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!

Snowed in for Thanksgiving

 We were planning on going to visit family and friends in Montana for the holiday, but due to bad roads, we decided it would not be wise.  We pulled a turkey out of the freezer and did some quick cooking and came up with a fairly decent feast.

While we were snowed in, we made a snowman (snow-thing?), watched movies, strung a popcorn garland for the Christmas tree, went sledding, and made turkey-cookies.  We had fun naming our cookies... road kill turkey, drumstick turkey, angry chinese turkey, etc...


We also got out the Christmas decorations and hung up the outdoor lights.  We only have one tree big enough to put lights on, and it looks like a lone, Charlie Brown tree.  Instead of going into the woods to cut a Christmas tree, we went to Broulims and spent $35 and bought one.  I was so happy to not have to go out on the nasty roads!!!!!  So, our tree is up and decorated, the stockings are hung, and we are ready to have more celebrating!

It's my birthday!

My birthdays aren't much different from any other day. I don't usually like to make a big deal of it, but at the same time, it's nice to be remembered.  I've enjoyed all the e-mail and facebook comments today!  Mostly, what I wanted for my big day, was to have a quiet day at home.  I had to run out a few times, but it's been so nice to putter around the house!  I have a sinus infection and it's great to be kind of lazy today.  Tonight Tony and I are ditching the kids and going to IF for dinner and some shopping.  Wooo-hoooo!!!!  Then back home for pie with the kids.  (cake isn't really my favorite).  Maybe next year, for my 40th, I'll whoop it up a bit more.  Anyway, it's good to get a little older... it sure beats the alternative!

It's my birthday!

Crash and Grass

OK... I might sound like a redneck, but....   I really like to go to demolition derby's!  The crowd is usually a little "rough" for my taste, but there's something about watching cars smash into each other that is really exciting!!!!  I'm a very cautious and careful driver (most of the time)... maybe that's why I like the thrill of the the chase and the big crash!  Anyway... last night Tony and I watched the Batmobile  take out a bunch of other cars, and we had a great time.

On a more peaceful and domestic note... I'm proud to announce that we finally have grass!!!  It's not much, and you can barely see it, if you look really close, but it's finally there!!  After a summer of pulling, spraying, mowing, and cursing weeds, we have a small area under control.  We didn't plant all our land because we don't have a sprinkler system in yet.  We have a small area in the front of the house that we can handle watering with a sprinkler and hose, and we got it planted a couple weeks ago!  Grow, baby grow!!!  I can't wait to get out the lawn mower!!!!!

Brains and Hearts

J and I met with the neurologist this morning to discuss the results of the tests to find what caused his seizures/convulsions.  The MRI and CT scan looked really good.  He had 2 EEG's done, neither of which showed any seizure activity.  So, the good news is that it looks like his brain is not the problem.  One EEG showed an irregular heart beat, and the neurologist thinks we should look into it.  More than likely, it isn't anything to be concerned about, but there is a possibility his heart could be causing the problems.  So.... it looks like more testing and doctor bills for us!  I meet with J's regular doctor tomorrow to discuss what to do next.  I am really thankful that he (and my other kids) are relatively healthy and we don't have to deal with this kind of stuff a whole lot!

Summer Stuff

This is my garden, as seen from the upstairs window.  It froze pretty hard last night and isn't looking too good.  It was a good year for beans and zucchini, but not so great for corn and tomatoes.  My kids like to make fun of my circular design and call it "Mom's crop circle".  Ha-ha. We had a ton of weeds, since our land has been a vacant field for many years.  I'm hoping that next year I will spend a lot fewer hours pulling weeds.

Tony has cooked up hundreds of hot dogs this summer.  We are on the BYU-I Alumni Council, and often help with alumni and college events.  This was at an Idaho Falls Chukars baseball game.  We also cooked and served at Lagoon on the 24th of July.  Just yesterday we helped serve over 2250 new students and their families at a back-to-school event on campus.  

A moose we saw on one of our drives back and forth to Preston to visit family.