THE FIRST BORN TWIN

Moved

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 06:13:00 +0000

I've started blogging on a new family blog. You're welcome to check it out here.

Exercise

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:23:00 +0000

There are lot's of ways to get exercise. One way that is not fun is running after your dog through your neighbors front, side and back yards.

Water Bound

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:25:00 +0000

New Year's Eve Part III

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:34:00 +0000

Happy New Year! The Bertsch Twins spent the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009 with the Johsens with an unusual sleepover. We actually had a sleepover. (Wow!) I played cribbage with Kauwila and he beat me the first game! We then spent January 1st together. It was such a great way to welcome the New Year.

Mom the Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:10:00 +0000

The other day we had some friends over. We were playing games and what-do-you-know Mom won! I can't remember a time that she won a group game before. (She does win in Cribbage often.) I promised her that I'd post something about it as it's such a big deal in our family. Plus, she looked so cute!

New Year's Eve Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:16:00 +0000

I forgot to take pictures of the Johsens while they were at our house in the morning on the last day of the year 2008. We went for a wonderful walk with Mary Scot (Our new dog that I have not yet mentioned on my blog.). That was the first part of New Year's Eve.

Phase II took us to Phil's Fish Market where Deep Elem was playing. If you would like to hear this awesome band I just realized that they have a MySpace account which has a few songs you can listen to.

Providence

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:16:00 +0000

Here are some Forth Day of Christmas pictures.

Christmas Eve

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 23:20:00 +0000

On Christmas Eve we went to the Johsens and enjoyed visiting with them, Grandma Viv and the Abbott Family. Leslie (Mama Abbott) took a picture of us sisters. Which reminds me my blog started with the title "One of Three" referring to the fact that I'm one of three sisters. My new title is very clear and needs no explanation.

Gingerbread House

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:10:00 +0000

When I was out of town around Thanksgiving I planned for my students to have a gingerbread house making project. It was then I realized that I plan all the really fun not academic stuff for other people to do with my students!

But, that was a side note. The real reason I am posting is to share with you a few photos and a story. A few years ago Osanna had the great idea to make gingerbread and do gingerbread houses with some of our dear friends. I thought it was a good idea and planned to be around to help. Of course when the fun started I couldn't be kept away. I just needed to make one too. The project is a bit harder than you might remember from childhood. Getting the roof to stand up nicely is not an easy task. The others decided to have flat roofs, I repeat FLAT ROOFS. Have you ever seen a gingerbread house with a flat roof? I couldn't believe it. And although my house didn't win the competition it should have because it was the only one with a nice peaked roof.

Jamming

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:48:00 +0000

Tonight was Monday Night Jam. We've been hosting a jam in our home for the last six or seven month and our good friend Mary is a faithful attendee. We hadn't seen each other for a few weeks because of the holidays and were catching up on the news between songs. Someone mentioned that Luke and Billy were both up for vocalist of the year with the NCBA. We agreed that they were both great singers then the conversation went something like this:

Me: "When Billy sings he touches your soul."

Mary: "But, when Luke sings he melts your heart."

Osanna: "I'm glad I can't vote!"

Seriously, how do you vote between heart and soul?

Dance

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:17:00 +0000

Last night the family went to a dance. I am the only one in the family who has (I mean had) never been to a dance. It was so much fun!

We did the Virginia Reel and a circle dance where the ladies changed partners and got to dance with all the men. (I couldn't find any video for it, but I looked.)

The only awkward thing was that we were told to dress in a "cowboy/cowgirl" style. When Osanna, Mom and I arrived... Well, mostly just Osanna and I looked like we had got those instructions. The host was delighted and we decided to have fun no matter if we looked a bit silly. :)

1958

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:40:00 +0000

I guess autograph books were the "thing" in 1958. I was snooping around in my mom's things and found hers. Big Daddy (her dad) said "To my Angelpuss who sometimes acts like a Demon" but, on the whole, most people thought she should stay as cute and sweet as she was.

Her girlfriends had special little ways of saying things like:

2 cute
2 be
-----
4 gotten

2 young
2 go
-----
4 boys

and "sitting on (picture of a top) of the (picture of the world)
and "my (drawing of a heart) (drawing of a pair of pants) 4 U

Her boyfriends also had cute things to say like:

"Gayle Gayle in the tub
Gayle's mother forgot the plug
Oh my goodness! Oh my soul!
There goes Gayle down the hole"
(He also added "your cute and I really mean it")

And after she broke her nose:

Roses are red
Violets are blue
you have a nose
like a B-52

*I kept the spelling and capitalizations as they were written.

Anne Frank

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:38:00 +0000

I just finished reading Anne Frank.

I Think I Got To One

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:13:00 +0000

This morning because of the rain I left early for work. I'm a bit proud of the fact that I am rarely late. Once or twice Osanna I were stuck in traffic due to an accident on 17, but we still made it to work before anyone else. Today that all changes. I'm still on the road actually, Osanna's typing for me. School started 15 minutes ago. And I don't anticipate being there for another 30-40 minutes. I'm cruising along at 0 miles an hour. The speedometer is seriously not moving. Wait, I'm at 1! Ahh, back to 0.
(Note from Osanna: I don't miss this part of the commute!)

When They Came to Visit

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:07:00 +0000

When Lis and Providence came to visit I took Providence out on a date. I don't remember all that we did, but the drive home was memorable. We were in the garden shop looking at plants and flowers when she started saying she itched. We left a few minutes after that and as I was putting her into her car seat I noticed that her feet were red and swollen with bumps. It looked like hives. I looked up her leg and noticed a few more. By the time I had gone around to get into the driver seat she had more. At the stop light there were even more. She was starting to cry. (Being itchy and swollen and hot must not feel good!) I got home, we were about five minutes away, and carried her inside and dropped the bomb on Lis, "She has hives really bad hives." Anyway, the odd thing was my other niece in Idaho got hives almost the same hour! The doctor in Idaho said there was no connection between them. But, I have a hard time believing that there was no connection even though they hadn't seen each other in a week.

4x100

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:54:00 +0000

The greatest moment while watching the Olympics for me was this. I know it's been a while, but better late than never. It was late at night when we saw it at Amy and Allen's. My mom was in tears, while the rest of us were jumping around and screaming. Even my dad was watching it, but, poor Uriah missed it.

I Thread

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:31:00 +0000

After reading my cousins blog about getting her eye brows threaded. I stared to wonder if it would be a hard thing to learn. Videojug took care of that. It's very easy and extremely fun.

Shotokan Karate

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:52:00 +0000

Last July when I was in Colorado I had a chance to see my young cousin at his Tae Kwon Do class. It looked so fun! I wanted to join a class but never got around to pricing it out.

Last week some friends of ours told Osanna about a Karate class they were helping to teach. We jumped at the chance to join. Sadly, I was sick for the first meeting and couldn't go. But this week I was able to go to my first class. I loved it! I am so looking forward to next week.

There are some really cool things about the class: There are many different levels, it's a supportive environment, it's affordable and really fun! I am sure as the class goes on that I will find even more reasons to love going.

My Favorite?

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:26:00 +0000

I've been so into Deep Elem that I haven't mentioned some of the other bands that are my high on my list of wonderful. I love that I can hear Deep Elem live so often. In my car right now I only have The Abbott Family Band CD's so when I choose to listen to something in the car it's The Abbott's, and it's been this way for months. I really like them. Also, I like Brother Down, a group from our Church who don't play very often as Brother Down, but they do play at Church every week. I only wish that I could hear The Abbott's and Brother Down live more often!

Camping News and More!

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:28:00 +0000

Camping was a blast. After a few people asked me I thought I would add that it was a music festival. Yes, more music! We were able to jam with the best band around (Deep Elem). Which was my highlight.

I had my eyes tested yesterday which included getting them dilated. Walking around Costco while waiting for them to finish dilating and then eating dinner and watching a movie at home with sunglasses on was unusual. Glad to have that over and even more glad that my eyes are in great shape!

I am not super excited that I've gotten a cold. I am hoping for it to pass soon.

Camping

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:35:00 +0000

The Bertsch kids are going camping! Can't wait.

Last Year

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:52:00 +0000

I think I had the best first year teaching. What a blessing from God.

Billy

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:26:00 +0000

I mentioned Billy of Deep Elem and Bean Creek in the previous post. What I didn't say is that he is my JamShop Coach. (Yes, that really is the title.) But I prefer to think of him as my Fearless JamShop Leader, and that's just because I heard someone say it once and I liked the ring of it. I look forward to jamming with him each week. He is a great encourager and gives tips like he's got an endless supply of them. Everyone learning to play should have their own version of Billy.

Deep Elem

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:45:00 +0000

The best, most fun bluegrass band around. I love going to hear them, and put it kinda high on my priority list. Thankfully, I'm not the only one, Osanna and Uriah love hearing them too. Last night was Uriah's 18th birthday and he wanted to hear them. We had just found out on Monday that they were playing and were surprised. Osanna and I had taken him out two days early to
hear Bean Creek, which is also a good band.

I especially love how Deep Elem sounds together. Annie got the best fiddler award for Northern California (or something like that) and she deserves it. It's a treat to watch her play. You can tell she loves it. Billy is a great singer. He got the best singer award. I love how much he puts into each song. It's no wonder he is dripping sweat each time he plays and sings. (Or at least every time I've seen him!) Sarah does a great job on the bass and Jon plays the banjo and the mandolin. He is really good and somewhat over looked.

Deep Elem

Deep Elem again

Uriah, Osanna, Annie and me

Jon and me

Annie (the best fiddler!) and me (although I'm sure you've got that by now.)

Poker

noreply@blogger.com (Ivanna) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 01:48:00 +0000

Last night we had a game night at the Johsens. As usual spending time with them was great. The Abbott brothers joined us and we ended up playing games until around 10:30 or 11. Today after Church we played music in the park (which seems like it is becoming a tradition) and decided that we needed to spend some more time with the Johsens. Dinner at their house! Yay! We played more poker and Leahi and I were a team. We were raking in the money as this picture shows. Such fun!