So proud

It has come and gone. R graduated!

It was such a happy day!

It's crazy that 4+ years is summed up in a half hour

We just crossed a huge thing off our list,

now on to some fun stuff....

ps check out Rs AMAZING website!

Something too good to pass up

I figured since I have had such a streak of being a terrible blogger I should just keep it up,
but this is just too good NOT to blog about.
My man is a big bad college graduate.
[not officially until Friday at 7 o'clock]
Here's how it all went down...
Wife had BIG FAT HUGE surprise for husband.
Wife is really really bad at keeping surprises actual surprises.
Wife FINALLY gets to surprise husband on Tuesday.
They drive and drive and stop at the DI. [just a quickey]
They drive and drive and drive
and stop to eat at a little diner. Amazing scones. Amazing.
Husband eats and eats and eats. Wife is amazed at where
her thin husband is putting it all. [Is it going in his pockets?]
Wife give husband a little wrapped box.
Usually wife gets tiny wrapped boxes.
Husband opens up present like a little girl... or an old grandma, can't decide.
Husband's face lights up.
Husband gets concert tickets to favorite band Cake.
Husband LOVES loves loves wife.
They drive and drive and drive.
They are so happy listening to happy music.
Husband + wife love Cake.
Cake loves husband + wife.
[Wife wishes she had cake to eat}
Life is happy

When it was 11/11/11

I'm not gonna lie, I was excited for 11/11/11 Considering it only happens every thousand years I think it's pretty cool that I was here to witness this one. What do you do on special days when you live around no friends or family and don't have a whole lot to do? I find myself asking this every time a holiday comes around such as Halloween or New Years Eve. Supposedly everyone is supposed to have a great night doing something extra ordinary. Usually my expectations are too high [out of excitement for a special day] and I am usually let down. Because of this I have decided to let go of all special occasion expectations and just be happy.

This friday on 11/11/11 I made sure to let all of my students know what today was and how cool it was. Yes they rolled their eyes at their incredibly lame teacher, but I didn't care. I came home to a studious husband trying to get 3 papers written. I helped him write a few. I also decided it was about time to actually make dinner. A good sit down dinner. So I cleaned the kitchen [you can't start making a good meal in a dirty kitchen] and got to work. I watched some Big Bang Theory re-runs that were on tv and amused myself by spinning around the kitchen. Dinner came and went. We went out and grabbed a movie at Blockbuster. Can I just say that this is the first time that I have rented a movie at a store in about 3 years. I had to sign up with Blockbuster again and I felt so stupid because I had to keep asking the most pathetic questions like "Do I get a card or something" and "What do I need to do when I give you the movie?" How were they going to check it out to the right person. ha yup idiot. We got a chick flick, FINALLY, and stopped by Smith's for our favorite Moose Tracks ice-cream.

We sat at home. We ate lots of treats and watched a movie. We might have played tag a bit and I'm pretty sure we pestered each other in attempt to entertain ourselves. Besides that not much else. I did however force Ry to take a picture with me at 11:11 pm on 11/11/11. Yes he rolled his eyes at me just like my students, but I didn't care. I made him anyways. I'm glad I did. It's a moment in history.

Instead of making my own art...
I come up with ideas for art projects for my students.
Not as relaxing or inspiring but still fun.
Hows this for step one of an self portrait poster?

A Much Needed Break

A trip to Newport always includes...

Many bike/longboard rides

[usually to the Wedge]

Pit stop on ride to eat at the Stuffed Surfer

[best breakfast around]

kimee + Jared

me + R

Sweet shots of all the surfers rocken the waves

always collecting sea shells along the way....

This year we experienced Santa Monica as well thanks to Jared + Kimee.

It was beautiful and so fun walking around on the pier with good music, good company, and great rides.

oh look there is something incredibly awesome and secretive over there!

Oh look I'm so strong I'm picking up the ferris wheel. Wow

My attempt to salvage an overexposed photo that I really wish turned out

This trip was relaxing and wonderful.

If definitely didn't last long enough.

I am grateful for all the time I had to spend with R

and also with Kimee + Jared.

I have decided vacations are needed every other week

At least

re.inspired

First off, I want to say thank you thank you thank you for all of you support. I write on my blog to clear no thoughts and have a minute but am always so uplifted and surprised at the support I get. It's a small thing, but I appreciate knowing that I have people backing me.

So lately, because of the schedule, or at least what I blame it on, I haven't been creative at all. This is a no buenos because my body and being runs on creativity. So as I was relaxing in front of the tv doing not much of anything tonight I decided to get off my back and take a sit in front of the computer. I'm so grateful I did because I was re.inspired tonight. By this lovely person. This lady is a wife, a mom, and a designer. She works hard and loves hard. I got the desire to create. Even though I'm beat down and can fall asleep in a mater of 15 seconds [R has timed me]. Hopefully I stick to it!

check out her art here

Update

I swear every time I decide to set more goals and take my life in a certain direction something changes.....

So here I was at a new teacher meeting. I had to get a substitute for my class. [the first time that I have been gone from my classroom]. Kimmie [my only friend at Weber, she's the jewelry teacher] and I were at the district office for the morning learning about different teaching strategies. It was the first really cold day of the year and it was Friday and I was so done with the week. On the way back to my classroom to finish up teaching for the second half of the day I get a text message from the principal telling me to come talk to him as soon as I got back to school. Ummmm even though I'm not a student it still made me nervous to have to principal text me. It honestly felt like a cop just flipped around behind me. Ohhh I hate that feeling.

So I get to the school and Velden comes and tells me he let the dance coach go and that he would like Morgan and I to take over. Now people who don't know dance let me fill you in on what it entails. 18 hours of practice each week. That's every morning at 6 am, 2 nights a week for 4 hours, and Saturday mornings from 8-12. This doesn't count competitions, cutting music, choreography, fund raisers, football + basketball games, costumes, parents, parents, parents..... Let me just tell you. It's a lot. A whole lot. My first thought was to scream NO NO NO! I can't. I''m too tiard! I don't know what I'm doing! But I didn't. I said yes. I said yes because I knew that the girls needed us. Not that we are all amazing, but because we have a slight clue on what's going on and we have competition in 6 weeks. Yikes!

I have only been a coach for 12 days. I am already exhausted. I have already felt every emotion at least 100 times. I have already spent 14 hours straight locked up in my windowless school dancing, teaching, dancing. I go to school when it's dark. I leave when it's dark. Yes, it has been so hard. Harder than teaching. I am both mentally and physically drained to the bone. But I would be lying if I didn't like [on my way to love] it. In 12 days I have already learned so much about being a coach. About motivating people. About how to treat people in general. Morgan and I are in a tough spot. The girls have so much to accomplish before competition, and what they know falls on our shoulders. We have had to crack down hard on them. They run laps if they talk. They run if they're late. We push them every day to perfect and clean each dance. I've been worried that they were going to hate us. They haven't. They are working so hard and they have such great attitudes. They make me want to work harder for them. They make me want to be a more positive person.

I know I have so much to learn about dancing and coaching and teaching. I know that these next 3 months are going to be so hard. I will be so tired and stressed and I'm sure I'll want to quit at least once a week, probably more. But I won't. I might not be around to blog. I might not get to work on my art and my individual passions. I may not get to spend all my time with R. But I know I'll learn and grow. And I hope hope hope that I will be able to make a few girls lives better as well. When we moved to Ogden neither of us really wanted to be here. I knew that I was supposed to take the job and I did. Every day I have been trying to be positive and to figure out why I'm supposed to be here. Maybe this is the reason. Maybe I'll be able to make a difference with these girls. Maybe it will teach me what I need to learn to prepare myself for whats to come. I'm not sure. I will probably never be sure. I do know that I'm going to try my hardest and see what happens. Who knows how much I'll be blogging. Who knows how much of anything I'll be doing but teaching and dancing. I'll try hard to update because I could use the support!

are you for reals?

Today was lame.

From Tuesday to Thursday

the weather dropped 40 degrees. 40!

Monday I wore shorts and sandals.

Today I wore 3 shirts and a leather jacket all day.

Boots are coming out.

Rainbows go to the shelf.

I'm looking forward to another 7 months of cold feet!

Don't get me wrong.

I'm not a winter hater.

I love snow and skiing and layers.

I do not however liked to be introduced so abruptly.

I guess I better embrace winter soon.

Date Night

I put one of my goals to good use this past Saturday night.

R went off to the priesthood session for our church.

I told R I would have a surprise for him when he got home.

When he left I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do.

We just looked at movies and there were none we wanted to see.

We don't have friends here so that's out of the question.

I didn't feel liked getting dressed up so scratch going out.

I didn't want to be lame and watch a movie.

But watching a movie is a sweet tent is just plain awesome.

It ended up being such a fun night.

R's face lit up when he opened the door and saw our living room

transformed into an awesome tent with his favorite snack out and ready to eat.

Here is all you need.

1 bed sheet, 2 hockey sticks, 3 chairs

lots and lots of blankets and pillows

Pick your loves favorite snack foods you don't usually eat.

R has been dying for cheese curds so I peddled down to Smith's and snagged some.

I also made the most delicious brownies that somehow disappeared in 24 hours. Weird.

I have both of these yummy treats on my pinterest. Go check em out.

fresh mozzarella, yellow squeaky cheese, and fresh from the garden tomatoes.

I did add some heated massage oil and one of the movies R has been dying to see. It was good to run him down and spoil him a little. Usually I'm the one who is being spoiled and it was nice for both of us to be on the other end.

It was such a fun date. It's weird how a little tent can mix up the norm and make a movie and treats so exciting.

lofty goals

This weekend I was lucky enough to be enriched for 8 great hours.

It was general conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

I was uplifted and enriched and I will be honest,

I got a good little nap in there at one point.

Besides all that I did get a good date night/day in with R too.

There's always time for R...

Because I was so uplifted this weekend,

last night I decided to write down some weekly goals.

I tried to touch on all areas of my life.

Living a happy life is living a balanced life. Therefore I need work in all areas.

Some goals are a bit lofty for me.

Others I'm already doing,

but figured with the extra busy from the other goals I should put them in and keep up the good work.

I'm sharing my goals

1. to inspire any of you who feel like you need a life lift,

2. Mostly because I feel that if I share my goals with the world that I'll actually get er done!

1. Read scriptures + pray with R 6 times a week

2. At least 1 personal spiritual study time a week

3. Complete at least 1 project each week to turn our apartment into home

4. Do 1 creative thing a week [besides #3] This is for my sanity

5. cook 1 great meal a week [make enough for leftovers]

6. Plan 1 cheap + fun date each week

7. Exercise 4 times a week

8. Less tv! [disclaimer: it's so HARD not to cuddle up to R as he unwinds in front of the tv each night. I'm asking all of you what YOU do? Do you spent time with you hubby even when he is watching tv or do you just go do something else enlightening that you like? I can never decide what to do. Love my man and lay on the couch for a few hours or ditch your love and do something productive? help.

If you have read this post you deserve a treat. Which is exactly what you will get if you check out this random/amazingly funny video. R showed it to me and I laughed so hard. Can I just say it reminded me of me bro-in-law Hayden!

Peach Pie

We have a million Utah peaches

They are all ripe and ready

We have absolutely no idea what we are going to do with them.

I did manage to make a few peach pies

which we have been handing out

to the few people we know in Ogden.

If you have a million peaches that will be gone soon

Use this super easy and super yummy recipe and make

a pie that will make you stop craving chocolate.

What you need

peaches

marshmallows

cool whip

Directions

First, pull that cool whip out of the freezer and let it thaw. You want it cold, but not frozen.

Peel and cut up 5-7 peaches [depending on size]

Count out 40 marshmallows and pop them in the microwave until they get soft of puffy. [1-2 min]

Mix your cool [but not frozen] cool whip in with the marshmallows.

[if it is frozen the consistency might be too runny and won't set up]

Throw your peaches in and mix in.

Pour the mixture into you pie crust [I use the store made ones]

Get it looking pretty and set in your fridge to set up.

Thats it! I told you it was easy!

The only thing that could possibly mess things up is if your cool whip is too frozen and mixes funny with the warm mallows. Even if that happens and it doesn't quite set up it is still delicious!

What a DAY!

I'm sitting in the commons area at Weber High.

sitting, sitting, sitting....

It's parent teacher conferences today.

I love seeing the faces of parents when they see me sitting behind the

big PHOTOGRAPHY sign. I can tell they're thinking,

"Now wait.... did she steal the teachers chair or what?"

No. No I didn't. I am actually the real teacher.

And no I am not 19.

Please enjoy the photo comic relief of my being board out of my brain!

sweet words

Can I just throw this out there that it has been a rough few weeks.

Life has been handing us lemons so fast I haven't had the time to squeeze them all into lemonade. And I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to run to the store and buy some more sugar to throw in just to sweeten it up!

Luckily I have had 2 wonderful things to help me out...

1. R hugging me and loving me and letting me cry without getting annoyed and trying to solve the problem. Just letting me feel sad and be there for me.

2. Listening to the sweet words of Presidnet Uchtdorf at the General Relief Society broadcast. His entire talk brought tears to my eyes. Here's one of my favorite parts.

You are not forgotten.

Sisters, wherever you are, whatever the circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you, with an infinite love.

—President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Paris

A view from the car a few miles from home

Cute little Howard threw rocks in the river until we drug him back to the car

A few of my favorite nieces

Definitely my favorite husband

Going back to Paris never seems to disappoint.

There's something about that slow town that draws you back.

I loved growing up in the small town,

But after I graduated I took a big break and didn't come home too much.

But now I just wish I could get there more.

In Paris there is 1 main road and 2 wards

[two groups meeting at different times for church services]

We have 1 gas station and a million cows

There are 2 paved roads [highway running through and my street]

And acres and acres of farmland.

Everyone one you pass on foot, on 4wheeler, on horse, on tractor, or car waves at you.

When I mow my lawn ever car that drives by waves.

At night the Milky Way lights up the sky

[I thought that happened everywhere, until I moved]

And my favorite brick house smells like family.

I hope someday to bring my kids back to Paris and spend all summer there relaxing in peace

Huckleberries

Part 2 of our last Rexburg adventures consisted of a long bike ride + yummy huckleberries.

There is nothing better than riding off into the sunset holding onto your man on a bike,

and that is why we went berry picking on our last day.

R and I have made it quite a tradition to go huckleberry picking. When we were dating the first year R took me for the first time. I was so completely thrilled since it had literally been one of my life dreams to pick huckleberries. Weird but true. Simple mind simple pleasures right. R shared his families secret spot with me [not like I would have EVER been about to find it again without him there] and we picked to our hearts content.

Now I cannot imagine not going every year. We almost didn't get to this year because of the move. Luckily the berries ripened just in time! Now we have berries stashed away for huckleberry pie and jam and pancakes and muffins and lot lot more all year long.

Idaho, you deserve a high five

Goen' Fishen

One of R's many fish he caught... this one on the smaller side

My lil guy. I screamed forever before getting this pic

Our fish chilling on the poll waiting for us to be done

2 days before we moved R and I went on an all day Rexburg adventure.

[probably should have been packing all day, but this was way better!]

The first part of our day, after the sleeping in, we went fishing.

As of late we have been loving fishing and go as much as possible.

R is always my hero and baits my line, unhooks my fish, and guts the poor lil thing for me.

I do the lazy mans job and cast the line and reel em in! We make a good team.

Ry caught at least 5 fish that day. I caught 1. We saved 4.

Rexburg gave us such a prefect day. It was warm, a bit cloudy, and NO wind.

Can you believe it.... no wind. I swear that happens to days out of the year!

We found this huge palate thingy that we used as a boat

and floated lazily around the pond leaning our backs on each other and casting our lines.

If there were pictures of us on the water I'm sure they would be in all the mags

and would be making everyone wish they were us. I'm just positive.

Such a great part of the day.

Stay tuned for part 2

Rocken the Fair

Welcome to the Eastern Idaho State Fair

Our friend Daniel helped us do the math. For the joy of a carni ride it'll cost you about $1.30 a minute.

Luckily we had our favs Trent + Mckenzie to haggle with the carnies to play cheap games.

Super cool/super hard game. I think we threw down $20 and no one won. Lame

My guts have been craving fair food for 12 months.

I finally got my taste.

The fair's got it all.....

Deep fried food dipped in butter and fried again just to make sure it's greasy enough

Mullets that are so long I'm sure they haven't been cut in 10 years

Idaho's biggest horse. Sweet!

Rides + games + carnies

And don't forget the hypnotist shows.

It's definitely a must for fall.

I'm sad to see summer go, but this time I am getting the fall excitement.

It's now about football and layers and cool nights

And a feeling that I don't have to go go go and not waste a perfect summer day.

Now I seem to nap nap nap and teach teach teach

Sayonara Rexburg

one of our last days in the Burg

baby bump hump

don't worry. Stupid Carino's keeping me from partying with everyone. Lame

The past weeks I've been missing a little bit of my heart in Rexburg.

Wow I can't even believe I'm saying that!

I've been so anti Rexburg for a while. This isn't because I don't like Rexburg.

I was just ready for something new with a normal job.

Now I have that job and we have no friends.

R and I moved away from both our families.

We moved away from friends who have become our family.

Now we have each other.

I do love coming home to R each day. Watching NetFlix. Eating Moose Tracks ice cream and taking 3 hour naps. Who would love chilling with the best friend right.

But I just can't help miss all my others in Rexburg.

I didn't realize how lucky I was to have such great friends.

We always got together. No one ever fought or was lame.

Being in a college town makes it so much easier to meet people in your same walk of life.

Since we've moved I've met 3 girls around my age.

I hang out with one. At school. During lunch. Wow it's crazy.

Yes I actually really love Kimmie and am blessed to have met her.

(the one thing that keeps me sane at school)

But geezeis I miss everyone else!

I guess what I realized and what I need to not forget it.......

It doesn't matter where you live as long as your with the ones you love.