Hey, Nellie!!!: Strategic Parenting 101: Full Course

Here is a link to a post I accidentally posted a long time ago before it was complete.  Now that I'm ready to post it, it wouldn't go where I wanted it to, so if you want to read it, here's the link.  Hope this works.

Hey, Nellie!!!: Strategic Parenting 101: Full Course

2012 Newsletter

First of all, if you received a family picture this Christmas, this is what you saw:

It was a joke, folks.  We didn't have a new baby--we just thought it would be fun to see who noticed!  The baby belongs to my sister.  We remain firmly an 8 monkey family.  

Keeley 2012 Top 10 Quotes:

1.  "I'm an adult, I can just call the school and EXCUSE MYSELF if you won't do it."  Liz age 18 (and don't you forget it!)

            Liz is a senior, and is taking AP Psychology.  Cap and gown, senior photos, graduation requirements, college and scholarship applications, friends and work at Sonic dominate her life.  She has decided to continue to live at home for now, so she does not call the school, excuse herself, and take a day off.  Next fall she hopes to attend BYU-I DAHO majoring in psychology with an animal sciences minor.  She plans to go on an LDS mission after one semester of school.  She misses Niko, (Ding-a-ling dog and last year's newsletter writer), who escaped the yard and was hit by a car early on in the year.  

2. "Oh, and I have a date next Friday."   Andrew 16 yrs, as coolly-understated as possible.

            This year Andrew started College at UVU through UCAS, a public charter school that will allow him to graduate from High School with an Associates Degree.  He also got his driver's license and started dating.  OYE!

3.  "I might have some friends over after school.  Can you get rid of the little girls?"  Mayli, 14 is still a great help, but not an eager-beaver  babysitter anymore.  (Sigh.  It was bound to happen.)  And she might have friends over like the Pope might be Catholic.  She still has a 4.0 with extra credit (geek!) but shot down the perfect attendance  the day she climbed to the top of Mt. Timpanogos with Sam and Paul.  Here's hoping she'll potty-train Anna next summer.

4.   "Uno momento."  Busy Sam, 12.   Sam earned the Hope of America Award in 5th grade last year, has earned a sash full of scouting merit badges (Paul is his leader), and can usually either be found playing football, night-games, or Monotony (Grandpa Keeley's name for Monopoly) with friends.

5.  "You wanna read my new book?'  Sarah, 9, has written a full library of books this year, and is hoping to film one soon.  She is very imaginative and dramatic, which is both good and bad, sometimes.  Sarah continues to sing all day long. 

6.   "I want a cup of coffee.  And a cigarette, please."  Pat, 6.  Uh, yeah.  She really said this at the abrupt and almost hilarious end of one of her spectacular tantrums.  Fortunately, we hit upon a new set of "tantrum rules" and she has pretty much stopped a lifelong habit.  Yee, haw!  (Of course, the new habits she picked up that night are keeping her pretty busy.  Just kidding!)

Pat is now officially a reader, and  continues to collect bugs and slimy things.

7.  "Uno Timentos"  Katie.  (Her version of Uno Momento.  Yes, we're quite the bilingual family.)  She's 4, and is still a constant source of amusement.  She shouts "Open Sesamony!"  in front of automatic store doors, and tries to take over as the teacher at Pre-School.  The colored markers, shredded papers, and piles of art everywhere are evidence of her playing preferences.  She is also the biggest helper for EVERYONE!

8.  "Where's my SWIMMIN' SUIT!?!"  Two year old Anna.  She wore one of her many suits most of the summer, and into the fall.  She calls herself "Eevee" after her favorite Pokemon character, and is also heard saying, "Me, too!" a lot.  She has some great dance moves, and sings, "B is for Bubble" all day long.  She is a professional cutie.

9.   "Hmmm…"  Paul still uses his non-committal sigh to communicate, but has used his great computer skills to begin a new job at Ancestry.com.  He put together a beautiful video tribute to his father at his passing recently.  He is in scouting about as deep as a man can get, and is Sam's leader. 

10.  "Circle Time!"  Jeri.  Preschool, organizing, nagging, driving, reading, blogging.  Same old, same old.  
http://jerianna.blogspot.com/2012/07/strategic-parenting-101-full-course.html

We love you all!  Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving Part 1

I have a dear friend who just posted her list of things she's thankful for the other day, and since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I've decided to steal her idea.

2012 Things I'm Thankful For:  (In no particular order)

1.  Clean.  I can turn on a tap and have clean water, at any temperature I choose.  I can shower, with soap, everyday!  I have lotion and toothpaste and deodorant and perfume and baby wipes and laundry soap and dish soap and disinfectant and  hand-sanitizer.  It is easy to be clean.

Along with that kind of clean, I can be clean inside, too.  

A wise person once said, "Freedom is being able to live with yourself."  The only way I can do that is through the grace and forgiveness of my Savior.  He paid the price for my sins, so that I can repent and be clean.  Remarkable!

2.  Peace.  I never need to wonder if I'll be safe when I leave my home.  I'm not on the lookout for snipers.  Going to church isn't risky.  I don't need to worry that I'll never see my family again when I kick them out the door each morning.  Peace is such a part of my life that I rarely notice it.  I am thankful for peace and safety.

3.  Literacy.  I can read!  I have access to books and scripture and google!  I can learn.  My kids can read!  Books, books, books!  We're rollin' in them over here!  Read at the table, in the tub, in the car, in bed, with the kids, share with friends, learn, escape, experience, reflect.  Oh, glorious words!

4.  Plenty.  There's plenty of food, space, snuggles, songs, friends, family, colors, music, variety, opportunities.  Walk into the store, buy pineapple in February.  Choose your brand, color, size, price.  

I can change my clothes.  Snuggle under an extra blanket, change my lipstick color, try a new ice cream flavor.  I'm showed with blessings!

5.  Love.  I feel God's great love.  The love of a good husband.  The indescribable love of children.  Friends.  Family.  

6.Good People.  There are so many good people in the world.  People who quietly sacrifice for others, who serve and love.  Who smile in the grocery store.  Who share their talents.  So many who came before with their examples and goodness and selflessness.  So many all around us now.  They're rarely on the news, but they change the world.  I'm blessed to know so many good people!

7.  Warm Feet.  Love warm feet.

Icy cold creamy milk, the Hallelujah Chorus, screamin' hot deals, funny people, hammocks, preschool, an extra hour of sleep, roses, happy surprises, handwritten letters, quiet, inside jokes, the warm scent of baby head.  

There are so many things to be thankful for!

O is for Organize and P is for Pudding!

It smacks me on the side of the head every year, and though we had a little preview the week before Halloween, I was again unprepared for it when it was the true article.

SNOW!!!
I hate it.

I hate the, "Where are my snowpants?  Where are my boots?  Would you tuck my slimy wet gloves back into my coat?"  The smell of wet, the puddles of cold slush everywhere.  Cold feet.

So, I did the only rational thing I could think of.  I went shopping.  Then I organized with a focus that only one with an OCD problem could appreciate.
Last year when this happened, Handsome prince hung up some hooks and a coat bar in the garage.  By Saturday night, all the snowsuits were hanging there, the coats were organized and hung, and the gloves were paired and hanging in the closet.

Dinky entry closet organized

Linen closet with gloves

Under the computer desk, organized.  New school supplies.

These are actual pictures!  It's a little more crowded when the kids are home, but it works!


New subject.  Last Friday was one of my favorite preschools.  We did P is for Paint with Pudding.  It was (always is) a riot!!!  It was a great day for 3 kids to be absent.

 
This week:
Monday:  Fried Chicken, squash casserole, and pasta
Tuesday:  Meatloaf and baked potatoes
Wed:  Chicken soup
Thurs:  Leftovers
Fri:  Kid food
Sat:
Sun:  Crock pot something

Preschool:
Q is for Question.  The scientific method.  Paint with colored milk on bread and toast it.  It turns neon.

Found this online.  Cute and true!

R is for rice.  Making shakers and gluing rice to paper.

My goal this week will continue to be "Shampoo the Upstairs Carpets."  (I'm sure someday I'll get to it!  Maybe it could be my New Year's resolution.)

Unbelievable

This picture was taken at the funeral.  See the sweet lady in the middle?  She made the Handsome Prince who he is today.  (She also helped raise me from the age of 14, as I spent a lot of time at her house.  She is one of my "Other Mothers".) These are her kids, grand-kids  their spouses and children.  A few are missing.  All together, counting the ones who are gone, there are 105 of us.  

Wow.  

All in all, it's a pretty amazing circle of love and support.  We are so blessed to  be a family.  Thanks, Daddy Roger, for taking the pictures.  They turned out great!

Where Handsome Prince Got His Handsome Princely Ways

Art

One of the "Greatest Generation" gone. Arthur Ray Keeley (1926 - 2012)

HYRUM - Arthur Ray Keeley passed away Oct. 26, 2012. He was born to Alfred C. and Jessie Busby Keeley on March 30, 1926, in Salt Lake City. Art attended schools in the Salt Lake City area and graduated from East High School in 1944. Art then enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Philippines during World War II. Art attended Utah State Agricultural College (USU), majoring in physical education. He was a member of the football team from 1946-49 and participated in the ROTC. Art received a direct commission in the U.S. Army and fought in the Korean War. While in Korea, he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action. Prior to a military assignment in West Germany, Arthur married Nadine Aagard in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on Aug. 3, 1954. After the war, he taught seminary in Lovell, Wyo., from 1957 to 1966 and in Hyrum, Utah, from 1966 until his retirement in 1991. In his 34 years of teaching seminary, many students came to know and love "Bro. K." Since retiring, Art continued to be active in community and church. He was involved in family history and served in the Logan temple. Art is survived by his wife Nadine; children, Claudia Webb, David and Joyce Keeley, James and Marlene Keeley, Lisa and Thor Lindstrom, Kevin and Karen Keeley, Karen and David Davis, Marianne and Andrew Grasley, Paul and Jerianna Keeley, Rebecca Keeley and Christopher and Shennie Keeley; 47 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Helen and Jolene; and daughter Elizabeth. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in the Hyrum North Stake Center, 245 Apple Drive in Hyrum. A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center St. in Logan and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church prior to the services. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net. Published in Logan Herald Journal from October 30 to November 1, 2012 I guess it's one of the few times when I don't have words.  I sure love him, and will miss him. The world is a better place because he was in it.  Goodbye, Dad.  God be with you 'til we meet again.