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!

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!