"Fix You"

Well, So You Think You Can Dance has been great so far this season to say the least. Some dances I just want to watch over and over again and it's frustrating that most cannot be found on the internet because of copy right laws. This, however, is one of those dances. The clip is a bit longer than I wanted, but I really like it because it gives you the storyline behind the dance. Such an inspiring and moving piece!

Rain, Rain...

On most days I would usually end this sentence with "go away", but today I find myself actually enjoying and admiring the rainy weather. There's just something about being home, in sweats and looking outside to the pouring down rain with Missy Higgins playing in the background. It could also be that I'm having to force myself to write a research paper for school, which is so much easier to do when the weather is as cold and wet as it is today. Another reason I'm enjoying this gloomy weather could be that as I've watched the rain pour outside for the past few minutes, I was reminded of how beautiful the earth is after even a short rainfall. By the time I'm done writing this paper I'm sure I will have changed my mind and will be wishing the sun would make its appearance, but for now I'm just going to enjoy the rain.

Smart Phones

I am so excited that my contract with Sprint is up because I am now eligible to upgrade to a new phone! On Friday, Abe and I went to the Sprint store to browse through the grand selection of phones where I found just the phone I was looking for. Not too pricey, easy to use and an easy keyboard to use when texting. However, next to my selection was a case full of "smart phones" with a grand poster advertising all of their nifty features. Don't get me wrong, smart phones are pretty sweet, but it got me thinking. Are they trying to allude to the idea that if you don't have a smart phone you're dumb? If your phone can't arm your home security system by the touch of a button or record a video clip in HD or allow you to essentially skype with anyone, anytime, any place is your phone not smart because it can ONLY connect to the internet? Or ONLY hold 2 or 3 GB of music? I wonder what percentage of people with smart phones actually use all of the features they initially bought the phone for in the first place. I think it's ironic how every time a new phone comes out there seems to be a constant tug-of-war between finding a more simple way to perform a complicated task which really makes it more complicated than the original way. Or that as companies try to make their phones easier for the users they really make it more difficult because there's SO much more to remember with every application or feature created. Really, it's probably just an advertising tactic. Obviously something is working, as I sit here and way over-analyze such a little thing, but it's just something to think about!

Simple Things

This clip makes me happy...and laugh :) This is totally something I could see my dad and older brother, Nic, doing. Maybe I'll make the request next time I go home to visit!

So You Think You Can Dance

So You Think You Can Dance has started up again and I am SOO excited!!! Call me lame, but something about this show inspires me. I love the emotion and power behind each routine! Here is a clip to one of my favorites from a few seasons ago. Stay tuned for more updates and clips of favorites from this season!

Talent Seeking

Ever since I was young and asked the question, "What do you feel are your talents or strengths?" I always had the hardest time coming up with something to say. I would usually say that I'm friendly and always try to take a positive outlook on life or that I work well with and love little kids. Call it low self-esteem or whatever, but I'm convinced that I got ALL of the bad genes in my family. However, today I discovered one of my hidden talents! As part of an incentive at work, a small group of us had the opportunity to go to Sakura (a sushi restaurant) and got paid for it! While we were there, the guy cooking our food on the grill in front of us asked who wanted to catch an egg. None of us had any idea what he was talking about so there were no volunteers. Well, we didn't get off that easy and he picked on me. Little did I know...he expected us to catch it in our mouth. So he continued to chop up the "scrambled" egg and tossed it in the air. Low and behold it landed right in my mouth! A little embarrassing...okay, A LOT embarrassing. But, how's that for talent?!

Date Night...With the Library

Weekends are a big deal around our house. We really value the time that we have to spend with each other, even though it seems to get shorter and shorter as our lives get busier. This past Friday, while I so would have rather spent some quality time with my husband, I spent a good amount of time in the library studying for midterms. I sat down, logged into the computer and got things all in to place before I finally had some time to take a look around me. Not surprisingly, I was one of very few people in the LRC. As I glanced around I noticed that not one person in there was doing homework. The guy just a couple of seats next to me would switch between some computer game and chatting with a friend. Another guy, I noticed, as I walked by him had "Addicting Games" across his computer screen before he shyly minimized the screen and then looked over his shoulder to see just who was walking by. As I was leaving the library, another girl was reading some Japanese comic online. I just can't understand why so many people would CHOOSE to spend their Friday night in the library for such unproductive reasons. Any ideas?!

The Living Planet Aquarium

Meet Jackson and Elli...two of the five and a half world's cutest nieces and nephews! Abe and I recently had the opportunity to spend a little time with them without Mom and Dad and we had a blast (not that Mom and Dad are boring or anything :) )!! We visited the Living Planet Aquarium in Draper and it was a first for all of us. Though we were a little disappointed in the aquarium compared to others that we have visited it was so fun to see everything through the kids’ eyes! Jackson was fascinated by anything and everything that moved, and even those that didn't move for that matter. He asked tons of questions and I was so grateful that Abe was there to answer all of them for him! Elli, on the other hand, would occasionally give a very loud, high-pitched scream or shrill, which would then scare Jackson, which then caused Jackson to get mad at Elli for screaming so loud and scaring him. With time, however, Elli warmed up and was soon just as interested in all of the creatures as Jackson was (although she still maintained her distance for the most part). I’d have to agree with Jackson’s statement made in the car on the way home: “We should do this more often!” Mandi, please let Jackson know that we’re sorry for not taking him and Elli out on more “dates” more often and that the second “date” is already in the makings. Here are a few pictures highlighting our big adventure:



Jackson actually took all of the pictures of the penguins himself! I think he's got a career!




At the end of the trip, Jackson and Elli just couldn't part from these furry friends! Jackson had to have the longest, scariest snake and to no surprise Elli chose the pink and purple glittery sea turtle that she insisted was a frog :)

Childhood Favorite

Abe and I frequently get on the topic of some of our FAVORITES when we were growing up. This can range from favorite memory, favorite game to play, favorite snack foods to get in our packed lunches, favorite outdoor activities and so forth. We had never talked about favorite childhood books until in my media class I was assigned to do just that. Looking back, there aren't a ton of books that stood out in my mind. Not that I didn't enjoy reading when I was younger, in fact I don't really know why this was such a hard task for me. The one series of books that DID stand out to me, however, is the Berenstain Bears series! I just loved reading these books and looking at all of the pictures. As I contemplated what it was about these books that was so intriguing and entertaining to me as a child, I again hit a brick wall. I honestly think I didn't read the books for any purpose other than just that: entertainment. Looking back I would like to think I read the books because they were so easy to relate to. Here are just a couple of examples: The Messy Room, Too Much TV, Too Much Junk Food, Learn About Strangers, New Baby, Go to School and you get the idea. I love each role the characters play and how even though their family is not necessarily always the ideal family they always work to solve their problems as a family and don't ever give up until the problem is solved. With such great lessons to be learned from these books I'm beginning to think that I should start my collection now for my own future children to read someday.

Sugarland Follow Up

The Sugarland concert was just as amazing as I thought it was going to be! Definitely the best concert I've been to yet. I sang along with every song and spent the majority of the concert on my feet DANCING! Not to my surprise, the lady sitting next to me with her beer in hand, would always follow my lead. Though her dancing at times may have been a little too close for comfort I couldn't help but think how amazing it is the effect that music can have on people. Here's a complete stranger, who only knew my husband and myself for the brief time before the concert we had to talk and the little comments here and there being yelled over the loud music, and yet as we sat there at the concert we had this twisted connection; something in common that we could share and enjoy with one another. Granted, the large amount of alcohol she had consumed probably influenced the majority of her behavior, but the music itself was enthusiastically shared by all in attendance!!

Sugarland

I am SOO excited for Friday! Sugarland is in town and I've got two tickets and a hot date to their concert this weekend! There's just something about their music that makes everything more enjoyable - doing the laundry, cleaning the house, getting ready for the day - it's just the "feel good" kind of music and is GREAT for dancing in the car with the windows down and the music up! Aside from the toe-tapping beats, I've decided that a big part of the reason why I love this duo is because they seem so down to earth, unlike an increasing number of various artists now days, but that's just my opinion. I can tell they truly love what they do and it appears the big bucks that come along with it are just an added bonus. So we're saving our voices for the big night and our cowboy boots are all ready! If you haven't heard any of their music, I strongly suggest you at least give them a try. Some of my favorites...Joey, Already Gone, Baby Girl, All I Want to Do and Stay...but they're all good.

WARNING: COUNTRY MUSIC. It must be the Texas girl in me :)

Happy Birthday!

It's crazy that Abe, my little brother Austin and Abe's little sister Leah all share the same birthday. What are the chances?! This year, we were able to celebrate Abe's birthday 3 times (hmm...funny how that works). The first night was the actual night of their birthday. Leah was able to join us as well and we had a simple, yet delicious, dinner of Costco pizza and birthday cake. Last night, we went over to Jake and Nissa's house for a second birthday dinner or steak, asparagus, cheesy mashed potatoes and cabbage salad. We ended the night with a small dance party in Jake and Nissa's front room, the perfect ending to a wonderful night :) Finally, tonight we headed up to Salt Lake where Mandi and Thomas put together a delectable dinner to celebrate Abe's birthday. We had turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn and WHEAT rolls!! It was so fun to spend time with them and to just relax. We really are fortunate to live close to so much family. We missed you this year Austin and will for the next couple of years, but hopefully when you get back from your mission we'll all be together again to celebrate, just like old days! Love you and hope you had as wonderful a birthday as Abe did!

Up in Flames

Aren't these cupcakes beautiful and yummy looking? We thought so too! Thank you so much Dani for leaving these for me on my birthday! You really are so sweet to remember and make time for the little things :) Abe and I were able to enjoy these delicious cupcakes...or at least a few of them...before going up in flames in our oven. Not wanting them to dry out or go bad, I decided that sticking them in the oven would be the smart thing to do. Well, one night after returning home from our night class in Salt Lake around 11:00, Abe decided that he was hungry and was going to heat up some fish sticks. Him, distracted at the kitchen table with his appetizer of chips and salsa, and me on the phone with my mom, didn't think to check the oven before he began pre-heating it. Suddenly, a sweet smell of cupcakes drifted past me and it took me a while to figure out what was going on. When I looked up and over at the oven, I saw smoke pouring out of all four burners on the stove. I ran over, opened the oven door and discovered that our oven was up in flames. Abe, not knowing what else to do, grabs the pitcher of lemonade on our counter and throws it into the oven, distinguishing the fire and leaving a sticky mess all over the kitchen floor. We immediately threw open the door and windows and began fanning the smoke detectors, praying that the sprinklers wouldn't come on and thankfully they didn't. Once we were sure that the fire was taken care of and we had a moment to look around, we realized there was ash all over our house; it had even made its way to our bathroom and bedroom in the very back of our little apartment. Thankfully the mess was much easier to clean up than either of us expected and we look back at this almost disaster and laugh. I think next time we'll keep the cupcakes in the microwave :)

A Much Needed Change

Few of you may be aware of the most recent change in my life...I've cut my hair! After a long time of debating whether or not I was going to go through with it, I've finally decided that it was the right thing to do. I needed something that was going to give it more volume; something that would actually motivate me to try and do something with every day. So I cut off 4 inches! Now, when looking at the picture please keep in mind that this will take some getting used to when it comes to styling. You wouldn't think it would be that hard, but it never looks the same as when they first cut it and style it in the salon. Overall, I'm happy that I did it and Abe reminds me often how much he likes it too :)

Road To Recovery

Just for a quick update...Abe is doing great! He was released from the hospital around 5:00 Wednesday evening and boy was it great to be home! That night we both crashed; we went to bed at 8:00 pm and woke up at 9:30 am, 13 1/2 hours of sleep!! It was fabulous. Mandi was SO nice and drove all the way from Salt Lake just to drop off some dinner, which was delicious! He's still pretty sore, which is expected, but for the most part is feeling much better. It's nice to have him back to almost his normal self :) In the meantime, I'm enjoying all of the spare time I get to spend with him!

Hospital Sleepover

What started out to be a normal day of work and classes in the morning and afternoon turned out to be a very interesting, inordinate and rather scary evening. Abe started having stomach pains Sunday night, but he was sure that it was just trapped gas that would pass in due time. This morning, however, the pain was actually worse and nothing we did seemed to make it any better. We tried a hot bath, hot cocoa, a hot pad on his stomach and even some gas-ex. When I noticed that he was walking funny and he started complaining that the pain was becoming more intense, I finally was able to convince him that we should probably take him in to have it looked at. Sure enough, acute appendicitis. They sent us over to the ER, did a CAT scan and found that his white blood cell levels were 2-3 higher than they were supposed to be. They took him into surgery and finished the procedure within 25-30 minutes. It wasn't until about an hour and a half later or so when the doctor came to get me to take him upstairs to his room. Here is a glimpse into the world of Abe on drugs:

The first thing he asked me was if they had told me how much everything was going to cost.

When I asked him how he was feeling, his response was "high". He then went on to tell me that they had given him some pretty "sweet stuff".

Although he would make eye contact with me while I talked to him (or at least most of the time) his right eye wouldn't stop wandering.

He must have asked me 10 times what time it was.

When I told him that I was going to stay with him over night, he said, "That's fun! We can have a sleepover in the hospital!"

Before surgery, he asked the surgeon if he could save his appendix so he could look at it. Sure enough the surgeon put it in a bag and showed it to him and Abe wouldn't stop talking about how it was "red and yellow and squishy like cartiledge...but in a bag".

He kept looking at the little monitor he had to wear on his finger. At times he would just stare at it for a long period of time, wiggle it around a little bit or tap it on his leg and then leave it alone...all with a very perplexed look on his face.

When the nurse came in, she said that he would be back up and in school again before he knew it and his response was "boo".

When I went to go step out of his room for one minute, he made sure to inform me that he wasn't going anywhere.

Anyways, you get the gist of it. He was definitely out of it. If I think of any other funny things that were said I will be sure to let you know. But just to show how sweet and wonderful and totally caring he is...

One of the first things he told his family as they came up to visit him was to make sure that I get something to eat because I haven't eaten all day. I explained to him that I had just eaten a sandwich from the cafe and he was satisfied with that answer, or at least for the next 30 min. or so. Since then, he has asked me probably 8 or 9 times if I've eaten anything yet or if there's anything that he can get for me. He even insisted that I put my sweats on that Jake and Nissa SOO kindly brought from home so that I would be more comfy.

After all that he's been through and all of the pain that he's feeling, he's still so concerned for my well-being before his own. What a sweet heart! I feel terrible that this all had to happen to him, but I am so grateful that they were able to catch it before it got any worse. I am so blessed to have him in my life! I have no doubts that he will have a fast and healthy recovery.

White Chicken Chili

We just finished a very delicious dinner and I thought I would share it with y'all!! Thank you Nissa for introducing us and sharing the recipe :) The recipe:

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 med. onion finely chopped
1 T. oil
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
3 cans white beans, drained and rinsed
1 can chicken broth
1-1/2 can chopped green chiles
1 t. salt
1 t. oregano
1 t. cumin
1/2 t. pepper
1 C. sour cream
1/2 C. heavy whipping cream

Saute the chicken, onion and garlic in oil until the chicken is no longer pink. Add beans, broth, chiles and seasonings. Bring to a boil and then simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream and whipping cream. Serve and enjoy!!

I meant to take a picture...making a new dish isn't quite so scary when you know what it's going to look like...but it was gobbled up before I could even grab the camera. That's how good it is!! I hope you like it as much as we do.

Living Life in the Fast Lane

Wow it has been WAY too long since I've written anything and a lot has happened since the last post. First of all, and my excuse for not posting in so long, our camera broke and what good is poorly written post without any pictures? More importantly, however, Abe and I have both started back up at school again...finally. While it's great to be back in school and actually feel like you're worth something :) our life has changed quite a bit from what we were used to. I have been overwhelmingly overwhelmed with the fact that I can't be the BEST everything. I want to be the best student, the best employee, the best sister and daughter, the best friend, the best den leader and the best wife; instead I'm just MODERATELY good at everything and it really bothers me. I just keep telling myself...who IS perfect?! Anyways, life is good and we have been so blessed, that I am sure of. Now that we have a new camera, I'm hoping to be posting some pictures soon so stay tuned and be patient :)