River Rafting!

I returned from Jackson, Wyoming this afternoon. I went camping and river rafting with the Brighton 9th YSA ward! It was so fun! I knew two or three people going, so it was kind of out of my comfort zone, but everyone was awesome and helped me to feel so welcome! I slept in a tent with six other girls...there were 31 people total. I made several new friends and I am excited to build those friendships. On the raft, I started out in the middle because I was afraid to paddle....I seriously thought I'd fall off the side. After the last large rapid (Lunch Counter), I switched places with someone and paddled the last mile or two. We rafted an 8 mile stretch of the Snake River! Since I am not paying almost $30 for a river rafting picture, the link to the website that has all eight of the pictures taken of the boat I was on is below. It was taken at Lunch Counter, where we went through about 5 "waves." The river was really high and pretty rough, it was a blast. There might be more pictures coming....one of the girls brought a camera on the boat and will be emailing us some as soon as the pictures are developed. If you have not gone river rafting, you need to go!!!!

River Rafting Photos

Pictures below:

The Grand Tetons--we camped in the Grand Teton National Forest just outside of Jackson, WY.


Our boat!!!


Standing at by Lunch Counter--the next day!


Close up of Lunch Counter



Valley outside of Jackson--you just can't beat scenery like this!

Sorta Tagged--Join the Fun!

My friend Amber was "tagged" and decided to leave the "tagging" open to whoever wanted to participate! So I am participating and am also leaving the "tagging" open to whoever wants to participate!

Joys
1. Being with my family
2. Playing & coaching soccer/teaching
3. Spending time with friends

Fears
1. Rodents in my room (no joke...had a little unexpected roommate over a year ago...YUK!)
2. Never getting married---sad but true. I've pretty much given up...don't feel bad for me. I help raise over 200 kids every year!
3. My schedule this fall--being so busy I'll wear myself into the ground and my friends will forget that I exist!!!

Goals
1. Earn a masters degree
2. Be less selfish
3. Finsh deep cleaning bedroom and classroom--and then stay organized!

Obsessions/Collections
1. Being on time...I hate being late and I hate it when I have to wait for someone who is late.
2. Soccer--no explanation needed
3. Cards...I love a good greeting card and I secretly want to own a Hallmark!!!

Random
1. Um...I have no idea...I'm doing this because I made a complete mess of my apartment...I just sorted through two boxes of pictures and they are now sitting in piles at my feet, my laundry is on the couch and I should be cleaning up!
2. Does anyone know when 24 is starting again? I miss FHE with Brother Jack (quoting my mom)
3. I don't think its possible to be random upon request...???

Random

I have nothing exciting to blog...not that I ever have anything exciting to blog!

I sprained my ankle (again) last Tuesday night in my soccer game and have had physical therapy everyday (except Sunday) and will have it everyday this week as well. I don't think my ankle is getting any better, but they tell me it looks better each day. They tape my ankle each day, even if I don't have soccer...I think its because they know I'll probably do things whether I am hurt or not and won't care of whether or not the thing is taped. Though it is a minor injury, it is always frustrating to be less than 100%. Saturday I played in my outdoor game and I came out on a breakaway and the girl pushed the ball in front of her and slid into me cleats up as I went down hitting me straight in the same ankle I sprained...nice. Then I was an idiot and played kickball at a YSA activity Saturday night...without it taped, so the thing swelled like crazy! Hopefully it will get better soon!!

I've been deep cleaning my room this past week! Now, anyone who knows me REALLY well knows what a feat this is because my room can be a mess 99% of the time! With my fall schedule, I thought I better get organized and deep clean it NOW, otherwise it would just be worse with no time to clean it. I bought a new bookcase at IKEA to put all my scrapbooks and journals in so they are no longer in boxes in the closet...and the bookcase didn't fit in my car. Have you ever watched someone trying to pack something in their car that doesn't fit and they run from one side of the car to the other trying to get the thing in? That was me for an hour in the IKEA parking lot last week! I finally rolled down one of my windows so a little part of the box was sticking out. It took me longer to put the thing in my car than it did to buy it....then it took me twice as long to put it together! Did you know that there are no written directions?! Only pictures!!! I need written instructions along with the pictures....I am not a sole visual learner!!!! And then I didn't even get enough peg things to put it together, so I had to improvise! If I ever move, I feel sorry for the poor suckers that have to move that thing! I also bought those shoe hanger thingies that you hang in your closet and there are little shoe compartments....I recommend that to anyone who has lots of shoes! Its so easy to find my shoes and the floor of my closet is now open for more storage space!!! Woo hoo! I love it!

That's all for now. I'm going camping and river rafting this weekend, so I should have something exciting to post next week! Happy Summer!!!!

Tribute to Dad

Its hard to express in words how much I miss my dad...and anyone who has tried to talk to me about it knows that I really don't say much about it. But I think this video sums it up. Thanks to my dad for teaching me to have integrity in all situations, to have and keep high standards and expectations for myself, to develop and maintain my talents so I can share them with others, and to follow the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Dad, through your love and example, I have no doubt that I am a daughter of a loving Heavenly Father who sees limitless potential in me as long as I stay on the right path, and follow and rely on Him. I love you, Dad, and I will see you again someday!

(To view the video, you may need to scroll down and pause the music in the playlist at the bottom of the page)

Cali Trip Part I

So I know EVERYONE has tons of time to read this extra long blogpost (please read that first part in a sarcastic tone), but since I disappeared for awhile, I thought I owed you a good one! ;) The last week of school was crazy. I was trying to get papers graded, tests written, classroom cleaned, etc. Then I was also working and running soccer tryouts just about every night. The week after school got out, I was working the high school soccer camp in the morning til 1pm, then I was helping with or running tryouts in the evenings....I had about 7-8 hrs of soccer per day....it was tons of fun, but very exhausting at the same time--and as you will see from one of the pictures below, I have a beautiful farmer's tan to show for it!!

This is my only week off from soccer for the summer, so I flew home early Saturday morning. My mom and I went to the cemetery to pay our respects to Dad since I will not be here on Father’s Day. Then I went to see my brother, Scott, his wife Melissa and my little nephew, Kaleb Robert. That little guy has grown so much and he is now walking!!!! If anyone didn’t know, my mom bought a brand new extra long Escalade…aka “The Nana Mobile,” of course it's for the grandkids!!! It’s a beast! I finally convinced her to let me drive it...what a nice ride!! I have had the privilege of driving it all weekend! Will I still love my camry when I get back home?….only time will tell!!!

From Glendale, mom and I drove down to Oceanside, making a stop by John Wayne airport on the way to pick up my friend Eric, who has never been to So.Cal or the beach! It was a lot of fun attempting to give him a crash course in beach life…it wasn’t much of a course, but I think he got the jist! It wasn’t the best of beach days….cloudy, a little cool, horrible surf conditions…but we made the best of it and had a blast! A few of our friends we played soccer with in Utah (Karen and Jon Wunderli, and Josh and Courtney Robbins) were in San Diego and drove up to Oceanside to spend a little bit of time with us at the beach. We made sandcastles and just hung out and talked. I haven’t made a sand castle forever!!! On Monday I attempted to teach Eric how to boogie board...the current was so stinking rough and….I’m not a very good teacher. I was trying to tell him how to stay on the board but I didn’t know how to explain it….can someone please tell me the exact technique? I’ve been doing it for so long, I just get on and do it!! He did catch a couple waves during his 2nd round, which I was very happy about. Eric cooked dinner for me and mom Saturday night and Sunday, and then lunch for us on Monday….I think we are going to starve now that he’s gone back to Utah! We had tinfoil dinners Saturday night (and convinced my mom it wasn't like camping), a roast with potatos and veggies on Sunday, and Chicken Ranch Fillet sandwiches on Monday for lunch. We also watched movies, played games, and explored downtown Oceanside. It was tons of fun to have him down here. My mom was really sad to see him leave…I think she likes him more than me….I don’t know how I feel about that! jk




Making sandcastles with the Wunderlis!!!


Jon Wunderli and his parents hanging out on the beach!





Enjoying our tinfoil dinners Saturday night!



Eric on the Oceanside Pier

After taking Eric to the airport, I came back to Oceanside and was greeted by my brother, Tyler, and his family! They decided to come down yesterday since our plans had to be switched around a few times! I am so glad I got to see them! We big kids took the little kids to the slides and swings down the way from the condo, then we ordered pizza, put the kids to bed and the big kids just talked. I’m sorry if I’m being biased, but my nieces and nephews are so stinking cute!!!! Stacy is expecting child #3! She is just starting to show, which is really exciting! They find out in two weeks if the baby is a boy or a girl!


Aunt Marla and Leah



On the swings with Benjamin and Leah



Benjamin enjoying his ride in the swing!



Tyler trying to convince Leah to let him push her.



Tyler swinging with Benjamin.

This morning I took the early train up to Anaheim to meet up with my good friend, Kass. We were teammates in college and she is getting married in September at Salt Creek in Laguna Beach! Her best friend and I are her bridesmaids, so we went dress shopping. The dresses are way cute as you can see from what’s pictured here, except my dress will have sleeves. Kass and I had a blast at David’s bridal looking at dresses…the ugliest, largest dresses we could find and we ended up playing a trick on her mom who has never met me before. Kass’ mom and friend are so much fun! It only took us 15 minutes to decide on which dress, then we tried some on to make sure the color looked good on us. We are very happy with the dresses. The dresses will be a honeydew green with clover green sashes and the little layer at the bottom…whatever it is called. They are actually really pretty. We will not be wearing shoes as it is a beach wedding! Woo hoo!!!

From David’s bridal we had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory…YUMMY!! Then Kass and I went shopping for a few things for the wedding, then went back to her place and I helped her and her fiancé choose their invitations, which are going to be way cute! But I decided, if I ever get married, I am going to elope (yeah right…my mom would NEVER let me do that!). Its been so nice to be home. I have been really homesick lately. I leave to go back to Utah Saturday, so I still have a few more days to veg! My mom and I will be at the condo til Thursday night, then we are heading back to L.A. to babysit my nephew on Friday….and maybe do a little shopping!!!!

P.S. I don't know if there will be a Part II to this post, it just sounded cool to put Part I in the title!

Part II!!---Taking care of Kaleb!!!