San Francisco with my mama

              

While my dad and brothers went on their campout, my mom and I retreated to San Francisco. We tried this Thai place (my second time ever) and tried things that we thought sounded normal, but had a few laughs when the food was placed in front of us--and eating it. She treated me to WICKED!! So now I have officially, and finally seen it....and it was as incredible as everyone has been saying! I could see it over and over! Thanks mom!

We stayed in a nice hotel (compliments of Alona's discount) and enjoyed a day at the SF Zoo as well. My mom asked what I wanted to do, and I hadn't been to the zoo in years so that was my vote! We were entertained by an adorable gorilla that kept sticking it's tongue out at us, and a giraffe that was trying so so hard to reach a leaf and just couldn't do it. It was a little bit nippy that day also, so we enjoyed nice, hot clam chowder in breadbowls since we didn't get them at Peir39.

July 4th 2010

4th of July wasn't too exciting this year. We basically just went to church--great testimonies were shared about our freedoms and the gospel--came home and had brunch to break our fast with Blake& Kim, their kids, and a couple other families from church. Then later on we went up to Lane's uncle Phil's house for a bbq and fireworks with the fam. He has a beautiful view of Wenatchee so we lit our own little fireworks and then watched the big firework display in town from his deck. It was a relaxing and fattening day!

The toil and aggrivation paid off...

I have been getting my hopes up and being denied over and over with my college education. To sum up, I was put on academic probation at BYU-Idaho, pushing my two-year degree to about 3yrs. Then when I received my AA from there, CWU didn't recognize it as a degree because it was from a "private school" in another state. So with lack of motivation and a few thousand bucks I took 30 random credits to receive a second AA from Wenatchee Valley College so that I could get into the program at CWU. Keep in mind, this program starts only every 2 years, accepting only 25 people from Wenatchee..which brings me to this past week. I needed to retain a 3.0gpa from my last 45 credits. They posted the grades this week, and I had a 3.05 from Wenatchee! I did it! (or so I thought). I strategically planned my 30 credits so that I would be done, meeting all the class requirements for the program. I had taken a math class at BYUI that is labeled the same as the one at Wenatchee, but the curriculum was slightly off. Central's required math class from Wenatchee didn't match up with BYUI, so I received an email saying that I did not take the math class and I wouldn't be able to get into the program. I made sure before I signed up for classes that I would not need to take this math class, otherwise why wouldn't I have taken it? sheesh! I quickly deleted my status on Facebook that said that I was in. Well my sweet husband who saw how frustrated and stressed I was told me everything would be fine, and that we would sue if they didn't clear it. We went in the next day to figure it out and "Oh, this kind of thing happens all the time...we will be able to clear it." (This was basically the outcome of meeting with a few counselors). SO...I guess I'm in finally!

I would like to thank my husband for basically doing everything to help me continue my education. I have wanted to give up so many times. I am now ready for the next 6 quarters to receive my teaching degree! I could not have done it with out Lane, and I am grateful to have him as my support. It will hopefully only have taken me 6 years to get my Bachelor's (I guess 5, not counting the one I was out of school for). But I can say now that I have two Associate's degrees, and I am an Elementary Education major. :)

PS. I have also qualified for a couple grants that will pay for my school basically in full, which definitely makes up for the random 30 credits I had to take. Talk about being blessed!

Randomness in my head...

School is almost out. This is the last of my 30 credits that I had to take to get my other AA for the el.ed program. I'm a little frustrated with school all together. I have been trying to do well, and I think I have considering my lack of motivation. I feel like I should be done by now, but instead I am still trying to get into a program--one that starts every 2 years. I am supposed to have a 3.0 with my last 45 credits...I don't know if that will happen because my brain cannot comprehend things in my statistics class. If I don't get that 3.0 and they don't allow me to petition against that, then I don't know what I will do. That's ridiculous too since I already have an AA from BYUI. ugh...frustrated.

Friends--or lack there of. I don't know what it is but I have been feeling lonely lately. I love hanging out with Lane, and his family, Kim and the kids...but I just feel like outside of that I have no close friends. I have emotionally close friends in California and Rexburg, but not really any physically close ones here other than Larsons/Heltons. I have friends at work and church...I'll hang out. But I guess I'm feeling left out because I'm the young one, have no kids and can't relate, etc. Maybe it's just in my head. I am shy, I don't talk much. I get told all the time that I look mean until people get to know me. I'm aware that I don't talk or smile much. I'm not depressed, I've just always been like that. It's something I'd like to get over but I can't. Blah, this is random. I don't know why I'm so emotional right now, just venting.

I don't know what it is about this meal that I love so much, but it's on my top 5 favorite meals. Maybe it's because it reminds me of when my mom used to make it before her and my dad would leave for a date? It's always better when my mom makes it anyway. haha (like I said...random).

Home--I'm ready to go visit home. Maybe all this emotional crap will go away when I get my fill of home. I'm also bringing by brother, Trevor home with me to live here for a few months. I'm pretty excited for that! There's another friend! :) Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with hanging out with Lane/his family...but I guess I'm just used to Rexburg or being home and having friends to just go out with.

Well...don't get the wrong idea about this message (that I'm depressed or pregnant or whatever)...I'm just venting. I'm a girl. I get emotional, that's all! I just need a day at the beach with my family. That would make everything feel better!

PS. This phone sucks. I have talked to multiple people who have it as well and they have the same response. It turns off randomly and constantly!! I need a new one...

4 Weeks starting to see some results?

So it's been basically a month. I haven't really dominated when it comes to dieting, but I have been pretty good about lifting and running and exercising a lot. So I weighed in at 215 today so 15lbs in 4 weeks. It's pretty good considering I still kind of eat what I want on weekends and don't go too crazy counting calories. Partly I am just too hungry all the time from exercising to really be that strict, but I am a lot more aware of portion control and trying to avoid a lot of high fat or high carb foods. Anyway here is a couple pictures to show my progress, granted these were taken right after I got done working out and I'm flexing but I still think it's pretty good for a month. I still want to drop at least 15lbs more and will probably track this until I'm under 200lbs.

2 years...still goin strong!

Well it's not much of a suprise that we're still going strong. You know what I love about our relationship? We hardly argue, and we can laugh a lot. We may have more to argue over later, but I can't recall a time where we got in an argument/fight that lasted more than a day. I sometimes think I'm too forgiving, but I guess it works well with us. I love Lane so much. He treats me so well, and can always put a smile on my face. For our anniversary this year we went river rafting and went to dinner. We are fortunate to live just a few hundred feet from the river, so all we had to do was drive up 20min (and find someone who knows how/has a boat) and make our way down! It was pretty fun--Blake & Kim, Tim and his boss went with us, and we hit some pretty good waves that soaked us. One pushed me into the boat rather than out ~phew!!~ Then Lane and I hit up Gustav's for some burgers in Leavenworth.

It really has been a great 2 years. It sometimes feel longer just because we have lived in 3 different places (Ogden, UT, Rexburg, ID, and Monitor, WA). Our homes have improved and the rent has decreased with each improvement. Lane has worked for FlyingJ, NWMF insurance, Student taught, Agrofresh, and now JRCC all within 2 years. I have worked at Sports Authority, Millhollow, and RedRobin. I think these kinds of things make the 2 years seem longer, but I look forward to eternity with Lane. He is amazing. We are very fortunate in all that we have been blessed with, and I definitely consider myself blessed to have this wonderful man as my spouse.

*Side Note*

I walked outside when I got home from class today and found that Faith and I matched, which was kind of funny, but then it became a little creepy when I saw that Tobie and Lane matched as well! One would think that they were our kids and we were just weird and made them match us. haha!

Week 3

Well 3 weeks in and I think I'm finally getting used to the exercise where I'm not getting so sore.  I weighed in @ 217 this morning, so 2.5 lbs for last week, 13lbs total.  I can tell though now that I might be adding a little muscle so the weight isn't going to come off so quickly.  My diet is still not perfect, but it's getting better.  I still plan on putting up another picture next week, so hopefully I can do good this week.