It's been a year...

But I think I'm back to blogging for good. I shouldn't promise though I suppose, given my track record. What's happened in the last year?

Bear and Princess are 3 and 7, respectively. I love it and it freaks me out. They're awesome children and I still love being their mama. We had a science party and a robot party!

Today is my 14th wedding anniversary! We're relaxing and had a nice brunch with scrambled eggs made of leftover smoked salmon from my sister's wedding reception and fresh basil from the garden (okay, the garden is really a series of pots in the driveway this year). I am more in love with my adorable husband than ever before and I'm looking forward to the next 14 :)

I closed the 8pizza eBay business in July. I found it was taking way too much time away from the people and things I really love and really feel a calling to be taking care of--my family & my writing to name just the top two. I was a little sad but not much. To say I was ready for the change would be an understatement.

I got my baby sister married off this summer--I'm so proud of her beauty, strength and tenacity and I'm glad to have her husband as part of our family. She had a beautiful, very small ceremony aboard the M.V. Lotus and a delightful gathering at her home a month later.

We spent Christmas 2009 in Idaho with my mom and grandmother, and returned in May for a Memorial Day picnic but other than that we really haven't travelled much except up to British Columbia a couple times since the new temple opened in April.

Princess just started ballet again and we'll be entering 2nd grade tomorrow. We're still homeschooling and my husband and I will be taking the "official" certification class which will "qualify" us to home school our children in Washington state, starting on Wednesday at the local community college. It will be 3 1/2 hours, 3 times a week for 2 weeks and we're so grateful for amazing friends who are playing with the kids while we do this.

I'm currently still working with our Night Writers writing group and we put together volume 2 of Night Writers' Ink in the spring. I'm writing most days, working on poetry, novels and fan fiction depending on how I feel. I'm the Assistant Poetry Editor at Segullah Journal, although I've been mostly useless to them up to this point, which I plan to change. Next month I'll be teaching a poetry class called Fabulous Free Verse at the ANWA Northwest Writer's Retreat at Rosario Beach. This will be my third year at the retreat and I'm really excited about the new venue we'll be visiting.

Well, that's a little bit of an update--more soon :) Maybe even pictures!

Hello

Life is busy. You probably knew that, but lately I'm remembering a lot of things I already knew but had been too busy to know that I knew. Like that life is busy, and that it's okay. I am making no more blogging promises, because life is busy and I like it that way and I can't guarantee that I'll post more :)

September has been full! I'm working fast and furious with 8pizza, and Princess is doing swimming lessons and dance classes. Bear is talking in complete sentences and it is wonderful to hear them play together. We have been attending a home school park day group on Fridays and the kids have adored that with our amazing Indian Summer weather.

"It has been said that the gate of history turns on small hinges, and so dopeople's lives. The choices we make determine our destiny."- Thomas S. Monson

In spring there is a renewal of all things...

Including my determination to keep up with my blog :) So here's an update to get you started. Since December:

**The contest I entered on New Year's eve? I won first place and they've chosen a couple of the other submissions I sent in to publish as well. I am stunned. I am ecstatic. I am grateful. They'll be published in the Fall 2009 issue of Segullah. Segullah also invited me to join their staff as a member of the poetry board.

**I entered another poetry contest, a local one, with word coming about that next month probably. I'm not confident about it, but I loved the idea so much I had to send something in. The winners have their poem engraved on plaques and posted in a "poetry garden" on the grounds of the public library for a year and they and the honorable mentions get the poems places on the city buses!

**I entered ScriptFrenzy and am failing miserably at it so far.

**The kids are growing. The kids are amazing. Princess is getting ready to be popcorn in her spring dance recital. Bear loves to say "I'm a pirate: aarrrggghhh".

**I finally opened an actual eBay store front called 8pizza and am loving how much simpler it is to deal with than the onesie twosie stuff I have done for years! Here is the first of some very nifty promotions I'll have coming up: sign up for my store newsletter (one email every other week and the occasional spotlight email) and get $1 off your purchase! Sign up by going to my store site and finding the Store Newsletter sign up button on the left side half way down. Free local pick up for locals and lots of "best offer" items too--don't be afraid to haggle with me just because you know me!

**My husband is not attending school this quarter and we are stunned at the time we have to hang out as a family. It's cool :)

**Night Writers (the writing group I go to) is producing its first publication; a year book of sorts that will include writing of many genres from the ladies in the group. It will be finished this week, and we are having an publication reception this Saturday evening with readings by the authors, autographed copies of Night Writer's Ink and treats. If you're interested in coming, drop me a line and I'll tell you when and where!

**Facebook has sucked me in and takes up way too much of my time, but it's sure the heck fun.

**I have lots of travel planned for the summer, and I am so excited to get to see some of you! We'll be doing a six-state road trip as a family and the kids and I will be doing some flying on our own too. Raise your hand if you want postcards!

I missed the blog. It's good to be back.