Back to Noah's.

Yes, I am back to working at Noah's for two months. Good thing I am sick of eating all the food there, otherwise I would probably be in danger of gaining a few pounds. The food there is pretty good, but there's only so much of it you can eat before experiencing adverse effects. Anyways, it's good to be back working with the old crew for a little bit. It's a very flexible job and easy to pick up where I left off, so I'm glad that I have it!

The end of tax season!

the end of tax season has finally come for me! well at least the end of personal tax season and it will be great to have a full free weekend for the first time in weeks.

I thought I should write a celebratory haiku to recognise the occasion and recognise the end for all of the three university kids as well who just finished their exams and finally have a wee break for a while.

Endless stacks of woe
Sinking fast into despair
The end brings grand bliss

Some other guy's blog

Thought this was pretty funny - it's from some other guy's blog who I follow from time to time.

Sometimes pranks at church can be funny.
Like one time in my old ward, I started messing around with my Ward Clerk and one week I paid my month’s tithing in pennies.
So then each week, when he was going around counting people during sacrament meeting, when he got to me, he would start counting audibly and was like "eighty, eighty one, eighty two, (points at me) eighty two and A HALF..."
So then one week I changed the program so instead of saying he was the ward clerk, it said he was the ward jerk.
So then one week he transferred my records to some ward in Idaho.
So the next week I put a whoopee cushion on his chair in Elder’s Quorum.
But then the next week we found out he had been stealing the ward’s tithing money and he was probably going to get excommunicated.
I didn’t quite get that last one, but it just goes to show that sometimes pranks at church can go too far.

The End

So I finally came to an end of finals. It seems like everybody was stressed for finals this year. I have to say that my last couple of years of undergrad were really not stressful but first year law definitely was. 100% Finals in a couple of classes covering everything you've studied from September to April. Hundreds and hundreds of hours of lecture, reading and studying compressed into 2.5 hours of heart wrenching suspense, drama (even a little mystery when you had no idea what the question was about) and anxiety. I think the most stressful thing about it was the unknown I just really didn't know what to expect for the finals how I would handle it, how to manage the time etc. Next year probably wouldn't be quite as stressful, at least I hope not. All I can say is I'm finally glad it's over and hopefully I didn't fail property.

Passages

Great to see rico and rach in transition for the summer. They were on MI for a few days, and it was like turning back the clock. Thanks for a great few days, guys. Rach is slinging bagels on MI for a few weeks, and Rico couldn't give up BYU so he is back for spring term. Congratulations to student family members for another successful year of higher education. And we love it when any of you can pass through on your many exciting travels. Luv, Gramps

Another Post to try to keep up

Ok so I am 3 posts behind and I really couldn't think of much to write about. So I thought about posting this video I found. I know Christmas was like 4 months ago or is still 8 months away depending on how you want to look at it. But I thought this video showed how even stubborn people can change. Maybe some of you have all ready seen it, maybe not. Hopefully the link works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX_C_Na8zuo

Rico

Happy Anniversary!

You know who you are :)

Gotta have it

In line with the ice cream portions at Coldstones, my order is to teach with the 'Gotta have it' portion.

Tonight I finished my last class to earn my teaching credential. I felt like I was walking on a cloud as I left that room and walked down the tree lined halls of LMU. (Yes, our halls are lined with trees and the roof top is rigged with a solar energy system. We're green.) It felt SO good to finish up a huge undertaking, and complete something as massive as getting a teaching credential here in Cali. (The Master's part will be finished up June 25.)

Why am I getting a basic Elementary Education teaching credential when I have a music background? People ask me that sometimes. My answer? I like teaching kids, I love teaching kids. Yes, I have taught music in school settings... loved that. But when it comes to straight up teaching, not teaching weekly music classes, I gotta have it. I gotta have my own class that I work with daily, not someone else's that comes in once a week. I gotta build the knowledge of each of my students in many subjects. I gotta build relationships with them, get to know more than just their name, see their progress in reading and math. I just Gotta have it. That's my pref.

The Tax Season

While working as an accountant thus far it's almost virtually impossible to avoid the dreaded tax "busy season." In the UK it always occurred right before Christmas which wasn't the greatest time of year to be working until late at night and through some weekends. At least though you knew that you'd come to "the wall", even if right on Christmas eve, where we knew that the work would either already be done or else there wouldn't be enough time to finish before the New Year and you could swan off for the holidays and quickly transition to a long holiday break.

My first busy season in Canada has seemed more like a UK busy season that was on crack cocaine - way more intense and way more out of control! I think it has a lot to do with the shorter timeframe to meet deadlines here in comparison. Also possibly has something to do with a stronger N American work ethic compared with Europeans. But I'm glad to say that the worst of the season is almost over and there is finally light at the end of the tunnel ... at least for another year!

My Best Birthday Boy

On early mornings Ian is the first one to get out of bed. Usually I find evidence of his dawn 'campout' with the early-riser boys lined up on the floor: Caleb's bed blanket next to a blanket Ian pulled out of the closet next to Julian's bed blanket. Looks like too much fun, although experience tells me that's not necessarily true ;) When Caleb and Julian can no longer be contained, Ian will get Jack and Christian out of their cribs where he is greeted with delighted 'da' glees. He is usually the one to change their almost unfailingly morning poppy diapers (yes, poppy). He always does it with a lot of tickles and silly talk and kisses. I used to wonder why he didn't hurry through the dreaded task like I usually do, but I see the wisdom of his ways... the kids giggle and laugh and thoroughly enjoy their time with him. He often plays scary monster, gorilla, and horse next which gets everybody in a really good mood for the day. I'd like to say that while he's doing this I'm editing or making breakfast or doing something else productive, which is often the case, but often I've also just stayed up late the night before and Ian is sweetly giving me a little extra time to wake up.
Ian is there in the morning to help us read scriptures, say our prayers, and eat breakfast before rushing out the door to a job that he works hard to support our family at. I love that he's started taking swimming lessons this year. He never really learned to swim when he was a kid, and it's always something he hasn't felt very confident at so lately he's decided to do something about it. At the age of 35 Ian signed up for swimming lessons and is really loving them. He goes a couple times a week during his lunch hour to the community college. Ian is so good at setting goals and following through with them- everything from running his marathon to getting our family eating fresh, organic, local veggies (and making the most amazing kale waffles!!) to reading his scriptures, coming up with the idea to do service projects and blood drives in our stake (we just had one this weekend that gathered enough blood to keep a four year old with leukemia supplied for six months! It wouldn't have happened without Ian) and pushing through with his film projects and making amazing progress with them.
When Ian comes home in the evening his four little boys coming running to the door shouting 'daddy!' It's so cute to see Jack running saying 'hi da! hi da!' and every one of them gives him a hug and a kiss before wrestling with him so more. I love that we get to eat dinner with him. He is my equal partner in getting everyone to bed.
We definitely have our challenges- kids pitching large objects off the balcony and getting scolded for having too many strollers is the first of many, many that come to mind- but I know that temporary challenges are all going to be OK with the best father, husband and my very best friend on our side, laughing with us and taking care of us.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY IAN!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

End of Winter Semester

So this past week I finally finished winter semester. It was pretty tough and pretty stressful. It was nice to be back in Seattle for a quick little break before spring semester starts up tomorrow. It was fun getting to celebrate Dad's 57th birthday, sleep on a double-sized bed, have a clean shower, go out to eat at Rosita's and Red Robin and have some good cooking from mom again. I realize that I usually learn more during the tough semesters instead of the easy semesters so I suppose that is something to take away from the past 4 months. Thanks mom and dad for helping me have a nice 4 day break from the craziness.

Rico

BIRTHDAY BOY - MYSTERY MAN

Please remember that after knowing each other for 35 1/2 years and being married for 34 of those years, Oliver and I are realizing there's still a LOT about each other that remains a mystery. Just a few of those mysteries:

OJ shuns the adulation of others, but like it or not, he gets it -anywhere, anytime. Take for instance going to the Edmonton airport together. Why oh why are we greeted at the Alaska Airlines desk by the personnel manager who EVERYTIME treats him as her favorite celebrity? Yes, he's there a lot, but he's there quietly. She tells me how HE is their best-loved favorite of all the regulars. Or when I talk to any of OJ's colleagues and they go on and ON about what a great doctor/person he is. Or how the people he home teaches thinks he's the best ever. Or his grandsons, whose grins couldn't get any wider when they see him. So here I am - giving him public adulation on this blog. Sorry.

When I ask him for advice on something, he comments he thinks I'm on the right course, but after a brief conversation where he points out just a couple of LITTLE suggestions, I've changed the entire course of everything I'm about to do. How does that happen? This is a mystery.

Or when he says he is a luddite but is able to deal with any of my computer questions.

Or how about when he continually tells me how MUCH he prefers to stay in one place but when asked what the best things of the past year were? he says the trip to Chile in June, the trip to Scotland in September, the trips to LA and the two trips to Utah were the absolute HIGHLIGHTS of the year. And how he wants to keep having two addresses in two countries. More mysteries.

Or how he loves the solitude of being an empty nester but will do anything to make all those who come to our home - especially children and grandsons - feel comfortable. So that they'll come again. Or how he hates to dance but has cut up the dance floor with me, who loves to dance - in public, with lots of witnesses - TWO times this year.

All of these mysteries can be explained if it's remembered that Oliver is best known for his great kindness and intelligence and how much he values his family.

Oliver, known as OJ, Ollie, Dad, Grandpa, Doctor, Brother Schneider, is also known for his great sense of humor. He loves the gospel, his family, his work, golf, Costco and thrift store buys - in that order.

There may be much about him that can't be explained, but it's no mystery as to why he's bound to have the best year ever. It's because he deserves it. Happy birthday!

Imagine

I was driving today when John Lennon's song - Imagine - came on the radio. It has such a beautifully simple and comforting melody. I turned up the volume and allowed my mind to imagine as he once invited the world to do. I imagined all that he suggested I imagine and then the thought came to me that this man must of been totally high when he wrote this ridiculous version of utopia.

"All the people living for today" Is he suggesting that taking away accountability and consequence would actually bring the world more peace? I get that it's good to live in the now but to pretend that now aught to be totally disconnected to future happiness(heaven) or woe(hell)is shortsighted and childish.

No countries??? So he likes the idea of anarchy. Anarchy might work out well for those with big muscles or guns but what about the elderly, the sick, the women and children..... Oh, wait I guess he's assuming that everyone in this society is perfect, loving and self sacrificing....even though they live for today.....and there is no such thing as heaven -or religion to teach people how to try to live in harmony.

No possessions - this is my favorite. So everyone is just living...where? No possessions means no homes, no tools, no clothes. How would anyone physically survive that? How would anyone make it through a winter? How on earth would that bring peace? People would be fighting to the death over the few berries they could find. But wait didn't he also say there was no hunger or greed?

Basically I pictured this world of his and it was the scariest place imaginable. I think he was actually just dreaming of death because that's the only way all of his dreams could possibly be realized. This seems like the ultimate escape fantasy. Instead of slugging through the trenches of life, Lennon wishes there were no trenches. As Steinbeck rightly penned "There is more beauty in the truth, even if it is a dreadful beauty. The storytellers at the city gate twist life so that it looks sweet to the lazy and the stupid and the weak, and this only strengthens their infirmities and teaches nothing, cures nothing, nor does it let the heart soar." (East of Eden)


Imagine there's no heaven
No hell below us
Imagine all the people Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people Living life in peace...
Imagine no possessions
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

Cousin Dinners - Second Generation

Some of you may remember the famous "cousin dinners" from the Brander house days. G&G suggested that we introduce a new improved version of the cousin dinner - a potluck dinner with as many relatives as are able to attend, and rotating the hosts on a monthly basis. We all thought this was a great idea, and the first dinner was at G&G's house in their honor, although they were in Victoria, and unfortunately not able to attend... well we look forward to having them attend in the future. We acknowledged several April birthdays, one anniversary and one homecoming (from Scotland to Canada.) Here are some photos of the happy diners.

Spencer Adventure

This weekend Spencer and I headed to the Home Depot Center in Carson for Ward Date Night AND Mormon night at the Soccer Stadium. Our ward's octet 'One Accord' kicked off the event by singing the national anthem. They did a great job! Their performance was complete with fireworks! The daughter of Orson Scott Card is the one on the far left. There was a lot of buzz about it at church yesterday!



The game was exciting! I was pretty invested in cheering for REAL Salt Lake... they are the current MLS (Major League Soccer) Cup Champions. As you can see I'm even wearing their jersey. We were definitely outnumbered, though, and there were some LA Galaxy fans who didn't seem happy to see us! But there were fellow friendly REAL fans behind us... in fact, with a little conversation, Spence and another guy in our ward learned they were the parents of Nick Rimando, REAL's goalkeeper! So we had backup! Nick made some amazing saves, and it was cool to hear his Dad yell, 'That's my Boy!'



Although the final score was 2-1 for LA GALAXY (I think it's cuz they had home team advantage,) it was a very exciting game. REAL is the only team that has scored on GALAXY so far this season!

Awkward Family Photos

Just had to share this website I just found. I'm sure most of you have already seen this, but thought it was hilarious.

www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com

Mexico Surf Trip

I don't want to give the false impression that I'm a surfer. In fact, I'm confident that what I do resembles the thrashing of an injured sea lion more than anything you might normally associate with surfing. That said, I've been enjoying getting out with some of the guys in the ward. Our big goal was to make a trip down to Mexico for a little surfing and a lot of relaxing. Well we finally did it and, it was awesome. Lots of cheap food, a fantastic beach front villa and plenty of empty surf spots. I had a great time and came back well rested. I can't thank my wife enough for handling the home front so that I could get away for a couple of days. You are the best, Melissa!

Beej's Year of Adventure

Happy Birthday Beej!!

John, if a picture tells a thousand words, then I'd say this one tells the story of your past year, like this... You're climbing a mountain in a place you've never been before but always wanted to get to. The going is tough but you're smiling. It seems like you're up for the challenge and perhaps searching for more new adventures.

That has proven true this year. You've found ways to experience so many new adventures, like the mountaineering class in the Rockies, exploring the Atacama with Dad and Rach, translating for Elder Schneider's friends in and near Santiago, making your dream of traveling to Peru happen, starting law school, coaching a junior high boy's basketball team, taking on the Wapta Ice Fields, and trying your hand at yet another new thing -- curling!

In one of your rare moments when you were telling me the details of one of your adventures - the Wapta Ice Fields - you described how you practiced rescuing your buddies from an ice crevice. Hearing the details (traumatic as it was for me) made me realize that even though you're up for adventure you not only expect challenges, you know how to deal with them.

I believe that comes from trusting in a power greater than yourself.

You will go far. You already have.

Happy Birthday! Have the best year ever!

You are soooo loved by sooo many

Easter Dinner in Provo

This was my first Easter away from home, and at first I was a little sad to be missing out on the dinner and Easter treats and all the other amazing perks of Easter. We didn't even get any school off, and this is BYU! Little did I know that I would in fact get an Easter basket! (Thanks to Mom and Dad when they came the previous weekend.) I also didn't know that I would have a great family Easter dinner as well. Sydney and I made a lovely dinner complete with ham, scalloped potatoes, salad, and frozen raspberry cheesecake. We invited Rico over and were very lucky to have Janine join us too, as she was in town for conference! The food turned out well and it was great to still have an Easter with family and I hope we can continue the tradition.

Riding for Two

One of my favorite movies growing up was Bedknobs and Broomsticks- looking back I think it was about some kids who helped get the Nazis out of England with the help of a magic bed. If I remember right, somebody drove a motorcycle with one of those doo-hickies on the side- like a little seat pod apart from the motorcycle itself. I've been thinking about that as I've been watching the little guys riding behind their big brothers. They do it all the time- Isabel was the first one to try it. At first my heart almost jumped out of my chest as I watched her put little Jack behind Julian, but he was so happy and even though Julian was riding really fast he was holding on tight. An added bonus was that I didn't have to carry him to the elevator.
They're getting too big for it now, and more interested in trying the ride the bikes themselves. But we'll enjoy the free ride while we can-



This photo cracks me up.