It's the day after Easter, and since I didn't do so well on Easter, I'm going to try my best today.
My major problem is I tend to feel sorry for myself (now I don't want anyone to know that, just a weakness I myself know). That being said, I am going to work extra hard remembering my Savior  and all He did for me.  I want to be with my family in the next life, and it would make me so sad to know I blew it. I do love you all, even with the quirkiness I handed down to you (genetically, and experientially, (by the way, I looked this word up, and the Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary) and it backs me up). So I guess, this is my way of saying I'm sorry for being such a drag, and I'm going to work on being more uplifting, and just grateful to be around.  Those of you that read this blog, a kick in the butt from time to time, may be helpful :)
I didn't even take any pictures, so I'm going to try to "steal" them from others who have it together!

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Maybe it's not a good idea Bill is out of town!

I've been watching Craigslist (check out previous blog) lately, and I finally found an armoire I thought was fantastic, so I checked it out.  Logan and Vicki were over, so I thought it was a perfect time to buy it, since I had extra muscle.  Now I have this humongous piece of furniture (even though it's beautiful) standing in my newly redone family/workout room.....HELP!

I did talk the lady down a bit.  My problem is I just can't find a place for it!
Mmmmm, maybe I should go into the furniture business, not really,  I just need to figure out what to do with this before Bill comes home from Phoenix.

What a Find!

Gosh, and I thought I was being so smart. Finding an item on Craigslist, doesn't come along everyday. I saw a kitchen cabinet (a stand alone kind that you can store dishes, or cutsy little craft things, or  pictures, or whatever. It was a very light yellow, and I thought it would fit perfectly in my kitchen, and plus Bill's not here this week, so I could buy it and more than likely it would take him while before he even noticed it :)
So here's how it went down. It was in Washington Fields (don't ask me where that is, I've been there, but only with a very skilled driver, who doesn't have to look down at the GPS system, every 2.5 seconds, with the car in back honking his horn). Oh yeah, I almost got hit (my fault), stopping abruptly when you know you missed your turn, kind of makes the driver behind you a bit mad.
I had to call Jamie (that's the owner of the kitchen cabinet, kind of felt we were best buddies after all the calls and texts), to make sure I was anywhere near her house, and to my amazement, she didn't have a clue where I was, nor how to get me to her house. You think she'd recognize the horses and cows I described, but no, she was worse than I was, and she lived there!
I finally found her place and found, to my amazement, that the item she advertized was much smaller than I wanted or needed.  Getting measurements is a must before you head out into the sticks looking for your prize Craigslist item.
Oh well, I made it home (as Logan said, "just head West, Nancy").  And I did hear some laughter in the background. Grrr.
Here's the kitchen Cabinet I didn't purchase:

Cute, huh?

New blogger promise

I am going to make a promise to use my blog to journal my thoughts and experiences, much like I used to do.  Here's to a new (renewed) blog. 
By the way, no pictures this time, but I will make an effort to include amazing pictures, just like Erin!

It's been a very long time...

I don't think I've put anything on our blog for quite a while (like since last spring break?). I guess I don't take, or have the time anymore, and would rather just check out FB to see what's up.  It's kind of sad, because when you blog, you can go on forever (which I sometimes do), and play around with the wallpaper, etc.  Well, anyway, here's to trying to blog once again. 
The major thing going on here is my foot surgery (July 18). I will be getting my boot off in a couple of days. Whoopie! School has started (again), and Bill is teaching 3 classes at DSC.  I don't have any pics to post, unless I post the summer ones.  I may go back and do that.  Here's to a very successful school year, and a healthy family.  See you all soon!

Spring Break...part 2

Well, Bill and I went to Los Angeles for 4 days (Spring Break) and had a nice time, visiting with his brother Ray, and hanging out at the Huntington Beach pier and street fair.  They have the best food at the fair, and just to prove it, here's a picture of Bill eating bar-b-qued corn on the cob, mmmm.

Mmmm, doesn't that corn look mouth-watering?

Here's a picture of the beach we did not go down onto, nor did we stick our toes in the water.  It was actually a bit chilly.  Beautiful, but chilly!

All-on-all, we had a peaceful, enjoyable time...even if the traffic was horrendous.

Spring Break

This is just a short blog to prepare anyone who reads it that Bill and I are going to California for spring break and I am going to take some amazing pictures.  Hopefully all will agree, but since I'm not a professional photographer, you may need to use your imagination. 

The Endsley Grandparents and family

Lost crown, black eye, and stiches in my lip.

It all started out with me in the hall with high school students in the computer lab, my room, library, counseling office, just everywhere.  They were taking their STAR test, and the computer room didn't have enough computers, so we spread out, and I mean we spread out! I actually thought I was further  away from the steel poll that the doors connect to.  Well, I wasn't further, and I turned, fast, and went into the pole head first.  I grabbed my lip, blood squirting all over, so I headed to the office for some rags; and I actually felt like screaming out "get the rags, boil the water, then dial 911 and get that helicopter!  After our Sports medicine teacher put some steri strips on my lip and an ice pack on my eye, I went back to my class to finish the period.  I had prep, then lunch next, so I drove over to the Work Med place down the street. They stitched it up, and then had me pee in a cup (workman's comp).  How humiliating.  I got back to school for my afternoon classes, and did a pretty good job.  One of the counselors ran into my room to let me know they didn't get it on tape. Gee thanks. Now students (not even mine) hold onto the infamous pole and shake it a bit, just to remind me.

French for: "I have an oweee"

Oh yeah, the rest of my title.  My crown.  What can I say?  I had a root canal done last year ($$$$$$) and now I need a new crown. 
I know I won't be retiring soon.

Post-Christmas-2011

Here I am, siting at my computer, trying to remember what hit me yesterday.  Oh that's right, it was Christmas!  We all went to church for Sacrament meeting, and by the way, it was beautiful.  The Bishopric gave the three talks, and brother David Dalley sang, "Oh, Holy Night." He is such an amazing singer, and brought tears to more than one set of eyes. 
When we got home, it was "holy Hannah" day in the living room.   Gifts were flying, kids were crying, and Bill was oblivious to it all.  He was intent on his conversation with whomever he was talking to, so I  handed out gifts....well not just me,  Kevin was going for them, too.  Such a good little helper.  It took us a while to unwrap all of the presents, and just when we thought we were done, in walks Logan, Vicki, and their two little ones... with more presents!  We all settled down for another round, and finally took ourselves to the kitchen to visit and finish cooking the turkey, etc.  Oh, by the way, the two turkey breasts Bill was barbequing on the deck, decided to fall off the turning thing (not sure what you call it), and so the turkeys were brought into the kitchen to finish cooking in the oven.  Whew, that finally over, we prepared the rest of the food and sat down to eat.
I have an annoying habit of wanting to eat my food hot, so I dished up and gulped down my meal before it had a chance to cool down.  After, I sat in the tv room to get over my stomach ache.  I've got to practice eating slowly, and deep breathe.

Craft, craft, crafty

I'm certainly not the craftiest person around (unless you define "crafty" as sneaky, sharp, etc.), but lately I've been inspired by the website, Pinterest.  I'm not really sure how you"pin", or for that matter, "unpin" something, but I can get some pretty good ideas from it. My visiting teacher mentioned the site to me months ago, then Erin told me she and Jenny were getting excited about it.  Erin claims she's not crafty either, but the things she's done, tells me otherwise.  I've found some things to do to keep me out of trouble, and causes me to get behind in my grading, but what the heck, it's fun.  It also makes me feel like I'm actually a bit creative.  I just found a bookcase on Pinterest...here's a look at what I want Bill to help me with.                                          



Although we didn't build it (yet), I'm certainly looking forward to doing it. 
I've been sewing, also, but I can't post the pictures, since they just might be a Christmas gift for someone...hmmm.
Looking forward to the Christmas break, since, as usual my students (just one of the 10th grade classes) are getting on my nerves, and I have begun questioning my teaching skills.  It's been a long quarter, just leave it at that. 
Oh, and since my sophomores just finished reading Lord of the Flies, I get to show a short episode of my least favorite TV program tomorrow and Friday. It's a parody of the book.  Can anyone guess what that program might be? 
Have a nice rest of the week. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!! and Black Friday :(

Well, I've been asked (told) to get back on our family blog, so Thanksgiving time is as good a time as ever, so here goes.
We're not cooking Thanksgiving dinner here, this year, since many of the kids are going to their in-laws, or can't travel this far.
So here it is...we're going to the Golden Corral!  Ben said he's heading down to Mesquite later tonight, for some prime rib :)  It's just a weird feeling.  I have never had Thanksgiving Dinner at a restaurant, ever! What bothers me about a buffet (which I'm not fond of under normal circumstances) is by the time I select my food, barge my way back to my seat, and sit down, I realize I don't have my utensils.  You can imagine how cold my food will be when I begin to eat.  I love my food hot.  On the other hand, there will be absolutely no cleanup.  When I get home, I'm going to make a pumpkin pie,  so my kitchen has that wonderful spicey smell.
Well, we went out to see the St. George temple lights last night, and I was able to snap this picture of the temple with my iphone (love my phone).

Pretty cool if I do say so myself.
Today is Saturday, and we're all kind of just hanging out.  Ben went golfing with Wade, and then on to his house to watch the great "civil war" game.  I'm sure Erin, Jesse, and Jacob (Lauryn and Landon, too) are watching the great Oregon/Oregon State game this afternoon, too...go ducks!
Well, Bill has been working hard on the front yard, and this time of the year with the leaves falling every 2.5 seconds, he wanted to mow it, thus getting rid of all the leaves...temporarily.  When he finished, yesterday, he came in the house and was so proud of his clean yard. I mentioned he might have a few leaves by the morning, so this morning, here is mother nature in all her glory!

Ben left this morning at 5:30, to catch the St. George Shuttle to Vegas for an 8 am flight to Portland.  We're sure going to miss him.  It was fun having him here, again, and we absolutely love his banana bread! We love you Ben, please come back soon!

Back to School

It's the Saturday before the first day of school, and instead of heading up north to visit family in SLC, Bill and I are home, watching Bill's nose heal.  It really looks bad, but it's actually healing well.  Brother Plumb just stopped by to check on Bill (he's the anesthesiologist, and in our ward). He said it looked like it was healing well, and more than likely the stitches will be coming out in a week or so.  We also talked about the benefits of anesthesia.... duh.  We're really glad they knocked Bill out for this one, since the surgery took 2 hours.  I would post a picture of Bill's nose (still attached to his head), but it might gross a few of you out.  I already sent a picture of it to most of you on my phone, so that will have to do.
I have to tell you, though, that Bill was a riot after the surgery, while he was coming out of the drugs.  He had the nurses laughing and he sounded so much like he was drunk.  He told us all (me, the nurses), an old high school friend told him he would be a pretty funny drunk.  No fooling?

Holy splash pad, I mean kitchen!

I guess I'll blog about my latest experience, even though I did put it on Facebook.  It's a bit more fun when I can really explain what happened (Mariah).  I was innocently making a salad for myself the other day, while Bill was at work.  I was rinsing the strawberries and blueberries over the sink and I think I hit the faucet.  Bill did tell me that earlier that morning, he'd noticed the faucet leaking, (thanks for the warning).  Anyway, without any warning, the faucet handle breaks off and up shoots a spout of water with enough pressure to keep the kids busy running through it.  It got me (my face was smack on top of the water spout), the window well, floor, and counters drenched. I didn't exactly panic, but I did yell "help" a couple of times.  Of course there was no one near.  It took about 20-30 seconds to reach under the sink and grab the first nozzle I could find and turn.  As I turned it, I did notice the water was slowing down.  I finally got it to stop.  I think I used nearly 8 towels (beach towels, no less) to mop up the water. Angie said I need to keep a video camera running at all times, since I'm so funny, and I could probably win "Funniest Home Videos" without a problem.  Oh, I looked like a drowned cat!

Everyone's gone!

Up in a tree!

Erin and kids left yesterday morning, and it's been quiet ever since.  We located a cool park with a splash pad the day before they left.  Dang, should have found it sooner.  We did go to the Washington Rec. Center the other night, though.  That was fun.  Erin did some shopping, Jacob and Lauryn climbed our trees, and when Ben was here, we had our backyard cleared...yay, at last!  Next week we're probably going to have someone come in and level it, so it will be sprinkler and lawn ready.
I'm kind of in limbo right now.  Cleaning the house is about all I can find to do, but that needs to be done, anyway.
I have spent a lot of time away from home, either on the road (St. Louis to Wichita Falls), a week in Texas (ick, too hot), and then the long drive from Texas to St. George with Erin and kids.  I guess I'm ready to be home.  The only thing bugging me is the fact that school is looming next month.  Where has the summer gone?

Lauryn at the Towne Center splash pad and Lazy River

Landon, not quite so sure.

This is somewhere in the midwest, in a McDonald's over Highway 44.  Pretty cool. Jenny and kids: Wesley, Ryan, Zack, Bryce and lovely Jessica.

This is one of my favorite.  Ben taking Jacob into the pool, the scary way.  Look at Jacob's expression.

Erin and Lauryn sort of imitating Ben and Jacob :)
What's with the nose plugging? Like mother, like daughter, I guess.

Back Home

Well, I finally returned home to St. George a couple of days ago.  Ben has been here since the 1st of July, and Erin, the kids, and I got here on the 6th.  It was a loooooong trip from Wichita Falls.  I'll post something of my time in Texas later.  Today marked the second day Ben has been back-hoeing our back yard.  He is also showing his talents teaching  Jacob and Lauryn (Landon, too) to bake his special brand of chocolate chip cookies.  They are sooo good!

Ben, in all his glory.

Bye-bye ugly back yard.

Guy Fierri, look out!

We also went swimming today at Wade Field's pool (Ben's friend from Corbett), and Ben was at it, again, teaching Jacob some pretty cool tricks off the diving board.

Erin and kids watching Ben do his thing in the back yard.

Flying is scary

Of all the dang places to fly to on Monday (27th), I picked St. Louis, MO.  That is where there will be STRONG, SEVERE, THUNDERSTORMS. I got some advice from Erin and Jesse tonight, though, as if that will calm my nerves.  Advice: "get a wing seat."  Thanks, I needed that.  Oh well, Bill and I went to the Temple this morning, so I've got that covered, and I'll have him give me a blessing tomorrow.  You'd think I were marching off to war.  The next time I blog, I'll be better, so you won't have to here my whining.

wish me luck!

Bill's Father's Day gift

Jenny and Adam and kids gave Bill this shirt to remind him of all his grandkid's names!

Kinda serious, huh?

Golfing's for the strong

Bill and I went golfing at Sand Hollow yesterday afternoon (temp. only around 90), and today I feel like a Mack truck has run over me.  It all started with my 4 mile walk around the Bloomington loop in the morning.  Bill had a few things to do while I walked, and when he returned, wanted to go golfing, since it wasn't that hot. Right, not that hot.  I whined a bit, then thought, "he bought me a set of clubs, we've been putting a bit, and have been to the driving range, why not?"  My back was a bit sore, but what the heck, I could do it.
Previously, we've gone to golf stores where they have those fake driving ranges that measure your distance, etc. I actually did well, and the best part was I never whiffed the golf ball, which to me, was the most important thing.  OK, so out on the course (thankfully I couldn't see anyone nearby to witness my lack of skills).  Bill was so patient, even when I threw my club a few times. I thought that my clubs were actually not long enough...does that sound like an excuse to you?  After measuring our irons (golf terminology for the clubs you use in the fairway, for the most part), Bill's were a bit longer.  Sad news, though, the driver's pretty close to the same length.  Oh well, good try.  As we got to about the 6th hole, I decided to use my fairway wood twice in a row, so I didn't put the cover back on it,   and walked to where my ball was (approx. 100 yards).  I chose another club at that point, but couldn't find the "sock" cover for my previous club.

This is the club "sock" I dropped 100 yards back.

Dang if it didn't make me mad, since I knew then that I dropped it somewhere back where I had just hit the ball.  I walked back to pick up the cover (100 yds.) and then back to my clubs (another 100 yds.).  By that time, I was really pooped, and we decided to finish the game at 7 holes.

Bill was such a sweetheart, he pulled my cart and his, all the way back to the car :)

The following things are positive about the "game."
1. exercise
2. fresh (hot) air
3. practice (at a sport in which I suck).
4. beautiful scenery
5. parring a Par 3 hole
6. ran out of positives

Negatives about the "game."
1. really sore back
2. sweating like a dog
4. whiffing the ball a gazillion times
5. throwing my club (from time-to-time)
6. not doing nearly as good as I thought I could

All in all, I'm sure I'll continue to work at the game of golf.   I am really grateful that Bill is as patient as he is.  An outing like this could lead to many bad things in a marriage, but not for us!