Free Kittens and Eagles

I saw a sign along the road the other day that said "Free Kittens".  I stopped to take a look, and couldn't resist!  Our poor Pepper is still very sick, and I thought a kitten might motivated him to eat and move around a little more.  So... Here is Tipsy.... named because of the tips of her ears and tail, and the way she is always falling off of things.  Pepper just ignores her, except when she bounces on him, then he growls....

On another note, Jacob had his board of review for his Eagle Scout award last night.  I was pretty nervous, but it went well.  He was approved and recommended to the National organization to become an Eagle scout!!!  I am overwhelmed, thinking of how far he has come.  His autism causes him a lot of difficulty, but he is so strong and able to do so much!  He is definitely a hero in my eyes!

Teeth and Chuckars

Last week I took Emily to the dentist for a small filling.  We also had an orthodontist take a look.  She ended up getting 7 baby teeth pulled!  There was some screaming and crying involved.  Hopefully, her permanent teeth will grow in nice and straight!  They want to put partial braces on in a few weeks, then something called a herps appliance, then full braces, all for the low, low price of $4500.  We haven't decided on the full deal yet!


She felt well enough that night to go to a Chuckars ball game in IF.  The boys wanted to go to their church activity, so it was just Tony, Em, and I.  Emily ate lots of ice cream! I don't really like to watch sports, but Tony does, so I enjoy watching people and seeing my family have fun.

Fruits of summer

Saturday was a work day... mostly on our shed.  We got the metal roof on finally.. whew!  It was hot work, but very satisfying once it was done!  A big thunder cloud came and poured in the evening and it was so fun to watch the rain drip off the roof!  We started on the first coat of paint, and will have to finish it another day.
We also picked peas, strawberries, and a zuchinni from our garden.  On Monday our sprinkler system is going in and I am so very excited!!!!!!   Some of our summer projects are finally coming to fruition!

So I'm back!  Summer has been busy, busy, busy!  A lot of it has been fun stuff.  The top picture is of Tony and I working on our shed in the back yard.  We are NOT builders, and it has been a fun challenge!  The metal for the roof should come this week, then a bit of paint and we can scratch that project off the list!  

I'm not sure what the bottom picture is... Em was playing around, and I just thought it was funny!  I wonder what was going through my mind?!?
I finished another semester of school, and celebrated to finish my statistics class!  That was the hardest class I have ever taken, and I have never worked so hard for a "B" in all my life!
We went to Preston yesterday for Tony's 25 year class reunion.  I was bored stiff.  It was fun to hang out at his sister's though and go to the parade before the rodeo!

Day of Love

Yesterday was a nice day.  I'm not really big on Valentine's Day... I think we should show our love for each other every day.  Still, it was fun to get and give little gifts to show appreciation.  Nineteen years ago, on Valentines Day, my sweetheart gave me my engagement ring.  We had actually made the decision to get married a month before, but it became official on Feb. 14th, with both our families around us, as we ate at a restaurant in Logan.

Just like me, my ring is now a little less shiny, with a few nicks and scratches. However it means much more to me now, than it did when it was sparkly and new.   I love my Tony more than ever, and am happy that he is my eternal Valentine!

Feeling the Winter Blah's

January was kind of a tough month for me.  The fun and sparkle of Christmas is over, the house is dirty, the days are dark and cold.  I'm glad it's now February!  Things are pretty much the same, but somehow it just 

feels better. 

.
Tony's dad, Delmar, passed away on January 17th.  Although we knew it would happen, it was very difficult.  We are very sad that we don't get to be with our Derricott grandparents again on earth.  We are happy that they get to be together again though!  We miss them a bunch!  This is a picture of Tony and his siblings at the gravesite.

I was able to get a quilt done last month, and that always makes me happy. I even got all the kids to help me with it a bit! I've also been working on embroidering some dish towels to give as wedding gifts.  It always makes me feel good to create something, even if it's something small!  

School is going well.  I like my classes, and look forward to finishing my Bachelor's Degree.  I should finish in about 2 years, if I continue taking 2-3 classes at a time.  Woooo-hoooo!!!!!

Yes, there still IS a Tara Derricott

I have had several questions about why I am not blogging regularly any more.  The answer is..... ?   I guess I just haven't prioritized it!  These days, I try to accomplish the most important things on my long, long list, and the others get put off till another day.  My blog just keeps getting lower on the list!  Life is busy for everyone, but mine is starting to control me, rather than the other way around.  Time to take control!!!!

I started taking some classes at BYU-I, and have mixed feelings about it.  It is fun to be learning in a classroom again, but it takes a lot of time away from other things.  I'm getting used to doing homework again after almost 20 years of not doing it!!!

I also started working part time at the campus bookstore.  I really like working there as a cashier.  Luckily they only need me occasionally, when it's really busy... unfortunately when it's really busy there, I'm also busy!  I got to sell a BYU_I tie to Elder Russell M. Nelson when he was here to dedicated a new building on campus.  That was cool!

As always, Relief Society keeps me hopping.  I LOVE the ladies I serve and those I work with.  This calling is definitely a challenge to me.

I haven't cleaned the house since we had company for Christmas.  The laundry has started multiplying by itself, and a healthy, home-cooked meal has been seen around here for quite some time.  BUT, we all are happy, healthy, and lead very blessed lives!  I can't complain!