4th of July

This is how we do the fourth...

parades

treats

appreciation

friends & family

food and mostly, fun!

Living out of a suitcase

I love love love summer. Even though I am still having nightmares about school starting again in August, the idea of getting paid while out having fun might just make teaching worth it. How many jobs pay you while you ride rides in Dinseyland? Sweet! I bet teaching is a lot like childbirth. Yes, I really did just say that. You have to have a period of time filled with good memories to make you forget the nine months of pain. If not, you’d never do it again. So this summer we are totally taking advantage of the time I have off. Chris’ work is about to kill him for being gone so much, but I really have loved the time together.

First on the list was relaxation. Our summer started with an impulse trip to the cabin with a bunch of friends. I’d really like to say we went camping, but it’s more like a huge log house nested in the mountains above Oakley. Water running, toilets flushing, this is definitely my type of camping. Thanks for coming with us guys! We had so much fun up there that we are already talking about doing it again. Anyone up for a trip?

Next on the list was heat. Right when we got home we packed up our things and headed to California with my family! We spent a week in Disneyland, at the beach, and in Hollywood where they were having record heat waves. It was so HOT! We always have a blast with the family and this trip was no exception! So fun! Even though we walked a million miles, I still must have gained 50 pounds from all the eating out and yummy treats. Disneyland really is magical. Our favorite parts were having dinner in Goofy’s Kitchen and the new Toy Story ride in California Adventure.

The girl’s loved Libby Lou in downtown Disney and I already miss Huntington beach. Why can't Utah be on a coast so we can play in the ocean all the time!

To wrap up the trip we stopped for a couple days in Vegas on our way home. Along with a butt load more walking and crazy heat, we saw the jousting show at Excaliber, lounged by the pool, and Chris and I went out one night to see a Cirque de Soleil show. Seriously, this was the best show I’d ever seen. Ever! I can’t even explain how awesome it was. It wasn’t just a show, it was art! All the body bending was cool, but that wasn’t even the amazing part. The stage really stole the show. There were a few different floating stages that twisted and even went vertical with people performing on them the entire time. I can’t explain it well, just go see it!

Tournament of Kings at Excalibur

Ka at MGM

Now we finally cought up on laundry and are packed again and are on our way to Tahoe with Chris’ family. Just livin out of a suitcase! Wahoo!

Have you heard our story?

It was the beginning of my very first year of college and I was with my dad at the golf banquet for Weber State. I was a brand new freshman sitting there with my new haircut and trying not to let all my new teammates see how nervous I was. He was an oh-so-cool sophomore that strolled in late to be surrounded by tons of friends.

A few days later the girl’s team had a “get to know you” party in the boxes at the football stadium. Coach gave us all a questionnaire to break the ice a little. About halfway down the page was a question that asked us which boy we think we could be “friends” with on the boy’s team. Not only did I scrawl Chris’ name on my paper, but his name was at the top of other girl’s list too (and I’m sure I gave out a few looks because darn, who wants competition).

What? He’s the only boy with a girlfriend, of course.

We “hung out” a lot with the team and magically always ended up just talking to each other. On the course I had never been so diligent at practicing. We were the first ones there and last ones to leave. He even let me win some putting competitions.

Did I say girlfriend…not for long! The weekend after they broke up, Chris and I went on our first real date. After dinner we stopped by his apartment to meet with some friends. When we walked in Ben (his old roommate and one of my favorites) tried to quietly get us to leave. We had no idea what was going on when Chris’ tear-filled old girlfriend came walking out of his room. Man, she was not happy to see me! I don’t blame her though, I wouldn’t want to let him go either.

Two years later (and after many many late night trips from Pleasant View to Murray) we got engaged. Chris surprised me with a picnic full of beautiful flowers, candles, and all my favorite foods! It was so sweet. He was bummed because the hot air balloon ride he had planned couldn't take off because of the weather. I still thought it was perfect!

And a few months later I married my best friend in the Salt Lake Temple.

I don't think I've shared pics of our moms yet, so here they are. Aren't they beautiful?
Then we spent the next week in Cancun!

And now we have been married for three years in July. Love ya babe!

Photograhy workshop

Here are a couple pictures I took at the workshop yesterday. I'd go again in a second!

I can’t wait!

I have this crazy feeling deep in the pit of my stomach…

You know that excited feeling you get when the doors of Tai Pan slide open? You start anticipating all the greatness that might be waiting inside. It’s like the same feeling of putting your first pair of booties on at the Parade of Homes (which by the way is just around the corner)! This last week I have had those same excited feelings nonstop. Why? This Saturday Kami and I are going to ten hours of photography fun at the Picture Life Workshop!

Everything is ready and I’m stoked. I got a new camera

and lens

I'm so excited that I am actually taking notes in my camera’s manual and reading this book.

To be prepared for the big day, I got Kami to come out with me to experiment a little with my camera. Thanks for all your help Kam! My niece makes the perfect model. Here are some of the pics I snapped and put in my first collage in photoshop.

A few things you might not know about me…

* I love cheesy things! Little comments or movies that make most people roll their eyes and gag...I think they are sweet!

*I’m not a morning person or a late night person. I function between 9 am and 10:30 pm.

* I hate taking quizzes that tell me what I resemble most because I can never honestly answer them without trying to alter my results. Plus every answer I read sounds like a good one to me.

Quiz- Which Disney Princess are you? I was Pocahontas the first time, Snow White the second, and I really just want to be Bell. Hummm, what would Bell like better ice cream or French fries? Forget it, quizzes suck!

* I have always had an ongoing list of baby names, even when I was little. Any new ideas?

* In fact, I love lists in general. Thank goodness for post it notes and calendars!

* I love shopping, but I’m not an impulse buyer. I contemplate over and over before I finally decide yes or no, black or brown. When I do buy something I almost always consider returning it.

* I play dodge ball, Bunko, and do a dinner group with a bunch of my friends (we miss you Ruth).

* I always have a late fee at the library.

* I was bit by a neighbor’s dog in 8th grade. I had to have plastic surgery and many many stitches.

* Spontaneity, don't look here. I have the rest of my life already planned out.

* I am paranoid about everything…natural disasters, my house burning down, loved ones getting cancer, death, robbers, aliens, being alone, being late, letting people down, etc.

* My dad rocks! He is the best example of giving service to everyone and he always knows just what to do next. I have no idea what we would all do without him! Now if only we can find him a wifey...

* I have to get everyone’s opinion on everything. Can't life just be one giant poll?

* I have a hard time asking for (and accepting) other's help, even when I really need it. I'm also not very good at saying no, unless you are one of my students and then I'm afraid it comes way too easy!

* Okay, this one is way hard to admit. In the tiniest, littlest, most minuscule way, I tend to be a little overly emotional sometimes (ahem, okay a lot). Seriously, I admit I have those days that are dra-ma-tic! I’m like a little kindergartener with all my tender feelers everywhere. Be careful or I might just erupt in tears at any moment and no, I can't control it. My tears have a personality of their own.

* When I grow up, I want to be my sister (you probably already guessed that).

*I love:
Sundays, Oprah, traveling, the smell of cut grass, Dr. Laura, pictures, any type of surprises, Walmart, sleeping with the window open, frosted rock ice cream (milk chocolate and sweet cream mixed with marshmallows Ü), people who comment on my blog, and my fam!

*I hate:

Watching anything twice, the taste of coffee or mocha, feeling left out (remember, sensitive Kindergarten feelers), round brushing my hair, being late, grocery shopping alone, and the hamsterish smell of kids after gym class.

The joy of being a health teacher

Let’s talk about STD’s. Yep, I said it…sexually transmitted diseases. Well, just a little rant really.

I have always been a little bugged by our district and some of the “stuff” they don't want us to talk to our kids about when it comes to human sexuality. I’m not saying I want to push these poor little sheltered kids off the edge and watch them plummet into all the unfiltered human sexuality info out there, but I do want them to know the truth.

If some of them might face these decisions in their lives, I want them to know what really happens for example during an abortion. I want to educate them about forms of birth control besides abstinence. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about pushing abstinence and I think that is the best, but realistically how many teen pregnancies could we avoid if we educated these kids just a little more. There’s a way to educate without promoting. I think they should know the correlation between STD’s and getting pregnant when using “condominiums” (don’t you dare say the real word) and other forms of birth control. I’m not talking about getting the banana out and all that, just giving a few more facts. When I get some of their questions in class I am scared to death about where their information is coming from. Yikes!

So my point is that if you think your kids are getting good sex education classes in their schools, I’m afraid they probably aren’t. As a teacher, I pray that parents step up and have that awkward conversation with their kids. Start early because now 1 in 4 kids will have to treat a STD in their lives and my school district has reported a STD in someone as young as 12. Want another crazy statistic? The numbers of known STD’s out there keeps rising and there are at least 37 different types we know about today.

After dissing a little on our district, I do have to say that they have taken a giant step this year in educating about STD’s. Now if a trained representative comes from the district to our class they can actually show the kids pictures. It's hard to not be sarcastic about them just barely putting the pictures back into the curriculum.

I kind of got on this rant because the crazy STD lady came today and gave her presentation (and she only rarely referenced her own cervix…what?). I was all excited the kids are finally getting this info and low and behold, one poor kid fainted! If you can get a kid to faint you know that’s some good stuff!

Wow, if you stuck with me through all that length you are officially my new best friend!

What's red, and red, and red all over?

Have you ever had one of those nights when all you do is toss and turn, get up, lay back down, and stare at the clock as you watch your precious sleep time disappear? You roll over and see your husband knocked out cold and it takes all the strength from the bottom of your being to not poke him just to make sure he isn’t awake too (hey, misery likes company). Last night was one of those long nights. Why? I’ll show you…

My first sun exposure to my transparently white legs + 9 hours at the state golf tournament = ridiculous amounts of pain! Legs radiating heat, body freezing cold, and Ibuprofen obviously not strong enough, I laid there like a wimp! Here is where I advertise to remember to wear your sunscreen!

By the way, we ended up winning the region tournament and out of 46 teams, we qualified for state (along with 25 others) and ended up taking 12th. Not bad for our first year!

Meet my pregnant, or formerly pregnant, friends

I’ve just decided that I am about the only married person I know that doesn’t have a kid or that’s not currently pregnant. Seriously, even at church they pass around this “are you pregnant” list as if it’s something you might have caught through the week by sharing a drink with someone who is already pregnant. It’s not the flu people, it’s a baby! I guess it is a married ward...
So here we are after Zander’s blessing last Sunday. Breklyn (bottom left) started the baby trend with Ivy and baby Zander, then Amelia (top left) had her brand new baby Tysha this week, and Holly (top right) has about 10 weeks left before we meet her baby Trey, and Steph (bottom right) is just starting her second trimester. These girls are going to be busy! The best part of the day was when Steph sang me the Seasame Street song “one of these things is not like the others…” Very funny Steph! :)

Here are some pictures I took Wednesday when we went to the hospital to meet Tysha. She is so sweet and you can already tell what an awesome mom Amelia is going to be!