Ukiah

So it has been a while since I have posted. I've been home in Washington for the last three weeks spending time with my family. I have been having a great time with Diana, James, and Ukiah and my parents. Ukiah is so cute and he has so much personality and love, I could just take him home with me!

Good Day

Today was a good day. I am getting ready to go home to Washington for three weeks and I am very excited, but a little sad too. I am the kind of person who hates missing out on anything. I don't think much will happen while I am gone, but you never know. Anyway, I got to spend the day with all of my friends today. It started when I went to lunch with a few of them. And then Sue took me to dinner tonight. It was a lot of fun and I felt loved. Thanks.

Pie Day

Yesterday was Pie Day! Matt had been talking about it for over a week and it came true! He brought over eight pie crusts, lots of apples, and chocolate. The boys made 5 pies and I helped a little, but mostly I watched them. It was fun and the pie was delicious!

Ryan rolling out the dough

Matt making the chocolate pie

Shawn showing off his crust

Nate, Sue and Kedrick

I've Been Tagged

6 Facts About Me

1. I don't really care for most desserts. I like sweets, but instead of the fancy stuff, I would rather have a piece of chocolate cake or a bowl of ice cream.

2. I get really nervous one-on-one with people. It doesn't really matter who it is. Does anyone think that might be why I'm not married yet?

3. I love to cook, but I haven't for a long time.

4. I love to organize things. My classroom is very organized and if I could I think I would organize others for a living.

5. I am a very straight sleeper. I don't really move at all. It is a good quality since usually I am sleeping with my laptop and several articles of clothing, nothing gets disturbed.

6. I am a people person. I love big groups of people hanging out and having fun. I almost never like to be alone.

I am now tagging my two good friends Sue and Marissa.

The Holy War

So today was the big day! BYU vs Utah. I must admit, it seemed like a pretty slow game. No one could score, but it got a little intense in the end for me. But BYU came out victorious. What a wonderful way to end this season. Plus, it's just nice to not have all my Utah friends rub it in my face that Utah is better. Two years in a row now that we have won!!!

Thanksgiving Blessings

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to spend with family and reflect upon the many blessings that we have in our lives. Here is a list of a few of the things that I am most grateful for:

My family

Good friends

Job

I have all the things that I need and more.

Good health

Prophets and Apostles

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ

United States of America

Freedom

Life is hard, but it is good. I am truly blessed and I am grateful for all of the blessings that I have.

I Miss My Sister

So she moved away last Friday to Seattle. And I really am excited for her, but in a very selfish way I wish she were here. We grew very close in the time we lived together in college and the few years living close in Utah. I didn't realize how much it would effect me until she left. So Aimee, if you read this, just know that I love you and miss you and hope you are doing well. Also, you need to blog more now that I don't get to see you or your baby.

Fall Leaves

This past weekend we had an early Thanksgiving because my cousin Brian is leaving on Wednesday to serve a mission in Osorno, Chile. While we were there, the leaves were falling like crazy in the backyard. This is Cole in the leaves. As much as I blog about him, one might think that I was his mother. But not to be mistaken, I am just the proud Aunt. I love him so much (just look at how cute he is). I wish I would have taken more pictures. There was a lot of family there. It was fun to see all of them. Family is so important and I am very grateful that I was able to spend so much time with them.

Playing Mom

So this is the cutest baby that I got to babysit this weekend.

Cole and I hung out this weekend. We had a good time. He is such a good baby. He just plays around most of the time and entertains himself. However, I was still exhausted by the end of the weekend. Kudos to all of you mothers. It is a hard job and you never get a day off. I have a lot of admiration for you all.

Good Times

So Aimee and I were playing around the other day at her house. She has this fun feature on her Mac. Don't you think we are lovely?

We decided Aimee looked like Dobby, the house elf, in this one, what do you think? I'm not sure what I look like, but my chin is huge!

We were laughing so hard, we were crying! It was so much fun!

Nice Sheets

Every once in a while, I have to put some pictures on of Marcus. Just so everyone can remember how cute my brother is. Check out his new sheets. I love that they are Raggedy Ann and Andy.

MonsterSmash

So I have decided that I am not a huge fan of Halloween. I went to a party this weekend and it was fun, but it was more of a stress to find a good costume and get dressed up, etc. I'm sure once I have kids it will be more fun because I will get to dress them up and I won't have to go to parties with crazy people. Even still, we did have fun. Here are some pics from Friday night. Just so you know, I was having a very hard time with my mouth that night. I lost the fangs after about 45 minutes. That is why I have a crazy look on my face in all of the pictures.

Marissa, Kelly, Me and Sue

Adam and Me

Sue

Christi and Me

Matt and Me (I know it's a great face)

Corn Maze

Last night for FHE my ward went to the Corn Maze at Thanksgiving Point. I have been to corn mazes several times and last night was not unlike every other experience I have had. In the beginning it's fun and I'm having a good time, but then I get lost and I feel like I am going in circles (I probably am at points). It seems like there will never be an out and you get close to the beginning and almost give up and go out the entrance. But you don't and you keep going. Eventually, you make it to the exit. I think that is how I feel about life. I get frustrated with the journey when it doesn't take me where I want to be, but if I hold out and keep trying to find the exit, I will reach my goals.

God's Hand

Elder Eyring's talk about noticing God's hand in our lives really touched me this past weekend. I have thought about it a lot and decided that it was something that I wanted to do in my life. I hope that it will make me a more grateful person and help me to realize how truly blessed I am. I don't know if you are anything like me, but I know that most of the time, I am so busy living my everyday life that I forget to stop and think about the things that are most important. And all too often, I forget to stop and listen. Something hit me last night, the Lord answers our prayers. I've always said it and I've always known it, but this time, I stopped long enough to realize that He had answered mine. I am grateful for that. I am grateful that He hears me and loves me.

Conference

I love to see the temple

We have a living prophet

Conference has been so uplifting this weekend. It is nice to be able to listen to the Brethren speak and be reminded of what we need to do to be a little better. A major theme that I found while listening both yesterday and today were that of service. When we are serving our fellowmen we are serving the Lord. Elder Snow of the Seventy today spoke of how there is always more that we can do. We are never finished in the work. I know that is true. I think it is sometimes easy to think that we are doing enough, but we should always be striving to improve ourselves by working in the Gospel and serving others.

At this moment, I would have to say that my favorite talk was given by Elder Bednar this morning. He spoke of turning toward Christ and learning from Him. He also said that our goal should be to have our hearts changed. We can have clean hands, but not have a pure heart. It makes me step back and evaluate my life. Do I have both? Am I taking those small, steady, incremental, spiritual steps that I need to in order to obtain my goal?

I love being able to listen to the Brethren and I am grateful for their inspiration. What a great blessing it is to hear from them and be able to reevaluate where I am in my life. Conference really makes me happy.

Grandparents

Pattsy and Jack Dayley

Hazel and Jack Gilson

I am very fortunate because I have been able to get to know all of my grandparents. I don't see them as often as I would like these days, but I have wonderful memories of them all. Each one is so special to me and I am grateful for their lives and the lessons that I have learned from them. There will always be a special place in my heart for them. There is nothing like the love that you feel for your grandparents. It is different and special.

Fun Facts

My roommate Marissa did this on her blog, so I thought I would follow suit. Kinda fun. Here are a few random facts about me . . .

Four jobs I've had in my life:
1. Cashier at Rite-Aid
2. Old Navy
3. Madsen DryCleaning
4. Teacher

Four movies I can watch over and over again:
1. The Wedding Planner
2. White Christmas
3. State Fair
4. Emperor's New Groove

Four Places I have lived:
1. West Richland, WA
2. Provo, UT
3. Auburn, WA
4. Rexburg, ID

Four T.V. Shows that I watch:
1. The Office
2. Smallville
3. Heroes
4. The Biggest Loser

Four favorite activities:
1. Spending time with fam/friends
2. Bowling
3. Playing games
4. Shopping

Four places I have been:
1. NYC
2. Ecuador
3. Seattle
4. My grandparents' house (I really need to go on vacation more. I can't think of anywhere else I've been).

Four People who e-mail me (regularly):
1. People from work
2. Weekly email from Marcus
3. Junk email from everywhere
4. Roommates

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Pizza
2. Pasta
3. Mexican
4. Chips and Salsa

Four Places I would like to visit:
1. Spain
2. Hawaii
3. New York
4. South America

Four Things I am looking forward to this year:
1. Peng's Halloween Party
2. Becoming a runner
3. Thanksgiving
4. Christmas

Elder Holland Fireside

I went to a fireside up at the University of Utah Institute tonight. Elder Jeffery R. Holland spoke to us. He started out by telling us about President Hinckley. It was really neat to hear him speak about our prophet in the same revering way that we "normal people" do. He was talking about how President Hinckley is amazing because he still gets up and goes to work every day. He is the first one there in the morning and the last one to go home every night and he is 97 years old. And the most amazing part is that he does it for me and for you. Elder Holland said that he is just like we all think he is and I loved hearing him talk about him.

He also spoke to us about standing firm in the Gospel. He was so animated as he spoke; the Spirit was so strong. I am so glad that I was there. It is nice to get a push in the right direction every now and then to remind us of how well we are doing and/or where we need to improve.

Photo Shoot

I spent the day with Aimee and Cole yesterday. Both of them weren't feeling up to par, but it was good to be with them. Poor Cole didn't nap more than an hour yesterday and he was so tired. We had a little photo shoot to keep him entertained. Here are a few of the cute pictures. He is so beautiful! He looks just like his momma!

Look at those eyes!

The State Fair

I can't believe I almost forgot to write about the State Fair. Growing up, my sisters and I always watched the Rogers and Hammerstein movie "State Fair." It was definitely a favorite (I need to look for that on DVD to add to my collection). Well, I went to the fair with friends on Friday night and it really reminded me of the movie. They had so many of the same games that they did on the movie. I love that some things never change. It makes me think that life would be so nice if it were always that simple.

Adam showing his strength

So as everyone was getting on the flying ride, they loaded me up with all of their stuff

Peng and Vanessa are getting ready to fly

Marcus

So I am not very good at writing my little brother on his mission, but there are times when I really miss him. I was just thinking about him tonight and how much I want him to come home. I look forward to when he will be here in Utah going to school and I will get to spend time with him. He is such a great guy and I really do miss him. In many ways, I don't feel like I know him very well because we are so far apart in age, but I admire him a lot and am very grateful that he is such a good example of a Christ-like person. I can't wait to spend more time with him and get to know him better when he gets home! Sorry mom, but I am really happy that he is going to be down here.

Black-and-White Party!

This weekend was my roommate Christi and her twin sister Kelly's 30th Birthday! We had a Black and White party in their honor and it was a lot of fun. We had a great turnout with a lot of great food! Our friend Peng, let us use his brand-new house out in South Jordan. It is such a nice place and it is great for parties. We had dancing, karoake and chocolate fountains. It was a great night!

Peng and Me

This is Marissa, Sue and Me dancing!

My attempt at a 4-layer cake!

Roommate picture--Christi, me, Holly and Marissa

Kelly, Suzie and Me

Matt and Me

Gardner Village

My sister Aimee, my two aunts, Patsy and Ruthie, and I went to Gardner Village again yesterday. I love going with them! We get together and go to all the shops and the best part is lunch. We always share the fried green tomatoes. It is something that I really enjoy doing with them. It's a fun chance to just be with the girls.

While there, I bought new bedroom furniture. Kind of a big deal, and I am really excited. It will be delivered in 6-8 weeks. Just about the time my Aunt Ruthie is going to have her baby. So I'll be getting new furniture and she'll be getting a new baby, sounds like an even amount of excitement to me! What do you think?! :)

Labor Day Weekend

Camping at Albion Basin

I love Labor Day Weekend! The weather has been perfect and it has been the nice little break from work that I have needed. My friends and I went camping Friday night and it was a blast. These are the people who were left Saturday morning, but we had several more show up just for the fun on Friday night.

Also, I'm in a new ward and it has been a rough transition, so my roommates and I decided to have a "break the fast" potluck to meet new people. It was a hit. A lot of people showed up and I even met a few of them, if you can believe that. It was a lot of fun and the party lasted a few hours. Hopefully, this will help us be a little more social in the future and feel a little more comfortable meeting the masses in our new ward.

He's Getting So Big

We celebrated my cousin Chloe's 11th Birthday today. Aimee, Sean, Cole, and I all went to Patsy and Brett's house for dinner. Cole can now feed himself his bottle. Trent, my 8 year-old cousin was as cute as a proud mother. He kept calling everyone over one at a time to show them what Cole could do on his own. He was so proud. It was very cute. I love spending time with my family. It is always good to be with people you love and who love you. It is a peaceful feeling!

Little Brother--A Missionary

This is a picture of him in the airport getting
ready to leave for Brazil

I have the most amazing little brother! He is on his mission right now in Brazil. He comes home at the end of January and of course I am counting down the days. I haven't been the best at writing him while he has been gone for one reason or another, but I am sure he knows that I care. He and I are a lot alike in our self-expression. Really, we don't do it very well. So I know that he forgives me for not writing him as well as I should have. He has always been such a good example to me. I think of him as an anchor in the Gospel and I am glad that he is a part of my family. I can't wait to see him again. It'll be great!

My Life

The Calendar

I spend most of my time in my classroom and the people that I spend most of my time with outside of work have never seen it. It is funny how you can have two different lives that aren't connected at all. So I thought I would put a few pictures of my classroom to show everyone what I see all day. Just add 26 kids, desks, and backpacks on the floor and you've got the whole picture.

Helper Chart

Good Work

I thought these word family posters were so cute!

I know what you're thinking!

So I'm sure anyone who knows me will think this is crazy because they know I don't write, but I have been inspired to start my own blog. The idea fascinates me and I think it is an exciting way to document my life. So here it goes.