Umm, who is that in this picture?

As I was scrolling through our anniversary pictures I came across this one and did a double take:

You see that women there?     Look closer....

So maybe its just me, but kinda resembles my mom!  She had hair just like my mom and I remember my mom wearing bandanas just like that in her hair!  The sunglasses are even similiar!  I remember this women from the trip and she seriusly did have the same hair as my mom, but she also had probably 20-30 lbs on my mom so no real resemblance there.. But if you just looked at the side or back of her head, she could fool ya!

Packages!

Getting a package in the mail is always fun, even if you know whats inside!   A few weeks ago I bought a $10 Groupon for a $20 Barnes and Nobles gift card; and I knew EXACTLY what I wanted!

I just had to get the Our Best Bites Cookbook!  Its fabulous!   Every recipe has a picture, there are tutorials for complicated things like, rollover ingredient helps for when you only use a partial of something and its spiral bound so it lays flat.  I abosolutely love this cookbook!

I also got the new Men of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir CD - It's Fabulous as well!  If you are looking for a new church CD, this one is a great one.  I didn't know how I would like a CD of just the men, but it was awesome!!

And here we go - Part 2...

Alrighty, so Part 1, not so bad, nothing embarrassing right?  Part 2 will also be less than exciting. Only 1 picture:

Firebird Raceway...

Yep thats it, apparently this adventure was so exciting I only managed 1 picture... Actually, if I remember right we may have had a friend racing that night.   I can't really remember for sure though since I think I went to Firebird on a couple of occasions.  

Parts 3 and 4 to come soon... Part 4 is my favorite of the bunch!

And here we go - Part 1...

So first off, yes they still develop 35mm film, second even if its been 10 years the film still comes out OK; well maybe I can't say that for sure because my film is only 5 years old... ahhh good old 2005!!! Most of you needn't worry because well, they wasn't anything too embarrassing and really not a whole lot of interesting pictures.  But some good memories nonetheless; and most interesting because its spans activities over 2 states and 4 cities!.  So without further adieu, here are the findings on the camera!

We start our journey in one of my most favorite places EVER!  The Oregon Coast!  

Pretty sure this is from an Institute Choir Trip and this is the view from our Hotel Room.   Love, love, LOVE the Oregon Coast!

And LOVE Canon Beach!   Hello Goonie's Rock!

And just about the worst picture ever, taken at none other than Mo's.  I am pretty sure I can only make out like 3 people in this picture!!!

Stay tuned for parts 2, 3 and 4!!!

Current Thoughts

Crab Dip is delicious
I've burnt myself twice in the last week; once by curling iron, once by a hot pot
I love running
My hair confuses me
I will be making THIS VERY SOON
My oven needs, gulp, cleaned... any volunteers?
I hate running
Blue football fields are the best, but I'm glad there is only one
Friday night I will be cleaning my oven
Surprisingly, I like driving a truck
Yes my oven is "self"cleaning.. I will be cleaning it MY"SELF"
I confess, I dig marching band
Correction..I love running when the weather is nice
I have yet to find the perfect mascara, any suggestions?
Seriously, anyone want to clean my oven?
For that matter, anyone want to clean my whole house?
I love softball
I miss her:

And want to hold her now:

And here him laugh:

Being an Aunt Rocks

So does being a Wife

Surprises!

I came home from work one day last week and there was a box sitting on the table with my name on it. I was somewhat confused as I hadn't ordered anything and wasn't expecting anything. The return address was strange so I had no idea what it was.... What was more curious was the markings on the outside of the box:

What in the world? Who would me send me something perishable and what could it be!
As I started to open up the flaps they indeed tell me a surprise is in side!
Um... seriously, now I am really confused its perishable but needs to be brought to room temperature? I was definitely not prepared for what I found when I finally got it opened:

LOL! Seriously? 4 bright colored bags of PERSONALIZED M&M's! Seriously? If you know my dad, you know that you just never know what to expect from his gifts. He had ordered me these personalized M&M's for my birthday (they showed up much earlier than they had told him they would). I definately never thought I would have my name on an M&M. But of course, not only that he just had to throw in one of my nicknames too. Little Devil! I must say it is a little strange to eat something with your name on it..... I took a little double take on my first one!

Thanks Mom and Papa for the wonderful surprise!

Fun at the Depot!

Dental Depot that is!



First off, no one judge us that we've been here for a year and have finally just gone to the dentist... I don't want to hear about it.... We are now good OK?

Secondly, I just want to know why there wasn't a place like this when I was a kid! I have never been necessarily afraid of the dentist and as an Adult, actually enjoyed the experience - mostly because of the joy of having clean teeth after leaving. And I have had my share of dental issues - mostly revolving around my two center teeth (lets see it all started with a mean dentist who made me wear silver caps during my tender middle school years and into high school, all because he didn't want to put on permanent one and then have to have a root canal... well guess what after he finally put them on, I had to have one five years later anyway! And now I have to wear a mouth guard after my most recent replacement of the two teeth, otherwise I have horrible mouth pain... I have many more I could mention, but that's enough for now).


Moving on, soon after we moved here and were driving around the area, we drove past a brand new dental office aptly named "Dental Depot" with a big train out front. Adam immediately indicated he would go to the dentist if we could go there. Well I finally was able to figure out our insurance and saw they were on the list, so I figured what the heck!



Last week was our appointments, Adam's was first and when he came back home to report, I've never seen someone so excited about there trip to the dentist! There are trains running through the whole office and the inside looks like a depot! There are fun old black and white train pictures on the walls and of course it all started with this fun guy out front (not the dentist, the train... sorry don't have my own picture, so I stole this from the newspaper)



When I went for my appointment, they also gave me a t shirt and it was certainly fun having the trains go through the office and even in the rooms. My dad would LOVE this place and he HATES the dentist. Seriously, why wasn't this around when I was little... As I left that day I saw a mom and her son getting out of the car ready to go in. She let the boy jump on the train and ring the bell and he was having so much fun...and I though to myself, I am definitely bringing my children here some day.

Yeah, I know I have been a blogger slacker. I have been in denial. Our laptop is officially dead. And that means my pictures are stuck there until we can get them off the hard drive - which can only happen if we have another computer to put them on. We did have an older PC that Adam's sister gave us, however it has a problem with freezing up. We thought we had it fixed, but not so. So for now, no pictures and probably very few updates!

However, I did want to report that I jumped in the pool this week! Its still a little chilly as the water gets deep, but it was pretty fun to get in there. Hopefully it will be nice and warm for Brycen's birthday party next week.

Lets get Physical

So what do you do with these sweet Goodwill finds?????






You turn it into this!!!!

Yeah, I know I look ridiculous, but it had to be done! Friday was our wards "dance through the decades" and the young women were in charge of the 80's. And being a leader, I just had to represent! We taught the girls the "Thriller" dance a few weeks before and they performed with ease. Its amazing what you can do with some bright clothes, some running tights, blue eye shadow and puffy hair!

Simple Pleasures....

Isn't it amazing how the some of the simplest things can make you excited? Last week it was finally cold enough to pull out the sweaters. Well, I don't know if anyone else is like me, but after being put away for a whole year I tend to forget just what I have hiding in those Rubbermaid bins. So I was excited at the thought of wearing a few of my sweaters, but then when I started pulling them out I just kept pulling more and more out and thinking "OH YAY! I FORGOT ABOUT THIS ONE!" I was almost giddy thinking of my "new" wardrobe. Especially since no one down here has seen any of them, they truly are like new (well except for some that I should have gotten rid of long ago, but couldn't manage to part with). Ahhh.... the joys of sweaters.

Childhood literacy?

So I was asked to teach a class on childhood literacy at our next enrichment. Why they asked me I have no idea. I mean I have no kids, I don't teach school and I have no background in the subject. So I'm asking for any ones ideas! So far I've come up with, ummm maybe you should read to your kids. Yeah, that's a good idea. And take them to the library. And read the scriptures as a family. And that's all I've got. Anyone got anything else? It all seems pretty obvious to me but apparently the school district has a "literacy problem" (last time I checked most schools did and are all failing their standardized tests). Help me!

A haircut costs HOW MUCH?

Yes, I admit I've been living a sheltered life. For the past five years I have paid little or nothing for haircuts, highlights, facials, manicures and pedicures. Yes I was spoiled -Thanks Aunt Kathy! While I was living in Boise, I went to the Headmasters School for all my beauty needs, and since my Aunt was a teacher, and now director I didn't pay for anything (I had to pay for the die for my hair and tips, but that was it). For example, for my wedding, I got a haircut, die and highlights, a pedicure (with french tips) and manicure with acrylic french tip nails for a total of $10. Sick huh? I am sure I tipped some too. But still. So it pains me that not only am I in a new place and I have to find someone to do my hair, but I also have to pay. Is anyone else totally traumatized by trying to pick a beautician? Never knowing what you might look like when they are done. Argh. So with slight trepidation I found a salon on line last night that wasn't out of control spendy and made a call.... my luck they could get me in right then. I was a bit nervous though as the lady sounded, well older, I was afraid of getting a grandma cut. Luckily this was a spunky grandma though and I've officially changed my position of grandma beauticians. I don't know why I had an issue to begin with, I mean my absolute FAVORITE person to do my eyebrows is a grandma. I still remember the time Annie took me there to get my eyebrows done and I was thinking? Really, this lady is going to do my eyebrows? Well she rocked and for years I drove over an hour from Boise to the outskirts of Nyssa, OR to get them done by her. I've tried day spas in Boise and none compared to my beloved Doris. Anyway I digress, $30 later my hair turned out great and I'm hooked on grandma stylists.


ps... yes we are in the new house. I've been looking for the camera charger ever since we moved in and just now found it. YEA! So I promise to have pictures up this weekend....

Please Forgive me...

I just wanted to let everyone know that blogging and email will be a little touch and go here for a few weeks. We are getting "settled" into our temporary apartment right now and will not have internet access until we move into our new home! I am so excited about our house and hopefully we will be in it in a month or so. Until then, I'll try to post when I can and respond to emails the best I can, but probably won't have any pictures or anything for awhile.

Current update: work is going well, just lots of training and reading. Adam is studying for his Series 6 and Series 63 licensing so he can start his new job soon.

Other notes: A very well lunged rooster wakes me up every morning at the crack of dawn... which here comes well before 6 o'clock.... we will be living no dishwasher, no washer, no dryer, no microwave, no bathroom outlet for the next month - wish us luck! (I'm drying my hair in the kitchen... is that sanitary? Don't answer that please! I'm trying to figure out how people who don't "cook" survive. I'm not used to trying to plan all my meals around what doesn't take flour, sugar, sauces, canned goods, other kitchen electronics etc.... Any ideas would be great!

A different blog tag...

My friend Kasey did this one and it seemed pretty fun so I am going to try it! And its easy too!

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

I look forward to reliving some good memories!

Introducing CAPTAIN SHIELD

Have you ever hastily volunteered for something and a moment later thought "wow - this could potentially be the most embarrassing thing I've ever done"? Well this happened to me. A few weeks ago, one of the relationship managers I work for was telling me about U.S. Bank night at the Races. You see U.S. Bank is a major corporate sponsor of Capitol Racing, the local horse race company, and every year the Bank has a night that they encourage all employees and their family to attend. It just so happened that U.S. Bank night at the Races coincided with Mascot Night. We're not just talking Mascots that walk around and high five little kids - nope these Mascots get out on the track and run a race against each other! Well, it just so happens that U.S. Bank has a brand new mascot and its never been to Boise. But on this special night it would be here. So as Kathy explains to me how the Idaho Powerball, Humphrey the Hawk and many others will be running I quickly exclaim "OH I WOULD SO DO THAT!". And that's how it happened. I had just volunteered myself to suit up as none other than CAPTAIN SHIELD for a night!

I can honestly say it was a blast! I got to mingle with all the famous mascots - and let me tell you they are famous. The Idaho Powerball got screams and hollers - it was amazing. Really I just think people thought they could somehow get money if only they could meet the Powerball. Whatever. Here are some of the Mascots preparing to make our entrance into the grandstands:

After the initial introduction we were quickly escorted out (Mascots aren't allowed in the area of the track during a race. Seems the horses are a wee bit scared of the color red and as you could tell there's LOTS of red Mascots!) We were given a little break - it was only in the 70's but those costumes were HOT. I even had a cooling vest on with ice packs in it and I was a sweaty mess. After a few more horse races, it was our turn to take to the track. There were 3 heats and we really did line up in the horse shoots! The power ball had to be squished and pushed in - I'm still not sure how he fit - I had to stand sideways and someone had to push me out as well. Soon enough the gates flew open and we were off. I soon discovered Captain Shield is not a runner. His "Shield" is a little shifty and there are wood beams all over that can nail a persons nose pretty good if the Captain runs to fast - and with the arms sticking straight out the front there's really nothing to hold onto to steady the"Shield".
Well, I didn't come in first and I didn't come in last, but it was still a blast and we all got to stand in the winners circle just the same!

New Title

The other day I realized that I needed to change the title of my blog. Now I realize that it’s still a couple weeks away before the wedding and so it’s not officially "Our Life", but everyone else seems to be calling our blog "Adam & Abbey" on their blogs so I figured what the heck! It’s just a technicality right? Besides, Adam has already become a big part of my blog entries so it might as well be dedicated to us and not just me. I don't know if I am quite ready to give him edit rights yet though - that could be scary. Plus he already gets mad at me for posting about him so I would be afraid he would erase all the wonderful things I say about him. (He thinks I am ruining his reputation). In fact he made me promise I wouldn't post pictures or too much detail about what he did for me for Valentine’s Day (yeah, he threatened to not give me my 'gift'). So I’ll just say it was a great day and Adam did a good job being creative!

Maybe someday I'll let him contribute more........