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...

A 4th of July Tribute to Tara

Here are the fireworks that were left behind when you moved to Texas. I have a set and Leslie has a set. Sorry friend, you're never getting them back. Leslie and I decided that every 4th of July we're going to put them out and think of our friend Tara. Thanks for the free decorations! :)

kids

Do you ever have those moments when you look at your kids and can't help but smile? And you think about how great they are and how glad you are to be their mom? This was one for me.

Send some good thoughts this way!

OK this is a plea for prayers, good thoughts, wishful thinking, etc on my behalf! I am in the process of getting a job as an elementary music teacher. I have everything in order and ready to go. The principal at the school I was the librarian for has already given the district my name as the music teacher for the fall. He has already hired my replacement for the library position. So now all I have to do is pass a test. A test I have already taken and failed. No pressure. I've studied a lot more this time around and I generally feel really good about taking it this time, but I'm nervous! (It doesn't help that Chris left for Iowa today to aid in the flood efforts!) I take it on Saturday. So if any of you read this before then wish me luck, say a prayer, think good thoughts because I HAVE to pass this test.

What a surprise!

I saw this on Julie's blog and got curious... What a shocker! I'm the only Gretchen Nicolaysen!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 0 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?