One of my favorite wedding pictures

So funny...

Sure-fire way to get out of debt

The answer

Can't believe no one has ever thought of this.

Trip to Utah...

Last weekend I made a quick trip to Utah. On Friday I went to Park City with my cousin and her sister-in-law to check out the Sundance Film Festival. I had a lot of fun. We saw some celebrities and at lunch at this place that had these awesome mini fries (I can't think of the real name). Park City is a beautiful town, the weather was great and it was fun to just walk around and of course to see Amy Poehler. I am a big fan of hers, so I think that definitely made my day.

Park City

Andrea and MarliMissy Pyle

Amy Poehler

Marli, The Bachelor (Jesse ??) and Andrea

Parker Posey

Jane Lynch

Saturday we got up early and went to my cousin Aarons wedding. They are so cute together and looked so happy. I was so glad I could be there.

Also on Saturday, my aunt and uncle were sealed to their son and my grandpa went through the temple for the first time. It was a wonderful day. It was great to be there with my family.

Shawn, me, Parker and Karinda at dinner

Inauguration

Today the 44th president of the United States was sworn in and for me it was truly exciting to watch. Being the teacher of six and seven year olds made me look at this new change for our country in a different way. Instead of looking at it as Democrat vs. Republican or winner vs. loser, I was able to see it through the eyes of children. I was able to explain to them why today was such an amazing day. I was able to teach them, in a way, that history was made today and one day they will be proud to know that they were a part of it. For just a brief moment, the politics didn't matter. People came together to celebrate history in the making. We watched the inauguration in class and I was really touched by some of the things that President Obama said in his inaugural address.

"In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom."

"As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all. "

When the election was going on the kids at our school were able to participate in a "Kids Vote". I was happy to get to teach them about the significance of this election. We talked about how cool it was that this was the first time that both an African American and a woman was in the running to be the president.

It seems very fitting that the inauguration of President Obama would occur the day after Martin Luther King Jr's birthday. So, politics and judgments aside...today was historical and I was proud to be a part of it.

Years in Review

After weeks of getting bugged by Andy I finally sat down and went through all of the pictures on our computer. For those of you that know me well, you know that I take LOTS...and I mean LOTS of pictures. So finally I went through and organized them all. It's always fun to come across things that you have done and to remember fun times. Here are some of my favorite pictures from over the years.

New Years/Andy's birthday

We've never really done it up for New Years eve which might explain why at least 2 out of the last 5 years we've been in bed before 11. This year we were fuddy duddies also, but we at least made it to midnight. Barely.

We played several rousing games of Yahtzee.

Enjoyed frozen pizza and cream soda.

Took Annie to the park.

There were about 50 rabbits out in this field when we pulled in.

Kissed at midnight and were asleep by 12:05.
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Today was Andy's birthday. The big 3-0! We went to dinner on Friday and he will soon be the new owner of some awesome golf shoes. Today we went to dinner at his parents house. We had fun visiting with his brother, our sister-in-law and their sweet little boy and his parents. We took these personality quizzes from a book that Liz had. Turns out I am fire and Andy is a mix of wood/fire...just in case you were wondering.

Andy and Ian playing with his birthday balloons.

I am so happy to be married to Andy. He is a fun, sweet, happy, hardworking person and I love him so much.

Happy Birthday babe!

Temple Lights

We went to the temple lights Saturday night with Andy's parents and his brother/his wife/their baby. It was so much fun just spending time with them and being at the temple and seeing all the beautiful lights. There really is a different feeling this time of year.

Andy with his dad, brother and nephew

Why waste money on toys when you can stay entertained with a wheel on a stroller?

Oh Christmas tree....

Our first Christmas tree in our new house

I have always wanted stairs with a banister so that I could do this. I love decorating for Christmas! It makes everything prettier. :)

One bathroom down....two to go...

So one of the joys of being a homeowner is that you get to decorate/paint/change things about your house and make it the way you want. A downfall of being a homeowner is that you get to decorate/paint/change things about your house and make it the way you want. After the arduous process of picking out paint colors (it seriously took me like a month to pick the colors for one room) we set to work. We now have completed the kitchen and the downstairs bathroom and both upstairs bathrooms are 85% finished. Here are some before and after photos:


Kitchen Before:
Kitchen After: (The shelves aren't crooked...I was trying to stand on a chair, take a picture and dust at the same time)
Downstairs Bathroom Before:
Downstairs Bathroom After:

Andy put up the chair rail all by himself. I am so proud of him and so grateful for all he has done to make our house nice.

Family Walk

If someone offered you drugs who would you tell?

This past week was Red Ribbon Week (tells kids about drug awareness and not to do illegal drugs or abuse legal drugs) at school. We talked to the kids about how drugs are bad and wore red and everything. On Friday I had my kids do this little Red Ribbon packet that the counselor passed out and one of the pages was to draw a picture of someone you would tell if someone offered you drugs. Later that day I was going through their pictures and I almost fell over laughing at what they had drawn. I wondered if they misheard what I said and thought I said draw people that take drugs. Oh well. It's moments like these that make me love teaching. My students are great!

19 Days....

Now yes I realize that just 19 short days ago I was on vacation, but I have come to the conclusion that every 19 days we should get 6 days off, making it a 25 day cycle...just for our own sanity (high-five for me and my astounding logic).

In the past 19 days I have:
- been screamed at and belittled by parents
- learned more about frogs than I ever cared to
-discovered that I am invisible even when I am sitting in my classroom and say hello as someone walks by
- enjoyed watching a 2 liter of cream soda roll down the driveway and out into the street and then proceed to forget ten minutes later and open it, just to christen my floor with sticky goodness
- empathized with Andy for having to drive to Home Depot 8 times in the span of 3 hours
- spent more money on copper pipes and faucet fixings than any person, except for a plumber, should ever have to
- took a trip back to the 1800's when one had to boil water on the stove to get hot water to wash their dishes in
- enjoyed seeing the level of the freakishly green water in the pond in our backyard decrease with each passing day
- witnessed the lengths at which one tiny person with a tendency to over-react will do to protect her thermostat
-received third degree burns on my fingers from 4 jammed copy machines
- witnessed the simultaneous nuclear meltdown of 8 first grade girls who ALL want to be Hannah Montana for Halloween
- scared myself into believing that I had contracted West Nile virus due to the 23 mosquito bites that have taken up residency on my arms and legs
- enjoyed the momentary panic that sets in when Visa calls and reports fraudulent activity all the way from Texas on your debit card


On the other hand in the past 19 days I have also:
- found some great new music
- spent more quality time with Andy then we have been able to do in a long time
- got a washing machine and a dryer
- been grateful that we have cars and gas money to make 8 trips to Home Depot
- discovered that I, in fact do not have West Nile virus...just a slight case of hypochondria-itis
- learned how to be extremely grateful for a sink that now has running hot water
- been able to reaffirm the fact that I have an AMAZING husband
- realized that my third degree copy machine burns were really just second degree copy machine burns
- had my little brother tell me he loves me
- laughed really hard
- been able to get my piano into my house and have been grateful to my mom for making me play...because now I get to play
- been blessed by self-less inlaws that will allow us to barge in at 9:00 at night to take a shower because our water doesn't work.
- been grateful that we have jobs to supply the funding for copper pipes and water fixtures
- been told that it's amazing that 23 first graders now know 25 facts about frogs and how to spell the word 'Amphibian'
- been thanked by a 6 year old for being "the nicest" to him
- received many high fives and toothless smiles
- found that there are amazing people in this world that will do things just because "that's what neighbors are for"
- felt the love of my Heavenly Father and the reassurance that he knows us and won't give up on us...even when we are close to giving up on ourselves.

I am very grateful for my life.