School? For real?

Wow, I really don't update this very often. It's not for lack of time, it's more of lack of creativity. I'm not sure if anyone even reads my blogs anymore. Oh well. So what's been up? Well, my friend Mandy, and I decided that we needed to go back to school. Sort of. We signed up for this fiction writing class that the Canyon's School district is doing. One of those continuing education classes. Our first class was on Tuesday. Our teachers name is Brenda and she is such a character. She read some of the stuff she has written, and it's awesome! She told us about a trip she took when she was in her 20's. She bought a moped and toured Europe! Holy crap! She was gone for 3-4 months, and she said she only spend a few thousand dollars. So, anyway... the teacher is interesting. Our class is designed to get us up and going on writing a novel. We have loads of homework already which I think is sort of hilarious. In two weeks we have to pretty much have the whole premise for a novel drawn up. Yeah, okay. I don't know where to start! Most of the stuff she talked about dealt with fantasy type novels. What if you just want to write about stuff that might really happen or could happen? Both Mandy and I felt pretty overwhelmed when we left the class. It should be pretty interesting. We have a speaker next week and Brenda said that we will just be mesmerized by him. Hopefully he'll be that kick in the butt inspiration I need to getting working on something. I'll let you know!

Sled 1, Mel 0.... Sled wins!

I swear I'm going to have two black eyes tomorrow. I was trying to throw the kids sled up the hill, since I was thigh-deep in snow, and out of no where, the sled decided that it didn't want to be thrown, it wanted to try and break my nose instead. Luckily my nose isn't broken, the sled hit a little too high, but yeah, maybe black eyes. As painful as it was, it was also hilarious. I am a self-proclaimed klutz, so it wasn't a shocker that a sled connected with my face. And, another non-shock, a half hour before, I was trying to stop Merrick from sledding out into the road, and my crouch stance to block him, landed me on my ass. Bumps and bruises aside, I had a blast sledding with my kids! I haven't been in a really long time, and as much as I don't like being cold, I was surprisingly warm and I felt like I could've been out there for hours. I forgot how much I like being outside in sunny-snowy weather. Merrick was content to eat as much fresh snow as possible, and I couldn't help but laugh at him, head to toe in winter wear. He could be the new Randy from 'A Christmas Story'. Rowan was just happy to be outside (and to have someone else carry her nose-cracking sled up the hill for her).
I got to drive a 4-wheeler for the first time over the weekend, so that was a blast! My only memory of 4-wheeling as a kid, was being dragged by one on a sled, driven by a neighbor kid, through our neighborhood. You had to make sure you had some major 'leaning' skills, because there was always the fear that you would go around a corner and skid right underneath a parked car, and be decapitated. And, that is not something you can't put a band-aid on... Needless to say, driving one is funner than being dragged by one. I can see how people get addicted to buying toys like that.
So, even though it was the dreaded V-Day this weekend, it was a blast!

We All Fall Down...

“When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always be worse. And when they are, we find hope in the thought that things are so bad they have to get better.” So true. This year is one for the history books. Not only for our country, but for me, personally. It's amazing what one person can do to change the course of history. How things can be altered in the smallest amount of time. I've been on a rollercoaster of emotions since this spring. It's a miracle that I'm still in one piece after 2008! I've had my share of ups and downs this past year and for sure, my fair share of life changing events. I've done some things to be proud of, and some, not so much. I'm thankful my friends still allow me to be their friend, even when my evil twin shows up. I'm also thankful that they and my family have been there for me and my occasional meltdown and were always there to lend an ear. I'm also thankful for medication. :) -- Things have to get better. I'm excited for 2009! My New Year's Resolution: treasure every moment with my kids, learn to live, and be happy!