Thanks All Around

It seems that lately I've had many many things to be grateful for, so I apologize for always posting about it, but I would feel very ungrateful if I didn't!

I must first thank my wonderful friends that are lending us their computer until we can get a new one. You have no idea how strong the "lone man on an island" feeling was around here for a week or so. I got all of the updates downloaded and installed, since it was a computer they didn't use very often, and it's running great! So thanks Frei Family!

I also must thank them for sharing their kids with us. I'm know on occasion to inform them that I'm stealing their kids for the afternoon. Since we moved here we've had cookie making parties, and various game playing fun. So a week or two ago we had our first (because I'm sure their will be more) movie night. Each of the girls picked out a movie, we popped popcorn, and sent John off to get pizza. We had a great time watching Kung Fu Panda and Shrek... we didn't have time to watch Mulan II which is one of the reasons why I'm sure they'll be more movie nights in the future. We got everything cleaned up and were ready to take the girls home when I was reminded we didn't play THE GAME. Disney Scene It 2nd Edition is our (their) game of choice. After one game, which John helped Laila win, we took the girls home. We had a great time!

I also have to thank my neighbor girls. They came over a couple of weeks ago and helped me close and put labels on all of my mom's wedding invitations. They were a huge help. We also watched movies, had popcorn, and even watched some American Idol.

I also must thank my co-workers (mostly for putting up with me and not trying to get me fired... although I'm sure there are some of them that would like that to happen some days!)... I have great co-workers. A handful of them are some of my favorite people in the world. I don't know where I'd be without them. They keep me going. And they put up with me... which if you know me, you know that's a feat in and of itself! I am very blessed to have such great people to work with that are wonderful friends too! Thanks guys!

And of course, I have to thank John for putting up with me and my various food cravings... I've always gone in sperts for craving various foods/snacks. So no just because pickles sound really tasty lately does not mean I'm pregnant, despite everyone's reactions to me saying that I would really like a pickle! I've been on a popcorn kick lately and so John has kindly made me homemade popcorn almost everynight. He's so great! (and for many more reasons than popcorn!)

So anyway, I'm back online and will get to post more often again. Thanks for sticking around!

Stupid Computer... Well my computer won't turn on again and my touch won't let me type in the posting box...we'll be out of commision for a while

Together for 7 years...

Well, as John's just reminded me, tomorrow will be 7 years that we've been an item. I can't believe it! It seems like just yesterday we were going on that first date, and he was bringing me a dozen purple roses. But we've been through so much together! So here's a little timeline of our journey to get to where we are today. This is more for me... but feel free to come on the journey too! Plus if you can think of things I've left off please let me know... I'm very good at forgetting!

June 2001-Danced together at a BYU orientation dance
November 2001-Chatted online together
December 2001-I called John on Christmas Eve
January 18th 2002-Went on our first date. We saw Beauty and the Beast on the IMAX screen and went to The Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner. This weekend we also went on our 2nd, 3rd and 4th dates. Also when John called me to tell me he had made it home, we talked about getting married...
February 2002-I had surgery and John came up to spend time with me.
March/April 2002-I met John's family
May 2002-John flies to Indiana and meets my family, we marched in the Indy 500 parade together.
July 2002-John and his mom drive across the country to surprise me for my birthday.
August 2002-John and I are both in Provo, I start the craziest semester of my life 18 credits and 2 humanities credits...John makes me dinner almost every night.
Fall 2002- Season tickets to BYU football.
November 2002-We have Thanksgiving with John's family.
December 2002-John comes home with me for Christmas after celebrating early with his family. It is his first ever White Christmas.
January 2003-I start the Elementary Education program.
February 2003-We drive to Idaho to be at my cousins wedding and for John to meet some of my extended family.
February 21,2003- John proposes, we're engaged! Of course he asked permission so everyone at home was waiting for a phone call.. I still can't believe they kept that secret!
February-April 2003-plan the wedding in St. George, find a dress, order announcements, and all of the other wedding things you do.
April-May 2003- plan reception in Indiana... miss John a lot while he's in Provo and I'm in Indiana
June 7, 2003-Get Married :)
Summer of 2003-John is working full time, I'm taking some classes, but let it be known that I did make breakfast, lunch, and dinner on quite a few occasions this summer ;)
September 2003-Back to school, and both of us working
December 2003-Spend Christmas in our appartment with just the two of us. Drive to AZ the next day on the scariest roads that I've ever been on and I slept most of the 6 hours we were driving the usual 4 hour drive.
Summer of 2004-Attend LUSD#9's summer academy in case I could start teaching there in the future.
October 15, 2004- Turn in Final Teacher Work Sample and Move to St. George
November 1, 2004- Start teaching 1st grade at BDES
December 2004- Actually graduate BYU and John graduates from UVSC...we're not quite sure how we did it the last couple of months with me being a first year teacher and John taking some online classes (humanities and english if I remember correctly). Spend Christmas in Indiana... I don't think we had snow this year...
Summer 2005-My dad is diagnosed with cancer
December 2005-Spend Christmas in Indiana...John is terrified while driving home from awesome seats at a Pacers game in a snow storm while my siblings are sleeping in the car.
Summer 2006-Tanner spends the summer with us in St. George and we go to Southern California
December 2006 Spend Christmas with John's family in their newly rebuilt home.
February 2007-Sign Build Contract on our house and move in with John's Grandma
June 8, 2007-My dad passes away from terminal cancer
Summer 2007-Indiana, Idaho, Indiana, 63 hours in a car and a trip to the ER on the 4th of July
July 2007-Find, buy, and bring home our westie Tuffy
October 2007-Close on and move into our new home.
December 2007-Celebrate Christmas at our house, and then with the Reyes'
Summer 2007- Cascade ID... one of my favorite places to be! Working hard to fix up grandma's house.
December 2008-My grandma passes away. We drive to ID to the funeral. I break my face. Christmas at our house, with the Reyes' and my mom and sister come to celebrate as well.
January 2008-John gets all ready to go back to school.
Present-Living in our own home with the "Tuffers". We have wonderful families and friends that love and support us. We're LOVING life!

YUCK! My Adventure of the week

So most nights this week I was home alone, or not home at all until late in the evening. Monday was the day I went home early while John went up to DSC to see what he could do about getting into school. This was the day that I was home by myself for quite a while.

This was also the day that I found this...

Can you tell what it is?

Now can you? Yeah... GROSS! I know... it's a good thing I love my dog!

So what would you do if you were home by yourself and your dog brought in a dead bird? Here's my story...

First I called John to tell him what had happened and see how much longer he would be. He laughed and laughed and said he was still going to be a while, and then of course its about a 20-30 minute drive home... So he suggested I get a shovel and take it out to the garbage can. But I really didn't want to do that. Our next door neighbors are great, plus they're our home teachers... so I called to see if John was home yet. Of course, he wasn't and Leah just laughed and laughed at me. I can see how this was funny to everyone else... but I wasn't laughing...

So I got the shovel... and it sat there for a while. I had to get over the grossness of the situation.

And took the bird to the trash... in my empty garage since John was gone.

Oh yes, and I was so mad at Tuffy by this point I locked him outside for a long time. Until I felt guilty when John told me it was really cold outside and he was probably freezing...

And now it's kinda funny... but that's because there is no longer a dead bird on my living room floor.

We'll see how this goes.

So I've decided on a goal for this year... to use grocery smarts with Shauntell's help over at
to save money on every day groceries and help me build my food storage.

I was throwing around some other ideas... but with my broken face and all kinds of bills to pay...and John hopefully going back to school this semester... and talking it over with a few dear friends... all of those other ideas are on hold for now. So I think this one will be a great goal for us this year. Any of you that get a newspaper on the weekends and don't use the coupons... send them our way! We would really appreciate it ; ).

Also check out this new site (but not until after Thursday because I need to win the contest! ; ) for some great tips about easy food storage!

My New Haircut

So, I had a coupon for a free haircut that expired on the 31st so I figured I'd better use it, plus I desperately needed a new look. So I used it... despite the rude co-workers of the girl that did cut my hair I think I'll go back if I can get her. I think it is really cute. John of course doesn't like it when I cut my hair, but he thinks it's cute as well. Here are some pictures..

Happy New Year!

For New Years Day John made his first attempt to make Eggs Benedict. I of course had mine without the eggs, I know I'm strange. It was so yummy! He had never poached an egg before but Dana said it tasted good and it sure looked pretty!

44 ODD things about you!

So I got this e-mail from Sarah and Stephanie... so I figured I'd just make it a post and if you want to do it you can.
1. Do you like blue cheese? If it's only a little on salad then yes... but not the dressing
2. Have you ever smoked? No... never
3. Do you own a gun? I do not
4. What flavor kool-aid was your favorite? tropical punch
5. Do you get nervous about doctor appointments? not unless it is for the dentist
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Great on Memorial Day or the 4th of July!
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Small One
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Water
9. Can you do push ups? Can I? Probably... Do I? NEVER!
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding ring, and my Lia Sophia Unwind earrings
11. Favorite hobby? lately crocheting
12. Do you have A.D.D.? especially on Friday afternoon at Faculty meetings ;)
13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? I am often way to sarcastic
14. Middle initial? T so I could be ET
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? Dana needs to show me how to style my new hair :), I don't want to go back to school, but I'm really excited about it all at the same time! We spend waaaaaaay too much money!!!
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? water, water, water... on ocassion Mt. Dew and Pomegranate Lemonade
17. Current worry? paying for my broken face
18. Current hate right now? money
19. Favorite place to be? in my bed... its just so darn comfy!
20. How did you bring in the new year? Falling asleep on the couch with Dana and John yelling at me to stay awake for 10 more minutes
21. Where would you like to go? San Diego
22. Name three people who will complete this? Whomever wants to
23. Do you own slippers? Yes I forget to wear them though
24. What shirt are you wearing? a shirt and pants
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I can't say that I have had that experience
26. Can you whistle? sometimes... I've gotten better since Tuffy!
27. Favorite color? purple
28. Would you be a pirate? Some days
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't sing in the shower... That was always left up to my brother Skylar ;)
30. Favorite girls name? I don't know
31. Favorite boys name? because I try not to think about it... But if we ever have a boy he'll probably be named after my dad Shawn.
32. What's in your pocket right now? nothing. I hate having things in my pocket... then they get washed.
33. Last thing that made you laugh? Dana dancing to a comercial
34. What vehicle do you drive? I really hate driving (especially in St. George!)
35. Worst injury you've ever had? well this is easy... A BROKEN FACE!
36. Do you love where you live? Most of the time... Sometimes I hate how brown it is... I need GREEN!
37. How many t.v.'s do you have in your house? 1
38. Who is your loudest friend? I don't know... we all have our moments
39. Do you have any pets? The Tuffers
40. Does someone have a crush on you? I don't have the time or energy to deal with it if they do...
41. Your favorite book? Skippyjonjones and the Big Bones (c'mon I teach First Grade what do you expect?)
42. Do you collect anything? children's books
43. Favorite Sports team? The Colts... I did live in Indiana for a VERY LONG TIME
44. What song do you want played at your funeral? My Redeemer Lives

Christmas Rounds 4 and 5

Well Christmas Round 4 was Christmas dinner albeit a few days late at our house with Kami, Bob, Mom, Dana, and us. I didn't take any pictures... I had fallen asleep, and still wanted to be in my nice warm bed. John however did an amazing job cooking the ham,mashed potatoes, gravy, grean beans, and cranberry walnut (it could have been pecans) stuffing. Kami brought the rolls and they were also delicious. Then of course we had chocolate pie for dessert. Nothing like family traditions ;). On Monday it was back to Bob's to meet Robert and his twins for Christmas Round 5. We had a great time, and it was much more casual and easy going. I also felt like we got to know a few of Bob's family members better. Dana took pictures of that, and I'll have to steal them from her before she leaves today. But Christmas is all packed up and put away now... so it's back to school time!