The start of something wonderful!

Monday started my first week of my last track break. It's k

ind of bittersweet. Yes I'm excited for it to be track break so I can be on vacation but I am not excited that this two weeks is my last track break of the year. And that means its 9 more weeks until the end of the school year! Yuck! But let's not look at the bad stuff! Cause right now I'm on vacation!! 

So Wednesday I headed down to Cedar City to hang out with Derick for a while before I had to get to Las Vegas. While I was there I got to meet all of his friends, we went on a hike, went to Derick's tennis practice at the high school, and went to eat. Then I headed down to Chelsea's house to spend some time with them. 

It was fun playing with Chelsea's little girl Karlee and talking with Chels. It was fun reminiscing about old college roommates and the fun things we did. 

I stayed there Thursday and got to go with them to story time at the library and the park. Then I left on Friday for Arizona.  Saturday we got up and went on a hike of Thumb Butte. 

It was a fun hike (steep on the way up but nice and relaxing on the way down) and you could see all the way out into the valley. It was cool. 

Today we just went to church, had some yummy elk roast, played ladder golf, and watched movies. I just can't say it enough--I love vacation!

Enough already

Well I guess it's true what they say..."When one thing goes bad...it all goes bad!" Friday morning I woke up with a horrible pain in my stomach. Thinking it was only cramps, I got in the shower hoping to make it feel better. Well it didn't. It turned into about 40 minutes of throwing up. I called a few girls from work hoping to find someone to sub for me but no luck. I barely made it through blow drying my hair and put on the bare minimum amount of makeup to make me at least look decent. I barely made it to work on time. Thank goodness it was only a half day at school. And that goodness for Magic School Bus movies! LOL Well then through the weekend it turned into a horrible cough and a bad sore throat. I also got a stye in my eye and now my nose and eyes itch and I've been sneezing all day probably due to allergies. Gosh, can't a girl have enough already??? :)

Spring Break

Last year for spring break, a couple of girls from work and I decided that since it's the only time we all have a break together, we would go to California and hit Disneyland. So of course this year we decided to continue that tradition. But this time hit California Adventure. (Yes since we are teachers we can only afford one park at a time! LOL) So Tina, Kate, and I left Wednesday afternoon after school got out. We decided to drive down to Las Vegas and stay the night there instead of driving all the way through. We stayed at the Stratosphere but decided that we wanted to meet up with another teacher from work and see the Bellagio fountains and the flowers. Of course we took silly pictures and laughed so hard we all were about to pee our pants! Thursday we drove down to Temecula (a small town between LA and San Diego) where Kate had family. So we decided to hit the mall and get lots of good food. That night we headed to our hotel in Anaheim. Friday it was supposed to rain so we decided to go to the LA temple, which is amazing inside, get pedicures, walk the Santa Monica pier, and see a movie. Saturday we got up and went to California Adventure. None of us had been there but it turned out to be fun. I loved to roller coaster and Soaring over California but boy did Tower of Terror freak me out! But don't worry I still went on it twice! :) Over all we had a blast but I was sure exhausted after that weekend! But hey, three more days and here comes another vacation...Arizona here I come!! 

Birthday fun!

Ok ok! I know it's been a while since I last wrote! And I wish more was going on so that I had some kind of excuse! But the only thing note worthy since I last wrote was that I had my birthday! Yes...the big 26!! It was a fun birthday this year. Still wish I was around my family for it but hey thats what I get for moving out here to Utah. But mom and dad both send presents and Kristi sent me Twilight! Yeah! And Terra sent me a cute picture holder with pics and artwork from Dakota! I also got tons of birthday wishes! Thanks everyone! I had to work on my birthday but I love being able to share it with my class. Once they found out it was going to be my  birthday they were stoked! I got lots of presents and flowers from my kids and one mom even brought in a cake! My little girl Madeline was so worried that I wouldn't have a birthday cake because my mom isn't here so she made sure I got one! So cute! Then after work, my friends Meg and Kate took me out to Applebee's for dinner and to a movie afterwards. We saw Duplicity with Julia Roberts and it was sort of a disappointment- but still a fun night! Thanks girls! And yes, still no pics. My home computer is being retarded and taking forever to load. but as soon as I get it worked out I'll post some! Promise! 

Thankful...

I don't know how many of you know about the show on HBO called "Big love" but it is supposedly about a fictional modern day polygamist family who lives here in Utah. When the show first game out the makers said that they aren't really talking about "the Mormons". Well tonight they are airing an episode that supposedly takes viewers through an LDS temple. They've said that they are going to be showing the endowment session and the celestial room. They've hired and ex-mormon to help them build scenes and to tell them exactly what happens during these sacred rituals. Anyone can go through a temple during time that a temple is having an open house before its dedicated. Here they can see each of the rooms and signs are posted throughout explaining what happens in each room. However, like most other faiths, the temple is a place reserved for sacred worship. Having been able to go through the temple myself for the past few years I can honestly say that there is nothing shocking, weird, or inappropriate that takes place. I am interested to see how this HBO show portrays these rituals and the story line that would allow a polygamist to go to the temple. However, I will not be watching the episode. The funny thing is, they are showing this episode in hopes that their ratings will improve. So I hope others will put aside their curiosity and not watch the show.  

Well, then this morning while on the internet I came across a few pictures and websites where people have been talking about this whole thing. The worst website that I came across was a site where people were talking about their bad experiences in the temple. I was mortified about how people were talking about going and not understanding what was happening or that it was simply boring so they never went back. I can't even put into words how I felt as I was reading the reasons these people had for leaving the church. I honestly believe the people that spread these rumors about weird or inappropriate things that happen inside the temple, simply don't understand LDS doctrine. I don't believe they were ready or prepared to go through the temple. Not because anything is shocking or scary but because I don't think they were prepared or at a place in their life where they are ready to incorporate the blessings that going to the temple brings into someone's life. I have felt the spirit multiple times in the temple. I know the things that we promise our Heavenly Father in the temple are sacred to my life. I have spent many hours in the celestial room feeling embraced by the love Christ has for me. It was sad to read that someone went through the temple once and never felt that love or the spirit and turned away from the church and never went back. I feel bad for these people. I am thankful that this controversy has come up because it has made me truly think about the blessings that the temple has brought to my life. I am thankful that I know and have felt my Heavenly Father's love and I know that this is His true church. One silly show, not commissioned by God, is not going to make me outraged or change my mind. It will however, make my glad that I am a part of this church and one of His "peculiar people." 

Check-Ups and 100th day of School

Today was a big day. First off, it was our 100th day of school! Yes I know, a pretty lame thing to be celebrating but belive me it is a huge accomplishment (especially for the teacher) to know that you've made it through 100 days with these "wonderful" little tikes! And now we only have about 60-70 days left of school! Thanks goodness! LOL But it really is a fun day. We wear fun 100's day glasses, bring in collections of 100 things, and basically lots of activities having to do with....you got it 100! The kids end up having fun and the poor teacher goes home exhausted. ha ha what's new about that?? LOL After school I also went to the eye doctor for...can you believe it... my 1 month LASIK check-up! I can't believe it's already been a month! Boy does time fly. But all in all my eyes are doing great. I can see 20/20 but my eyes still need about 2 months to heal completely. I can see just fine but have a bit of trouble with lights. I still see halos and starbursts arounds some lights, especially at night. But the doctor says that should start going away as my eyes heal more. (HOPEFULLY) But all in all, everything is great!! Happy 100th day everyone!

Kissing ball

Valentine's Day kissing ball

So as I was blog hopping (aka stalking) when I came across a tutorial on how to make kissing balls. I have loved the look of these cute little balls of flowers ever since I saw them hanging in the Wynn hotel in Vegas. And I have always wanted to make one of my very own. Then, I read that according to tradition if an eligible young lady received a kiss on the cheek under the kissing ball, marriage would soon follow. What?? No wonder! I better get making my kissing ball....and fast! :)

Kissing ball made with Hydrangea