Things to cheer about…..

BYU is my alma mater. 

It is the place I first lived away from my parents and my sisters- out on my own.

It’s where I got my teaching degree and met my husband.

I am just one of the many thousands who have attended the school and walked the famous campus (“The world is our campus”).

BYU basketball is making the school proud.

On Saturday afternoon, Number 7 BYU found itself the underdog against Number 6 San Diego State (Mountain West Conference), but it came out victorious with an 80-67 triumph. 

Right now they have a new hero:  Jimmer Fredette.

(photo taken by Ethan Miller/Getty Images )

He is leading the nation in scoring.  He is one of the top candidates for player of the year (in the whole NCAA).  He is a phenomenon! 

It is fun  getting caught up in college sports and cheering for your favorite team. 

Go BYU!

****

Who else do I cheer for?

I just LOVE my grandchildren!

I couldn’t resist taking these cute photos from Liz’s blog tonight.  

and look at this happy guy:

 

Go grandkids!

JoAnn

Thankful for flowers and small friends…..

First off,

I don’t have anything new or exciting to show you.  (I need to carry my camera with me more often, AND I need to do more exciting things.)

So…

I’m showing you a few pictures of my beautiful geraniums.   Every fall I dread seeing them become victims of Jack Frost.  It seems like it takes all summer for them to get pretty- just in time for winter to kill them off.

I’ve started taking them to school with me in September, and now they have a winter home on the window ledge  in my classroom.

(Does that mean they are “Snow Bunnies”?)

I love the color and the vitality they bring to my second home. (Yes, I spend as many hours there as I do at my house!)

Now,

About those small friends…..

While many of you go to lunch or out shopping with your good friends, I spend most of my days with people who are about four feet tall.  I have found that they are interesting and loyal friends, too. 

Here are just a few examples:

“Mrs. Clegg, can I tell you something?  I liked your old hair style better.” 

Or this little note I found on my desk- “Mrs. Clegg, you are so pritty and I love your hair.”

(Note, these came from two different students!)

This morning I found a big, red apple on my desk.

Sort of like this one.

I really enjoy my associations with these pre- adults.  At times they can be frustrating, but they are sincere in the things they say- for good or bad.  They always have a big smile or hug for me (and for any adult or teacher they see).

Well,

There you have it.

I really am thankful for flowers and small friends!

JoAnn

Life is good…..

 

Have a nice weekend!

JoAnn

An unwelcome change……

Dear Mother Nature,

Please change your mind and

bring back the sunshine! 

I was sort of looking forward to

doing some of this:

Not this:

Love,

(Your best friend),

JoAnn

P.S.  The snow picture was really taken in 2003.

Standing the test of time…..

This clock hangs on the wall above our fireplace. 

On any given day, we look at it multiple times.

I can quickly peek out from the bathroom in the morning to see how much time I have left before I need to leave for school.

We use it as a timer when we are cooking.

It reminds us when our favorite television show is ready to start (or end if we were too busy to remember to watch it)!

It is the clock we set our watches by, or determine how much time until we need to go to bed.

T. I. M. E.

This weekend, I have been reminded about how some things seem to stand the test of time (and endure graciously), while others don’t.

My brother-in-law, Steve Nelson, received quite an honor by being chosen as one of five special BYU Emeriti Alumni chosen for the year 2011. 

Check out this article about him here.

(Brett, Steve, Connie, Ken)

While a lot people retire and slow the pace of their lives, he has spent many years giving service.  He has made the world a better place.

My sweet mother-in-law refuses to let life slow her down.  At age 92 she still is there to support and sustain family members (and so is our father-in-law). 

These stately old buildings still line the beautiful campus of BYU.

and Y Mountain still looks proudly on.

(Julie, Mardene, Jenni, and Kristina)

Aunt Mardene is kind of like the famous battery- She just keeps on going and going.  (Yes, she still rides her bike and walks the long country blocks!)

It would be easy to just sit back and let life move on without you, but isn’t it nice that some things (and people) never quit?

JoAnn

A mid-week surprise…..

Today, I called to check on my in-laws.

(They are both 92 years old.)

When a child’s voice answered, “Hello,” I wasn’t expecting

it to be 

MY OWN GRANDDAUGHTER!

(They don’t live here.)

When I asked  whom I was talking to,

I heard a sweet little reply, “Madison Jo Nielsen.”

They came down to pay a visit to Grandma and Grandpa (and decided to surprise us).

And….

They are spending the night at our house.

How fun!

Guess who else came by for a visit?

Little Joshua had to show us his new crawl.

Pretty darn cute!

Thanks, Liz and Irene for the pictures!
(They are all taken recently, but not today.)

My how time flies…..

Warning…..I took this post from part of my family newsletter.   Family, don’t read any further if you don’t want to read it twice!

I can’t believe that January has come and gone!
I had a huge list of projects to accomplish during the month, and I totally missed out on almost every one of them.
Yes, I was sick for most of the time, but I didn’t even remember to put out my new Warren Kimball calendar until the last few days of January! How sad is that?

February is already rolling along and in just a short time it will be Valentine’s Day. ♥  (Six days from today to be exact!)

I guess I’d better get busy.
I remember one fateful year when we didn’t start our candy shopping until Valentine’s Eve and there was not ONE piece of Valentine looking candy left in the whole city. None! (Easter candy had taken its place!)

“How did it get so late so soon?

Its night before its afternoon.

December is here before its June.

My goodness how the time has flewn.

How did it get so late so soon?”

-Dr. Seuss

Have a great week!

JoAnn

Meet the newest member of the family….car style

We have consistently been a neutral-style family (boring?); you could always find us driving white, black, navy, or silver cars. 

Well, things have changed!

Katie is now the owner of this sporty, YELLOW 

2008 Chevrolet Aveo.

 

(Yes, this picture is blurry.  Sorry!)

Secretly, I think she was trying to help me with my

winter- color- deprivation!

I think YELLOW could be my new favorite winter color.

Here are some other fun yellows:

 

Things are looking pretty cheerful, don’t you think?

(Thanks, Google for the pictures.)