The Casual Vacancy

J. K. Rowling, the wonderful author of the Harry Potter series, recently came out with an adult novel: The Casual Vacancy. Me, being a great lover of Harry Potter, wanted to give this book a try. Now, when I read a bad book, I usually push on for a while to see if it gets better. I got 22 pages in. And I'm taking it back to the library. Here are my reasons that people SHOULD NOT read this book:

1. Astounding amounts of swearing.
2. The town the story takes place in is dull.
3. There are far too many characters that don't even apply to the plot.
4. Inappropriate explanations of sexual things.
5. Not written in a way to engage.
6. A completely boring read.

Now I know some of these are quite my opinion, but after looking up a good number of reviews for this book, it turns out I'm not alone in my thinking.
This post is simply to inform you not to waste your time reading, or starting to read, this book. And to Rowling: Stick to young adult fantasy. That's what your good at.

Playing at the Park

Today Ross and I got the internet in our apartment! So now I am excited to be posting more on this wonderful blog of mine. 

These pictures were taken a while ago, but there is a park about 5 blocks from our apartment and it is super fun. Nigel loves playing there, and I love getting out of the house and playing with Nigel. It is a really nice park and we love it! One Sunday evening we all went to the park to play.

Ross and Nigel up so high on the play-gym thing. 

Nigel loves to swing! 

There are these fun drums at the park that Nigel loves to play.  He has so much fun there!

I love my family so much! It is so weird that Nigel is a 1-year-old now. I can't believe how fast time has flown! He's a wonderful boy and I am so blessed to be his mother.

Nigel Is A Year Old!!!

I really need to blog more often. And I really do want to, I just don't have the internet at my apartment and it's hard to get out to the library to get online. However, at the end of the month Ross and I will be getting the internet and my posts should go up! I hope so anyway.
Here's a few updates on life for us Bateman folk:
~I am applying for jobs for the summer. Ross isn't able to work as much as usual since the Obama-care thing. His work can't afford to give insurance to the employees, such as Ross, so he will be working less and needing to fly planes more. So I'm looking for a job, which is kind of fun.
~I went to the Utah Color Guard Circuit Championships. Leslie, my dear sister, came along with me. It was really hard. I miss color guard so much, but it is really what makes me happy. I love the sunshine we've been having and I go out and spin my flag a lot. It is so wonderful! The Mountain Crest kids got first. I am proud of them. However, I thought their show was boring. Definitely a judge-pleaser not a audience-pleaser. Oh, well. I guess they can turn into AF if they want to. I'm not there to stop them anymore.
~Yesterday was Nigel's birthday! So I now officially have a toddler. Eek! Nigel has been walking all over the place. It is so crazy! He took his first step two weeks ago and just keeps picking up speed with the walking. It is nuts. I am so proud of my handsome little boy! He is so precious to me and I am so happy that I have him in my life. He is truly a blessing.
Sorry I didn't have any pictures. I'm at the library and didn't have time to put some on a thumb drive before coming. But that is ok!
Also, I rode my bike here. Go me! I have bad knees, and my awesome therapist cousin says that riding a bike is really good for my knees. And I rode my bike. Woot! But my knees were sure sore when I arrived. And I still have to bike home. Lovely. I is good for me though. ;)

The Most Important Thing

Color guard has pretty much been my life for the past 2 years. It was really hard to suddenly be thrown out of that world. Suddenly, I have all this time at home with Nigel, and no winter guard shows to write or work on. What was I supposed to do with my time? I started out with some crying, lots of crying and then I moved on to moping and playing on my phone. 

Next came the time when I fixed up all my old color guard equipment that I own. I need it to stay nice so that it is nice when I'm a director again. (And I will be one again, so be prepared...) 

I then finished up making an afghan for my niece, Rachel. I adore that little princess! So here's a picture of her since she's just so darn cute.

I then began another afghan that will be given to my next niece or nephew I guess. All I know is that I'm entering it into the fair in August. Hopefully I'll win some moneys from it. Too bad I already noticed a mistake, but I'm not gonna pull out all that crocheting to fix it. I'm too lazy. 

I started another project of which I cannot say at the moment because it is going to be a surprise. Just know that Nigel got in the way a lot while I have been getting stuff ready for it. 

It's been a little over a month since I was fired. It was been really hard to be at home all day with Nigel. I'm getting better at it as time goes. 

Even with this large setback in my life, one thing has been constant: My Family. Ross has been there for me through every breakdown and venting session. He always shows that he loves me, even when I've been really out of it and got nothing done all day. Ross works so hard to take care of me and Nigel. He is a wonderful husband and a spectacular father. Nigel gets so excited whenever Ross comes home, it is so fun to see! I love my husband!

Nigel has been growing so fast. I wonder if I would have even noticed if I was still focusing on color guard. It seems like my little boy is learning new things every day. Nigel is getting so tall and so much fun to play with! He has the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. I am so lucky that I get to have this child smile at me every single day. He's been giving hugs, too. Which is wonderful and amazing. I am totally in love with this little boy! 

Struggles and setbacks will always come up in my life. Trials will always be there. My family is my most important thing. As long as I have them, I know everything will be ok.

But Then There Was Hope

I know my last post was frustrating and downright depressing. I was in a very dark place. I know it hasn't been long, but I had to share some new insights.
I got a call from someone extremely dear to me that I haven't heard from in a very long time. It was strange, but through all I had been through, she was the only person I actually wanted to talk to. I just didn't know how to have the courage to call. I had prayed for understanding. That was all I wanted. And I didn't know how to go on. And then my phone rang. When I saw her number, my heart leapt. It was strange. I wasn't sure if I should answer the phone in my state. But I did. We talked for an hour and twenty minutes. Some aspects of the conversation were rough, for reasons only she and I know, but I don't recall having such a heartwarming conversation before.
I was somehow dragged out of my complete misery and given a little bit of hope. It was as though I had fallen into a hole so deep and dark that I could do nothing to save myself. I knew I needed the help of my Savior, but I had forgotten that sometimes He answers prayers by sending one of His daughters to open her heart and reach down for His struggling child.
I'm going to be ok. I can look forward to the future. I can put my trust in The Lord and learn from every experience I gained this past year.
Thank you, Kacie, for pulling me out.

And Then The Dream Was Shattered

A week ago this last Monday, I found out that my older color guard group didn't make it into as high of a class as anticipated. I wasn't too concerned, and thought they could do well there. Then I talked to the band director. His reply was, "We are an open class band. If our color guard isn't an open class color guard, then at the end of the season, you're done." Ouch. And then I cried.
Thursday afternoon I was on the phone with my old color guard director, who is also my dear friend. I was asking her for advice and ideas of things I could work on to become a better instructor at the high school I worked at. She gave me some really great ideas that I was excited to work on. I really want to be a successful color guard instructor, and have been struggling with it. I can't seem to connect with my older kids. But I couldn't figure out why. We were going to have a rehearsal Friday morning, and I was very excited to work with them again.
Friday came and we had a pretty good rehearsal. I feel like we accomplished a lot, but the kids were pretty chatty and distracted the whole time. The band director was present toward the end of the rehearsal and wanted to talk to me after. So I went into his office after rehearsal and he talked for an hour. I don't know what it is about band directors, they're all so long winded. Anyway, he brought up some of the same things I had discussed yesterday with my guard director from back in the day. He read me an angry email he got from a parent. Then he talked about the class we're in. He looked at the list and was like, "Oh, there will be some pretty good competition there." And I agreed. Then he said, "Well, it's not like we'll actually fire you. Let's wait until the Seniors graduate and then see how you do." Sounded good to me. I talked to him about some things I was struggling with when working with the kids, and he just agreed. No help from him whatsoever. I asked him if he might be able to come to a rehearsal and help me out so that I could learn. He said that he's pretty busy, but he might be able to do that. He did not seem thrilled. That was frustrating. I've come to him for help in the past and his reply is always, "It's your job, figure it out."
Tuesday the band director called me and said, "The administration would like to meet with us." I figured it was an angry parent. Supposedly guard instructors and band directors get called down there a lot at this particular high school. There must be something wrong with the parents in Southern Cache Valley. Anyway, I agreed to come in at 1:30 to meet with the administration. I was a little nervous, but not too worked up. Parents are ridiculous when it comes to their kids anyway.
So I go into the principal's office and set down Nigel and there's the band director, too. We all sat down and the principal had forgotten my name, so I had to remind him. Then he forgot the name of the program I was working with, and I had to remind him of that, too. Then the principal began:
"I've been talking with ****(insert whatever band director name you want) and the other administrators," he said, "and we feel like the color guard program needs to go in a different direction."
"Ok," I replied. "What direction would you like me to take?"
"Well," He paused, "We want to go in a direction that you aren't a part of." And that was the exact moment that my brain froze up.
"Why?" I asked, completely shocked. I knew things were tough, but firing me? If nobody tells me they need me to do something different, how will I know that I need to change?
"We can't tell you," the principal said.
"Why not?"
"Our district has a policy that we cannot say why we are letting someone go."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because then you could argue against us."
"But I want to be a color guard director. I want to do this. How am I supposed to get better and keep doing it if you won't even tell me what I need to work on?"
"You're trying to get it out of me, but district policy is that I don't tell you why you are being let go."
I took a second to think. This was crazy, I worked my butt off working on those shows and trying to work with the kids. The kids!
"What's going to happen to the kids?" I asked.
"We're bringing up ****(insert name of previous color guard director, who you would think walks on water the way everyone at this high school talks about her) to work with the kids for a few days and finish their shows." Slap in the face, Melanie. You suck so we'll bring in who we had before you since she was better anyway. It's too bad she moved, isn't it?
"What about my rehearsal tonight?" I asked. Band director shakes his head.
"I'll be talking to them about it tonight," band director stupid face says. "And ****(insert Front Ensemble field show instructor's name) will be supervising their rehearsals now."
I was crying. Not bawling, but crying. And it sucked. I hate crying in front of people. I kept trying to push to find out why, and the principal kept saying that he couldn't because it was district policy. He said they'd still pay me though. As if the money even mattered when I'm doing something that I love. At least we'll get a nice check for Ross's school. Anyway...
"Is there a time in the future that I can come in?" I asked. "Can I come find out why I'm getting fired? I just want to improve and learn.,"
"Hmmm..." Mr. Principal says. "That's not a bad idea. How about at the end of this color guard season you can contact me and maybe come in and talk about it."
"Ok." The conversation was clearly over. The principal shook my hand and I walked past the band director, who I thought was my friend, but didn't even have the thoughtfulness to let me know I needed to change something about the way I was working.
I picked up Nigel and left. I cried, full out bawled, the entire way home. Thank goodness Nigel was being quiet. I cried for about an hour, then lounged around depressed. Then I just got angry. When getting ready for bed, I took down a picture of the band at the end of Field Show, I couldn't stand to look at it. Then I cried, a lot. For a very long time. And I slept terribly.
And now we're back to me just being depressed.
Dream=Shattered

Reading Books 2012

In 2011, I read 27 books throughout the year. I set a goal to read at least 28 books in 2012. I met that goal. In fact, I passed it and completed 30 books last year! Here's a list of all the books I read (Those titles with an asterisk are books I read for the first time):

1. The Lost Symbol*     Dan Brown

2. The Magician’s Nephew     C. S. Lewis

3. The Giver*     Lois Lowry

4. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe     C. S. Lewis

5. Mere Christianity*     C. S. Lewis

6. Stargirl*     Jerry Spinelli

7. The Horse and His Boy     C. S. Lewis

8. Fablehaven     Brandon Mull

9. Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star     Brandon Mull

10. The Witch of Blackbird Pond*     Elizabeth George Speare

11. Bridge to Terabithia     Katherine Paterson

12. Beyonders: A World Without Heroes     Brandon Mull

13. Beyonders: Seeds of Rebellion*     Brandon Mull

14. Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague     Brandon Mull

15. Graceling*     Kristin Cashore

16. Fire*     Kristin Cashore

17. The Da Vinci Code*     Dan Brown

18. Bitterblue*     Kristin Cashore

19. Angels and Demons*     Dan Brown

20. If I Stay*     Gayle Forman

21. Where She Went*     Gayle Forman

22.  Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary     Brandon Mull

23. Ultimate Spider-man Vol. 1*     Brian Michael Bendis

24. Ultimate Spider-man Vol. 2*     Brian Michael Bendis

25. Ultimate Spider-man Vol. 3*     Brian Michael Bendis

26. Ultimate Spider-man Vol. 4*     Brian Michael Bendis

27. Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison     Brandon Mull

28. Passage to Zarahemla*     Chris Heimerdinger

29. Ultimate Spider-man Vol. 5*     Brian Michael Bendis

30. Earth Unaware: The First Formic War     Orson Scott Card & Aaron Johnston 

Christmas

Nigel's new favorite thing is standing against things, such as the couch.

Christmas for our family happened in Kaysville this year. Nigel had a lot of fun with his aunts and uncles and grandparents. Nigel got to meet his new little cousin, Rachel. And she is so cute. Nigel had fun poking her in the face.

Nigel was sad after I took his hand out of Rachel's face. He just wanted to keep poking her.

Daniel, Nigel, and Ross on Christmas morning.

Nigel had a lot of fun seeing all the brightly colored gifts he got.

Nigel loves to chew on remotes. This is his first ever Christmas present, and it was from his Aunt Leslie.

Ya, now Nigel can rock the musical world with his new xylaphone!

Nigel began dancing around the 23rd. He hears a beat and he just has to boogie. This table toy thing was his favorite to dance to.

I got an iPhone. I am so excited because now I can have all my color guard music on it. No more phone and iPod, got them both together now.

Ross got a Monopoly game, which he collects those things. But I didn't get any pictures of Ross. Poor Ross.

Thank you, Santa!

Grandpa loves his little grandbaby boy!

Baby Rachel! My very first ever niece through blood. She's so adorable!

Nigel Meets Santa

Last Friday we had our ward Christmas party. It was super duper fun. Nigel got to meet Santa for the first time. It didn't go over so well. He freaked out, then noticed the shiny, jingly bells in Santa's hand and was totally fascinated. Then he looked at Santa again and got all freaked out again. Poor kid. Here's a picture of Nigel with Santa.

Band Trip Anyone?

Nigel and I had the fun opportunity to go on a band trip with the Mountain Crest band on the first weekend in November. We traveled to St. George. I was slightly surprised that I was not as excited for a band trip as I was in high school. I must be growing up. Or maybe I was just nervous about having Nigel the whole time. Whatever.

Nigel and I on the bus and all ready to leave!

The trip went really well. On Thursday, the first, we headed out in the morning and stopped for rehearsal at Viewmont High School. We had a spectacular rehearsal and got tons of stuff accomplished. It was awesome. Then we got back to the buses and headed on our merry way all the way down to St. George. Nigel was very sick of the bus ride by the end of the day. Me too. The Seniors and staff members all got to go out to eat at the Pizza Factory, and it was awesome.

Nigel and I hanging out while the trailer gets unloaded. Then the rehearsal will begin!

Hooray for marching band!

Nigel really loves all the people at band. He gets so excited around those guys!

You really get this whole bed to yourself, Mama?

Day two was Friday. Since that comes after Thursday. We got up and headed North to Southern Utah University where the kids got a tour of campus. Nigel and I just hung out in a common area. Then we had a rehearsal on their field. And it was another spectacular rehearsal! It was awesome. After the rehearsal we got a buffet meal on campus and it was delicious. That evening we had the Red Rocks Band Invitational competition at Dixie State College. My awesome sauce Dad was down by then so he took Nigel and they played the whole competition. Nigel loves his grandpa! The band did fantastic! We didn't place, but I didn't care because it was their most amazing show yet!

Nigel was so happy to play with his grandpa!

Nigel fell asleep with his hearing protection ear muffs. And that is Angie, who is the drum major. She conducts the music for the whole band. She's my buddy because she's awesome. Oh, and she adores Nigel.

Nigel and I found Leslie! Yes, the Davis High Band was there too.

Saturday was the Bands Of America Regional competition. And that is kind of a big deal. Preliminary competitions took place in the morning and afternoon, finals in the evening. The top ten bands in prelims make it to finals. Those Mountain Crest kids did freaking amazing! Their show was beautiful and incredible and I am so proud of them. It was so spectacular and definitely their best show ever! Unfortunately, we did not make it to the top ten. We were number 11! It was really frustrating. Most of the students were crying and I got to help calm them down. They really had a fantastic show so it was hard that they didn't make it to finals. However, band number 10 only beat  us by 0.2 points! Holy moly. That was ridiculous. But that's ok. Nigel again got to spend most of the day with his grandpa who took him shopping and to play at his hotel. What a wonderful grandpa Nigel has!

Getting ready for one last pep-talk before heading out for the competition.

"I'm so happy to play with Grandpa Bredthauer all day!"

Saturday was sure one long, exhausting, band-filled day!

This is one of our backdrops. They go on the back of the field and the color guard hides behind them when they change equipment or their uniform. I want this one to put on my wall at home. :)

Me and Nigel, who is making a funny face as usual. He got that new hat when he was shopping with my dad.

After the competition we drove strait home all through the night. We arrived in Hyrum at 4:40 Sunday morning. Then I got to wake up Ross and have him come pick up Nigel and I. Nigel did so good on the bus ride home, he was exhausted so he slept the whole ride back.

It was such a wonderful band trip and a fantastic end to a awesome season. Hooray for Mountain Crest!