Tustifiesta 2010

It's official. We are going to Bear Lake and staying in Garden City, UT. We got a 7 bedroom house for the week of June 12-19, 2010. You can check it out here: http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/58767.html.
Some highlights, aside from the bunk room for all the 4-8 year old boys and rooms for all the grown-ups, are wireless, 4 wheelers, a fire pit, a grill, a theater room, a game room, and jetted tubs both in the master bathroom and the upstairs bathroom. We can plan the trip here on the Tustifiesta website.

Giant Snowstorm of '09

Here is the aftermath of the latest snowstorm to hit the east coast. We got about two feet of snow, and lucky for us, the snowplows decided to not snowplow the cul-de-sac where we live, so the kids were off school today and I couldn't make it into work.

"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!""

It's going to be lots of fun to have all of your here for part of the Christmas season. Just a few questions??
***Are there special meals you would like to have and would you like to have a responsibility over one of the meals?
***What are the special requests for drinks to be available in the downstairs refrigerator??
***What "treats" would you like to have on hand??
***Just a FYI - the Nicholas Christmas party will be on Saturday, Dec. 26 at 1:00 at the Fielding Firehouse.
***Is there anything that any one of you would like to do while here??
Let us know so that we can (to the best of our ability) accomodate everyone's wishes.
MOM & DAD

Uninvited

Apparently, the Philly Tustisons have not been invited to the Snyder blog. Did anyone else notice they can't view their blog? Please, I thought we were friends.

TustiTri

Who: All Tustison Kids
What: Triathlon
Where: St. George, UT
When: Saturday May 15, 2010
Why: Wouldn't it be awesome for ALL of us to do the triathlon. It could be a tribute to Dad!

Registration opens Thanksgiving Day!

What is that?

Aiden recently took a math test and did well. I don't suppose that in itself is blogworthy but, as Kim noticed, Aiden's art skills are another matter.

Does anybody remember this?

Random Posting

Gator Bait Memorial Triathlon

(Let me know if you get sick of these Triathlon posts)

Last Saturday we tackled the Gator Bait Memorial Triathlon. I write ‘we’ because Jenn was also out in full force – taking on the elements as much, if not more than me. After months of little to no rain in the San Antonio area, the clouds finally decided to let loose last week, including this past Saturday. Needless to say, Jenn was up to her knees in mud.

This was my second triathlon. After having done the Tri-It-in Spanish in June, I was ready to let it all hang out and not have to wrestle with any pre-race jitters. I had also been doing more lower-body weight training as well as more time on the bike. The rain did change things a bit for the race overall. Because of the way the course was configured, the race officials had to change the location of transition areas and, more importantly, change the format from Swim-Bike-Run to Swim-Run-Bike.

Pre-Race We woke up at about 4:30 am. The race didn’t start until 8 am but the course was about 45 minutes away and I’m not a fan of last-second stuff. Besides, I had gotten in the habit again of waking up for the past two weeks for seminary. I made myself a banana protein shake with a couple pieces of toast, packed up the Centurion, goggles, and spandex, and headed off to Boerne Lake (pronounced Burn-ee).

Swim – 600 meters
There were four or five waves of about 300 people, divided up into age and gender. Everyone around me seemed nervous that the Lake would be cold due to the recent rain. I wasn’t too worried though – I earned the Polar Bear patch from Scout Camp, I spent two years pouring freezing mountain water over me out of a bucket every morning in Honduras, and the Lake had no urine detector capabilities. I’ve been swimming quite a bit since the last triathlon and hoped this would translate into a good time. As part of the first wave, age 34 and under, I made my way out in to the water. Because this would be my first wave start and since I didn’t know where I would stack up, I didn’t want to jump in the front. I also didn’t want to have to claw past competitors doing the backstroke after 25 meters. With those parameters, I planted myself toward the outside of the pack. If I had to swim a little bit extra, so be it. I didn’t want a kick in the face from the hardcore bicycle guy with calves the size of my torso.

I started out well enough and found myself out in front with another guy. I couldn’t really see very well either. I think I’m using the same goggles from my senior year in high school so they weren’t the clearest things in the world. The front of them looked like Cassie and Ted took turns chewing on them. At one point I had to stop, pull up my goggles and find the finish line after rounding the second buoy (thank you contacts!) I was pretty shocked that I was the second person to exit the water in the first wave and first in my age group by about a minute and a half (30-34). It was more intense than the previous triathlon in which the swim started like a time trial (participants starting 3 seconds apart) – and since I was one of the last participants in that race, no one was really there to cheer except for Jenn (not that I need to be cheered for). This time, I was in second place for a little while and I didn't know how to handle it. The transition went okay. At the end of the day (after all the waves) I had the 5th best swim time. My final time for the 600 meters was 8:09. Man, I was pumped.

Run – 4 miles
The problem with being second out of the water is that you can only be passed, which I was, frequently. I had a hard time controlling my breathing at the beginning but was thankfully able to finish without losing my breakfast, which is something I always worry about. My pace in the run was 7:50 min/mile which was a little disappointing, but much better than my last run split for just two miles (8:05) and faster over a distance twice as long. I think if this had been after the bike, I would have done better- my breathing after the swim was an issue. On this leg I was the 3rd fastest time in my age group even though my pace was about 20 seconds slower than I wanted. Not bad considering I was hyperventilating the whole time.

Bike – 12.2 miles
At this point of the race I’m in medal contention, but I knew it wouldn’t last long. At the second transition I realized I had forgotten to untie the laces on my bike shoes. Sure enough, I was again passed frequently. But I’m okay with that for now. I have come to the conclusion through spotty anecdotal evidence that the majority of non-professional triathletes come into the sport with a specific strength – and at least 75% of the time, this strength is the bike. It makes sense since it is the longest of the three legs and it provides additional opportunities to showcase this talent that may not be available otherwise. Also, before the race, the super nice guy next to me at the bike transition was showing me his $7K tri bike with $3K wheels. It was something to behold– and yes, he passed me on his bike.

Notwithstanding being overtaken steadily, I approached this leg of the race different this time around. On my first triathlon I was unsure of how long the 12 miles really was and how it would affect my running. This time, it was no holds barred. Sure enough, my pace went up from 15.5 mph in my first tri to 17.1 mph. Much of it was due to some long rides and hitting the weights over the past few weeks. The only problem was about halfway through I misplaced my lucky Gatorade water bottle and it went flying along the side of the road (I stopped and picked it up). I was 11th in the bike leg for my age group. Regardless, the ‘85 Centurion was a beast!

Results
Putting all this together, I was happy with my second time out. It was a blast even with the rain or maybe because of the rain. I ended up in 4th place in my age group (out of 27) and 35th overall (out of about 300).

This is a lame video of the event I threw together with Jenn's awesome videography skills. Somehow the race-finish portion got all messed up and is unretrievable. You would have seen me almost do a face plant because I tried to get fancy and my foot got stuck.

Bribe Accepted

Would you believe me? I’m put in a bind. It’s that situation that only junior high memories can recall. “If you do this, I’ll let you do that.” Well, I’m there again.

Two tickets to an NFL game: Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans. A student offered me them saying “Here are two tickets. For you and your girlfriend. Do you want them?” Of course I did, but fearing retribution for accepting what might be considered a bribe, I took my (what I thought) moral dilemma to the administraition who waved it off, saying “…as long they’re not expecting anything in return.” So, I’m going: SUNDAY, Sept 27 at 1:00. Though it runs in my lesson time, that isn’t my biggest issue.

So, do I have to find a girl to take? What mormon girl is going to go to an NFL game on a Sunday (and who is relatively attractive). Now I’m put in that same situation I was in for the And 1 tournament (though I’m hoping to see more action than that game). Where do I find the resources? I know no one.

"Favor, please?"

Dad was sick the last couple of days. He went in to see the doctor. While there, he had to give a speciman. He waited outside the bathroom door for about 10 minutes because the door was locked. Pretty soon a little old lady came out with her walker, saw Jim standing there, and said, "Young man, could you do me a favor? I can't get my pants undone. Would you please help me undo these buttons?" Well, dad, being a kind and compassionate person, obliged. She then went back into the bathroom for another 10 minutes. The staff could not stop laughing.

Just in case you wanted to know........................

I am sure you were all wondering so here is the Christmas gift schedule********
Nick and Kim buy for Chad and Jenn
Clint and Mayka buy for Sam and Mike
Chad and Jenn buy for Trevor
Samantha and Mike buy for Nick and Kim
Trevor buys for Clint and Mayka
***********and you all buy for Mom and Dad!!!!!

Which holes do you prefer?

When you got that glow...

Who's the master?!?!?

-Sho 'nuff

Who's the master?!?!?

-Sho 'nuff!

I. Can't. Hear. You.

-SHO 'NUFF!!!!

Yeahhhhh......

Our New Toy

Now that Dad is through "bishoping", we can play with our new toy!!!

the verdict

So the verdict is in........ it looks like I will be the only girl in the family... I will be the queen dictator....OK not really, but maybe really

My First Tri

A couple of weeks ago, I did my first triathlon: the “Tri-It in Spanish” super sprint triathlon.

Pre-Race
The night before the race, Jenn got home from girls camp at about midnight and I was up waiting for her walking around in my ‘tri’ shorts hoping Louis Garnier was a triathlete of sorts because his name was written on the spandex along my thigh. My alarm rang at 4:45 Saturday morning and my first thought was “wow, this is early in the morning.” My second thought was, “wait, this is the time my alarm has gone off for the last nine months.” And then I remembered I would be teaching seminary for another year and cried inside for the next 3 hours.

Race start time was 8 am. We arrived at about 6:45 so I could get my timing chip, get my bike inspected and set up my transition area. I also had to get my bicep marked with my number and my calf marked with my age, both of which I flexed. As I took my bike through the transition area to find an open space, I couldn’t help but notice the different kinds of equipment the triathletes had. It was slightly intimidating. After I set out my transition area (thank you youtube), I noticed everyone fiddling with thing-a-majigs, making adjustments to what’s-it-called, and generally breathing deep. As for me, I squeezed my tires with my fingers, dusted off the seat a couple of times and wondered where I was supposed to apply the free sample of body glide I held in my right hand.

Swim – 300 meters
Because the swim course was small (in a private ski lake) we went off the dock individually – about every 3 seconds. Obviously I knew going in that the swim would be the best leg of the race for me. I passed a bunch of people and swam over a group of girls swimming four-wide. I think they were upset after that. I was nice though and didn’t kick them in the face as I went by. Unfortunately, my individual times were not recorded – only start and end time. There were a few of us that the split times didn’t show up right (only the run – 8:05 minute miles). Oh well. Because of the very little rain, the water had sunk to lower levels than Jon and Kate Plus Eight and I struggled a little as I made my way onto the boat ramp due to the shifting mud. At the transition, the mud stuck like clay to the bottom of my feet and after picking off most of it, I was off on the bike.

Bike - 12 miles
The good news was that I had, as my steel stallion, the original “silver bullet” Centurion 1985(?) edition. I was hoping that the bike would channel triathlon chi through my body like Dr. Pepper on Fast Sunday. Unfortunately, even the bike’s nostalgic powers couldn’t help a cycling novice like myself.

Overall the first transition went smoothly. I got the clips in without too much difficulty. I didn’t know how the bike would go so I took it pretty easy – I think a little too easy. I think it was about 12 miles and I definitely had enough in me at the end to go harder on the bike. I also finally applied the sample of body glide (not during - that would have been dangerous and probably would have broken local decency laws). Just thought you should know. Bottom line was I passed more people than passed me. Of course, most of them were riding mountain bikes or had flats on the side of the road.

Run – 2 miles
As I pulled into the second transition, I made an executive decision to go sockless on the run. My feet were still caked with clay from transitioning from swim to bike and I didn’t feel like shaking them out. Besides, the run was only two miles. I was able to pass most of the folks that passed me on the bike. It was mega-hot outside and at about the 1-mile mark I reached out for what I thought was cold water and instead got warm sports drink. It made my stomach grumble and gurgle. Naturally I thought of Revelation 3:16. I crossed the finish line pretty strong but about 10 seconds later I threw up five times in succession. It was probably due to overexertion. It’s weird that I don’t feel it though until after I stop exercising.

Anyway, It was a fun. I came in 79th overall and 13 out of 27 in my age group. Can’t wait to do one in September.

Raccoon Ruckkus

We had been hearing a rustling sound downstairs in the work room. It was a little unnerving, but after a couple of days we didn't hear anything. So move to Thursday evening. Dad went down to get something in the freezer. He turned on the light, walked around the corner and saw two raccoons racing on the top of the food storage boxes. Apparently, they were trying to hide. Well, they didn't do a very good job of it. When Jim got back upstairs, he said, "If I tell you something, would you promise to not freak out?" Okay, was my response. "Well, he said, "I just saw two raccoons run for their life." I didn't hold to my promise. We immediately got on the phone to try to get ahold of animal control. This was at 9:30 p.m. Well, no answer. Can you believe that!!! So I looked in the yellow pages and found Critter Control. Caleb answered. We explained the problem and he said he would be out in the morning. So we barricaded the top of the stairs, shut all the doors to the downstairs rooms and tried to sleep. Then Jim went merrily off to work and I stayed home - never venturing downstairs. Caleb came about 10:30, assessed the situation, and said we probably have a momma and a few babies. Great!!!! He even showed me hole where they were coming through. Of course, I didn't see anything. Caleb set a trap on the roof, showed me how to see if the trap had been sprung, and said to call him in the morning. Because raccoons are nocturnal, nothing would probably happen until the nocturnal came. Jim came home for lunch, I appraised him of the problem and showed him the hole where the critters had been living. Of course, now I saw a bunch of fur pulsating. I was a nervouse wreck all afternoon. We decided to go to the movies on Friday night to get away. We got home about 10:00 and as I passed the stairs, there they were - three big babies running up the stairs. I ran and Jim grabbed the broom. The babies run the other way back into their hiding place. Well, I tried to sleep last night, worried about having to go to the bathroom, and hoping they didn't jump the barricade. It was a horrible night - weird dreams. Along with worrying about the raccoons, I shouldn't have eaten Taco Bell at a quarter to ten. Anyhoo, Caleb showed up this morning and yes, the momma was caught in the trap. He carried it down from off the roof in the cage. Then it stuck a big brush down the chimney to push the babies down to the basement. Then he and Jim went downstairs to capture the babies. I heard growling, snarling, crying and that was just Jim. No, just kidding. Anyhoo, they caught them all and took them away. They will come back later on today and put caps on the chimney. Now Jim is cleaning up the mess in the work room where they were playing and pooping and probably watching TV. Needless to say, it was quite an ordeal. I for one, am glad there are people out there who, when they are young, say, "I want to grow up to be a Critter Controller!!" My hat is off to them. And may I say as a P.S. I already had empathy for Carole, but much more now.

Bonnie Tyler Anyone?

Wasn't this Nick's favorite video on MTV?

OK, try this.

Sometime between June 15 and 16

**Spoiler alert**
Not too long ago, I caught myself indulging in a woosy way of getting scared by reading the story line to several thriller movies. Ironically, I started reading the plot to the Tarantino film, "Hostel." Now, mom and dad, if you´re reading this I suggest you avoid the movie like the plague so that your already disrupted peace of mind doesn´t completely lose itself.
Near the beginning of the film (and the problems of the protagonists, if you want to call them that), the main characters enter their own hostel room to find two smoking hot young women taking off their shirts in some seductive manner that is only completely pleasing to these male backpackers. Afterwards, bodies are chopped up, conspiracies are discovered, and lessons of life are brought into perspective.e As I was recounting my encounter with this new form of literature with Nick, my older brother, and the possible consequences of finding that opening sequence my first night abroad, he advised, "Definitely. If something is too good to be true, it probably is and you need to get out of there."
Well, my night didn´t quite open like that, but if moviespoiler.com has taught me anythihng it is that there is always a way to counteract any foreign problems you might encounter. So as I got into the hostel pick up service (which consisted of an ancient green nissan) with two attractive British girls, my mind began to race to find a solution to my potentially horrifying situation. How could I counteract the situation I was in? Well instead of smooth talking my way out, or jumping out of the moving car in the middle of Avenida Insurgentes, or even subtely accentuating my pecs to thwart any uprising agains this Harry Potter look-a-like, I resorted back to my days of when I actually tried to attract girls. Political, economic, and cultural knowledge were all used to impress (or rather bore)these girls into denying any of sort of prospective victim-hood that they might have seen. Never too successful in the past while trying to date, I gigured this time these methods might save me. As a n expert on reverse psychology I was able to preven the undesirable situation of being chained up to a wall while immensely rich entrepreneurs took a shot at quenching their insatiable appetite for the horrific at my expense.
As is mentioned before, it is sometime in between two days and though the loud horns of the taxis, the snoring roommate, my horrible headache, and the excitement of seeing people from my old area are all culminating to contribute to my recent bout with insomnia, this random epiphany was the catalyst to me actually getting up and writing tonight. But, if the symptoms persist, and Tarantino seems to find himself a narrator in my life consistently a bit more, then I´ll just have to resort to my last option: just wait a minute while a look for my pass-along cards...

Tour de Tustison

This is a record of Chad playing with a new toy... he kept saying somthing like "watch out Lance ..." or was it "watch out Clint...."

Then after I stopped recording he came in to stop and ... well lets just say most people need to put their feet on the ground when they stop going. I know I fell on the ground more than once when I forgot to unclip my feet from the pedals.

ED and Sunday Sacrilege

Well since Mom and Dad are on the road and can't easily censure my postings to Tustizone I'm going against my better judgment and posting another episode in the adventures of being Aiden's dad.

So Aiden and I were watching baseball when one of those commercials came on. You know the ones---the football going through the tire, a man swinging his wooden bat, and a woman being picked up by her slightly gray haired husband and frolicking through the leaf pile. Anyway, Aiden asks me "Hey Nick, what's erectile dysfunction?" Not wanting to deal with the question, I tried passing it off onto Kim by asking, "Well, Aiden, who do you think would know more about erectile dysfunction?" to which he says, in all earnestness, "Um, Jesus?". I don't think I've ever felt so guilty laughing.

Fingers Crossed

So this weekend has been interesting..... well besides the fact that Sam threw something at a bird and killed it, he felt really bad.... but today at church Rhys was getting up to leave the classroom and somehow the little metal chair he was siting on collapsed and he pinched his pinkies. I took him to after hour care... and sure enough he fractured both his pinkies and probably dislocated one of them, though he cut one badly it was more surface and so at lest he didn't need stitches, that would have reeked.  Anyway he was a real trooper, in the morning I will call and get him in to see and orthopedic surgeon.  Until then he has his hands/fingers in a splint or soft cast thing.  Hopefully he will have more mobility with his other fingers with a different kind of splint.  We'll see and keep our fingers crossed or straight if you Rhys.   

My Happy Place

So I have to share pictures of my happy place....... my new bathroom.  Let's just say it was      
nast-o-rama, to say the lest.  So anywhooo, my amazing hubby gutted our bathroom leaving only the ceiling.  After he took the drywall off and everything else it smelled gross, which was a test for me and my pukey self, it was the beginning of many smelly nights but luckily Rhys doesn't care if I come in and move him to the floor and sleep in his bed.  Thanks to Devin a good family friend who helped with the tile and is Clints mentor, and Nick who helped put the toid and sink in....it was completed in one month and only cost and arm instead of and arm and a leg....... and part of Clint's heel (which he gouged out when installing the shower door), and now we have a complete new bathroom. The only things we kept from the old bathroom was the ceiling and the towel rod. I was going for a spa organic feel in there and dorky me every time I walk by it I have to go in and look....I love it.  I can't wait to do the other bathroom and the kitchen and a patio....if only we had a money tree.  Riley wants a tree that grows Dr. Pepper, but I say a $ tree would be better...so here are some pictures for those of you who truly know how gross it was... you will truly like.                   

Gotta love it

I went back up to the school yesterday to say hello/goodbye to the kids. One of my students was so sweet and brought Hazel some cute outfits.
Inside the bag was a card:

I'm gonna miss stuff like this.
No other job do you get a card for death when you have a baby.

HISTORY

                                                 Today history has been made!!!

I know that it has been  a long time comin' and I'm sure my mom will be stoked!  Summer is coming and my bouffant child Rhys  over heats just playing ninjas.  So we decided to give him a hair cut.... well lets just say things got out of control and the result is HISTORY..... who knew thats what my kids looked like. 

                                                 

Mother's Day Gifts

At my work baby shower, I received several Wal-mart gift cards. So we decided to buy a glider. Isn't it nice looking? (Luckily it's micro fiber and cleans easily because Oliver already pee'd on it.)

Then Mike brought home my Mother's Day Gifts, that went along well with the chair. (We never give presents on the day that we are actually supposed to.)

Some Food and Drink to Snack on...

...and some reading material

He knows me too well.

The pink hat proves it...

Winner and First Time Champion!!!!

Congratulations to Clint and his two cohorts modeling their new swimwear line. Can we say "Your parents must be so proud!!"

"We Are a Happy Family!"

So what do you think of the name "Binger, Bed and Breakfast". Clint could make the orange rolls and Dad could make the chorizo burritos. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think???

Help!!

I'm wondering if any of you could help me out with something. I need to know if there was something that dad taught you when you were in your younger years that you still remember today - something uplifting, motivating or inspiring. It could be a one or two liner. I know a couple - Attitude is everything and Get out of your comfort zone. Do you have any others? Just a note - they will be going out to the congretation so keep that in mind.
Thanks

butt free Hawaii

So really I'm just getting tired at look at the last post, knowing full well that my cheeks will never be that firm.... So I decided that I better post some real Hawaii pictures for you all to enjoy, and there are none of Trevor in his speedo, but I'll have you know he left them at our house in HI

Obama....to Hawaii.

OK, so the Obama theme didn't gain the acceptance of everyone, but it was my bipartisan approach to reach across the proverbial isle (yes, the one in the middle of the ocean).

So, in the spirit of reconciliation, here's something everyone loves. The view in Hawaii.

Enjoy.

What ?????

Get that guy off the Tustizone if you want any of the inheritance - and I mean, any of the inheritance~~

March Madness

True Blue USU

For those of you who haven't heard, Mike was accepted into Utah State for next fall. So it looks like we'll be heading to Logan during the summer. (Yea...for negative numbers during the winter!)

We also just found out that he received the out-of-state transfer scholarship which brings his tuition down to below in-state tuition costs for his first 2 years, which is awesome. Otherwise, we would have had to pay out-of state tuition which was not an option we wanted to look at.

Rise and Shout the Aggies are OUT!

(Have I been Disowned yet?)

Tis True

June 15, 9:24 AM - Flight Departure to Mexico City.

Baby Time!

I'm scheduled to be induced tomorrow morning. Originally I wanted to have the baby on Friday because of school stuff, but all week I've been showing signs and feeling like I'm getting pretty close. So, today they gave me a choice of being induced tomorrow, waiting until Monday, or just going when I go. Obviously, the latter was intolerable because I would have no control over that. (That's also why I'm now really annoyed that I'm having some painful contractions tonight.) Waiting until Monday would be okay, but let's face it, January's birthstone is so much cooler than February's, so tomorrow it is.


Update: 6 pounds, 7 ounces

Working with Lenna

You know when Mom tells people what we do at work and its usually not quite accurate like when she says that Clint heads up a counter-terrorist unit. Or that Chad is governor of Texas. Or that I'm head of research at Penn. Or that Samantha is ...wait, I don't know what she says about Samantha or Trevor. Anyway, she can now tell people that I'm an internationally published Playboy image analysis expert. One of my articles was recently accepted for an image processing journal in our field and one of the examples I used was the well-known Playboy picture of Lena Soderberg---often referred to as `Lenna'. Don't worry---it's only a headshot. You can see it in Fig. 5 (along with the rest of my article) here. You can read about the history of the Lenna photograph in the image analysis field on Wikipedia. Oh, and in case you're interested, I give a shout out to BYU in my biographical sketch at the end of the article.

Musings

Just a few musings on the holiday season:
Your dad and I made a deal that we wouldn't get each other anything for Christmas. We even shook on it. So Christmas morning we went out and exercised and then came back in and opened presents. That took about 5 seconds. Then I happened to see an envelope under the tree. It had my name on it. Well, it was a very sweet Christmas card from your dad. And he had written a poem to me. Well, I bawled for a little bit and then I was upset. He, in my opinion, had broken the deal. What say you???? (Just for the record, I wasn't upset for the whole day - just part of the day)

I want you all to give it up for two family favorites that have been with the family for many years. We had to retire them this last week. They were the treadmill (Vitamaster) and the mixer (K-Tech) So of course, we had to get new ones. And you all know Dad's rule about getting new things. I dare you to picture that!!!!!

With the possibility of Mike transfering to a school out of state, I decided I should probably start working on getting certified. So about a month 1/2 ago I took the Praxis II certification test which many of the other states require (including Utah). Well, I found out that I passed a few weeks back, but I hadn't got my score report yet. When we got home from Maryland This was in the mail:

I opened it and found this:

For those of you who need to put on your reading glasses to see the fine print, I'll save you time and let you know that it says I scored in the top %15 of all test takers and it will be reported as "Honors" on my score report. Basically I'm the smartest person out there.