The Life of

2012-02-14T15:29:00.000-08:00

Saturday night we went to this place called Get Air with Brittney and John.

Things Worth Posting

2012-02-09T18:49:00.000-08:00

For the Super Bowl this year, we went to Dave's parent's and indulged in food! There was only six of us and we all made a few things each. We had a lot of food! My stomach sure hurt afterwards!

Monday was the 100th day of school. In first grade, we make it a big day since our math curriculum revolves a lot around the number 100. Some of the teachers at my school dress up like 100 year old ladies and so I got to join in on their festivities this year. It was a hoot! The kids thought it was great and it actually got them to be quiet and attentive. They couldn't stop staring when I'd talk in my old lady accent and hobble around the room with my cane. By mid-day we had all had it though and kind of gave up the accents and walks. It was tough. My back was hurting from using the cane! It was a blast though!

I work with some funny girls!

Maribeth, Angela, Malorie, me and C.J.

Tony Horton and PTCs

2012-02-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

This last Thursday, Dave had the opportunity to meet and work out with Tony Horton (the creator of P90x). Tony Horton was up on base all day doing some things with the troops and trainers and then had an open work out for peeps up there. Dave said he got quite a work out and really enjoyed it. He had a cool natural high experience similar to the feeling of laughing gas, he said. At the end, they laid on the ground and did ohms (not sure how to spell it) and then would yell at the top of their lungs. He would then get his rush and they repeated it. Sounds crazy!I just finished up my last conferences for the school year. I am super happy they are over but I can't believe we are so far into the year! Monday, we are celebrating the 100th day of school! Conferences went surprisingly well. It is so funny how the kids act about conferences. They are so excited to come and then during the conference they won't look their parents or me in the eye. They get so nervous, it's cute. I still have two parents I need to meet with but I'm not sure if I'll be able to get with one of them, unfortunately. It's always the parents you really need to talk to that don't show.

A little Catch Up

2012-01-29T12:10:00.000-08:00

Well, we're almost through the first month of 2012 and I've only posted once so figured I need to say something...

Dave is in his last four weeks of his Master's program! He is so close and so dead beat tired that he feels like it's so far away. He'll be done at the end of February and he can't wait! By next year this time we should know his permanent placement in the Air Force. At this moment, we don't have a clue what or where it will be. There is even a small chance we'd have to move to another state and we both pray that we don't have to.

Teaching has been consuming my time, thoughts and emotions (as usual:) ). I truly love what I do, so I'm far from complaining! I'm just stating the facts. It is so funny how many people say to me, "I couldn't do what you do!" or ask, "How do you do it?" It is a hard job but that's what makes it so great. I love a good challenge and that is what I am faced with everyday with those little munchkins as well as the higher ups breathing down my back (that's not so fun, but I try to focus on the kids and not what others think and that seems to help me not stress). It is a roller coaster physically, mentally and emotionally but to me that is how all good things in life are. The muchkins are so freaking adorable and hilarious even though their bodily functions are atrocious and overbearing at times!

I've really enjoyed the weekends lately. Besides all the grading and stapling I get to do (which Dave always willing helps with), Dave and I get to just relax at home and have date nights. I love being with Dave! We have so much fun together. He hates it, because I'm starting to use his humor and teasing towards him and he gets so frustrated. It's cute. We were able to accompany Bridget and Ryan up to Logan to take care of Michael's rolled ankle that he thought he might have broken last weekend. We went during one of the last snow storms and it was crazy but it was fun to go up there.

As much as he hates running, Dave has also joined our Ragnar team for the Wasatch Back in June so now I have a running buddy! He goes with me at least one morning during the week and another time too. He's such a trooper!

The Master Sleep Talker

2012-01-08T19:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I woke up early to go to a Zumba class Bridget and Brittany and I expected Dave to stay sleeping in bed. I guess he had to share his freaked out experience of the night before. Here is how the convo went:

Dave: Do you remember last night?

Me: Uh? What do you mean?

Dave: When I finished my book and turned off the lights, you started laughing and told me to kiss you. I asked if you were awake and you said yes and kept laughing. I kissed you and said I'd ask you about this in the morning just to prove you were sleeping.

Me: (Laughing, I didn't remember a thing)

He was all freaked out and then said something like:

I'm afraid that you'll kill me in your sleep.

Me: Why would I kill you? I wanted you to kiss me!

Ha, I thought it was hilarious. I've always been told that I sleep talk and have been told some pretty funny things about my sleep talking. As long as I'm not saying petrifying things, I'm okay with me sleep talking. I sure hope I don't become a sleep walker! That frightens me.

Christmas '11

2011-12-31T16:23:00.000-08:00

This Christmas season, minus the time Dave was gone, was unbelievably so so great! We had a lot of fun and got spoiled along with it. We got to see many friends, along with those that live elsewhere around the country. My friend Alli and her cute baby and hubby, Justin, came up to visit one night. We enjoyed their company and had fun playing with Haddy's tough face.

Christmas Eve was at the Price's. We began the festivities by marking and measuring each individuals height on their wall that dates back to 1991. We were pretty precise in the measurements and I got super excited after mine and yelled out, "I didn't shrink!" See the picture below. We ate a delicious dinner and then had our nativity and readings of the nativity, etc. Papa Claus showed up a bit after that and we got nice under armor socks! Then came presents, and yes, we are owners of a new blanket! It's not Christmas if I don't receive a blanket:) Not that I don't enjoy new, fuzzy, warm blankets. I swear someone thinks I freeze or something. The blanket is a Lotoja blanket, so it's pretty cool!

Christmas day came quick and we had to rise early to open our stockings and then rush down to my parents to start the homemade cinnamon rolls and then get to church by 9:30. The cinnamon rolls hit the spot that morning, for everyone. We all probably had at least 3 each. We opened presents with my family and when we do this we have to each take turns and so we always make Kaitlin open at least two at a time and at by the end she still has a pile of gifts to open. It happens every year. It's quite comical. Dave and I got S.P.OI.L.ED! Later, we got to have the Christensen family join us for dinner at my parents. Then, we got to go see some friends. Alli, Justin and baby Haddy, Kara, Nic and baby Kaylee, and Brittney and John. A little reunion.

Late Christmas night, we picked up my cousin, Kristen, from the airport. She flew in from San Diego for the week. We had a lot of fun while she was here! We took her boarding Monday; to Temple Square Tuesday night; tours around Salt Lake, Hill Air Force Base, and Ogden; Friday, we found what little snow was left up by Snow Basin and went sledding for about 20 minutes, just enough time to experience sledding. I felt bad, she came for the snow and it was quite scarce! We had a really good time while she was hear though! I'm so glad she came out to stay with us!

Wednesday, I was able to meet up with friends from elementary for lunch at Canellas downtown. It was so fun to see them! We also got to have Dave's buddies over Thursday evening for dinner. It's always fun to see them! They all have babies or ones on the way.

I'm so excited!

Michael's tissue shirt

My trophy for "Being the Greatest Sister"

Kaitlin sewed a patch on my mom's old shirt and gave it to me:)

We gave my mom a book about my grandma that two of my cousins, lovingly put together. It's amazing! So my mom got pretty emotional!

The new restaurant at Fashion Place, Brio. The food portions were quite large.

Elementary friends!

December Catch-up!

2011-12-30T09:22:00.000-08:00

Wow! This month has flown by! Which is partly a good thing. Dave left for some work training December 4th and returned late Friday the 16th. It was the longest we have ever been apart, that is for sure! I kept really busy luckily but at night it got pretty lonely and I had a hard time sleeping. When I picked him up from the airport, I hid behind the car in front of me and then jumped out and ran into his arms as he came walking up to the car. I was so excited to see him and wrap my arms around him! I don't know how military wives do it! I've got a friend that is one and I don't envy her one bit!

Dave was a bit sad that he missed half of the holiday season and he got a bit frustrated when he had to go out in the crowds and shop. But I'm happy to have him home and t

hat behind us. I had dreaded that two weeks since I found out about it in the summer.

He left right after the Windageddon and our roof was in shambles so he patched it together the best he could with the time he had before he left. He put tarp over the big patches and nailed down as much he could. We'll be replacing the whole front side of our roof come spring. We were going to purchase new blinds for the whole house for our Christmas present to ourselves but that money and then some will be going to the new roof. Here's to home ownership.

Other good news: for those that know my troubles in the last year with my cycle, I STARTED ALL ON MY OWN! I have not had a normal period on my own for just over a year. When this first happened last year, yes, I had a big worry that I was prego, but I didn't think I was, but still so I took my first ever pregnancy test. I've taken quite a few threw the year due to my messed up cycle. I have always had a normal period so throughout the year it was pretty frustrating. I tool Provera at least 5 times throughout the year to jump start my period but finally this month I felt a normal, on-my-own period and it was great! Ha, you don't normally hear that from a girl but I couldn't tell you how ecstatic I was when it showed up! Now, I cross my fingers and pray it will come back next month. Pray for me:)

One of the many ways I kept busy while Dave was gone was spending time with his family. We went to Temple Square and also had a little hors d'oeuvres party at Brittany's (his sister). Thanks for the company and parties!

Dave's Gammy

Hot, Chunky and Orange

2011-11-29T16:23:00.000-08:00

Today was going well. My classroom was functioning great and the kids were quiet; it might have helped that five kids were missing but it was still nice. Lunch came, my tummy was rumbling and I was ready for my leftover butternut squash soup from last night. I went to the faculty room and warmed up my soup. Thought about sitting in there to eat for once but changed my mind...darn me. I went back to my classroom. Started setting up to eat and work at my computer like usual. Went to grab the tupperware by the side. The lid must have been not on all the way. As I picked it up, the other side of the lid tipped up while the bowl tipped down and out poured hot, chunky and orange soup. It oozed down my white sweater-vest, shirt, in my apron, desk, dress pants, fabric shoes and covering the floor around me. I spent the rest of the lunch cleaning up and the rest of the day colored orange. My kids were pretty nice even though it stunk and I looked funny.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-29T16:00:00.001-08:00

This year we went with my family down to St. George. My aunt, Patrice, and most of her family came down as well. We left Wednesday early afternoon and stayed until Sunday. The weather was 60s all weekend. No complaint there, as always. Wednesday evening was spent grocery shopping for our Thanksgiving feast!

Thursday, we started the day's festivities off with a Co-ed Turkey Bowl. It was the Winn's vs. Nasella's. We had the disadvantage with less bodies but it was still fun and we even got my mom on the field. We didn't eat until about 5:30 because of the turkey. It seems we're always waiting on that turkey. So, I was pretty much full by the time we ate from all the snacking on crackers and herb and garlic cheese while I was cooking! Yum! I was regretting how much I ate for the next day or so. My tummy wasn't happy with me. I don't think I was hungry until two days later.

This year, I participated more than I ever have in Black Friday. I decided to check out the midnight openings of stores that night. I took my mom and Kaitlin with me. We started at Kohl's....that store was ridiculous! There were people every square foot I went. The line was wrapped around the store and through the middle and more. Later, i found out my friend waited in line for an hour and a half. The next day was just as bad there though. My mom wouldn't even go in the store. We hit the outlets on our way home and made a few purchases. The next morning, I dragged my brother out with my friend Allie and I for some more shopping. I ended up finding a few things. Dave and I got an early Christmas present from my parents, a new camera. It's super nice! We have always liked the idea of getting a really nice one but not quite yet but this one is right in the middle of a simple digital and super fancy, photographer camera. So hopefully we'll get back to taking more pictures again.

The rest of the weekend was nice. We played tennis and swam and such. I didn't take one school thing with me! I got read and finally finished my book that I've been working on for awhile. It was a nice break from life.

November 5, 2011

2011-11-19T09:05:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago, we were able to attend one of my old student's baptism. She is sure a cutie and a great girl. I've become really close with the family, her mom, Katie, is my friend too. It was fun to be there. I got to see a few of my other students from last year at the baptism as well! We headed over to her house for lunch and play after. Dave was a popular one with all the kids (not a surprise, I know). Dave did start it by initiating a mini snowball fight as soon as the kids came out the door to greet us. After that, he was the kids jungle gym/entertainment for the majority of the time we were there. See pictures below.

Me, Kayli and Dave

The girls are flirting...Katie's mom even said "at least the girls were going after the good looking one." Should I be jealous?

Think he's enjoying the attention a little too much?

The boys loved him too. Kimball wouldn't let go of his leg for quite awhile.

Stress

2011-11-06T20:06:00.001-08:00

This last week was a bit stressful. As I told some, Dave's job and my sanity were both up in the air. Luckily, we are both still here and breathing regularly again. With the budget cuts, rumors had it that they were going to move Dave's department to a different base. There were other things involved but that is the main jist of it. They finally came out and said they weren't shutting the department down at Hill, just switching some things up and weeding out job positions in the next year or so. So for now, we are staying put, but that can always change. Cross our fingers that they won't.

As for me, this year school year has been quite draining overall. I feel as if I am drowning. By this time last year, things had started to ease up and I was able to get a rhythm down but I strongly believe it won't ease up on me at all this year. All of the teachers at my school are feeling a lot of the same ways I am. I've been taking stacks of things to do home each night, especially on the weekends. It's as if my job is around the clock. I even lay awake most nights with it on my mind and then I dream it, too. It's quite exhausting! I love what I do, there is no doubt about that. I am just suffocating. I try so hard not to let it all get to me but it's tough. I about had a melt down Tuesday or Wednesday evening, because my brain was so overloaded by everything that day and with what I was working on, so I kept making little mistakes here and there, and with every mistake I make it just means more time that I need to spend on whatever I am doing. I really really hope that it will ease up sometime soon. But as for now, I was able to get a few breaths in this weekend. Just know why, if you come to my house and it's not clean there are many good explanations. I'm not happy to have a messy house, but I am picking and choosing my battles to help my sanity at the moment. :)

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-01T17:14:00.000-07:00

The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf

My munchkins

Most of the clan at Willard

Our Halloween Tree

Pumpkin Carving and More

2011-11-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, we had most of Dave's fam over for pumpkin carving and s'mores. Everyones pumpkins turned out great! I was on pumpkin seed finding duty. I end up doing this every year and my pumpkin never gets carved but I enjoy it because then we get to eat roasted pumpkin seeds! Which turned out to be a great snack after roasting mallows. Once everyone was done carving, we started a fire on the back deck and roasted mallows and told scary stories at Cora's request. We ended the night with some you tube videos.

Saturday, I had a tennis match at Ogden Athletic Club. I had a little cheering crowd (Dave, Cora and Cris). Cora made a sign for me and held it up a lot of the match. It was super cute! Thanks for the support!

Hard at work

Dave has vocalized his interest in working in a haunted house.

Roasting mallows

Dave's final product. He was going for the scariest at work but ended up winning the funniest...he was a bit offended:)

Cora's cheering sign

My Quarter-of-a-Century Birthday

2011-10-12T20:24:00.000-07:00

AHH! I can't believe it. Where has the time gone? I NEED IT TO STOP!! I am now 25 and a few days and it feels like last month I was in college and last year just in high school...it is the weirdest thing and I'm not handling it well on the inside. On the outside, I am playing it cooland shrugging it off but I don't know what else to do. I can't stop time or even slow it down so I just have to grit my teeth and go with it. Each day turns into what feels like an hour and it all is beginning to mesh together. At school, time goes a mile a minute and trying to fit all that needs to be fit in is the toughest part of the job at the moment. I am loving life but want it to slow down!

My 25th birthday was great! Sunday, we celebrated with my family down at my parents. We had dinner and relaxed. Later, we set up an ice cream, cake and cookie bar. Yum! Yum! I'm usually not a fan of cake but Dave woke up Sunday morning and decided to bake a cake and it was divine! I couldn't stop eating it. I also packed my tummy with what I believe is the best cookie in the world and lots of ice cream and caramel. I was in a sugar coma the rest of the night.

Monday, I was able to leave work as soon as I was allowed feeling good about the day (my kids were great that day) and leaving all the work behind to unfortunately come back to the next but until then I wouldn't think of it. I got home to a wonderfully cleaned house and wrapped gifts on the kitchen table. I got open one, which was a ribbon to tie around my eyes (it wasn't wide enough to cover my sight so I just closed my eyes) and follow Dave...to my closet. It was a long mirror with a dry erase marker even. I also got some mullah to spend on a new purse or tennis bag, and a pizza baking stone! We decided to go to ABC Mandarin because I've been wanting to try it forever. It was the perfect choice! So, so yummy and our waitress was super nice and a cute girl! They brought out this cute dessert with a candle and even sang happy birthday to me! I thought they'd do it in Chinese but it was in English, but still, when do you ever hear people getting sung to at a Chinese restaurant?? I loved it! We went to the mall to see if I could spend any of my mullah and then went home for a night of relaxation and cake, cookies and ice cream :) I can't tell you enough how yummy Dave's cake was. Once I started, I couldn't stop!

ABC Mandarin Birthday Dessert

Not just one, but TWO cakes!

In light of Halloween

Birthday song and performance

Enjoying the ice cream bar and company

Deer Valley

2011-10-02T20:18:00.000-07:00

We got to enjoy a nice relaxing, conference weekend in Deer Valley with my fam. The fall colors were already out and we couldn't have asked for more gorgeous weather. It was mid 70s all weekend long.

Friday, we hopped in the hot tub and it about put me to sleep. We were in bed pretty soon after that. Saturday, we woke up to Kaitlin ready to take our order for breakfast and be our waitress, and then we made our Halloween sugar cookies while watching conference and about got sick off of the cookie dough and finished cookies. My mom and I had a tennis match at 1:00 at the racquet club up there and we got to play doubles together. We won! Michael came up later and met Dave for priesthood while my mom and I went to try out a little Mexican joint for dinner. We got in some more relaxing that night while watching Thor with the whole fam in the condo.

Sunday, was great too. We woke up and went for a walk and then came back to anxious girls who wanted to serve and make our breakfast again. We got to enjoy conference and in between sessions, we drove to the top of Deer Valley Resort and hiked around for a bit. We barbecued that afternoon. It was yummy! Unfortunately, we headed home shortly after that. It was so so hard to leave and think about what lied in the week ahead. It was wonderful while it lasted though.

Beautiful fall colors!

Baby Shower and Lance Armstrong

2011-09-25T18:04:00.000-07:00

Friday, Allie and I threw our friend Clar a baby shower at my place. It mainly turned into a girls night which was a lot of fun. We talked and snacked and then snacked some more. The guys went mountain biking and had a blast, too.

Saturday was the Xterra Tri up in Ogden Valley and Lance Armstrong raced so Dave couldn't miss it. He got up early, loaded his mountain bike on his car and headed up to catch the racers at the end of the swim portion. He got to see Lance 4 times throughout the race. Once was right on the bike trail in the woods. He rode his bike going the opposite way on the trail and then plopped himself right off the trail so when Lance passed, he could reach out and touch him if he wanted to. Dave called himself "Lance's Stalker." Dave came home a happy man. He was giddy the rest of day. Jake went and met Dave up there at the end and he said he felt like a little kid and couldn't really function like an adult when he saw Lance. Oh, silly boys.

Me, Cassi, Clar, Allie and Alex

Allie and I's first time making a diaper cake

Lance coming out of the water. He was in the zone.

Lance heading to the trail

On the trail

Finishing the run. He finished 5th.

Today is Great

2011-09-20T20:53:00.000-07:00

I am in my fourth week of the school year and I am finally feeling like I can take a breath or two. I feel as if this year is a lot more work then my first year, last year. The state implemented the national core curriculum with a lot of the rest of the country this year so that has brought on a little more work as well as what seems to be a lot more work load that has been dumped on us teachers in my district. All that on top of being at a brand new school has caused a lot of stress, sleepless nights and late nights at school and then loading bags and boxes in the car for work home. There is no way you could be a teacher if you didn't love what you did, well, I know I wouldn't be able to do it. A lot of the time, I forget that I am getting a pay check. I always get a little shocked when I do get my pay stub in my box at school at the end of the month. I love what I do, what can I say?

I do have to brag about Dave though. All those that know him, know how amazing he is but I think amazing says very little compared to how great he really is. This last month or so has not been one of my proudest as a human being. I have had worse but I've had much better. With all of his stresses with school (being in the worst class of the whole program), work, and life (especially our health insurance issues!); he then takes on my stress/crankiness/frustrations and does everything in his power to make my burden light. And this is all with a calm, loving, joyful expression on his face and in his voice. For example, Friday, I brought two boxes and a bag full of stuff that needed to be done. He sat down with me and completed EVERYTHING that needed to be done! We worked for about 5 hours. I don't think I've heard him complain once in the last month! I love, love, love, love...LOVE him!

Being at a new school has been, well...different. Different in some good ways and some not so good or hard to accept, let's just say. I am loving the peeps I work with and they have been so very helpful! It has been a whirlwind already, though. I have a whole new group of 24 munchkins with 24 brand new personalities! I think that has been the hardest part. I'd guess that it is like having a second child, you think you've got the whole mom thing down or somewhat down and then BAM! it hits you like a ton of bricks that you don't but the difference is I've got 24 new chicklins! Its been an experience, that is for sure.

I really hope things will start calming down. One of the most frustrating things lately has been time. It feels like the clock is spinning around and around and in a matter of minutes it is 10 o'clock at night and I can't stop it! I have felt so powerless and barely afloat because of this and it has frustrated me to my core. I think I've made myself sick over it a few times even. Today was different though. I felt as if the tide somewhat shifted. I was able to leave and get home before 5! It felt amazing! And then I was able to sit and then play tennis and not feel like I should be doing school work. I know this isn't the end of long nights but today sure felt great!

It's That Time of Year Again!

2011-09-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

I just can't believe how fast time is whizzing by me. It's honestly making me sick, especially how much is still on my to do list for school and it continues to grow more and more each day.

Every second weekend of September, you know where to find the Price's. If you don't already know what this time of the year means for us then shame on you...no, just kidding. It's Lotoja time!

This year, Bridge and I decided to be the support crew for our hubbies and Michael Price. All summer I was kind of jealous but the jealousy quickly changed the night before. Dave had a rough time training this summer for two main reasons; one, school and two, he had IT Band Syndrome on his right leg and had to battle that. He worked really hard at strengthening his IT Band and did his best with what he had.

The weather forecast looked a lot brighter than last year and it turned out to be a beautiful day for us spectators but the head winds and heat was hard on the riders. Although somewhat against the rules of Lotoja support crewing, we stopped and watered our near empty boys' bottles right before the King/Queen of the Mountain climb (the steepest climb in Lotoja, they time it and award the fast ones). We even helped another rider out that was in dyer need as well. Lotoja used to have a nuetral support close to where we stopped but they moved it to the top of K/QOM. We thought that was a poor decision. Poor souls that didn't have people stop.

The boys took off at 7:34 a.m. and crossed the finish line at 6:27 p.m. They reached Preston (34 miles) in 1 hour and 15 minutes and stopped really quick to refuel and refill bottles. Next stop in Montpelier was at 11:45 a.m. This stop was a little bit longer but they ate most of the food we had for them and they felt okay except for Ry's leg was cramping. Part of the route for the support crew is with the riders and others aren't but when we are en route with the riders, it's fun to stop and cheer them on as they pass and then cheer from the car as you pass them and then stop again and do it all over again. The boys reached Afton pretty quick, I think the time was around 2:30ish and Bridge and I were kind of off guard when they pulled up to us, but we tried to hurry them on there way but it seemed as if they were beginning to feel all the pains and rejected a lot of the food because they just couldn't eat (continuously eating is very important). The last stop we saw them before the finish line was at Alpine Junction around 4:05. We really wanted them to meet their time goal but they were in no rush to leave. They finally headed for their last 47 miles.

Bridge and I followed the rules by taking the long route around to Jackson, it was our first time that way and the LAST TIME her and I will EVER do that! We had to go over a mountain pass that was 10% grade up and down it and were behind brake lovers. Her car didn't like it at all and neither did we. We had quite a bit of road rage while trying to make it to the finish line to see our hubbies cross. Luckily, we made it but the anxiety we had was no fun.

As the boys came riding down the way towards the finish, they were side by side and all had giant grins on their faces. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen! I had my video camera ready and I got so excited when I saw them, I hit the off button instead of record and ended up only getting their back sides but I don't think I'll forget those grins for a long time. The boys finished in 10 hours 53 minutes. It wasn't what they hoped for but they were happy. They didn't feel too great after but not many people do after 206 miles, unless you're a professional. Bridge and I had a lot of fun and Sunny and Mike were able to finally make the finish line after trying for a couple years.

Bridge and I had a lot of fun being the support crew but I wouldn't recommend only a 2-man crew for 3 riders. We each had our duties and each time it was hard to fulfill them. I was on video camera, picture and water duty and that was pretty difficult but in the end I think we rocked it!

Woke up to a front door surprise. Thanks Cora and fam!

Registration

French toast breakfast

Sunscreen for my fair-skinned, freckled hubby

Jon surprised us all and came up to cheer the boys on at the start!

Support Crew 2011

Getting ready to take off

And they're off!

Montpelier

Right before K/QOM

The boys were struggling, good thing we stopped!

On the way to Afton, the scenery is beautiful

Afton

Dave's 2011 bib number

Wahoo! They did it!

Hanging out in Jackson the next day. Dave is humoring Michael and trying out his physics experiment.

How We Spent Our Labor Day

2011-09-10T02:54:00.000-07:00

Monday, we packed as many bikes and people in Dave's car as we could and headed up to Mountain Green. I think I caught a little flu or something after the first week of school but I still tried to go on the ride. I made it about a quarter of the way but I was able to rest in the nice mountain scenery while waiting.

Last Days of Summer

2011-08-26T12:45:00.000-07:00

Since we've been back from Cali, I've put my life on hold and dove into the preparations for the start of school. I spent a week or so before we left but when we got back, I only had two weeks to get everything in order and prepared. One week until back to school night. I've spent numerous hours in my new classroom. The last teacher left a blank slate for me and I'm not so sure how much I liked that since it felt like I've put in many more hours than I did last year on the room organization and decoration. The classroom did get new carpet this summer so that is nice!

Back to school night went well. I took pictures of all the students that came and printed them off the other day and all my students are cutie-pa-tooties! I'm excited! School starts Monday. I took some pictures of my room before I left yesterday. I wish I would've taken befores because it's changed tons since I started.

This is where I'll be molding young minds this year

Our garden today
What I picked today...there are 2 orange bell peppers almost ready too!

San Diego Part II

2011-08-16T23:48:00.000-07:00

I flew back to San Diego early Sunday morning after districts. The flight flew by because I sat next to a guy that loved to chat. He was from a military family and it seems like people who come from military families know how to keep a conversation going. He was nice and it seemed as if he'd seen and experienced a day or two in life. He told me all about his oldest son (in the Marines stationed in San Diego) and then his youngest son that was 4 as well as his job as a roofer and so forth. I was so happy to see Dave's stinking cute face and I know he was happy to have his audience back again. He couldn't hold back with his wittiness. We spent the afternoon and evening at my uncle's house.

Dave using his physics knowledge, air in the bucket under water , I tried it and swam under to get air and it really worked, it was freaky

Monday, I got to see a lot of my dad's family. My cousin Caroline, uncle Jim and Aunt Sharon came down from L.A. So I got to spend the day with Caroline and Kristen. Later that night we met up with other family, including my granpy at his favorite, Filippi's (Italian of course). Tuesday morning, Caroline and I went for a run along the marina, ate Belgium waffles, and then I took her to the train station so she could get back to her parents. Tuesday night we spent at the beach and then decided to head downtown to the Horton Plaza (an interesting, architecturally, mall) and Gaslamp District to gander and maybe find some grub. It was a fun experience. We finally settled on Chinese food for dinner and after walking up and down the streets full of happening bars, clubs and restaurants, we ended up at a little humble, hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant (see picture below). It ended up hitting the spot and we were happy with our decision and felt like we were helping out a restaurant.

Wednesday, we were able to go to the San Diego Temple. I love that temple! It became Dave's favorite modern temple (he still ranks Manti as #1 over all) after that night inside the celestial room and all. We then ate a picnic dinner overlooking the temple from La Jolla Scenic Drive. Then came Thursday and Dave had to have one go at boogie boarding before we took off so my cousin James tagged along and we headed to Del Mar Beach. The weather was a bit chilly the last week there so I ended up wearing a jacket and not getting in the water that week but I couldn't ask for anything more than a good book and a beautiful view with a giddy husband in the distance.

The drive home wasn't too bad. We left early afternoon Friday. The traffic wasn't as bad as on the way but we were worried because of the Las Vegas weekend goers. We stopped in St. George for the night. Woke up early the next morning to beat the heat and get a ride in. It was beautiful. Ate at Bear Paw for breakfast and then headed on the road. Dave and I have an enjoyable time together on the road. Even our little arguments are fun.

We're back and busy as ever. We haven't quite gotten back into the swing of things. We both feel a little overwhelmed plus under slept. Dave begins his H.E.double hockey sticks semester next week and he's been on this project at work that he got thrown back into this week and it's kept him tied up at work and then he comes home to a jumbled mess at the house that I'm trying to balance along with settling into a new school which is coming to be a lot of work but I am so so excited to have little munchkins around me again. One thing I've got to boast about is even with being on vacation and away from my home, my routine, my cooking and my salads (I got called the salad master or something last year because my salads always looked so yummy, and they were) for 3 weeks I was able to lose weight! I finally feel like I've got an understanding of my body and what I need and how to control what I really want. I weighed myself yesterday and I had to take a double take at the scale. I was ecstatic!

The Nasella girls, minus Kaitlin

This store held rows and rows of jewelry! A girls heaven!

Chinese Restaurant

Salt Lake Tennis Districts & Michael's Birthday

2011-08-06T19:33:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, I flew home to Salt Lake because my mom's tennis team that I had been playing on this summer made it to districts and districts was August 4-6. Michael's birthday was on Thursday, the 4th, so I got to celebrate with the fam too. We went golfing at Willow Creek, I pretty much just drove the cart, went to lunch, and then after our match that night we ate at Spaghetti Factory.

In districts we had 4 matches. The team decided to match each day by wearing the same colors. I played singles each match. Playing 4 singles matches in 3 days is quite hard on the body. It was great excercise though! I won two and lost two of my matches and the team ended up winning 3 out of the 4 matches. I'm so glad I got a chance to go back and play in districts. It was a lot of fun! I enjoyed playing on this team. The girls on the team were so amazing and fun!

Michael is 23

Thursday, the uniforms were black and white

It poured right before the match so we had to wait until it dried.

Friday was pink and white

Saturday was a white top and colorful skirt.

My mom wanted to look like a bunch of easter eggs.

Week 1 &2 in San Diego

2011-08-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

San Diego has been great so far! The first few days the weather was quite humid but nothing too bad. The weather has been beautiful though! The fog along the coast burns off around noon sometimes a little later. Everyday you can expect the sun to come out, the temp to be around 70 degrees and a little breeze from the coast. It really is beautiful. While Dave goes to his class, I've been relaxing and working on making this blog into a book. It takes a lot of time so it's been good that I've had the time to do it. We've done a lot of fun things so far! The first week we hit up the beach a few times. We tried out a few different beaches. Ocean Beach is its own interesting place with interesting people. We ate at Hodads (definition: a surfer poser). I have been fantasizing about stuffing an amazing burger in my face for quite awhile and the burger did not dissappoint. It was called the Blue Jay Burger I think and it was loaded with blue cheese, blue cheese dressing, bacon, sauteed onions, and lettuce and tomatoes. The tomatoes were huge as well as the burgers! We hit up Mission Beach twice. Once just us and the other with Bridget and Ryan the next week. Dave and I had a picnic in Balboa Park and then walked around to see the cool architecture and gardens one night too. We also took our bikes over to Coronado and rode around and up and down the pennisula. Friday, we rode them up and down the coast through Del Mar. We decided we don't like California for the biking...it is quite dangerous. We both almost were hit while someone was parking and didn't see us.

Bridge and Ry arrived later Friday that first week. We stayed at my uncles in Rancho Santa Fe that weekend. Saturday, we spent the whole day at Del Mar Beach. The clouds never burnt off but we all were quite burnt and crispy by the end of the day. Overcast is always so deceiving! Sunday, we scored some free Padres tickets from my uncle. The seats were right above the visiting team's dugout. They played the Rockies and ended up winning after hitting a few doubles in the 8th inning. The Rockies couldn't stop them. All weekend we were fed like kings and queens. My aunt Joyce cooked all weekend long for us. Monday, we visited Old Town, the Sunset Cliffs and then went back to Old Town for dinner. Tuesday, Bridge, Ry and I went to Balboa Park to explore some more. When Dave got home we headed to Mission Beach. We played on boogie boards as well as some couples ultimate frisbee at the beach. We finished the night walking the beach in Coronado and eating.

Dave's burger from Hodads

The tomatoes alone filled me up

Balboa Park
Del Mar Beach
Padres game

Yankee Jim's gravesite in Old Town's cemetary. He was hung for taking a row boat...we didn't agree with his sentence.
Mormon Battalion building in Old Town
Sunset Cliffs

Onward to San Diego

2011-07-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

We left Saturday for our three week San Diego expedition. Yes, 3 weeks in San Diego. Dave has work classes he has so I get a 3 week vacation in southern California. It took half the day to pack up and make sure everything was taken care of. We decided to drive so I would have a car and so we broke up the drive and stopped in St. George for a night. We arrived at the St. George house around 7 p.m. We were welcomed by a black widow mother watching over her 4 nests of eggs! Luckily they were in the garage and we also didn't find any scorpion friends inside the house this time. St. George was nice and hot. We were excited to hit up our favorite eating spot, Parrothead Island Broiler, but when we pulled up the lights weren't on like normal but there were people hanging out the door so we went to talk to them. Come to find out, they are remodeling and changing management back to the original owners which will be good, we think, but we were a little dissappointed. That night we stayed in St. George.

Sunday at noon, we headed for the road again. We were moving along at a great speed and then...we hit the Las Vegas traffic. And normally the Las Vegas traffic tapers off after the strip but not on Sunday...Arrrrgh! I can't believe I didn't realize and I can't believe my uncle from Cali didn't warn me! Las Vegas is a weekend hot spot for Southern Californians and so we hit the going home traffic. It was stop and go on and off for about 3 hours. We were ready to turn around and go home. It dampened our mood for the day and the outlook of the trip. We finally arrived at our hotel a little after 7, San Diego time so we had been on the road for 8 1/2 hours. As soon as we got some food in us, settled and unpacked we felt a little happier. Our hotel is just south of the airport, near Point Loma Naval Base. This morning we ran to the naval base entrance almost 2 miles away and then back. You wouldn't think there would be much out here but we're near many homes and right down the road are some of the best beaches so I'm excited.

Here we come beaches, sun and more fun!

FLOWRIDER

2011-07-23T09:35:00.000-07:00

Dave and Jon used their Valentine's gift card for the Flowrider on Wednesday. They got a good hour in of boogie boarding and surfing indoors. The Flowrider is at the Solomon Center in downtown Ogden and it is a wave simulator for us in-landers, for those that haven't heard of it. Friday, they went rock climbing on the wall there to use up the last of the gift card. Happy Valentine's Day guys! :)

The Baby Question

2011-07-15T11:49:00.000-07:00

People say that right after you get married the marriage questions disappear and are replaced with the baby question. Family, friends and even strangers begin to nag at you about when you're going to have a baby and don't give you the time to settle in your brand new marriage. It didn't really happen that way with us. I mean, we had the question asked by a few but it wasn't overbearing. The question has come up more recently I've noticed but it's mainly by friends. I think we scared off our families of asking or it could be they all just understand how we feel, I don't know but either way it has been nice to not have the nagging. Dave and I have a lot of the same feelings about having our own kids. When first married, the idea of kids was crazy to us. We were quite freaked out by the idea. Over the past four years it's kind of been the same thing. When it's mentioned we freak! Now, don't think I'm announcing anything like being or wanting to be pregnant because I'm still freaked about most of it! We still feel just as far away from it as four years ago. Lately, I have noticed a change...read on.

I have noticed a change in me and it just dawned on me this morning while getting ready that I totally got snuck-up-on (if that is even a phrase). I'll explain. The change I've noticed is the way I am and feel towards children. For all that know me know that I've always loved children, especially Kaitlin, my little sister. I've worshipped the ground that she's walked on since she was born. But there has been something different that has evolved, I guess we can say, and I think it's because of this last school year as well as my church calling in the primary. I've had a few people ask me if teaching has made me want to have kids less and my answer to them is the opposite of what they expect, no. It has actually opened up and softened my heart to the children of this world tenfold, and has given me a better understanding of them and so much more that is too hard to explain. I feel as if I'm starting to become an advocate for them. A lot of children aren't put into great situations but that doesn't mean they're goners. Adults and other children can have a great impact by actions and words (to a child, actions yell compared to words). Anywho, I don't want to get to far off from my point, but if people want a better world, make a difference in a child's life.

About the being snuck-up-on part, I feel like Heavenly Father has really snuck up on me with these feelings! HA! Over the four years of mine and Dave's marriage, I've had so many fears with the children aspect in my life and two of the biggest ones, among many others, has been bringing a child into this world and all the complications that could happen with and post pregnancy. And it kills me to say it but those fears are beginning to not matter as much as they once did. Yes, I still have a list of about 50 reasons and fears of why I haven't had a desire to rush into being a parent but I can tell ya, Heavenly Father is sneaky. He has His plan that I know I can't change but it is always a great feeling to have that "ah-ha" moment and know he's got a plan for me....

Happy Birthday David! and One Incident...

2011-07-08T22:15:00.000-07:00

Dave turned the big 2 6 today! He past the quarter of a century mark. We were able to celebrate all day together because it was Dave's Friday off. He woke up to one of his favorites, chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream on top. He got to open his presents from me: all biking gear (pictured below). Thought it was time he didn't freeze out there in the chillier months- long sleeved jersey, new shorts and leg warmers. (You can tell by the flash that the logos are even reflective!)This afternoon we went and bought tubes with Allie and Jake and headed up Weber Canyon to float the Weber River. You start in Croydon and float to Taggart, two very small, small towns past Morgan. It was my very first time and Dave hadn't been on this part of the river so we relied on our trusty guide, Jake. Luckily, he had been quite a few times and he knew the route well. The water was higher, faster moving and chilly! We ended up going down two times because it normally takes over an hour to float down but since the water was moving so fast we got down in half the time. The first time down was fun. I got bumped off my tube at the beginning but after that I was able to stay on, even through some rough rapids and with a tube that was very lopsided. Well...then came the second round to go down and I wasn't quite feeling it and thought I should just wait but I went anyway. Bad idea. For some reason the water was a lot colder and this time I got the big tube. I had no control over the big tube. My arms could barely reach enough water to really paddle my way around which didn't go well when I was heading straight for a thick tree that had many branches hanging over and under the water. I tried my hardest to paddle and kept looking to Dave for anything he could do and he looked worried sick and helpless. I tried sticking my legs out to maybe somehow push out of it as I rammed into the mess of branches but the current was too strong. As I got thrown into and through the branches, the tube got stuck in some of the first branches behind me. Then, I had one of those split second decision moments. I had to decide to either stay where I was at and keep ramming into the branches or risk going under where I didn't know what could be under there. I chose the latter. Luckily, I didn't hit much. There was a thick branch right under the water but that was about it. Jake threw me his tube and went back for the other one. Dave was able to grab onto me and drag me over to the shore so we could regroup. I was a bit shaken up and Dave was almost pale from worry. I ended up with only scratches. Throughout the rest of the night Dave kept telling me that I'm not allowed to do anything fun again. The conversation on the drive home went something like this:

Dave: I'm having anxiety. You can't do anything fun ever again!

Me: Why? (with a good hearted laugh)

Dave: Have you ever thought I was going to die?

Me: You thought I was going to die?

Dave: Or something bad like that!

I felt like I was worth a billion bucks and very protected right there.

We went to eat at Taggart's Grill, that is right in Taggart, after. It was really good food. We celebrated Dave and Jake's (the 10th) Birthday with candles in their dessert.

It was a great day except for that one incident but it all turned out okay which we are grateful!

Happy #26 to my amazing hubby!

Independence Day 2011

2011-07-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

Saturday, we went to the Stadium of Fire with some friends and family. It was a hot evening and we were packed in tight to our nose bleed seats but it was fun. We got to see Brad Paisley, well he looked like an ant but he still put on a good show, and the "Best Fireworks Show in the World" (it's what they claim). The finale was felt, yes I said felt, by anyone within 30 miles. Dave would've enjoyed it if they just did that for a straight minute. Monday, we enjoyed Riverdale's ginormous parade and then went to the park to check out the festivities. Dave participated in the "Minute to Win It" game of cookie on your face (he had to get the cookie from his forehead to his mouth without touching it) and he won a gift card to Target! Wahoo! Later we barbecued with the Price's and then enjoyed a good water balloon fight. Growing up, my street would hold an annual water balloon fight on the 4th so I suggested it to the fam and they jumped on board. It was a hit. We had a few tears with the kiddos but it was a blast! It resulted in quite a few welts for the adults. I think Sunny and Mike had the right idea to wear normal clothes...more protection. Dave and I decided to watch fireworks from our roof instead of going to one of the parks. We got about 10 shows in one. It was awesome! I was a little scared being up so high on such a steep roof. Legalizing the illegals has really awakened a beast in people. They're everywhere now!

It's hard to really see but these two got the worst of it.

Happy Independence Day! I am so grateful for this country and my freedoms!

Waterfall Canyon

2011-06-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

Sunday we hiked Waterfall Canyon, in Ogden, with some friends. It was Dave's idea and I had never done it so I wasn't sure what the hike was like. I asked some friends come along, one of which is 6 months pregnant. I asked Dave the intensity level of it and after trying to come up with a good answer, he answered with, "I'm not sure, I just run up it and don't pay attention." Of course. One of the couples had done it and gave us a heads up about the difficulty yet we all, including Clar (pregnant friend), trudged on up the trail. I was super impressed with Clar! It got pretty tiring, there was a lot of climbing and my legs were feeling it. She was a trooper! We all had a blast though! It was a beautiful hike, every part of it, especially the waterfall.

This was taken near the bottom at the end. It was a perfect night!

Dave, me, Tracy, Clar, Allie and Jake

The waterfall was gorgeous! I thought we were somewhere tropical.

Dave loves to pull the moves out!

Heading back down the trail

Dave loves scenery shots and I hardly do much with them so I wanted to post and dedicate this picture for and to him

a perfect saturday

2011-06-25T23:12:00.000-07:00

slept in

went for a run

learned how to operate a lawn mower

made taco salads for lunch

Netflixed Wild Wild West

played tennis

made delicious calzones for dinner

Netflixed Man vs. Food & Prison Break

played with niece & nephews at the park

watched the West Haven fireworks

...all while being with my hubby

Summers Off

2011-06-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

I have been away from my classroom for 3 weeks now. It has been a new experience for me for one main reason: no need to stress about if I'll have a job come August. I can't say how great it feels enough. I feel a big difference this summer compared to last summer. A big weight is lifted off my shoulders and I can just enjoy my summer. I am really loving the teaching thing. I enjoyed every moment during the school year, even the hard ones, and I am enjoying the time off. There have been a couple moments that I get a glimpse of cabin fever in the last 3 weeks and it makes me realize I am probably not a staying home type. I am a happier and more whole person when I am productive and out in the world among others.

This summer I have kept busy. I decided I wanted to teach tennis again. I did it back about 5 or 6 years ago and I've been wanting to do it again. So now that we are settled and I have my summers open I jumped on the idea. I am teaching all ages. It is a lot of fun so far. I have also been playing on my mom's tennis team. We have a match each week and I am really enjoying it. I've had a hard time finding people to play tennis with since being married and living out of Salt Lake County and I've only done a few tournaments since we've been married so it's nice to be finally playing some matches again. I was able to go to the library for the first time since last summer a couple of weeks ago. I love going to the library without any ideas of titles or of what I want. I go up and down aisles and just browse through all the books, reading the excerpt on the backs. I look for things that peak my interest at the moment. I've found some great books this way so I continue to do it each time I go to the library. I've found that I really enjoy historical fiction, LDS fiction and then sometimes I pick up the fun fictions where a lot of them are based in the New York life. It was nice to be able to get back to the library and find some books. One other project I am determined to finish is our wedding album.

With being out of school I have also been able to get in a lot of much needed but dreaded doctor appointments. Not my favorite thing to do, actually it's my least favorite, most hated is more like it. It has become a joke wondering what is going to be the next thing to go wrong with my body with Dave and I. We've had insurance for just over 2 years now and ever since my body has been finicky. I have learned a lot about health and a lot spiritually. Well the spell is not over because I am still dealing with things from past problems and my doctors keep finding new issues. I'll have to give more details in a later post but I now believe that I am destined to learn something from all of it. I am an idiot and didn't think of it before someone that I look up to very much in the health biz mentioned when she got a blessing. I asked Dave to and jumped right on it and even fasted before. Dave gave me a blessing and my eyes were water fountains through it. It taught me a lot and calmed my mind. It was truly a blessing.

I have been able to do a lot so far and am excited for the rest of the summer. I have noticed that I have been spending a little bit more money since being out of school and having more time on my hands...eeh! Hopefully that trend slows down!

A Summer Weekend

2011-06-14T16:08:00.000-07:00

We spent Friday working on beautifying our yard...Except for the garden, I've kind of neglected the exterior of our house since we've been here so I finally decided it was time to start giving it some attention. Well, when I have a picture in my head about the way something should be and look I go on the hunt to find that exact thing I'm picturing. I go to each and every store, some stores more than once, scrounging to find what I pictured, and the best deal of course. I've been somewhat scared to tackle the planters thing but thanks to the help of my plant loving mother-in-law, Sunny, and my endless-giving husband we got it done.After hours of searching for some planters and plants, and then planting the plants, I can tell you that that is as far as I'm going to get this year on the exterior. I'm tired. Maybe next year I'll get to the back deck more. Now I just need people to share it with so that I don't feel like I did it for nothing. So here is your peek! Now remember, the plants just were planted so they might look funny now but in a month or so they will fit better...hopefully!

Saturday, we went to a barbecue for my childhood friend, Alli, and her cute family because they are packing their things and moving to Philadelphia for at least 5 years. Bon voyage and all the love Barton family! Hope to see you in the not to distant future!

Celebrating 4 Years Together

2011-06-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

4 years ago (yesterday) we were married....

...and even after 4 years, he still makes me smile each and every day like this.

Yesterday, we celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. If we didn't have a calendar, we'd know that yesterday was June 6th because of the finicky weather. Our plans had to be postponed because of the weather. Dave came home from work holding out bright orange flowers to brighten the days dirty wind outside.

We will be going to the driving range and having a picnic tonight but yesterday we made homemade pizza, watched our wedding video (I am so so happy we have one!) and went to X-Men: First Class.

School's out for...Summer

2011-06-03T08:33:00.001-07:00

I completed my first full year of teaching yesterday. Not only did I survive it, I came away happy. I never thought in a million years that I could or would teach first grade, but I did it! I am in love with my job and I don't think this year could have gone better. I believe I really made a difference in each one of my students lives. Even though there were days I felt as if I had failed them, in the next few days they'd reassure me that I had done some good. Oh how I already miss those munchkins!

I also worked with the best staff in the world! I couldn't have asked for anything more. It was a complete 180 from last year. I have never felt so much love and support from co-workers as I had this last school year. If you know me then you know I don't usually go asking for help, I keep to myself because I know people have a lot to do themselves so I don't like to bug them. Some have I was stuck up because of my keeping to myself but that has always been the way I see it. Throughout my year at Lake View, I had co-workers coming to check on me in my room constantly as well as supporting me through all the hooplah that has been going on with my position. I worked with such great people that I'm going to miss so much! I will be at Willard Elementary next year teaching first grade. Yes, it is a plus I have a job and that it is the same grade and that it is even closer to my house but I honestly wouldn't trade that for great co-workers. They can make and break it all and so I hope I can find that at least somewhat!

We had a picnic at the park Thursday with the whole first grade. This is my team trying to be cute and getting ready to pose for a picture.

Heidi, Cathi, me and Bev

Mr. Price, a Hit for 1st Graders!

2011-05-30T20:06:00.000-07:00

My students earned a marble party as a class and I told them if they earned it, then Mr. Price would come to the party...just an extra incentive to be good the last couple of weeks:) Dave came Friday at lunch time and stayed for the rest of the day. It was great! The kids ate him up and it gave me a little break to sit back.

He played

He read

and he stole the hearts of my first graders....

just like they have all stole mine.

Michael's B-day/Going Away Party

2011-05-10T17:46:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday we celebrated Michael Price's Birthday and bid farewell and good luck for the summer. He's off to Philly jumping in on the summer sales bandwagon. We celebrated at Boondocks in Kaysville. We had a little bit of fun...

I-Fly

2011-05-10T17:38:00.000-07:00

Two Saturdays ago, Dave and his brother, Jon, tried out the I-Fly in Ogden. They had a blast and they flew like they had done it before. It was great fun to watch! We've watched others do it but I liked watching my husband enjoy and rock it.

I think we'll be going back for more in the near future...maybe even out for the real thing. Eeh!

Teacher Appreciation Week

2011-05-08T14:34:00.000-07:00

Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week and I felt so spoiled! I have the best room mom!

Each day, I received a special gift. Monday was this basket full of treats with cute sayings and then notes from each one of my students.

Tuesday, I got my fave! Marshmallows and s'mores making goodness! Also, there was a cute poem about things I could do during the summer and then notes from my kids giving me ideas of things to do. (sorry pic is upside down)

Wednesday, I received this adorable vase full of pencils with notes from my students wrapped around them.

Thursday was this cute flower pot full of thank you flower notes.

And last but not least, Friday, I received a nice storage box full of office goodies and drawings of me from my students:)

I received many needed classroom items from my students and parents as well and a gift card to the movies. We also got spoiled from the rest of our PTA. They spent the whole Spring Break demolishing our faculty room and giving us a nice new one! They also gave us a catered Maddox lunch Friday. I am so sad I have to leave this school! I love the people I work with, the children and the parents. I am very blessed to have been where I am this school year!

Easter Weekend

2011-04-29T16:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, we were in beautiful St. George again. Dave and I are beginning to believe we're locals down there. It's kind of fun.

Friday, we tracked back up and down Angels Landing, but this time we took my dad. We pushed him pretty hard and made it in under 3 hours round trip. We stopped at the top to take in the view and eat a little lunch. On the way back down, my dad decided he would count the switchbacks the trail had to offer...46 switchbacks later we were at the bottom. Which means you do a total of 92 switchbacks when hiking just up to the base, before the spine.

Dave lived for egg hunts (which were really candy hunts because there was too much candy and not enough patience for stuffing the plastic eggs) growing up. They enjoyed finding candy months later in new places around the house. I decided to give him a little taste of his childhood along with the other kids (Kaitlin, her friend, Michael and his gf-Terissa).

Easter came and brought a lot of joy to this Robin Egg fanatic!

We even caught my dad joining in the festivities.

Us Lately

2011-04-13T16:39:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've sat down and posted anything other than our St. George trips so I decided I should finally sit down and post other things.

Dave:

1. Chugging away at his Masters program (gritting his teeth along the way)

2. Still employed thanks to the government not shutting down

3. Sold the moto... I'm not sure how I feel about it.

4. Just signed up for his 3rd go around of Lotoja

5. Gave us a 3 week vacation in San Diego this summer (he has some work stuff to do)

6. Keeps our cars running for minimum cost

Rach

1. Finally found the answers to my exhaustion that I've had since Christmas - Epstein-Barr Virus (the virus that Mono comes from) Think I am finally feeling myself again, energy wise, if I can ever get a decent night sleep that is! :)

2. Have 30 days left of teaching my little munchkins...and the only reason I know that is because we count our days in school, it's not that I'm am yearning for that day because I'm actually not. I have loved those little ones since the day I got each one of them and might cry the day they leave...

3. Trying to keep up the exercise routine despite sleep deprivation.

4. On the job hunt again for next year, and trying to not be bitter about it.

5. Getting Dave involved in my love of playing basketball and tennis (we try to play both together each week)

6. Last, trying not to let the weather determine my happiness. I want more sunshine!

Yes, Yes, Another St. George Post

2011-04-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

I finally took some personal days off work last week. I was stubborn. I didn't want to use any of my days off because I wanted to save up, but it was honestly the best thing I could have done! And of course we went to St. George. We went down with Dave's whole fam this time and, boy, did we have one fantastic time! There was 15 of us sleeping in my parents house down there and there were no blow ups or hard feelings towards one another! It will be interesting if we can still make it work as the family grows more.

I swear, St. George just keeps getting better in my book. I keep finding mor

e and more things I love about it. We left Wednesday evening and came back Sunday. We didn't waste a second of enjoyment. We hiked, biked, ran, swam, relaxed and of course ate! We celebrated Ryan's birthday as well. Happy 31st Ry! The weather was perfect! It was high 70s to mid 80s during the day and only got to the low 70s at night. Can't get more perfect than that.

We spent Friday day in Zions. I finally experienced Angels' Landing. On the spine part of the hike, I did pretty well because I just wouldn't think. I just focused on the steps in front of me and didn't look around. I didn't get freaked out until right close to the top where it seems as if every step gets a little tighter. As Dave's other half, I seem to do pretty well with his extreme childlike exploration but on this hike I almost lost my nerve a couple times because of some of the things he did. Normally, I just laugh at everyone else freaking out at the things he does but this time, I was not okay with them. But, we all made it through it and enjoyed it. I was quite sore the next couple of days because of the constant pressure from the steep switch backs on the way back down.

Snow Canyon Hike

Michael and I on our way up to Angels' Landing

The Top

I wouldn't get within 5 feet of the drop off

The whole gang- minus the munchkins and the 2 babysitters

On our way back down

My first bad sunburn everHuman Totem Pole

The Zen Trail

(Mountain biking is not my thing)

Flying a kite off the deck of the house

Awe...beautiful!

A Much Needed St. George Trip

2011-03-09T18:59:00.000-08:00

This last weekend, Dave and I left Thursday for St. George. We had all day Friday to ourselves down there. We slept in, went shopping, took an intense ride up Snow Canyon on the bikes, and enjoyed eating at our number #1, favorite place, Parrothead Island Broiler! Oh man, it's heavenly!

Late Friday night, Brittney, Michael and his friend John joined us. Saturday we slept in, and then took advantage of the mid-60 degree sunshine. Britt and I went for a nice exploration run in the red rocked hills, we all played some tennis, and then went for a late afternoon hike in Snow Canyon State Park. That night we ate at a Mexican restaurant and enjoyed some thick, creamy Iceberg shakes. When Sunday afternoon came, it was hard to say good-bye. I really have never felt so much awe when thinking about a place to be. I love St. George and I'm not just saying that. AWE....

Hike in Snow Canyon

It's entertaining to watch Michael do these kinds of things like hikes and outdoor-sie things. We didn't really ever experience much of it growing up :)

President's Weekend

2011-02-21T19:51:00.000-08:00

Well, the St. George plans changed as the weekend forecast continued to be the bearer of bad news as the weekend approached. We ended up staying northward, but it turned out to be full of activities and fun.

Friday was a date night. Dinner was famous Big Bens at the Burger Bar. Saturday, we went down to Sandy. We ate lunch, went to a movie, watched the NBA All-Star competitions, and played games with my family. I have never been one for video games and I even have a hard time liking the Wii but I found that I really like the game Just Dance 2. I could play it forever. Catch Phase was a lot of fun with my family too. We were with Dave's family on Sunday celebrating Bridget's birthday. We stayed late talking with them and debating whether or not to go snowboarding Monday. Well, with our cheap ways we decided to still enjoy the fresh new snow but instead of trying to beat the crowds and all we went snow-shoeing. It was a lot of fun! We got good exercise and had fun trudging out new trails up at Snowbasin.

Dave had to try this out. I tried to take more pictures of us actually snow-shoeing but the camera was being touchy.

I love my adventurous husband! Thanks for a terrific weekend!

Kitchen and Bedroom Before and Afters

2011-02-20T08:49:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks ago we finally fixed two things in our kitchen that have been nipping at us since we moved in. We got a new light for over the sink. Dave busted the light cover with his head when we first painted the kitchen, I hated the light anyway. We also replaced the faucet. If you were one of those that thought you busted our sink faucet while trying to turn it off, you're welcome, no more worrying now. They are two simple things that have made my kitchen even more to love...now if I could talk Dave into redoing the cabinets.

Befores

Afters

I really love how it just brings the whole window scene together!

Bedroom

We purchased and built our new bedroom set at the end of last year but we have had to send back two mattresses because of defects so I have not been able to take pictures. The third mattress has been fine so far so we shouldn't have to send this one back and we can finally enjoy it! I love it! I can't believe that we spent almost 4 years without this amazing thing. I love the new look of our bedroom too!

Before

Afters

The Clark Planetarium

2011-01-30T08:28:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Mike Price's (my father-in-law) Birthday visiting the Clark Planetarium Saturday. We saw the Hubble 3D movie and explored the planetarium. If you know Dave, seeing him in that place is like watching a kid in a candy shop. He loves it! So it kind of felt like Dave's Birthday...

Happy Birthday Mike!

On the moon....well, sort of.

Look like a diagram you've seen before???

I couldn't help but making a connection between the stages of evolution and this picture...and yes, Dave and I are the early stages.

The New Year

2011-01-09T15:22:00.000-08:00

I haven't had a chance to sit down and write any goals or resolutions down for the new year but I have thought a lot about it. Among many other goals like doing all of Lotoja and such, I've decided that my ultimate goal this year is to live and teach by example. I want my actions to show who I am and what I believe and stand for. This goal stretches from being Mrs. Price to being Rachel, and even a stranger getting cut off on the way home from a long day at school. I have been blessed with so much and even though life is tough and busy, someone out there is worse off.

Dave and I are so grateful for all that we have. Life just seems to pass by quicker each year but we love the memories we get to hold close to our hearts. Here are a few of our New Years' celebrations so far:

Friends

Family

Christmas 2010

2010-12-27T08:50:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve

Started out with some arm wrestling...

next came some grub...

then came the Christmas story re-enactment (minus our real baby-baby Everett had a rough night so he was replaced by a rolled up towel which Cora took great care of),

next came presents,

then off to bed and awaiting Santa's visit.

Christmas Day

Christmas morning brunch,

settling down for a long winter's nap (while cheering on Miami, only for the sake of the Lakers losing... and Michael),

then on to our 4th annual Christmas dinner at the Little America,

and last but certainly not least, some Christmas lights on Temple Square.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Kid's Quotes of the Week-Religious Edition

2010-12-18T10:05:00.000-08:00

It's the Christmas season and my kids (students, I like to refer to them as my kids) have become new people. What I mean is that they are acting out and being so naughty! It doesn't help when i am sometimes the culprit in the sillyness, but I decided if you can't beat them, join them. Its made me not as grumpy but it's taken all my energy!

Anyway, on to the funny things...I wish I started this at the beginning of the year, because the things I hear from those children each day are epic! I know when that day comes that I have my own children it will be great, but until then I have 22 children Monday- Fridays that I absolutely am head over heels for. Ok, so the last couple weeks we've been talking about Christmas with books and art projects. I wanted my kids to know that Christmas wasn't just about getting gifts from Santa. I tried to explain to them what Santa symbolized; giving, nothing more, nothing less. Next thing I know, the kids are all raising their hands and yelling out that Christmas is about Jesus' birth and more things about him that I can't quite remember. I just bit my tongue and worked my way around the topic to get their minds off it, which is pretty hard when they all get chatting. In no way am I trying to teach religion to my kids, but I was glad to hear that each one of my kids knew that.

Next quote, "Only boys can be the priesthood." That came from a boy in my class when we were talking about the presidents that were on the coins. He then fixed himself quietly and said, "president." Another boy in my class that was sitting right in front of him, turned around suddenly and said, "What's the priesthood?!?" I quickly changed the subject.

Last one, "When we are resurrected, we won't have any blood." One of my girls said this yesterday when we were discussing a story we just had read about how we are alike kids around the world. The book talked about everyone has blood and hearts and another one of my kids had just commented that we all have bodies...so then came this quote. Luckily no one had anything to say back to her so my toosh was saved there.

Another student brought a paper-made manger with a paper Jesus inside for show-and-tell. That was interesting, too.

I just hope my kids don't go home telling mom and dad that Mrs. Price told them this or that because when these comments come I duck and cover and do my best to revert to another topic. It does give me a chuckle inside.

Our Christmas Came Early This Year

2010-12-12T16:47:00.001-08:00

We decided to splurge a little on ourselves this Christmas... We have been sleeping in a hand-me-down mattress since we've been married and for the last 6 months the mattress has been on an angle, docs orders, but we've been planning for an upgrade and decided that Christmas would be a good time. We ordered a new bedroom set online and bought the most comfortable mattress from Knights. The set wasn't suppose to be here until Tuesday but arrived Friday afternoon. We also splurged on a media center. Thanks to our friends, Kara and Nic, who got Dave wanting one. We ordered most of the parts on Black Friday so we had all of the parts to build it in the last week.

With Dave's eagerness to do anything but study for his final coming up on Monday, Saturday turned into a building day. Dave is so good at building, fixing, and figuring things out and he LOVES it! He was having a blast putting together the computer for the media center. It was so funny to watch him and hear him say how much fun he was having. We took a quick break to go get our mattress and then we were back to building. We spent about 4 hours last night taking apart our old bed, moving furniture out, putting furniture together, cleaning and then setting up our new bedroom. By the time we were done we were so ready to lay on that new bed. Before calling it a night, we had to take advantage of our new media center and watch our favorite, Chuck. I don't think I've ever been so happy in my sleep as I was last night. Dave's complaint this morning was that I took all the blanket... my reply was, "I couldn't help myself. I was surrounded by puffiness and it made me so happy." I'll try to share tonight.

It looks like Dave knew I was taking this picture by his smiling but he actually had no idea, he was just that happy with what he was doing. Silly boy.

Our house was and still is a disaster!

I couldn't get up!

For some reason, a lot of our bills come in December like insurance, my car's safety and emissions, and this year my back tires were getting scary bald so we had to drop some money on those. There goes the rest of our Christmas money... I am happy we have two incomes at this point in time. If it was last year, I think I'd faint over the money we've spent.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-27T08:40:00.001-08:00

Gobble, Gobble

Turkey Bowl

It was about 7 degrees Fahrenheit when they started playing.

Yuck!

Our reenactment of the First Thanksgiving

I am grateful for all my many blessings! There are too many to name but I feel enormously blessed and am forever indebted to my Heavenly Father for each and every one of the blessings.

The Church is True!

2010-11-11T19:23:00.000-08:00

I remember my first seminary teacher at Brighton would begin and end each lesson by declaring this to us and sometimes would shout it with joy. I wanted to express with the same joy for the good and cool experiences I have all the time; especially this one...

Monday night I was driving home from doing some visiting teaching and decided that I'd stop by my friend Allison's house, since Dave wouldn't be home for another couple more hours and I had planned so well in advanced for school last week that I didn't really have anything to do for that. We were hanging out, talking and I kept trying to leave because my tummy was hungry but ended up starting new topics each time. Allison used the restroom and I heard an "OH, NO!" from in the bathroom. It was not a normal tone of voice I hear from Allison so I was quite worried but hoped it was just her son getting into trouble, but she said it again and cried my name and then said, "I'm bleeding," with a horrified voice. Allison is almost 20 weeks pregnant so it was not a good thing. She got a hold of her OB finally and her instructions were to get to the E.R. So we dropped Jake, her son, off with her brother-in-law and me, Allison, and Rachel (her sister-in-law) hopped in my car and sped to the closet E.R. Her husband had just left for a business trip that morning. Luckily there were no waiters and we only had to wait about 15 minutes to get back to a room. It was pretty much silence from Rach and I until we heard the baby's heartbeat, which we were able to not too long after getting to the room. They had to do a bunch of other things and then we got to experience a live ultra sound. Waiting for that ultra sound was what took the longest, I guess the tech didn't get a message that the hospital sent at first so it took awhile to wait for her. Everything turned out to be ok. They think it was the placenta pulling across the cervex but no major damage was done. Phew!

I got home late that night. Dave wanted me to call a sub but I figured I'd be ok with just one night like that. I felt so good that night when I got home. I feel as if a lot of things played into me being there for my friend that night and I'm happy I was able to listen to the little promptings along the way. I like to have those ah-ha moments and realize my prayers are being answered. THE CHURCH IS TRUE!

Happy Halloween!!!

2010-11-01T18:51:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a great time celebrating and enjoyed all the festivities that Halloween can bring! I know we enjoyed ours! We were able to do all the usual like carve pumpkins, decorate sugar cookies, hold the 4th Annual Price Spook Alley, plus we added a few more fun festivities in the mix.

This year we decided to have the spook alley the night before trick-or-treaters were out so we had trick-or-treating night open! We had some friends over and played some fun games. We all pitched in on writing a Halloween story, had to guess scary movies from the synopsises people would tell, put ourselves in the plots of scary movies and had to decide what we'd do in the situation, and made chocolate frosting haunted houses. It was a blast!

Don't mind our nasty chipped stairs, it's one project we're stuck on...

Making of the Haunted Houses

It was Dave's heaven with all that candy, he would eat 2 then give me half of 1 to use on our haunted house

Creative minds working

Everyone's was so different and unique! Most got quite morbid with the cat-shaped peeps but we had a good time!

Alli was a Kangaroo and had a pouch for her baby, so cute! Justin was Crocodile Dundee Oh and their house was invaded by a gigantic octopus...

Bridge and Ry are so excited, just like new homeowners

Allison and Darin's houses's focal point was the hanging cat chandelier...

Rach and Dusten's was just all morbid! They dressed Baylee as Joker! If you can't see she still has the leftovers of green hair.

Kenze and Ky won the Perfect Design Award

Mine and Dave's was a creation of 2 completely different...minds, I guess. He wanted explosions; I wanted somewhat attractive and neat...

Teaching Experiences

2010-10-31T10:40:00.000-07:00

I've survived two of the most gruesome weeks as a teacher... parent conferences and the week of Halloween! I hear the week before Christmas is the worst so I'm not looking forward to it at all. The conferences went surprisingly well. I just decided to not be nervous and it worked! I had one weird experience, not with parents but with my body...it was early in the second night of conferences and I was talking with a parent when I started getting dizzy, shaky and sweaty. Luckily, I had a little break after that conference and my next one so I went searching for something to munch on because when I stood it all got worse and then my tummy felt empty. I ate an apple and some bread. It seemed to help enough to get me through the night. I'm pretty sure I was experiencing low-blood sugar and it was a first. I was so confused because it has never happened to me before. This job has done some funny things to my body, for example, I seem to always be hungry- I usually take about a ten minute lunch break where I actually sit down and eat a little something but other than that it's always go, go, go and so I eat a couple pretzels here, an apple there, so I probably am not eating properly but I don't have the time to notice or track it. I do feel blessed that I've had the energy to do all that is required of this job and that I have not had more issues with sickness than I already have. I've been sick for the last month but usually it takes a lot to stop me from missing work. I don't think I have really ever missed work due to illness, I usually just push through it.

Halloween week was crazy!!! The kids are so riled up and excited for Halloween that they forget how to function in school and how to behave all together! Even some of my best behaved students shocked me this week. Along with Halloween coming up, we had 3 birthdays in our class this week! It was a chaotic celebration all week. I was surprised at the end of the week when all my students did their best on the spelling test. We celebrated Halloween Friday and the students dressed up. There is a nursing home right next to the school so the school parades through there. I had parent helpers bring in games and activities for the kids at the end of the day. And again my students shocked me, they were ten times better on Friday, in their costumes and all, than they had been all week! Those little guys surprise me when I least expect it. I love them all, I really do and I am so happy I get to teach them and have this job!

Fall Break-aka a Great Time for St. George

2010-10-23T15:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, we went to St. George and yes, the weather was beautiful and we had such a great time as always! My aunt's family joined in on our fun too. They stayed just down the road from us so we were able to do lots of fun things together like hiking, biking, swimming and going to the temple and dinner. Saturday Bridget race in the Tour de St. George 100 miler. She did really well for how many climbs she had and how hot it was. Sunday we decided we didn't want to deal with the Provo Traffic so we took a trip to Zions and saw a few more things we hadn't seen yet and showed Michael some cool places that we'd found before since it was his first time to Zions. We ended up getting on the road at 7 p.m. which meant we wouldn't get home til midnight but it gave us another whole day of vacation in beautiful weather! It did feel extra nice to get away now that I do work full time.

On top of the Dixie Bolders looking over St. GeorgeThe one picture I took of the boys playing their game turned out to be the best action shot I've probably ever taken! Dave caught it, too! The beautiful St. George TempleMy hottie!Cheering Bridget on in her century race. She took 5th even with going through the finish line the wrong way:)
Bridget was a little angry with the race but she did great!

Zions National Park

Dave in his element

24 on 10/10/10

2010-10-10T21:13:00.000-07:00

My birthday this year was exciting being on 10/10/10 and all. It was hard for Dave to decide what to do with me because it was on a Sunday but I think he did a pretty good job. We had 2 parties. One on Saturday with Dave's family and the other on Sunday with my fam and some of everyone else. We had a giant skookie with ice cream on Saturday and s'mores in our back yard on Sunday. They are two of my favorite treats! My family called me at 10:10 a.m. on 10/10/10 to sing happy birthday and then again after they left at 10:10 p.m. I thought it was super cute and witty. It feels so weird that I'm already to 24...I'm scared for the next big number! Time is flying past me and I can't seem to stop it so I just try to embrace it. It's working out pretty well. I found myself a lot more happy and chipper! There are a lot of pics but I wanted to document the fun this year since I don't have much from last.

This is from one of my 1st graders....At the beginning of the year we played a game where you have to name something you like that begins with the same letter as your name so I said, "My name is Mrs. Price and I like marshmallows." If you have seen my cupboard and on any night, you know how much I love marshmallows! I thought it was so thoughtful of my student to remember! A GIANT Skookie... for one cake

I got a lot of school stuff...Airborne being one of them.

Balloon games

And a white cake with frosting...

10 10 10!

Natalia and I!

Give me s'mores!!!!

Yahtzee!! Almost all of us got a Yahzee but my mom and dad...Kaitlin won

Life as a Teacher

2010-10-06T17:11:00.000-07:00

All I can say is I'm pooped! When I say pooped, I mean I've worked hard and given it my all so it feels good but I am exhausted from all of it! I caught a bug a couple weeks ago and I've been trying to fight that off while working long hours and trying to mold 22 six year old minds. It's been a crazy month and a half. I've been swamped with things to do for my class, things to do since I am a first year teacher-there is a lot required of you outside of teaching youngsters, and not one person knows how hard it is until you do it, I can attest to that. It's a good hard though. There have been times I have wanted to break down and cry but haven't had the time but there has been just as many, if not more, of those amazing moments that you always hear of why a teacher becomes a teacher. I never imagined myself liking 1st grade but I couldn't ask for more because I can make mistakes or get impatient with the "TEACHER! TEACHER!" and the constant yelling out, but they just give me a hug at the end of the day with love in their eyes.

Dave has worries that I am becoming a workaholic and in a way I kind of agree...if you love what you do, it's hard to stop. I spend my day at school constantly going and then I get home and continue with projects and planning. Sometimes I have to remind myself to step back and just breathe, and take a break because there is always things to do, it's never ending and my thoughts are running 24/7. It does feel so good to do what I've wanted to do for so long! I am loving it and can see myself doing it for a good while. We'll see...

Chilly Ride

2010-09-26T09:02:00.000-07:00

Friday night we took our moto up Weber Canyon and headed towards Kamas to meet my family for some family time. Luckily Dave made me bring my winter coat and packed my gloves for me because the ride back wasn't as pleasant as the ride there. It was almost as cold as my start in Lotoja two weeks before. We were chilled to the bone, literally. It took us sweats, layers of blankets, snuggling, and hours of our space heater blasting on me to warm up finally.

We stopped at Devil's Slide to rest our bottoms This is me when we arrived home. My muscles weren't working properly.

Amazing Support

2010-09-22T18:05:00.000-07:00

I forgot to put these up on our last post! The night before we headed up to Logan, we had some door bell ditchers and this is what they left...

Thanks Cora, Jonas, Brit and Cris!!! It made our night of hecticness!!!

LOTOJA 2010

2010-09-14T17:54:00.000-07:00

Well it has finally come and gone and I couldn't have been happier with the outcome. Each year I have been apart of Lotoja in some way I have never been disappointed and this year wasn't any different.

We arrived at the check in early Friday evening and didn't have to wait long to sport our Lotoja stamp-tats. We purchased some sweet merchandise and new socks. Sean Bradley, the b-ball star, was even there and was sporting the Lotoja gear (yes, he rode the race...we're not quite sure if he finished it in time though, being 7'6" has got to be rough on a bike). The Lotoja atmosphere is always one we enjoy.

Saturday came quick with waking up at 4:50 a.m. I felt loved because the whole gang got up with me to go cheer me on even though they didn't need to really be up for another little while. It was quite a chilly morning and didn't really feel the real cold until I turned the corner after the starting line...I about died of the cold! My fingers pretty much froze. I learned too lessons there-1. train in the cold and 2. cough up the money for warm gear even though that stuff gets pricey. Luckily that first leg to Preston flew by and I could pass the paton onto Bridget. My last 81 mile leg came way too quick in the afternoon. When Bridget got to me all I was thinking was- she's done and I'm not even halfway! It's funny how quick those rides go by though. There were some parts that dragged a little but the scenery was beautiful and Bridge and my parents would pass, then stop; pass, then stop so I saw them a lot. Bridge hopped on for the last 15 or so miles with me to cross the finish line as well as pull me to the finish line...I was pooped and my body ached! She was a life saver. We finished in 11 hours 36 minutes. We think we might have won our division...still pending. I also averaged 19.3 mph without the stops...my best average! Pretty sweet!

The boys came in 45 minutes after us. They beat there goal of 11 hours by 10 minutes. It was fun to see them finish cause we couldn't see them the rest of the way.

It was a success because we've got just about everyone in our family and extended family with the Lotoja bug now. So it continues...

5:40 a.m. Right before I took off...Go Cranker Sores!

Getting in line to start

And I'm off...my legs were shaking so bad!

Bridge rocked the mountain climbs!

At the top of the last hill climb...I was pooped!

We did it!

Dave after he finished

Go Cranker Sores!

1 Week Down & 1 Week to Go

2010-09-05T22:12:00.000-07:00

I survived my first week with the little tikes, and boy, do I have stories! I have some adorable 6 year olds in my class and I am way excited for the year to come. I am feeling deprived of sleep, energy, and time. All week I was staying late hours and then speeding home to get a ride in before dark. Then I would try to get other things done around the house, church calling stuff, as well as a minute on something of interest so I ended up going to bed late every night. It killed me. By Wednesday, I was beat and when Friday came I was trashed. I wanted to cry but didn't have time to. It's all good though. I knew it was going to be this way and I think the way I wanted this job so badly is helping my spirits too. I already feel well recovered and I still have Monday to finish the recovery to start a new week. Good thing I went to church today, it reassured me that I love children and I can play such a vital role in their lives.

1 Week to Go! Well just 5 short days now, til the big race. I can't believe it is finally here. I am so excited for Saturday. I'm not so much as nervous about being able to do it as I am about the other racers around me. I have put my heart, soul, and every ounce of energy I could into training. I've got to admit that I couldn't be more proud of myself then I am at this moment in my life. I have pushed through fears, doubts, struggles, and much more to get to where I am right now. I feel so very blessed to be able to meet some really big goals in my life. This includes teaching. Yesterday, I completed my first 100 miles and did it in 5 1/2 hours. It felt amazing! I hope I can sleep this week!

I am grateful for all the strength and support I have been given, especially over this last year.

Cranker Sores CLIMB!!! (that's for Bridge)

A Turn in the Road

2010-08-27T07:52:00.000-07:00

After a year and a half of applying to every school and district in the state just about, taking resumes around to many schools, a hundred interviews, and hours of worrying and hoping for just something I have finally been put to peace...Yep, that's right, I GOT A FULL-TIME TEACHING JOB! I can't even express how excited I am. I will be teaching 1st grade at Lake View Elementary in Brigham City. The job was offered to me last Tuesday so I have been frantically trying to get things ready, but I have been blessed with the energy and help to do so. I can't even tell you how blessed I am with the people in my life. I have had so much help from my family especially Sunny, my mother in-law. She has spent countless hours with me in my classroom cleaning every nook and cranny, and doing all the tedious work. Britt, Julie, Michael, and Jon have all been a great help too in the classroom! My co-workers have all been impressed by my in-laws. I would be sleeping in my classroom and working through the weekend without them.

I work with the most incredible staff, too. I have been welcomed with open arms. It is such a different feeling from the school I was at last year. I have had countless people in my room checking on me and giving me their support and more. It's been an amazing experience in these last few days. We had back to school night last night and it went great. I was able to have my room put together thanks to all the helping hands and support. 1st grade will be a big change from what I am used to but I couldn't be more excited for it. I think that is another way I have been blessed.

I am so so grateful for all the help I have received in this last week. I know that this job came at the right time in my life and that Heavenly Father had this all planned out because so many things have fallen into place the right way and I have been able to receive the help I have because of his little plan for me. This year will sure be an adventure but I can't wait for the challenges and growing experiences that lie ahead! Wish me luck!

Welcome Home Elder Price

2010-08-16T13:04:00.000-07:00

Thursday, August 12th, Michael Price came home from serving two years in the Canada Edmonton Mission. Unlike my brother's flight, his was late so we by-passed our time with the horizontal escalator and coming up with ideas to welcome back Elder Price since we were the only family without signs or balloons. A huge smile lit up his face when he got a visual of all of us. It was super cute. He was welcomed home with 2 new nephews he has never met. It was a good reunion all weekend long! There has been so much food! I feel like I've eaten enough for 10 in the last 4 days. We had a bbq at the Price's after he got set apart. We ate s'mores at our house Friday night. We used our standing campfire pit we just purchased off KSL. Best 20 buck investment yet! Saturday, I baked all day for my dad's birthday and for the homecoming Sunday so you know I did a lot of picking and licking. And Sunday, oh man I don't ever want to relive that day again! There was enough food to feed Utah, twice! My tummy was so full! We ended up taking packed plates of food and desserts to at least 3 neighbors and I took a good load home myself as well as the rest of the siblings. It's great to have Michael back!

eagerly waiting

Mom gets the first hug

Siblings

The night at our house. Dave is explainng to Michael that he gets one wish for the "Magical" Wysteria tree to grant...

Cora and Wells leading him dwon the path to the "Magical" Wysteria tree

It's a bike!

This is Mike and Sunny's bedroom that was filled with the overflow of the food...

This is maybe a quarter of the desserts. You can't tell but most plates are double or triple stacked

LAVA

2010-08-09T06:53:00.000-07:00

This last weekend we packed our camping and swimming gear and headed up to Lava Hot Springs for a great couples weekend. The Fausetts, Bartons, Fowers and us. We camped at the KOA and they put us on an RV campsite but it turned out to be great, because they gave us 2 sites so we'd have some room. As we were setting up camp the first night, it was windy but not windy like I experience on my bike going up South Weber Drive but I guess windy enough to make a large willow tip over, its circumference was probably 10 feet round, and branches coming down all over the campground. One came down right next to where Darin was standing while setting up the tent. Luckily, that was the last branch or tree we saw fall.

First night we made hobo dinners. It's one of my favorite meals while camping and this one turned out amazing! We used steak instead of ground beef, added some sour cream to the creamy soup which made it amazingly good, used rice instead of potatoes which made it cook a lot faster, and used vegetables from my garden! Everyone loved them!

Dave's friend he found in the river behind our campsite.

Making S'mores! Dave and I bought a standing fire pit from KSL, s'mores all year round at our house!

The boys waited in line to get a shadey spot at the pool while we ran the river one time...worst idea ever! Everything that could go wrong, did. We had girsl, tubes and articles of clothing flying every which way. Most of us ending up with battle wounds. We decided that it was best to have the boys with us. The rest of the runs went much more smoothly!

We all ended up safe and sound by the end of the trip. It was a great camping weekend! I ended up with no squito bites either! It was great!

Happy Birthday Michael James!

2010-08-05T15:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Michael turned 22! We celebrated by eating at a family favorite, The Old Spaghetti Factory, and then we hit up the go-carts and arcade at Boondocks. It was a blast! I've really been enjoying all the time spent with my family lately; we've been having such a blast together!

Michael got to experience the Dr. Suess cake for the first time. I learned a lesson in baking yesterday, when making a cake that you'd like to decorate, such as the ones I usually do, do not use the low-fat method with applesauce, it doesn't hold together well at all. Kaitlin and I salvaged it as best we could though and it turned out pretty decent. Good thing for frosting!

Happy 22nd Michael James!

Self-Esteem Boosters

2010-07-30T12:53:00.000-07:00

I love a good pick-me-up from random people or people you don't normally hear them from. I've had a couple recently and the one that I heard today made me laugh and want to share a few of them...

When we were with my family last weekend, we met them at the park ready to go in our tennis gear. Well I followed my mom out onto the court and she said, "Rach, your legs are looking muscley!" Inside my head, I instantly thought, "Sweet! All the biking is doing something." Then later that day we were hanging around my parents house and Kaitlin comes and wraps her arms around me to give me a hug and she says, "You're so skinny!" Again in my head I began to cheer and I got a big boost with that one because if you know Kaitlin, she doesn't really know how to give compliments, she usually tells you whats not so great about you. Yes, Dave tells me these things all the time especially since I've started training but sometimes you feel like the hubby is just saying to make you feel better so it is nice to hear it from others.

Ok, so the one today was my favorite. I was at work and my boss comes up to me and tells me that I stopped traffic yesterday. It first worried me and I thought, "Did I do something wrong or offend someone?" Then she tells me that a guy called and asked if the girl that was wearing black pants that just walked in (me) was married? She told him yes and he sounded crushed. It made my day.

Pioneer Day

2010-07-25T10:50:00.000-07:00

We had a great 24th of July. We spent it down in Sandy, with my family, this year. We started the festivities at the park with some tennis in the morning. We ended up playing for over 2 hours. We just didn't want to stop even with our tummies grumbling and bodies dripping with sweat (good image, I know). We went to Kneaders (my favorite place for a turkey sandwich) for lunch and then to see Despicable Me. It was an adorable show. I recommend it. We were all quoting it the rest of the night. Michael had to go to work for a bit after that so Kaitlin and I went for pedicures while Dave put his new mountain bike together and my parents rested.

That night, after Michael got off work, we went to eat on the patio at Willow Creek Country Club. It was a beautiful night. We then decided to hit up some fireworks. If you know my fam, things are always decided last minute and someone is usually not quite happy with the decision but then we all end up having a good time...it's funny. But we decided to drag everyone up to the Cottonwood Heights fireworks show because it was close and it was almost time for the shows to start. We were lucky and found a fairly close parking spot and walked to the field to sit. We got there just in time. The show lasted forever. I still think I liked the Weber State show this year better but I enjoyed the length of this one. It wasn't like you came all the way to watch only 10 minutes of fireworks, they made it last at least 20 if not more.

I greatly enjoyed the entire day with my whole family. I am so grateful for them and grateful that my brother is home and helps make our family time that much more enjoyable. My two siblings are the world to me! They make me who I am and show me who I want to be. I love you Michael and Kaitlin!

I am also grateful for the pioneers that sacrificed so much and came here to Utah. I do love Utah, although I do complain about the weather quite a bit, I still love it here. I also like how we get to celebrate with fireworks throughout the month of July here in Utah. I was at the store the other day and I heard someone ask the cashier, "Did Utah not celebrate the 4th of July yet?" or something close to that and I just laughed. That does have to seem a bit weird to outsiders.

Lake Powell July 3-6

2010-07-11T10:28:00.001-07:00

Last weekend we went to Lake Powell with Kara, Nic and Kara's dad, Kyle. We went down to Wahweap. We usually go to Bullfrog but this was a nice change. We were able to see a lot of new places. Wahweap is huge compared to Bullfrog and you have a lot more options. As you can see by the pictures, we did a lot of playing and the boys found way too many places to play and explore. We only got the wakeboards and kneeboards out for a short portion of the last day because we used so much time climbing, jumping, and exploring. It was probably one of my favorite Powell trips thus far. We even got to sleep in til 8:30 each morning because we had the big cliff behind us delaying the blazing sun to rise on us.
Dave and Nic are like two peas in a pod, they feed off of each other. Well, this time Dave finally got hurt. Not that I want him to get hurt, but if you saw the things they do you would wonder, just like us, how in the world do they come out untouched or even alive? He didn't get hurt too badly. They were on there way back from an adventure (it was the only time he didn't take his shoes), trying to wedge theirselves back down between a slot and Dave started sliding bare feet down and then used his hands to slow him down to not crash into Nic. He came out with some burns on his feet and hands. Luckily it was the last night because it kind of broke his adventurous spirit cause of the pain. Other than that incident, we enjoyed ourselves and hope to go again real soon!

Setting up camp

Kyle told me I had the most graceful jumping style; we thought I looked like a witch after it's prey.

Every little canyon we went into, the boys found a rope to climb.

Dave's Birthday Cake

2010-07-11T10:09:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Dave's Birthday with family and friends yesterday at Golden Spike Park by our house. We played frisbee, volleyball (thanks to the Fausett's for our new volleyball), and hung out on blankets. We also were able to enjoy Dave's cookies 'n cream cake and ice cream. You can't really tell but Dave would not let me make a normal shaped cake. He protested me making a complete circle or square cake so I had to make one layer square and one a circle. Once we were at that point I made him put it together because I was not able to wrap my head around putting that cake together in some devent looking manner so I passed on the responsibility to him. Everyone loved his creation.

We had trouble with getting all the candles to stay lit so we had to sing happy birthday after he blew out the couple that were lit but it ended up being the wind that blew them all out for him.

Thanks for all who came and celebrated!

Dave is 25!

2010-07-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

Happy, Happy Birthday to my amazing husband! He is 25 years old today or in my late-grandma's words he is "a quarter of a century old." I even had to buy 2 candle packages beacuse he's grown out of just the 1 24-pack and now onto 2 packages. I hate the fact that I am really only one year behind him in age, so if he's getting old, it pretty much means I'm getting old. I can't complain about the one I picked to get old with, though. Dave was the perfect pick and I can't imagine where'd I be without his kiddishness (not a word, I know but if you knew Dave you know what I mean), support, dedication, patience, and never ending love in my life. Oh, I forgot, one more thing- his head scratches and massages, don't know what I would do without those either. Love you, Babe!

I'm trying to decide what kind of cake to make him this year beacause I try to do a new one each year, although, I have done this amazing peanut butter one twice because it's so good and we'll probably do it again if we can't come up with another one that sounds better. Any ideas? Please share!

Some Thoughts of Mine

2010-06-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's almost July! This year has flown by for us. I know it's far from over but it just feels like we were playing Mario Kart on New Years or climbing the boulders in St. George just a few days ago. For the last few days I've been wanting to come post things but my mind was caught by other tedious chores and things. So I'm going to try and remember it all and jot a few thoughts down here...

~Stomach Update~
It's been about a month and a half since the doc scoped my tummy and diagnosed me and I go for another scope in 4 weeks from today...the sad and frustrating thing is that my stomach hasn't gotten mucch if any better. A few weeks back, I decided to start following all of the docs orders and went over all the notes he sent home with me again because I was still feeling crappy, then I switched to a new pill a couple weeks after that because it was still not great, that seemed to help more but then we found out that pill was 4x the cost of the other, so I am back to the first one and have had my ups and downs.

~Shopping Carts~
Here's a funny thing... I don't know if it's a curse or just coincidence but it seems to happen to me everytime I grab a cart...I walk to carts and eye each one to try and make the best choice (i.e. the one that doesn't have a handicapped wheel that you can hear from across Costco or feels like a car without power steering and you have to get down low and act like a football lineman), I make my choice and start rolling it in the store. After having something already placed in the cart or I am too far to go back for a new one, I discover a flaw and it's not just a little guy, it's one that you want to place a paper bag over your head you're so embarrassed.

~The Cruise~
I don't know what it is...well I take that back, I'll just explain. Since the cruise I have been the happiest, most relaxed self I've been in a good while. It's like it rebut me. Right before the cruise I was teaching part-time, substituting, and serving full-time. I was way past the burnt out stage. I had been dealing with so much stress with my teaching job and bringing it to the serving job and then the only time I'd see Dave was at Goodwood and we were both on high stress there so it just wasn't good. Just to prove our busy lives, when we calculated our entertainment spendings for April it came to be $1.07, a redbox. We were pathetic. We are now on summer break from school and we decided to put serving behind us. The Cruise came at the perfect time for both of us! I am now working at Sylvan Learning Center during the days which I am really enjoying it. I am also happy to say that Dave and I are now using our entertainment fund to it's full potential!

~Lotoja Training~
A year ago, I would've not imagined myself where I'm at today. Up until this last fall it had been 11 years since I had placed my bottom on a bike seat other than a spinning bike at the gym. I have to say I've come a long way in road biking in such a short time and I'm really enjoying myself. It's been a fast paced learning experience since the race is in just 11 short weeks but I knew it was going to be. Usually I am a baby when it comes to things that I don't think I can do, scared to do or just don't want to do (luckily, I married the most patient man in the world!) but I have taken things pretty well, for example, Dave and I took a ride around base and then went to highway 89 via 193 and back through South Weber. Dave just happened to not mention or remind me that we'd be hitting 89 on it's down slope...holy cow, was I freaking! The one thing I was scared of was hills and I've been pretty good easing my way into going down bigger and bigger ones but this was the biggest, fastest, and longest thus far. I hit 41 mph and we were averaging probably 35-40 the whole way down to South Weber Drive. I couldn't get resistance to pedal until being on SWD for a few minutes. It was a big rush! Also being next to cars going at highway speed wasn't the most comforting feeling either. Another thing I worry about is letting my guard down as I get more comfortable with it. I just make sure I don't and hope I don't. It's been such a great learning experience. I try to do 3 rides a week and then I run the other 3 days. I've been on a couple longer rides and have learned the importance of food and hydration, we all have (Ryan, Bridget and I). I have to point out that I did out last Dave on our ride Friday...that's big! It's been a lot of fun. I plan to continue perfecting it after Lotoja.

Latest House Projects

2010-06-17T12:10:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to do something for our kitchen window because it was just too boring without anything. I've been playing with different things and then finally decided to make my own curtains because I hated everything I saw in stores, thus I went straight to Sunny and walah! my second sewing project...

My friend came and helped me with this project. I love having loved ones that are talented! It's in our entryway and it was hard to take a picture of because it is a bit of a tight space there. It's not complete either, I need to find a few more pictures to put in some of the frames but this is our picture wall thus far!

My garden is doing really well too! I just picked some fresh peas today! I'm so excited the plants are growing and producing!! I can't wait for more!

It's #3!

2010-06-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

Three years ago we walked out these doors...

to begin our eternal journey together,

and I couldn't have been happier!

Happy #3 love! I am the Luckiest!

Our Mexican Riviera Cruise

2010-06-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

So we are back from our cruise and it is time to reflect on the time we had...We had the best ten days of our lives! (Well Dave had the 7 best days of his life, 3 of them were spent feeling woozy.) No, the whole ten days weren't spent on the cruise but that was the best part. We decided to take our time on this vacation. We were in no rush and I think that is what made it one of the best vacations ever. I warn you now that this could be long and below you see a novel of pictures (which isn't even close to how many we did take and should have taken) but this trip couldn't have come at a more perfect time in our lives and was everything we hoped it to be and more. Going to Mexico is always a funny experience because you get so used to saying "No, gracias" that you bring it back into your normal life or back on the ship where everyone speaks english. I had a couple funny wake ups like that.

We left Friday, May 21 and drove to St. George where we stayed overnight. We stayed up late watching episodes of Man vs. Food (probably my favorite show of all time) and snacked. We woke up Saturday morning, went for a run, lounged and then packed the car to head to L.A. We arrived in L.A. around 5. We stayed at my uncles house in Glendale. We perused L.A.'s hot spots and sights with my aunt and uncle for a few hours then they made us dinner and we hung out. I wish we would of had our camera cause we went to the observatory which was cool; we found out it is in a lot of movies while watching some of them during the week. Sunday they took us to a few more sights and then drove us to Long Beach where our ship was awaiting us. Waiting in all the lines to check in and all took awhile but as soon as we got on that ship we went to our room, dropped off our luggage and then headed for food. Yep, we were the stereotypes cruisers already, there for the food. We were able to explore the ship a bit before sailing, too.

The first night we headed to dinner at 6 which was our assigned dinner time each night. We sat down, met our servers, ordered our food, got our starter and thats where our night pretty much ended...Dave officially started feeling the queeziness. Dave rested most of the night while the rocking got worse but that night was the worst of it. There were a few more times where Dave felt queezy but it wasn't half what the first night was. I think next time we'll try the patch that you can wear instead of the bonine.

Other than those few times Dave felt that way, the trip was great! The first two days we were at sea so we got to relax, get some sun, swim, and yes, eat. We also spotted some sting ray swimming next to the boat. There were dolphin and whale spottings during the trip too.

Since Dave served in Chile, he speaks spanish and knows his way with the bus system so we used the public transit while in Mexico because they can't rip you off. Our first stop was Puerto Vallarta. We wanted to go snorkeling and took a water taxi to a remote place that you can only get to by boat called Yelapa (later to find out we were suppose to be dropped off at another place). We followed our tour guide through his hometown to a neat waterfall and then lounged on the beach there the rest of the time. After getting back to Puerto Vallarta we roamed the towns streets, picked up a couple tacos at a taco stand and then stopped by Walmart to grab some Mexican Vanilla and some sodas before heading back on the boat.

Mazatlan, we had mixed feelings about. The beginning was rough because we almost turned around to get back on the boat after being haggled nonstop for 15 minutes trying to get on our own way through Mazatlan. I had to ask a guy to please, leave me alone because he followed us a block or so and was in my ear the whole time. After that the day was amzing! We enjoyed a long walk to see some cool things around the city, went to the aquarium, saw a seal show, went to the beach, and roamed some more.

Cabo San Lucas was Dave's favorite by far. We took a water taxi to a private beach called Lover's Beach and he was able to snorkel and he enjoyed every second of it. After, we roamed the streets and found some things to buy. I found some cool salt & pepper shakers. I don't know why but I'm obsessed with them when I see them anywhere. I also got to indulge in some bubble gum ice cream. YUM.

The last day was a bit windy and cloudy but we still go some hot tubbing in and Dave even got burnt laying out. I told him he would but he didn't believe me. That morning we tried to go running on the track on the top deck. It was funny because we got up there and not one person was around. I'd guess that the wind speed was coming at us about 40-50 mph. We had a blast trying to run in it. One side we'd be sprinting trying not to fall over from the push behind us and the other we'd be working on our stability trying not to be pushed to one side or another.

We left from my uncles house around 11:30 Sunday morning and arrived in St. George less than 6 hours later. It was a nice night in St. George so we went for a run, made some dinner, and lounged some more. We took Monday to drive the rest of the way and stopped at my parents for a bbq.

As I said before, the trip was everything we needed and hoped for. Now being back for a few days, I feel refreshed and as I could take on anything...knock on wood. Although we ate a ton, literally, we think since we made it a goal at the beginning to walk the stairs everywhere (only took the elevator maybe 3 times the whole week) we didn't feel the weight gain too bad. We walked so much my legs were sore by the end of the week. I'm looking forward to our next cruise, we just need to find a cure for my husbands weak stomach-any ideas? He called me a sailor because nothing affected me, I loved every second on that boat!

Day 1: Board and Sail

Good-bye America

Day 2: First Elegant Night

Each night they would come back to our room to clean again and leave us a treat and some cute towel friends.

On our way to the jacuzzis

Day 3: Day at Sea

Passing Cabo

Day 4: Puerto Vallarta

This picture cost us 2 dollars. The guy wanted 6...come on, I took the picture!

Yelapa

They had some weird statues. At first I thought these were the witches from Sleeping Beauty, boy was I wrong!

Day 5: Mazatlan

This is for Elder Price

The first time my feet have ever burnt

The fish that reminded us of Mater from Cars

The fish that reminded us of The Joker played by Heath Ledger

Day 6: Cabo and Last Elegant Night

Leaving Cabo

Our severs dancing. Ramoan, on the right, had some great moves!

Day 7: Heading Back to America

This is the only picture we took on day 7

The Long Beach Port from our balcony

Girls Trip May 2010

2010-05-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

Some (not all, but some) of my closest friends and I took off to St. George last weekend to get some good girl time in. We stayed at my parents; it's so great to have that place. We had a blast! Thursday night we had tickets to Brian Reagan and boy was he a great opener to our vacation. We all laughed so hard the entire time, some even to tears. We got some pool time in Friday and Saturday and we also went to the outlets and mall and all felt like we came away with more than we planned on, big surprise huh? Saturday most of us went to Fiesta Fun and played the arcade games. It was like we were little kids again. Alli won 200 tickets on one game! It was so funny to watch all those tickets coming out. Each night we tried new restaurants which has become one of my new favorite things to do down there. The first night, before Brian Reagan, we decided to try Mexican. Well the first place we went we ended up walking out of due to find too many creatures crawling on our table in the first 2 minutes of sitting down. We stuck with the Mexican food and tried the next on the list of choices, it turned out to be a winner, thank goodness. Friday night we tried the Brick Oven and oh my goodness, did we love it! The service was a bit slow but the food and atmosphere was great! I'll definitely be going back! Saturday night we tried this new American Cuisine close to the house...well let's just say none of us were impressed. Everything was ridiculously over priced for how much you got and there was a charge for everything extra you asked for...probably won't be going back.

Paula Cazuela's Restaurant

At the Tuacahn theater

Brian Reagan Brick Oven

The Pool

Fiesta Fun

Alli's winnings

Counting all our tickets, Alli's made up the majority

We combined them all and all picked out prizes for ourselves

Allison got handcuffs for her prize and chose me to be her prisoner.

We even made up a dance Friday night but I'll have to get permission from the girls to post that...there is some great stuff in there. I hope we can make this an annual thing or something! Thanks for the fun girls!

My Little Garden

2010-05-21T07:46:00.001-07:00

I was finally able to plant all my veggies in my garden yesterday...we'll see how they do. I'm excited for the fresh veggies!

The Day I was Forbidden Chocolate

2010-05-11T13:47:00.000-07:00

I've been having major problems with my stomach lately so I finally decided to get it checked out. I thought it might be stress related because of work this last year. I saw a gastroentrologist a couple weeks ago and he said he wanted to check out what was going on in there since there is so many different organs and places things could go wrong in the stomach area. Today they scoped me out. I wasn't really nervous because now that I have experience in the IV department and that I have gone under and was totally fine with it all. Well today was a bit of a different start.
We got to the procedure office and signed my life away pretty much, sat down and waited for me to get called back. I got called back and followed a nice lady back to the "prep" room I guess you can call it. She let me change and started telling me what the procedure entailed and all. Then she grabbed the IV supplies and started prepping me with the IV. Dave stepped out to get me my magazine so I could have it while I waited, I later found out he was getting a little nausious as well. So the IV is in me and I feel the pricking feeling still and I guess my head and body didn't like it. The nurse asked if my temp was good and if I felt nausious. As I shook my head and said no she got up to go out of the room assuming I was fine...well, I wasn't and it hit fast because all I remember is Dave walking in with the magazine trying to hand it to me, I started whining-almost crying because I felt so blurry and sick and didn't know what to do about it. The next thing I know a nurse is trying to coax me back to life and had me put my head between my knees. I remember moaning a little cause I still felt like crap but now my head was in a big blur and I felt like crap. Dave came with another nurse rolling in a bed and as soon as they got me on that bed lying down a big relief came across my body. All that happened probably within 5 minutes. I have never in my life passed out and I can tell you now that it is a WEIRD feeling! It's like being drugged under laughing gas at the dentist when they can get some funny things out of you, times 10.
Anyway, the procedure went well. I do like coming out of anesthia because you can't recollect what they did or what was in you swimming through your body and that comforts me for some reason. The results came fast and I'm glad that they found hopefully the only source of the problem, they are still testing other things as well but hopefully those will come back negative. I guess I have acid-reflux stage b and d is the worst. They gave me some strong medication and some other things I need to do to help my stomach heal so hopefully I won't have to take a pill for it the rest of my life. The doc also said I need to avoid alcohol, tea, coffee-those are a sinch, fatty foods-ok I just can't pick at the fries at work anymore, and CHOCOLATE!!!-what in the world am I going to do without my chocolate fix each day??? Dave even is on board and hid my m & m's from me on the way home! He also took my car to work cause he didn't trust that I wouldn't take it out...he knows me too well. I get checked out again in 2 months so I better be healing in there or I don't know what I'll do!
So since I can't drive today and can't go outside due to the crappy May day out there, Dave took me to get a popcorn air popper and a couple movies. I LOVE popcorn and always use the stove method but it take so dang long and you have to shake it and watch it and shake it some more so I am so so excited to have a popper that doesn't require fatty oil to pop the corn. I already ate a whole big bowl of popcorn and am trying to hold back from popping another batch.
That's my story today and the day's not even half over!

Lotoja 2010 Lottery

2010-05-05T13:55:00.000-07:00

It looks like this year on September 11th Dave, Ryan, Bridget, and I will be cranking our bicycle pedals from Logan to Jackson Hole. Yep, you heard right, WE ALL GOT IN! We received an email around midnight this morning telling us we each had a spot in this years' Lotoja. Now this year Bridget and I decided we'd split the 206 miles and do a relay. It's still a whopping 100 miles that I'm still a bit frightened by but at least I will only be on the bike about 6 hours instead of the 11 or 12. We'll see how this year goes and I might just want more next year. Even with all my nerves, I'm pretty stoked to do it and put that Lotoja sticker on my car! Looking forward to a summer on my bike! Just wish they made the pads on the shorts a lot thicker!

For the Last 2 Weekends We...

2010-04-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

....decided to take one more trip to St. George with my family before the summer months. We never go during the summer, it's just too darn hot!

This is Dave and Kaitlin being silly with the silverware wrappings at a new favorite cafe, 25 Main.

...took Kaitlin to the Dixie Boulders. She loved it!

...went on a family bike ride...doesn't everyone look so happy...ha.

THIS WEEKEND

...worked on the yard.

Dave built me this box for a garden so I am starting a garden this year, it's my trial year. I've already got peas popping up!! So far, so good. The rest of the stuff will be planted after it stops getting so cold! We'll see how the rest of it does...I'm planning on growing tomatoes, squash, and peppers.
Dave has done an amazing job with our yard and continues to make it look great.

...bought 5 new goldfishies for our pond since the others didn't survive this winter. We named all but 2. Manny, Alby, and Toro. We're hoping for some help from our niece and nephew to name the other 2. Julie and Britt?? Let us know if they come up with any.

...watched the Jazz destroy the Nuggets.

Dave was able to go and enjoy the game with my dad.

Easter/Conference Weekend

2010-04-05T09:06:00.000-07:00

This last weekend was a good weekend because:
1. Dave came home from being gone all week, it was my first time alone in our house
2. Despite all the hype about the bad weather, Dave and I got a little bike ride in
3. Conference was great! It's so funny because the main topics they hit were things I had talked with my mother-in-law about just weeks earlier
4. We had a great Easter Sunday with Dave's fam. Yummy dinner and lots and lots of treats! Maybe too many.

This week we sign up for Lotoja....that is if I have the guts to do it....
Please give your 2 sense on what you think about me going for the 206 mile bike race. I have it in my mind that I want to do it. It's a big accomplishment but I'm a bit scared due to some childhood bike incidents and my confidence is a little teetering so I need some motivation/confidence/support. Just take a sec and answer the poll off to the right. If you want you can post some words of encouragement or lack there of. Thanks!

New Adventures in St. George

2010-03-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

We found some new favorites in St. George this last weekend. As many times as we've been down there you'd think we've done just about everything, well, not even close we've come to realize. This trip to St. George was a blast, not that the others aren't but we were able to bring Dave's whole family (minus Elder Michael Price) down this time. One of the new favorites is the Dixie Boulder Park. It's right where the big white Dixie is painted on the red rock down there. As you can see, that is where all our pics of the trip come from, so you know we had a good time! We spent most of the weekend outdoors and playing in the pool. The little munchkins loved it and shed tears when they had to leave "George House" as our nephew Wells called it. Don't worry guys, we'll go again if it kills us!!! Thanks for all the fun!

Lucky

2010-03-14T21:13:00.000-07:00

In light of the holiday, here is one of the many reasons I am so lucky...

So last night was one of the worst nights at Goodwood and that is saying a lot because I've had a lot of bad nights lately. I've been thinking lately that I am about as burnt out as they come for serving. I've been serving for 5 years! I've served at 4 different restaurants over those 5 years. Smoky's being the longest of 3 and now Goodwood is my second longest being almost a year. Well the last 3 months Dave has been by my side and he now gets to see what I used to come home complaining his ear off about first hand. Don't get me wrong, there are some moments I love it for many different reasons, but lately I've just had the burnt-out-bug I think and last night was one of those times where it bit me in the butt and I just wanted to scream. So anyway, I came home to a very loving and understanding man (which I already knew he was but he surpasses what I thought I knew each and everyday).

A bouquet of flowers and Twix (one of my faves-me and caramel are buds)

These were waiting for me when I walked in... along with a full body massage! I am one lucky women!

Homeowners Anniversary

2010-03-12T09:39:00.000-08:00

This is the first picture we took of the place. It was the day we found out they accepted our offer so we had to drive by it. We were so excited!

I can't believe it's been a whole year! A year ago yesterday we were configuring all our belongings on a couple of borrowed trailers and a truck to haul to Riverdale from many different places that they were stored. It has been such a great first year as homeowners! We love it! We have made so many great memories already in it. It's come a long way with all of the improvements we've done but there are still more to come! Hopefully we'll have the energy to do them this year. We got a little burnt out from all that we did at the beginning. This spring I will also be starting my own garden! I'm a little worried because I've never done it and I don't know much about them but it will be a great learning experience and I am way excited for all the yummy vegetables I will be growing!!!

St. George & Heart Day

2010-02-17T13:15:00.000-08:00

St. George sunshine. Need I say more. Wow, I don't think I have ever been so opposed to coming home from a trip than I was Monday. It was BE. A. U. TIFUL in St. George this last weekend! No joke. We had so much to do on this trip, too. We had a hard time fitting it all in but we did fit most things in. We were able to get 2 days of tennis in, day and evening walks/hikes, a run, a 20 miler on the road bike, a great Valentine's dinner at a new fave, and even a pedicure in the very last hour. We were also able to try another food place I've been wanting to try for the last few times we've gone down, 25 Main. I got a super scrumptious salad! Dave and I were contemplating early retirement and trying to come up with ways to do it.

On our drive down.

Our milk was going to go bad by the time we got back so Dave topped it off with strawberry milk mix.

Some Nasella tennis

Our first fondue outing. Our entrees were brought on hot rocks and you pretty much cooked your own steak on the rock. We were pretty fascinated.

The Anasazi Steakhouse

Another fave, movie rentals.

1 more pill a day keeps the banana away

2010-02-12T11:20:00.000-08:00

So like all people, there are some things I hated even the thought of eating as a kid but as I grew older my taste buds matured or I finally gave some things a chance, ie. nuts, onions, berries, etc. As I expanded my food likings there is still one thing I can NOT even think a thought of this food without getting the heeby-geebies. Bananas. Ewe, GROSS! I just got them. For some reason the look, texture, smell, sound, taste- artificial or real is so excrutiatingly painful to me that even though I've discovered that I have a potassium deficiency and get horrific charlie-horses in the middle of the nights, wake my poor husband by rolling around the bed holding my leg and almost cussing my brains out (if you know me I don't cuss so the fact that I am on the verge of it when this happens is a big deal) and to top it off, a couple weeks ago I started getting a twitch in my right eye, which wasn't all that attractive I must say, but after all this I can't find any bit of will to eat just one stinken miniscule bite of banana. After my friend, Allison, telling me that the twitch in my eye was a sign for potassium deficiency I decided to add another pill to my day. Its just a supplement but now I am taking just as many pills/supplements a day as 70 year olds take.

The good news is: I have not had one charlie-horse or eye twitch since I started the supplements! So there's to you banana, I don't think you and I will ever be friends.

Babysitting & Snowboarding

2010-02-09T14:08:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was so great. We both had the weekend off at Goodwood and were able to relax and do whatever we wanted...I don't remember the last time that happened on a weekend. We ended up watching our niece and nephew, Cora and Jonas. We watched a couple movies and hung out at our place with them. Saturday my dad text me at 10 am saying Kaitlin wanted to learn how to snowboard and said he would pay if we took her for a half day. It was a beautiful day up at Brighton. I actully find a liking to snowboarding this time probably because I wasn't worried baout being so cold the whole time. We usually go night boarding and I bail out early because of the cold. This time I was able to keep going and going. That night we ordered pizza and hung out at my parents to watch the Jazz game. The Super Bowl was fun too. We took over Dave's parent's house with his sisters and families, and kicked back and pigged out. Good, nice weekend!

Kaitlin's first time snowboarding...

and she has every intention to not make it her last. She LOVED it!

January 2010

2010-02-03T06:42:00.000-08:00

During the month of January...

Dave joined me as a server at Goodwood Barbecue...I don't think he could handle anymore nights without me

a new, handsome nephew was born January 6 at 11:37 p.m. Everett Michael Price

I completed my first sewing project EVER! Super cute and super easy!

Important note: this is for a friend, not me...

January flew by! Probably due to the busi-ness of it but we are both ready for the spring, so bring it on!

A little 'bout 2009

2010-01-26T12:46:00.000-08:00

So, I know we are almost through January of 2010 but I figure I'm still good cause we are still in January.
Although hospital visits were a big part in 2009 we were very blessed throughout the year. I had many firsts.

Our 2009 included:

spending New Years on the crazy packed strip in Vegas
cool date to the International Freestyle Skiing Half-pipe Championships
Spent many hours working on a house we didn't quite own yet...it helped us get it so no regrets
cousin got married and used my dress
*bought our FIRST adorable HOUSE! *
saw Zion's for the first time
Dave GOT A JOB at Hill Air Force Base!
spent many long nights painting working on the house
more painting...we never want to hold a paint brush again
another great trip to St. George
Bridget broke her collar bone
Dave almost got his eye gouged out
our nephew Jonas was born
more house work
2 YEARS were celebrated at my first Air Show
HOUSE WARMING PARTY
celebrated Dave's 24th
had a lump removed
first time to Lava
Dave got a moto
rid of the last of the sea-green carpet
YELLOWSTONE...Dave's puzzle took up most of our attention
finished my first loved books that hooked me on reading and history...don't know if that is a curse yet
rekindling my childhood on the Alpine slide
volunteer at LOTOJA...got me siked for the race this Septmeber
first time seeing the GRAND CANYON
turned the scary 23
finally gave in on my frugalness & bought some decent serving shoes
annual Price Spookyard
made homemade pumpkin puree, another 1st
Dave had his septum fixed...still working on his breathing
welcomed Elder Michael Nasella home
had a great Holiday season with plenty of parties and treats!
vacay to warm San Diego

& ended the year playing Mario Kart with some great new friends

Well, I have already given my good-byes to 2009 but here is 1 final one...hope the year to come, 2010, holds all and so much more of what 2009 brought to us.

San Diego...Perfect place to go to get some warmth

2010-01-06T08:26:00.000-08:00

Oh, how I love San Diego! Growing up we would go once a year to visit my dad's family and I would go again in the summer for a basketball tournament, too. We haven't been since Michael left so we decided to go take a visit last week, since Michael is back and it might be the last time we see our grandpa. It was a short trip but we fit a lot in! The only down side was that I had food poisoning Monday and spent most of the night, while everyone else was enjoying time together, in the restrooms of my uncles house. Other than that I had a blast! Dave has ocean-fever now and can't think of anything else but going back. Hopefully we can make it back soon!

We had to get this shot fast cause Dave was embarrassed even though it was his idea, so I look a little stiff

The beach

Kaitlin's favorite thing to do is find sea shells. My mom said she even asked Santa for some but this was better for her to find her own.

I love this shot! Beautiful.

James, Dave and Michael

My momma and I relaxing in the warm sun!

Kaitlin just couldn't resist the water so she just went in with her clothes.