New School and New Job

Click here to learn more about Utah Youth Village

Our new adventures begin. After being spoiled with Barrett's flexible job and me not having a job, we are now finished with the summer. Barrett started school at the University of Utah yesterday. He calls himself a nerd because he is taking two Chemistry classes, Intro to Bioengineering, and Calculus. I just think he's crazy. I felt like a mom sending off their child so I decided to take a picture. He said "I bet my mom would like that," jokingly, because I don't think he thought I was serious. But I was.


I am now an employee of Utah Youth Village and working with the Families First program (which you can read about on their website you can click on above). I will be in homes helping improve the communication pattern between youth and their parents. I don't start until September 8th, but am so excited to make a difference. The only down part is that I have to work afternoons and evenings when the families are home... but that's how life goes. This is what I have always wanted to do, so I have to take the good with the bad.

Lagoon Day

I went on an unexpected trip to Lagoon Monday with some of Barrett's family. I hadn't been there for probably three years and felt like a little kid again because I was so nervous to go on the first rollercoaster. However, I got over my fears fast and loved the two new rides: Wicked and The Spider.


The favorite Yates ride, Tilt-a-whirl



We tried to find the best combination to spin the most.... this wasn't it



Porter's first ride on the Re-entry side of The Rocket



I screamed more going up than being dropped



I should have taken more pictures but at least I got this cute one of all of us

Why is it so easy to make a crease while ironing but so hard to get it out?

Since my marriage in May I have basically been a housewife with no kids. Now don't get me wrong, I completely respect women who choose to stay home and run a household... when they have children. As for me, I continue to find ways to keep myself busy, the latest being reading Breaking Dawn, the newest book in the Twilight series. But before the book, I kept myself busy finishing wedding stuff like thank you's and pictures, working for a lady in my parents' ward, grocery shopping, washing, and cooking. And if I do say so myself, all have been successes including the easy meals I have made. But... today I found something I am not good at. Ironing. It's not like I haven't ironed before: straight skirts, flat placemats, a pair of shorts here and there, you know, nothing out of my comfort zone. But as for men's shirts. Well, just look at it:





So, I got to thinking (after a long day of nothing) how come it is so easy to crease a shirt, but when you try to iron it out, the crease stays unchanged? Being the analytical, communication major that I am, I analyzed that. I am somewhat like a high school seminary teacher who finds strange analogies out of unimportant things, and then applies it to life. My crease is like making a mistake or an incorrect choice. The crease forms so easily, but sometimes it extremely hard to erase from your life. I will try and remember that when I am about to make a clever remark to someone. I guess staying home has some pluses. I learn new skills and often find revelations to life while I'm at it. After writing the blog in my head I put Barrett's white shirt back on the hanger only to realize I hadn't ironed the front. I smiled and continued my unskilled ironing.

Erin's Haircut

I finally did it... I cut my hair! I have been wanting to for a long time and it is finally finished. I cut off about 9 inches and now my hair is the shortest it has ever been.

Bear Lake

We went to Bear Lake with Barrett's mom's side of the family (the Taylors) and played outside everyday! Here are pictures of all that we did. Sorry for the long post.

Getting ready to leave!


Random picture while setting up our room

Barrett surfing! Yes you can actually surf behind a boat...

Barrett's dad

I've never gotten up behind a boat before, so here if my first experience... trying to surf. You can tell my form is not as good as everyone else.



The best picture of me falling. You can literally see the water going into my face.


Barrett's sweet moves while wakeboarding

Tubing!

For those of you who were there, this was Barrett's "flying off the tube" picture

At the beach

The Rodeo during Raspberry Days in Laketown