Quirks....

I was tagged by Trisha to list 6 of my "quirks". Aren't those really just endearing qualities? :)

1. I can't handle repetitive, clicking/tapping noise...like a clock...or something dripping while I am trying to sleep...however 99% of the time I fall asleep with the TV or music on and that doesn't bother me.

2. I am VERY particular in the way I like to fall asleep. I have to have a blanket or something covering me...but I tend to stick one foot out from beneath the covers because then I don't feel so claustrophobic.

3. I can watch the same show/movie or listen to the same song multiple times in a row. I think it drives Andy insane.

4. I have to have the TV or radio volume on an even number. If it's not I have to change it ( Wow...even as I type that I realize how BIZARRE that is.)

5. I get a little freaked out when people aren't as careful as I think they should be with things. For example...I have a slider phone and one day my brother was holding and it and kept sliding it open and closed....over and over again. I was getting all worried because I thought he would wear the "slider" out. Or when someone keeps powering on and off the camera for no reason, it makes me get all nervous (I am such a nerd).

6. My thought process. Andy teases me about this all the time. We'll be talking about something and all of a sudden I bring up something TOTALLY random and out of the blue (at least to him). To me it makes sense because the thing we were talking about made me think of something else which made me think of something else...and then the cycle continues until I arrive at the new topic that is completely different (Wow....I think my HS English teacher would die at the sight of that run-on sentence). It makes sense to me...in my head. It just makes Andy laugh.


The six people I tag are: Ashley, Liz, Jo, Amber, Brittany and Lindsay (plus anyone else that wants to do it)

Olympics....

I was sitting here tonight...bored...because Andy was at school and I was thinking about how bummed I was that the Olympics were over. Andy and I really got into watching them this year. We stayed up WAY too late every night watching and cheering. It's funny how for this short time these people, these amazing athletes become important to you. You WANT them to succeed...you're rooting them on every step of the way. We cheered them on like we knew them personally...like they were part of our family. There were so many great moments during these Olympics (as well as some not so great)....and it was just a pleasure to watch.



The opening ceremonies were amazing. I especially liked watching the US team march in because the flag carrier, Lopez Lomong has such an amazing story. I also cried when Yao Ming...the flag carrier for China marched in with the adorable 9 year old boy who survived an earthquake. 20 of his classmates died. He managed to escape the wreckage, but went back and saved two of his classmates. What courage for such a little person.


I have always been a huge gymnastics fan. I can still remember watching and cheering and crying when the US women won the gold medal in '96. I was fascinated by them. I am a huge fan of both Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin and was so excited to see them go 1..2... in the All-Around. I think that there was some unfairness in the judging of the gymnastics, but despite it all these girl did AMAZING!


Chelsie Memmel had her Olympics come to a crashing halt and she did all she could to help the US team....on a broken ankle. Amazing.


I think this picture says it all.



It was so sad that during a time that is supposed to be once in a lifetime there had to be tragedy. The mens volleyball team suffered a great loss and still was able to perform like champions.


Then of course there was Michael Phelps. Watching him swim was SO awesome. We watched this race with my family up in Flagstaff and we were all at the edge of our seats for this finish. We all jumped up screaming and cheering when it flashed that Michael had won. Thanks to my parent's DVR we were able to watch it many....many times and we still couldn't see how it was possible.

What I loved though was that even though there was a lot of focus around Michael Phelps and his 8 individual gold medals he was still able to be a team player. I remember hearing an interview where the interviewer asked the mens relay team how it felt to help Michael win another gold and he said "This wasn't about me....this is a team gold...it's as much their win as mine. I couldn't have done this with out them. This was a team thing." Spoken like a true winner if you ask me.


We watched a lot of sports that we had never watched before. We saw a lot of cycling and track and beach volleyball (that's for you dad :) ) We totally got caught up in the "Olympic Spirit" and look forward to London 2012!!

Finally...

So since the ripe old age of 5 my mother decided that I needed to take piano lessons. Practicing the piano was the source of many battles in our house while I was growing up (sorry Mom). As I kept playing I felt deep down that I actually enjoyed it, even though being the ornery teenager that I was...I kept fighting it. I played in the high school choirs and at church all the time. When I moved out of the house I kept playing. It was always my calling in church...I even took private lessons...and slowly but surely I was able to uncover my love for playing the piano. Well about 2 months ago...for the first time since I can remember I got released from playing in the piano in Relief Society. First time in FOREVER since that has been my calling and I was really sad about it. I called my mom that night and she said, "SEE...aren't you glad I made you stay with it."
I have really missed playing and even though I never had a piano of my own...getting to play once a week was nice for me. One day my mom called me up and said that a neighbor of theirs was moving to Idaho and was selling their piano. She asked if we'd want it. My mom and my old piano teacher went down and "test played" it and since I trust them whole-heartedly, when they said it was great...I said we'd take it. My parents stored it in their garage and when we went up last weekend we were finally able to bring it home. Right now it's sitting in Andy's parents entryway...since we don't have anyone we are close enough with to have to beg them to haul it up the stairs to our apartment and then back down in a month when we move. So for now...it sits...covered with a blanket...but in 1 month from tomorrow I will finally have a piano of my very own...in my own house...to play.

Thanks Mom for making me stick to it!

It was quite the adventure getting the piano from my parents house in Flagstaff...down the mountain...in a torrential downpour, but with some ingenious rope tying by my awesome dad and some very helpful neighbors and family in both Flagstaff and Mesa....it made a safe trip.

Andy and my dad tying tarps and plastic over the piano while it's raining.

What we got to drive home in. It was pleasant.

Unloading after a safe trip.

My beautiful "new" piano!!

Sometimes you just need something to make you laugh.....

Happy Birthday to me....

My birthday was yesterday. I had to work...but one of my kids made me a bracelet. She even "wrapped" it. It was so cute. I wore it all day and she was so happy. I have a pretty good class, which in and of itself makes for a pretty good birthday. Other than a kid dumping sand on another kids head in the middle of class we have gotten through the first week without too much trouble.

Anyways, Andy gave me some really pretty flowers and Guitar Hero...which sadly we are now addicted too.
Andy's mom brought balloons to my classroom, which was great except for I had to spend 10 minutes explaining to 22 6-year olds why they weren't for them.


My best birthday present however was that we got a house!! This is like the 4th house we have put an offer on and we found out our offer was accepted yesterday! We close the 25th of September .

.....

This was on during the opening ceremonies last night. Made me very happy!

I love the rain!!

So I was sitting here working on my brothers wedding video and all of a sudden there is a huge clap of thunder and it started POURING rain! Andy was just outside like 5 minutes before that and there was nothing. I love when it rains! It is one of my absolute most favorite things in the world! We when were little the rain would collect down the hill from our house and we would go an play in it forever. About a year ago we had a huge rainstorm and Andy and I decided to be really cool and put on our emergency kit ponchos and go for a walk in this torrential downpour! Probably not a brilliant idea...and I know we looked stupid...but it was so fun! I tried to take a picture of the rain, but it didn't work and then the neighbor looked out his window at me since my flash kept going off. I did take a video, so you can hear it...but ignore my lame commentary!

I want a piece of that financial pie...

For those of you that don't know who Brian Regan is...he is this really amazing stand-up comedian. He did a bit about people that write children's books making bank. I have thought this many, many times before. People get paid to write some crazy stuff. Don't get me wrong. There are lots of amazing children's books and in turn some amazing children's book authors that I am huge fans of. However...watch this and you might get what I mean.

The Clock