Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

The other day I started thinking about the amount of jobs I have had. For quite awhile I have had as many jobs or more than the age I currently was and in the last few years I have surpassed that. So below is a list of jobs I have had and a little description of each.

1. Summer daytime babysitter
2. Piano teacher to two students
3. Recreation leader for summer kids group
4. House cleaner
5. Telemarketer
6. Dry cleaner cashier
7. Housekeeper for retirement center
8. Campground staff (3 times)
9. Student Janitor (2 times)
10. Dishwasher (3 times)
11. Suit presser at dry cleaner
12. Retail cashier
13. Gift wrapper
14. Retail cash office manager
15. Customer service for large print company
16. Legal secretary (3 times)
17. Reading tutor
18. Recreation leader for summer kids group

That's 25 jobs in 31 years. I am grateful I have finally found a job that I really love--being a reading tutor. It incorporates my love of reading and I get to help others enjoy it too.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Merry Christmas dear friends and family! We have had a wonderful year and hope you have too!

Matt continues to work on the air force base for a contracting company creating radar software. It is a blessing that he still has a great job despite the economy. He continues to serve as the Elders Quorum President although I think he might start campaigning for release. He also continues to enjoy mountain biking and racket ball. He is looking forward to recreation volleyball at the start of the new year.

I am still working for the local school district as a tutor and I am really enjoying it. The job is great and the time off is a great perk too. I continue to work in the Young Women as the Second Counselor. Most of my time is filled creating projects for our home much to Matt's chagrin. This year we have worked on our kitchen and hopefully soon that will be finished including stained cupboards, handles, new dishwasher, and back splash.

We wish you all joy and happiness during this season and a new year of good fortune and prosperity.

Spencer's 14th Birthday

I can hardly believe that he is 14 already. Here he is lighting and blowing out his own candles.

His favorite gift was the Lego Wii Remote, but he also received an over the door basketball hoop and a cool track jacket.

Happy Birthday little bro!

Happy Halloween

They say you are what you eat. Happy Halloween!!

Baby Quilt

I have been working on this quilt for Michelle's new baby and I have finally finished it. You can tell by the birth date that I am two months late, but better late than never.

I paid someone to do the embroidery work on their machine and I think it turned out fabulous.

Watching Mariana

My sister recently found a job and so I am helping by watching Mariana. She is definitely a curious one year old. She likes to take things in and out of the storage baskets I have, including herself.

What a cutie!

Reptile Gardens

The last place we visited on our trip was Reptile Gardens. It was like a mini zoo.

Here are the prairie dogs (don't ask me what they have to do with reptiles). They are super cute, but apparently they bite.

The crocodile and alligator show was definitely the most entertaining.

I hope this guy gets paid a lot. He is demonstrating that alligators don't have strong muscles to open their jaws, the power comes in when they close their jaws down.

This frog is so vibrant and beautiful, but it is extremely poisonous.

This is an actual skeleton of a sea turtle. It's giant!

Here I am standing next to a boa constrictor, thankfully there is glass separating us.

The Reptile Gardens also has a number of birds and they perform. Here is a dove doing her tricks.

This guy is trained to get your money, make sure you keep your wallet closed.

These two turtles are about 50-60 years old, but they are still really young because these turtles could live up to 150 years.

This was a great little diversion from all the historical sites and I really enjoyed all the animals.