Honeymoon Suite and Trees

It's a tradition every year at Thanksgiving to make Candy houses. This year mom made mine twice as big as my nieces and nephews and told me it was my "Honeymoon Suite." Jamon and I had fun decorating it. Actually I had fun designing it and I hope Jamon had fun decorating with my specifications. Hmm...I wonder if that's how I'll be with our new house. I'm thinking, Yes. Sorry Honey!

Also every year after Thanksgiving my family packs up and heads to the mountains to cut down our Christmas Trees. There's not much that smells better then a fresh cut pine tree! This year I went with my parents, brother Wade and his Family, sister Jodee, brother Daniel and Jamon. There was no snow in Cedar City but once we headed up the canyon there was patches of snow and by the time we turned to where we were going there was about a foot of snow on the roads. It was great!! Jamon and I didn't bring any warm snow clothes, so we looked great in whatever clothes we could find at my parents house. We stayed warm, but my feet were so wet.

Jamon and I didn't have to search long for a great tree, but on our hunt for a saw we forgot about that tree and found the perfect tree. Our first Christmas Tree together. It was Great!!

A Little Pampering in Houston

While in Texas Jamon and I were able to enjoy a little pampering. Not only did I sleep at every chance I had, for example, every time I got into the car or every time the TV was turned on, but Jamon and I enjoyed a little hand waxing. Camille has a hand waxing machine thingy and let us use it. Jamon's reaction was great. He has never felt his hands feel so soft, and he kept rubbing them. He prefers the rough manly hands, which I guess I can't complain.

We also went to the Houston Temple and took some pictures. I had the crazy idea that we could get some pictures taken, possibly for an engagement picture, since it was still so green and flowers were still blooming. Well, they didn't turn out the way I was thinking. Some of them look okay, but I don't think they look good enough to send out in an announcement.

Here are my girls. Haylee, Kylee, and Brynlee. I don't know who was more excited about seeing each other. Me or the girls or Camille. The hardest thing about leaving was that Kylee actually sobbed the night before I had to leave telling me that she wanted me to be a part of their family so she could see me all the time. I talked to her and got her to sleep, and thought all was good until I got up in the morning she started it all over again. She's such a cutie, and I really do miss her tons all the time! When Kylee grows up she wants to be a Rock Star. Some of her favorite songs are Avril Lavigne "Girlfriend," High School Musical's, "What I've Been Looking For," and Chris Brown, "Kiss, Kiss." She also loves to make up her own words to songs. Here is a short clip of her singing.

Saturday is a Special Day...

I woke up Saturday morning, of course early, get some breakfast and go downstairs to catch up on some TV shows that I like to watch but never have time to do so. Stephanie comes to pick me up and we head to the gym to work on our figures. We have an excellent work out so we treat ourselves to a pedicure! Loved It. We then do a little shopping and then I go home to shower and wait to hang out with my Man, who is Jamon in case anyone is wondering. I just sit down to eat some lunch when Jamon comes in the door and says "Hi." It wasn't his typical "HI" so I asked what was wrong. He told me he fell off his long board and crashed. He cut his hand and his elbow was hurting. We fixed up his hand, that was ooooh so gross. I had to cut off the skin that was hanging on his hand. It was awful. I told him that he must have been so excited to see me that's why he was hurrying so fast.

So I then drove him to the Insta-Care, where we waited forever to get him x-rayed. Three hours later we leave with Jamon shot up with morphine and his arm in a sling. He has broken his elbow. We then head to Wal-mart to get him his meds and food for the next day. On our way home we stop and get Tyson (Jamon's brother) a Jamba Juice, because he just got his wisdom teeth out. We go to Tyson's give him his Jamba and watch the BYU game with him. After we had to the movies with Jamon's cousins then off to Cold Stone for Ice cream, which by the way was the best I've had there, and then a fun game of Rummikub. Good times. Jamon and I then sit down and did some chatting when he reached over to get something and then he slipped to his knees, said some very nice things to me and then popped the question. Yup, the "Will you marry me" question. I, of course, said yes! It was fantastic. I am now engaged and wearing the most jewelry I've ever worn. It is great though. I already can tell when I don't have it on!

So now let me tell you what was really going on. As I was making lunch, Jamon was on his way over to do some proposing and crashed and broke his elbow. So when I said he was just so excited to see me, He was thinking "you have no idea." We spend his proposing time and my happy time in the Insta-Care. Then for the rest of the day the ring sat in his jacket pocket, until he had time to get to his proposing. There is so much more to this story too. My friends lying right to my face about ring stuff, and proposing stuff, and Jamon stealing my phone to get my Dad's phone number, not thinking I noticed, yea right, I totally noticed!

Well this is the story. There is a few more tiny, insignificant details I could share, but for the sake of this getting to long I'll stop. Plan on February 7th for the big day!!

I'm getting Married!! Woo Hoo!!

I am so excited!

I've calmed down a little

Poor Jamon

The Happy Couple

Tagged

I don't usually do these, but for Melodie I think I can handle it

5 things on today's "to do" list...
1- Write up 4 monthly reports and 1 service plan
2- Go Running
3- Eat dinner (I hope I don't have to make it tonight)
4- Make some RS visits
5- Do a little kissin' with Jamon

5 snacks I enjoy (I don't snack much, and when I do it's the preschoolers treats or Healthy...
1- Mallow Magic
2- M&M's (from the kids bins)
3- Pineapple Tango
4 –Banana's
5- Whatever snack the preschoolers are having

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire...
1- QUIT WORK...maybe just go to work part time (I love my Job)
2- Buy a huge house with lots of room
3- PLAY
4- Spoil my nieces and nephews...and I guess everyone else
5- Shop

5 jobs that I have had
1-Newspaper carrier
2-Inbound calling center
3-Nanny/housekeeper
4-"Flower Girl" - SUU ground crew
5-Autism Specialist (I sound so important)

Rules:Each player answers the question themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person that tagged you know when you've answered the questions on your blog.
1.Just who ever wants to.

4 am Woes

Its true, I'm awake at 4 in the morning, perhaps having a pity party, or just trying to have patience. Having patience this early in the morning after being woken up from a much needed slumber by people tromping up stairs and going in and out of the kitchen that you sleep under and talking in the room next to where you are sleeping, is very hard. My test these last couple of months...patience, mixed with understanding, (can you have one without the other?). I always ask myself why things are the way they are, why are things happening. I'm always trying to figure out what lesson I'm learning from this or that trial so I can learn it and move on. Am I being prepared for a future with one person who I will get to live with forever and will get to enjoy all the quirks they have? Or is it simply learning to truly love my neighbor? How do I find the balance of being a Relief Society President and a roommate at the same time? How do I reach out to girls who don't want anything to do with the church or think they are to good for the church? How do I go out of my comfort zone to reach out to those girls who need me? How do I keep the spirit with me when all I feel is frustration?

It's funny how I have a lot of questions, but there is only one answer...Prayer! Yesterday I left for work before 7 (with not that much sleep), very frustrated. The dishwasher was full of dirty dishes, as was the sink. Shoes and clothes were everywhere, along with laptops, books, backpacks, and empty snack items. I got to work and realized how much needed to be done and one of my aides just can't seem to figure out how to do data right no matter how much I show her, so I had to get down and pray. I prayed for patience with my roommates, the people I work with and that I wouldn't pass my frustration on to the kids and I would be patient with them. The day, although tiring, went amazingly. I knew I could have been a lot "meaner" with the kids but I wasn't. It was like the frustration was being suppressed (does that make sense). And even better when I got home the kitchen was spotless. I don't know what I would've done if I came home with the kitchen the way I left it.

So, here I am, laying in bed awake at now 5 am, and realizing that I am already learning my lesson which could be that I need to rely on the Lord to help me through all of this. Interesting that this wouldn't be the first time I've learned that lesson.

Who needs a Hair Cut?

Add another skill to my resume. I can cut hair. Okay, so not really. I can shave someone's hair off. I realize that shaving a head isn't really a skill, but I had a really hard time doing it so its a skill. I didn't get this skill by choice, I was pressured into it. Jamon refused to cut his hair until I did it. And It was getting pretty long. I blame all Jamon's fabulous sister's in-law, who are the best wife's and cut their husbands hair, you have set the bar high. Not that this isn't a great money savor, but I have a mother, sister and a sister in-law who went to school so they can cut hair as a profession. So why do I need to learn. I always think I can do it because it looks easy, but when that razor starts to vibrate in my hand I lose all my senses and start to panic. So with my teacher at my side and my family watching I shaved his head. It was probably the longest shaving he's had, and I've noticed a few places that I missed. No one else would notice, but becuase I have this need to have all things I touch be perfect, I notice. So I've come to a conclusion about Jamon's hair. I will shave it but not style it. No blending it in, or using scissors. So you might be seeing alot of Jamon with a shaved head. He looks good though!!

My first cut. Looks good!

Look at that concentration on my face. This is intense.

This is Bonnie, my teacher and sister in-law. I looked so worried.

On Your Marks...

Add one more thing to my "things I have done in this life time" list. I ran a 10K!! I may have finished in the last half of the people who ran, but who cares I did it! I finished in 1hour 8min, which is not fast, but fast enough! It was very exciting and I felt fantastic after...except for having sore knees, so sore I could barely walk. But I really did feel good that I was able to do it. Three months ago I don't think I could've said that I could do it, but since I started running insane miles this summer I thought I would try. So here's to me a 10K runner! It was Great!

Going Bananas

So here it is the recipe that you have all been craving. Sorry it took so long.

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

mix in order:
2/3 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 c. bananas
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
2 1/4 c flour
6 oz chocolate chips (yea right add more, and add all flavors of chips)
nuts optional

Bake at 400 for 8 to 10 min. and Enjoy! (they are usually better the second day and the third and the fourth, you get what i'm saying)

I didn't add it this time but I'm going to try it next time, is to add some cinnamon and/or nutmeg about a tsp. I bet it would be really good. If you try if before I do let me know how it tastes.

So this is how many bananas i'm dealing with. Any suggestion for how to use them. I've made cooking and bread...Mmmm muffins. I'm going to try that next!

Cool vs Beautiful

This is a conversation I had with one of the kids today...

It all started with someone saying something about me being or not being cool
Me: "I am cool"
Eli: "Your Not Cool"
Me: "Gasp"
Me: "Who thinks I'm cool?" (most of the kids raise their hand and say I am cool, my self worth starts building back up)
Eli: "Your not cool, your beautiful!"
My heart melts. It was all so funny.

So what's better, being cool or being beautiful? After today I know I'm both.

School = Less Sleep

I'm back! Not quite as ready as in years past, but I'm back. Over the last three years of teaching I had never been more ready for school to over then this last year. I was a tough year, as I have explained before. Summer came and I worked maybe 15 hours a week, slept a lot and played even more, and now I have to go back to my 40+ hr week, with little sleep, but hopefully still a lot of play, which makes for even less sleep. It only took me a week to get back on my school schedule which means that when I get to sleep in I only sleep until 7 or 7:30. I go to bed Friday night and get all excited that I can sleep till all hours of the morning on Saturday, only to look at the clock and it only says 7:15 and I'm wide awake. It's a little frustrating, especially since I was so excited to sleep. It's all good though, I do get more done this way.

As for the kids I started with 6 of the 13 I will have this year. We have had a fun first week. They are some dang cute kids. Funniest thing that happened this week was when my smallest kid was clothed-lined during a game of Red-Rover. Couldn't stop laughing! Best thing about the first week of school, No bites or hair being pulled. I call that a successful first week.

My first day of school picture

I Love 'em All The Same

You would think that after already having 12 nieces and nephews that adding 2 more wouldn't be a big deal, but it is. I still get so excited when I find out that I am going to be an aunt again.

Addison was born in April and had to spend a couple of months in the NICU, since she wasn't actually suppossed to be born until July. I was able to see her in the hospital once and then again on her blessing day earlier this month. I have yet to hold her, but that will change tonight! I also can't wait until I work my way into being her favorite Aunt!

I knew the minute I saw a picture of Nash that I was already his favorite Aunt. Lets get real for a minute, I brought down the comfy chair his mom sits in to feed and rock him to sleep and lets face it when mom is happy so is baby...well prob not always, but hopefully the comfy chair helps, anyway thats gotta put me on top!

So niece number 8 and nephew number 6 welcome to the family! I am very excited to be your Favorite Aunt!! (Ok when I say favorite aunt, its actually a wish. I have some nieces and nephews wrapped around my finger, or more like me wrapped around their fingers, ok so i'm wrapped around all their little fingers, the other ones, well it's a battle between Me and my ever so young and energetic sister, Jodee. I'm still trying to figure out why she's such a big deal.)

Giddy-Up Cowgirl...or Not

Who would've thought I would be a chicken little when it came to riding a horse? (I am actually realizing that I am a chicken little about more things than I thought I was) Jamon took me up to the Andelin Reunion a couple of weeks ago, and lucky me I got to go horseback riding. I wanted to have the confidence to gallop around like a rodeo princess, but no, I had no confidence. Jamon made sure that I had the best and calmest horse. After we finally got some stirrups that were short enough for my petite stature and I gave Steve, my calm horse a pep talk we headed out on our excursion. They told me Steve would follow all the other horse's and stop when they stopped. They were right. He did a pretty good job and when I pulled the reins in a direction he actually went that direction. We had a moment when one horse kicked another horse and that horse ran into Steve. Poor Steve was frightened and started to run off, and that about did it for me. I was scared out of my mind. Of course the worst thing that could happen started running through my head and I thought for sure I was going to get thrown off. I was able to calm Steve and myself down. My least favorite thing about riding a horse would be going down hill. Steve didn't want to go slow. He wanted to catch up with all his horse buddies. He probably really wasn't going that fast, but I was still a little scared. But here I am writing to tell you about it. I don't think I'll be riding like a rodeo princess anytime soon, but I can at least say I did it. I'm not making any promises to go again either!

Boston: Trip 2...Plus SO much more!!

I have to say that I think I just had one of my top trips ever (sorry to Camille and all my Texas trips). I have always wanted to go back east and see what is was like. I've been to New York and loved it and I've already been to Boston, but to actually travel around was Amazing. It is so green out there. The color of the flowers are so much deeper then they are here in Utah. I spent a lot of time oohing and aahing over every flower I saw. The best ones were at Kristie's house. I've never seen a flower that actually looked so blue. Driving around was different. There are so many trees everywhere that you never knew when you were driving past a town. You only saw the big cities. Trees are everywhere, every hill and valley was covered in trees. You hardly ever see an open space. I think I will be a frequent visitor of New England!

So are you ready for it? Get comfortable...here it goes.

Monday night Jed, Jamon and I started out in the SLC airport where we were approached and asked to upgrade to first class so a family could sit by each other. They offered 3 for 1 upgrade which means all 3 of us upgraded to first class for the price of 1. I was very excited. The seats are much bigger and the sleep so much better!

Kristie (my old roommate who I visited the last time I was in Boston) picked us up and took us to her house. We got ready for the day and set out to walk the "Red Line," better known as the Freedom Trail. I did it in October, but it was still fun to walk it with the boys (I lovingly will refer to Jed and Jamon as "the boys"). We saw the State House, the Shipping Yard, Bunker Hill, the Old North Church, and all the many other attractions around Boston. On our way back to Kristie's it started to rain. We really had no where to go so we ran through the it, and ended up being drenched from head to toe. Good times!

Wednesday we hit the road. Kristie, who I will forever love and who I owe big time, let us take her car for a couple of days. We drove down to Cape Cod where we played in the ocean. While playing in the ocean I noticed some splashing which seemed a little odd to me. It kept getting closer and closer to shore. We just kept watching the splashes in curiosity when all of a sudden a seal peeked its head out of the water. The seal was on the hunt and the splashes were fish trying to get away from it. We saw it a few more times. It was so Awesome!! Highlight of the trip so far. After that we went to the Gayest town in America, Provincetown, MA. Not Happy Gay, but Gay Gay. I guess it's the favorite vacation spot for all of our gay friends. So many guys in speedo's and cowboy hats. I tried to get a picture of the boys together, Jamon didn't think that was very funny, although I thought it was. The boys were nice enough to by me dinner that night. No I didn't have sea food. I had what I like to call Farm food, Ribs! They were delicious. That night we drove to Rhode Island and found a quaint little hotel. Okay so it wasn't quaint. It was dumpy, but the price was right. We slept soundly and then headed to Providence. We saw the state capital and a few of the old colonial houses and then off to Connecticut. (We really had not reason to go to Rhode Island or Connecticut, but to say that we've been there, so we didn't do much.) Connecticut has one of the coolest state capitals. It looks like a castle. We also rode a Carousel that is something like 90 years old. Oh, what good times. Next it was on to some little town with some guy that did something good. I may not know what he did exactly, but his house and yard were beautiful. We just sat and relaxed for a while, and then it was back to home. Home being Boston.

We spent the 4th of July in Boston. We went to a flag raising, followed a parade of different armed forces, some past, some present, tried to listen to a reading of the Declaration of Independence (too many people and not a good sound system), watched the USS Constitution fire off a 21 cannon salute, and then had a 2 hour nap. After our nap we headed off to the Boston Pop's/Rascal Flatts Concert and the best fireworks show I've ever seen. We sat in the middle of the bridge and the barge that had the fireworks on it was in front of us. It was Amazing. I saw fireworks I've never seen before, smiley faces, 3-D boxes and shooting stars. Once again, Amazing!

What a day Saturday was. We went whale watching, and as one of my favorite preschool songs says, saw a "humongous whale spouting in the water" (yes I sang it, the whole song and all the other fish songs I know!). It was a little chilly, but it was worth it to see 5 Humpback Whales. They are so big. There were a few kids on the boat with us and I felt just like one of them running from side to side and pushing our way through to get the best view of the whales. It was all very exciting! After our excursion to the ocean we went to Legal Sea Foods. Its a very popular seafood restaurant and very expensive. This was the one time I did eat seafood, but it was only clam chowder, not what you were expecting, were you. It was yummy, a little to fishy for my taste, but still good. Next it was on the the Temple. This is the first Temple I have been to outside of Utah. And for those of you who have never been to a Temple outside of Utah, its the same. They don't change anything. We enjoyed our little session of about 20 people and walking around the grounds. They had amazing flowers.

Sunday we went to Church with Kristie and then we did my favorite part, the highlight of the whole trip, Maine. Ogunquit, Maine. I loved it there. We went on walk called the Marginal Way. Not sure why it's called this, but it doesn't matter, It was awesome. There was beach, waves crashing on rocks, the mist of the ocean, and of course my attire. I looked fantastic in my typical New England Clothing. I was very excited to wear it and had way to much fun posing for the camera. I don't know how else to describe it, but that it was so peaceful and relaxing. I could stay there forever. I didn't want to leave and I wish we would've spent more time there. I LOVED IT!

Monday it was off to Vermont where we went to the Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream factory. I am now a fan of Ben and Jerry's! Next we went to the Sugar Bush Farms where they make maple syrup. We learned all about how they do it and I even bought some to share. You want some? Make the pancakes and I'll bring the syrup! After this we went to the Birthplace of Joseph Smith in Sharon, Vermont. This was a very peaceful area. One of the Senior Missionaries gave us a tour and told us all the troubles and miracles they had getting the memorial up. After he invited us to come to FHE. All the other missionary couples were there and a few of the local couples. It was a very funny night. We played games and ate treats with them. Of course being from Utah we all played the "do you know so and so game." I didn't really know anyone, but we tried. That night we camped and Camp Joseph, which is close to the monument. It was amazing. We had little cabins and we were able to start a fire. The best part though was that I saw for the first time fireflies. I know I keep saying this but it was so awesome!

Tuesday we were off to New Hampshire. We saw the state capital and then we headed of to the American Stonehenge. We saw it in a book and thought it would be cool, but it wasn't, or maybe it was, but it wasn't worth checking out for $10, so we didn't see it. It all seemed a little fishy to us, so we took a picture and headed off to the beach. We swam for a while and then headed back to Boston to catch the Red Sox game. What a great game. We were all a little worried that the Sox were going to lose. They came back in the 8th inning and made it a fantastic game to watch! The only downer about the game is that they didn't sell a foot-long hot dog for me to eat!

So that's it. Wednesday we spent forever in airports or on a plane and came home. Now I'm back in Provo, and I've worked a total of 10 hours in 3 days and I still feel surprisingly busy. Sleeping in is fantastic! I hope to go on one more trip before school starts, but we'll see what my finances are after I move and get my truck fixed.

I'm FREE

So it's over...Preschool graduation was yesterday, and it turned out better then ever. And the slideshow, well it, of course, was fantastic!! The best one I've done! It was worth the 15+ hour work days to have everything so perfect. My kids sang, actually is was more imitating the actions then singing, better then they ever have. It was hard to get through some of the songs as I thought about how much progress they have made this year. I think sometimes I forget about how much progress they have made, and instead think about all I wanted to help them with. They are amazing kids. I have to say that as much fun as I had with them, there are only a few I will truly miss. Lets face it, this was a hard year, and i'm glad it over. There are also a few parents I will really miss. They are great examples and always reminded me how to love their kids.

Now what are my plans. Well I plan to play tons and work a little. I'm off to Boston on Monday where I will spend 8 days around the New England states. I am very excited to be anywhere, but work and perhaps even Provo. After that who cares what I do. I'll do whatever I want! Why? Because I can!!

Keep Checking for my Summer Updates

My Class this year. The one and only class picture with all the kids. Notice Riley caught in the act of pinching...I'm definitely not going to miss that!

A Tribute to Haylee

My Dearest Haylee,

You ARE one of my favorite people. I don't know what happened to your picture. So here is a post dedicated to you, and hopefully this makes up for my forgetfullness.

A few of my favorite things about Haylee.

• you have the cutest voice..for those of you that don't know Haylee, she has a deep, raspy voice and it's so cute
• the way you stare me down everytime I come to visit
• your eyes when you smile
• my most favorite thing...when you sing in that deep, raspy voice

Lots of Love to Haylee!!

Camille told me that I am no longer in the lead for favorite aunt in Haylee's eyes, since her picture never ended up on my list of favorite people. If you know me, you need to know that I have a quest to be the favorite aunt to all 13, and one on the way, nieces and nephews. So yes, this is my attempt to get back on top!

Sorry it's blurry...I tried!

A Couple of Firsts

Over Memorial Day I went with a few friends up to a Ranch in Idaho. I was told before I left to wear clothes that I didn't mind getting dirty, really dirty. I knew that we would be working with cows, but I didn't know what to expect. It was really one of the worst things. I give props to ranchers who have to do this every year. So here is my first first...Branding Cattle. I could handle the squishing of the cows in the cage and giving them the shots they needed, even the piercing of the ears was fine. It was the cutting of the ears that started the cow really mooing and if that wasn't bad enough, if it was a bull then they would castrate it. By this time they were mooing like crazy, but this is not where is stopped. They then burned their brand into them. Holy Crap, if I thought they were mooing before it was nothing to how they sounded then. You could see the pain on the cows faces...and yes, I may have felt sorry for the stinky little things. Even worse then the look on the cows face was the smell of the hair burning. I don't think I could ever get used to the smell. I could get used to living on a ranch though. (Okay a ranch with cell phone service. This ranch didn't have any service. It was hard, but I made it). The house was amazing with amazing views out of every window. It was so green and had awesome wildflowers. It really was beautiful and very relaxing!

I was a great helper on the ranch. It's hard work holding the gate open!

Jamon and I with an awesome view of the ranch!

My second first is something I never really thought I could do. I don't think I really even wanted to try, because it sounded to tiring. I'll just start with how it all started. 5 years ago I moved to Provo and decided I wanted to start running. So I did. I would run on the trail and eventually was able to run for 30 min, which I think was about 3 miles. Well this only lasted that one summer and since then the most I've run is 2 miles. So last week I went running and thought I'd push myself and run 3 miles. I got on the Provo trail that heads up the canyon. I started at where I thought the 9 1/2 mile marker was and started running. I ran to the 11 mile marker and turned around and decided I'd run to the 9 1/2 mile marker so I would know for sure that I ran 3 miles. Well I ran and the 9 1/2 mile marker wasn't where I thought it was so I kept running to find it. I never found it but ran to the 9 mile marker and back which in all was a 4 mile run. At this point this is the farthest I have ever ran. Two days later I decide to go running again. Now I know that I can run 4 miles so now I feel like I have to run 4 miles. I get to the trail and start running to the 11 1/2 mile marker. I get running and run past the 11 and I'm looking for the next marker. I never found it. I ran and ran and never found the 11 1/2 or the 12 mile marker. I wanted to know how far I ran so I wanted to find a marker somewhere. I looked at my time and I'd been running for 30 min., so I thought I'd better turn around. I ran back to my truck, and if you know anything about math you can guess that in all I ran for 60 min. A whole hour. I still am shocked. I felt like I could have kept running. It was such a good feeling. So I think if it wasn't a 6 mile run then it had to of been pretty close. Two days later I did it again. After that my knees and ankles were hating me pretty bad so they decided to hurt for a couple of days. So know I am a fan of the long runs and haven't run less then 45 min this week. I think I'll try to run a 10K. Some friends of mine want me to run a half marathon with them. Now that sounds tiring! We'll see what happens.

Can Babies Graduate?

Jodee, my baby sister, just graduated. Not from Kindergarten, but from High School. She's supposed to be ten years old running around getting me anything I wanted because I told her I would time her to see how fast she can do it. I'm sad to say that it is hard for me to treat her like a 18 year old. Let's face it, she's more of a woman than I am. She owned high heels before I did. I work with a girl who just turned 19 and I picture her being much older than Jodee. I am working hard at treating her like a 18 year old, and promise only to time her every once in a while.

Here she is doing the "Toyota Jump."

As you all remember that is how it felt

to Graduate from High School!

High Heels and Red Dresses

Only a month and a half since my last entry...I'm getting better!

So I have ventured into an unknown world...the world of high heels. I bought my first pair of high heels in March and it only took me a month to wear them. I had my high heel debut on April 13, in Texas (I thought trying them where people don't know me would be best since I would most likely never see them again, so if I were to fall it wouldn't matter). I have to say that I did pretty good. I only had a few stumbles. Stairs are a different story, I don't know how many times I've lost my balance, but I just know one day I'm not going to make it. Walking on grass in heels, whoa, I feel like I'm sinking. It's pretty weird, but I guess most girls of the world already know this. After trying out the first pair of heels I decided having two pair wouldn't make me to "girly." So I did, I went and bought another pair (black heels don't go with everything, you've got to have brown too).

If having two pair of heels doesn't make me look to "girly" the dress I bought might. Now I've worn dresses most of my life, but in the past 8 or 9 years skirts have been the attire of choice. So now not only am I wearing heels but I am wearing dresses again. This isn't just any dress either...it's RED. I own and wear a red dress. It is very weird. I feel like it is to short...it shows my knees. I know heaven forbid that my knees show, but I am short and all the skirts I have are longer so when I put this dress on I feel like I am revealing myself to the world. I'm getting used to it and the fact that my legs look fantastic in the heels and the "short red dress" doesn't hurt.

So as my mom said "Thank your roommate for me." I know that many of my fantastic roommates have tried to get me into heels but have not succeeded. My stubborn side came out and the more they tried the more stubborn I became. I do things when I want to do them...it's hard for me to be "girly." You know I would rather be lounging in my comfy pants and a t-shirt. So thanks to Stephanie for helping pick out the heels that make my legs look Amazing!

I'm still here

I've just been helping Camille set up her blogspot and thought maybe it was about time I updated mine.

Here is my life since November...
Christmas came and I couldn't have been more excited to get away from school. Camille and her family came to spend Christmas in Cedar. It was fun having all of them there. Jason and Andrea were also around. We had a good time tubing in the field, building snowmen, and playing Guitar Hero. It has been a long time since i've had a Christmas with little kids around. They didn't disappoint me either. They were so funny, and very excited about all there toys. Santa Clause was very good to me this year. I had a stocking that was almost as big as me, and it was full of stuff. Santa really knows how to make Christmas fun. One of my gifts was Guitar Hero, which as mentioned above, was played all the time. The boys became pros over night and stayed up all night achieving pro-ness. Since then I would't say i've become a pro, but i've had tons of fun playing it and having friends over. I will maintain my amature status.

I had brake problems in January, which stopped all my other fun plans for a few months. At least the fun that cost money. So I've spent alot of time watching movies and hanging out with friends. I know mom...no "hanging out with boys"...they should be taking me on dates, I'm working on it.

I don't know if you've noticed but I also aged a year. I am now 29. I spent alot of time preparing to turn 30 that 29 hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm over it now and preparing for 30 once again. As always my birthday was a party. I love birthdays so I didn't hold back. I went to dinner a couple of times, got a pedicure, treats and cakes everywhere, and a hoppin' dance party. What a great night. Tons of people came and we danced all night. I didn't get my birthday kiss as I'd hoped, but came close.
Now I am Texas playing with Camille and her family. After getting up at 3:30 am to get to the airport, 3 gate changes and 5 hours of delay I finally made it to Houston. The arrival couldn't have been better. Kylee, Brynlee, and Haylee all ran to me when they saw me. It was movie moment just without the guy. From the airport we drove straight to the Minute Maid Stadium to watch the Astros take on the Florida Marlins. They put on a great show and won! Don't worry I had my footlong hotdog!
Since then I have slept a ton, gone to the gym with Camille (it has been a long time since i've been this sore. I can barely move. Lunges...they'll get you every time), and just played with the girls. It has been nice being any where but at work. Which takes me to work. I has been a little rough since the Christmas break. I now have a screamer. She's always been a screamer but now it is all the time and for no good reason. At least any reason I know about. It was really bad. It has been a true test of my patience. Riley is no longer my hardest kid, but he definetaly still has his moments. Just last week he got a nice black eye at school...no I didn't hit him, but if the table can do what I feel like doing, so be it. I have 6 more days before I have to go back. I hope i'm ready! It's sad to say but i'm already counting down the weeks...10 more to go (School goes till the end of June). I'm aleady trying to decide where to travel to this summer...I'm thinking Hawaii...we'll see.

So that's it. We'll see how long it takes me to do this again!