My Ty Guy

So this is Ty's latest project. He drew this for his class last week. Took 2 days (about 6 hrs total) and I LOVE it! It's amazing how his mind and hands work. I have fallen in love even more with Ty as I watch him put so much emotion and love and hard work into his drawings. I'm framing this one forever. I know there will be more to come, and can't wait but this one means ALOT . I honestly think its cheesy but I really fell even more in love with him watching him draw this and seeing the smile on his face as he showed me his final product.

Sorry Blogger Loaded This All Weird!!!

Pay it Forward 2011

Pay it forward 2011:

I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here. You must in turn, post this (FB or Blog) and send something YOU make to the first 5 people who comment on your blog (or FB post). The rules are it must be HANDMADE and must be sent to the 5 people sometime during 2011.

I'm excited to see how this works!

Things Figured Out

Finally we got Ty's schooling figured out!!!...For now. :)
He met with the BYU animation Dept. last week. He
took some of his art work, it ranged from things he did
in high school to things he's working on now. He met with
Kellie Looslie. Ty described his as a little intimidating, taller
than he is and a shiny head. (He shaves it) Ty was looking
for guidance and an honest opinion. He got it! He praised
Ty's talent. He told him he DEFIANTLY has what it takes.
He was very impressed with Ty's Christ, Joseph & Hyrum
picture. :) He gave Ty a lot of pointers and suggestions.
Kellie Looslie also advises at UVU in Orem. He suggested
to Ty that he apply there and take a semester or two of
art classes there to build his portfolio and that. He told him
he has great 3d-illustration. His shading on the Christ picture
is very good. Which is what Ty needed to hear! I am so
happy that Ty was able to meet with him so he can put a face
to his name and watch his progress! Since last Tuesday we
applied for UVU, and by Thursday he was accepted! So were
just working on sending his transcripts and all the finical aid stuff.
It's amazing how things work! Were grateful for the hand of the Lord
in our lives! UVU was not on our list AT ALL.
So our plan for now is to stay living in Riverton, for now in Mom's apt.
and Ty will get a bus pass and were going to try to get his classes
all on the same days so he hopefully only has to ride down 3 days a week.
(*Fingers Crossed*)
It's fun seeing Ty all excited about his art. He's loved drawing his whole
life, and hasn't had much time the last 4 or so years. But now he gets to
focus on it daily! He's got amazing talent and I love seeing his drawings.
He's going to do amazing!

Winter Sun 10k!!

We did it! Feels so great to have finished it! We started out, got up got breakfast, got stretched/dressed. Headed out to catch the shuttle to the starting line! We got up there, in the 2nd bus load, they had lil fires going to keep warm. At first it wasn't bad, then it started getting a little chilly. They had music playing and spirits were high, everyone bouncing around and laughing. However, soon enough they called out to get lined up! Being the first race any of the 4 of us had ran made all the better. :) They had it posted to start according to your speed. The highest sign went 9! LOL. So the group we started with was rather large! We all knew that we would be a little slower than 9. But the people all gathered and you were shoulder to shoulder and they ran the cow bell and we all started! It seemed EVERYONE started out running/jogging fast. I thought you start out slower.... but I got going and with the rush and excitement kept going! I was ahead of the rest! (Vern, April, Ty) I kept at it. Felt great and just followed the crowed. I finished the first mile in 11min 20ish seconds. I was so thrilled to do that...but then it hit. The first hillish part came. It wore me out! Lets just say I learned my lesson! lol. I still kept at it, but certainly not that fast. April passed me somewhere in mile 2 and I was just doing my thing. I have to say I walked more in mile 2 and 3 than I probably should have. I had a group I was sticking with, it was like playing leap frog! I would push hard for a bit then slow down and they would speed up. lol Saw one older lady in mile 2 go over and barf... she said she was ok so we kept going. I was just doing my thing, I kept kinda looking over my shoulder for Ty and Vern. Their plan was to walk it. As Vern has shoulder problems and Ty's back. (2 herniated discs in the last couple months.) But almost to mile 4 I was doing my thing and I heard someone coming up fast behind me kinda panting...I look over my shoulder and its Ty!!! :) Made me so happy! At first I was kinda freaking out because I thought it was he and Vern and if they caught up to me that easily I KNEW I wasn't pushing myself! I guess he saw me in mile 2 and decided to catch up to me. SO he started running!! He said every time he almost got close I started running full pace again. lol So we got to the refreshing station & got water and Gatorade! AND tissue! I was about to have to pull the farmer blow. My nose was SO stuffy! We stopped for probably 3 min cause someone was in the port-a-potty! But we got back on the road! It was nice to have someone I knew right there and he pushed me harder than I was pushing myself. So I have him to thank for helping me! He knew my goal was under 1hr 30min and he helped me beat that goal! It was amazing! So many people so happy and cheering you on! Complete strangers cheering for you! As we ran through a neighborhood there were people out on their porches, sitting on rocks and just standing there cheering for you and smiling! Then we ran part of it on a walking/running trail in a park and there were people playing music on the outdoor drums/chimes. It was cool! I am so proud of the 4 of us! I really have to thank my friend Miranda who put the idea in my head! I NEVER would have just done this on my own! Ty really supported me and then April for making sure I wouldn't back out! :) At the finish line I was right between 2 older ladies, I was determined to pass before them! lol. I did it! I was a few seconds before one and a few min, before the other. One of the ladies had a group cheering her on and I guess she turned 80 today. She did a 10k (6.2 miles) on her 80th birthday! At the finish line they had food/drinks & everyone gathering tell each other congrats. Complete strangers telling you "You made it! You did it!" it was awesome. The race was well organized and fun! Great atmosphere! April ran in at 1hr 10min, Ty at 1hr 18min, me at 1hr 19 min and Vern at 1hr 22min. It was awesome! We all beat our "projected" time and goals! I would like to run one again, maybe in the spring time, warmer weather and... more training. Tonight were feeling like 80 yr old's who cant run 1 mile! lol Muscles, joints and all. BUT we finished and we KNOW we can do it now! Thanks everyone for your encouraging words!!

WE FINISHED!!!

November 2010

November is upon us! We have so much to be thankful for!
We have had a great year and lots has happened. I'm still
Running...Race Day is getting CLOSE!!! December 4th!
YIKES!!! Were still figuring out Ty's school stuff..... It
seems like its never ending. Were currently in my Mom's
basement apartment with my Brother and his wife. We
are still working and all.... just living life! Hope your all
doing good too! :)

The politics of colleges!

So we met with BYU yesterday, the counselor that has been helping Ty is really awesome.
She's very helpful and you never leave her office feeling like you've got no where to go!
We were pretty sure that Ty didnt get in because of his GPA. WHICH, was true. BUT she
said that they are really starting to see the results of accepting people based off their GPA.
They have made it so hard for people with talent and potential to get in. Which we have known
is true for a year now! BUT come Spring they are changing it all! They are going to be going
based of more than just the GPA, in fact that wont be the main thing anymore! They will be
going off of their essay and accomplishments! So with that being said , its on our side.
Ty's got a great GPA. She always compliments him on it. So she helped us devise a plan.
OPTION #1
We are setting up an appointment with the Arts Dept. (trying to get an Apt. with an Animation Professor) and have them meet Ty and go over his art work and ask for an honest evaluation.
If they think Ty would be a great asset to their program and if he's the kind of student they want.
Then ask them to "endorse" Ty in a sense. If they think Ty's got what it takes then they can email their comments to Ty's counselor and she sits on the board that accepts transfer students.
So she said that can and will go a far ways. If we can get that here soon, then Ty can most likely get in for January still!

Option #2
BYU offers Evening classes. These have different admission requirements. The big ones she mentioned were that you must be over 23 [X] and that you can't have ever been x-communicated from the church [X]. So we got those covered. And they still had openings in drawing classes and "pre-animation" classes! You cant take more than 6 credit with evening classes, but were thinking (still looking into it) that you have to take at least 6 credits to get FAFSA and to not have to pay back your student loans. SO that is really helpful!

So things are looking good, the quote keeps coming to mind "I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it" So whatever happens in the end, it will be worth it if we keep pursuing our dream! Also, once again the fact is "its not what you know, but who you know".
So if anyone knows someone who is in the art/animation dept. with BYU let us know! :)

Ring around the Rosies

So we heard back from BYU. Sadly Ty wasn't accepted for January.....
SO were at square one again... BUT it will all work out. I'm pretty sure of it.
Everything happens for a reason. We meet with the counselor next week to
go over exactly why. So we will see what happens after that. We are thinking
we know why, because Ty's GPA was slightly under what they want. Which is
3.7! So he was almost to 3.6 overall. Which is still amazing! I am so proud of all
Ty's hard work! It's not easy, but he's almost there. We have been looking at
schools around the country, of coarse none seems as "cool" or well rounded as
BYU's animation program, but who knows. Hopefully in the next 2 weeks we will
have more info and direction as to where we'll be!

On a different note... It's fall! I love it! The trees are changing colors and the air
is a little crisp. :) I love it. I love waking up in a warm bed, with slippers to slip on
as I climb out of the covers. Then the warm breakfasts and all. It's joyous! I love
the candles to add the effect of the season. This year pumpkin pie is the winner. So
yummy! We are loving it!

We are still deciding what to be for halloween... it's not easy as adults even! We just
might surprise you! haha. I love looking at costumes, but can't pick one to be! Eek.
Suggestions are welcome, but keep in mind we were pirates LAST YEAR. Seems like
everyone who's commented on facebook says pirates... something new this year!