Bjoralt Family

Two of a Kind

2010-03-02T11:07:00.004-07:00

I thought I should get a picture of Shean and Jack in their plaid shirts. Shean is a cowboy wannabe, and I think he's going to try to get Jack to be the same. That's okay because I think they look cute! Jack is really his daddy's little boy when it comes to looks. I'll have to try and find a picture of Shean when he was a baby and we can compare.

We just got this new jumper for Jack. He's trying to get it figured out, and in the process, he's enjoying the toys and mirror that are attached. I just love the look on his face in the second picture, and you can see how squeezable his little face has gotten. His attention span is pretty short, so I'm trying to give him different things to do throughout the day. He's a fun and busy little boy!

Wyoming News

2010-02-24T08:59:00.002-07:00

I had to tell you about this before I forgot. Last Friday, we decided to stay overnight in Rawlins on our way to Cheyenne. Trust me, it wasn't because Rawlins is a really nice place, it was only because it was late and snowy! We watched the Olympics that night, as we have pretty much every night, and then the news came on after. The station was out of Casper, and I must say, it was a stark difference from Utah news--It was low, low budget. Anyway, the really funny part about it was that at the end of the news, while still showing the newscasters at their desks, an advertisement came across the screen. "Suntans provided by Golden Bottoms Tanning Salon" ! I thought that was hilarious, and maybe just a little embarassing for the newscasters. Only in Wyoming!

Bath Time

2010-02-23T10:36:00.002-07:00

Jack is getting so big! He's 4 months now, and boy has the time gone by quickly! He's loving solid foods now, especially the green beans and bananas. He's such a happy boy and talks all the time. Shean and I both love his smiles, and they melt our hearts every time we see them!

We've just started out on a new adventure in our lives. We are living in Cheyenne, WY for a couple of months. Shean got a wonderful new job working for TriStar Constructors on a pipeline. It's definitely a change living here, but I'm happy that Shean was blessed with this new job, and especially that it's one that he absolutely LOVES! After this short job is over, the next pipeline he'll be working on is in North Salt Lake, which means, we are going to be moving back into our home in Orem! Who would have ever thought?? Not me! I'm actually really excited about it though. It's going to be nice to be home in our own place, but I'm still going to miss living by my Mom & Dad and Jackie's family too. I never knew how wonderful it would be to have family, and especially your own mom around when you had kids of your own. I'm going to miss that so much! Good thing living in Orem won't be as far away from Mom as we are now! I hope Jack will give her plenty of reason to visit often :)

We finally found a place that will rent to us month-to-month just yesterday, so we're hoping to "move out" of this hotel and into that place tomorrow. I'm going to be happy when I can cook again, and we're not living in one room with a U-haul out in front of the hotel! I just got a list of books to read from Melynda yesterday because I'm trying to keep busy, and she's the queen of reading! I'm excited to get one or two of them today when I get out. I figure I might as well join the blogging world again since I don't have any family to hang out with anymore. This will be my "family" time to keep in touch and keep you updated!

Hope you enjoy the pics of Jack!

Baby Jack is Here!

2009-10-24T09:48:00.010-06:00

Jack was born on October 21, 2009 at 10:43 p.m. He weighed 7 lbs. 11 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. Thank heavens he was 2 1/2 weeks early! He's got lots of dark brown hair. He's the first one in our family to have this much hair, and I love it! He is such a sweet little boy. He sleeps alot, and doesn't really cry all that much. Shean and I are so happy. As I'm sure most parents would agree, there's nothing that can bring you as much joy as having a child. Thank you to everyone for all you have done for us. I'll be posting plenty more pictures as the days go on.

Baby Day Tomorrow?

2009-10-18T19:52:00.002-06:00

I guess we get to call in tomorrow morning and see what time to come in to have the baby. Is that crazy or what? We are so excited and a little nervous too. I know that our lives are about to change forever, but it's definitely a good thing. Hopefully it won't take too long!!! We'll try and get some pictures up on the blog as soon as we can.

Catch Up!

2009-10-06T08:54:00.005-06:00

I know it's been a few months since I posted, so here's a quick little "catch-up." Shean and I are both living in Bear Lake now with my parents. Shean has been working here since the middle of August building houses for ProLux with my dad. The first part of September, I was admitted to the hospital because of elevated liver enzymes and high blood pressure. Turns out, they still don't know what is causing the elevated liver enzymes, and I still have high blood pressure, so I was forced to leave American Crafts earlier than expected. Instead of being on bed rest at home in Orem all by myself 24 hours a day, I decided to come up at stay here at Mom & Dad's.

Things are looking good with the baby. I had an ultrasound a couple of weeks ago, and they said that he's right on schedule and looking healthy. That is truly a blessing! I am getting progressively more nervous and more excited with each day that passes. It's going to be such a huge change!

Because we are living up here for work, we are trying to sell our townhouse in Orem. I have created a blog to show pictures of our place, so if you or anyone that you know is interested, please let us know. It makes me sad to sell, but sometimes life doesn't go exactly as we have planned, right? The blog is located at http://waterlefeforsale.blogspot.com/ .

This past weekend, we went to Jackson Hole and saw the Tetons. It was Shean's first time to go to Jackson and the Tetons. I think he thoroughly enjoyed himself. We were also able to see the Rexburg and Idaho Falls temples on the way to Grandma Rob's house. Mom and Dad came with us and we were able to have dinner with Mom's brother and his new wife, and also got to go to Texas Roadhouse for my birthday dinner. Yummy! We had an enjoyable weekend, and I'm sure that it's the last time I'll be allowed to go anywhere before the baby is born.

It's a Boy!

2009-06-26T18:31:00.002-06:00

I'm sure most everyone has already heard, but we're expecting a baby in November. We just had our ultrasound today, and found out that it's a boy! I'm still in a bit of shock, only because our family has never had a boy. I'm not so sure how to do it! I'm sure I'll figure it out, and I'm really excited that everything looked normal and healthy. Shean and I both feel very blessed, and are now looking forward to getting everything prepared for our sweet baby boy!

Easter Weekend

2009-04-14T18:14:00.003-06:00

We got to go to St. George for the weekend and it was wonderful! The whole fam went together and stayed at WorldMark. We took our bikes and enjoyed a ride one day. We were able to go to the St. George Temple to do Baptisms for some of Shean's family. That was a great way to start our Saturday morning. It was nice to be there together as a family. Shean, Mom and Dad, and I spent the rainy afternoon and evening at Zion's. It was beautiful! My battery on my camera was dying so I didn't get many pictures. We enjoyed being together as a family. McKenna's highlight was having "Easter" leave her a surprise. I love that she doesn't say the Easter Bunny, it's just Easter. It was so much fun having her around. I think our family might be kind of boring without her!

Married 1 Month!

2009-01-27T19:59:00.002-07:00

I guess since we've been married one month now, it's probably a good time to finally put some pictures on my blog! This past month has been the best month of my life so far. Shean is the best husband, and I still feel like I'm living a dream. Our wedding was so beautiful, and there's nothing about the day that I would have changed. Thanks to everyone, especially my parents who helped make it exactly what I wanted. I know my mom never wants to make another pumpkin roll in her life, but I think everyone really enjoyed the great food. Thanks to everyone who joined in celebrating a very special occassion with us. We love you all and are looking forward to many happy years to come!

Minnesota

2008-11-05T17:24:00.003-07:00

Last week Shean and I went to Minnesota so that I could meet the new family. We had such a wonderful time with them. I am so glad that we could go so that I could finally meet them in person. What awesome parents he has! We had an awesome birthday party for Shean while we were out there, also what I like to call our "preception". Most of his extended family came to the party, so I got to know some of them as well. We drove up the coast of Lake Superior, had a tour of Minneapolis, and saw lots and lots of beautiful lakes. Now, I think Minnesota is a beautiful place, but I don't think I'm ready to move out there. Shean has promised me that we'll be staying here in Utah for years and years to come! I am excited for all of his family to come for Christmas and our wedding. I think we're going to have a great time together.

Pumpkin Carving

2008-11-05T17:21:00.002-07:00

We had a great time with Kyle, Misty, and Melynda carving pumpkins. We have made it a fun tradition to get together for yummy food and pumkin carving. The little tools that you can get these days make carving pumpkins so much fun, and much, much easier than back in the old days.

I'm Getting Married!!

2008-09-03T16:19:00.002-06:00

Wahooooooo! I'm getting married to the most wonderful guy in the world! I know it probably seems really funny that my last post was just over a month ago about how I've been dating someone, and then the very next post is that I'm getting married. Well, I guess you can see that I've been a little preoccupied. Shean and I got officially engaged on August 30th in Bear Lake. It was the cutest thing ever! He planned with my dad, and surprised me by showing up early on Saturday down at the marina on my parent's party barge. He had the back all decorated with rose petals, flowers, chocolates, sparkling cider, and a ring box! I was really surprised to see him so early in the day, and definitely surprised that he was able to get a ring so fast. I love my ring so much and am very proud with what he chose. I gave him some ideas, and he did a fabulous idea. I love him so much and can't wait to get married on December 27th! Hope you can all come! I'll try to post some more details later on.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

2008-07-29T13:19:00.005-06:00

So, it's been a long time since I've blogged. I've been having a great summer. Over the past few weeks, I've been busy dating the greatest guy ever! Here's a couple of pictures of our last date. He always plans the greatest dates. Last night we went to Temple Square and enjoyed the visitor's center and the beautiful grounds. We went to dinner at The Garden Restaurant at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial building. The view from the top of the building was AMAZING! Things are going great and I'm having the time of my life!

Where is the summer going?

2008-06-24T17:15:00.008-06:00

So I can't believe that the summer is going by so FAST! I am in shock that it's already the last week of JUNE. Last month was hard because I was gone for two whole weeks to Italy, so it felt like the month flew by, which it did. I didn't think I'd be feeling the same way about June too. I just have to look back of the past few weeks and realize what I've been up to, and that it's totally okay.

We had a great Memorial Day at home with the family. We celebrated Jackie's 25th birthday. WOW, you say? Jackie, already 25? Yeah, my thoughts exactly. It's even harder to believe when you're the older sister! We made freezer meals with Mom and have been enjoying them ever since. I mean, who wants to cook after work anyway? I am a TRUE BELIEVER in the freezer meals, and they're even really YUMMY! You should definitely try it!

Lindsey and I also got to go home over Father's Day. We got up at 6:15 on Saturday morning and went on a bike ride. We left from Mom & Dad's house and then went to Laketown and then to St. Charles. I still can't even believe that we DID IT!! (I'm sure you can't either) I believe it's about 40 miles from home. Okay, if it's not quite 40 miles, we are TOTALLY fine with rounding up a little! After that bike ride, we spent the afternoon on the PARTY BARGE with the whole family. We had YUMMY food and enjoyed cruising around the BEAUTIFUL crystal blue lake. We spent the evening at the golf course driving range while the Dad & Shea played a round of golf. It was a busy day, but we had to fit everything in!

Last weekend, I went to St. George with Amanda, Brad, Amy, and their Mom & Dad. Those of you who know me, know that I CAN'T handle the HEAT! When we got there it was well over 100 degrees. All I can say, is that I'm darn glad that I DO NOT live in St. George. We got to go to two plays, The Sound of Music and Les Miserables at Tuacan on Friday and Saturday nights. I really liked The Sound of Music because I have always LOVED that movie, and the girl that played Maria sounded EXACTLY like Julie Andrews. She was absolutely amazing. If you haven't ever been to Tuacan, I would highly recommend it. We spent three straight hours in the pool on Saturday morning because it was the only way that we could stand being outside. It felt so good in the 108 degree weather! I didn't even get sunburnt. Thank you spf 15!!! I still got some color, so that's great!

My friends and I have been addicted to So You Think You Can Dance. It has been so much fun to watch and has given us something to look forward to doing together each week. I haven't really ever watched the show, but I love it so far. Lindsey, Mollie, and I have all been going up Provo Canyon to go biking, jogging, and walking. It's been really FUN to enjoy the outdoors and beauty of the canyon.

I am looking forward to spending many more weekends at home in BEAR LAKE. I feel so BLESSED and LUCKY to be from such an amazing place. I guess I'm going to have to buy a camera so that I can post some pictures some time. Darn Italins! Thanks for stealing my camera!

Italy Pics

2008-05-21T19:16:00.001-06:00

The report...

2008-05-21T19:05:00.004-06:00

Italy was AMAZING!!! We had such a great time and saw so many really neat things. We started in Venice and then on to Florence, Rome, and Sorrento. We went between cities by train, so we were able to see alot of country. It was a beautiful country. I loved Sorrento, the last place that we visited because it was right along the coast. I was so excited to see that it was exactly like the picture that I found a few months ago and had posted on my blog! I guess I liked it maybe the most because it was right along the coast, and both Mom and I love water. One of the highlights was seeing the Colloseum and the ancient ruins in Rome. Wow! I can't believe that stuff from the first centry is still standing! It truly is amazing. We had such a great time and have many fun memories that I'm sure we'll never forget. I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to go to Italy. It was a great experience and I guess when you go to other countries, you really are truly grateful for the things that you have and enjoy in your own country. Enjoy the pics!

Coming home soon!

2008-05-13T09:50:00.003-06:00

Well, we've had a great time in Italy, and now we're just waiting to come home! We're staying in a hotel for one last night and then we leave to come home to the good old USA! Don't get me wrong, this place is pretty, but I love America! I will have lots of pictures to share with you as soon as I get back. This has definitely been a great learning experience for Mom and I. Hope everything is going well at home!

You know what this means?

2008-04-16T17:07:00.008-06:00

This means Spring is very, very near! The greatest thing about these pics is that they were taken right outside my house. I didn't even have to go to St. George for these pictures. I love the spring time for the new bright green leaves and especially the blossoming trees. I can't think of anything prettier than blossoming crab apple trees in the spring. The purple, pink, and white are so pretty together. I am looking forward to going to St. George with Amy this weekend for some fun in the sun!

New Hair!

2008-04-06T18:47:00.000-06:00

I finally did what I've been thinking about for a long time! i went in on Saturday morning and chopped my hair! I just kept seeing so many other girls with cute short hair, and figured it was time for me to do something different. Is this different enough? I definitely think it is for me! What do you think? Ashlee, if you're reading this, go for it next time! It takes way less time to do than long hair.

It's Official.....

2008-03-03T17:54:00.005-07:00

I'm going to Italy! Yes, you heard right, Italy! One of my best friends, Amanda, invited me to go last month and we've spent the past two weeks planning the trip. One of the best things is that my mom gets to come too! How cool is that? Amanda's husband and parents will be coming too. I really think it's going to be a great trip for us, and now that we've bought the tickets, it's really real! We are going to leave May 1st and fly in to Venice. We will visit Venice, Florence, Rome, and Sorrento, with several day trips from those four main places. We also bought our train passes on Saturday, and we only have one more city to book hotels in. After that's done, we get to do the fun part and plan what we want to see while we're there. We fly back on May 14, so we'll get a good 12 days of sight-seeing in while we're there. It's really a dream com from true for me. I'm going to Italy, me, a girl from little old Garden City, Utah, is going to Europe! I still can't really believe that it's true! One of the places that I'm most excited to see is the Amalfi Coast. Here's a great picture of it. Isn't it beautiful? If anyone has been to Italy and has any suggestions, let me know. I'm now starting my count down for the trip. We're under two months now!

Go Jazz!!!

2008-02-06T17:40:00.001-07:00

We went to the Jazz game on Monday night. Yes, this was our 4th game within one month! We have had tons of fun going to the games. Lindsey and Mollie got to come with us this time, and we had a great time watching Kyle Korver make 6 3-point shots that night! It was AMAZING!!! We were sitting in the "lucky" section that got the little blow-up noise makers. We are lucky to have been to 4 games, all of which the Jazz won! I don't think I've been into the Jazz this much since John Stockton and Karl Malone played. It's so much fun to have a good, winning team!

Winter Snow!!!

2008-02-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

We are seriously living in a winter wonderland right now! I can't believe how much snow we got here in Bear Lake. It's been snowing since before we woke up and it's now almost 12:00 and it hasn't even let up. I don't know now, maybe we won't even be able to make it back to Utah Valley today. I really love the snow and I hope the lake fills up this year because it's so much better to have it full. Hope you like the pics of the winter wonderland!

My Calling

2008-01-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

So, I have a great calling in my ward. I'm the "teachings of our time" Relief Society Teacher, and I really LOVE it! I have never been a Relief Society teacher before, so I never knew how awesome of a calling it is, and how much it is really just for me. I have learned alot in my prepartion and I'm SO grateful for it. This past week I taught the lesson on Pres. Monson's talk, a Royal Priesthood. Now, I'll have to admit that I didn't have the best attitude to begin with because it was a talk given in the Priesthood session and I thought it was going to be a talk mostly for the men. Once I finally decided to read the whole talk and put some effort into it, I found that it was an amazing talk, and one that every member of the church should read, and apply in their own lives. He talks about how we each as members of the church need to obtain some specific characteristics in our lives; namely, vision, faith, effort, virtue, and prayer. Wow! It's such a great talk. The one thing that stuck out to me was that effort is a good thing, not always easy, but it's totally worth it. I decided to put forth some extra effort into my lesson and I even went as far as making hand outs! Yay! I actually made hand outs and everyone loved them!
I, like my friend Amy, didn't really make goals at the beginning of this new year. Sure, I have some things on my mind, but I didn't really write them down. After reading and studying this talk, I decided that I have several things that I need to work on, but they're all very "do-able". Each of these characteristics, or marks, as Pres. Monson refers to them, are qualities that each of us need to develop and better our lives through them. I am so happy to have this calling and know that I will be blessed as much as the effort that I put into my calling.

It's going to be hard to not have Pres. Hinckley around anymore, but his death is such a bittersweet thing. I am so happy that he is back with his lovely wife and that he was able to serve right up until the day that he passed away. Pres. Hinckley obviously developed all of these marks long ago and has been such a wonderful example to everyone around, church members or not. It's amazing to me how many temples have been built and planned since he became the president. I think it's wonderful! So many more members of the church are now able to enjoy the blessings of the temple. I also loved how Pres. Hinckley was not afraid of the media. He was willing to sit down with people and share his beliefs and he could answer any question that they had without blinking an eye. Another thing I won't forget are the "Be's" that he talked about. He just made everything so simple. I also really loved his sense of humor, and the way that he would wave his cane around as he walked into the conference center. He is definitely going to be missed.

Lindsey Turns 19!

2008-01-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Linds turned 19! I can't beleive that my baby sister is 19, it's so CRAZY! Jackie came down early in the day and we surprised Lindsey at work with cupcakes at break time. She was so excited to see Jackie and McKenna, and I was so proud of myself for keeping their visit a secret! We tried to go to The Olive Garden last night, but the wait was an hour and 45 minutes, so we decided to go to Ottavio's instead. I think it was delicious and the atmosphere was great! They had a guy there who played the accordian. He came to our table and played a few songs that the girls requested. It was awesome! Lindsey really liked it when all of the servers sang Happy Birthday in Italian, accompanied by the accordian. It did sound really pretty. After dinner, we all came back to my house for cupcakes. As you can see, McKenna loved the cupcakes! She actually ate that one before we went to dinner and before we frosted it, so it was a little less messy! She was so good all day and really so much fun! Linds had alot of friends from her ward come over and they all ended up playing karaoke in the basement for a few hours. It sounded like they had a great time. Melynda, Shea, Jackie, and I all stayed upstairs and played Buzz Word, a game that Linds got for her birthday. It was a really fun time!

Temple Square

2007-12-03T18:46:00.000-07:00

Friday night we five girls went to Temple Square and the Cheescake Factory. It was a great time. We went and put our names on the list at Chessecake Factory and then went to Salt Lake to see the lights. It took a while to find a parking spot, maybe even longer than we actually spent at Temple Square, but it was worth it! The lights were really pretty, but I was sad that there weren't more. I'm sure that back in the day there were more lights on the bigger trees. Our overall wait for the Cheesecake Factory was about 4 hours. Wow! That's a long wait, but at least we went and did something fun in between. I'm so glad that Lindsey is down here. We have so much fun together. I'm glad that we got out of town this weekend and had such a fun time!

Cousins at Thanksgiving

2007-11-27T21:05:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving Day we 6 cousins all got together before dinner. Becky, Leah, Chalyse, Jackie, Me and Lindsey. Aunt Sherrie took this pic of all of us girls just hanging out before dinner. It's a fun tradition that we have to go to Grandma Rob's each year for Thanksgiving. This is my 27th year going to Grandma's and I can't even imagine how weird it would be not to go to there. We always have a delicious meal and everyone has their favorite things. Jackie and Chalyse always look forward to Grandma's candied yams, and even though others don't admit it like I do, I love the "Cranberry Sunset" salad that Aunt Shirley makes. We always go around the table and each person gets to share something that they're thankful for and of course, we Hansen girls ALWAYS shed tears. There's just something about seeing your sister or mom cry that brings the tears to the surface almost instantaneously! I love Thanksgiving and look forward to the opportunity to remember all the things that I've been blessed with. I hope I can become better at remembering those things that I have been given and be more grateful! What a wonderful holiday!

Jimmy Johnson Takes it Again!

2007-11-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

So Jimmy Johnson got his second Nextel Cup Series Title! I must say I'm glad for Jimmy, even though I'm still a Dale Jr. fan. Next year will be interesting when these two are actually teammates.

I'm excited for Jr. to start fresh next year and drive decent cars.
I'm just sad that he wasn't able to keep his number. Lame that his step mom wouldn't let him take it. Whatever, who would want to take over his number anyway? He has currently been running the No. 8 because his grandfather had used that number, but didn't realize that Ralph Earnhardt also raced the 88 once - in the 1957 Virginia 500 at Martinsville Speedway for Petty Enterprises. So, he'll be running the 88 next year with new sponsors: Mountain Dew AMP energy drink and National Guard; AMP will appear on the car in 20 of 36 races next year with National Guard on the other 16 races. He has a 5 year contract with Hendrick Motorsports. Let's just hope that next year will be a good one for Hendrick Motorsports like it was this year and last! I'm looking forward to the Daytona 500 on February 15, 2008!

Weekend at Wolf Creek

2007-11-18T20:25:00.000-07:00

We had a great time in Wolf Creek this weekend! Mom & Dad got the condo, but couldn't stay Saturday night, so they offered it to us girls. Of course, we couldn't pass it up! We left Saturday morning and stopped in Layton to eat lunch and pick up the keys to the room from Mom & Dad. It's kind of funny because you'd think that a group of girls heading out for the weekend would watch chick flicks and paint toenails or something of the sort, but we didn't. We actually watched Transformers, yes, that's right, you heard it, we watched Transformers. I'm not going to lie, I've wanted to see it for awhile now, and I must say that I really did enjoy it. We had treats and stuff and then Mollie and Lindsey brought a special recipe for sweet pork and tomatillo dressing just like Cafe Rio! Yummy! The got the recipe from Mollie's sister when they went down to Arizona last weekend. I can't believe how much it tasted like the real thing! So, we had sweet pork salads and played Disney Scene It until we couldn't stay awake any longer.

I had only been to Wolf Creek one other time with some friends in the middle of the winter, so I didn't really know how it looked without snow. The valley is beautiful and reminds me so much of what home is like this time of the year. I went for a nice little walk this morning and enjoyed nature. I'm glad that we could all go this weekend. I had a great time, and it's so nice to have good, fun friends, and a little sis living so close now! Thanks for going girlies!

Cream Puffs

2007-11-03T21:07:00.000-06:00

Lindsey and Mollie made some YUMMY YUMMY cream puffs tonight. It was their first time making them and they did so awesome! I have always loved cream puffs and I think that now that McKenna has tried them, she loves them too! Okay, so they really didn't squeeze pudding directly into her mouth, but we thought it would be a funny pic. I think she might have been a little disappointed that we didn't let her eat it that way.

Today we had a great time shopping in Logan, sewing curtains for Mckenna's room, and painting frames for Mom's room and for Jackie's house. I always love to get with my sisters and my mom and have a good time. I'm so happy that we're all such great friends!

Pumpkin Carving Take 2

2007-10-31T18:10:00.000-06:00

Our favorite married friends invited us over for Halloween dinner and pumpkin carving. We had a GREAT time with Misty and Kyle. Misty made a cute little spiderweb cake and eyeballs (devied eggs) as part of our meal. After, we all picked a pattern and carved our pumpkins. Some of us were done quicker than others, but it was a great time socializing nonetheless. Melynda did the bat, Kyle the skull, Misty the window w/spider & cat, and mine is the pirate ship. I think they turned out so AWESOME!! I don't believe I've ever carved two pumpkins in one year. Tonight I think Melynda and I are going to stay home and hand out candy to the little kids trick or treating.

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-27T09:12:00.001-06:00

Melynda and I actually made it FHE last Monday where we got to carve pumpkins. It's been a few years since I've last carved a pumpkin, so it was actually kind of fun, all but the gutting that is! Melynda's pumpkin turned out so cute! I love the big smile, and he looks so happy when he's lit up. Thank heavens for the little pumpkin carving kits with the small little knives, pokers, and patterns. Without them, my carving of the cat would NEVER have been possible! We had a great time, and are looking forward to making new friends in our ward, so I'm glad we went.

McKenna & Morgan

2007-10-25T18:27:00.000-06:00

Mom, Jackie, and McKenna came down for a visit last night and stayed over until today. We went to dinner last night at the Pizza Factory and then came back home to my place. My neighbors are packing up to move to Denver, so we decided to have Morgan come over and play with McKenna. They had so much fun playing the piano together and then playing with Kenna's sunglasses. How cute are they? They are both at such a fun, busy stage right now and are such sweet little girls. It was so fun to see Kenna again and see how she's changed over the last month. I'm glad that we could all spend some time together since it's been awhile. Thanks for making the long trip girlies!

Which Twilight Character are you?

2007-10-17T09:17:00.000-06:00

Which Twilight novel character are you?

You're Esme Cullen - Your maternal instinct to take care of people and be kind draw people towards you. You're compassionate and loving, yet firm when you need to be. You appreciate hard work and value the beautiful results of your dedication to any project.
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Before & After

2007-10-14T16:17:00.000-06:00

I have had a fun time picking out new things for my room and bathroom. Here are the before and after pics for you to see just what I've been up to. I love it! Somehow I get major satisfaction from decorating and re-decorating. I think I got it from my mom! :)

My Personality Type

2007-10-11T20:42:00.000-06:00

You Are An ISTJ

The Duty Fulfiller

You are responsible, reliable, and hardworking - you get the job done.
You prefer productive hobbies, like woodworking or knittings.
Quiet and serious, you are well prepared for whatever life hands you.
Conservative and down-to-earth, you hardly ever do anything crazy.

In love, you are loyal and honest. If you commit yourself to someone, then you're fully committed.
For you, love is something that happens naturally. And you don't need romantic gestures to feel loved.

At work, you remember details well and are happy to take on any responsibility.
You would make a great business executive, accountant, or lawyer.

How you see yourself: Decisive, stable, and dependable

When other people don't get you, they see you as: Boring, conservative, and egotistical

What's Your Personality Type?

After I took this test I couldn't believe how true most of these things are. Kind of sad, but true. What does everybody else think?

Re-doing

2007-10-10T19:50:00.000-06:00

So I've been wanting to re-do my room for awhile. Mom, Dad, & Linds helped me paint the walls this spring, and I liked that, but now I'm just done with the red. Every room in my house has red. Don't get me wrong, I obviously like red, but I think I'm just ready for a break. Let's just face it, I love to decorate, and my room is ready and waiting. I just got new rugs and towels for my bathroom at Kohls today. It was a perfect day because it was a one-day sale so I got everything for 50% off. Gotta love those sales! I decided to go with chocolate brown, orange, and sage green for the bathroom. I got a great deal on some frames at Roberts and painted them so cute. I have a couple more things to finish up in there and then I'll post some pics, but so far, I love it and I'm having fun. I'm on the lookout for a cute quilt for my bed, so if anyone has any ideas, I'm up for some suggestions. I'm thinking something in chocolate brown would be really cute since my bed and the rest of my furniture is cream. I'm looking forward to getting some more good deals and making my room so darn cute. I've watched that show Decorating Cents with Mom so many times that I can't wait to take the before and after pics and figure out just how much I paid to make awesome changes!

The Birthday Scoop

2007-10-04T17:09:00.000-06:00

So yesterday was my 27th birthday, and I still am not quite of the shock! I can't even believe that I'm already in my "late 20's". I had a great day, thanks to all my awesome friends and family. Lindsey decorated my office so cute with balloons and brought fresh KrispyKremes in too. I must say I was a little embarassed, but hey, it was my birthday and it was really cute of her. A bunch of us (Julie, Sarah, Amy, Ali, Melynda, Lindsey,Molly, Amanda & Brad) went to dinner at Chili's and then came back for cake and ice cream. I'm sure you can tell by the picture that I absolutely loved the cake! German Chocolate cake is my all-time fav and Melynda did a great job making it! Thanks everyone for making my birthday so special!

Nauvoo

2007-10-02T21:07:00.001-06:00

I decided that I better post a little text to go along with the pics. We had a great time on our trip to the Church history sites. We started in Independence, MO and made several stops on our way to Nauvoo including Far West, Liberty, Adam-ondi-Ahman, Gallitan, and Hannibal. Hannibal was really cool because it was right next to the Mississippi River and it was where Mark Twain grew up. Liberty Jail was interesting. I couldn't believe that they were locked up in that little space for 4 whole months! I can't even imagine being down there in that small, freezing place in the middle of the winter. Adam-ondi-Ahman was absolutely gorgeous. It was really peaceful and quiet there. I couldn't believe how pretty it was. At Far West, there wasn't really anything left there except for the temple site. The original 4 cornerstones are still there, and there's a monument explaining what happened there. It was also a peaceful place. After staying in Hannibal, we went to Nauvoo.
Nauvoo was really amazing. I love love love the temple! It is a beautiful building inside and out. We did a session there one morning and it was neat. Nauvoo has several little homes and stores that have either been re-built as they were before, or have been restored to their original state. It was easy to see why it was so hard for the Saints to leave their beautiful city of Nauvoo. There really isn't much left to their city compared to what it was when they left, but you can get the idea of what it must have been like. There was a very special spirit in Nauvoo and I would highly recommend that everyone go there sometime. One of my most favorite thngs was going to Rendezvous two nights while we were there. The senior missionaries put on a little play that they call Rendezvous and talk and sing about what Nauvoo was like back in the 1840's. It was really good, and we definitely had some good laughs!
From Nauvoo we went to Carthage. Wow! Carthage was one of my most favorite places of the entire trip. I learned so much about Joseph Smith and we sat right in the very room where he and Hyrum died. I can't explain how it felt to be there and especially after we had somewhat followed their path all the way from Missouri. Joseph and Hyrum were both amazing men, and I hope that I can have a relationship with my sisters that is similar to theirs. They were willing to do anything for each other.
We spent a whole day, or at least it felt like it, driving across the entire state of Iowa to get to Winter Quarters. We visited another pioneer cemetery that is right behind the Winter Quarters Temple. That temple is also really pretty. There are beautiful stained glass windows on every side. We also did a tour in the visitor's temple and after having heard about the trek of the pioneers and all of their trials for an entire week, my emotions were overwhelming by the time we got to Winter Quarters. The sister missionary sang Come Come Ye Saints and I couldn't hold back the tears. For one thing, she had an amazing voice, and I also felt a deeper connection to the early members of the church than I ever had before. It was awesome! Our last stop was in Council Bluffs at the Kanesville Tabernacle. This is actually the spot where Brigham Young was sustained as the second prophet 3 years after Joseph Smith died. It is also the place where the Mormon Battalion left from. It was interesting to find out that we had a relative that was in the Mormon Battalion. How cool is that? Anyway, the trip was altogether amazing. I learned so much and gained a much greater appreciation for the early members of the Church. My testimony was strengthened and I won't soon forget about the sacrifices that have brought the Church where it is today.

I love Fall

2007-09-16T21:20:00.001-06:00

Tonight Lindsey and I went for a drive up Provo Canyon to see the beautiful Fall colors. I have always loved fall so much because the mountains become so full of color and the temperature goes down where I like it. The mountains are beginning to be dotted with red and orange. We had a great time together enjoying the colors.

Lindsey hadn't been to Squaw peak yet, so we drove up there too and enjoyed the overlook into Utah Valley. We could see all of Utah lake and actually quite a ways north and south. I think she enjoyed seeing the view from above. We've been having a great time together now that we live so close. It's actually really great to have someone from my fam live so close. I love it!!! Hope you enjoy the pretty fall pics.

Austenland

2007-09-10T17:57:00.000-06:00

I know it seems like I've been a bit obsessed with Jane Austen lately, but her love stories are so great! Sarah lent me the book, Austenland, and I loved it! It was such a fun story and made me really, really want a boyfriend, but it was good nonetheless. I would recommend reading the book to anyone who loves Jane Austen! I haven't gone as far as Melynda yet with her whole Austenland experience. She's been dreaming about living in the times of Jane Austen. Interesting!

I Love Vacation!

2007-09-10T17:50:00.001-06:00

I am so excited to go on a Church history tour of Missouri, Nebraska and Illinois. I'm lucky enough to go with Mom & Dad at the end of this month to see these cool places. I'm really excited to go to the places where the Church began. I plan to take lots of pics and hope to learn alot about the early saints. I am looking forward to going to the Nauvoo Temple and hopefully to the Winter Quarters Temple as well. I can't wait!!!

Movie Satisfaction

2007-08-26T18:47:00.000-06:00

I went to Becoming Jane with friends yesterday and I loved it! Truthfully, I didn't know much about Jane Austen until I saw this movie. I love that so many of the characters in her novels are based on real people in her life. I can't believe the things that Jane Austen went through, yet she still wrote so many awesome love stories, and never did marry herself. Interesting..... Maybe that's what I'm going to to have to do, write love stories the way I wish they could happen. This afternoon I've been watching Pride and Prejudice, the A&E version with Melynda. It's so darn good. If I ever turn in to anyone like Mrs. Bennett, someone shoot me! She drives me CRAZY. Okay, so definitely see the movie, I think you'll really like it.

Disco Mania

2007-08-23T20:39:00.001-06:00

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!

Breaking up is hard to do

2007-08-23T17:45:00.000-06:00

Okay, so Wade and I broke up yesterday. I will admit that I've been waiting for him to tell me what's been going on for the past two weeks! Yes, two whole weeks! I gave him opportunities to tell me what was going on, but he didn't do it. I decided that if he was the one that had issues, he should come to me and tell me. I shouldn't have to drag them out of him. So, yesterday he finally called me. He talked and I talked just like normal, and then after all the small-talk stuff was done, and after I prompted him a little, he finally spilled what he was calling for. He was calling to tell me he was done with our relationship. I won't go into any of the details, except for the fact that he told me I'm pretty, and I'm smart, and he likes my personality, he likes the time we spend together, and I have an awesome family, and blah blah blah blah, and that "all logic tells him that we should be together," but there's just something missing. Okay, whatever. All of these things just contradict the reason why you're calling!!!!!! I took my opportunity to tell him all the things I'd been thinking about over the past two weeks. They were just things that you would tell a person because you care about them, even if they are dumping you.

As a girl, I analyze almost everything! I'd formulated in my head everything that I wanted to tell him, and I did! I actually told him everything I thought he should know, or learn from this situation. He listened to me and I hope that he takes to heart the things I said to him. I don't hate him by any means, I just really hate the whole situation and I still don't really understand. And no, we can't be friends like he said. I don't see what the point is, really. I'm hurt, and I'm sad right now, but I know that I'll be okay. I know there's a reason that I have to go through this trial right now, and I'm trying to stay positive. I have been blessed with AWESOME friends and family. They care about me so much and build me up, offer great advice and support, and tell me it's going to be okay. They are all amazing examples to me and I love them so much.

Four Things

2007-08-23T17:35:00.000-06:00

Mrs. Bennett (Michelle) sent me an email with some fun facts about her. I decided to post it on my blog so that others could see my responses as well.

Four jobs I have had:
1. Boat Rental
2. Campground Front Desk
3. H&R Block Tax Preparer
4. American Crafts Accounting

Four places I have lived:
1. Garden City (Bear Lake)
2. Logan
3. Orem
4. Maybe I should move ? :)

Four TV shows I like to Watch:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Deal or No Deal
3. The Office
4. Lost

Four places I've been on vacation:
1. Hawaii
2. Florida
3. Western Caribbean
4. New York

Four places I'd rather be right now:
1. On Vacation (anywhere really)
2. Home in Bear Lake
3. At the Beach
4. somewhere with friends

Four places I like to shop:
1. Target
2. IKEA
3. Old Navy
4. Anywhere with cute home decor

Feel free to share these fun things on your blog too!

All in Four years...

2007-08-16T18:42:00.000-06:00

I was reading one of my friend's blogs and she had posted some things that she'd done 10 years ago. I was thinking about this and asking myself some of the same questions, but I decided to post about what fun things I've done over the past 4 years.

1. Graduated from USU with a degree in Accounting
2. Moved to Orem because I got my wonderful job at American Crafts. This was a huge step for me because I left all my friends and family behind. I must say, it's one of the best things I've ever done!
3. Went to San Francisco with Amanda and her parents
4. Worked at the boat rental during the summer. I can't believe we used to do that!
5. Made my best friends ever!
6. Went through the temple
7. Visited New York City with some great friends
8. Went to Daytona Beach, FL and to the Daytona Speedway
9. Bought my own Townhouse
10. Went to a NASCAR race
11. Went to Hawaii--I'll definitely go again sometime!
12. Bought my first brand new car, and since got another, I know, I'm CRAZY!
13. Became and Aunt for the first time and found out how much you could love a little person!
14. Leaned a ton in my job.
15. Found out how much my family means to me and that when it comes down to it, they're all that really matters.

Women are from Venus, Men are from......?

2007-08-16T18:13:00.000-06:00

So we've all heard the famous saying Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Why in the world are we from different planets when we're supposed to be getting together? I am having a struggle right now with this whole situation. I know that men and women are different for a reason, but come on, wouldn't the whole dating thing be much easier if for a portion of your life, you could each be from the same planet?????? All I'm asking is for men to think like women for a short time peiod so that they can understand our feelings and think about how the things they do or don't do are affecting us. I know this will never happen, but it's nice to dream about.

I found a quote from the above mentioned book, and I quite like it. I guess I'm going to try to make it something I think about before I react or assume. "We mistakenly assume that if our partners love us they will react and behave in certain ways--the ways we react and behave when we love someone."

Demolition Derby- Juab County Fair

2007-08-13T20:58:00.001-06:00

On Saturday night Melynda and I went to the Demolition Derby in Nephi. We went last summer with Misty and Kyle too, so I guess you could say it's become a "tradition". Kyle has a couple of friends who actually participate, so it's more exciting when we can watch and route for someone we kind of know. Okay, so we don't actually know them, but close enough. One of Kyle's friends, Kurt #300, actually won this year. I must say that Norm and Kurt definitely had the best cars. They were old Chevy Impalas, and they apparently put some money into them to make them as good as they were. I don't think any other cars even came close to being as awesome as theirs. Not only did we have fun watching the real life version of bumper cars, we had a great time people watching. It's funny how many WT people come out to the derby and the county fair. My oh my, if my friend Emily were there she would have taken enough pictures to fill up her "Wall O'Mullets" picture wall because almost every guy that walked by had one! Let's just say that going to the demolition derby might be a once or twice a year kind of activity.

Amanda & Brad's Wedding

2007-08-13T19:50:00.001-06:00

Amanda & Brad got married on August 9th. It was a really special day and I was lucky enough to take part in everything! I don't think I've seen a prettier reception than hers. She was so lucky to have it in a beautiful yard right up by the mountains in Salt Lake. She looked absolutely beautiful! I'm so happy to have such a great friend and know that she found the perfect man for her. Brad is a great guy and I know he's perfect for Amanda. Congrats!

Jane Austen Heroine

2007-08-06T20:08:00.000-06:00

Take the Quiz here!

:: M A R I A N N E ::

You are Marianne Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are impulsive, romantic, impatient, and perhaps a little to vocal in your honesty. You enjoy romantic poetry and novels, and play the pianoforte beautifully. To boot, your singing voice is captivating. You feel deeply, and love passionately.

What do you think? Is that me?

Dad turns 50!!!

2007-08-06T18:37:00.001-06:00

We had an awesome day with Dad on his 50th! After church, Mom made an amazing meal of steak, bacon-wrapped chicken, and even shrimp! Wow, are we ever lucky that Dad had a birthday. Mom decided it would be fun to have a party and invited several of Dad's friends, so Sunday night we had cake and ice cream and celebrated. The cake was awesome, don't you think? Wade made the cake and thought it would be fun to build a mountain and put a lake on it as well. It was pretty much one of the coolest cakes I've ever seen and it was delicious too! He even put real Bear Lake raspberry jam inside! We had tons of fun together and played Bacci a few times too since Jackie and Shea gave that to Dad as a gift. I must say, it was a pretty fun day!

Summer Fun

2007-07-15T10:50:00.001-06:00

Over the 4th of July weekend I went to Bear Lake with Wade. It was such a beautiful weekend up there and it was the first time, yes, the FIRST time in forever that my family was actually able to enjoy the holiday. With the boat rental finally sold, we had time to enjoy ourselves just like our neighbors always have! Amanda and Brad came up on Saturday morning and that afternoon we took the waverunners for a ride. It was Wade's first time to ride a waverunner, and I would have to say that he liked it alot. We spent that night playing games like speed scrabble (love it!), Nertz, and Spades and eating pizza from Lakeside. We made it to church on Sunday with the other 1200 people there and then watched Fly Boys. Later that afternoon I went on my first 4-wheeler ride with Wade. It was so much fun! I loved it! Not to mention it was a tad bit cooler up in the mountains. We enjoyed several bike rides and just some good old fun! Monday morning I got to ride the GP1200 and if that machine doesn't give you a rush, I don't know what would, it was so much fun. t was so nice to finally have a holiday like all the other people in the world! I can't wait to go home again and play!

Me and the Babe

2007-06-11T21:17:00.000-06:00

I can't think of anything else quite as fun as being an aunt. It has been so much fun to watch McKenna grow and change over the past nine months. She's such a cute little thing and is definitely full of personality! She seems to know exactly what she wants at all times. She's now got both of her two bottom front teeth. She's so much fun! I love to see her get dressed up in her cute little summer dresses and her cute little swimming suits too. She's so much fun!

Hawaii

2007-06-11T21:02:00.001-06:00

We had an AWESOME time in Hawaii. Seven days in Maui and three days in Oahu! Wow! We are so lucky to have been able to go and spend that long there. We did so many fun things from the beach to Pearl Harbor and Luau's and Sunset Cruises to the PCC. The people in Hawaii are so nice and friendly pretty much wherever you go. Melynda and I saw many beautiful sunsets and enjoyed walking along the beach too. Big Beach was probably one of the coolest places that we went to. I would have to say that Boogie Boarding was one of my most favorite things that we did there. The water was a beautiful crystal blue and warm. It was actually really refreshing to jump in and cool off from the heat. It was so much fun to have the whole family there in Hawaii together. It's our first vacation since the babe joined the family. She was too cute in her new little swimming suits and sun dresses. I'm so glad that Melynda and Leah could come too. M's definitely part of the family so there's no reason why she shouldn't have been there! I will most definitely go back to Hawaii someday because it was so pretty and really alot of fun!

Sisters

2007-05-26T07:21:00.000-06:00

At Lindsey's graduation we got this cute pic. We were surprised and really glad that Jackie was still there. We attempted to do our own self portrait, but I kept cutting off my face and then Jackie and Lindsey would close their eyes. Lindsey's friend offered to take this pick for us once she saw how much we were struggling. I love my sisters!

1 more day!

2007-05-25T22:03:00.000-06:00

I can't even believe that it's only one more day until vacation! I got to leave work today at 10:45 and it was the BEST feeling ever! I will have to admit that it's probably going to be a little strange not being at work for such a long time, but good nonetheless. Tonight I went to Lindsey's graduation and it was really nice. It's really strange though, how she's grown up so fast. Being back at the high school and there for graduation I remembered my own graduation already 8 years ago. Wow! That's so weird to see that in writing. My cousin Spencer was the Valedictorian, and he did an awesome job on his talk. When he got up to speak, I was reminded of my opportunity to speak at high school graduation. I remember standing there willing the sweat on my forehead not to shine!! I was so nervous, but I am so glad that I had the opportunity. Lindsey is such a great girl. On our way home, Dad said that he talked to another Father of a son in Lindsey's class who said Lindsey is always trying to encourage his son to stay on the straight and narrow. What a compliment that was. She's grown up to be such a pretty girl and is such a great example to me. She's so positive and outgoing and everyone that meets her likes her. I must say that Linds is also very very entertaining. I can't wait to go on vacation and enjoy her company for a while. I'm sure it will be great to have her living closer when she comes down for school! Congrats Linds!

friday night at home

2007-05-20T10:53:00.001-06:00

Melynda and I went for dinner and did a little shopping at the mall. I got some fun shimmery lotion and some new wall flower scents at Bath & Body Works. I've found the cutest swimming suits for McKenna and I can't wait to see her in them! One of them is from the Gap and it's even a little halter top! How cute is that? I decided that I'd paint my nails tonight just for fun. This is the first time since I've grown my nails out that I have painted them such a bold color. I always love it when I see other people with their nails painted, so I decided that I would try it out myself even if it only lasts until Saturday night. We're watching Footloose and doing a little blogging. It seems like it's been forever since I've posted. Only one more week until I go home for Lindsey's graduation and then Hawaii that same weekend. I am so happy that I have something to work hard for this next week at work. I believe that we will have one heck of time there in Hawaii. Life right now for me is actually going quite well. I'm happy, happy, happy! I guess that's part of why I picked the pink polish!

we need a win!!!!

2007-05-09T19:09:00.000-06:00

So, this is my buddy Dale Jr. Isn't he a looker? Currently Dale Jr. is ranked 12th in the Nextel Standings, and he's moving up each week. It seems like every single race Jr. gets the short end of the stick. He's always getting turned or bumped or whatever else can possibly happen on the racetrack. I am still hoping that he can get a number one finish soon! This season he's done fairly well, he's had 1 top 5 finish and 3 top 10 finishes in 9 races. Not so bad. Every week I hope for that number one finish will happen, but Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon keep on keepin on! Even though it hasn't happened yet, I'm not trading who I'm routing for! I am NOT a fairweather fan! I just read that Jr. and his sister are possibly announcing tomorrow that Jr. and other DEI racers will be racing for JR Motorsports. Should be interesting. Go Jr.!!!!

Utah, Beautiful Utah!

2007-05-09T18:34:00.000-06:00

I love the mountains in Utah! I was driving home tonight towards the mountains and they looked so darn pretty that I couldn't resist taking a picture. I know it's not the best picture, but I love the snow on the mountains in the spring with the blue blue sky. I have visited a couple of places without mountains over the past year or so, and I have decided that I just don't think I could live anywhere without mountains. Not only are they pretty, they really help me to know which direction I'm headed. I must say that I've seen pretty mountains all over Northern Utah, but I really love the mountains of Utah Valley the best. This picture is actually the view from the back of my townhouse. I am just going to count myself as really lucky to enjoy this beautful creation!

Interview with Melynda

2007-05-07T16:23:00.000-06:00

1. Professionally, what are you the most proud of?
I guess I would have to say that I'm most proud of getting my college degree. I know that I could have found a job without my degree, but I'm so happy that I finished school when I did. It was a great experience!
2. If you could trade places with any other person who would it be and why?
I don't know, um I really liked Cameron Diaz's character, Amanda, in the Holiday. I would love to go to England, fall in love with a British man, and live happily ever after. Who wouldn't?
3. Veronica Mars or 24? Why?
This is kind of a hard question for me. I really love both of these shows. If I have to decide, I guess I would go with 24 because such shocking things develop in that show. I love VM, and we all know that I was addicted to both shows when watching them on dvd, but I think I am leaning more to 24. Gotta love that Jack Bauer!
4. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation-where would it be and why?
I would absolutely love to go to Europe, but if I had the opportunity to pick anywhere, I would choose Australia and New Zealand. I think they're fairly close, so I would like to visit both places on the same trip. I have read a few books that take place in Australia and it sounds absolutely wonderful!
5. What would you call the perfect first date?
Well, I think that the perfect date would first of all be with someone that I really really liked. This might sound totally sappy, but I think a horseback ride and a picnic either out in a green green field, or in the beautiful forest with pine trees would be so awesome! I know, I know, I'm a little nervous about horses, but they're so pretty and it would be really fun, I think.

Two People I love!

2007-05-05T14:35:00.000-06:00

I am so glad that I can say that I'm great friends with my mom & dad. My mom and dad are two amazing people. I can't think of finer people to have as parents. I was talking to Mom today about some things that are going on with her church calling and I just stopped to think about how grateful I am that I had parents who taught me to be responsible. I know that the values that were instilled in me were the same values that they were taught by their parents. How lucky am I to have come from two great families. My grandparents are wonderful people too and taught their kids well. I think that I am the person that I am because of Mom & Dad. I learned to work, to take responsibility, to love, and to serve from my parents. I hope to one day teach my own children the important things that I have learned from Mom & Dad. This picture was taken at the Los Angeles temple when we visited in February. We were only there for the weekend, but we had a great time together. I am so proud of my mom and dad and all the things that they have accomplished.

Home Sweet Home!

2007-05-05T14:03:00.000-06:00

I found these pictures from when I was home in April for Easter. I love home so much! I can't wait to go home again next weekend for Mother's Day. We are so lucky to have such a nice place right at the lake. It was awesome living there and seeing the many different but beautiful colors of the lake each day. I remember looking at the moon and it's reflection above the water and just loving it! I wish the water would come up and it would be like when we first moved into that house. The water was right there just feet from our lawn and I remember just lying in my bed at night listening to the waves hit the shore. I know it's much different than hearing the ocean, but the soothing sounds of the water are wonderful nonetheless. I hope to visit often this summer and maybe actually happen to see Mom and Dad because of their changes in careers!

My Place

2007-05-05T13:40:00.000-06:00

This morning I planted some pretty flowers to put on my front porch. I bought these flowers the other day when it was over 80 degrees and I didn't get them planted until today when it was 42 degrees! I can't believe that we've had such a drastic change in weather. It's rained a few days this week and i just talked to Mom and she said it's now snowing in Bear Lake! Wow! I'm glad it's not snowing here! I am so excited to see my flowers grow and get pretty and fill in the pots. I'm planning to plant more flowers by the end of this week because I have lots of pots and plenty of flowers to put in them and put on the back patio. Hopefully it warms up again because they need the heat. I think I might even plant some tomato plants when I the weather finally decides what it's going to do.

It's hard for me to believe that a whole year has passed since I moved into my own place here at Waterlefe. It seems like the older I get, the faster the time goes by. I have enjoyed living here so much and have had a great time painting and decorating my house. It's a great relief to know that my contract isn't ending somewhere and I have to either renew it and stay or find a new place or get new roommates. Oh the joys of home ownership!

USU Grad

2007-05-02T19:56:00.001-06:00

If Only......

2007-05-02T17:43:00.000-06:00

Today I was bugged by a few things that happened at work. Now that I've thought about it for a couple hours after work, it's not bugging me as bad, but I have often thought that if only people thought things through the same way I did, I wouldn't have to deal with problems like this one. It's not that big of a deal now, but at 4:00 when I got off work I was so annoyed! I'm going to get over it, I know, and I'm trying to make myself deal with the situation the best way possible. But, if only..... It seems like it was just one of those days when everything that could possibly go wrong went wrong. I guess it's a test for me. I need to learn to "roll with the punches" and not let things upset me the way they do. When all of this was going on, I kept thinking, "if only today were Friday" Yeah, like that's going to solve everything for me! I should be thinking things like "if only I were more patient" then I could deal with situations better. Now that I really think about it, I think I have "if only" sydrome sometimes. I really am grateful for the things I have and the experiences I have in my life. Everything is really quite fine! Okay, this was a great way for me to think about the situation and GET OVER IT!!!

Melynda & Me

2007-05-01T17:38:00.000-06:00

Melynda and I are best buds. It's hard to believe that we've been roomies for almost an entire year. We seriously have so much in common that we have such a great time together. It's so awesome when we are thinking the same thing at the same time, that actually happens quite often these days. We are planning on going biking lots this summer and hopefully visiting Bear Lake ALOT! Our next exciting adventure is our trip to Hawaii! We are going to have such a great time. Today we actually went tanning so that we can get a little color before the trip. M is making dinner tonight and it looks fabulous. I love that I have a friend as great as her!

Veronica Mars

2007-05-01T17:13:00.000-06:00

So, I am so darn excited for Veronica Mars tonight! I have been waiting for a long time to see how this season ends. This addiction started when Sarah told me about this great show that Chloe had given her to watch. So I know, it's a teenager show, but I'm still a teenager at heart and I have really quite enjoyed watching Veronica solve little mysteries at her high school and now at the college. She's a great detective. I think one of the reasons why I like it is because I really loved Nancy Drew when I was younger and Veronica is like the Nancy Drew of the 2000's, solving cases with her dad just like Nancy did. Anyway, I can't wait for it tonight, I hope it's a good one!

My Cute little McKenna!

2007-04-30T17:59:00.000-06:00

I never knew how fun it would be to be an aunt! I love this little baby so much! She has got to have the prettiest eyes ever. It's funny how McKenna has changed our family so much. We were in Vernal this past weekend for Lindsey's USU graduation and it was funny how many times our conversations reverted to her. Everyone was sharing pictures from the cell phones because she's on all of our phones and our fridges and computers too! How can we even resist, I mean just look at her! She brings so much happiness into our family and we all love her so much! I can't believe she's already 7 months and she just cut her first teeth. My how the time flies. As Dad likes to say, she'll be part of our "group" (the girls group) before you know it!

My first day blogging.......

2007-04-30T17:48:00.000-06:00

So today is my first attempt at blogging. I'm kind of excited about this, and yes, I know, I'm WAY behind the times, but it's never too late to start, right? I think this will be fun way to keep in touch with good friends and of course, my wonderful family that lives so darn far away! Hopefully I can keep up with this and make it enjoyable and fun to look at!