New Job!

For anyone who reads this, I FOUND A JOB! And this is no flipping burgers job. I've got me a teaching job at Daybreak Elementary in the 2nd grade. Daybreak is a community on the West side of south salt lake that is sponsored by Kennecot Land, which means there is quite a bit of wealth in the area. The school is very large and equipped with the latest technology in all the classrooms (the school is only about a year old). Also, there is a community center attached to the school which has gym facilities, a workout center, and a plethora of other stuff. I hear there is a lot of parental involvement in the community, which will be nice for me. I start this Wednesday (whew!) and it should be an interesting ride!

Haircut

Just for kicks, and because I don't have anything else really to say, here's a pic of my new haircut - Ginni did it. She does a good job.

Speaking of jobs, I am currently in the process of filling out job apps, making a stellar resume, cover letter, and portfolio. Fun for me. Blech.

Clint and I

Well, I have a new car (pictures are forthcoming). It's a 2001 Dodge Neon, in Cinnamon Glaze (kind of a gold/brown color). On Friday, I picked Clint up and took him for a ride and ice cream in my car and we took some funny pictures. Here they are.

Dream House - Washington

Hi Family,

Here's our "dream house" in Yacolt, WA. It looks huge, but is actually smaller than the one we're in...but there's certainly still room for you all! On Nov. 2nd, we're going to look at some houses and try to narrow down our search range, but this is the best we've found so far. It has a "hot tub house" in the back yard that would be GREAT FUN for everyone...especially when it rains, which I think is about 50% of the time!

Love you all,
Mom

Run, Derek, Run!

Derek runs.

Al Qaeda like Mormons

Funny video. Our techniques are catching on, eh?

Bangkok Tour

So a word to the Utah clan - I'm storming your state in 5 days. I can't wait! Just thought I'd post a picture from last month's bangkok tour. My microphone gave out, so I tried a cucumber. It amplified my voice very well. ;)

Advice

This is copied from the Isom Family Blog:
Shannon's brother Jeff said,
"Please post pictures regularly and often to the blog. Family snapshots and activites are perfect to share and enjoyed by everyone. You can post using the following method. Go to the link New Post on the right side of the blog. When in Create mode, click on the tiny photo in the menu above the text box. It will bring up a pop-up that will guide you through the process of selecting a photo and how it will appear in your post. This is perhaps the easiest method."

Shannon said,
"Scott is doing very well. He has been working alot the last two weeks in preparation for not being able to do much after the surgery. We started a trim and tile job together two weeks ago for a friend. We had so much fun being able to work together again. The kids were able to come with us and play at the house we were working on. They loved all the new toys, movies and kids to play with. We stayed up until 3:00 a.m. the night before his surgery to finish some book cases for the job and then he had to install them before the surgery in the morning. So Scott loved lying on the hospital bed knowing he would be in a drug induced sleep. He actually really likes being laid up because he is forced to rest and gets lots of extra attention. He has been watching lots of movies and drawing and coloring with the boys. Garrett is really into coloring. He fell asleep on the floor the other day while coloring. Preston gets sweeter and sweeter every day. He is the most enjoyable easy going child. He will play on his own for hours. Especially when Garrett is not around. Preston always has a car in each hand and when you ask him what he is thinking about he says, "cars"! When we were at the splash pool the other day he told me in two very well formed sentences that he did not want to go down the big slides again because that would make him sad. We love reading to him because he is such a cuddly little ball engrossed in the stories. When he wants something besides the cars in hands, he says, "hand, hand, hand...." until you take them out of his hands so he can have whatever it is he needs. The sucker at Choa's, a drink of water, his toothbrush. I could go on and on. He does so many little things I love. The boys' Thomas movie is starting to wear off and Garrett is calling Preston the "little ear guy". Preston is telling him "boys don't hit". "

Take some good advice. Post something, especially pictures.

Happy Birthday Ginni!!!

Gib, I know this is a day late, but I meant to put this up yesterday. Can't wait to see you!

Happy Birthday Becky!

Happy Birthday (late) Becky! Hope it was a wonderful day for you. Did you do anything fun?

Road Rage

Don't mess with Granny!

Need more speed?

Slow is not good!

The Great Watermelon Escapade

Preston really digs into some watermelon.

Utah Trip

Hey family! I thought I'd post some pictures that I took while in Utah, for all who wanted to see them.

Happy Birthday Lance!

Lance, I hope today is great. We are starting a new tradition of photo birthday cards. We might get a little creative. Love you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHANNON!

Mom wasn't there so we added her into the picture. I didn't want to worry about "photoshopping her in". I hope today is great. I love you, Shannon!

-Kimm, Mom, and Dad

Why I didn't buy the BMW.....

The BMW was faster but ya just can't get as many sticks into it!

Bundle of Joy

Well, it's time to welcome the newest member of our family, Leah Rebekah LeVar. She is so cute!!! I've been spending the week with Lance and Ginni, therefore, I get to see and hold Leah everyday. Jealous? I would be. She's really cute when she has a clean diaper! She peed on me once, which was really gross, but overall, I love her. I call her "Monkey Baby" because of all her hair, and Ginni calls her "Flopsy" because her head flops around. Here are some pics of the little rascal.

She's getting ready for when she is 16!!!!

Sinking...

So, here are some funny and cool commercials, if you have a little time to waste, which we all do. ;)
http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2006/sinking-p1.php

http://www.sony.co.uk/view/ShowArticle.action?article=1128495777479&site=odw_en_GB

Anyway, with the bouncy ball one, they blocked off a whole street in San Fransisco and shot the bouncy balls out by machines. Cool!!! Have a good day, fam. Can't wait to see you all.

Don't delete!!

Well, I almost deleted our blog. I was trying to change the settings and things got a little crazy there for a little bit. There was text all over the place, and not where it should have been. Yikes. Speaking of deleting, Shannon, will you ask your brother Jeff not to take off any of the movies from Garrett and Preston's blog? I really want to look at them, but my computer at my house is broken and the campus computers don't support quicktime very well. Tell him not to clear off the older videos to make room for more. I still want to watch them. Thanks.

Kimmby again

I just thought I'd post a few recent pictures for those who read this blog. Oh wait, that's me... ;)

Last weekend, I went on a field trip with my friend Drew to Welfare Square and the Church Humanitarian Aid Center. We toured, sampled some food, and did three service projects. It was wonderful! We even tied a quilt. I'm totally sold on the church's amazing efforts to help members and non-members all over the world. Anyway, this picture is me jumping up in front of the grain towers in Salt Lake.

This is my good friend, Drew. He's a funny guy. Don't read anything into this please.

This is my 4th grade class that I've been teaching this semester. The kid in the cowboy hat on the left is really funny. He likes to be tricky. I'm in the back on the right. I love these kids!

Binky

Shannon-
Good job on "losing" Garrett's binky. I hate it when you see a six year old kid sucking on a binky. Gross. 3 is a good age. My friend was telling me how her sister would always cut the tops off the binky so it would just go flat when her toddler would suck on it, so they would spit it out and wouldn't want it. It's like they get rid of it on their own.

For all the family members out there who want to see more of Garrett and Preston, Shannon's brother Jeff has made a blog for them with pictures and funny videos. Here's the link: http://web.mac.com/jeffkirkisom/iWeb/Photos/Welcome.html. Check it out - it's cool.

Love you all.

Easter

What is everyone doing for Easter? I am thinking about coming down, and it would be nice to get together if we could. I'm "eggxited"! Haha.

Rachel, do you know if Clint's school has student teachers from BYU-Idaho? I requested to be placed there, but I don't know if they sponsor my school... Did you have a good birthday?

Halloween

So it's never too easy to start planning for the next Halloween. Ginni and Lance, perhaps you should consider going for a Star Wars Theme, and putting little Leah in this costume:
What do you think? It's Chewbacca!!! Maybe Preston could use it then...

Happy "Berthaday" (as Ginni calls it) to Rachel!

Happy Birthday Rachel!!!!

Here is a poem I wrote especially for you:

Ahem, ahem.

Happy Birthday to you

I know you'll say, "Phew!"

Please don't be blue

(Yellow is better)

I'd send you a letter

But I can't afford the stamp

Unless I sell my favorite lamp

I'll just buy you a new...

Never mind. Happy Birthday to you!

I love you. Hope it's a great day. See you soon.

Tricky Tricky

So while I was teaching today in my 4th grade classroom, I saw this riddle in a kid's math book:

"A $1 bill weighs about 1 gram. How many grams does a $5 bill weigh?"

I almost said, "5 grams", but luckily, I caught myself. Tricky, eh?

Ninja Kimm II

Here I am practicing my ninja moves again. I made sure to shout, "Allah Akbar!"

My hobo party this weekend for my birthday was awesome! We had tons of people come to warm themselves by the trash can fire and roast marshmallows, and eat peanut butter and jelly hors devours and cake/ice cream in a can (we made 5 cakes and had 3 gallons of ice cream!). We also had a can walk (like a cake walk), pin the mustache on the astronaut (like pin the tail on the donkey), more mattress jumping, sumo wrestling (on the mattresses), fireworks, and night games. It was fantastic!!!

Thanks all of you for calling me on my birthday. It meant a lot to me. You are the best fam ever!

Trains, Planes, and Automobiles

Copied from Shannon's family blog:
"Garrett has been begging for a train set. Enola and Liam have cool train sets and Garrett realizes he needs one also. He asks everyday all day long. His hand me down train set from the neighbor boy is well used. He has been playing with that for over a year most everyday.Today we went to the Red Ballon. They have two train tables. One with a Brio train set. The other has a Thomas Train set on it. After playing for half an hour it was time to go. The tantrums thrown were incredible. Garrett's legs were broken (they always break when he wants them to) and he howled in the isle. Preston was a screaming "NO"-saying lunatic. It is hard to manhandle two boys throwing tantrums to the car. Especially when one has broken legs. I felt true pain over Garrett's sadness. He wants a train set so badly. I would love to buy him the cool Thomas or Brio sets. We have been looking on Ebay to find him one for his birthday. He is going to have a train cake for his birthday. He told me in the car today that he wants a train set that isn't a cake.

I was just called as a nursey leader. I am very excited about it. Preston will be in nursery in one week, with Garrett."

Tribute to school...

Here's my first and last tribute to school in art form.

Facelift

I decided to give the Blog a face lift. It's eyes were sagging beyond belief and there were wrinkles all over the place! I hope you all don't mind.

Rachel, since you read the blog - post something!!! Anything! Just so I know you are alive! Oh, by the way, can I interview you about Parent-Teacher Conferences for an assignment?

Should we send the missionaries?

Shannon,
Should we send the missionaries to your house to convert little Garrett to become a Mormon? Perhaps they should bring some cookies to convince Chubs over to the right side. I can just see it now - two missionaries holding out cookies, while the Episcopalians are holding out chocolate cake and Garrett running back and forth trying to decide which is better.
I thought the story about the cheese bottoms was funny too. What a character Chubs is...

So, just in case you all think that Shannon and the boys are the only ones who have escapades, it's not true. I do too. A few days ago, my roommates and I wanted to watch Ultimate Makeover, Home Edition on tv, but we only get cable channels and no local channels. So, we decided to pack up and go over to some boy's apartments to watch it, because they were all at a stake fireside. The first apartment we tried was locked, but the next apartment was open, and all the lights were on - pretty much just waiting for us to come in a make ourselves at home. We know that's what they wanted us to do. ;) Anyway, we did just that. We left them a note saying, "Thanks for letting us use your tv. The show was great. Have a good night!" Then we turned all their furniture upside down. That was the fun part. They don't know it was us... So, don't tell anyone...

Then, last night, we wanted to kidnap someone, so my roommates and I dressed in our best spy clothes, (see picture) and went to another boys' apartment and our plan was to run in, throw a blanket over someone in the apartment, and tape them in the blanket, then take them outside and run away. Well, it didn't exactly go as planned. We ran in, but they wouldn't cooperate! They just sat there - one boy just watched as we acosted his roommate. Needless to say, we weren't successful, and they knew exactly who we were, regardless of our disguise. Oh well. I guess I don't have a career as a ninja or a spy. I guess I'll settle for a teacher. ;)

Also, this picture is one of the newest Olympic sports - mattress jumping. If you get the right airspeed velocity and thrust, you can almost fly. It's pretty fun..



Well, I hope you all can still trust me with your kids after these stories. I hope I haven't totally ruined your images of me. Haha. Good night everyone.

Faker

So I don't think I ever told anyone this, but when I was just a little tyke, I remember I wanted glasses REAL BAD! (For some reason, I always wanted to be "normal" and break my arm/leg, get braces and/or a retainer, get glasses, get my tonsils removed, etc.) Anyway, I think I remember lying to the optometrist so I could get glasses. I told him that I couldn't see the very top line - you know, the really big E? Yep. He saw through my charade really fast. Sorry that this scandal has to come out now. I know you all are disappointed. ;)

Shannon, your stories about the mishaps of Garrett and Preston crack me up all the time! Keep them coming (during nap time of course...)

Isn't that the CUTEST???!!!

I love this picture - the boys look so cute with their matching curly hair. Way to be with the trend of electronic cards, Shannon!

Lambormagnum

Jeff, maybe you should consider upgrading your magnum to this. Tada! Lambormagnum!

You all have got to check out this site - especially the "Mate a car" section, where people have combined two or more cars using photoshop to create a new kind of car. It's pretty amazing. Curt, has Kelsey submitted anything on that site? I bet she's got the talent for it...

First time snowboarding

The boys and I went snowboarding in Vermont for the first time ever this past weekend as part of a New England Boy Scout Ski Weekend. One of my ecstatic boys said, "Dad, this was wicked awesome! Can we do this EVERY year?"

We were all VERY sore the next day, walking around like serious old-timers. Every muscle ached--especially the tailbone variety. I had one spectacular spill where I landed on my tailbone and I felt the bones click-clacking together all the way up my spine until I heard this wrenching "CRIAACK!" in my neck. I'm still stiff--2 days later!

Here are some photos:

Funny

Funny picture. One of my favorites.

Baby Baby

Curt - Thank you, thank you, thank you! See, it wasn't that hard, eh? Curt, why do you hate blogs? Is it because people go off on a diatribe about things that don't matter? They share their deepest feelings about irrelevant things? They write about unimportant subjects, such as the life and times of a pickle? I know; all those things frustrate me too. But, this blog is for funny pictures, like you've found, as well as what is going on with kids, Mom and Dad (and sometimes poking fun), and of course, ME! Haha, just kidding. I hope you can overcome your bad feelings towards blogging...

Scott - what's going on with work? Mom mentioned that you decided not to work with RD. Does that mean you are going to continue on at your company? What about the easels? I'd like an update! P.S. How are those peanut butter 'n jelly sandwiches with white bread that I'm sure you've been having since Shannon's been gone? Or have the Falgoust's taken you under their wing? I hope you aren't all emaciated!!!

Ginni and Lance, you should post your ultrasound pictures on the blog... Maybe I'll save you the trouble, since you don't really read this blog very often.

More silliness

I hate blogs

I hate blogs. Really. But just to please my sister, I am now blogging. So bleh.
Here are some funny images for your purple perusing pleasure:

Correction

Sorry, I made a mistake. I am actually graduating on December 20 of 2006. The school said I couldn't walk in graduation as early as April, so I could either do it in August, December, or April of 2007. Who would want to graduate LATER??? Now that's just silly... Anyway, I think Mom and Dad are going to spend Christmas in Utah...

I love you all! Someone post something! I'm going nuts reading my own posts over and over again.

Fonduuuuue...my new best friend

Does anyone have (or heard of) a good recipe for cheese fondue (without the alcohol)? I bought me a fondue pot and I want to have a fondue party, without people getting a little tipsy. Anyone have any ideas?

Well, I've started school for the last time at BYU-Idaho. This will be my last semester here in the great Spud State. (Check out the link, especially you, Dad. This one will top Neldon's hands down!) Anyway, I plan on walking in graduation come Saturday, April 29 (I would absolutely LOVE everyone to come to my graduation!!!!) and then officially receiving my diploma in December, when I finish my student teaching in Salt Lake.

Right now, I'm taking a class called Education Methods, which prepares me for student teaching by allowing me to go into a local elementary school 3 days a week and teach half the day, as well as going to training seminars the other two days a week on campus. I'll be in a 4th grade classroom, where the teacher is my roommate's mother. She is very nice and I'm looking forward to going to that class.

I wanted to thank all the Utah clan again for letting me stay with you, letting me play with your kids, watch your tv, bum around your house, and for picking me up from the airport. You all are great! Let me know if I can do anything for anyone!!! I plan on coming down again for Derek's birthday...

P.S. Curt and family, haven't heard from you in a long time...... Sure would like to! Post something!

Picture book list

For all the moms (or moms to be), I thought I'd post a children's book list that I've compiled. Many of these authors have many great books. I'm sure Rachel knows a ton more (Rachel, would you post the names of some books that you really like?) Here it is:

Goodnight, Moon - Margaret Wise Brown
Where the Wild Things Are – Maurice Sendak
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus – Mo Willems
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type - Doreen Cronin
The Polar Express – Chris Van Allsburg
Sector 7 - David Wiesner
King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub - Audrey Wood
No, David! - David Shannon
Rumpelstiltskin - Paul O. Zelinsky
The Stinky Cheese Man & Other Fairly Stupid Tales - Jon Scieszka
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! - Jon Scieszka
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly - Simms Taback
Olivia - Ian Falconer
Alphabet City – Stephen T. Johnson
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs – Judi Barrett
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day – Judith Viorst
Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday - Judith Viorst
If you give a Mouse a Cookie - Laura Joffe Numeroff
Strega Nona – Tomie dePaola
The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle
The Story of Ferdinand - Munro Leaf
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing – Judi Barrett
Paper Bag Princess - Robert Munsch
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse - Kevin Henkes
The Mitten – Jan Brett
Skippyjon Jones - Judy Schachner
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear - Don Wood
The Monster at the End of This Book - Jon Stone
The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash - Trinka Hakes Noble
Miss Nelson Is Missing! - Harry Allard
Late for School - Mike Reiss
The Great Show-and-Tell Disaster - Mike Reiss
You Are Special – Max Lucado
Imogene's Antlers - David Small
Where's Waldo? - Martin Handford
Monster Mama - Liz Rosenberg