited) pics I took during the wedding and some of the reception.
Chelsey and Will

PhotoBlog Updated =)

Check it out! (and of course, comments are always welcome) =D

K2 Imaging

Lagoon

With 5 kids, 2 grandparents and 1 navigator (that would be me), we headed off to Lagoon for the day. A few clouds and a bit of rain added to the hot humidity, but I think the kids would agree that it was a great day of fun indeed.