My funny girl

Megan cracks me up. (on a regular basis) I went to download the latest pics from my camera onto my computer and there were a few surprises!

There were about 15 other pictures on there that she took of herself. Who knows? Maybe we have a future photographer in our family!

Good news! Good news!

So after my whole dramatic story of taking and failing the music test twice I was sure I'd have to wait to teach music till next year. Then I got a phone call. The principal at the same school I'm the librarian at called me on Tuesday and asked if I had registered for the next test. I told him I hadn't because I was in no hurry to take it again because I couldn't do anything till next year. Then he told me to register and take it because he talked to the district HR and told them that he wanted me as the music teacher. They gave him the OK and I am officially the new music teacher. I take the test again next Saturday (Aug. 2nd). Here's hoping I can take it and pass it and FINALLY be done with it! But I was just SO happy! I get to work 4 days a week and make more money! How is that not a dream come true? I've been in the music room all week cleaning and organizing everything. The kids start on Aug. 11th so I have just about 2 1/2 weeks to get ready. Thank you, Austin and Reagan for you're continued prayers! And no, Alicia, this has not been an elaborate plan to get out of camping! I am so excited. Thanks, folks, for all of your love and support!

Three words...

Go see it!

My husband's BRILLIANT idea...

Chris' birthday was last week and we decided to go up to Denver and hang out there for a couple days. One of the BEST things we did was a scavenger hunt at the mall. He picked a mall that was close to the hotel we were staying at and one that none of us were familiar with. He looked up a map of the mall online and came up with this list...

*Buy one piece of jewelry for under $5
*Buy a kitchen utensil for under $5
*Buy a hot pretzel or cheese on a stick (you must sit and eat the whole thing)

*Get a birthday card for your sister
*Get a Pottery Barn catalog signed by a manager
*Get a brochure from the Apple store
*Buy a bouncy ball
*Pick up a pamphlet from Guest Services
*Get a picture of you wearing a dress


*Get a picture with the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory bear

*Have your picture taken in front of

-an elevator


-an escalator


-a fountain



-Macy's, Dillards, Dick's and Nordstrom



(we have the other pics, but you get the idea!)

*Buy one piece of sporting equipment under $5
*Write down all the stores that begin with the letter J


So we divided into teams but the girls had to do everything. We were just there to hold their purchases and to take their pictures. They got one point for each thing they could check off and a point for every dollar they had left over. They had an hour to get it done and $20 in cash. We had SO much fun! He does have great ideas every now and then! Gotta give him credit for that! :)

The Beard

When Chris decided to go to Iowa the first thing I heard out of his mouth was "Awesome! I can grow my beard!" He's been wanting to grow a beard for a while with MUCH resistance from his wife. I don't mind a little facial hair, but not a Grizzly Adams beard that he wants. I don't want to kiss a face full of hair! So while he was in Iowa for 2 weeks he grew his beard. So here are some pics.

Here's a before...


an after...




and a Gretchen's way prevails!

The test results are in...

I got my test results on Monday afternoon and I found out that I failed... again. I honestly couldn't believe it. I cried my eyes out the entire afternoon. Not so much because I failed, but because I didn't know where that left me. My principal told me he had already hired another librarian. So was I going to have of a job? I called him Monday night and told him I failed the test and he told me that the library job was open and mine if I wanted to come back. PHEW!!! So I'll be a librarian for one more year and try again for music next year. I'm going to take that stinking test until I pass it if it takes 10 tries I'm going to pass that test!

Barack "The Jerk" Obama

OK, being a Mormon Democrat is not a very popular place to be. I stand up for democrats all over the country and support where I can. (especially with my vote!) So I hear the wonderful news that Mr. Obama was coming to Colorado Springs. WAHOO!! I voted for him in the primaries and campaign for him whenever political conversations come up (which is more often than you'd think!) Then I hear the sad news... all of his engagements that day are by invitation only. So where's my invitation Mr. Obama? Am I not cool, rich, or important enough for you to send me an invitation? Jerk. I'm voting for John McCain now. OK, not really. But it just would've been really cool to see him speak!


P.S. For anyone interested I don't get my test results until Monday at 4:00 pm. It's a stinking scantron! What the heck takes so long to run it through the little machine and get us the results? This has been the longest two weeks of my life! GEEZ! Man it feels good to get all of my angst out! :) Until Monday...