Thanksgiving and a Race

I spent Thanksgiving this year with my roommate Tricia and her family. I decided that I didn't want to go anywhere for the short holiday and they were nice enough to take me in. When the weather was so nasty I was happy I'd made the choice to stay put. 

 I made a pecan pie to contribute to the festivities - I still have a lot of work to do in the perfect pie department but this one turned out pretty good. The filling was great but I didn't like the crust. Still this didn't stop me from eating way too much of it!

Some friends and I decided to run a 5k on Thanksgiving morning. It benefitted the Utah food bank - definitely a great cause with the bonus that it got me out of bed early and I worked off all the calories I'd eat later in the day  It was about 10 degrees and I was wondering what I'd gotten myself into but it turned out to be really fun. This is Kerri, Brett, and I before the race began huddled in the huge crowd. 

 Tricia's whole family participated in the race as well. We had to get a picture of us by the turkey.

This really was a fun way to begin Thanksgiving day and I think I'll be looking for a race to run on this day from now on!

M2

Liz this is Whoa... it took me about 4 months to figure it out. And for the record Preston - I love that you read my blog!!

Not really that bad...

On Tuesday I turned 30! I'm not thinking about this too much because if I do I might start to feel old and really I'm not old I've really just begun to live! 

 On Monday I checked the mail to find two packages in the mail from my mom. This made me very happy and I was very excited to open them up the next morning. She got me exactly what I wanted a button jar (actually she sent me three.) She also included a variety of buttons from her own collection as well as ones from my grandma Joyce's and a promise to add some that she had from my grandma Helen. I can't wait to have my very own big jar of buttons that my nieces can play with anytime they come over. I loved playing with buttons when I was a child! Maybe I am getting old since a highlight in life is acquiring my own collection of buttons. The funny thing is I don't care and the prospect of it makes me very happy. I was telling my friend Kris at work about how excited I was to get this gift and she was so excited too we talked about how her grandma always had a button jar and that she has one now. Then the next day in my mailbox in the office Kris had left me a bag of buttons from her collection to add to mine. This was so sweet of her and I thought you know this is what life is all about finding pleasure in the simple things in life. Also, good friends who add to those simple pleasures by giving good gifts.

 Darlene and Annette provided me with birthday cake at lunch. They are so sweet and made me feel so special. I love going to work each day because of the wonderful people who enrich my life with their personalities. I've learned so much from these women and I'm thankful I get to call them my friends.

When I got to work this is what I found - my sweet roommate had gotten to my room way too early in the morning and along with my friend Raegan had decorated. A while ago Tricia and I had been in a party store and saw these huge balloons. I commented that if I got those for my birthday I'd giggle like a little girl. These balloons made me happy all day every time I looked at them and they have continued making me happy because they're still floating in our kitchen. Now the secret is out to make me happy give me a bag of buttons and a helium balloon. I'm not to hard to please.

My plan for my 30th birthday was to head to the temple right after work, then have dinner at Texas Roadhouse with some friends, and then finish the evening with cake. Unfortunately, there was a forecast blizzard and the media had everyone in panic mode. I grew up where you weren't having fun until it had snowed 2 feet and was blowing. On Tuesday we didn't have any snow and the storm brought about 4 inches. It did blow pretty hard for a good three hours. Still it was a lot of hype and I had to settle for a night at home eating pizza, watching a BYU basketball game, and enjoying cake with friends.
This picture is really great because I had Liz, Gracee, and Emme, on the webcam watching and helping me blow out my candles. When it was all over the little girls were really sad that they didn't get to eat any cake. Liz said Emme woke up the next morning and was still really upset that she didn't get any. So in the future maybe showing them cake they don't get to eat isn't such a good idea.

Brett and Haley enjoying some cake.

I pulled out my camera a little too late and Kendall had already finished his cake but he was a good friend to take a picture with me anyway.

And of course I had to get a picture of my stellar balloons with Tricia!

And yes this is what the storm of the century brought to us. Funny because we are currently getting a lot of snow. Now if it would blow for a week we'd get a taste of a real blizzard! 

It was a wonderful day and I was reminded once again that I have some pretty wonderful friends that make my life very fun. Thank you to every one who remembered me on my "special day" and made feel like the most loved person in the world!

Over all too soon!

The BYU football season has ended - I'm a little sad about this mainly because I love to watch college football and I love to be in the stadium at the game. However, it monopolizes my every Saturday so perhaps it is a good thing that it only lasts three months. Technically they do have a bowl game that I'll get to watch in a few weeks so all the fun hasn't quite ended. 

Here are a couple of shots of the last home game. We had tickets on the 2nd row which always makes the game fun - especially when The Courgars where scoring in our end zone! 

 Kara and I were really excited that it was finally cold enough for us to sport our warm hats.

 I'm so glad to have fun friends to sit with and cheer on BYU. Even though it hasn't been the world's best season we have had a great time.

After the football game Kendall and I went over to the Marriott Center to watch a little basketball. We only stayed for the first half - it was getting late, it was snowing, the Cougars were up by plenty, and really there is probably only so much live sports a person should watch in one day. Even though football is finished I'm excited that there will be plenty of basketball games to enjoy.

Fantasy: A story that takes place in another world, containing elements that could never happen.

Yes - I am one of those people - I love Harry Potter. A few months ago my friend Raegan and I decided to celebrate the genre of fantasy with a Harry Potter week. We've been excited about this week ever since. We were not disappointed. 

 How cool are these Luna Lovegood glasses? The best thing about them is they are great sunglasses. Don't be surprised if you see me wearing them this summer!

 Tricia joined in our fun and had her own Harry Potter week with her class. Raegan and I were probably more concerned with what we were wearing everyday than what we had planned with our kids. And as you can tell we had some pretty great Potter stuff to wear!
On Monday morning we sorted our students into houses we called them each up sat them on a stool and put a sorting hat on their heads - it was great! At the end of the day my kids learned the "Hogwart's school song" as found in the first book. Then we sang it to Raegan's third graders.
On Tuesday we wore house ties - which I have a picture of but it's at school. Our student's made wands and they turned out super cute and very cool! Then we had them write about them and we got back together at the end of the day and had the principal whom we called Professor Dumbledore most of the week and our janitor whom we called Hagrid come and inspect their wands as the students shared with each other what spells their wands could cast.

 On Wednesday we sent the students on a Horcrux hunt. They had to solve a problem and then go and find the clue that was placed around the school. I think they had a lot of fun. At the end of the day my student's taught the younger students the school song.

 Thursday we played Quiditch - which was possibly one of the funniest things I've ever seen and played a game of Pottergy (Jeopardy all about Harry Potter).
Then Raegan and I met Tricia for dinner and headed to an advanced showing of Harry Potter 7 part 1. I have to say that out of all the movies this one followed the book the closest. I was glad we were leaving the theater at midnight instead of just going in. Unfortunately, today I came down with a horrible cold - didn't I just get over one of these? Honestly!

 Friday we met together the last 1/2 hour of school to count house gems that the student's had earned throughout the week. I have been knitting this Harry Potter scarf for about three months. I was supposed to be making two but I'm a bit of a procrastinator. So I started to crochet one because I'm faster at crocheting. It was obviously that I wasn't going to get them done in time. Then Kris our fabulous librarian who taught me how to knit took both scarves home and finished them. She is a hero of mine and someday I want to be just like her!

Oh and don't you just love my Ron Quiditch Keeper hat? It's pretty great! And I know what you're all thinking you'd like to be in my class and it's true we have a pretty great time!!

Taco Tuesday

 Some friends in my ward have "Taco Tuesday" every Tuesday night. My favorite thing about this is that they don't eat tacos. I've been invited the last month but haven't been able to attend. On Tuesday they were making calzones and I was free for the evening to I headed over. Bret made the dough from scratch and it was very yummy!

One rough week!

The first week of November was a bit rough - I caught a cold and wasn't happy to say the least - I was a bit stressed because of report cards and parent teacher conferences and unfortunately I got a lot worse before I got better. 

 One highlight of the week was eating yummy cake with my friend Kerri for her birthday!

 By Thursday night I had lost my voice completely! Teaching all day and over four hours of talking to parents was just too much- This was a first for me - Hopefully it won't happen again anytime soon!

 Friday night I was very happy to snuggle up in my bed for some sleep - So glad I have a laptop so I can enjoy a movie especially when I'm not feeling well.

Even though I was sick I still headed to Provo on Saturday for another fun BYU football game. Our boys in blue have finally started to play like the team we've hoped they were all season. Since I didn't have a voice I just clapped and had fun watching the game.

One last time...

I'm getting old- I'm ok with this -but there are a few things that I'm leaving behind with this next birthday. Singles dances - very specifically Halloween dress up ones- are one of these. With that said, it should also be stated that this whole outing was completely my idea. I wanted another place to wear my costume and poor Tricia and Kendall got talked into it. 

 I think this is hilarious! I really didn't even fit in the car. Really rather awkward!

When we got there I thought a.... maybe this really wasn't such a great idea - but there has to be a last time for everything right? We ran into some ward friends - 

Kendall was a good sport and came along even though I know there's a list of 30 things he'd rather have been doing.

 Tricia and I took one last picture of our last ever single's Halloween dance. Let it be stated that I'm never going to one ever again- or at least until I'm asked to chaperon one. I've decided that my generation missed the boat and doesn't really dance- all they do is jump up and down to really loud music. I wish I would have been raised in my grandparents generation where everyone learned to jitter-bug, walz, or I'd even rather square dance than do what my generation calls dancing. Anyway I'm giving singles dances up!

And I had to take one last picture of me in this fabulous costume! I told my mom that we only have to make 6 before I'll start rotating through them. So this is three down and three to go!

I'm a bit behind but I have good reason...

I'm about a month behind - I've been busy here's why...

Look at this cute little guy! I had dinner with my cousin and his wife and got to hold their beautiful little guy. So much fun!

 Tricia and I made this amazing wreath for our friend Preston who loves candy corns. Liz had made one and told me what we needed to do. We took our project to home evening to do and skipped carving pumpkins. - A little secret about me - I really don't like carving pumpkins. This was a lot of fun and I didn't get slimy.

 On Oct. 30th we took the wreath and hung it on Preston's door to celebrate National Candy Corn Day. It's always fun to leave someone a surprise.

Here I am with my great friend Raegan. - Don't tell anyone but teacher's really don't like crazy days like celebrating Halloween - sure the parade is cute and I love seeing all the kids dressed up but it is a long day. And it is usually chaotic. My party went better than I expected it to and I didn't have a headache after school which made it a very great day!!

A Visit from Marianna

Marianna told me should would drive down if I ever had an extra football ticket. I was so happy she could make it. I told her to come on Friday and I'd take her out to dinner. 

We enjoyed Cafe Rio salads. Yum!!

We met my friend Maurianne for an Orchestra on Temple Square Concert and after it enjoyed delicious desserts at this delightful place in downtown. 

The next morning we met Kara and enjoyed french toast at Maglebys before we headed to the game. 

 Here we are during the 4th quarter of the game. We were playing Wyoming and we were only up by 4 or 5 points. They were making a great drive. I was really nervous that they were going to score and we'd loose. Much to my relieve our defense held them and we won. Glad the boys in blue pulled it out for Marianna's visit. 

And here is a favorite of mine! Sugar cookies from Great Harvest in Taylorsville. Really if you're in the area you should definitely stop in and pick one up. I'd call ahead and order one cause they run out quickly! 

Sometimes my Heart is in...

Chandler

When I got home from Southern Utah I had a letter and this is what it contained. I've got this beautiful picture that Lilly painted for me hanging in my room. I love this little one and it makes my heart happy that she painted me a picture. I am well loved and taken care of!