Madison Anne's Blessing

Justin and I were very fortunate to go to California for Madison's blessing the first week of December. This was our first opportunity to meet her and hold her - I fell in love with her immediately. She is adorable and beautiful and precious and sweet and I didn't want to leave her. And Brayden is such a big boy, now! That kid can rock, too! What a little headbanger - he's such a stud! It was also great to see the Schambecks again. We've been able to spend a few holidays and special occasions with them now and they are such great people and so welcoming to us outsiders. It was not easy to go home after only a few short days with them. I miss them.

My Big Bro





Mikey's Family


Proud Papa



The Schambeck Clan

Such a Doll

CONSOLED BY COLDPLAY

Saturday was a day of highs and lows. After the BYU loss we needed something to lift our spirits and the Coldplay concert was just the thing to do it. Coldplay is awesome .... the concert was awesome. I had a great time. It was so worth it! I am so glad we were able to go. I've been a huge fan of Coldplay since I first heard them. And I've seen them perform several times so I knew they could put on a great show. WOW! I love concerts! I think they're so overpriced, but the energy level of the crowd - the excitement of a live performance. Those things are so hard to put a price tag on.
For those of you with your sound turned on. For your listening enjoyment .....

The Season is Over

Well, the 2008 college football season is over for BYU. It was a bittersweet year. We still finished in the top 25 and that is definitely worth something. We killed UCLA and that was very exciting! But we had two crucial losses. It's one thing to play hard, execute well, and lose to a better team. It's another thing to beat yourself. (Hold on, Ute fans! I'm not saying that Utah or TCU are not great teams, because they were. I'm just saying that I'd like to see how it would have turned out if we'd brought our A game.)
I learned this year what it is to be an emotional fan. I have gotten into football like never before. Felt the passion and excitement for the game like never before. And for the fist time felt truly disappointed and defeated from the losses.
I still haven't decided if being a passionate fan is a positive thing or not. But I guess I have like 10 months to contemplate, right?

No Annoying Fans, One Great Hit, and Great Officiating

Well, Saturday was another BYU football game. We stayed in our own seats this time for most of the game, but did sneak down two rows eventually to the slightly roomier seats with Justin's parents. The "unbelievable" annoying fan was not there this game - thank goodness! The game was enjoyable. It's always a bit more exciting when it's a close game (although nothing will ever hold a candle to the orgasmic UCLA game - yeah, that's right! I said orgasmic!) But it is still frustrating when it shouldn't be a close game; when we should have no problem at all taking that team out. Justin and I had great seats for that amazing hit by two BYU players on one UNLV player. Anyone who saw the game knows EXACTLY what hit I'm talking about. We could hear the crunch of the pads from our seats and it was sickening!
I also have to say that the officiating was the best that we've seen all year. Especially the referee - he was AWESOME! (It was great to see you, Land!)

My Wall

My apologies to those of you who follow both of my blogs because I will on occasion post the same thing on both blogs.

I have this wall - Maybe we all have our walls. I've hit my wall twice in my life. The first time was when I was 27 and I stepped on the scale one morning and saw ZZZ lbs. For my height and body type - ZZZ lbs is 5 lbs from clinically overweight. I made the decision right then and there to make some changes in my life. And for the first time EVER I seriously dieted and I lost 25 lbs. I worked out a little, but not really hard, my main focus was on my diet. The weight came off in about 6 months and once it was off - I went back to my same lifestyle. I was very fortunate in that I didn't put it all back on, at least not immediately. The second time I hit my wall was this past March. I had gone from a size X to a size Y and I needed to move up to size Z. I stepped on the scale one morning and I saw ZZZ lbs AGAIN! ZZZ lbs is evidently my wall. My do not pass go, do not collect $200, go directly to unhappy. I had two choices - go out a buy a new wardrobe or lose weight. I had two choices - given in and accept that this was me or get to work. I didn't want to spend money on a new wardrobe of even bigger clothes. But I also wasn't ready to just give in and be completely unhappy with myself, my health, and my body. The difference between this wall and the last one? I didn't want to simply lose weight – I wanted to get healthy, I wanted to get active. I’ve never been athletic and I asked myself why not? Because I never wanted to work for it. (My cross country experience being a perfect example of this.) Now I want to work for it. Now I’m willing to work for it. I didn’t want to just lose weight – I wanted to make a major transformation.
Not only am I down more than 15 lbs and 2 sizes, but just as important - I'm in the best shape of my life. And I'm not even finished yet.

Shout Out - Hubby Tag

Thanks Lyndee for tagging me. I can always count on you! I do like this one because I get to talk about my favorite person – my cute hubby. I always tell Justin to check out my blog because I gave him a “shout out”. Well, baby, this is a serious shout out!


Where did you meet?
At work. We both worked for Convergys and we were in the same training class.

How long did you date before you were married?
We met on December 11, 2000. Our first date was Valentine’s Day 2001. And we were engaged exactly one year after our first date. We were married in September 2002. So about a year and 7 months.


How long have you been married?
Right now? 6 years, 3 weeks, 4 days

What is your favorite feature of his?
The first thing I noticed about him was his broad shoulders and his height. I am very attracted to guys who are built like football players. I love his big broad shoulders, his height, his great mouth, his blue eyes, and his contagious laugh.

What is your favorite quality of his?
He might be surprised to hear this, but his sense of humor. He is hilarious! He’s also amazing with kids. I love to watch him interact with our nieces and nephews – they absolutely adore him.

Does he have a nickname for you?
Oh, sure – lots. Babe and Baby are the most often used.

What is his favorite color?
Green

What is his favorite food?
:-) Just about anything. He is not a picky eater like me. Some of our favorite restaurants are Baja Cantina, Asian Star, Olive Garden, Iggy's.

What is his favorite sport?
Justin loves all sports. He just loves competition of about any kind. Some of his favorites are football, softball, and golf.

When and where was your first kiss?
It was January 25, 2001 on our lunch break at work in one of our cars - I can’t remember which and I think it was in the back seat ;-) What? It's much easier to cuddle and make-out back there.

What is your favorite thing to do as a couple?
PG answer? BYU football games, watch TV and movies, travel.


Do you have any children?
Just Hiro. But he's awesome


Does he have a hidden talent?
His amazing ability to make anyone feel at ease with him. He is just great with people. But more important – he is great with me. He has the ability to make me feel confident, beautiful, and secure like no one else ever has.

How old is he?
32 years

Who said “I love you first”
I did, but I didn’t mean to. I was certainly thinking it, but I wanted the moment to be just perfect when I first professed my love for him. And at the theatre in the middle of Miss Congeniality was not the perfect moment. I blurted it out and then immediately covered my mouth in surprise.

What is his favorite type of music?
Justin has an amazing voice! He is very musically talented. (I just wanted to throw that in.) His taste in music is very diverse because of his appreciation for music. He likes just about everything except Country and Jazz. Probably more pop, rock, r&b, and alternative than anything else.

What do you admire most about him?
His confidence. He doesn’t seem to be intimidated or afraid of anything.

"Unbelievable!"

Justin and I sat with his parents for the New Mexico game on Saturday. We're only 3 rows behind them so it isn't like their seats are much better, but they are right on the front row and that makes it easier to get in and out if you need to run to the concession stands or the restroom. They also have that lovely railing you can put your feet on to kick back and relax while enjoying the game. And the people who sit next to them aren’t usually using all their seats so we can spread out a bit. Those little luxuries, we discovered, are not worth it! We had the most obnoxious fan behind us. He was part fan, part commentator, part coach, part pessimist. This guy NEVER shut up! Every single play that was run he’d comment on. How many yards they’d picked up, who carried the ball, what down it now was, how many yards we still had to go – you get the picture. He’d also throw out little statistics about the players. Commentator.
Every play we ran was wrong. On offense if we ran, he thought we should have passed, if we passed, he thought we should have ran. On defense someone always missed a block or wasn’t covering their man like they should have. “Unbelievable!” He wouldn’t stop saying that. “Who’s covering the quarterback? Unbelievable!” Coach.
We held Wyoming to 3 points and we managed to score 21, but the way this guy was talking you would have thought that BYU was the dumbest and worst team in college football, that our offense couldn’t score, and that our defense was worthless. They just couldn’t seem to do anything right. Pessimist.
But I couldn’t help wondering – is he even really a fan?
Next home game – if this guy is there – I’ll stay in my own seats even if the “better” seats are available. Unbelievable!

Change in Vocabulary

Ok, I want to clarify on my previous post. No, it's not just about the weight. It IS about being healthy. It's also about being happy with myself. Do I think I need to lose weight? No. Seven months ago when I was near "clinically overweight"? Maybe. And I lost it. Nowadays I may say that I need to lose weight and it isn't about the actual weight it's about being tone. I could never lose another pound and be perfectly happy as long as I continue to get tighter and firmer. But also, even if THAT NEVER happened. I could accept that and be happy as long as I knew I was strong, healthy, and in the best physical condition I was capable of.
I know that when people hear, "I want to lose weight" they equate that to "I'm fat". Because of this I need to make a change. I need to make a change in my vocabulary. I need to stop using phrases like "lose weight" or the word "fat" (not that I use it often). And I need to start using words like healthy, fitness, tone, active, endurance, and strength.
To those of you who have offered and continue to offer me support - thank you!

Why Can't I Be Incredible?

How much would I have to weigh or how big would I have to get before I can say I'm trying to lose weight and people would be supportive and say "good for you" instead of "you don't need to lose weight"? Am I expected to get to clinically overweight, socially overweight, obese, or morbidly obese? I do know from personal experience that if you're simply approaching clinically overweight you can't expect any support from others. But why is that?
I'm all for loving yourself no matter what size, shape, or weight you are. But why should I have to settle? What if I'm not happy with sitting on the fence of overweigtness? (if I may be so bold as to make up a word here.) Why should I be fine with a weight that is still within "healthy" (albeit JUST barely) when my lifestyle isn't healthy and my diet isn't healthy - I've just been fortunate thus far with my metabolism and my genetics? I don't think I should wait until my metabolism is no longer in my favor to make a decision to change and actually get a little support.
Justin has always been amazing anytime I've decided to "lose weight" by telling me that he thinks I'm beautiful, but that he understands that it's about what I think - that it's important for me to be happy with my body. (BTW - Thanks, Baby, you are wonderful and I love you very much!)
My doctor told me I have an 80% chance of developing diabetes in my lifetime. Do I sit around and wait to see if I’m just lucky enough for that 20%? Do I wait until I’m pre-diabetic or diabetic to start taking control of my health? At what point is it acceptable for me to decide that I’m going to do everything I possibly can to avoid that 80%?
When I've told people I’m trying to lose weight, or I’m trying to make better food choices, or I’m going to the gym everyday they often say, “You don’t need to do that.” “You don’t need to lose weight.” “You can eat this.” “You’re ok.” “You look fine.” What is their purpose to saying those things? Are they just trying to be polite? Do they say that because they think I want to hear that? They certainly aren’t doing me any favors and they come off as very discouraging. Why don't they want me to be the best that I can possibly be? Why should I settle for ok? Why should I settle for fine? Why shouldn't I be amazing? Why can't I be incredible?

6 Random Things

I laugh when I’m uncomfortable. This leads to much embarrassment and many awkward moments in my life, but it’s true – I laugh when I’m uncomfortable no matter how inappropriate it might be at the time. This has also gotten me into trouble as many people have misunderstood and thought that I was making light of a situation that I didn’t mean to. Or that I was enjoying something when I really wasn’t.

I hate tomatoes, onions, and peppers – and yet, I love SALSA. Go figure! I am pretty picky about my salsa, but still – it makes no sense at all.

I took down a bison in the Henry Mountains with one shot right through the heart. It was the kind of hunt that should have been televised it was so perfect. But you really need my older brother DarRell to tell you the story because I don’t remember much. Besides, he tells it so much better than me - much more animated!

My favorite pet name is “Love”. This is a pet name that is rarely used outside of the UK, but every time I am fortunate enough to run into a Brit and he calls me “love” I just melt.

I joined the cross country team in high school just to get out of town once a week. Honestly, I joined everything I could in high school just to get out of town, get out of classes, meet guys from other schools, or meet back up with my guy friends from other schools. Drama, Speech and Debate, Show Choir, Cheerleading, Dancing, took stats for Baseball and for Football. But this is one that I joined and then didn’t really participate in. I never practiced with the team – I couldn’t even run 1 mile, let alone 3+. And I only ran in one event because the coach threatened to kick me off the team. I came in 2nd to last – was horribly embarrassed and quit the team the next day anyway. Please imagine that I am laughing uncomfortably right now – because I am.

I’m darn cute. Seriously! Have you seen me lately? I am so darn cute. ;-)
And you don’t have to take my word for it – I have references.

TAG

Ok, I've been tagged twice now - I guess it's time I did something about it. I won't overload you all with two different tags at once so I'm going to space them out. Sorry, Mj, but I was specifically named in this other tag so it goes first.

3 THINGS ABOUT ME

What are the last three things you purchased (aside from groceries?)
1. Halloween Decoration -even though I swore I wasn't going to buy any more Halloween decorations for a LONG TIME!
2. Underwear - how fun am I?
3. Cotton rounds

What are the last three songs you downloaded on your iPod?
1. Leave Out All the Rest - Linkin Park
2. Rise Above This - Seether
3. I'm Going, I'm Gone - Lesley Roy

What are three of your favorite movies?
1. Gladiator
2. Sleepy Hollow
3. Band of Brothers

What are three things you have not done yet?
1. Attended a pro football game
2. Been to Europe
3. Gone skydiving

What are three things you can't live without?
1. My family
2. My friends
3. Chocolate

What are your three favorite dishes?
1. Oval strawberry plate
2. Pedastal cake stand
3. Rectangular white procelain plate
(Oh, is that not what that meant? "Dishes" is sort of vague. Ok, I'll play along.)
1. Justin's dad's pork tenderloin
2. Justin's mom's chicken noodle soup
3. My mom's sour cream potatoes


What are three of your favorite tv shows?
1. Pushing Daisies
2. Survivor
3. The Big Bang Theory

What are three of your favorite desserts?
1. Reeses Peanut Butter Bars
2. Red Velvet Cake
3. Peanut Butter Cookies

What are the last three places you traveled to that are more than 100 miles away?
1. St George, UT
2. Whistler, BC, Canada
3. Maui, HI

What are three things you'd buy if money weren't an issue?
1. A country cottage in Ireland
2. A flat in London
3. An home in Africa

Three people you tag
1. Sarah (this makes two, Sarah, you'd better get on the ball. But you seem to like things in twos, don't you?)
2. Janis - hehe ;-)
3. Anyone else reading this blog who feels so inclined.

There's more

It has just occured to me that I have left a few things out of my long list below ...
cry with me, grow strong with me, get through trials with me (yours and mine), show me compassion and empathy, pray with me, pray for me, allow me to pray for you, think about me, be considerate of me, post inspirational and touching things on your blogs for me to enjoy, laugh about, cry over, and learn from, understand me, acknowledge me, listen to me, make me feel beautiful, make me feel sexy, make me feel appreciated, make me feel confident, make me feel invincible, make me feel like a hero, make me feel like a villian (not necessarily a bad thing), tell me I'm cute when I'm being ridiculous, go to lunch with me, go to dinner with me, go to breakfast with me and sit and chat until lunch with me, reminisce with me, and give me much needed attention.

Jumping on the Bandwagon

A few of my fellow bloggers have recently posted something about friendship and friends. There must be something going around because I have got the bug as well. Yesterday I just felt so overwhelmingly grateful to have the incredible friends that I do. They always seem to be there just when you need them. I'm a bit emotionally high maintenance and it is a godsend to me to have such an amazing group of friends who put up with me, encourage me, support me, laugh with me, make me laugh, shop with me, hike with me, lose weight and inches with me, lift me up when I'm down, compliment and praise me when necessary, go to movies with me, go to chick-flicks with me, go to football games with me, watch football on TV with me, discuss Heroes with me, discuss Survivor with me, discuss Big Bang Theory with me (the TV show - not the scientific theory), discuss Religion with me, attempt to discuss politics with me (you know who you are ;), superpoke hug me on facebook at just the right moment, IM me just to say "hi", comment on my blogger posts, smile at me as you walk by, call me pet names, teach me, debate with me, challenge me, make me think and analyze, and apparently - like me (maybe even love or adore me)! Go figure!
But thank you to you all - for being such amazing and incredible people! I am so glad I have you all in my life.

Another Shut-Out?

Can it be? Can BYU have two shut-outs in a row?


HALF TIME SCORE


FINAL SCORE

Apparently they can! What an awesome game! Go Cougars! I am so glad we got season tickets again this year. It has been so much fun going to the games. And, OMG, I LOVE football!
Interesting little note - the last time BYU won two shut-outs in a row was in 1985 and the final scores? 59 to 0 and 44 to 0.

Les Miserables

For our anniversary we went to see Les Miserables at Tuacahn. It is one of my very favorite books, but I have never seen the play before. They are both so powerful! We had third row seats right in the middle. Amazing. It was a spectacular performance!


After the play the actors gathered outside the ampitheatre so that you could meet them, talk to them, and have your picture taken with them. These two actors played the Thenadiers - certainly not our favorite characters, but what great actors! They were so fun to watch.

Justin is my best friend and the love of my life. No one has made me laugh like he does. (Even though I tell him OFTEN that he's not very funny - he really can be hilarious. And he's so much fun!) I am so glad that I have had these past six years with him and I am excited for the many more to come!

Welcome Madison

Here she is! 8 lbs and 3 oz 21 inches long. She got here on September 16 at 1:30 AM. I think she looks a lot like her big brother.


With her proud papa and curious big brother.

Fitness Challenge

These are my Ya-Ya sisters (some of you may recognize them - some of you may BE them). We have decided to challenge and encourage each other to reach new heights with regards to our personal fitness levels. We have created a blog for just this event and I would like to invite all of you to check it out. Perhaps if I know that I have family and friends keeping tabs on me, I'll be even more motivated to get fit, tone, and ripped. Oh, and healthy - because that's what's most important.

http://yayasgotoparadise.blogspot.com/

Oh, My Gosh!

(BTW - That's 5 mins and 31 seconds left in half time)


Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh!

That's all I could say during the entire second quarter of the game against UCLA on Saturday. I was practically speechless! "Oh, my gosh!" was all I could get out. Oh, and I screamed - A LOT!

I admit, I was nervous going into the game on Saturday. UCLA was supposed to be a tough team. I had confidence that BYU could win, but it wasn't going to be easy. I anticipated, no, hoped for, a tight game with BYU just pulling off a win in the final seconds of the game as they are known to do. I never imagined a shut-out. I never dreamed of a blow-out. THIS was more than that - this was a slaughter! (Sorry UCLA fans - I'm just being honest here.) This is the worst margin that UCLA has lost by since 1929! That's incredible!

Justin and I have seats on the third row up from the walkway (which is technically the eleventh row) on the 15 yard line towards the south endzone. That means, for the second quarter of the game, we were right where all the action was occuring. It was so unreal! I was in complete shock the entire game. I just couldn't believe that it was really happening.

OH! And I got stuck in a crowd bottle-neck next to LaVell Edwards. I smiled, he smiled back and said "hi" to me. It was pretty cool. (But nothing compared to the game... Oh, my gosh!)

BYU 28 - University of Washington 27

So it's a controversial win, but a win nonetheless. And you can not prove that the kick would not have been blocked if the penalty had not been called. So I don't care if it's a controversial win - I'll take it!

32

I'm 32 now.
People tell me I don’t look 32 - or even 31. They’ll say. “Oh, I thought you were 26 or 27”. Some have even said I look 24 - I like those people! But if I’m 32 and don’t look 32 then I have to wonder – what does 32 look like?
I don’t necessarily feel 32, but then I don’t know what 32 FEELS like either. It’s all very confusing to me. What I do know is that 32 doesn’t feel any different than 31 or 30 or even 29 for that matter. But it does somehow feel different than 21. I couldn’t tell you when it started to feel different; it has been a very slow process.
I’ve heard it said many times that 30 is the new 20. I like that. And I am inclined to believe it because I have felt so much better about myself this past year than ever before. I feel like I have learned a lot about myself which I believe has made me not only more emotionally mature, but more intellectually mature as well. I am a bit more self-aware now. (I said A BIT – there's a long road ahead of me.) I’m back in college again and I feel great about that. I feel like I’m starting to accomplish things. And speaking of accomplishing things – I’m in the best shape of my life! I may not be as light or as thin as I was at 16 or 18, but I am stronger, tighter, and toner than I have ever been. I’m at the gym 5-6 days a week and really pushing myself to get more endurance, to get stronger, to get tighter. I have set goals and feel like I just might actually realize them this time! So if this is how good it feels to be 32 – then I’m excited for 33!

BYU 41 - Northern Iowa 17

Saturday, August 30


The blessed day has finally arrived! And here we are (with Uncle Tab) at one of my favorite places - Lavell Edwards Stadium. Unfortunately we missed most of the first quarter but the rest of the game was pretty good. We came away a little sunburned, but it was worth it! The team played well, they still have a few kinks to work out, but most important - BYU won!

i love a good book

How can people not like to read? There are actually people among us who don't enjoy reading! Can you believe it? I just don't understand it!
I just love a good book. You know the kind where you are hooked from page one and dread the moment you have to put it down? I can't think of anything better (obviously, if hard pressed, I could, but please allow me to be dramatic to get my point across) than a book that pulls you in and keeps you enthralled until the end - and you don't want to work or shower or sleep or eat (or do homework!) or do anything, but read! This is my current predicament.
I can't pinpoint what it is about a book that gets me so drawn in - in fact, it's often different with each book. And I can be sucked into books that themselves are so diverse. Last year it was a medical history book. A few weeks ago a fictional novel. Last week it was a historical novel. This week it's another fictional novel. Next week - who knows? But I am excited to find out.
I'm sure I'll finish Child 44 soon and I'll be both excited to have finished and sad to be done. Then I'll move onto something else and I can only hope that it captivates me like the many wonderful books I read before it.

Football season is finally here!

I have been waiting patiently, but I was getting to the end of my rope! I am so freaking excited for football season! Justin and I got season tickets again and our seats are great. We are so psyched to head down to Happy Valley several times in the next three months to spend a few hours with a few thousand of our closest friends. GO COUGARS!

Bungee!

The adventure continues. I've been doing some pretty bold, daring, and exciting things lately so why not jump off a perfectly good bridge and plunge 160 feet towards the white water rapids belolw only to be snatched back up just before hitting the water by a gigantic bungee cord? Well, for me, it was a true test of will power. Let me tell you - I freaked out. I have no irrational fear of heights, or anything else for that matter, and I was really looking forward to doing this. I was pumped, I was hyped, I was excited, but they got me to the ledge and I was panic-stricken! I took one look down and freaked out! They counted me down from 5 and there was nothing I could do - there was no way I could will my legs to jump. I honestly thought that I wouldn't be able to do it - ever! And the ten drunk guys behind me, along with Justin, Julia, Jennie, and the two or three instructors counting me down didn't seem to matter. (I have very little recollection of everyone yelling my 5 different countdowns. I only remember Paul - the guy who strapped me into my harness - counting me down and Justin telling me he loved me just before I finally jumped. Everything else and everyone else is a bit of a blur.) I had to disregard the wonderful advice Paul gave me to swan dive forward with my arms outstretched and my eyes open. After my fourth failed attempt I decided that the only way it would happen was for me to close my eyes and just fall. (Holding onto my harness was Paul's idea - gave me a better sense of control.) Interesting to note that I found it impossible to scream on the descent as I wasn't even breathing. But I could scream and yell as I bounced up only to lose my breath again as I was falling. And the cycle continued. Next time I jump (yes, there WILL be a next time) I'll go backwards - maybe that will be a bit easier. I am now an official Whistler Bungee member and all my future jumps are 50% off. Can't wait to go back and do it again! What an amazing experience!

Hydro Bronc

On Wednesday, August 20, 2008 we decided to venture out into the cold and Hydro Bronc. If you ever get the opportunity to do this - it's awesome! Unfortunately, we had some technical difficulties with our videographer and I can't show you footage of our experience. But don't we all look sexy in our stinky wetsuits and even stinkier helmets?


(Our much needed wetsuits since it was like 50 degrees outside and the water was frigid!)

Whistler, BC

Well, the weather did not cooperate with our vacation plans. It was cold and rainy almost the entire week. (Rainy? in the Northwest? Go figure!) To fight off the impending boredom we had to be ingenius and find other ways to entertain ourselves. There's nothing more entertaining than leg wresting and French braiding each others hair.



---- Even if it IS Dane's hair we're french braiding!

Brandi Carlile

I am in love with Brandi Carlile!!!!!!!! I thought I was in love with her before, but since going to her concert I am even more enamored with her. She is amazing! This is one of her many amazing songs playing on my blog right now.
Justin, Julia, and I stayed in Seattle (Bellevue, actually) Saturday night so that we could go to her concert. Jackie Greene and Pat Monahan also performed and they were fabulous as well. The concert was spectacular. And never in my life have I felt more straight than I did that night.


BTW - I got in trouble for taking this photo of Julia, Justin, and I (apparently cameras weren't allowed at the concert) and I didn't want to risk getting kicked out by taking a photo of Brandi :(

Seattle

Saturday, August 16, 2008
This is the start of our Canadian vacation. We flew into Seattle where we picked up rental cars to take the beautiful drive to Whistler, BC. While in Seattle we just had to stop at Pike's Place Market. As you can see from Nixon's reaction - it was an incredibly exciting place to be!

New Hair Cut

Friday, August 15, 2008
I have been contemplating a new hair cut since I got my last one, but thought it might be just a little bit TOO drastic. Dara Torres inspired me to go for it - she looks amazing and maybe I can too with the same haircut.


Ok, so my abs and arms and legs look nothing like hers - even with the same haircut! ARGH! Oh, well - give me time, maybe I'll get there.

Here's what mine looks like. Sort of hard to get the full effect with just the one angle, but you get the jist of it.

Abridged Version

Quick little note here on abridged versions, particularly Les Miserables. It's been about 11 years since I first read Les Miserables (the unabridged edition). This book had such a huge impact in my life and is one of my favorite books ever written. I have wanted to reread it for quite some time, but have been a bit put off by it's size. With tickets to see the play in September, I decided that I had better refresh my memory of the beautiful storyline and amazing characters. And to save myself a bit of time I was going to do it with the abridged edition. By page 100 I was so incredibly frustrated! There was so much that was left out. And if there was THAT much left out that I could remember, then what else was left out that I hadn't remembered? Don't let someone else decide for you what is central to the plot and development of characters. Always take matters into your own hands and read the UNabridged version!
Ok,. maybe not such a quick little note. Just needed to get that off my chest.
Thanks for listening (or reading).

Garrett

08 06 08
I miss him so much. I think about him practically everyday. Some days I miss him more than others and today is one of those days. He would have just celebrated his 29th birthday a few weeks ago. I stayed at Jody's house when I went home for Pioneer Day. I stood in her family room on the morning of the 24th in front of the photo collages of Garrett and cried. He was so beautiful. I missed him a lot that day as well. Today, as I often do, I wondered what sort of relationship we'd have today if he was still alive. We didn't go through those years of growing apart as priorities changed and we got more involved in activities away from the fmaily. We didn't have to see our relationship change - or didn't get to. Who knows? We may have grown even closer as we got older instead of growing apart. Who would he have married? Would I have approved of her? (Probably not. I probably wouldn't think anyone was good enough for him.) What would he look like now? What would he do for a living? What would be his hobbies and interests? Would he have kids? How many? What would they look like? What would they be like? How would our entire family dynamic be different because he was still with us? How would each of us individually be different because he was still with us? And how would each of us be different because we never felt the pain and the loss of his death? Or because we don't have that constant desire and need to live better lives and ensure we are an eternal family and can be with him again someday? There can be no doubt that he has had a huge impact on my life in many ways. And continues to impact me everyday.

COWGIRL UP!

I have a great job with a great company and great co-workers. On July 16 we had a company "team building" experience. Basically we all went to Snowbird with all event passes and were able to ride the tram, the zipline, the alpine slide, the mechanical bull, or climb a rock wall as much as we wanted. My favorite - the mechanical bull! I rode it five times and had the awful bruises on the insides of my knees to prove it. (Unfortunately, I didn't get pictures of the bruises.)

I thought it was funny that we were all taking photos of the beautiful view with our camera phones. He he.

1 Down 2 To Go

I made a New Year's Resolution to summit Timpanogos 3 times this year and here is evidence of my first summit of the year. Justin and I took Hiro and hiked ALL DAY long on July 12. It was fun, exhausting, exciting, painful, thrilling, and scary!

I was certain we killed Hiro sliding down the glacier. Justin held him in his lap as he slid down the glacier, but without the use of his hands to stable himself Justin lost control and then lost Hiro. I laughed my head off watching Justin slip and slide and turn, but when he lost Hiro my laughs turned to tears and I watched in horror as Hiro start tumbling. I kept thinking "We just killed our dog!" But once Hiro came to a stop he got up and started walking the rest of the way down the glacier and I knew then that he was alright.
In the end we all survived and what an amazing experience it was.
Justin is glad he did it, but says he won't go again - so I am looking for a hiking partner for my other two trips. Do I have any volunteers?

Moose Volleyball

Justin and I went camping with his family at Jordan Pines Campgrounds up Big Cottonwood Canyon for the long Independence Day weekend. My New Years Resolution to take more pictures has obviously not yet been realized, but it's only July, I have plenty of time to get better. The only pictures I took of the entire weekend were of the moose.
Justin and I got up one morning at 6:30 to use the restrooms and came out of the latrines to find this cute (and intimidating) little family enjoying a nice breakfast just a few yards away from us.

Jaylee

Nolan officially became a dad on Father's Day this year. This is Jaylee Joy Sanders.

My New Ride

Or maybe more appropriately, my new toy.

In a desperate attempt to minimize my carbon footprint I have opted for a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation.
Whatever!
At $4 a gallon I just wanted something that would get me between 60 and 80 miles per gallon. So this is what I ended up with! And it is a blast to drive.

Blue Eye Baby Girl

Rianne has the most amazing blue eyes and I have gotten a few great shots of her in the past. This one is incredible with the sky behind her! And totally on accident. I had no idea it would turn out so well.

Same Hair

Rianne and I have the same haircut! She just donated 12 inches to Locks of Love and I cut mine a little shorter so now we have the same hair. The fact that we're wearing the same color shirts - well, that's an accident.