Hello, Blog. Part 1

A quick update:

First, Christmas -

We took some attempted Christmas card pictures, which never were made or sent out.

My parents came up here. We celebrated at my sister's house in Herriman. We went to see Tangled at the IMAX a few days before Christmas. First thing Ryleigh says when we sit down (her parents went to a different movie) was "I need some popcorn." My Mom and I just laughed because obviously she's spoiled and gets popcorn every time they go to a movie. My Dad had gone to the bathroom before he came and sat with us... and when he came back, he had this huge bucket of popcorn. Ry was pretty happy with her popcorn.

We went to Temple Square on Christmas Eve, which was surprisingly not as crowded as the time I went for YW/YM a few weeks earlier. We took TRAX somewhere just south of downtown, so we wouldn't have to mess with the parking up there.
(Most of these are ones my Mom took.. the ones that aren't as clear are from my phone.)

More to come later....

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?