Summer Celebrations

What I am actually writing a blog post? I know it is a little crazy. I just haven't had anything fun and exciting to post.
Let's see...
School is out for the summer! Wahoo! I had a great group of kids this year. Some were harder than others but I really do enjoy my job.
Birthday celebrations have been in full swing at our house. My mom had a birthday on the 12th. Since I was going to be in Moab we celebrated a day earlier at Sizzler. Grandma and Carter joined us. Carter has become quite the character. He loves outdoor equipment. He chainsawed his roll with sound effects of course. He has a pretend chainsaw, lawnmower, weed wacker, leaf blower. He is hilarious with them.

My mom in Kindergarten

Carter and Grandma JoAnn at Sizzler

On Wednesday the 12th I went with my singles ward to Moab. It was really hot. Thursday it got up to 105. I didn't melt but my deodorant did. I remember as a kid going to National Parks with my family...we hiked quite a few places. This trip was spent hiking. Some of our group hiked at least three different times: morning, afternoon and at night. I like to hike but I am not that dedicated. The good thing about these super activities is the friends you make. I used to know a lot of the ward members but this past year I feel like I haven't quite reached out and met people. This trip was a good time for me to get reacquainted with people and meet new ones.

Alex, Kelsy, me and Lydia Tentmates!
We hopped in the car to cool off for a bit!

Me, Alex and Meghan at Dead Horse

My mom told me that I have been to Dead Horse but I don't remember it. This place was so beautiful. I love Southern Utah. We did a little hike...about 1.2 miles. The overlooks were gorgeous! Plus the wind was blowing so that helped us stay a little cool and we would spritz ourselves with water. 

Balanced Rock

This is called Courthouse Towers.
If you look close you can see the divots like
someone started at the top and scratched.
So cool!

On Friday we went in to Arches. I went with a group that mostly drove around the park and did the little hikes. It was perfect we would get really hot and then hop in the car roll our windows down and view the park. Pictures don't quite do Arches National Park justice. 

You'll notice my face is bright red.
It was hot!
But amazing to see.

We were planning on just doing the lookout to delicate arch but then we decided that we would hike up and see the back of the arch. It was hot but worth it. 

This is my good friend Morgan.
I am very good friends with his older sister Ali.
I had to take a picture of him because he just looks like a typical tourist:camera, backpack, water bottle.

Moab was a great trip and I was glad that I went.

Stay tuned for part two.

Loved Ones

I know I haven't posted in forever. I just haven't felt like Blogging. Tonight I learned one of the sweetest old ladies passed away..Meg Williams. Meg was good friends with one of our old neighbors, Dotty. When Dotty passed away Meg moved into her house. I remember mowing Meg's lawn in the summers and her paying me quite well. I didn't love mowing up that hill but it was worth it.She would always say hi to me when I ran into her at the store. She had beautiful silver gray hair. When I graduated from high school Meg gave me money for Utah State. She was a fellow Aggie and loved Logan just as much as me. As she got older her health declined like many older people. This past big snow storm, I went over and shoveled off her deck and a pathway to the garbage. Little did I know that this would be my last time seeing her. She had called my dad saying her ice machine wasn't working so I made sure I checked it for her. I got it working and she was happy. I am so glad I had that little chance to serve her before she was reunited with her husband and all of her friends waiting in Heaven.
Moral of the story make sure you tell your loved ones that you love them. Spend time with them and help them. Even if it's just something simple. I am so grateful for this gospel and I know Meg is in a good place.

PS Josh is doing well and loving Korea. So proud of him.

                                                    Josh at the Meat Buffet

Feeling the Christmas Spirit

As many of you know I have a brother named Will. He is the next oldest after me. He is a great guy and can be so sweet. Many years we have asked him what he wants for Christmas where he will reply give the money to the needy or someone who needs it. This year I asked him again what he wanted or needed for Christmas..he finally had a reply. Buy some toys for one of these kids. He sent me a text with ages and gender of the kids. It happened to be a family with 2 boys and 4 girls just like our family.
My sisters and I joined together and started making lists of what we could give them. We spent time hours shopping for this family and it was worth it. Will and his friend Conor went shopping yesterday and spent over 500 dollars for this family in need. I know Will enjoyed every minute of it. Will was even asking kids in the aisle what kind of toys they liked. Will kept saying Christmas is for the kids and they deserve to have something. We don't know the family personally so it was a little hard to shop for clothes for people you have never met, but it felt so good to help someone that needed it.
Last night we gathered all of the things we had bought through out the day and wrapped. It wasn't a ton from our family but it felt good to do it. And the best was that we had got Will a present that made him truly happy. He was like a little kid at Christmas so excited to share and see all the presents. I am so proud of my brother that he would give up his Christmas presents to someone who really needed them. Will amazes me!
Here is a picture of all the presents. The boys even put ribbon around the presents.

Thank you Will and Conor for letting us participate. Merry Christmas to all!
I am especially grateful this season to have a family who loves me, a dad who is recovering from a horrific accident, a missionary brother and wonderful friends and family around.
Make sure you tell and show your loved ones how much they mean to you.

Oh hey October!

Yes I am still alive. I can't believe that we are half way throught October. I haven't been blogging much because I really don't have much to say. Nothing too exciting is going on in my life.
Josh does enter the MTC on Halloween. I am going to miss him so much. Although we don't spend a ton of time together it will be weird not having him around. I am so so excited for him. He wore his suit on Sunday and he looks so grown up. He is going to be a great missionary. I believe Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when he set up Josh's leave date...especially since my dad has been unable to do many things. Dad was in the accident on the12th of June and Josh got his call on the 13th. I am so glad my dad is safe and that he has been able to heal.
Will had to have his appendix removed last week. I was visiting the Long's while Will was in surgery so Carter and I made a little video. You have to turn the volume up. And no I didn't bribe him with the halloween cake he already had it. Oops I guess you have to turn your head to watch it...I have no idea how to turn it.

I will try and upload some pictures from Western Legends in Kanab that we went to in August. I love Kanab nothing competes with that place.

A BUSY WEEK

A lot has happened since my Mom's birthday. My dad was in a rollover..he rolled six times. Thankfully, he is only scraped and bruised and a broken leg. I know that Heavenly Father was looking out for him. Josh opened his mission call the next morning. We had breakfast burrito after he opened his call. It was so wonderful to see him surrounded by those who love and support him. He has been called to the serve in the Seoul, Korea Mission.

 He enters the MTC October 31st. I am so excited for him and know he will make a great missionary.
Some highlights of the Zions trip that I just returned from.

• While driving down Becca walked into the Men's Bathroom at a gas station. The Urinals clued her in.
• I blessed a sneezer in the front seat...little did I know it was a drink being opened.
• Swimming in the beautiful pool

• Hiking and taking in the gorgeous scenery of Zion

• Getting to know friends better and making new friends.
• Using muscles I didn't know I had.

• Yummy dutch oven cobblers
• Spending time in the great outdoors....which also helped me get a tan.
• Riding in the car with Morgan, Alex and Becca and changing the names of things.
• Actually using everything I packed and not over packing.
• Mr. Dan Newbold keeping my People magazine modest...ha ha what a funny kid!

• Not a single drop of rain...it always rains at Super Activities.
• This trip also helped me appreciate my bed... ha ha.

This month is such a special one!

Happy Birthday to my mom! She is a wonderful mother and I love her dearly. We celebrated her birthday on Sunday with some cake and ice cream. Aunt Nancy made a delicious chocolate cake and I made cinnamon roll cake. If you havent tried cinnamon roll cake you need to. It is easy and pretty fast.
Today we went to Olive Garden with Grandma JoAnn.
Something very special will be happening tomorrow....Josh will be receiving his mission call. I am so very excited, and a little sad. But Josh said it's not like I am dying just the opposite.
I will continue more later.

May Already?

I can not believe that it is already May. Today was my last day with the preschoolers that come on Monday and Wednesday. I was telling the parents thanks for sharing their kids....and I got a little teary. This school year has gone by so fast. It has been an enjoyable preschool year. I have had to make a few adjustments and somethings I dont like. But for the most part I enjoy my job.
Nothing too exciting going on in my life. Carter turned two in April and he is so adorable.
I did have a fun spring break. We went to Antelope Island,

                                                           View from the Visitor's Center

 Amy and I went to Logan for lunch. We passed the Brigham City Temple.....it's getting closer to being finished.

One day we went to Red Robin with the siblings and Carter, Jameson and Nancy for Carter's birthday.

I was able to watch Carter and J one friday while Nancy went to work.

Grandpa and Grandma took us to Maddox. Carter loved the reception stick! He is a chocolate loving boy!

Just a few more pictures of the cute boy. We did a little shopping and he loves modeling glasses for us.

We spent some time in the back yard. Carter loves to go "side."

Have a wonderful May Day!!!
I am excited to spend more time outside and of course time by the pool!
Is anyone still wondering about JP? Well I will admit after christmas I was a little disappointed, I spent a lot of time talking to him. We haven't really communicated since then and I dont want to talk to him.  I dont see a point in it. I am not interested....he was not what I was expecting. But i did learn from it. Just had to put that out there.