Four short years ago...

On June 9, 2004 I graduated from Godwin High School. Chad's graduation over the weekend has left me feeling very nostalgic, so bear with me as I take a trek down memory lane. I can't believe all the things that have happened to me since then, I almost feel like a completely different person.

Since 2004 I have met some of my best friends. I can't imagine what my life would be without my roommates, my el ed girls, my friends from London, my neighbors, my professors, and so many others. Most importantly, I have met my very best friend, and I am so lucky to now be his wife. All of these people have taught me, inspired me, and helped me to become who I am today.

In the past four years I have lived on my own. I have been through some of my hardest times (especially hard because I was so far from home!), and some of the most fun, most inspiring, and happiest times. I've learned so much from BYU, from other people, and just from life. I have been lucky enough to visit so many neat places- London, northern England, Scotland, Paris, Las Vegas, Idaho (very exotic...), all over Utah, California (I can't believe I had never been there before coming to school!), NYC, Philadelphia, and probably more that I can't remember. I have grown spiritually as I learned more about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and have been able to go to the temple. In June of 2004 I couldn't run a quarter of a mile without stopping to take a break (I can't believe I just admitted that.) I'm definitely not the best runner, but I do have 2 t-shirts that prove I can run a 5k.

I have graduated from college, and spent a year teaching elementary school. I still can't believe that I'm done with school and that I'm really teaching. I also can't believe that I've been married for almost a year. I have a new name, and a new family to add to the wonderful family I already had!

So much has happened in the past 4 years, and I'm so grateful for these experiences. Thanks to all of you for the impact you have made on my life. Could life get any better? I would say definitely not.


ps- details and pictures from our California vacation to come

summertime and the livin's easy

So far summer is fabulous. And, it's just going to get better! But, let's rewind. Last week of school was crazy- both the kids and I were totally ready to be done. I cried my eyes out when saying goodbye to my 21 favorite fourth graders. In the end, it was definitely the most difficult year of my life, but also the most rewarding. I could go on for days about all the great experiences I had. It was very difficult to say goodbye. But, I love the free time! I have great aspirations to finally catch up with friends, clean and organize my apartment, scrapbook the past year, read as many books as I can get my hands on, play lots of tennis with Bry (I beat him for the first time last Saturday- yea!), get a great tan, finally cook dinner, use our brand new tent, and get all ready for next year. And, I can't forget all of the fabulous trips we have planned. I'm excited for our first real summer together!

Here's a picture of my crazy kids- love em!

Last night to celebrate summer Bryan had the great idea to have foil dinners up in the canyon. I was excited about our plans all day long. I put together our little picnic (and ate approximately 1/4 of the oreos I bought for us...oops) and got the foil dinners ready. Bry got home at 6 and as soon as he changed and we got in the car my excitement was smashed to the ground by some big dark clouds. It eventually started to rain, which only further led to my depression. But, what can I say, we are dedicated "wilderness people" (I know you're laughing right now because anyone who knows me knows that I am the complete opposite of that.) But I had worked so hard on those foil dinners, and it was then or never, so we decided to persevere. We were lucky enough to find a picnic table and grill that were under trees so we really didn't get very wet. In fact, everyone was completely jealous that we had found the perfect spot. Our dinners turned out great and we had a very fun night. I'm so grateful for Bryan and his great ideas, and for making me the wilderness girl I am today.

Our dinner cooking, happy once the rain stopped, the delicious final product!

Tonight we leave for Oakley to celebrate Chad's graduation from HS. I'm so excited for Chad because he's coming out to BYU with us!!! Chad is an awesome brother- he is so fun and so kind, we can't wait to have lots of time with him next year!

3 days!!

Remember when you were a kid and it was the last week of school and you could almost taste summer and it was killing you to still be inside? Well, this week I've learned it's worse when you're a teacher. I've been counting down the days big time. I don't know if I really deserve it, but I am totally excited for a nice, relaxing break. I'm sick of lesson plans and stressful meetings and headaches because of naughty boys. I have loved this year and I know I'm going to miss my students, but boy am I excited for summer! So, here we go- last 3 days of school, I can make it!

p.s. LOVED it

I'm sure you were all dying to know what I thought of last night's results. Loved it. Loved all of it (except that moment when we saw up Carrie Underwood's skirt- love her, but definitely not the outfit.) I even cried at the end because I'm just like that. I thought that David C. was so sweet to David A. and everyone else. It felt like the perfect ending. Countdown begins...6 months and 14 days.

Decision 2008

It's down to the wire. In fact, the show has already started. I'm so excited that I'm shaking and I keep pushing the wrong keys. The only problem is that I haven't made my decision yet. Archuleta is adorable, and a Utah boy, and clearly has the best voice. But, Cook is also pretty adorable himself. And, every once in a while he really blows me away (i.e. Mariah Carey night, I was in love.) I've always thought that David C. would win because David A. is too young and immature, and I just thought C. would get more votes. But, after last night I am completely torn. I have no clue who is going to win, and I don't even know who I want to win anymore!!!!! So I just have to think of it as a win/win/win situation- 2 hours of idol, and I'm going to be happy either way! The only bad thing is that I have six months to wait for my favorite ridiculous obsession to start again...oh the woes of my life. Enjoy!

Weekend with Mom

Bryan's mom came out for his cousin's wedding, and we got to spend a super fun weekend with her! On Saturday we went up to Salt Lake to see the sights on Temple Square. First we watched the Joseph Smith movie. It re-invigorated my testimony in our beloved prophet. I know that this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ that he helped to restore on this earth. Sometimes I take for granted all that those early saints went through to establish the church. The movie was a great reminder that I need to be so grateful for all of their suffering. After the movie we went through the Church history museum, then got a delicious lunch at the Garden Court- the restaurant on top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It was so fun to sit all the way up there and see the beautiful flowers (and hundreds of brides!) on Temple Square. Then we took a tour of the Conference Center- the best part was finally getting to go on the roof! It was so cool to see it up there, and the stories about how it was built are amazing. I loved doing all these things in Salt Lake, it's such a neat place and we don't really go there ever to site see because it's so close! That night we went to a ward barbeque then Bryan's mom helped us make some delicious strawberry jam. So, as usual, she left us with some great memories and delicious food!

This is on top of the roof. They made this part to look exactly like Utah would have looked when the pioneers first arrived- all desert! Other parts of the roof have groves of trees, fountains, and streams (as prophesied by Brigham Young)

Cinco de Mayo!

While Bryan was in CA, he got a recipe for flour tortillas from his 95 year old great-grandma (we love her.) So, we decided to celebrate our favorite Mexican holiday in style. Since I am still in school and Bryan is in the limbo between school ending and starting his internship, he took on most of the tortilla-making responsibilities. And, he was so cute- the tortillas were almost done when he said, "You are going to take a picture of these and document them on your blog, aren't you?" Thus this post came into existence.

The tortillas were delish, but also one of those things we'll have to keep working on to perfect. The hardest thing for us tonight was making them thin enough. But, here's the recipe:

4 c flour
2 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 c vegetable oil
2 c water
flour

1. In a large bowl, mix first 4 ingredients by hand for at least 3 minutes.
2. Add 1 cup water and mix well, and then add the second cup gradually. The dough will be sticky.
3. Knead the dough for 6 minutes. It will remain sticky.
4. Cover and let rest for 15-20 minutes.
5. Pinch off a 2-inch ball of dough, with your fingers, flatten the dough into a disc on a floured surface, keeping it circular. Roll out with a rolling pin until it is 1/4 inch thick and 6" in diameter. The shape will be irregular.
6. Place on a hot, greased griddle or electric fry pan and cook about 1 minute on each side. Remove from the griddle and stack.
7. Serve ASAP or refrigerate or freeze (This makes about 25 tortillas, we halved it though)

Good luck, and happy Cinco de Mayo!