Don't Make Me Get My Flying Monkeys

2010-07-19T15:30:00.004-06:00

I guess I've gone from once a quarter to every six months. Oh well. We are loving summer. We have a huge job at the college, the branch keeps us super busy! So any left over time we get (which isn't much) we go camping or work in the yard. I wouldn't have it any other way. Emery is getting excited to go to Kindergarten and Josh can't wait for 3rd grade. I can't wait for school either. It's so hard trying to work and find places for your kids to go.

I will do better!

2010-02-08T15:12:00.002-07:00

This is going to have to be fast. Kent is coming upstairs, so I will post tomorrow! :) I just wanted to say THANK YOU to Kristin, I love love love the tutu you made Emery. What a perfect present!

Sorry, I'm a slacker I know!

2009-09-08T15:04:00.003-06:00

It's time for my quarterly update. :) Josh is back in school in 2nd grade. He loves it. Mrs. Reynolds is his teacher. He loves her so much that he told me he wished school was on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I hope he keeps that attitude for a very long time. I'm so grateful for Mrs. Relyea. Josh was very well prepared for 2nd grade and for moving back to Sanford because of her.

Emery started Pre-K today at Little Treasures. This probably makes me a really bad mom, but I wasn't sad. (Either was Emery) She was really excited to wear her new clothes. I did her hair and she was super mad at me. She said "Mom I don't look like a fashion girl, I look like a grandmudder". Then she wanted make-up so that when she walked in all of the kids in her class would tell her "Emery is so beautiful." I think I have a problem here. She has quite the self image.

I'm worried, I don't have a clue what to do for the Primary Program in October - there are no scripts to be found anywhere on the internet. Any ideas, anyone?

I've finally updated!

2009-06-24T15:59:00.003-06:00

Two months later and I've finally updated my blog. Life is pretty much the same. The shop is busy, and we are very grateful. I work everyday, and I still enjoy it. I want to start taking Friday's off, but so far that hasn't panned out. Oh well. Josh and Emery are both in baseball this season. Josh really enjoys it but Emery could care less. They are both in swimming lessons and are doing really well. We are looking forward to camping and the 4th of July. In other big news (to me anyway) we have a yard. A real one!!!! Kent and I put down sod, it took an entire Saturday and a whole lot of help from friends but we did it!!! It makes a huge difference. We celebrated our 11th anniversary on June 5th. I can't believe how lucky I am. I married the only person that could put up with me. I try to remember some very sound advice given by one of my many councilors :) "Make sure you love him more than you need him" I will always need him, but I make sure that I am in this eternal marriage because I love him and not because I need him to take care of my kids and me. I am more in love with him today than ever.

Easter a little bit Late!

2009-04-28T14:07:00.003-06:00

Easter was a whole lot of fun this year with the snow! I didn't get pictures of the kids in their new Easter outfits because they looked like wet animals by the time we got to church.

Josh at Papa Kurts and Grandmas

Josh at the Mortensen Grandparents

Emery at the Mortensen Grandparents
She just couldn't find that egg.

Emery in the wishing well.

Loved looking for eggs.

Emery my Prima Ballerina

2009-04-28T14:00:00.004-06:00

This is from our production of "Sleeping Beauties" Emery did great in the Dress Rehearsal, but the night of the recital she stood there and just smiled waving her arms. Maybe she needs a new teacher.

Night of the Recital, before it started

Dress Rehearsal

Dress Rehearsal

Curl up and Dye

2009-03-27T14:52:00.006-06:00

So Emery is on this kick where she really really wants to dye her hair! She wants all but her bangs to be pink and she wants her bangs to be purple. This hair piece has made her happy for a little while, but what am I going to do with her when she turns 16?

Random pictures

2009-03-27T14:43:00.002-06:00

It finally snowed! The road by our house was so drifted that we couldn't get out. The county showed up and got us out! Way to go county people!

Frustrations!

2009-03-19T20:50:00.003-06:00

It seems like every March I have a set back with my depression/mental problems :). I'm just so frustrated right now. I though I was getting better, but I guess not (at the moment) I am trying to count all my blessings, I really don't want to go back on my medication. Thank goodness for this blog, it allows me to vent. How do others not go completely crazy with all of the things to worry about. Emery is coughing again, which always sets me off. There are so many things that could go wrong with kids, but I've learned to stay off webmd - it only encourages my imagination. If anyone has any ideas let me know. Everyone is invited to my pity party, I'll be back to good soon, just have to keep praying and hoping!

Emery's Birthday

2009-02-10T14:04:00.001-07:00

Our little princess turned four on Sunday. We had a princess party for her, complete with an all out cake from Grandma. She had so much fun, but was most exicted about all the new clothes and her guitar (Thanks Brock and Tandi, you are true friends;)).

The Best Service Project!

2009-01-27T14:47:00.003-07:00

This last weekend a cute little couple from our branch (San Luis) was married. I wanted to help so I volunteered to help decorate. What I didn't realize is that with their culture they like lots of colors and want to use everything available to them. Once I talked them into toning it down a little it turned out great! I also conned my poor dear sweet mother into helping me make their wedding cake. She has retired forever from making wedding cakes but I had already said we would do it, so after I promised that I would never ever make her make a wedding cake again she did! I think it is one of the prettiest she has ever made (maybe because this is the first cake I was able to really help on). I helped with the fondant and flowers, she did the hand decorating. The sweet little bride (Lorena) also borrowed my wedding dress. After a few alterations (as you can tell from the pics she is tiny) she looked like a princess. What a great weekend. (On Saturday they were married, and on Sunday they were baptized.)

Santa Rocks!

2009-01-13T14:39:00.001-07:00

This is what Emery ordered from Santa. Santa got a wee bit carried away this year. It is built to scale, "Santa" measured Emery and built to the standards that we build custom kitchens. Santa didn't mean for it to look like an industrial kitchen out of the '80s but what can you do when you're on a budget.

Please call with orders! hehe

2009-01-05T15:52:00.002-07:00

Strange Strange Child

Emery loves to be tied up with blue painters tape to see if she can get out. Michael (her uncle, bless his warped little heart) usually ties her up. She works at it for awhile, then gives up and starts screaming. Fun times.

Getting ready for Christmas

2008-12-18T17:34:00.004-07:00

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas! We are getting ready for Christmas at the Mortensen home! Josh was in the Manassa Elementary Christmas Operetta last Thursday. He was a toy solider and then a wise man. On Saturday we went on the Polar Express. Just our luck we broke down twice, but we still had a great time. To all of our friends and family, Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!

Tag

2008-12-04T13:55:00.003-07:00

This was on Andy Canty's blog.

1. My rock star name: *Spotsy Camry*{First pet and current car}

2. My gangsta name: *Almond Snickers No Bake*{Favorite candy bar and favorite cookie}

3. My detective name: *Green Horse*{Favorite color and favorite animal}

4. My Star Wars name: *Morme of Prevacid*{First three letters of last name and first two letters of first name then the word "of" then a medication you are on}

5. My superhero name: *The Blue Mountain Dew*{2nd favorite color and favorite drink with "The" in front}

6. My Nascar name: *Shirley Alice*{First names of your grandmothers}

7. My "lover" name: *Pleasure Chocolate*{Name of your favorite perfume/cologne and your favorite candy}

8. Witness-protection name: *Joan Allen*{Mother's and father's middle names}

Here are Kent's Eight Alter Egos as far as I can guess

1. My rock star name: *Skipper Lady Ram*

2. My gangsta name: *Caramello Peanut Butter*

3. My detective name: *Blue Horse*

4. My Star Wars name: *Morke of Nada*

5. My superhero name: *The Green Lemonade*

6. My Nascar name: *Hilda Callie*

7. My "lover" name: *Lucky Black licorice*

8. Witness-protection name: *Wilson Ann*

Some were funny... some not so much. I tag everyone

Batteries Melissa Batteries

2008-12-02T11:01:00.002-07:00

We finally got to go on vacation to Mexico, where we didn't have to work on the house down there, and guess what? The batteries to my video camera and digital camera were both dead. Nice!
On the positive side it was worth the hours in the car and trying to keep my nerves in check. We had thirteen people in a two bedroom / one bath house but somehow it worked.
My great vacation started on Saturday, November 22, A bunch of my favorite girls i.e. Mom, TJ, Pam + three and my sister-in-law Shauntre went and saw Twilight. So I'm still very much in love with Edward. LOVED the MOVIE.
On Sunday we went to our sweet little San Luis branch and got ready to go.
On Monday we left my Mom's house at 6:30 A.M. for Mesa. Riding in the truck is not much fun, but thanks to ALI I laughed for about six hours straight. In Mesa we were able to see Kent's sister Bev and have dinner with her. The kids were in the swimming pool for hours!
On Tuesday I finally met one of my life long goals. I went to the Mesa Temple. BEAUTIFUL. We went through the 6:00 morning session on Tuesday and it was full! They are busy all day long. Way to go AZ! We had breakfast and then left for Guaymas. We stopped in Hermisillo at Kent's favorite taco stand YUMMY! We made it to our house about 6:00 that night and everyone pretty much crashed.
On Wednesday we went to the beach, and ate at Charlie's Rock. They have the best seafood. We played at the beach for a long time, watching my Grandma explain the little sea "things" to Josh and Emery was the best!
On Thursday we went out on a boat for deep sea fishing, and I get sea sick for the first time. I wasn't the only one though, My mom, Pam, Grandma, Josh, and TJ all got super sick. They finally brought the boat back to a protected cove and let us recover. We went scuba diving and snorkeling. That night we had our own version of Thanksgiving. Lobster and shrimp with mashed potatoes and gravy, beans and cheese, tortillas, and Tres Leche cake for dessert.
On Friday we went to the Mercado and shopped!
On Saturday we drove until 4:00 A.M. Sunday to make it back in time for church.
So much fun but I am so tired!

Josh's Birthday!

2008-11-05T11:38:00.002-07:00

We had so many parties for Josh's birthday! On Saturday the 25th (after I confused most of the parents with my invitations) we had Josh's "Friend" party. We had so much fun. They played games that I loved when I was little, went on a treasure hunt and had cake and ice cream. The best part was watching TJ ride Josh's dirt bike, but she made me promise that I wouldn't post the pictures :(. On Sunday we had the birthday base with to celebrate TJ and Josh's birthday. We ate and ate at my moms and then played football. On Tuesday, Josh's actual birthday I had everyone over for soup and rolls. I felt horrible that day, but I learned the next day at the doctor that the stomach bacteria I caught last year (it's a great one, it stays with you until you die, and goes into remission with medicine) was back, and that I had taken the wrong medicine so my ulcer had grown for an entire year! Fun!

Halloween

2008-11-05T11:25:00.003-07:00

This year Josh dressed up as a foot ball player, but oh the drama. He thought that the football pads made him look fat. Kent had to talk to him for along time to get him to wear it.

Emery decided at the very last minute that she wanted to be a witch. So she was a princess witch!

So Funny

2008-10-24T10:57:00.004-06:00

2008-10-21T14:21:00.003-06:00

School: Centauri High School
1. Did you date someone from your high school? Yes but not until my junior year. I was the biggest nerd.

2. What kind of car did you drive? I rode the bus until my senior year, than I drove the family mini-van

3. What was your most embarrassing moment in high school? Getting into a fight with a boy and having to go to my dad's office

4. Were you considered a flirt? I don't know! I guess I tried to flirt my senior year.

5. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? Yes band and pep band every pep band needs a really bad flute player.

6. Were you a nerd? Yes, I hung out in my dad's office during lunch so that no one would notice me.

7. Were you on any varsity teams? Yes, cross country, track, and dance.

8. Did you get suspended/expelled? Nope, it pays to have friends in high places.

9. Can you still sing the fight song? Some parts of it.

10. Who were your favorite teachers? Mrs. Fujii (English) Mr. Swedlund (Biology) Mr. Guymon (History) Mrs. Ruybal (Band) Coach Hunt (PE)

11. Where did you sit during lunch? Freshman year - my dads office Soph-lunch table with friends. Junior - lunch table with friends Senior - I didn't have a lunch.

12. School mascot? A Falcon Exciting, huh? I bet that drove fear into our rivals.

13. Did you go to homecoming and with who? Junior year with Donald Valdez, Senior year - some guy from Denver and I can't remember his name, he left with my best friend

14. If you could go back and do it again, would you? Not no but hell no.

15. What do you remember most about graduation? The horrilbe singing voices of my friends I am so glad they wouldn't let me be in their little performance. But the best part was hugging my daddy.

16. Where did you go senior skip day? It wasn't really ditching since we were all excused, we went to Elitchs.

17. Have you gained weight since then? yes dangit 70 pounds

18. Who was your prom date? Junior year, Tyler Smith (WTH) and Senior Brett King, my best guy friend at the time.

19. Did you go to your 10 year reunion or are you going to? Nope didn't need to see anyone.

20. Looking back, what advice would you give to yourself? Guess what the sun will come up tomorrow, and this is all so stupid.

I "Tag" anyone who reads this and hasn't done it yet!

Family Pics

2008-10-21T14:15:00.002-06:00

We took family pictures two weeks ago. LeeAnn Gartrell took them and they are so great! I can't post any of them here dangit! Being that we are true rednecks, we took them in front of the haystack, (in my defense, I loved the colors and the textures) with our horse. The horse was Kent's idea. Shadow didn't smile. I did snap a picture of Emery before we started.

2008-10-20T14:55:00.003-06:00

Soccer!

This year Josh decided he wanted to try soccer.

He had the best time. McKay Russell was on his team and we car pooled. Josh's last game was on Saturday. They only lost one game the entire season (a whopping six weeks). They aren't suppose to keep track of the score, just like tee-ball, but Josh would yell out the score after every goal! We need to work on sportsmanship. His coach was great, he gave each player a personalized soccer trophy and certificate.

Go mini-moose.

A sidenote:

I'm feeling a little sorry for my kids.

We live in Sanford - have lots and lots of Indian attire

He now goes to school in Manassa - cannot wear Indian attire-Josh doesn't understand this

We go to San Luis for church - Josh and Emery aren't liking this one

He plays soccer for Alamosa - mini-moose

What color am I supposed to dress him in? :)

Motorcycle chica

2008-10-16T15:56:00.000-06:00

THURSDAY

2008-10-16T15:50:00.003-06:00

Why I Dance?

To set my soul free of the restrictions I put on myself

To let others feel the joy that I do

To feel the music as very few people ever take the time too

So my students will have a glimpse of the finer things in life

So my daughter will have self confidence

and because dance gives me life

What the Heck TJ

2008-10-16T13:21:00.001-06:00

So I get on today to look at all of my favorite blogs, and much to my surprise TJ's is invitation only. So can I get an invite or what? Yesterday I was down with the stomach flu all day, but today is much better. Kent's birthday went well. I think he enjoyed himself. TJ I want my invite ASAP

Tuesday!

2008-10-14T09:56:00.001-06:00

So today is Kents 32nd birthday! Many happy returns Pooh Bear! I love you!

2008-10-13T15:03:00.002-06:00

So today is Monday Yuck! Tomorrow is Kent's birthday, and still haven't picked out a present for him yet. Oh well. Yesterday we went to the San Luis Branch for the first time. I think we are really going to like it over there. Josh didn't have school today. He is having a Grandma day, and much to his dislike, Emery got to go too! I went with my mom to Ali's volleyball game on Friday night. She did really well. It was great to sit with my mom and laugh. We haven't done that in so long. I am so grateful that she is my mom!

Kent

2008-10-10T10:39:00.003-06:00

We just got new hay for our horses, and they are stacked four high. These pictures make me laught so hard! We don't have tractor, so it's been fun watching Kent trying to figure out how to feed the hay!

2008-10-10T10:29:00.003-06:00

TAG! I'M IT!!
I am: Tired and sore!

I think: way to much about vampires:)
I have: Two amazing kids
I dislike: drama and people that cause it
I miss: Josh
I fear: Death
I feel: A little grouchy, the wind makes me a little on edge.
I hear: The shop tools
I smell: Sawdust
I crave: Junk food
I cry: At alot of dumb stuff
I search: for peace
I wonder: If we will have enough work to continue on
I regret: not spending enough time with my Grandpa Robert
I wish: For security
I love: My family and my friends, all the same to me
I care: About what others are feeling
I always: worry
I worry: About my kids, family, pretty much anything
I am not: losing any weight, darn it
I remember: The smell of my Grandma Shirley's old house :) I miss it
I believe: in hope
I sing: Silly songs all day with Emery
I don't always: Do all that I'm supposed, I'm lazy
I write: not nearly enough
I win: at what, and whats the point
I lose: At lots of things, mostly my battle to be good
I listen: not as good as I should, Anjeanette is the best listener I know
I don't understand: Life
I can usually be found: the shop
I need: a few minutes to myself
I forget: lots of things
I am happy: Today
I tag: Janette, Hannah-now you're all IT

October 3rd, 2008

2008-10-03T14:35:00.002-06:00

What to write about? I'm still trying to not panic over every little thing! It is a day to day struggle. Time for a little pity party (I'm only inviting myself ) :). I'm still trying to figure out why I have to struggle with what happened twenty one years ago every day for the rest of my life. It effects everything I do, and think. I guess I would wish for a day without the baggage?!. My kids are doing great! We still have work! I need to stop dwelling on me and remember how blessed I am. Will try harder.... I'm still worried about a lot of things, and I'm trying to make sense of even more things.