School. Again.

Going back to school has been a challenge as expected. A challenge I love as always--I'm such a glutton for learning new things. Last semester I logged over 100 online hours in my math class (the program keeps track). That doesn't take into account studying and test prep. 
Oh my gosh--it's a love/hate thing.

These are the notebooks I filled completely-- front and back-- working math problems in one class. So weird to end a class, start a new semester, and just throw out all the old stuff.

When people ask me how I find the time I tell them I stay up late. Very, very late. I'm afraid my schedule is not traditional. I almost never go to bed before 1am. Usually, um, later. Like when you're fast asleep I'm just getting into my groove. Then I get John up and  off to school, empty the dishwasher, get in a load of laundry and then get in another couple of hours of sleep with Will. After that I clean, work out, and shower up just in time to pick up kids. It's kind of bad I know. But it works for me so I don't get too worked up about it. I'm afraid I'm a bit of a night owl like my dad. (Hello dad! The older I get the more we seem to have in common . . .)

I think the biggest thing I took away from this last semester was that I can do hard things. BYU helped me to get the confidence that I could go to school and be competitive and now I've taken it to the next level with classes that are completely unfamiliar territory-- basically all math and science for now. It is not something I've considered myself strong in, not that it comes easily to me now but I've learned I can make it through. Doing something hard that you have underestimated yourself in always feels good. (Most of the time-- College Biology is kicking my butt pretty good right now:)

There were two things that helped me a lot in math. First, I had studied for the Accuplacer for months beforehand so I could test straight into this class. That gave me a really good foundation. Then that beautiful thing, THE INTERNET. Oh my gosh, this was the night and day difference between when I last took math 22 years ago. Kahn Academy, college, YouTube, college and even high school websites--so helpful. Nowadays you can basically teach yourself anything you want.

This semester I have to drive twice a week to South Jordan. With my lab, lecture, and study group on Wednesdays it means I'm gone for eight hours. That may not seem like very long to mom's who work, and I know maybe it makes me sound spoiled, but it's a long time for the family when I'm leaving a two-year-old behind. It gets busy, which I seem to function better with anyway as long as it doesn't get too busy. You can always expect things are going to get stressful and you're going to feel overwhelmed sometimes. (Doesn't mean I don't find time to waste here and there with stupid things like searching Google to see how they cover up Johnny Depp's tattoos for movies.)

"Ya gotta learn to relax mom."

Today the girls had baptisms for the dead and were gone for several hours. I told John if he played with Will and kept him happy while Dad was working I'd pay him ten bucks. He did awesome and I'm sure Will was in heaven playing with his older brother. John decided he'd dress him up--unclear what he's supposed to be but while I was gone Peter sent me this picture:

Something of a mix between Tarzan, a cowboy and Men in Black??
(update: John told me he was Golem. hahaha!! Makes sense!)