The Dreaded GRE

Yesterday Jake took the GRE. I'm so glad it's finally over and I hope he doesn't have to take it again. He did everything that he could and I'm proud of him. He took all the advice he could get, i.e. reading The New York Times, reviewing vocabulary flashcards and doing math prep tests. The results won't be back until November, so waiting will get annoying. This semester has been reasonably stress free for me. I have my first test next month and so my anxiety might raise by a point, but I think I will make it by. I can't believe how much my little nephew has grown. It's so crazy to think! He's already sitting up in a Bumbo by himself. Max is sooo stinking protective of him, and every time he hears a knock on the door he asks if it's the baby.

School has definitely been controlling our lives the past few weeks. Jake has been really on top of things, which includes disputing with his professor when he doesn't agree with his quiz score. Also, he started his new job, which has been really great. I can tell he likes it much more than his last one. Our dear friends the Carters are moving away this week. Eric was a member of the Bishopric and was released this afternoon. Jackie and Otto, their little boy, spent many hours playing with Max. I got a little teary eyed when they spoke during church today. Eric has been our Home Teacher for the past year and he came every month. We will miss having them so close by.

Today we were talking about the Spirit World in Relief Society. I can tell this was some thing I really needed today. I was thinking about my Dad a lot this past week, probably because we went to the Cucina Toscasa to eat as a family in his memory. He would have gotten mad that we all ordered our own desserts. Anyways, in the Lesson we were reminded that the spirit world is really on the earth. I hope with all my heart that my Dad is looking over little Max. As of now he still remembers him and likes to point out his picture to us when he gets the chance.

This past Friday my Mom got my Dad's Life Insurance check and she had a really hard time with it. I think it was just a symbol of how he's truly gone, but I really feel that he's still with us. max still likes to run up to his picture and say "Gwamka" Which means Grandpa.

I found out that the SLC public library gives a way free passes to some cool venues around town. These include red butte gardens, the discovery center, the art museum, and the museum of natural history. However, they only give a few passes away and then you have to show up when the library opens the first of every month. Max and I decided to check it out and the crowds were arriving ten minutes before the library opened. I ran in and mauled my way past everyone considering I was the third person to get there but had moved around a lot since max is a very active toddler. I got my pass.....it felt like a golden ticket. And then we left. We're excited to use it, but can only get one every 6 months so everyone can feel the love.

It has officially started to cool down, it still gets a little hot in the afternoon, but I can handle pushing Max on the swings for more than 10 minutes in the afternoon sun. I'll be glad when fall is here. I was really excited when summer came so that we could go swimming, but Max wasn't as excited about the kiddy pool as I thought he would be, he was more intersted in just running around the park or at least trying to get as far away from me as he can, but he's getting much better.