Halloween

Well, I meant to post right after Halloween, but I had Parent/Teacher conferences this week. That usually takes more time then I think it will, but I am glad they are over and I get today off!

On Halloween Jeff and I kept it simple. After the Haunted House incident I was not in the mood for anything scary. We decided to stay home to make and decorate sugar cookies. They weren't fancy and the "black" frosting was more of a swamp green, but we had fun anyway.

After they were made we decided to share them with our friends, Tammy and Cameron. We were going to just drop the cookies off and say a quick hello, but they invited us in to play Phase 10. It was a rousing game (I lost terribly) and we talked the night away. We had a lovely night full of treats and friends. Just they way I like it

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A celebration to remember!

The trip we have all been waiting for finally happend! Jeff wisked me away on a secret anniversery weekend to celebrate our first year of marrige together. He has had his sneeky face on for quite a while and , as you might imagine, I was ready to find out what we were going to be doing.

We left at about 4pm on Friday and started driving south. This eliminated a few places and narrowed it down to about two options. We talked and laughed about what we had been doing a year ago while Jeff kept a tight lid on where we were going.

Finally, I was getting pretty hungry, so I asked if we were going to be eating soon or should I have some more snacks. He said it wouldn't be much longer which made me think. We started driving though Ceder City and was almost though the town when Jeff pulled off on the last exit. In my head I was thinking, "Hum, I have never been to Ceder City this will be new." I was excited and ready to begin the trip, and I was starving. Jeff had found an old Ma and Pop type steak house where all the locals were coming in and the workers asked where we were from. It was such a friendly place and the food was GOOD.

After dinner we were off to the place we would be staying. Jeff turned back the way we had come and then before I knew it we were back on the freeway. "What!?" "I never said we were staying in Ceder City," Jeff smirks to me. This is when I shout my guess, "We are going to Saint George! We are going to Tuacahnn!" Jeff told me that I was right and that we would be seeing one of my favorite plays, Aida.

Saturday was a bit of an adventure. First, I had told Jeff to find something that he wanted to do on the trip, so he chose to see a "boy movie". Well, it took us driving around for quite a while to finally find the movie theater, but we did find an AMAZING Mongolian BBQ by accident. That was some good food!

On Saturday night we drove out to Tuacahnn to eat at the buffet before the show started. We even had a little time to take pictures before going into the theater. Jeff was so wonderful to get tickets that were third row center! If you haven't been to Tuacahnn, the back of the stage is the mountain and it looks beautiful. As the show begins the backdrop is parcially covered, but as the song changes moods and the "war" begins the front pieces melt away and the people come out of the mountain and horses charge on stage! It was so crazy to see all of the special effects (fireworks, a camel, chickens, sheep, etc.). My favorite was the waterfall that slowly filled another pool and then created another waterfall. This happend about three times and each time it go closer and closer to the stage. I thought it would just run off somewhere off stage, but soon it actually created a river ON STAGE! It looked amazing and I think my jaw dropped.

The next morning it was time to check out and go home. Sunday was our actual anniversery so we thought it would be a good idea to stop by the Saint George Temple on our way out of town to remind us of the special promises we made only a year ago.

On the drive home there was more laughing about the events of last year (how I had to get up so much earlier then Jeff did!) and our favorite memories. We stopped in a park to each lunch, but then finished off the drive home.

It was a wonderful weekend, but the best part was remembering how great the whole year has been. I look forward to an eternity of time with my love.

CrAzY!

Wow, has it really been that long since I last blogged. Oops! Well, I have had my hands full for a little while with my job and all the new changes that have happend in the school district this year. Well, I just wanted to give all my MILLIONS of readers a heads up for a great new post that is comming this weekend. It happens to be a special weekend.

Getting a Green Thumb?

Well, I have caught a bug. The green thumb bug that it is. I went home last week and saw so many beautiful gardens and landscapes which got me VERY excited about trying to get my own yard looking, well, like a yard and not just a brown waste land (ok, so I am being a little dramatic). Jeff and I have talked about getting a watering system and other plans of planting a garden, but we haven't really done anything about it (except for trying to controll the weeds).

Well, this week I have started, on my new found energy, to try and work in my yard. I even went to the Home Depot by myself and bought some Round Up and some new (cute) gloves. I still don't have any idea what I am doing, but I figure with asking a lot of questions and some trial and error, Jeff and I just might be able to figure it out!

Letting Go.

So I got my hair cut on Monday. I asked that only about 3 1/2 inches be cut and then put in some light layers. Well, my 3 1/2 in. is the same as some people's 6 inches. I was fine with the cut dispite the shock at how much was taken off. I have always hung on to my long hair as sort of a security blanket in my life and I think I needed someone to just cut it without letting me know. I feel good about letting go of the long locks and I think the cut looks really great and my hair feels really healthy! Please support me in the letting go process.

It is a little hard to see the hair style, but you get the idea.

My parents are in town!

My parents are back in town to visit. My brother and sister-in-law just had their third child (Ella Jane Wright) the day before Jeff and I went to Hawaii (so sorry I didn't write about her birth), so my parents are out being Grandparents. My brother is also in the play Singing in the Rain at the Hale Center Theater, Orem, so they are also being supportive parents.

Well, being the only child with a spare room they are staying with us for a couple of days and I LOVE it! Not only do I get spoiled and I get to spend time with them, my parents are so HANDY! I always have a few projects that I want to get done while they are here. My dad and I have a great time bonding at Lowe's or Home Depot and my mom and I often look though the fabric at Joanne's. Here are some of the things we have gotten done this week:

Installed a ceiling fan in my bedroom so Jeff can survive the rest of summer.

Before

Recovered my kitchen chairs. They were stained (before I moved in) and I couldn't get them clean (or at least to look like they were clean)

After

And, as always, we are still slowly repairing the hole in the wall. The plaster needs to be thicker then we thought so it takes a couple of layers so they will dry.

I am still working on re caulking the downstairs sink and a few other things here and there. My parents are wonderful to have around and I like learning how to take care of a house. Soon I will be able to install and repaire all sorts of stuff on my own. Thanks Mom and Dad!

My love of Hawaii

Here are just a few things that I love about Hawaii.

First, I love to float in the ocean. It is so relaxing to just let the waves rock me back and forth and listen to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. Jeff would get mad that I could just float in the water for hours and not get tired when he would have to tread water just to keep his head above water. I seem to have some sort of talent that most people don't have because my family last year felt the same way.

READING! I love to just sit around and read a good book. Well, I guess this isn't just something I like to do in Hawaii, but it did take a lot of my time. I finished one book and am almost done with the second book I took with me.

The beautiful scenery. I love that at just about any point on the trip I could have pulled out the camera and taken a lovely picture of the landscape. The colors, trees, flowers and plants are so beautiful . This picture was just taken as I was sitting at one of the shows at the PCC.

Shaved ice with sweetend condensed milk. Flavors: Banana, Pinapple, and Coconut. I don't think I need to say anything more.

Hawaii makes me happy. I love the people and the land. I am so glad I was able to share it with Jeff this time and I hope we make it back sometime, and maybe try another island.