The LIST is out AGAIN...

and although Ryan's NAME is not on it this time,

and there are SOME feelings of disappointment,

we are looking back and remembering..

...the incredible journey this experience has been for him and for those of us who have cheered him on. The success and acknowledgement he has received has had such a great impact on him in so many ways, and all of them positive. As the years go by and new experiences and challenges are faced, this will become one of many fond memories, a favorite story for Ryan to tell his kids and grandkids, one they will love and know by heart.

Here are the awards he received after being named a semi-finalist.

We LOVE you Ryan!! You have a cute sense of humor, great compassion, a charming smile and an infectious laugh. You are an outstanding student, a good example to younger siblings and a loyal friend to all. We are so proud of the great young man you are quickly becoming. You AMAZE us!!

The Sheep are Sheared...

A few members of our FLOCK have grown rather "woolly" over the summer, not necessarily on purpose but due to a rather insanely busy schedule. So today, "Baaa"rock and "Raaaa"yan had an appointment with a shearer at the shearing shed. With the help of my experienced sheep dog Rosco, we were able to corral them into the Tahoe for transportation. Once we got moving, they became resigned to the fact and (I like to think) even looked forward to the whole process. During the ride, there was some concern about the fit of a football helmet after the shearing, to which I replied, "We can wrap your head in toilet paper, like a mummy, to replace the woolly mop you are losing." They just have no appreciation for true humor.

THE AFTER PHOTO

So after the incredible transformation from woolly sheep to handsome human, Brock wanted to know what I was going to call him, since I could no longer call him "Baaa"rock. I looked him straight in the eyes (which I could now see) and simply said, "Hello, Elder!"

Emilee & The Tower Of Terror...

All fellow "Disneylanders" are familiar with The Tower of Terror in California Adventures. When we visited this magical park last April, Emilee was only 3 years old and ALMOST tall enough to ride all the BIG rides. We found that if she stretched her neck really long, it closed the microscopic gap between the top of her head and the required minimum height measurement.

Emilee absolutely loved ALL the fast and bumpy rides, but one of her favorites was the Tower of Terror. She would laugh and scream as we shot up and down very fast in the "alligator" (elevator). After the ride ended she would say, "That was so fun!" but when we asked her if she wanted to go on it again she would say a loud and definite, "NO!" Yet the next time we asked WHO wanted to ride the Tower of Terror, she was always first in line. I am totally terrified of this ride, but thanks to efforts of a little, brave Emilee, we rode it five times.

So the other day, we were driving around when Emilee suddenly yelled, "The Tower of Terror! Look Mom, The Tower of Terror!" I pulled over to see where she was pointing. I was SO amazed and shocked that I had to take a picture. She may need a session with the therapist.

Emilee's Tower of Terror

A New Outlook on Life...

Two weeks ago Kelsie had her annual eye exam. We have known for several years that she inherited her parents "bad eyesight genes" and have been ever watchful for signs of their arrival. Since Kelsie has been waiting and wanting glasses for years, finally failing the eye test made her day. Some of her favorite friends have glasses (hopefully the peer pressure impact will be under control before body piercing age.)

After her appointment we headed to Costco to pick out her new glasses and celebrate with lunch. On the way there Kelsie asked from the backseat, "Mom, are my PIMPLES getting smaller?" It took me a second to realize that she was talking about her PUPILS, and yes, they were getting smaller. Kelsie picked out two cute pairs of glasses, pink and purple, so she could accessorize them with her outfits. We were told it would take an entire week for the glasses to be ready. During that time Kelsie didn't miss a day calling home from school during lunch to remind Mom to call Costco and see if her glasses were IN! Kelsie (and her teacher) where SO excited when they were finally delivered. She looks so darling and very smart.

After wearing her glasses for several hours I heard her say quietly to herself, "Oh (sigh), I can see really gooder!" Now that her vision is corrected, we can focus on her English.

Amy's Confession...

They say confession is GOOD for the soul, of course THEY didn't say whose SOUL it's good for. So, for the benefit and good of BOTH our souls, I am making a FULL confession. "I, (deep breath) have been seeing a therapist." I know, I know. You are probably wondering why a GIRL like me (who is so amazingly ORGANIZED, incredibly well put together and TOTALLY on top of things) NEEDS a therapist. My answer... "well, DUH! The therapy must be working."

If I am going to be completely HONEST in my confession, I will tell you that I HAVE been using a therapist for several YEARS. But it wasn't until this PAST April that I saw my therapist in a whole NEW light. Although he is a little ROUGH around the edges and not much to LOOK at, I absolutely ADORE him. (Now, before you get too WORRIED, I should tell you that my hubby KNOWS about the therapist, however, I doubt he REALIZES I have started really SEEING him.)

Our WEEKLY therapy sessions are usually scheduled for Tuesdays (hubby at YM), but because of the UNEXPECTED change in the weather, it was postponed... UNTIL I scheduled an emergency session THURSDAY night. The session BEGAN kind of slow, they always do. I have a NICE, cushioned "couch" from which I perch (too uncomfortable to recline) and during OUR hour and a half session released ALL thoughts, problems and burdens FROM the previous week. My therapist listens with GREAT patience and never interrupts, except to HUM in thought and encouragement. After about 15 minutes of INTENSE therapy, we have to stop so I can EMPTY my "baggage" into the GARBAGE can (therapy activity.) I can literally feel the WEIGHT being lifted off my shoulders every time I DO this. It's like THROWING my stress away!!

That night, the session STARTED with this question, "Is it indicative (therapy word) of a BAD day when you BATHE your daughter with a wet wipe, BEFORE sending her to preschool?" After asking that it was all DOWN hill from there. He listened patiently as I began my epilogue of the day's EVENTS -- from the three hours worth of ERRANDS, to the three hours of school carnival STUFF, to the three hours of chauffeuring KIDS -- from the lack of housework, vanishing emotionally stability and absence of dinner (what did my kids eat anyway?)

I won't go into DETAIL (I'm not sure you could handle it and I can't be responsible for putting you into therapy) but the CLIMAX of my bad day happened while I was HAND writing reminders to over 100 school carnival volunteers. Although it took MORE time, I thought it a good idea to attach a treat to EACH reminder, so that the school children would be sure to SHOW the reminder to their parents with hopes that they get the TREAT (a little trick I learned from therapy.) The treat was a piece of GUM, you know the kind that is only good for a MINUTE. Without thinking (I do that alot, hence the therapy) I popped ONE into my mouth and proceeded to chew. After an HOUR I suddenly felt something hard in my gum and KNEW instantly that something was dreadfully wrong. Upon investigation I DISCOVERED that the "something hard" was part of my TOOTH. My bottom left molar, to be exact, was now sporting a nice hole. I was absolutely HORRIFIED and immediately called my dentist and scheduled an appointment for the NEXT morning. Needless to say, I had a SLEEPLESS night filled with nightmares of immense PAIN, root canals and tooth extractions.

First thing the next MORNING, I asked this question, "Is it indicative of a BAD day if you have an EMERGENCY dental appointment FIRST thing in the morning?" Although the answer to this was a definite YES, (I spent the rest of the morning in a freeway traffic jam, talked all day with a funny lisp and by late afternoon had bitten a chunk out of my numb lip - shortened version) I am a HALF glass FULL type of girl. So looking on the BRIGHT side of things... my talented dentist not only CALMED my fears and ensured the LACK of pain, he repaired my tooth to its PERFECT previous state. I think I have found ANOTHER therapist.

So on Thursday NIGHT, after talking about the past few DAYS with my therapist and "dumping" all my stress AND worries... I felt revived, COMPLETE and truly wonderful. Another successful THERAPY session. Before the session ended, I took a picture of my AMAZING therapist when he wasn't looking. Click HERE to see him. Isn't he such a HUNK! I know you are dying to SCHEDULE a therapy session. I don't mind sharing HIM with close family and friends, when he has an OPEN session available. Of course he only makes LOCAL house calls (very convenient) and his PRICE is very reasonable (about the same as the going rate of 2 gallons of premium gasoline.) I highly RECOMMEND his type of therapy. We are currently SEARCHING for modification options that will allow him to help PLOW through trials and stress ALL winter long. We'll keep you POSTED.

As part of my RECOVERY from the stress of this past week, I have scheduled the following for NEXT week... a pedicure, luncheon dates with FRIENDS (still have more dates available), a visit to the day SPA (for a much needed eyebrow wax), a hair cut and a shopping SPREE (of course it's only for the weekly groceries but this time I am going WITHOUT a list). Of course, I will be spending hours blogging WITH all of you, the BEST therapy possible. It's going to be a FUN week!

The LIST is out...

and RYAN's NAME is on it!!!

The LIST in question is none other than the SSP (Society for Science & the Public) Middle School Program Semifinalist List. We have been waiting ALL summer for this list, ever since the FIRST week of June when Ryan registered for the National Science Fair. In SIMPLE English this means that... Ryan has been CHOSEN as ONE of the TOP 300 Semifinalists in the National Science Fair Competition. There were 7,500 State Finalist nominated through out the NATION, with only 1,943 who actually registered. Today, the top 300 Semifinalists were announced. CLICK to see Ryan's name for yourself.

It all started last December, when Ryan had an ASSIGNMENT in Science, otherwise known as the "Dreaded Science Fair Project." He kept the teachers GUESSING if he even had a project because, although he completed the step by step project at HOME, he would continually forget to turn it in at SCHOOL. Nevertheless, on the due date HE showed up with an AWESOME project on Smoke Detection, that must have really IMPRESSED the teachers because they awarded him 4th place out of the entire 7th grade. Little did we KNOW that this was only the beginning of our surprise and AMAZEMENT as Ryan began traveling this unknown road "To the Science Fair", which has actually turned out to be a FUN, fast roller coaster ride.

On December 15, 2007, Ryan competed on the School District Level and was NAMED one of the top 20 finalist (out of about 120 projects.) In February 2008, Ryan competed on the Central UTAH State Level at BYU with 7th/8th grade students (junior level) from 5 school districts. The projects were JUDGED in 12 different categories. Ryan's project WAS in the Chemistry & Biochemistry category, which was the LARGEST having over 40 projects in two rooms. The competition took MOST of the DAY, which was fine with RYAN because his project was placed in a CORNER, surrounded by cute, giggly GIRLS. Later that night, we were so HAPPY and surprised when Ryan received 2nd place in his category. In our EXCITEMENT, we left the awards ceremony early to celebrate with ICE CREAM (to our credit the awards ceremony had already run for OVER an hour and the senior division hadn't even started.) We had no IDEA that there were MORE junior awards to come, "The Grand Awards", and that Ryan would WIN them all.

Here is a list of the AWARDS Ryan has collected...

1. 7TH GRADE SCHOOL: 4th place all around (certificate)
2. DISTRICT LEVEL: Top 20 finalist (medal & certificate)
3. STATE LEVEL:

• 2nd Place in Chemistry/Biochemistry (trophy & certificate)
• Top 20 finalist overall - Nominated for Nationals (certificate)
• Grand Champion - Top 6 Finalist ($80 & trophy & $50 for his teacher)
• 1 yr Scholarship to College of Eastern Utah (CEU)

NATIONAL LEVEL: Top 300 Semifinalist

The competion is FAR from over. Ryan is currently COMPETING with the top 300 students (5th-8th grade) from all over the United States. On September 17th, another LIST will announce the top 30 finalists, who will RECEIVE an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for a four day EVENT to be held in October 2008. These finalists will compete for OVER $40,000 in scholarships.

We are so PROUD of Ryan and the hard WORK and dedication it has taken to achieve this SUCCESS. As parents, it has been rewarding to see him GROW and learn and to watch his confidence SOAR. This experience has taught him that it's OK to want more than an "A" on an assignment.

So, in the END, Ryan agrees that (besides the cash) the BEST award by far is the 1 year SCHOLARSHIP to CEU. Three local universities came to the STATE competition and awarded scholarships. Both BYU and UVU awarded 1 scholarship each, but ONLY to a High School Senior. CEU awarded 6 scholarships, 1 for EACH grade level 7th-12th. Ryan was CHOSEN to receive the only scholarship FOR the 7th graders. This is absolutely AMAZING since there were over 150 7th graders. Winning THIS scholarship has GIVEN Ryan a goal, a PLAN, a direction. Now, WHEN he graduates from high school, he has a COLLEGE who will PAY for him to attend THEIR school. WOW, I mean really... How many 7th graders do you know that already have a College Scholarship?

Well... NOW you know ONE!!

"You're Hurting My Babies..."

During the past few months, Emilee's hair has started growing CURLY. The short hairs underneath are CUTE little ringlets while the hair on top is still FAIRLY straight with curly ends. It is a CHALLENGE, doing her hair every day, trying to get the bottom to COOPERATE with the top. Here is what happens... In the morning she ROLLS out of bed with her HAIR standing on end and in every which way, like a WILD bushman who hasn't seen a COMB in his life. Then she begins to CRAZY dance, wild bushman style, because her hair "ISN"T WORKING." So we dance into the bathroom and, ARMED only with a comb and spray bottle, the BATTLE begins. Before long she becomes impatient with the slow, CAREFUL progress and starts to complain. I have to REMIND her that it took ALL night to create this work of ART. The worst part, which we always SAVE for last, is trying to UNTANGLE the tiny ringlets lying next to her neck. She lets me KNOW when I'm not being GENTLE enough because she starts to CRY, "You're hurting my BABIES." She TELLS me she has "Kelly hair", HER way of saying "curly," which is TRUE since she inherited her curly hair from her Dad. Her older brother, "Ryran", has also RECENTLY been affected by curly hair (due to the onset of puberty) which could also be the PROBABLE cause of Emilee's CURLY hair too, since they are two PEAS in a pod.

After all, FOUR is the new TEEN age.