My Poll

St. George, huh? Okay... who voted for what?

Jon and I are liking the idea of St. George.... more so for paramedic school though. Hopefully, we can get that to work out. We'll see though. It has just been an idea of ours the last week, and we're both kind of excited about it. He just needs to find out from his advisor if he can do the paramedic program down there (because I still want Jon to get a Bachelor's Degree, which is only available at UVU for what he's going into, and UVU's paramedic program is VERY hard to get into).

Anyways, I'll update more maybe this weekend. I'm kind of a slacker right now and am ready for summer break.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes, it's my 24th birthday, and I am up at 7 AM. I have a problem with waking up early now, which I don't know is necessarily bad except when I stay up until 12:30 AM (like last night- I've been good the rest of the week). Anyways, my new habit of waking up early (without an alarm, might I add) has helped me with being on time to church two times this year. Yes, I said this year. I have been late to every single sacrament meeting minus two this year. Want to know why? Because church went from 1 PM to 9 AM, and I had no transition time. I think with school and taking Jon to work early, I have finally had that transition time that is telling my body that it needs to be up early. So, hopefully, I'll continue making it on time to church. Did I even mention that our ward always starts sacrament meeting 5 minutes late? Yes, so I have until 9:05 AM, and church is only a less than 1 minute drive or 5 minute walk.

Anyways, onto other things. I have two pictures to post. They aren't of Jon nor me. I just thought that my blog needed some pictures, and since I suck at taking pictures most of the time (I blame my camera because it kills the battery life very quickly- in a manner of a few short hours). The pictures relate to my last post about my apron and the $1 patterns I bought at Joann's. Please excuse our nasty carpet- I swear it's like that all the time and not just because I only vacuum once every three months. Actually, I'm not sure what that white stuff in the first picture is, but I'll say it's paint because the girl that painted these apartments sucked at her job.

I hated that ruffle, and I don't know how I feel about ever making a ruffle again. Maybe a little one. That one was four times the length of the bottom of the apron. Can you see how annoying that was to bunch/ruffle AND sew (especially when my old machine has problems when it has to sew through more than two layers of fabric)? Obviously, I am not done. I still need to do the straps, but I need to go visit my teacher's apartment a few doors down to get help with that.

Here are the patterns I got. I pretty much picked up anything I thought I might want to try someday. Plus, Jon picked out a little something for himself. Although, I did warn him that if I did ever attempt a men's button down shirt, it probably won't be for a while. Umm... but those bibs made me seriously LOL, almost as much as the dog clothing patterns that I really wanted to get (but we don't have a dog nor would Jon let me dress up our future dog... OH WAIT, we don't have children either though........*awkward silence*).

That's all for now. Here's hoping our car will work today, so Jon can drive me to my free birthday lunch at Tucanos and to a movie.... otherwise, we might be walking (not to Tucanos though- that's on the other side of Provo!).

P.S. I'm going to Disneyland AND California Adventure AND San Diego in less than three weeks, and you're not. :P

An Update on Our Lives

I feel like I should update this sometime this month. No, I never got my project done. I went to attempt it maybe a week after my post (I was really busy with homework and such), when I realized the cheap marking pencil that I got in a basic sewing package from Walmart didn't work on my fabric very well. So then I had to wait another week for Jon to get paid.... and then I forgot to buy a water soluble pen when we went grocery shopping the other day. So I'm still working on that one. In other sewing news, I am almost done with my apron. I don't think I ever wrote about that, but I have been going to a sewing class one to two times a month since like November...maybe? My neighbor pretty much is a professional (that's what she did at BYU) and is teaching the class. We started with aprons, and next are skirts. I went to Joann's yesterday and picked up 5 patterns because they were on sale for $1 each! I'm gonna go back tomorrow to find some more. I found some pretty funny ones that I can't wait to try (bibs for babies)! I've also been babysitting my niece three times a week, and I've been going to a kindergarten classroom two times a week. Then I have two classes at UVU, plus my YW calling. I feel like I'm busy all the time now. I don't like it one bit. I can't wait until summer. Although, Jon asked me yesterday if I was planning on getting a job in the summer. I think he wants me to, but I don't really want to. Haha. We'll see....

Jon and I thought his promotion to supervisor would be good for him- he'd have a say in his schedule and would only really have one not so great boss instead of two. However, it is probably worse than before, especially since they only gave him a $0.75 raise. Lame. I told him months ago that he could go back to wildland firefighting this summer, if he wanted to. It wasn't until the end of January that he finally decided to apply, which is when they are usually doing their hiring/already have everyone hired. He hasn't heard back from them, which is not looking like good news for him. I just hope he gets it because I know how much he hates his job, and I'd rather be miserable and lonely at home during the summer than having him miserable every day of his life. Plus, he could possibly make enough in the summer that we wouldn't have to worry too much about him working part-time or me making not very much money this next fall and spring.

I have been enjoying this winter much more than any winter I have experienced outside of California. I don't know that Provo has had a decent snowfall since before Christmas (okay, maybe there was one day- but it definitely melted by the end of the week). It has been unusually warm, and I don't mind it one bit! I'll take rain over snow any day!

13 days until my birthday!!!!

OH, and we paid off our car with our tax returns!!!! YAY! No more car payment! This is probably one of the most exciting things that has occurred recently. Maybe we'll be able to buy another car by the end of this year! That would be wonderful!

Upcoming Project

I went to Old Navy the other day (while Jon was in his theatre class- LOL! That's another story!), and I rummaged through all their clearance racks. There were soo many cute shirts for $2 and $3, so I bought... a few!! :D I have seen some really awesome tutorials on blogs to refashion shirts and make them your own. So that is what I am planning on doing. I will try this first one and see how it goes because it requires no machine sewing (it's all done by hand). So I hope that means it should be easy for me! I'm still working on learning how to work my machine, and how to fix it when it acts up (it's my gma's machine, so it's old!). And until I know I can sew a straight line without my machine going all weird on me, I will hold off on the other shirts. Anyways, here's what I'm going to do either tonight or tomorrow:

P.S. I did not make the spelling error in the picture. Just a FYI, so people don't think I can't spell.

Pictures to come... (if it doesn't look ridiculous). Wish me luck!

2010: Just Another Day

So I just don't really know what to blog about anymore. It seems like in the summer, there was so much going on. However, now that it's winter and freezing outside, Jon and I don't do much other than sit at home and watch movies. Also, Christmas this year was pretty lame for us. Jon's boss decided to be ever so nice and schedule Jon to do two shifts Christmas day. So, I saw Jon for about 40 minutes that day. I sat at home and did nothing... I couldn't go anywhere because there isn't much open on Christmas day, and I kind of feel bad for those who do have to work on that day. I just laugh every time someone asks me how my Christmas was because you know they're expecting a "good" or "wonderful," and instead, I say, "oh, it was okay...I guess." New Year's came and went. Jon and I aren't into New Year's at all. I don't get it. We were in bed just before midnight. Yes, Jon and I have made goals, and I can see that it's nice to start fresh at the beginning of a year... but other than that, what's the fuss?

One goal is something similar to what most people try to do each year: lose weight. We aren't so much looking at it as losing weight as we are wanting to be healthy. We used to eat out at least once a week, if not more because I just didn't want to make dinner or because we love to eat out (who doesn't?). I think it got pretty bad when I was in school too because that's when I just wanted to come home and do nothing. So we have a goal to only go out to eat twice a month. That is where we are starting. We're going to try to cut soda and sweets out too (not totally.. but we probably had soda once a week ... and I have a problem with chocolate and cookies... a serious problem.). We are only going to have soda when we do go out to eat, and the sweets thing- I'm not sure what we're doing yet because we don't want to attempt too many things at one time (plus, we got a lot of sweets recently haha). Moderation, though, is what we're aiming for here. I have done workout videos every day (except Sunday) since Tuesday of last week. I am doing Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred every other day,

with The Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga on the days between (what was I thinking about the yoga? It is ridiculously hard.).

I don't want to just run anymore, I want to start toning. I should definitely have some awesome arms after these two DVDs.

Anyways, I just thought I write all that out for myself mostly. I taught a YW lesson on goals the last Sunday of the year, and it said that writing your goals and progress down helps.

Upcoming events:

Thursday: School starts (Boooo!)

February: My 24th birthday- weird.

April: Jon's 26th birthday- he is getting old, as am I.

May: Disneyland/CA Adventure/San Diego! I'm so excited! I don't know that I can wait that long! I miss home so much. It's been way too long... Also, Jon's sister and her son will be moving to Utah, so I think we will be housing them until she gets a job and an apartment. (Hopefully that won't take long- I like my privacy.)... Oh, school will already be done, so it will be the beginning of summer... the beginning of many adventures for Jon and me (camping lots on his three days off from work each week!).

Oh, we are one year closer to Jon graduating- so excited!!! NEXT YEAR IS OUR YEAR (to get the heck out of Utah and start a family finally)!

Maybe, someday, I'll start taking pictures again so that my posts are a little more interesting.

That's all for now, I think. I better go do my weight loss yoga... kill me now.

Things on my mind that have gone unsaid, until now...

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is San Diego Christmas weather. No snow. No cold. Yes, sunshine. Yes, warmth. As much as I love Christmas songs, and I love to sing along with them, I do not really mean it when I sing, "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas," nor "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow." I would love to never have a white Christmas in my life. Thank you.

Dear People of Utah,

Just because it is daytime doesn't mean you can't nor shouldn't turn on your lights. If there's bad visibility due to rain or snow, it'd actually be a good idea to turn them on... before, you know, it's too late. Just a FYI. Oh, it's also good to have them on at night too because I know plenty of you think you have night vision or something and don't ever turn them on.

Dear People of Utah (again),

I find it funny that most of you are LDS and should be very nice people, yet once you get behind the wheel of your car that all goes out the window. You are hardly ever courteous enough to let someone change lanes/merge in front of you. It gets awfully annoying driving from the west side of the I-15 on Center Street, when I'm driving home, and no one will let me change into the right lane when I need to turn right in like 50 feet (worst setup in the world, btw). Therefore, I hold up the traffic behind me because no one is nice enough to let me over (and, yes, I use my turn signal unlike most of you). What is with that? Just think, if you do an act of kindness on the road, it will be passed on. How much better driving in Utah would be then!

Dear UVU Copy Center,

Please keep up with the current times and allow debit and credit cards to be used. Not everyone has checks or cash on hand, nor does everyone have a debit card that actually has money in the account (therefore, are not able to get cash out of an ATM).

Dear Disneyland,

I'm working on my husband to let me visit you next April/May. Hopefully, it will work out because it has been too long. I miss you. Please don't disappoint my husband this time either, and have a small crowd of people. I would appreciate your help on this. Oh, and please have all the good rides open too. That would not include It's a Small World. Worst ride ever. Thirteen minutes of that song... really?

Dear Finals Week,

I am so happy you are finally here. I need the Christmas break. Please don't go too hard on me.

To Whom It May Concern,

Is it bad that my anti-bias presentation has made me a little more bias? I'm pretty sure that presentation was supposed to have the opposite affect.

Dear _____ and ______ ,

You are the two worst companies ever.

The End

It's not finals week, but it feels like it. This week is going to be super crazy busy with tests, end of semester projects/assignments, two presentations (one is speaking in Spanish for four minutes and the other is teaching for 40 minutes with two other co-teachers), YW Evening of Excellence, babysitting my niece 3 nights, two visiting teaching appointments, etc. I'm sure there is so much more that I can't think of. I'm just happy that come Thursday, I will be SO close to being done. Oh, and it's a three day weekend, so that it awesome.

Anyways, so I just wanted to say I'm alive... but I won't be back for a while... again.

Updates

I have been spending two days a week in this classroom:Do you love the kid in the front that looks angry?

It has been a very fun experience. And since I was able to choose the grade I was working with, I have remembered why I loved working with children so

much. I don't know what it is about Kindergarten, but I love it. Maybe it's because they have shorter days? Haha. Well, that's not the only thing I love. There has been so much growth and improvement within so many of these children since I started coming in about two months ago. I just love how excited the children get when they can finally write the "e" in their name (because it seems to be the hardest letter for many kids). I'll definitely miss these kids when I'm done with all my assignments. Maybe if I have the extra time next semester, I can go in to help out once a week still.

Anyways, I have decided that Jon and I are doomed to have ugly children. Want to know why? I'll show you why:

Okay, maybe that's not the best proof, but seriously! Some of those kids could have been cute if they didn't have such huge foreheads. I'm doomed to have babies with big heads. I just hope they don't break my tailbone like Jon did to his Mother!

I have 26 days left of school this semester. I am so happy. One of those days, I know I will not be attending (next Monday) because I'll be hanging out with Em and her family! I'm so excited! And I can't wait until Thanksgiving break. I haven't decided on whether or not I'll be cooking, but I am definitely considering it. It'll be an adventure!

I went to my younger brother's rugby game Saturday. He came down with his teammates from Rexburg to play an UVU team. I had no idea what was going on, but it is a pretty neat sport. He has never played this sport before until he got up to school at BYUI and had some friends that were into it. So they made a club at BYUI and play quite often, I think.

My Current Favorite Meal

I came across a Chicken and Dumplings recipe that I love. It's a crock pot recipe, and it is also super easy (maybe 10 minutes of prep time)!

Anyways, here it is (with a few modifications by me, which are italicized):

Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

By: Janiece Mason

"This is an easy slow cooker recipe that cooks while you are at work! It is wonderful on a cold, snowy day. I have four children who are picky eaters, and they LOVE this! Enjoy!"

Rating: Read Reviews (2,706)

Rate/Review | 76,292 people have saved this

Prep Time:
10 Min

Cook Time:
6 Hrs

Ready In:
6 Hrs 10 Min

Yields 8 Servings

Ingredients

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 onion, finely diced I used onion powder instead.
• 2 (10 ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough, torn into pieces I just bought one 16.whatever oz. because it was cheaper than buying two of the smaller size.
• mixed veggies (I use frozen and just dump in however much I want.)
• black pepper to taste
• about 2 c. water (or enough to cover the chicken and veggies) - They don't have it listed as an ingredient.

Directions

1. Place the chicken, butter, soup, veggies and onion (powder) in a slow cooker, and fill with enough water to cover.
2. Cover, and cook for 5 to 6 hours on High. About 90 minutes before serving, place the torn biscuit dough in the slow cooker. Be sure to push them down, so they are covered in the sauce (they'll probably still float to the top). Essentially, these are supposed to be more like noodles, not biscuits, but I guess whatever your preference is works. Cook until the dough is no longer raw in the center.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 385 | Total Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 45mg

While I'm at it, I'll post another yummy and easy recipe. Let's just say, this will literally take you 10 minutes start to finish.

It's called Potato Corn Chowder. There are no modifications needed for this one, except that I would suggest doubling it if you want leftovers. Also, it is really yummy in bread bowls.

THE Easiest Potato Corn Chowder

This is the easiest Potato Corn Chowder you will ever make... but just because it's easy (I made this chowder in less than 10 minutes) doesn't mean it's not tasty! I wouldn't put it on here if it wasn't tasty... you know that :)

1/4 c. crumbled bacon (I just bought the pre-crumbled "real"
2 (10oz) cans Cream of Potato soup
2 c. milk
2 cans (11oz) corn
salt and pepper to taste
Crackers (optional)

Heat potato soup and milk in a sauce pan. Add corn, bacon, salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Serve with crackers.

Fishes, Turtles, and Frogs

Jon and I have had an unusual amount of extra money lately (Overtime pay maybe? I have no idea why. This never happens.). We have been really good lately trying to pay down debt and control our spending habits. But we felt like we deserved something. There have been a few opportunities presented before us recently that would help us out financially and really prepare us to finally get onto some health insurance and start trying to have some babies finally! Well, with that desire to have babies, but knowing we still have a little while before we can actually have one, we decided we were going to get ourselves a fish. Yes, a fish. We aren't allowed pets in our complex, and I know Jon would love to have a dog or cat (which I would absolutely detest in an apartment anyways). However, we can have a fish... I think. I mean, they just sit there and swim and don't make a mess anywhere except inside their tank. I think this desire to buy a fish started when we visited the Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy and decided that someday we want a really cool, huge saltwater aquarium. So we decided to go to PetSmart because it was the only pet place we could think of that was closest to us. As we were looking at all the fish, I saw some turtles.

Before I go on, I must reflect first on a time I wanted a turtle before. I was probably around 9- or 10-years-old, in fourth grade. My family went up to visit my Great Aunt (Grandma's Sister/Dad's Aunt) in Oakland, CA. We also went to visit the Santa Clara Mission, which two classmates and I were doing a group report on at school. In fourth grade, you learn about your state, and California has missions that were built by the Spaniards to bring Christianity to the Native Americans. My parents always liked to take us kids to visit the missions we did our reports on, and my group happened to pick one of the farthest ones away, so I almost didn't get to visit it. Anyways, that really has nothing to do with this story... Well, while we visited Oakland and Santa Clara, we decided to also visit San Francisco. I don't remember much besides the bay, the trolleys, my younger brother screaming because he hated the trolley ride, etc. I know we went to Chinatown also because it was there that I saw these cute little swimming turtles. I begged my Mother for one, but she wouldn't get one for me. I was so sad! They were so cute.



Anyways, so back to the pet store. I decided at that moment that I wanted a turtle instead. They are so cute and live a really long time. They would be an easy pet to take care of, I think. Well, I really wanted one of the tiny ones like I saw in San Francisco years ago. So we went to several stores and found nothing. Well, my friend, Gentri, told me that they were banned from the U.S. I decided to look it up online, and yes, they are. Apparently, they had a big turtle scare years ago with salmonella. These turtles are little, and well, little kids like to put little objects into their mouths. So you have kids sticking turtles into their mouths and people not washing their hands after touching the turtles. Thus, salmonella outbreak and banned turtles.

So now I have given up on my turtle dream. I now want some froggies and fishies to live together in the same tank. I went grocery shopping at Wal-mart last night and looked at their fish. They had some Dwarf African Frogs, and they were so tiny and cute. I think I have a problem right now. I want anything that's tiny and cute (I almost wanted a cute little puppy or kitty when we were at the pet stores).


Anyways, so I don't know if we'll be getting a new friend anytime soon but that is what we have been up to the last few days during our Fall Break!