Saturday is a Special Day!

Yesterday was such a great day! It all started with Jeff taking me to FINALLY get a new oven range. (Please see Jeff’s last Moniversary post for the story on that one) We went to a couple of different places but finally settled on a GE oven range with four burners and a warming burner. It has lots of fun things it can do and the oven is so BIG! I can’t wait to get it and use it this coming Tuesday.

Well, not only am I excited about being able to cook upstairs again, I went online to check if my Praxis PLT test scores were up. Now, there is another part to this process which will make my excitement for checking my scores mean a lot more in the story….

On March 14th I took the last test I will need to get my level 2 license to be a teacher (more pay, not as many people looking over my shoulder, etc.). When I went into the room I wasn’t all the way sure what to expect. I had tried to get some practice things online but they either didn’t work or they cost money, so I was in for a surprise. The test had 25 multiple choice questions, 4 case studies which each had three questions and those questions had two parts each. I was to answer the case studies using short answer essays. It doesn’t sound so bad right? Well, try doing it in TWO HOURS! That was it! I was writing so fast I thought my fingers were going to fall off. My brain was spinning trying to think and write at the same time, and forget having time to read through the case study. I panicked half way though when I realized there was no way I was going to be able to answer all the questions. My last essay I wrote said “draw more” (it was a response to how to help a child with visual/ spatial learning).

When I came out of the test I was FURIOUS! I couldn’t believe they would give a test where there was not enough time to think or process information to a teacher who it trying to prove that she can give GOOD assessments. They were testing how fast I could read and write. I will just say that there were a lot a tears and Jeff had to give me lots of hugs (and do a little math to find out the probability of me passing).

Well, it has been over four weeks and I saw my test scores and I PASSED! There were more tears, but these were happy tears that were full for relief. I can still be a teacher, the only job I would ever want to have. I love my students and would be sad if I couldn’t teach any more.
Saturdays are a great day!

Imelda strikes again!

Well, anyone who has been around me for a while might know that I am a little obsessed with shoes. My parents even used to call me Imelda when I was little. I don’t own as many as the woman who is famous for her extensive shoe collection, but I own a few pairs (Jeff would say tons, but I know that I could have more, so I am sticking with the FEW) and I love them all. I like all types, colors, shapes, comfy and impractical shoes. On Saturday, with my “fun money” , I was at the Sunflower Market (GREAT PLACE) and I saw a whole wall of Crocs. Kenny, my brother, had purchased some a few weeks ago and I thought that they were so comfortable (of course I tried his shoes on, I wanted to see if I liked them) and I wanted some for myself. I remembered when I saw the colorful wall and the shoes just called out to me (shoes do that sometimes). I quickly looked for my size and then debated on what color to get, green or blue. I decided I would wear them more often if I picked the blue. I have to admit, I checked out as fast as possible, power walked to my car and immediately put the new shoes on. I was right, they were so comfortable. They do look a little silly and normally I am a fan of the cute shoes, but the last time I bought shoes was in December (my snow boots) and that was rough for me. I think I use to average at least one pair a month. Well, have no fear I have found some shoes to keep me content. New shoes always make for a great day.

My Lover Boy!

So, once again Jeff has proved that he is the best husband in the world! For Valentine's Day he had a whole list of things to make it the best day ever.

1. On Friday he came home with a bunch of red roses. (all the guys at work made a special Friday trip to Costco for all their wives)


2. On Saturday he made me breakfast (now this is normal, but it is still SUPER nice every time he does it)


3. That night he took me on a date that took me back to all the best dates we had while we were dating. Such as...

Going to Los Hermanos for dinner

Taking me to the playhouse we went on the night he told me that he liked me (we both decided that the thought was what mattered and that we were both too tired to sit through a whole play)

A trip to Target (that was the same date as the play) to buy a new something, and I chose to get some new snuggly pajamas.

A movie at home to snuggle together (and fall asleep, oops).


4. Before we watched the movie Jeff hid a box of chocolate and a note in my blanket (this is from the date that I started to fall in love with Jeff). I have to admit that the note made me cry.


Jeff and I have had a lot of fun over the past year and I am excited to see what other surprises await us!

Oldies!

So I was thinking that it was about time I updated my blog. Well, then I said to myself, "Self, what shall I post on my blog for the world to read?" I thought and thought when I looked next to my computer, and low and behold an old CD of pictures was sitting there winking at me. So here are some fun pics from my old days (ok so it was only about 3 1/2 years ago).

So my roomates and I started taking pictures for a video we were going to put together of the Pink Bible. We never actually got around to making the video but we took a lot of pictures. I was suppose to be depicting that "Men want to see the fantasy, not reality."

This is my roomate Mandy. We were just having fun with the camera and thought that this pic turned out looking pretty cool.

Mandy and I took a trip to San Fran. and went to the Exploratorium. It was so much fun to walk around and play with all the stuff. If you haven't ever been and you are in San F. then you HAVE to go!

What is with me and the potty?

This is us being goofy outside of the Exploritorium.

And me when I was working for a kids summer program (man I was tan!).

I was in the play "Fiddler on the Roof" where I played the oldest daughter.

BEACH TRIP!

Ok, so this was a little more then 4 years ago, but it was just too cute not to put up. I loved our hot tub! Thanks to the older siblings who did all the work!

Well, thanks for walking down memory lane with me for a bit.

Our First Christmas!

Jeff and I had our first married Christmas and it was amazing. I have to admit, I was a little (maybe a lot) worried about spending my first Christmas away from my family and not spending it in California. For 27 years of my life I have been with my parents, sister Meg and various other family (depending on the year) in our cute little Clovis home. Well, there were many tears in the month leading up to the vacation, but as Jeff and I started our life together I became so excited to spend the holiday with him. HE was the important part of Christmas this year. Not that I didn't miss my family, but I was able to have a great time with people I love (his family is great) and I will have many years of Christmas being different then my childhood years, as it should be. All I have to do to make it be a great Christmas is be with people I love and celebrate the gift of the Savior and giving.

Here are a few details from our cute little Christmas.

Christmas Eve morning I made my families traditional breakfast for Jeff. I made maple sausage and strawberry creps. I think they tasted really good and it made me feel like I wasn't missing out on too much in California.

I made Jeff's stocking. It was a first attemp at sewing something other then a pillow on my own.

Jeff has this "sneeky" face that he gets when he is excited to suprise me and that always makes me really excited for whatever surprise he has to give me. Naturally, he had this face before we went to bed on Christmas Eve so I was too excited to sleep. I woke up on Christmas morning so many times I finally asked Jeff at about 7:00 am if we could get up and start opening presents.

We had a great time opening presents together. We took turns opening them and we had a rule that every time we opened a present we had to kiss (we thought it was a good rule).

We both got some fun stuff. I think that one of my favorite gifts from Jeff was my ihome. I had just talked about wanting one on Christmas Eve because I didn't like my old alarm clock. That might have been when the sneeky face came out, but I didn't realize at the time he had already bought one for me about two months earlier. He knows me so well and is so good at picking things I really love.

I also loved giving Jeff his Pi shirt and a digital photo frame that he can put in his office.

Together we ended up getting over 21 DVDs for Christmas. We have been watching them slowly over the past couple of weeks.

We also had a VERY white Chirstmas. It was the first time in my life that I have had a white Christmas. It was fun to see the snow falling when I woke up in the morning! Unfortunatly, because of all the beautiful snow Jeff and I got the car stuck at his parents house that night. It took a lot of hard work and time but we finally got it out.

Christmas is a great time of year and one of my favorites. I'm glad Jeff and I had such an amazing first Christmas and I look forward to many more Christmases to come.

I've been tagged...

Here is a list of different things people have done in their lives. Everything I've done on this list will be bold.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6.Given more than you can afford to charity
7.Been to Disneyland
8.Climbed a mountain (how far do you have to climb to make it count?)
9.Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14.Taught yourself an art from scratch (does food art count?)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20.Slept on an overnight train
21.Had a pillow fight
22.Hitch hiked
23.Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24.Built a snow fort
25.Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (grandparents count?)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (not well, but I learned some...)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (thanks Kev!)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung Karaoke (all too well)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight (and ripped my pj's climbing over a fence)
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (in Hawaii and I saw some really cool fish)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (Do my family's childhood endeavors at cinema count?)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (Kenny was a great teacher that day)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (I think I ate more then I sold)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (yuck! It was slimy and salty)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (when I was little)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (I was outside, but I didn't get up early enough to go with Ann and Meg and I am ok with that)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Audra McDonald)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Wow, I really haven't done too much. Not that I haven't done things in my life, but some of the things on the list sound really fun. I should try saving someones life, that doesn't sound too hard, right?

Oh, and I don't have many people to tag so if you happen to read this blog and want to be tagged then you are it!

Let it SNOW!

Well, dispite my lack of enthusiasm for snow, being from Central California, I was so proud of myself for having a first in my life this week. I shoveled snow for the very first time in my life! It might sound crazy to people who have lived where it has snowed their whole lives, but I have never lived where it snows enough to shovel and then when I moved here I always lived in a condo complex where they shovle for you. Jeff was going to have to go out in the dark and do the whole thing himself so I offered to come and help even though I had no idea what I was doing. He went out and bought another shovel and gloves for me to use. I finally got the hang of it after a few failed attempts at throwing the snow.

We had a great time working side by side to make our home a great place to live. I still don't like snow or shoveling it, but I do have to say that I loved working with my husband and made our home look great.

I love how the toung shows how hard I am working.