Grand Canyon Vacation

Dan and I decided that we needed a little winter snow fix and we planned a trip to the Grand Canyon via the Williams, AZ train. I think I have had enough snow for the year. It was really fun, and really cold.

Another Christmas Come and Gone

Christmas seemed to come rather quickly this year and the day is already gone. Another 264 days until the next one will arrive. We had a warm Christmas here in Arizona, my brain is still having a hard time grasping the concept of it. Growing up with snow and usually having it tease us with its presence in October, triggered my senses into the feelings of the season. (Numb fingers, tingling toes, and icicle snot.) Whether my senses realize it or not, the calendar still says December 26th. I know that snowy or warm, the spirit of Christmas can still be felt in the story of Christ's birth. The new year will be a fresh beginning. New Years resolutions will be made which, with any luck will last longer than two weeks. The first of a few of my resolutions being, updating my blog much more often. I am looking forward to 2011 and the adventures it will bring.

Family Reunion

It has been so long since I posted anything and I feel like time has just gotten away from me. We really are still alive and well. These are just a few pictures that we took on our trip in August for the family reunion.

Arizona Christmas 2009

I wish I had a better picture, but this will have to do. This is Christmas day in Arizona. I'll have to be careful to not get it mixed up with my summer ones ;) Allison got a volleyball and they are trying it out together.

Where is the time going?

My Dad always told me when I was little that time goes by alot faster as you get older. I didn't understand at all! I just thought, how could time go faster when every minute is exactly the same and when you are four and have absolutely no responsibilities a minute seems like an eternity. So here is to perspective. It has been over a month since I posted and I can not believe it. I am still trying to get settled into this house that we are calling home. I miss the comfortable surroundings of Orem and the fact that if I needed underwear I could drive ten minutes and get some instead of ordering them. I miss the public library that has any LDS book you could ever want instead of having to hunt for the one and only Deseret Book. I miss being able to go to the school and peek in on my children and give them a hug without showing photo ID at the only entrance that is open during school hours. (I know that this is a double edged sword because this way they are safe.) So I am learning that I have an extremely hard time with change and I will try my hardest to find the learning and growing experience in all of this. For one, it is easy to take the simple things for grantide. On a positive note is still so warm here and I wish that I was capturing more with my camera, but somehow it has disapeared and I can not find it. I think it may have been in the car when I took it to get it detailed after our trip here, but who is pointing fingers. It is just plain and simple gone. So hopefully sooner than later I will be able to take some pictures to post. To friends and family that will maybe read this, I miss you dearly.

I see a Light!

It's really wierd to think about this year hind sight. The last month has been really crazy. It has gone from really stressful to way less stressful in a matter of weeks. There are two parts of state board that I had to take. The first was the practical, which is all of the hands on technical stuff and I was so very scared for this. Not that I didn't prepare, but I think I can speak for most of us when I say it is just fear of the unknown. Not knowing what is expected so I prepared, maybe even overprepared, so when the time comes and I have to perform and my nerves are completely frazzled, I can still do it and not freeze. So on the practical you get a pass/fail and I passed. Hurray! It was so crazy driving home and thinking it was all kind of a dream. I passed, I really passed. Then came the written, I had taken Miss Evan's tests at school and done pretty well all year, but when I started reviewing the testing booklet, I kinda started getting scared because so many of them I was blanking on, but I did my best and just studied as hard as I could. Both tests were timed and the the written was an hour and a half. I took 35 minutes to do 110 multiple choice. This time getting a 91%. I couldn't believe it and I still can't that everything is in the mail and I am just waiting for my license to come. Oh wait, it's not over yet. Now I get to move to Arizona and take the state laws and also present my Utah license the the Arizona state board, but then I will be licensed in Arizona and Utah. Oh, and I had to get a 90% on Miss Evans final to graduate. Yeah me! I pulled out a 95%!
1

Crazy, Fast, Month

Well, Dan and Megan have been in Arizona for a week and a half now. They were able to come visit last weekend. Friday night they got in around 6:30 and then Sunday night they had to leave and go back around 5:30. I was really kinda emotional, more than I wanted to be. I have to keep reminding myself that this will all go by really fast and then we can all be in Arizona and move on with our lives. On a brighter note, I have now passed both of my state board tests so I can refocus on my kids and relax just a little. I do still have my final that Miss Evans gives us which will be on September 2nd. I only have to get a 90% (kill me now!) It will take about 3 hours to take her test and then I just need to finish my hours up. Next visit will probably be in about 3 weeks and then again 2 weeks after that. Hopefully the next month will go as fast as this one has.

Jackson Hole & West Yellowstone

We had alot of fun over the 24th weekend. Why is it though that you usually need a vacation from your vacation. It was really fun to have the time off and spend it with my family although it was really hard to go back to school this past Tuesday. I have been on dispense all week. One more day of it and I won't have to do it again while I am in school.

Nikki's Baptism

Nikki's special day finally came. We had Grandpa's and Grandma's, Aunts and Uncles, Cousins, and Friends. It was so much fun to see everyone and have our youngest get Baptized. Time has gone by really fast.

Interview and Trip to Arizona

We went to Arizona over the weekend. We spent 3/4 of the time house hunting, and Dan also had a face to face interview. We are just waiting now to hear back from the company to see if he did indeed get the job. I am excited, but also nervous about how everything will work out with my school, kid's school, and church. It will be so different from Utah. We stayed at a hotel called the Wigwam. The average Temperature while we were there was 102 degrees. and about 90 degree at 10:00 p.m. Lets just say Utah felt cool today at about 90 degree when we stepped off the plane. There was actually a bit of a cool breeze. The only breeze I felt while I was in Arizona was hot. These pictures are some of the back yard in the house that we are planning on renting. We are happy to have a little grass and a pool.

Last Year at Aspen Elementary

The Dance Festival that each class performs at Aspen marks the end of another year. I love to go and see each of my kids perform with their class. Each one shows alot of personality. We are kind of sad to know that we won't be attending Aspen next year, but we are also excited for change and for a new beginning.

Valentines Day... Better Late than Never ;)

So I decided that better late than never, I would finally post my valentines flowers from Dan. I waited a few days to get a picture, so they are a little droopy, but I was still elated to get them at school on Valentines Day. It isn't that I never get flowers, it is just a bit rare. So this year in school I was called to the front. Valentines Day was extremely busy. I got one hair cut after another and shampoo sets, even a color. So when they called me to the front I fully expected another appointment. I went to the front and saw the prettiest pink tulips, A soft fuzzy teddy bear and.... chocolates. I said oh how cute! and what beautiful flowers. Fully expecting them to be for someone else. The girl on the book just smiled and said, "Good thing you like them cause they are for you." You just need to sign for them. I was completely shocked, especially because I didn't realize that the bear, the chocolates, and the flowers were all mine. Feast or Famine? This year was a Feast. Dan took me to La Dulce Vida for dinner as well and I ordered Anna's Spinach Ravioli. It is my favorite. So full of flavor with a creamy white sauce and sundried tomatoes. They also have fabulous cheesecake. It was the best Valentines Yet.

Richfield Updo Contest

This is the back of the cut that we had to do. Each of us were given a uncut head and 45 minutes with a picture of what it was suppose to look like.


This the rear view of my cut and updo just before they were judged. My updo was angled from the right top down to the left bottom.

This is an top view of the braid and twist that went from the top down into the diagnal curls. I was docked points because the braids seemed disconnected from the back.

This one doesn't show the row of braids that I did just above the diagnal row of curls very well, but trust me they are there. They are woven just above and through the curls.

This is the front shot. I was docked because the picture of my cut had slightly shorter bangs that swooped from just below the eyebrow into the slithered hair on the side. The back is a disconnected bob.

I just got back from Richfield Utah. I was there for a contest that I signed up for to get extra hours for school. It was a really good experience and I had alot of fun. There was quite a bit a competition and I felt pretty good about what I did. I didn't place, but two of my classmates did. One took first place for the updo and the other took 3rd for the cut and style. I was really pleased with my cut and my updo and it taught me alot. The pictures never seem to do it justice, but here are a couple that I took.

Our Muvee

This is a compilation of old video and pix that seemed to come together fairly well to this song!

Draper Temple Openhouse

These were pictures Dan took of us going over to the Temple. We met at a Church and then we were shuttled by bus over to the temple. It was really neat to be able to go with the kids and let them see how beautiful it is inside. There was water and cookies afterwards! What more could you ask for.

The Reason for the Season

This year at Dan's Family Christmas Party we had the kid's act out the Nativity. It was really fun since we have so many cousins. Everyone was included and was able to have a little part it acting it out.

First Christmas Party of 2008

I'm gettin nuttin for Christmas! Mommy and Daddy are Mad... I'm gettin nuttin for Christmas cause I ain't been nuttin but bad! NOT REALLY but this song reminds me of my own childhood. Wondering if I had been good enough to not get a lump of coal.

We had some Birthdays Shout Hurray!

Dan and Megan both celebrated their Birthdays last month. Megans excited to be another year older, and needless to say I think Dan is not too excited to be another year older, but so it goes. We all had alot of fun enjoying their Birthdays with them.

Halloween 2008

http://www.slide.com/r/SCBNrGVWyz9oYbIRiaHG0vIv3bId0OWC


Halloween was really fun this year! Between family parties, neighborhood parties, school parties etc. We definitly had our share of celebrating Halloween.

Ward Talent Night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f86qKQJg3Z8

You may have seen this one, but my Sister-in-Law sent this one to me so I thought I would share the Laughs. Great ideas!

Twilight Spoof

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dompotjTeIA


This is kinda cheesy, but pretty funny. Enjoy!