Brady On Dean's List Fall 2015

Brady made the University of Utah Dean's List again this past Fall 2015!!

This was the text he sent me:

So, like I tell myself EVERY semester, this is going to be the semester I don't make Dean's List.

This semester I was SURE I was going to get a C in one of my classes and I was going to be removed form the Dean's List. 

Today I finally decided to take the blow and see how bad it was. My CPA actually went up from a 3.675 to a 3.786.

Though I got a 77% in that guys class, it was curved and weighted as a B, and I got A's in all of my other classes. Looks like I'm still on the Dean's List. 

*********

Woo Hoo for my smart son who has made the Dean's List throughout his college years. 

Here is the Dean's List letter he received from University of Utah. Way to go Brady!!

Congratulations for making the Dean’s List for Fall Semester, 2015.

Final grade submissions are now in and our records show that you earned at least a 3.5 GPA on at least 12 graded credit hours for this semester.  These are the criteria for Dean’s List designation and this will be shown on your official University transcript.

Best wishes for continued success as you pursue your degree at the University of Utah.

Best,

Scholastic Standards Team

University College Advising

2016 Christmas

I had such a lovely Christmas. The best present was Brady getting time off to come home for Christmas!! Even though Brady just lives in Salt Lake City, UT  -- he hasn't been home for over a year and I haven't seen him. I work during the week and if I went to SLC on the weekend, he would be working. It's just the time in his life where he just doesn't have time to come home - while going to school during the week and working 10 hour shifts Friday, Sat and Sunday. I sure have missed him. 

It was nice having both my boys home. 

Brady and I went to The Village in Meridian to see a movie and do some shopping. We decided to try the Backstreet Bistro which serves you food while you watch the movie. The very back of the theater is sectioned off for this service. It's kind of spendy. Brady had a hamburger and I had a chicken sandwich. We had mozzarella sticks for an appetizer and drinks. It was $44. But, on the other hand, we usually spend a lot of money on junk food like popcorn, drinks and candy. I'd say this was a lot healthier and I enjoyed having lunch while watching a movie. I'd definitely do it again. 

We saw Mocking Jay part 2. I have really enjoyed all of The Hunger Game movies. They did a great job on them and kept them close to the story line of the books. The biggest surprise for me was when they were in the tunnels trying to get to President Snows mansion, the "mutts" that attacking them were not how I saw them while reading the book. I saw them as a type of dog as in the first Hunger Game movie. These were human with piranha snapping teeth. It was pretty cool - scary but cool. 

I just love The Village. Each season brings such fun activities. I love watching people ice skate, the Christmas decorations and of course the fountains. It's such a beautiful place to be. We shopped at a few different stores and the employees were very nice and helpful. It was a nice experience the week before Christmas. 

My cute boys ... Brady and Jason. 

I loved getting most of the Christmas presents for free with my swagbuck Amazon credit. Brady wanted a bunch of clothing. They were all from China and had delivery dates pushed out to January. However, it was such a surprise that we received every item before Christmas. I didn't get any pictures of his new clothing and neither of my boys wanted me to take pictures while we were opening presents. 

Jason is really into survival gear and SOG products. 

He basically received knives for Christmas. A pair of SOG pants and non-SOG socks. 

It is weird that this is all he wanted on his wish list, but I guess he is prepared for the end of the world - ha ha ha. My big tough son who is going to keep me safe from the zombies. 

I got some new bed sheets, sketchers tennis shoes to work in, 2 pairs of pants and more glass storage bowls. I have gotten rid of most of my plastic storage bowls and now only use glass. I like glass better. 

It was a really nice Christmas and we were definitely spoiled. But for me the best thing is having my sons home. 

One of my customers gave me this purse and bath stuff - which smells amazing. 

My tradition I give to my customers for Christmas is a bunch of baked goods. The 2 weekends before Christmas was spent making goodies. I made:

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Butterscotch cookies

Ginger snap cookies

Peanut butter cookies
Home made Oreo cookies

Scotcheroos

Carmel Brownies

Rice Crispy Treats

I wrapped up a sampling of each in cute Christmas bags and gave them to each of my customers. 

I baked so many cookies that I had shoulder pain from using my cookie scoop so many times. At first I couldn't understand why I had shoulder pain that made me feel like an old woman - ha ha ... I kept wondering if I was vacuuming weird or what I was doing differently to cause the pain. 

The following weekend when I made more cookies, I finally figured out why my shoulders were in pain. It's the weirdest thing to think that squeezing a cooking scoop a million times would cause shoulder pain. I am still in shock that this motion caused me pain. I hate getting older - ha ha. 

It was a very Merry Christmas with my sons. I loved every minute of it. Brady had to return back to SLC on Saturday morning - the visits always go by in a flash. 

Ponderize Scripture December 21 - 27

Week: Dec 21 - 27, 2015

PONDERIZE. (Ponder and Memorize) Feast upon his words. 

Don't forget to save a little money each week too!! 

These 2 principles will lead to a better life.

 Luke 2: 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Are You a Boise Idaho House Cleaner?

As you know, I clean houses in the Boise, Meridian, Garden City and Eagle Idaho area. I am currently full with no openings for new customers. 

However, I've had 3 new customer requests in the past couple of weeks that I have turned down their business. 

If you are a house cleaner in the Boise Idaho area and are looking for new business, I can refer them to you. You must be a good, reputable and honest house cleaner. 

I don't want to refer a potential customer to someone who doesn't know how to clean, isn't reliable, isn't honest - but one who is reliable, honest, and does a great job cleaning a customers home. 

If you are looking for new customers, please send me an email to: ladysondradee@yahoo.com with Boise Idaho House Cleaner in the subject line. 

Please include name, phone, how long you've been in business. 

I hate turning away business and am always asked if I know someone I can refer them to. It would be great to network with some great house cleaners in my area. 

Best Regards,

Meridian Winter Lights Parade 2015

Friday night I attended the Meridian Winter Lights Parade. 

 It took me a while to figure out how to take pictures at night and the lights. 

 Most of the photos were too blurry to post. 

 We were lucky that the weather turned warmer - in the 30's for the parade. It's nice when it isn't so cold, raining or snowing. It was perfect weather for a perfect night. 

 It was a great way to start the Christmas season. 

 It's even better when the parade route is within a couple of blocks from my house. 

 And the return of the parade comes down the street next to my house. I love that!

 All the lights on a dark winter night looks so festive!

 It really was quite beautiful. There is a nativity on the back of this float - I couldn't get a better picture that didn't turn out blurry. 

 One of the reasons I love living in Meridian Idaho is the small town feeling and great community we have. 

 Merry Christmas!

This green tuck reminded me of a big green truck we used to have and play with as kids. You can see the blog post here:

I enjoyed the parade, it was a fun evening!

 At the end of the parade Santa comes and the Meridian Christmas Tree was lit. 

Christmas Decorations Are Done!

It's nice to have Christmas decorating done and now I can sit back and enjoy the beauty for the rest of the month. 

 This is the view walking in from the front door. 

 Inside the front door to the left is this beautiful nativity. 

 On the piano is this big white nativity set. 

 Christmas pictures and stockings hung by the fireplace - too bad I don't have a mantel, but it is on my to do list - someday. I feel sad about missing a stocking for Sharon. Now it's only me and my two boys. 

 The table in front of the couch has some Santa figurines I painted - the middle was purchased. 

 Another table - close up shots to follow:

 My Home Interiors Decorations nativity. 

 Santa, his sleigh and reindeer on the bottom. 

 A view towards the front door with my Christmas tree.

 On the kitchen breakfast bar. 

 On top of my fridge. 

 Terrible picture of the window above my kitchen sink with a snowman winter scene.

 A corner in my kitchen - gingerbread men. 

 The last thing that took me a while to do was put up the garland/lights on the outside of my house. It was so cold (temperature in the teens) that I put it off for a while. I'm always glad when it's up. 

 My nativity flag. 

 My porch. I have a stone in front of the step to hide the cord that goes to the second connection to my outside Christmas lights. I prefer to have them on 2 different outlets so it won't overload the circuit and stop working. 

 A night time look at the lights. 

 And a view of my Christmas tree from the window. 

 After everything was decorated and all my totes put away in the garage, I filled the firewood rack outside the back door. I've been building a fire almost every evening - which I love! It's been really good firewood that I purchased this year. 

And the firewood rack with the cover down. 

It's always a lot of work to take down Thanksgiving decorations and put up Christmas, plus make sure the yard is put to bed for the winter and all the totes are put away. My Christmas presents have been purchased and I just need to wrap the presents and I'm done.

Well .... besides the Christmas goodies I need to bake.

It's only December 5th and I have 20 days to enjoy all of the Christmas decorations, activities and the spirit this season brings.