My Connection to American Idol

I promised myself I would be better at updating my blog. Nothing too exciting has happened the last few days, although we did get a new bishopric in our ward yesterday, but unfortunately I didn't have my camera at church to take their picture ( jk :-) ) and I hate posting blogs without pictures. So, I thought I would do a post about my connection to American Idol. We have a new assistant principal at Cottonwood this year - Dave Gatti - one of the funniest people I have ever met by the way. Anyway, before he came to Cottonwood, he was a PE teacher at the junior high school in Murray. So, yes, you guessed it, he was David Archuleta's PE teacher in junior high.

The day David Archuleta was in Salt Lake for his "hometown visit" Gatti went to the Gateway and was 8th in line with a bunch of 15 year-old girls. He said he felt and probably looked like some sick pervert either stalking David Archuleta or just wanting to be around a bunch of young girls. He almost left, but he decided to stick it out. When David A. was waving to the crowd he saw Gatti and said "Hi Mr. Gatti" which brought tears to Gatti's eyes. David A. was signing autographs at the Gateway so when it was Mr. Gatti's turn for his autograph, David A.'s mom took their picture together. When he got back to school he went from classroom to classroom sharing his story with everyone and anyone who would listen. Then he sent the whole faculty this picture - so there you go, that is my connection to American Idol.

By the way, this picture is blown up to an 8x10 and is framed hanging on Gatti's office wall between the pictures of his two kids.

Confessions of a bad blogger!

I kind of knew when I started this blog that it would probably not get updated very frequently. But, I really did intend to post something a little more often than once every 2 months. So, now I am making up for lost time. I was actually out of town about half of the month of March. I was going to post pictures I had taken at the end of the month, but one of the girls on my yearbook staff at school "borrowed" the memory card (with all of my personal pictures) in my camera one day when I was not at school. After she used it for whatever she needed it for, she "misplaced" the memory card - which isn't a surprise. This girl has "misplaced" a Nikon D40 camera and lens, and is always looking for her keys or cell phone. Just the other day she left her wallet in my classroom. She tells me not to worry - she is sure it will show up somewhere, but I am still waiting. So, maybe someday you will see the pictures from my last trip to cheerleading national competition, my Grandma Scott's 90th birthday party, Bryn's dance competition in St. George, and pictures of my trip to San Antonio for the National Business Education Association conference, but don't hold your breath. I am not promising I will update every day, but I will try to be a bit better. I have published 3 new posts today so hopefully that will do a for a few days . . .

Dude, where's my car?

So, about 23 years ago, Dru brought a brand new Honda Accord. He loved that car and he drove it FOREVER (okay so it was probably only 10 years or so). Anyway, he finally got a new car but the Honda was not in any shape to really trade in or sell. So, it has been sitting in our driveway for the last several years. It kind of became a permanent fixture in front of our house and drove my mom crazy! Last weekend, we finally had someone tow it away. We took this picture with Dru standing in the spot where the car was parked, and made it into a card for my mom for mother's day. She said it was the best Mother's Day present she had ever gotten and Jana gave Dru a standing ovation. It is nice to have it gone, although Dru was a bit sad to see it go.

Cute Cousins

Here are some pictures Bryn took on Mother's Day of her cute cousins!

Bryn's New Haircut

A few weeks ago, Bryn decided she wanted a new haircut. She had to wait until all of her dance competitions and the year end show were over (she had to wear her hair in a straight ponytail). Her last dance performance was last night, so she had me call and get an appointment with Mindy (Hi, Mindy!) today to cut her hair. It looks super cute and she loves it!

Here is the before picture.

And here is the new haircut (front, side, and back views)

Happy Birthday, Jana!

This is a couple of days late, but since Jana does blogs for people's birthdays, I thought someone should do one for her. JaNae had a very nice post, but didn't have a lot of pictures with her, so here goes . . .

I remember about 30 years and 6 months ago my mom told me she was going to have a baby. I had just turned 13 and I was in the 8th grade. I already had 4 younger brothers and sisters and I didn't think I needed one more. So, I told my mom that I was not going to tend this baby and that this baby could be Stacey's problem. But, somehow, that all changed the day my mom and dad brought Jana home from the hospital. I remember holding her, and my mom said to me "I thought this was going to be Stacey's baby," and I don't remember exactly what I said but something like "I think I have changed my mind." Ever since then I have felt like Jana's half sister/half mom. I remember spending a lot of time with Jana. When she was little, I remember putting her in the seat on the back of my mom's bike and taking her on bike rides. I remember when I moved into an apartment my second year of college (about 1 mile down the street from my parents' house) I would call home at night and talk to Jana and my roommates couldn't figure out what I had to talk about with a 5-year old for so long. As she got older and I moved a little farther away, I always liked to have Jana (and her friends) come and stay with me - although I don't remember letting her and her friends come and stay with me so they could go dancing and stay out late but she said (in one of her blog posts) that I did. And, I can't think about Jana without thinking about Nicci, Steph, JaNae, and Carol and all of the "fun" (mom would probaby call it trouble) they managed to get in - which I am sure most of us don't know half of what they really did! Whenever Jana is around there is always something fun happening (except for those ornery years - but only ornery at home - between the ages of 13-18)! I actually think Jana is responsible for me and Dru getting married since she told Dru at Sunday dinner one day that he was pathetic and then walked away from the table.

Yes, Jana turning 30 does make me feel old since I remember the day she was born like it was just a few years ago, but I am so proud of the person that she has grown up to be. She is still the "life of the party" and is such a great mom to her cute kids! I think during this last year, she has proven to all of us that she has more strength, courage, and faith, than we ever thought any of us had! I think I speak for our whole family when I say that our family definitely would not be the same without Jana, and even though she is the baby of our family, she is a great example to all of us and we all look up to her and are so proud of her!!!! So, happy birthday Jan, and I hope "30" is a GREAT year!!!!!!! I love you!

This is one of the only baby pictures I could find - I guess when you are the

youngest of six kids you don't get your picture taken much!

This was when Jana was probably about 5 months old.

Jana was looking at this picture yesterday and said she didn't think
O looked like her, but she decided maybe he did look like her - I think so!

This was a picture of Jana during a dance recital with the famous

"LaVaun Turner School of Dance." The funny thing about this picture is that

she didn't do much dancing and cried during the whole thing - the dance was

to the song "If You're Happy and You Know It!"

(At least she didn't have to do "I've Got a Doggy with a Long Tail!")

I dont' think there was a date on this picture, but it is probably

kindergarten or 1st grade.

I had to use this picture because it is SOOOO NOT Jana -
I doubt we will be seeing E in a dance costume like this with make-up
and big bangs any time soon!


I am guessing this picture is probably 3rd or 4th grade.



Hey, Jan, can I take E to Lagoon when she is about 10 years old and dress her
up like a sleezy saloon girl with a gun and have her picture taken?



Sorry Jan and Nic - I didn't find very many funny pictures so I just had
to use this one - I'll call it "Bathing Beauties!"





This is a picture of Jan with our sisters Leslie and Stacey in Holland when my
parents took Jana and Leslie to pick up Stace after her mission.
Does anyone notice a missing sister??? Oh, yeah, that would be me -
I was home working.
Jana went to Europe twice before she graduated from high school, and
I haven't ever been - but don't worry I'm not bitter!!!




This was Jana's first day of 8th grade. Nice tan legs, but wasn't it a little hot
the first day of school to wear a long-sleeved flannel outfit?



"Glam Jan"
Jana loves this picture - jk :-)




This is Jana's senior picture, but she didn't like it much and had
Carol take another picture - but I couldn't find any copies of the other picture
except the one in the frame hanging on the wall.




One of our "sister pictures" at Jana and Jeremy's wedding.

Jan with E, O, and one of the famous bunnies that was proud to be

one of the only pets this family will ever have - even if it was just for a few weeks.

Happy Birthday!