Christmas Time is Here!

I thought we might just make this mostly a picture post of some of our Christmas pictures that we've taken. I know when some people look at blogs that that's all they look at anyways.

This is probably my favorite picture right here.

We bought this nativity at the Deseret Book.

Lauri made this bow for the wreath. She's pretty darn good isn't she?

Even though we don't have a tree, we do have the presents.

Carl Bloch Exhibit

For family home evening last night James and I visited the BYU Museum of Art to see the Carl Bloch exhibit. If you think you don't know who he is, you would be surprised how many of his works you have actually seen. The church uses so many of them in Ensigns, book covers and many other published works. Some of my most favorite portrals of our Savior, I found out last night were his works.

The exhibit itself is a work of art in itself. Many of the pieces that they have there are the actual altar pieces from different churches and cathedrals in Sweden and Denmark. They are huge and absolutely beautiful. I feel like this is one of those opportunities that is only available once in a lifetime and I would encourage anyone that is within a decent traveling distance that you should see this exhibit. It is free but you do need to get tickets to see it. You can do that at http://moa.byu.edu/ . You can also learn more about this exhibit.

Both James and I felt Carl Bloch share his testimony with us through his works. As well as the care that was putting the exhibit together was a testimony from all those involved.

For posterity's sake...

There you go. I'm gettin' huge and uncomfortable.

Reality is setting in...

I've been pretty sick this last week, all starting Monday with the stomach flu and a quick visit to the Hospital. I thought I was feeling better, but my body has not figured out how to be regular again. I guess this is what I get for having a fairly easy pregnancy. I really have started to wonder if this is what most pregnant women experience everyday. Either way I am grateful it hasn't been so tough.

James picked up the movie "Being Dad" at the library that he and I watched together last night. It's actually really great and I'd recommend it to all my expecting friends and their husbands. However, reality really started to kick in, and I am starting to freak out just a little bit. It's one thing to grow the baby, it's a whole other thing to get the baby out. Lots of women give birth everyday, but it's all still "the unknown" to me, so it's a little scary.

HOPE

I love that when the sun shines through a window, it can warm up a room or car even when it is cold outside. Last winter, when I wasn't pregnant, I would often lay down on my stomach right where the sun would hit the carpet and fall asleep. I would usually wake up sweating, and honestly, I don't think I've ever had a better nap.

Today when I woke up I opened the window blinds and let the sun shine brightly in my room. I don't really know why, but this really charged me up. This experience reminded me of hope. No matter how cold it is outside, or how dim the day or challenge can seem that we have ahead of us, we can find hope in our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the source of all hope. When life seems impossible or the challenges too tough to overcome, it is through Christ that we can find the energy we need to make it through anything that life throws at us.

It is during this Christmas season that we celebrate Him who provides all hope to everyone on this earth. What a blessing it is to have a knowledge of his life and the blessings that He can bring to our life if we learn to live like he did.

Why I'll never forget Veteran's Day

One year ago today, James proposed to me. It was a Wednesday, he had class the next day, and with Thanksgiving break only a couple weeks away I would have never suspected it. (which, I think was his point) It was a red letter day for sure. We were married 6 months later and haven't wasted any time taking the next steps in life. I have never been happier.

On a side note, I remember after I got engaged how frequently I was asked "How did James propose?" I retold that story time and time again and it really never got old. After I was married the question was always, "When are you going to start a family?" I was always uncomfortable answering that question, and usually just lied and said, "I don't know, we'll see." When in fact I did know, and didn't feel it was anybodies business to ask. Now that I am pregnant the question I hear more often than any other question in the world is, "How are you feeling?" I get asked this a dozen or more times in a day from, co-workers, people I rarely associate with in the office and at church, and by strangers wherever I go. I find it interesting that people care so much about how I am feeling. And how the question changes drastically from the regular "how ya doin'?" to how are you feeling? when you are pregnant. And maybe I have found this question so strange, because other than the fact that my belly is getting huge, I feel great and really haven't felt too bad the entire time I've been pregnant. I guess I could complain about the heart burn, the fact that none of my pants will button up and how I am hungry all the time, but the truth is I really do feel great. I am happy and very excited to be a mother and especially to watch James be a father.

Never a bad time to be grateful

I guess I don't update my blog because I think I always have to have something significant to write about, and the perfect pictures to accompany my thoughts. I am going to throw away that notion that I have tonight and just write a little bit about some of the things I am especially grateful for tonight. I don't think there is ever a bad time to show a little bit of gratitude.

Sometimes I hate that other people's tragedies have to be reminders of why I should be grateful for something that I have. I know that God gives us individual challenges that our individual strengths help us to overcome. Often time it's hard being the one looking in on someones life wondering how they can ever get through such a thing. A lot of the problem is just that I personally was not given the right juice or the right stuff to handle such a tragedy at this time. But still I can trust that if given the same trial that the right juice would be provided by a loving Heavenly Father. I have faith that that is the case but it does not change the personal challenge that we each feel when trying to help friends and loved ones during these hard times.

With all of that said, tonight I am grateful for my dear James. I came home from a very long day of work, errands, grocery shopping, fully expecting to find the house as I left it this morning, (a smelly mess, with laundry needing to be done) only to be pleasantly surprised by a clean orderly house with laundry done and folded. James has been sick and out of commission for a couple of days so this really was a surprise, but I was so grateful for it.

I am grateful for the gorgeous fall weather. It was sunny today and I ate my lunch out on the lawn of the park next to my work. It felt wonderful.

I am grateful for a really great job. I hear constantly about people finishing school, only to be unable to locate any type of employment. I have been extremely blessed in this area of my life. I've been able to find a job at the right time at the right place for the last few years since I've graduated. It really is a miracle that I can't attribute to anything else but my Heavenly Father.

Working with children and people with disabilities, has made me ever grateful that my brain is able to send the correct signals to my arms and legs that make them move in the way that I choose, that my eyes are properly attached to occipital lobe that allow me to see images wherever I am, that I can see someone crying and understand what it means to be sad and provide some sort of comfort for that person, and that my mouth will produce the sounds that are appropriate for what I am trying to say. The brain does so many wonderful things, and it is very difficult to not take advantage of all the functions that it performs each day that allow us freedoms that some will not have in this life.

This has turned into a much lengthier post than I anticipated, but there are my thoughts tonight none the less. I am grateful to be an expecting mother, and with the growing pains of pregnancy I will be grateful also when I get to experience the pains of motherhood.

Fall is in the air and It's BEAUTIFUL!

Can you hear that?? It's the sound of crunching leaves underneath your feet. Can you smell it? It's the smell of stoves being turned on for the first time of the season. Can you feel it? Oh man, I can. It's the crisp air that screams IT'S FALL!!! I love fall. I wish it would last longer, but as I mentioned before I made a goal to just enjoy the season while it is around and not worry about what follows.

I loved the carving pumpkin family home evening we had the week before Halloween each year. I cared a lot less about having the most creative pumpkin, and mostly just enjoyed sitting on the back porch with the family. James and I had our pumpkin carving FHE a week early. We have zero holiday decorations, so at least we feel a tiny bit more festive with our pumpkins sitting outside our door. We still haven't bought candles to put in them, but they sit there looking pleasant and orange none the less.

I get to drive all over Utah County for my job. I have particularly enjoyed my drives this week. I have visited some fun neighborhoods. I wish I was more like my mom, and always had a camera on hand, I would've taken a picture of a few of them, with the leaves starting to fill the streets and pristine halloween decorations outside each of the doorways. I pictured myself with my family settling down some day in a neighborhood similar to the ones I visited. Maybe not in Saratoga Springs, or Lehi, but I just really enjoyed growing up in the neighborhood that I did, and I would wish the same for my children one day in the future. I'm not in a hurry to settle down, we've still got lots of school left, and lots of renting to do before we ever live in a house, but still I look forward to that later in life.

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Well, we've had our ultra sound and it's official: we're having a girl! We're both really excited. I guess Lauri's desires and wishes and dreams weren't for naught. Seeing the baby on the screen and realizing that she's actually there and growing sets in the realization that I'm going to be a dad and Lauri will be a mom. Part of the reason why I'm so excited that it's a girl is that I would be scared that a boy might just end up being just like I was as a kid. That would be like having 3 kids at once. I'm glad we've got a girl to start off with. As for names, we both really like the name Lucy, but that could change before the baby is born. The due date is still for February 28. Lauri says that she can feel the baby moving all the time as well. One time I thought I felt her move, but it could have just been my imagination.

In other news, we've come up with the decision that I'll be going to Graduate School to become an Occupational Therapist. We've decided that it's the perfect fit because I really want to help those with disabilities, don't necessarily want to be a teacher all my life, and love to work one-on-one with people. So this is our exciting news!

Gettin' Ready for Conference

I do love this time of the year. It's like the flashback sequence of a movie, only it's a whole season of flashbacks of all the years experiences for me. I was in Mexico this time 2 years ago. It was a precious experience that I will cherish my entire life. I remember very well the food, the people, but I often forget the little things that made that experience so unique. I was taking a walk in a neighborhood close to our house one evening, and accross the fence of a small house a rooster crowed. This immediately brought a smile to my face. For the 3 months I lived in my small village, the roosters were my alarm clock, with no snooze button. They started calling about 5:00 am in the morning and seemed to just wake one another up until you had an entire chorus of roosters singing through out the entire village. I didn't enjoy this as much then as I do the memory of it now.

October conference is always a memorable, because it means St George marathon time. When we were much younger, I remember my mom and dad often took their European gettaways about this time of year. Traci and I would usually stay with my Grandma Sullivan while they were away, but we liked to go and spend the Friday night before conference with our Grandma Rose, so we could wake up early and go watch the marathon in front of my dad's office. Actually the tradition started because one year we went and helped pick up cups that the runners would throw to the side of the road. Some of the volunteers saw us helping and gave us a free t-shirt. We thought that was the ultimate, so each year we would do the same thing hoping to get another t-shirt. I don't believe we were ever wished the same fate but we had fun and helped out regardless.

Now I love conference time, mostly just that it is conference time. I love to hear the prophet and all of the apostles. I love to hear the messages they have each prepared. James' mom always made home made cinnimon rolls during the Sunday morning session. Ever since we've been together, I've done the same, and I look forward to it. At our house growing up I just remember every TV being turned on to conference. You couldn't miss a bit of it even if you tried, because the prophet's words were ringing throughout the entire house.

I add my testimony to those that will be born this weekend. I do know that God lives and this is His church restored once again on the earth. I know Thomas S Monson is a prophet of God. I know that Jesus Christ is my savior and is the only one through which I can return to live with my Heavenly Father again. I love my family and know that I can live with them for eternity through Heavenly Father's plan. I love my dear husband and I am thankful for the priesthood he holds. I hope you all have a wonderful conference weekend and I hope it is appropriate to share all of that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Things that made me happy this week.

It seems like all week long there have been little things that have made me soooo happy. I usually find things to make me happy each day but this week, all of them stuck out as something special that I needed to share with someone else.

It's only September but the mountains have already begun to change colors. This started to cause me some anxiety in the beginning, and I couldn't quite figure out why, because I love to look and see the mountains painted orange, red, and yellow, all my favorite colors, but I always know that it doesn't last very long. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to enjoy it or take in enough of it to last through the dreary winter. I later realized that this was the real source for my anxiety. As much as I enjoy the crisp fall weather, and the beautiful colors that come with it, it meant that winter was coming... and I am not prepared for that. I have realized that it is not a very healthy way to live, waiting in fear of every winter that comes. I have since committed my self to enjoy the colors on the mountains, and live in the moment. Enjoying what beauties God puts before me now.

James is currently working at Provo High School as a math aid. I came home on Thursday and these were sitting on our table. How happy did this make me???? So happy! My first instinct was to cut up the wallet size pictures and start handing them out to family and friends. This was something silly that made me happy, it was mostly just nostalgic thinking about when I was younger and we'd be so excited (or very unexcited if the pictures turned out terrible, but at least you could find comfort that retakes were just a couple weeks later) to show my mom and change our old picture on the wall to the new and improved version for the year. I told him I wanted to frame the 8X10 and hang it on our wall. He admitted that he wondered if he should even show me them in the first place, obviously anticipating such a reaction from his overly sensitive wife. We didn't hang them up, but it made my day.

James knows when I make a meal that really hits the spot, because he hears my praises for hours after the meal has been cleaned up, and on occasion into the next day. We happened to have two of those meals this week. We made my friend Michael's italian beef on Tuesday. It was delicious, but even more delicious than the beef and the salad that I made to go with it was the great company that we had. Ashley, my old roomate and her fiance James happened to be wandering around Provo and she called to see if she could stop by. I always make too much food, so we had plenty to share. It was a great and perfectly composed meal.

The next day I made my mexican rice and beans that we ate with fresh corn tortillas. DELICIOUS!!! I love beans. I dare say they are my favorite food, and I couldn't get enough of this. I've been eating it all week long, because I made so much. I think it was one of Traci's roomates that made the comment once, "you guys talk about food so much." I do love food. And I love cooking for James. It's something that makes me happy everyday, to be his wife.

Monday I had my first doctors appointment. I wasn't expecting to have an ultra-sound but that's where they sent me. It was so fun to see that there is actually a growing human being inside of my growing uteris and not something else. Everything looked healthy and with the measurements taken they even upped my due date, to February 28th. I met my doctor for time and was glad to find that he did come well recommended from others not just the nurse at the Orem community hospital.

This made James happy today and he took a picture of it himself. I have nothing more to add except that we are all happy and well, and our baby continues to grow and we both continue to stay busier than we want to be sometimes.

On Our Way to Being Parents

Lauri is starting to notice her stomach getting bigger and bigger whether she likes it or not. She went and bought some maternity clothes the other day because nothing is fitting anymore. Oh, the joys of a being pregnant. Tomorrow Lauri goes in for her first appointment and then we should have a calculated due date. We are currently on week 16. Seeing all of these other couples in the ward with children always gets us excited to be parents. We also watched a BBC Special called the "Miracle of Birth," which made us both excited to have a child as well nervous all at the same time. You can kind of see Lauri's belly started to stick out in this picture. But as always, she looks great!

I just sent out a lot of family history to my family and talking about being a father reminds me of the experience that my ancestor describes of the birth of his first child, Owen Mets Stewart:

"The long and anxiously looked for day had arrived and Owen put in an appearance just a few minutes before midnight, or a few minutes after midnight. I was too excited to tell exactly, but he was present and that was the big thing for me at this particular time and place. I felt that a great battle had been won, the child was born and the mother who had been lingering between life and death for hours and hours had passed, at least, the first milestone. And now while the doctor was working with her I was watching the heir that had been the cause of all the trouble and while it seemed an age to me, when in reality it could not have been but a moment or two, I wanted to be sure that he was alive, for as yet he had not moved, or breathed; and while I waited those ages of 60 seconds each, there was many reflections passing through my mind. For mama and I had been married for ten long years and this little stranger, although it seemed that I had always known him, was the fist that had come to brighten our home. And would he stay or would I have to wait for another. But soon my hopes were renewed for I saw something which I cannot describe, a vibration, a shudder, or a thrill or a something and behold the babe was alive, a real live baby and my own; as he cried my heart was overjoyed as the truth began to dawn upon my soul that I was a father."

Happy Birthday to ME!

I could really care less that I turned 23 (again) this year. Actually the number doesn't mean anything to me. I just see my birthday as the best excuse to party however I want to. And I make sure every year that I have a blast. This year was no exception. But just to prove my point, lets look back at the series of Birthday Celebrations for the last several years.

August 18, 2006

That's right, I was in Disneyland! Need I say more??!! If you ever get the chance to be in Disneyland on your birthday, DO IT!!! I've never had so much fun. You get to wear a button and everyone, I mean EVERYONE, wishes you a Happy Birthday. Oh and you should buy some ridiculous crowns that flash lights and wear those all day too.

August 18, 2007
I don't have a picture for this one, but my mom does. It just so happened that the premier of "High School Musical 2" fell on my birthday. We had a huge party with lots of food, all the girls from my relief society were invited, my awesome roomates, my mom was there and Traci surprised me too and showed up. It was not a disappoinntment. HSM2 was filmed in St. George and it was so fun to pick out familiar places and a few local faces as we watched the musical drama unfold.

August 18, 2008



This was a good one! We were down in St. George, and probably a little bored, so Traci and I came up with the idea to through a themed birthday party. I loved themed birthday parties growing up. The kind where you got little baggies filled with candy and toys before you left. The kind where the cake had figures on them that you could keep after the cake was devoured. The kind where adults are dressed in silly costumes and lead all of the kids in silly games. Back in the day our calendars were ruled by the next upcoming birthday party.

We decided upon princesses and pirates. That way no one was left disappointed. It was all that was described above and so much fun.

This actually took place the weekend before my birthday. Jack Johnson came to visit on my birthday in Salt Lake USANA Amphatheater. He sang to me all night long. WONDERFUL!!

August 18, 2009

James and I started dating (we say anyway) on July 18, 2009. Just one month before my birthday, I visited him in Silver City, we had our first date in Deming, NM and I spent the next couple of days with him. When I finally left the following Monday at 4:00 in the afternoon, I would not see him again for another month. We talked everynight, but I missed him so.

James returned to Provo, Utah for the upcoming fall semester just around my birthday. This was the first time I had seen him in a month. We hiked the Y that day. Then we went up to West Bountiful and saw my sister. She had made me an Awesome Rollerblade cake for my Birthday. Another great birthday!

August 18, 2010


James and I love to attend musicals. It's one love that we realized we had in common from the beginning. We've been to many. Pirates of Pensance is one I've wanted to see ever since I met him. I found it was playing at the Hale Center theater around my birthday, and that sealed the deal. I bought these tickets months ago in anticipation of a good time. James thought it was funny that I didn't really have any surprises on my birthday. It's not that I don't like surprises, I just feel like it's my birthday, why leave the planning of it to anyone else. I know I'll have a good time if I plan it.

James did surprise me though. He wrote me a book, similar to the one he gave me when he proposed. Only this one was about our wedding day. I've been begging him to write about it for months. He finally did and put it together with my journal entries. It was perfect.

So there you go. Another momentuous birthday. No disappointments. Just fun. Next year we'll have a third to celebrate with us in our home, which will just add to the fun.

Despicable Me. a post by James

Well, school is out and I've got two weeks of vacation. We've already got lots of things planned since this is Lauri's birthday week. But a reflection on last summer term...One of the things that we have both noticed about this last summer semester is that I have a strength that I never knew I had. This strength is analyzing literature and movies. I really enjoyed my Spanish Lit. class and I feel like I do better with Spanish than with English sometimes. Before I could tell people when I really liked something, but now I have the tools and ability to explain why. Also, I feel that it brings more meaning which makes me like the book or movie or play or whatever it is even more. Take the movie "Despicable Me," for example, which we both loved. Here's my thoughts that I'd like to share with everyone.

There are two symbols in the movie "Despicable Me" which stand out. One is the moon and the other is the unicorn. These are both symbols of filling in the empty holes of our hearts. Let me explain by first discussing the symbol of the moon in relation to Gru.

First off, the moon's physical features help us understand what it represents, for the moon itself has holes. This makes it a perfect symbol. We learn from the flashbacks into Gru's life what the moon really really represents for him, the thing which he is missing. The moon represents the affection that he never received as a child. In his way of thinking, reaching the moon will fill in what he has missed. However, Vector prevents Gru, over and over again, from ever realizing his dream. Ironically though, Vector is actually a symbol of Gru himself. Vector is everything that Gru wants to be as a villain. The parallelism between Vector stopping Gru from reaching the moon, what he thinks will fill in his "holes," is that it's really Gru himself that is preventing him from actually reaching what will really fill in his "holes." We see Gru finally reaching the moon, shrinking it, and laughing in triumph only to realize that he's still left empty. Not until he sees the ticket to the ballet recital does it dawn on him how to fill in the holes of his heart. In triumphing over Vector, Gru actually triumphed over himself. Now, with no one really stopping him, he goes after the girls, who finally gains what he's always been looking for.

The unicorn represents what the girls are missing in their lives - a fatherly figure. At the beginning of the movie when we first meet the girls, the youngest one starts singing a song about unicorns by which the other two are completely annoyed, showing us that only the youngest girl holds onto the hope of someday being adopted and having a guardian that cares for them. and when the girls are finally adopted by Gru, the unicorn gets disintegrated, representing their dashed hopes. None of them believes Gru will ever be anything more than a villain. However, the makeshift unicorn that is brought back is the small hope that the girls may somehow be able to cope with their situation and at least have the minions as company. Then, at the moment when Gru wants to drop off the girls and never return for them, he ends up accompanying them throughout the theme park. Of course, at this point the biggest, fluffiest unicorn is shown in the whole movie. Even the older girls start to believe in having a true fatherly figure someday. Then, at the end of the movie, Gru makes a puppet unicorn book, but who represents the unicorn in the book? Why, none other than Gru. For he is the one who sticks his nose through the puppet book. Then Gru changes from being the figurative unicorn to becoming the actual unicorn, or true fatherly figure, by kissing each one of the girls before they fall asleep.

Happiness.

I've mentioned before that James and I don't often eat out. Or we try not to. We went to Panda Express this last week. We chowed down our chou mein and orange chicken and read our fortunes from our cookies. I was pleasantly surprised and delighted when I read my fortune. It read: "You and your spouse will be happy in life together" Not only will this come to pass, but has been the case since we got together on July 18th just over a year ago. With out being over the top and grossing anyone out, I love James and I am so thankful for him everyday. He makes me SO happy and I know exactly where I'd be with out him, but frankly, I'm grateful to be here instead.



So we still need to buy a camera. Actually we have a long list of things we need. Currently our Laptop isn't working, we have no Internet or cable that wants to work, and I could really use a trip to Disneyland or North Carolina. But we are saving. Always saving. I'm not really sure for what... Mostly it's just hard to spend a lot of money on anything for both of us. Even things we need. I mention this only because still we have a lack of new pictures. I have even been trying to take more with my old camera but because my laptop doesn't work I can't plug in my SD card directly into my computer and there isn't a converter for SD cards on BYU campus computers. And because my camera was a hand-me-down from my mother we don't have a usb cord for my camera. You can see the dilemma. I really only mention any of this because I promised my dear sister, so far away, one new blog a week. and I failed to keep my promise last week. Which I apologize but I feel there is a little justification, but I will not let it happen again. I promise, dear sister. My blogs may be with out new pictures for a while longer but I will be faithful. I will write. I do have something to say. And I will have more to say in the future. ;)

Goals and Lists

So James and I have come to the conclusion that he is obsessed with goals and I am obsessed with lists. I love the feeling of checking something off a list. A lot of the time I will not accomplish the original items on my list but instead will add the things that I did do during the day, just so I can check them off and it looks like I achieved most of my plan.


James loves to set goals for self improvement especially in the area of education. He wants to know everything. This is often overwhelming to me. His latest is that he wants to learn American Sign Language and French. (I'm still trying to master Spanish and English for that matter). James picked up a sign language book at BYU library and I have been impressed with his motivation. He's learned a lot of signs. I was impressed with all the signs I remembered back from the days when I lived with Kyle and JoEllen. I would sit with George in front of the TV watching "Signing Time" over and over again.

For the last week we have been learning new signs. We checked out a bunch of signing time videos at the Provo Library and now James can't stop singing and signing... "There's singing time, and dancing time, and laughing time and playing time but now it is our favorite time, SIGNING TIME... It's signing time with Alex and Leah... it's signing time with Alex and Leah... Come and play.... Come and play.."

I have been doing a lot of research for my new job and over and over again it talks about the benefits of teaching kids to sign in the first few years of their life. So now we have the big challenge of teaching our kids to speak Spanish, American Sign Language, and English. Hopefully they are not super confused all the time.

"Food, glorious food..."

My dad used to sing this when dinner was on the table just before we were going to eat or in the preparing of a delicious new meal. I didn't know it was a real song until 7th grade choir class when we watched the musical "Oliver" and I was absolutely amazed that there were words that came after those three words. All the years growing up I thought Dad had made it up. (On a side note, I was also amazed to find out there were more words to the cougar fight song that my dad would sing to wake us up in the morning.)

I have been impressed with the tributes that have been made on my dad's behalf. Yesterday, marked 9 years after his passing. I wondered what I could add. My mom talked about lessons that he taught, and my sister brought up so many memories that I share with her of him. I decided I would make a tribute by sharing a few of his signature recipes that I loved most.

Recipe #1
Egg Nogg

Raw eggs
Lots of Sugar
Milk
Vanilla

Blend in a blender and drink. Dad used to wake up early and make a big batch of this to share with us kids. Looking back, I can't believe that I drank this as often as we did... and I loved it. It's a little nauseating to think about now, but I remember that dad used to sip it and enjoy it a lot. He was quite the morning person, always ready to give me and my friends a ride to Dixie Middle School, way before we were really ready to go, but the other option was walk so we would arrive early and figure out how to kill a half hour, before school started.

Recipe #2
Dutch Oven Cobbler

1 Can of Fruit filling
1 box of Cake Mix

Cover Dutch oven with tinfoil, pour in fruit filling, and spread on the top, dry cake mix. Cook over whatever cooking source is available until fruit is boiling into the dry cake mix. Eat with Vanilla ice cream

Dad took Traci and I camping nearly every week it felt like for a couple of summers. Whenever we went the menu seemed to always stay the same. Italian Sausage soup or spaghetti, and Cobbler for desert. The Fruit filling would change each time, but the recipe was always the same. So simple but sooooo... delicious.

I think dad brought me and Traci along most of the time, just so that he didn't have to do all the work. I remember pulling up to the campsite, he would un hitch the camper, pull out a lawn chair and a book and Traci and I would set up the camper and set up camp. We used to laugh about that. We would each do some of the cooking as well.

Recipe #3
Singles Ward Pine Valley Party

Hamburgers (and a few Turkey burgers for the girls that wouldn't eat red meat. I always thought my dad was so nice to consider a few of these students in his ward and provide this for them.)
Buckets of Sliced potatoes in water from Dixie College that would be turned into delicious Dutch oven potatoes.
About 7 too many pans of Dixie College's 7 layer bean dip and Huge Bags of round tortilla chips.
A volley ball net and ball
And about a dozen boxes of Meadow gold ice cream sandwiches.

Throw it all together with a hundred or so college students and I'd say, my dad knew how to throw a good party

The last few years of his life when my dad was a college singles ward bishop, I remember looking forward to these annual parties. The menu was always exactly the same. But I loved to go with him to pick up the buckets of potatoes and dip and then stop at the meadow gold factory on our way out of town to head up to pine valley. I never socialized much with the college kids, because I was still in high school, but i enjoyed helping out where I could and watching it all take place from a distance. I was always very impressed with how well my dad did at remembering all of their names. I also remember how much I loved to hear him laugh with his counselors, Chris Cannon, and Craig Segmiller before all of the kids started to arrive.

Recipe #4
Italian Sausage Soup

Italian Sausage
1 can of Beef Broth
1 can of Italian Stewed tomatoes
Broccoli
Penne Noodles

Cook thoroughly and sip slowly, as it cleans your nostrils.

This was one of our favorite when dad started cooking and looking for new recipes. It was a mutual understanding that Mom didn't appreciate it as much as Dad, Traci and I did, so we would often make it when mom was away or when we were camping. I remember when dad would often escape to Pine Valley by himself, he rarely thought to bring food. Occasionally I would slip up there on a school night and bring the ingredients for Italian Sausage Soup with me. Dad would be "puttering" in his garden and I'd cook inside. I loved to hear his grunts and sighs as he ate the soup. He was always so appreciative of the gesture to bring him up a meal. I don't remember what our conversations would consist of during those evenings but I always left feeling glad that I spent a few hours up there alone with him.

Those are the memories I leave with all of you today. I had a great father and I am very blessed to have a wonderful husband that possesses so many of his good qualities. I am even more grateful for a Father in Heaven and his plan of salvation that will allow us all to be together again one day.

A little about Kids On The Move and what's new in our lives

Yesterday was my first day of work at Kids On The Move. Just to tell you a little bit more about KOTM, it is a non-profit organization mandated by the state. It works in conjunction with the Alpine School district meaning that it serves all the special needs kids in the Alpine school district area ages 0-3 years old. KOTM is an early intervention program for kids with special needs. It has been the most fascinating couple of days working there learning about all they do. Compared to the last company I worked for, it feels a little bit like I'm working at Disneyland, with all the magic included. It actually is a funny sight to see, because my office where I work, there are cubicles, with computers and files but at every desk are big bags of toys and toys laying out by bookshelves. It made me laugh. I even see some of my co-workers playing with those toys (purely research) figuring out what will be good to help their kiddos with the developmental goals that they are working on. It's so cool.

I still won't try to explain my job, but a part of my job is that I help with two play groups during the week for transition age kids (meaning the kids close to turning three that will be transitioning into pre-school). Today was my first play group. It was soooooo much fun! The kids that attend are amazing, and I love the attitude of KOTM. It's really just all about having fun and learning in the process. I was working at an art station with one kiddo and we were gluing fuzzies on a paper. He wanted to try using the glue. I was hesitant to give it to him, thinking maybe that would be too big of a mess. I quickly noticed that another instructor gave the kiddo she was working with the glue and so I let him have at it. It was awesome. He glued about a dozen or more different colored fuzzies on one piece of paper. It made me happy.

My only regret is that I can't take James to work with me. Not that I'm so pathetic that I can't live with out my husband for a few hours in the day, mostly just because I love watching him with kids and he would have soooo much fun in these play groups; tossing the kids around and playing with them. He's sort of my inspiration. I got there today and I thought to myself "what would james do?" and immediately I started trying to climb through a tunnel that I would never fit in or bowled the kids down with a giant exercise ball. Naturally they loved it all. He's a natural when it comes to kid and will be a great teacher and father some day.

I don't really have much else to add to that. It's been a great week. James and I celebrated on Friday and went to dinner at Gloria's Little Italy. It was my last day of work at NES and James had received the highest score in his class on his spanish literature test (I'm bragging because it was a really hard test and he studied very hard, and because he wouldn't do it himself). Anyway, back to the point of this story,... James and I don't eat out very often and when we do we almost always go to Diegos. (Diego's is pretty much the best Mexican Restraunt I've tried on this side of the border). But we decided to try something new. We splurged a little, but it was delicious, and I dare say the best Italian food I've ever tried. So if you are in the Provo area, and want to eat something delicious, I would try Gloria's Little Italy. (Unless you're in the mood for something cheaper and more mexicany... then go to Diego's HANDS DOWN!)

A new blogger in town... keep your expectations low.

So I promised my little sister at the beginning of the week I would start a blog. James set up this blog during a class in the Winter semester. The two posts below were for that class. I decided to leave them because for now they are his contribution to the blog. I hope he will contribute more later.

I once was a faithful blogger. It lasted for 3 months when I was in Mexico doing interesting things everyday. I like to think my life is interesting now, but probably only to those foreign or unaware of practices that are common occurance to the ways we live. For example, I think the friends I made in my small Mexican village might find this blog fascinating where as the blog I was keeping during my time in Mexico might seem far to daily and very dull. Regardless, I have committed myself to one blog a week, and I am determined to see it through.

James commented that one good thing about starting a blog is that it will encourage us to take more pictures. We happen to be the two most pathetic picture takers I know. I picked up my camera blew off the dust and this was the last picture that was taken on it. This was on our honeymoon. That was nearly 2 months ago. This is why we pay photographers to take pictures at special events. I was grateful to my friend Elizabeth for taking pictures at our wedding otherwise if it were left up to James or me, it would not have been documented so well.

To catch anyone up that cares, I got married. It was a beautiful day, and everything turned out perfect. The flowers (thanks Traci and Elizabeth), the cookies (thanks mom), the food (thanks mom and DSC), and most of all all the people that showed up for the event. It was a blast to see everyone and have everyone gather around. I feel blessed and privileged to have such wonderful family and friends.

We had a wonderful time in Zion's and then a quick trip to Silver City, NM for Anna's graduation and then back to Provo to settle back into real life.

It took us nearly 3 weeks to get our one bedroom apartment in order, but now we love it and sometimes would just assume stay home as go out. James is back in school and I've been working full-time as an Employment Specialist for people with disabilities. That will only be my job title for one more day. As of Monday my new job title will be Transition Coordinator for special needs families and children. I will be working for a non-profit organization called Kids On The Move. I am very excited for the change. Everything is better about this new job compared to my old one. So I am very excited to say the least.