Encouragement?

I am just writing this blog post to express some of my frustration. Mostly, I am asking for some words of encouragement. I am at my wit's end. We just can't win! Last week, Trevor, Jason, and I were heading home after a fun weekend in Idaho. On our way home, we drove over a sink hole that had just formed on the freeway. The very deep hole destroyed two tires and destroyed the rims of those tires. We had to be towed to the nearest Discount Tire where we then had to have two new tires and rims put on the car. I told the tire man that we couldn't afford matching rims for the entire car. So, two of the rims are gray and two of the rims are chrome. Also, now the alignment is off. That was quite the day. This week, we had the wonderful opportunity to buy a new battery for our car (same car as above) because the old one was very much dead. To put the cherry on top of a great two weeks, I came home today to find that our computer had crashed. We lost all of our lesson plans, assignments, pictures (we lost all of Jason's pictures), programs like Microsoft Word, and other important things. I just really wish that something good could happen to us! I'm hoping we win the lottery! I'm sorry that this post is so depressing. I'm just feeling really angry and frustrated right now. I hope everyone else has a great week!

Finally!

I am only updating this because Aunt DeAnn gave me an F for never blogging. After today, I think I deserve at least a C-. I am doing an update similar to the last one, except this one will actually have some pictures.

Erin: It was quite a summer living in Richfield while my husband and baby lived in Cedar City. I am glad it is finished. I finished my 18 credit semester with a 4.0. During the summer I took my PLT: Principles of Learning and Teaching Praxis and passed with a score of 180. This exam is one that most teachers don't take until their second or third year of teaching. I am still a student, so I feel pretty happy about passing it. I only have one more semester until I am totally done with school. I start my student teaching next week. I am super stressed about it. You all better be thinking of me and praying for me!

Trevor: After much deliberation, Trevor has decided to go back to school and get his Health endorsement, so he can teach Health (obviously) in the future. This will hopefully give him more job opportunities in the future. He is really NOT excited to be going back, but he's doing it anyway because he is awesome.

Jason: Jason is quite the handful. He never stops moving or getting into trouble. He is a little daredevil. He likes to flip our banana chair over, climb on it, and use it as a slide... or fall off of it. He also likes to stand on his toy horse and ride it like a trick rider. We still love him, though. Jason is beginning to use more words.
Here is a list of words he can say:
- cracker ("daddo"): I'm not sure how that is cracker, but that's how he says it.
- mama
- dada
- kitty ("kiddle diddle"): Don't ask where he got this one, it is super cute when he says it.
- doggy ("doggle loggle"): see above
- yeah: Any time I ask any sort of question, he just says "yeah."
- hi
- happy
- granny ("nanny")
- cheese: He says this when he is getting his picture taken.

To finish off my post, I am including a list of some of Jason's favorite things. Pictures are included.

1. Reading:
Jason frequently grabs a book and climbs up on my lap because he wants me to read to him. It is very sweet.

2. Putting random things on his face and head:
I frequently find Jason walking around with some sort of toy or Tupperware on his head.

He sort of looks like a pirate in this picture.

3. Making silly faces

4. Yelling and screaming

5. Eating

6. Going to the park

7. Getting into things and making messes.

I hope you enjoyed my update. Don't expect another one until I am finished with my student teaching.

Busy Busy Busy

This post is for Maureen. She will not leave me alone about this whole blog thing. This post will simply be an update of what is going on in our lives. If you care, feel free to read.

Trevor: Trevor graduated from Southern Utah University on Friday, April 30th. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education with a Physical Education emphasis. We are very proud of him! He has been diligently filling out applications. He hasn't had much success, but he is keeping his chin up. I believe in him. Make sure to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Jason: Jason is 16 months old. He has turned into such a cute little boy. He is walking everywhere and getting into everything. He never wants to be held. He is sleeping wonderfully. Many nights he will sleep from 8:00pm to 9:30am. This morning he actually slept until 11:00am. It is so wonderful to get the chance to sleep in. He says a few words such as mommy, daddy, happy, and belly. Whenever I ask him if he wants to eat, he opens his mouth really wide and sticks his tongue out. Sometimes he even walks over to his high chair and starts pulling on it. He definitely likes to eat.

Erin: I am currently taking classes at a small campus in Richfield. Why am I taking the classes in Richfield instead of Cedar City? This summer just happened to be the summer that they decided to offer the classes there instead of at the regular SUU campus. Currently, I am living in Richfield while Trevor and Jason live in Cedar City. I only get to see them on the weekends. This has been very very hard on me. By Wednesday or Thursday, I am usually an emotional mess. All this torture and hardship will be worth it. After this semester, I will only have one more semester left then I will have my BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. Yay! I have a roommate at my apartment in Richfield. I already knew her because I took some classes with her in Cedar City. She has been such a blessing. It was so nice to move into an apartment with somebody that I already knew.

Sorry I didn't include any pictures. I will post some when I get back to Cedar City. Now you can stop nagging me, Maureen! :)

Praxis

I took my Praxis Elementary Education Content Knowledge Exam last month. I really needed to pass it and I was really worried that I wouldn't pass it. Well, I got my results today. I received a 194. That is 194 out of 200. If case you were wondering, that score is really high. In order to pass, I had to get at least a 150. The average scores range from 151-176. My score was so high that I received a recognition of excellence from ETS, the makers of the test. I'm sorry if it sounds like I am gloating. I am just so excited. I am not usually proud of myself, but today I am.

Walking!

This is just a quick post. On Saturday, Jason walked for the first time. This video is of Jason walking. I don't think the video is working properly. Every time I watch it, it makes a weird squeaking sound. I'm sorry if it does that for you too.

Update

Well, Aunt DeAnn posted a comment that said I needed to update my blog, so here it is. I know I say this a lot, but we have been very busy. I don't think I have ever had so much to do. All my classes require me to go to a bunch of different schools and do things there. Plus, I have to get 80 hours of practicum (observation) hours in an elementary school done before the end of May. I am going a little crazy. I plan on taking classes this summer, so I will hopefully be graduating with my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education this December. Trevor is just about finished with his student teaching. He will be done this coming Tuesday. We are so excited for him! He will be graduating in about a month! He has been applying for jobs. He applied for a job in Parma, Idaho, as well as, Whitehall, Montana. He is having a hard time finding job openings in Physical Education. Jason is doing well. He has 4 teeth so far with two more coming in. He isn't walking quite yet, but we hope it happens soon. He doesn't say any real words other than "uh oh" (if that counts). When he says that it sounds like "uh eye!" It is very cute. I can't wait until I have a break so I can spend some time with him. I didn't get my Spring Break because I spent that whole week doing practicum at a kindergarten. It was a lot of fun though. I will stop complaining.

Here is a list of things that Jason likes to do:

1. Cry when he doesn't get his way.

2. Climb into things.

3. Take baths: he hates getting out and freaks out when I try to dress him.

Note: if you are wondering why Jason is being bathed in a storage bin, it is because we only have showers in our apartment. He is much too wiggly to try and shower with. It is such a hassle!

4. Eat: he never stops eating. At daycare, he usually has two or three helpings at meal times.

5. Sleep: he has always been a great sleeper (excluding naps).

6. Turn on the dishwasher. Sometimes our dishes get washed two or three times.

We love you, Jason!

You've had a birthday, shout hooray!

On Sunday the 31st, Jason turned 1 year old. We had a birthday party for him on Saturday. He received many wonderful presents. I made him a giant cupcake cake. It was a very stressful process. The whole back of the cake fell off. You can't see it in the picture, but I was using a pill bottle to keep the giant cupcake from falling over. It was very delicious. Jason enjoyed his little cupcake very much. I gave it to him and turned away to get the camera. By the time I got turned back around to take a picture, he had already shoved a lot of the cake into his mouth. He really liked it! Thank you to everyone who came to the party.

Jason received this wonderful "Babe Ruth" hat from Ariana. He looked so cute in it.

Jason wasn't too interested in opening presents, so I had to do most of it for him.

Yum! This is delicious!