Best one liner's from Scout Camp

HOLY COW!! It's a Blog Post!

So, this past week, I had the chance to go to Scout Camp with the Young Men in our ward. Here are my favorite one-liners I heard while I was up there.

Taylor (13 year old Deacon) while holding a tortilla left over from our taco dinner, and walking around rummaging through the kitchen stuff, said...

"Do we have any cinnamon?!"

Yes, Taylor, we do have some... right next to the Grey Poupon, and Avian.

Overheard at a flag ceremony from a neighboring scout troop...

"It looks like a rash to me!"

And the best quote I heard? Came from Josh, (13 year old Deacon) when he had gotten his changed into his swimsuit, and was getting on his bike to ride to his merit badge classes, one of which being Rowing, (hence the swimsuit), we said, "Don't die Josh." He promptly responded...

"Brother Burnett, if I die, you can have my wife."

HOLY COW! Talk about generous! I was at a loss for words. Never have I been offered another person's future spouse. : )

CRAFT FAIR

Hey friends and family! I just wanted to invite you all to the craft fair we are throwing in Provo, on April 17. It is going to be a wonderful event full of amazing handmade items. Eighteen women have been putting in countless hours to share their talents. We have a really wide variety of items to be sold. Some of them are aprons, hair accessories, full coverage bibs, baby blankets, princess dress-ups, decorated flip flops, vinyl lettering wall decor, homemade suckers, jewelery, and baby dresses. We also have a couple of women selling in-home sales items like Miche Bags, Scentsy and Usborne Books. Come and find some wonderful ideas for Mother's Day, baby showers and bridal showers!

The fair will be from 1:00-6:00 at the Provo City Library. The address is 550 North University Avenue room number 201.

The only way this craft fair will be successful is if people hear about it. I would really appreciate as much publicity as possible. Blogs are a great way to get the word out. Mentioning it on your blog reposting this post on as many blogs as possible would be a great help. Thanks!

It's done, but has just begun...

For those of you who care, here's an update on all the craziness that has been going on.

I have been trying to balance school, work, church callings, family time, recreation, and every other imaginable ball in the amazing juggling act that I have been performing quite well for the past two semesters at BYU and while we are down here in Provo.

An interesting thing happened this past week, (Has it been a week yet? It's all a blur to me still.)

I had a meeting with a gentleman who was planning on splitting an office space with me, and we were talking about our backgrounds and what we were doing down here in Provo. He has been going to UVU in their Digital Media department for the past couple semesters, and was ranting and raving about it to me that day over lunch.

I told him that I loved my Sound Recording Technology Program that was at BYU, but there was only one problem with it. It was inside the School of Music. So therefore, all people in the degree were required to take all the theory, sight-singing, dictation, private lessons, practice their fannies off and sell their souls to the School of Music to just be in the program.

He proceeded to tell me that UVU had a degree in Digital Media, which had an Emphasis in Audio Production. He began to rave about the professors in the program and told me that I should talk to the advisor, and look into transferring. I wasn't sure about that, but decided it was worth looking into.

I told Misty about it, and she thought that it would be very nice if I could get my degree without all the (what we viewed) as unnecessary classes that wouldn't be applicable to the career that I was interested in. I also agreed, but we still didn't take any action.

After a stressful Monday (15th of March), of going to school, stressing out over work, and skipping out on private lessons to be able to spend the necessary time at get my work done up in Ogden, I got home VERY late and still having homework to do, and Misty asked (almost the way you would ask someone in passing,) "When is the last day to withdraw from classes at BYU?" I responded "I am pretty sure that it's tomorrow."

My cogs started turning. I thought about the weight that would lifted off of my shoulders and the free-time that I would be able to have to spend with my family. I woke up early on Tuesday morning, and looked up UVU's program. I concluded that UVU had a bit broader base in their Audio Production Emphasis than BYU had, without all the stress of the School of Music.

I also looked at the classes that I would be missing out on at BYU. I made an interesting discovery. There were 7 classes that were specific to the Sound Recording Technology Degree inside of the School of Music, and I had already taken 4 of them. I could take 2 of the others, without having be a Music Major! I really would only miss out on one class.

I went to UVU that morning, and met with the transfer department about GE's and classes that would transfer over, and ones that wouldn't. I found out that my Associates Degree from WSU would knock out all of my required GE classes, (Which they wouldn't at BYU) and of course UVU doesn't have any religion classes that are required to be taken on campus. (Did I mention that I am GRADUATING from INSTITUTE with 30 HOURS?! Yeah, I NEED a required class from BYU for a religion class.)

They said a number of my classes that I took for Sound Recording could also transfer over as well, but I would need to talk to the Digital Media department to get those over. Not a Problem. I can stand spending a few more hours in the studio. : )

Well, I made the leap, and I began dropping all my classes at BYU, except for my Sound Recording Classes. Goodbye: English, Sight Singing, Dictation, Theory, Private Lessons, and Symphonic Band. Hello Time!! : )

So now, I have 3 classes at BYU. Studio Recording II, Studio Design, and Principals of Audio II.

Those are the only classes I really wanted to take anyways!! All the other ones were for the degree, only because they were required by the School of Music.

I put in my application to UVU, already got accepted, and have been able to spend more time catching up at work, and focusing more on fulfilling my church callings. It's been great.

I don't know what the schedule or time committment will be at UVU, or if I will get scholarships or what, but I am excited to be able to have a great broad base of education, and be able to take those final two classes at BYU.

That's the latest from me!

-Phil

Money - Phil's Personal Essay Assignment

“Money, it’s a gas. Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash.” – Pink Floyd

My life has been filled with education and experiences that have consistently put me in positions to learn about money. I don’t think that it’s because I sought them out, but rather that they were put there by fate. I don’t necessarily think I have had more opportunities to learn about money than the next person, but I have been able to develop a firm grasp on where the “rubber meets the road,” or perhaps more appropriately stated “where the money meets the wallet.”

The first time I heard the phrase “Do something that you love to do, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life,” it was spoken by my father when I went to him for advice while searching for a desired path in school. I pondered on this thought quite extensively, for my father didn’t love what he did. He had been working for the same company for the past twenty-five years, and didn’t enjoy it. He did it because that’s what he knew how to do, and it brought money home to his wife and five kids.

My father in law wasn’t much different. He placed a high value on having degrees, and received his masters degree while he was in his late forties and urged me to do the same, so I could, “Get a good job.” I guess he thought that a “good job” was one where you were paid a little bit above average, and again, not something that you loved to do. He had been working on the military base near his home town for the past twenty-some-odd years now, and didn’t enjoy his work either.

I’m different. I don’t know whether I am different by nature, or by choice. One thing I refuse to do is to spend the next twenty years in a profession that I may know, but don’t love. If you aren’t doing what you love to do, then why are you doing it? Providing for your family I believe is a responsibility first and foremost as a husband and father, but wouldn’t your children have a better life and role-model if they could look up to someone who was truly living their dreams?

I have spent the past several years earning income and working towards living my dream. Not just to put food on the table, which gratefully I have been able to do, but to also develop myself as a man whom my children and wife could look up to and say “I’m proud of Phillip because he is actually doing it.” I want to show my children that they can live their dreams.

For the past several years, I have been employed in multiple professions dealing with finance. I have had months where I have made over ten thousand dollars, and other months where I have made nothing. I know that no job, especially right now, is a stable job, unless you are earning income for your employer, whether that employer is yourself, or someone else.

Through these employers I have been taught about goals, dreams, work ethic, and what it takes to make it. Surprisingly enough, I knew the answer all along, WORK. Those who do the jobs that no one else is willing to do, will get paid more than those who aren’t willing to do them. Multiple people out there know how to make money, and will help you do it as well, but only if you are willing to do what is asked of you. I have come to realize this truth. Applying it, well, that’s another lesson I am slowly improving on. Some months I do what is required, what others won’t, and I get rewarded accordingly. Other times I feel entitled that what I am doing is enough, an more often than not, those are the months that I don’t earn anything.

Over many years now, I have focused my vision on that which I believe can offer my family an income which will put food on the table, but also in a field that I have grown to love so that, according to the quote by my father, I won’t have to work a day in my life. That field is sound. It has become a passion of mine, and I will not rest until I have made that field my own. Whether I accomplish that in the next few years through the help of professors and colleagues, or the next few decades of tireless effort pushed forward by nothing but me and my determination, my sights are set, and nothing can break my gaze.

Not My Finest Mommy Moment

It all started yesterday at nap time. Carson absolutely refused to go down for a nap. He cried for 2 hours straight. Phil and I finally gave in an let him get out of bed and succumbed to the certainty of a day full many many break downs. We ended up putting him down to bed about 40 minutes early. Phil had to register for school this morning at 12:00 so I stayed up with him. We finally fell into bed at 12:30. This morning Carson woke up at 6:00. Yeah, that means I only got 5 1/2 hours of sleep. Not nearly enough for me. I'm not a nice person or a good mommy when I am tired. Carson has been needing a lot of attention this last week. If he doesn't get the attention he thinks he needs, he does something naughty to get it. Needless to say, I was very ready for him to go down for his nap today so I could get a much needed break, and maybe even catch a few winks myself. I put him down at his normal time. He went right to sleep and I was so happy. I got a few things done then was about to lay down and he started crying. I left him in his bed and he cried for 1/2 hour. I went and got him out of his bed and he continued to cry for the next 1 1/2 hours. I definitely shed a few tears of my own during that 1 1/2 hours. Now to the not so great mommy moment. I gave him some Benedryl, put him in his bed and shut the door. He is still crying so I don't know that it was even worth it.

Carson is 18 Months!

Carson is 18 months old today. We really can't believe how fast he has grown up. He gets bigger and smarter every day. He is continually doing things that surprise us. He has such a fun little personality. He loves people and loves attention. He is a little performer.

We never get tired of bragging about how smart he is, so here is a little more bragging. He can count to 13 without mistakes, 20 with a little help. He knows like 17-18 letters by sight and know all of the consonant sounds. He can sing the ABC's all the way through without help. He knows over 200 words and puts together 6-7 word sentences. I swear that he has to just hear a word once and he will remember it and the appropriate way to use it. He knows his first, middle and last name and can spell his first name. He knows all the colors and the common shapes. His new favorite thing is to call Phil and I by our first names. He thinks it's so funny when he does it.

Carson really loves to play with other children. I have been really impressed by how well he shares (usually) and cooperates (usually). He has a couple of fun neighbor friends and he asks to play with them every day. We are really looking forward to Nursery on Sunday. He is beyond ready to go. I don't think he will have any problems going in.

We just love out little boy! He has enriched our lives in ways we never thought imaginable.

If you want to see current pictures of him, check the previous post.

Carson 18 months!

Thanks so much to Angie Berrio! http://berriophotography.blogspot.com/ She is an amazing photographer, and Carson loved working with her!

These are Carson's 18 month photos. I can't believe how big he is! Which one is your favorite?

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First Semester Over!

Phil completed his first semester at BYU!

He had a pretty normal workload as far as other students are concerned. 14.5 credit hours. However, he had a HUGELY LARGE workload as compared to other students when you consider:

1. He is Married

2. He has a (now) 17 month old

3. He is the only provider for our family (We would have it no other way!)

4. He is the 1st counselor in the Y.M. Presidency in our Ward

5. He is the assistant Scoutmaster in the ward

6. He is in a program that is in the School of Music, where some classes only count for .5 of a credit hour but take the work of a class that is 3.0 credit hours

7. He is a Branch Manager of a Mortgage Operation and has responsibility over 25+ people.

Despite all this, grades have just come out, and he got a 3.96!! YIPEE!! He got an 'A' in all his classes but one, and in that one he got an A -, which he was very grateful for!

He also figured out his schedule for the remainder of his time at BYU, and he thinks that he can be done with his program by April of 2011. That's only a year away from this Spring! We are all very excited.

Go Go GO!!

2010 Here we come!

Well, 2009 was filled with a bunch of changes! Moving from our house, changing focuses in multiple areas like School and work, watching Carson grow, it has been a crazy year.

We are looking forward to a great 2010, and this past weekend we spent it celebrating our Anniversary. With School starting on the 4th, (which is actually our anniversary), we celebrated a little earlier. We found this awesome bed and breakfast up in Providence, Utah. Check it out here:

http://www.providenceinn.com/

We also had an opportunity to go see Avatar, and we both were pleasantly surprised! To just imagine how much CGI was involved, just blew our minds away. I was also impressed that though it was CGI, there were some camera jerks here and there, that made it seem as if someone was actually holding a camera, and made it more realistic for myself. (Did that even make any sense?)

It also marked the first time that we left Carson overnight. (17 months old right now) Thanks to Michelle and Brian, (who already have 5 little ones of their own) for watching him! It was a great break for us, though we were really excited to go and pick him up the next day. He is just a cute little boy, and even at this minute is pushing the Off button on the T.V. then turning to us and saying "Where did it go?", "Where did it go?". Cute boy!

2010 comes upon us now, and here are just a few things that we are looking forward to:

1. We have a renewed vigor to have an organized FHE every Monday.

2. Phil is actually going to GO home teaching. : ) (Sorry families!!)

3. We have renewed our 2009 goal to go to the temple once a month. (Baby Sitter Volunteers are welcome!) Finding someone to watch Carson, and feeling like we aren't imposing on them has been our biggest obstacle.

4. Phil actually wants to write in a journal daily. He is debating on whether or not to do it on a blog, and just make it private, or do it by hand. Obviously typing is a lot faster than writing by hand.

We have a feeling that 2010 will be a great year for us over here!