I Hate Snow!

I just thought I'd share this wonderful Christmas carol that I just found.

It sums up my feelings about snow perfectly:

1. Oh, the traffic outside is frightful,

Accidents aren't so delightful,

I'm stuck in this stop-and-go,

I hate snow, I hate snow, I hate snow.

2. Cars are having troubles stopping,

Each other they keep popping;

I am moving so really slow,

I hate snow, I hate snow, I hate snow.

When I make it back home tonight

How I'll hate going out in the storm;

Because cutting wood really bites,

But I need more to stay warm.

3. Traffic is slowly dying,

While I sit here I keep crying

Cause it just won't end, I know.

I hate snow, I hate snow, I hate snow.

When I make it back home tonight

How I'll hate going out to the store;

And the crowds that I'll have to fight,

I am sure that they won't have any more.

4. Oh, the blizzard outside is frightful,

Snowflakes aren't so delightful,

I'm trapped with no place to go,

I hate snow, I hate snow, I hate snow.

These are two places I'd much rather be:

DONE!

I'm done with school forever!!!!!!

I know it's almost/practically winter...

...but I am starting this 6 week program. Today was the perfect day to start it too with this 50 degrees and sunny weather. However, it may take longer due to the upcoming/dreaded/inevitable winter weather (I don't exactly want to walk/run if it's snowing or raining). I did this program last year with a neighbor. We started at the beginning of February. I don't remember how long it took us to get to running a 5K, but we did eventually run a 5K every week. Once I started school, I had little time to go running with her (plus, she got pregnant soon afterwards anyways). So I was on my own at school, which I did pretty well at working out the first semester three times a week in the gym at UVU. But once the second semester came around, and I only had one class in the morning twice a week, it became harder to have the desire to workout. Anyways, long story short, I haven't been good this year. So I want to start this next year off in a routine, especially now that I'm DONE with school!! I'm going to try to get Jon to do this with me since he needs to be fit for the RCA (fire academy) in the summer. My ultimate goal is to run a 10K by the end of summer, which really shouldn't be too hard. I just need to find one and sign up for it so that there is no turning back. And on the days that I should be out walking/running, and it is snowing or raining, I plan to do a workout DVD at home. I finally convinced Jon to do one with me last month, and he LOVED it! We did The Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga, which is very hard on the easiest level. But you feel SO GOOD afterwards. Jon figured it'd be good for him too because they do a lot of hamstring stretches- and he has some very tight hamstrings (we don't need any future back problems)!! I would love it even more if I can run a half marathon by the end of the year, but I won't hold myself to that. I think that is something I just want to do once in my lifetime. I'm not sure about a full marathon since I don't know how I feel about running 5+ hours straight. I think I would get bored pretty quickly. :)

OH, I would love it if Jon came home soon because I want him to walk/run with me, so I'm not freaked out every time I see a car stop somewhere near me. I do carry pepper spray with me, but I was seriously about to call the cops on a minivan today. For about a mile, every time I looked back they were only a block behind me. It was pretty creepy.

Tender Mercy

Okay, this might sound kind of lame, but I definitely think HF was looking out for me! Or maybe he wants me to start having babies... I don't know. But, last night, I was trying to get everything together for my professional portfolio... until I realized that most of my reflections and other papers for the portfolio were on my laptop still. I thought some might be on the school's network because I know I did some work there occasionally, but I knew most of it was on my laptop. My laptop stopped working a while back though. I'm not sure what happened, but it wouldn't start back up after it randomly shut off one day. It had problems with the power cord and not getting the battery charged (since the battery is as old as the computer and doesn't hold a charge for long). Anyways, it didn't even make a noise or anything when I would try to start it up. So I just assumed it was dead.. gone. I even tried several things my dad did the first time this seemed to have happened and nothing. I checked it to see if it worked a few months later and still nothing. So, last night, I started to stress and freak out about not being able to get everything done- I'd have to type everything up again. Old homework assignments, along with reflections to go with them. Plus, there were some papers I didn't have a hardcopy of, but I knew I completed them. There went my dreams of being done with school this semester. Well, I knew it was going to be a long shot, but I grabbed my computer from the other bedroom, where it has been sitting for several months, plugged in the power cord, and pressed the power button. And to my amazement, the computer turned on. I got everything I needed off of there... and I've been able to transfer music from it to my new computer as well. I'm so happy that it worked finally. And it's still working. It's just so weird because it wasn't working for so long and now all of a sudden it does! It's pretty crazy, but I'm grateful for it. I finished my portfolio, and I am almost officially done with school! I just have an exit interview next week and that's it. YAY!

Happy Holidays!

Random pictures from my phone

My cute niece wanted to be buried under the "sand." This was the weekend Jon and I stayed with my sister because her husband was gone (she needed someone to watch Ry while she was at work). Also, the weekend Jon got his first real fire call that started the craziness of never seeing him. Anyways, this was up in Herriman at a little swimming pond up there. And that was quite possibly the worst "sand" ever.

Jon received this award at the end of the year luncheon/party at his work. Pretty awesome. So awesome that he decided to hang it in the living room.

This was today at church. I looked at my phone towards the end of our YW's lesson, and I noticed a picture message from a friend. It was a picture of Jon with our friend's little baby boy. So I thought I would be funny and send this back to Jon. Little did I realize that the message that was sent to me also said, "He's ready." Anyways, I love this little baby boy. He is so cute, and I want to steal him.

Here's Our Computer

This is the computer I mentioned a few posts back:


Love it! We have the wireless keyboard and mouse. I didn't want them at first because I didn't like the idea of having to change batteries, but we got them anyways. And I pretty much love it without the wires. I figure once these batteries die (yes, Apple includes batteries in the box), then I'll just use my rechargeable batteries.

Anyways, I leave for Arkansas on Friday. I haven't gotten all the homework done that I want to get done by Thursday yet, but I am working on it! I told myself that I can't buy the Mockingjay book (for reading on the plane) until I get all this homework done.

Jon drove all the way to Arkansas without sleeping nor buying any food (he packed a couple sandwiches and snacks). He is crazy. I'm just glad he and my car made it there safely and in one piece.

I only have two teaching assignments left. I am so excited to almost be done! But I don't really want to leave the preschool. I love those kids.

Oh, I don't think I ever mentioned that I made the cutest little dress onesie for Sandra's baby girl a few months ago. I wish I had taken a picture. I wanted to add a little bit more to it and make a headband. Someday, I'll finish that stuff and mail it to her. Hopefully, that will be before her girl outgrows the onesie. :)

Jon has left for Arkansas. I am all alone for the next week. Then I'll be flying out there as well. I can't wait for this break! It'll be nice to not think about school at all. Now I just need to focus on school for the next week, so I can guarantee that I won't be thinking about school during my break. I'm a little behind, so I need to get caught up!

Because I don't feel like going to bed yet....

Remember that one time...

...I looked slightly asian on accident? (Okay, so no one here will remember this since this was either my junior or senior year of high school.)


...my mother cut my hair so short that I looked kind of like a boy?



...my niece was still a little baby?


...we went tubing and had to borrow some of the guys' snow clothing since we didn't have any?


...before Jon and I were officially dating and were awkward around each other?


...we were obsessed with the little corn boy for whatever reason?



...Utah Hair?


...Marcie really kissed Em under the mistletoe?


...umm goats?

This Is Why:

To clarify my last post... I have been under a lot of stress lately. School is making me crazy (sometimes), and I had a huge Halloween party I had to plan practically by myself. Mix that in with the major road rage I get with all the people that drive like morons here and the wonderful construction on the freeway and some neighbors that are very inconsiderate of those around them, and you get me upset and frustrated.

School has been crazy because I'm student teaching this semester. I have the hardest time writing up lesson plans. They take me days to write sometimes. I usually have ideas of what I want to do, but I have to be realistic with what is available to me (or how much I'm willing to purchase with my own money), what the kids can actually do, and what can fit into 5 minute rotations for small group activities. Then I feel like I don't get any help when I teach... For example, the very first week of student teaching the other two girls (there's six of us, three go on Tuesdays/Thursdays and the other three go on Wednesdays/Fridays) that taught got lots of help from the head preschool teacher. She stayed in from outside play to help them set up for their large and small group activities. Since only two people can teach each week on the days that I go, I was not in that first week of teaching. I taught the following week, and I got no help at all. I set up everything by myself. I was slightly annoyed, especially because it was my first teaching day, and I was super nervous. But I got over it. Then the second day I taught, the other two teachers had no idea what they were supposed to do during the small group activities. (We each are in charge of a planned small group activity, and the kids rotate so that they can do all three activities.) Well, we give each other lesson plans at the beginning of the week. Therefore, they should have that in front of them when they are helping out. Also, they should be reading the lessons as well to get a feel for the day. I'm pretty sure that I'm the only one that reads the other girls' lessons and that they do not read mine because they are always clueless on my days. So I have to tell them exactly what I want them to do sometime before the small group time. It's just frustrating because I feel like I'm wasting all this ink printing my lesson plans, when the two people that are supposed to supporting my teaching and activities aren't doing their part. Don't get me wrong. I love the preschool and student teaching. I have only taught twice, but I am so much more comfortable teaching now. The head preschool teacher never has any negative criticism for my lessons and just loves them! So I am pleased with that. I just can't handle the girls I go student teaching with. One of them, in particular, I can't handle one bit. She likes to socialize and talk a lot. She also likes to use the excuse that she's "adjusting to being a single mom" for never having assignments completed on time. I'm pretty sure that if this were her real-life job, she would have been fired a few weeks into this. I'm sorry, but if you can't handle your new lifestyle, then don't go to school. It's that simple. Anyways, that's enough about that.

I love these kids, and I am really happy I decided to go with this program. Who would have thought I would enjoy early childhood education more than elementary ed? I certainly did not think that the last times I worked/volunteered at preschools in San Diego.

The other thing that's been stressing me out was a Halloween party that I planned as a young women's service activity for the primary children in our ward. It was last Tuesday, and I am soooo happy it's over with. We tried really hard to get the girls to take charge as a personal progress value project, but they just didn't seem too excited about it. Several girls were helpful though, and I am grateful for the things they did. Anyways, I don't think it turned out as great as I was hoping, but the kids had fun and that's all that matters, right???

I'm in love with these cute kids. I love the fact that the little baby was watching one of our young women face paint and decided to paint her own face. She is quite possibly the most beautiful little baby girl I have ever seen. The little boy is in the preschool that I student teach at, so it's fun getting to know him better since I don't really know any of the kids in my ward.

So that is pretty much what I have been up to. I was thankful for fall break last week, even though it meant I only had one less day of school; I needed the short break. Now I just need to get out Utah for a break. Jon and I haven't had a mini-vacation just for ourselves at all this year. I know we both need it. We were hoping to go somewhere around Christmastime (my parents will be coming here since the three kids that will be able to spend Christmas with them this year are all living in Utah). I don't know if we will be going anywhere now though because we just bought a brand new iMac on Saturday. It was really random and a spur of the moment thing, but I am happy we did it... But if you asked Jon, he would tell you that I was freaking out about it because we just spent $1300 in less than an hour of deciding we were going to look for a new computer. That may not seem like a lot of money, but, when you've been living off not much more than that a month for several months (last year), it's really hard to spend that much money on something that really isn't a necessity. Anyways, Jon has been gone a lot in the last two months, so I know he's ready for a vacation. He only had two days off in the month of September, and he is getting close to being done. Although, he did inform me tonight that they want to extend some people a few more weeks, and Jon volunteered since he has no plans of getting a job after the fire season is over with. Hopefully, he'll be going to Arkansas with me still for Thanksgiving.

That's all for now.... until something exciting or frustrating happens again...

This is How I Have Felt Lately:

Stressed. Annoyed. Frustrated.

I want to scream... I definitely need a vacation. One that is not in Utah because I'm pretty sure Utah is what is making me go crazy (and plenty of people from here). Actually, I don't need a vacation. I need to get out. A vacation just means I'll have to come back, and I wouldn't want to come back ever again (okay, maybe once in a while to see my niece). I seriously need to get out of here ASAP.

P.S. I hate football, UVU, BYU, and I'm sure many more things as well. I just thought I'd share that.

Remember That One Time...?

So I like to reminisce a lot when I'm sitting at home by myself, and, when I went home last month, I went through a ton of pictures that have been sitting in a box. I wish I had brought that whole box back to Utah with me, but I didn't. Most of them I have on my laptop (which, by the way, is not working currently- I think after 5 years of a lot of use, it has given up on me). I know I did burn CDs of music (maybe pictures too) because both were taking up a lot of space on that computer. But I'm sure I didn't get everything. So I'll have to have my Dad try to get all that stuff of the hard drive. Anyways, that's beside the point.... I thought that I would just randomly do some posts called, "Remember That One Time...?" because I like old pictures and I like remembering all those funny/good times.


Remember that one time...


...Jon and I were really awkward on our first date?


...Sandra and I drove to Vegas to visit Marcie for our "Spring Break?"


...Kelsey was kind of creepy and pretended she was in love with Chris?


...Sandra and I went to Disneyland/CA Adventure and ran into Amber?


...Marissa invited us to join her on her and Brad's "first date" to Mesa Falls?





...we took a million pictures of ourselves, trying to get everyone in the pictures?


...Em and I were the only crayons for Halloween?


That's all for now. I'll continue with more another time.

Girl's Camp

In the middle of July, I went up to Girl's Camp with the YW in our ward. I actually didn't go up when the YW went up because three out of four (me being one of those three) of the leaders in the YW's presidency hate Girl's Camp and really didn't want to go, so we decided to go up in the middle of their week there. Plus, we already had three other leaders with the girls, so we felt like three more would be too many leaders for how little YW that went (we had eight girls total- that's record for this ward!). Anyways, so we headed up on Thursday afternoon and stayed about 24 hours total because we are wimps. Seriously though, the YW's President was ready to leave about an hour after we first arrived, but I convinced her that it was in the best interest for the girls (and ourselves) to stick around at least overnight. Anyways, we were out in the middle of the mountains. It was absolutely beautiful, but I am sure glad we only stayed 24 hours because I don't think I could handle much of that. I love camping, but I really don't like all the corny things they do at Girl's Camp.... like the dumb songs and crafts. Plus, there's no electricity up there, and the water was freezing... and I don't think I can go that long without a shower nor my hair washed. I was dying for a shower after the 24 hours we were there.

Here's some photos that I stole from one of our girl's Facebook page:

That's the little lake that's up there surrounded by the beautiful mountains and trees. It's also where we went canoeing and got soaking wet (thanks to our wonderful YW!). At least it was hot out that day...

There we are walking back to the cabins after getting soaked on the canoes. (I'm the one in the hat. Thank goodness I stole Jon's hat!!)

We got to stay in cabins like the one in this picture (that particular one was for another stake). There were a lot of different stakes up there and some of them were pretty loud!

Here's our girls pre-canoeing/the water fight. This was during their challenge course. They had to use those planks to get to every stand without falling off. But it was kind of impossible since some were so far away from each other, the planks weren't long enough!

The beautiful mountains! I would live there, if there was electricity...

and if it didn't get so much snow in the winter...

and if there was a Target nearby.

I think that's all I need to be happy. :)

I sure do love the other ladies I serve with in the YW's presidency. We get along so well and are all different, but we have so much fun together! I'm grateful to be in this calling, and I will be very sad the day I am released and/or move out of this ward.

Crazy Month

The last month has been a bit crazy. I swear every time I go to update this blog, I never have time nor the patience to finish (our internet is crappy and, not to mention, I am on an old computer, which makes everything even slower). I think the way that blogger does photos is annoying, and, therefore, I hate putting pictures into posts....

Anyways, what have we been up to? Well, I went to San Diego towards the beginning of the month for about a week for my baby brother's farewell. He's supposed to be going to Brazil, but he hasn't gotten his visa yet. So they pushed back his MTC report date a week and decided to send him to the Provo one first, while he waited. Turns out that the MTC was only expecting 10 missionaries headed to Brazil, who were still waiting on visas, this last week, but instead they got 76 or something. Crazy. The weather in San Diego/Poway was perfect all week long. 75 and not a single degree higher. I was afraid, though, that the beach would be overcast and cold, but it was THE PERFECT day. Jon lucked out and got a call to a fire while I was gone, so he didn't have to spend the whole weekend by himself. I drove home a day early in my new vehicle (grandma is so nice and gave me her practically brand new car! less than 12,000 miles!) because I was hoping to surprise Jon on our three year anniversary. Take a look at this beaut (not my actual car):

Okay, so it's a Buick... I kind of feel like an old lady in it, but it's a car! And really, it doesn't look quite so nasty like a lot of those older Buicks.

Jon came home the next evening, and we celebrated our anniversary later that weekend at CPK (California Pizza Kitchen)! YUM!

Other news: Jon and I have been thinking of moving into a house that his brother is trying to buy out in Eagle Mountain (his brother is in Iraq right now for a year). I have been very hesitant about it though, and my reasoning for it has fully come true in the past few days (i.e. I didn't want to live there if my BIL's fiancée decided she wanted to move in as well at some point). I was reassured that it was just going to be us, but that his BIL really wanted my SIL and nephew to be able to live there too... which I wasn't too excited about either. But I came up with the idea that Jon and I would live in the basement, and, therefore, would still have a private area to ourselves. Well, yeah, I don't think it's happening anymore, like I said, which I have mixed emotions about. I was excited for a new place, but I really don't want to leave this ward or my YW. So I'm not sure what's going to happen now, but I think Jon might seriously consider purchasing a condo or townhouse, if we can get a loan.

Oh, and for a final note: I hate the Red Cross organization so much. I am never dealing with that place again. Let's just say that I was supposed to be certified in First Aid/CPR last Friday from 1PM to 3PM, and (1) our instructor never showed up, (2) the employees there are rude and don't pay any attention to you, (3) they didn't even do anything about us not having an instructor until 1:40PM, and (4) they charged me an extra $180 for the certification because they have a website that isn't user-friendly nor does it work. Oh, I forgot to add that I also have to go back Wednesday to finish the First Aid/take a test because I had to leave at 3PM on Friday, and we had already started wayyy later than planned.

That's about it. School starts next week. Excited? No.

Battle Creek Falls Hike with YW

Last night we took the YW up to Pleasant Grove to hike to Battle Creek Falls. It was categorized as an easy hike, which I might not agree with other than the fact that it's fairly short. It got pretty steep as you got closer to the water, and that is why I think it's not quite an "easy" hike. We were all hot and sweaty from hiking up there and some of the girls got under the waterfall right away. I told the YW's president that I would get wet if she did (the other two leaders already got wet). So we went out there, and it was FREEZING! I think we waited too long and were already cooled off from the hike, so it would have been better if we got under it immediately when we got there. Plus, it didn't help that another thunderstorm was starting to roll in, and the sun was covered up. I don't have any pictures of me on my camera, but I know there are a few on another leader's camera. I'll see if I can get those soon. It was a fun hike, and I would love to do it again with Jon. I just don't know if he'll be willing to get wet because he's kind of baby when it comes to water (especially freezing mountain water). It would definitely feel really good on a hot summer day though, and we've had a lot of those recently!

The YW's president's husband came with us and took his two kids under the falls. They both cried and were not happy with daddy after that.

Catsup, Ketchup, Catch Up

(The title of this post has nothing to do with anything other than the fact that I'm slowly catching up on our life.)

Jon and I hung out with Brad and Marissa last minute one evening a few weeks ago. We went mini golfing (we love mini golf- we did this the last time we hung out with them!), ate pizza and bread sticks, and watched Heavy Weights. It was good seeing them again since they will be leaving at the end of this month for Nebraska. So sad!




As I've said plenty of times, I babysit my niece twice a week. I love it. I miss her when I don't get to babysit her. I don't know what I'll do when we leave Utah... I also like to take pictures of her because she is just too funny!

That's her "what?!" reaction to me taking a picture of her.

She's so cute, huh?

Jon and I did our usual thing of walking to Provo Center Street/University Avenue for the Fourth of July festivities. You would think that we would stop doing it since it's really not that exciting after the first time. But oh well... it gives us something to do for free (as long as we don't buy anything- like food or merchandise). And since the fourth was on a Sunday this year, in Utah, it is celebrated the day before. So these were actually taken on the third of July.

We saw these old cars and thought Jon's Dad might be interested in seeing them.

See that paper in the window? Look at the next picture to see what it says...

We went searching for the people dressed in the colonial clothing (there were some walking around, and they had an area last year near the Indians- Jon wanted to see if they had a cannon). Unfortunately, they didn't seem to have a spot set up this year. So I guess the people were just walking around? Anyways, this is the Boy Scouts area. Jon wanted to saw the long like the kids were doing. He pretty much has a dream of being a logger now.

The Indian tepee setup near the Boy Scout area.

On the actual Fourth of July, we headed up to my sister's place in Herriman to set off some of our own fireworks and play with sparklers. It was probably the first time I've done that. (Fireworks, sparklers, etc. are all illegal in California. Although, I do vaguely remember being at a neighbor's house, who was playing with some small fireworks... and I have done small sparklers at my parent's house.) Anyways, Ry was too funny about the fireworks. She was so excited and loved every second of it. I have some videos that are pretty dark, but you can hear her excitement and funny comments. I'll put some at the end of this post.

Jon and I went mini golf again (What can I say? We love it!), but this time we went with our other friends, Joseph and Julieta. They will also be leaving at the end of this month to head back to Arkansas. So at least we will be able to see them (and their baby!) during Thanksgiving when we head out there to visit Jon's family (and, of course, the Herb Family).




We also did the batting cages. Jon and I love those too. We just need to find some good ones close by, and I think we might go a lot.


I have more pictures of things from this past weekend that maybe I'll get around to posting this week. But seeing how this whole post took me a week to finish, don't count on it.

Here's the videos (Again, they are dark, and you can't see much. They more so just show my niece's excitement):