3 WEEK COUNTDOWN.....

Three weeks from today Parker enters the MTC......
Three more Sundays....
Three more Mondays...
Cousin Annie took some great pictures and was even mistaken for his Mom.
I'm excited for Parker. 
I'm excited to have a missionary out again. 
Our house will be quiet and we will miss him but he is going to be an amazing missionary!

 

Graduation Trip 2015

We give our high school graduating children a trip of their choice. 
Preston chose NYC - Yankees games - touristy stuff
Meranda chose So Cal - San Diego - Anaheim - SeaWorld - Disneyland - Beach
Parker chose the New England States - all six of them

It was a great trip.  The northeast is beautiful. I love the New England Accents.

We did visit all 6 states, although one was just a drive through.

I don't think I will go back there again - but if I do.....

I would spend more time in Vermont.
I would spend NO time in Connecticut.
If I had a choice - I would send my children to Harvard - not Yale.
I would love to rent a beach house along the Maine Coast.

Our fun packed trip included:
Boston Red Sox Game
Visiting the Boston Temple (it was closed and there is no visitors center)
Visiting Cambridge - Harvard Campus
Walking the Freedom Trail - really cool - other than they basically charge you to see the historic buildings - which is a rip off - and no we did not pay
Prudential Center - Skywalk Observatory
Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise (a very SLOW boat ride around the Harbor)
The 4th of July Fireworks
JFK Library - very cool!
Plymouth Rock (cute town)
New Haven, CT - Yale campus - a TOTAL DIVE!
Deerfield, MA - Yankee Candle Store/factory

Sharon, VT - birthplace of Joseph Smith - out in the middle of nowhere
Montepelier, VT - a very cute town - an amazing Italian Restaurant
Waterbury, VT - home of Ben & Jerry's - very good ice cream - bought cute shirts - and lost some of them somewhere along the way
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH
Portsmouth, NH
Maine Coast - very cool - the houses are super cute

Rye Harbor, NH - took a whale watching cruise - 24 miles off the coast - saw 3 Meinke whales and a sun fish
North Hampton, NH - ate at a delicious pizza place - Flatbread pizza
Hampton, NH - as Parker said - a totally "ratchet" place - we couldn't wait to get out of there

The scenery was beautiful.  The people were nice.  They had no idea where Salt Lake City was - one lady thought it was in Arizona.  I guess they don't focus on US Geography in school.

We had some good family time!  I love my family.  I missed Preston, Katie and Beau. 

Glad to be home.....

HAPPY GRADUATION TO PARKER 2015

Friday, June 5, 2015 marked graduation for my youngest. 

I am finished with the public school system as a parent.

The graduation was quite nice - a very well behaved group of students.

Parker was on the podium as a Senior Class Officer.

We had a crazy party at our house that night.

He started working today - no rest for the new graduate!

 

 

Everything's Bigger and Better in Texas!

The long awaited, highly anticipated Mission Call came on Friday, May 1st....yes a Friday!

Family and friends gathered, Parker stood in front of everyone, the anticipation was mounting.

Texas Houston East Mission - reporting September 2nd to the Provo MTC!

At last he knew where and when....

He thought all along he would be going to the South. 
Many thought he would follow his Dad, brother and sister and go South America.
Some figured Japan.
He feared Boise or Southern California.

Every mission is unique - and more importantly I know that the calls are inspired.
The more I think about it, this mission is meant for Parker and I am so excited for him!

Sending packages will be easier - and more importantly he should get them in a timely manner! 

He can shop at normal stores.

He can eat at normal fast food places. 
He gets to live in a new State(s). 

He will experience humidity at it's best!

Hurricanes are a possibility.
The drawl is already beginning.

I have no doubt that the people in Texas and Louisiana will welcome my big tall handsome ginger with open arms!

He will grow in the gospel! He can talk to anyone about anything and I know he will have an impact on everyone he meets - member and non-member alike!

Healty Living Challenge

I just finished a Health Living Challenge sponsored/monitored/organized by my two nieces - Annie and Haley. 

I would call it a success for me.  I liked the approach - not focusing on the weight loss - but rather becoming more healthy. For me, I wanted to lose weight! I wanted to finally achieve my annual New Year's resolution of losing 10 pounds.

I was ready to quit after the first week - literally starving with stomach growling - and at the end of one week I had actually gained weight.  My personal cheerleaders (aka Meranda and Parker) encouraged me to give it at least another week. 

Well I stuck out the whole 12 weeks and voila - I lost the ten pounds (and a little more).
I became more conscious of what I eat, drink and do throughout each and every day.
My 10:00 a.m. Diet Coke restriction is now down to almost one a day - and not until around 2:00!
My energy level is up.
I'm ignoring the stomach growls (the best I can).
The first week off the Challenge I actually had my largest weight loss!
The most surprising thing is that I WON the Challenge and earned a healthy return on my investment in more ways than one!

Thanks Annie and Haley!

Three years goes by pretty fast

Three years ago on March 27, 2012 I went under the knife and had my first major surgery...

 

It turned out to be the best decision for my health.  

 

Apparently I chose a really good orthopedic surgeon.  (Preston is now an orthopedic sales rep and has confirmed that.)

 

The surgery went well.  The recovery was remarkable.

 

I guess it was meant to be.  I'm grateful and blessed!

What's happening.....

What's been happening in the lives of the Woods?

.  Parker started his last quarter of High School...hard to believe.  He is ready to be done - our slogan for the last few months "FINISH STRONG".

.  We have been painting the house - everyone helped.  I'm glad I have a 6'3" son with long arms.  I'm glad I have both a son and daughter who aren't afraid of heights and were willing to climb tall ladders and scaffolding!  I still have the trim to finish.  The last time I painted was probably over 10 years ago - the next time I paint - I will hire it done!

.  Beau is the cutest little guy!  He lights up when he sees us.  Of course, the world revolves around him when he is at our house.

.  Tennis season is in full force.  The first week included 8 matches.  This will be my last high school sport as a spectator for my children!  I drove the last group of tennis players to St. George for a tourney and I needed to fumigate my car when I got home.

.  Parker will become an Elder on Sunday and has his mission papers into the Stake President.

.  I joined the latest 12 week "Healthy Living Challenge" sponsored by my awesome nieces.  It's been good!  I feel better and have dropped some lbs!

.  I have been without a cell phone this week - and haven't really missed it - except when I need to text or talk to my family!  Upgrade day is Sunday!

.  We are busy planning Parker's graduation trip - to the Northeast in July - hopefully visiting 6 states. It should be a blast!

.  Meranda is training for a half marathon on May.  Her crazy work schedule continues to be crazy.

There you go!