Holidays

Monday night we went to see the lights at Temple Square. It is one of the greatest things about the holidays in Salt Lake. This year, there didn't seem to be as many lights as in the past, but they were beautiful nonetheless. I am now back in Washington visiting the family for Christmas. It's almost as if I didn't leave Salt Lake, since it is a Winter Wonderland here as well. So much snow!!

Car Problems

So I am home from work today because I had to take my car to the shop. I hate when my car has problems since I know nothing about them. Anyway, I'm not sure exactly what it is yet, but I know it has something to do with the crank. I guess it could be pretty bad. I am very fortunate because so many people have been so helpful. I hate imposing on people, but it is great to know I have such great friends. Monday and Tuesday I had to get a ride to and from work. :( On the plus side of that, I found out that one of my coworkers lives just around the corner; that could be helpful in the future as well. Hopefully, the problem with my car won't be as bad as it sounds and I'll be able to drive it again soon.

Quick Update

So as I have said before, I don't have the internet at my house and for the most part I can deal with that. However, I miss looking at everyone's blogs everyday and if I wasn't bad enough before, I'm even worse at updating my own blog now.

Just a quick update for those who are interested. I am going off-track on the 21st and planning on having a great 6 week vacation from work. I haven't quite decided what I'm going to do yet, but catching up with some long lost friends is on my list. Also, I'm going to spend about a week and a half at home around Christmas. I'm excited for the family to all be together again this year. It should be wonderful!

Hope you are all doing well (if there is anyone out there who still looks at my blog)!

I'm Back!!!

I don't have the internet at my new apartment, so I don't get to blog as much as I would like. But I thought I'd try and catch you all up on what has been going on in my life. That is if anyone still checks my blog.

In July, I went to visit my Grandparents in Twin Falls. We had a great visit. It was good to see them and spend time with them. They only live 3 1/2 hours away, but I don't see them as often as I should.

Then in August, I went back again to go to the Temple open house with my grandma. It was a great experience to be there with my grandma. It was a beautiful place and had such a special feeling.

Who knew Twin Falls was such a beautiful place! The waterfalls are gorgeous!

At the beginning of August, Aimee, Sean and Cole came to town. I love spending time with them. It was very good to see them. Cole is as cute as ever. I am not very talented at taking pictures. I followed him around all over and didn't get one where he was looking at the camera. Oh well, he's so cute it doesn't really matter.

Then at the end of the month, my mom brought Marcus down to Provo. Diana and James were in Vegas, so my mom had Ukiah too. Marcus is now living in Provo going to BYU, so I will hopefully be seeing him a lot more often. My mom went down to St. George to visit her parents and I babysat Ukiah for the weekend. He is such a great kid and we had a lot of fun! Diana flew into Salt Lake Sunday night and she, my mom and Ukiah stayed until Friday, when we all drove home to the Tri-Cities together. But first we stopped to spend the evening, with Grandpa. He and Ukiah had lots of fun together. Very Cute!

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Today is my mom's 50th birthday! I had a cute picture I wanted to put up, but the internet isn't working at my house, so I am at the library to make this post. I will have to post the picture later (when my computer decides to work). But for those of you who are fortunate enough to know my mother, know she doesn't look 50 at all. She looks young and beautiful. Here are a few of the many reasons I love her...

1. She is an optimist
2. She remembers everything
3. She cares
4. She is very patient
5. She knows how to make a bed the right way
6. She is always reading
7. She is loyal
8. She is never grumpy
9. She is sensitive
10. She has beautiful curly hair
11. She plays the piano very well
12. She loves me!

Mom--I hope you know how much you mean to me!!! I love you and hope you have the greatest birthday!! Sorry I'm not there! Love you!

Happy Birthday Patsy

Today is my Aunt's Birthday and she always writes reasons why she loves someone on their birthday, so I thought I would return the favor to her. A few of the many reasons I love my Aunt Patsy . . .

1. She is a great mother to her six kids

2. She is an excellent cook

3. She is very inclusive. I always feel welcome with her and her family.

4. She has a great laugh

5. She is very creative

6. She got me started on blogging

7. She has a great relationship with her husband, that I admire

8. She is so organized

9. She has many different hobbies

10. She is very friendly

Happy Birthday Patsy!

End of School Year

The last week of school we had some sort of party every day. This is the water party. My students were very disappointed in me for not playing softball the day before, so I told them I would join the water party. I didn't have a chance. They bombarded me! It was a lot of fun!

Day O' Fun Part II

A few weeks ago, we had planned to go to Lagoon because a bunch of us had the week off. Well, the day we had planned to go was rainy and dreary so we had to do "other" fun stuff instead. So we decided to go to Lagoon this last Saturday and it was craaazy. First of all, it was sooo hot. It hit 102 degrees that day, but I lathered myself in sunscreen regularly and left without even a slight burn. However, I did get some new freckles on my arms. Anyway, I hadn't been to an amusement park since I was 14 and I had only been on one roller coaster in my life. To say the least, I was totally freaked out by all the rides that I went on, but it was a lot of fun! To finish off the day we had a bbq and a pool party. Good Times!

Week O' Fun

Thursday I went with Patsy and the kids to temple square and to the Beehive House. It was fun to spend a little bit of time with them and be a tourist in my hometown. I loved this picture of all the kids looking at the temple.
Me and my new roommate Sue

Wednesday, we were supposed to go to Lagoon, but it turned out to be a very rainy day. So instead we went to lunch, bowling, played guitar hero, went shopping for dinner, made pizza, and watched an 80's movie!

Jed

Jared and me (looking "drugged")

200 Have and Have nots!

I got this from my aunt's blog and thought it would be fun! The things that I have done are in green!

1. Touched an iceberg 2. Slept under the stars 3. Been a part of a hockey fight 4. Changed a baby's diaper 5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Given more than you can afford to charity 7. Swam with wild dolphins 8. Climbed a mountain 9. Held a tarantula 10. Said "I love you" and meant it 11. Bungee jumped 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise 15. Seen the Northern Lights 16. Gone to a huge sports game 17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty 18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables 19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope 20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment 21. Had a pillow fight 22. Bet on a winning horse 23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill 24. Built a snow fort 25. Held a lamb 26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Taken an ice cold bath 28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar 29. Seen a total eclipse 30. Ridden a roller coaster 31. Hit a home run (close...) 32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking 33. Adopted an accent for fun 34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors 35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment 36. Loved your job 90% of the time 37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied 38. Watched wild whales 39. Gone rock climbing 40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach 41. Gone sky diving 42. Visited Ireland 43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant 44. Visited India 45. Bench-pressed your own weight 46. Milked a cow 47. Alphabetized your personal files 48. Ever worn a superhero costume 49. Sung karaoke 50. Lounged around in bed all day 51. Gone scuba diving 52. Kissed in the rain 53. Played in the mud 54. Gone to a drive-in theater 55. Done something you should regret, but don't 56. Visited the Great Wall of China 57. Started a business 58. Taken a martial arts class 59. Been in a movie 60. Gone without food for 3 days 61. Made cookies from scratch 62. Won first prize in a costume contest 63. Got flowers for no reason 64. Been in a combat zone 65. Spoken more than one language fluently 66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone 67. Bounced a check 68. Read - and understood your credit report 69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy 70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did 71. Called or written your Congress person 72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over 73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge 74. Helped an animal give birth 75. Been fired or laid off from a job 76. Won money 77. Broken a bone 78. Ridden a motorcycle 79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph 80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon 81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing 82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days 83. Eaten sushi 84. Had your picture in the newspaper 85. Read The Bible cover to cover 86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about 87. Gotten someone fired for their actions 88. Gone back to school 89. Changed your name 90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands 91. Eaten fried green tomatoes 92. Read The Iliad 93. Taught yourself an art from scratch 94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt 96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language 97. Been elected to public office 98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream 99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care 100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you 101. Had a booth at a street fair 102. Dyed your hair 103. Been a DJ 104. Rocked a baby to sleep 105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four 106. Raked your carpet 107. Brought out the best in people 108. Brought out the worst in people 109. Worn a mood ring 110. Ridden a horse 111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap 112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe 113. Buried a child 114. Gone to a broadway play 115. Been inside the pyramids 116. Shot a basketball into a basket 117. Danced at a disco 118. Played in a band 119. Shot a bird 120. Gone to an arboretum 121. Tutored someone 122. Ridden a train 123. Brought an old fad back into style 124. Eaten caviar 125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need 126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant 127. Published a book 128. Pieced a quilt 129. Lived in an historic place 130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage 131. Asked for a raise 132. Made a hole-in-one (if miniature golf counts) 133. Gone deep sea fishing 134. Gone roller skating 135. Run a marathon 136. Learned to surf 137. Invented something 138. Flown first class 139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite 140. Flown in a helicopter 141. Visited Africa 142. Sang a solo 143. Gone spelunking (I don't know what that is?) 144. Learned how to take a compliment 145. Written a love-story 146. Seen Michelangelo’s David 147. Had your portrait painted 148. Written a fan letter 149. Spent the night in something haunted 150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane 151. Ran away 152. Learned to juggle 153. Been a boss 154. Sat on a jury 155. Lied about your weight 156. Gone on a diet 157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget 158. Written a poem 159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox 160. Gotten food poisoning 161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission 162. Hiked the grand Canyon 163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks 164. Gone to the opera 165. Gotten a letter from someone famous 166. Worn knickers 167. Ridden in a limousine 168. Attended the Olympics 169. Can hula or waltz 170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books 171. Been stuck in an elevator 172. Had a revelatory dream 173. Thought you might crash in an airplane 174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert 175. Saved someone’s life 176. Eaten raw whale 177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint 178. Laughed till your side hurt 179. Straddled the equator 180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing 181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival 182. Sent a message in a bottle 183. Spent the night in a hostel 184. Been a cashier 185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt 186. Joined a union 187. donated blood or plasma 188. Built a campfire 189. Kept a blog 190. Had hives 191. Worn custom made shoes or boots 192. Made a PowerPoint presentation 193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course 194. Served at a soup kitchen 195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube 196. Know CPR 197. Ridden in or owned a convertible 198. Found a long lost friend 199. Helped solve a crime 200. Responded to a NJP newsletter

Birthday Fun!

Brit, Sue, and Tiff

It was Sue's birthday on Tuesday so last Saturday we had a BBQ party to celebrate. Lots of people showed up and we had a great time. That was the last party in my current house because Sue and I are moving in a week! Yay! My goal is to take pictures for those of you who want to see what my new place looks like. I am so bad at taking pictures. Sue had to send me this one because, of course, I didn't take any at her party.

Motorcycle Mama!

So my friend Kedrick got a new motorcycle last summer. Every time he's asked me if I wanted to go for a ride I've always had a good excuse not to go, but then he started to make me feel bad about never going. So last Sunday he called and the weather was beautiful, so I went on my first motorcycle ride! It was a lot of fun! I don't know that I will go again, but I am glad I went at least once. I was living on the edge for about 20 minutes and that's good enough for me!

General Conference

The New First Presidency

Conference was amazing this weekend! I always love to hear the Brethren speak. It gives me the extra push that I need in my life to become a little better and to do a little more. I thought there was a strong theme of family throughout the conference and I really appreciated Elder Ballard's talk this afternoon on motherhood. I also felt strongly that President Monson is the true prophet today. It was interesting to see the difference in him. What a wonderful, edifying weekend!

Seattle Trip

I went to Bothell to visit Aimee, Sean and Cole for ten days and I had a great time. Aimee and I started the fun by going to Bellevue Square Mall the first Saturday I was there. Let me just tell you this picture doesn't do it any justice at all. It was the most overwhelming shopping experience I have ever had. It was huge and very intimidating, but very fun.

The following weekend my parents and Marcus came into town and we went to the U District and to Pikes Place Market. We ate and Ivars and I had a great time there as well. Seattle is such a great place to visit!

And of course the greatest highlight was spending time with Cole, Aimee and Sean. Cole is such a doll. He has the cutest little personality and he loves to laugh. It was great just being able to spend time with them and have a good relaxing week. It is definitely something I am going to have to do more often on my breaks from work!!

Family Temple Day

Marcus got home from his mission on the 31st of January and I was fortunate enough to be able to go home and see him the next weekend. I also went through the temple (Columbia River Washington) and it was a very special experience being with so many members of my family. Marcus is the same old guy and it is great to have him home!

Gordon Bitner Hinckley 1910-2008

This is one of my most favorite memories of President Hinckley! He carried a cane because he was told to, but he rarely used it except to wave to people. I have such a love and respect for him because of his optimism. He has been the Prophet through all of my teenage years and through my twenties. I have learned so much from him and am grateful to him for his wonderful example of how to live this life.

Like so many others, it is a bitter-sweet feeling to have him gone. Bitter because I will miss listening to him and learning from him. Sweet because I know he is with his lovely wife, whom he has missed so dearly. He has touched my life so deeply and I am truly grateful for him.

CPK

Tomorrow is my birthday and to celebrate my aunts, Patsy and Ruthie, took me to California Pizza Kitchen at the Gateway here in Salt Lake. I love it so much and my favorite pizza is the Chipotle Chicken! It is DELICIOUS! I had such a fun time with them. I always love getting together and hanging out. After lunch we walked around and went shopping. It was a great afternoon!