Clarks 2013

Clarks 2013

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Almost DC - Lights

So, as a missionary I was spoiled to be around temple lights for all of December for 2005 and 06. I still miss it every Christmas season. David took me to SLC Temple Square to check out the lights. (Definitely a tradition we'll keep) We stopped at 7-11 first and had lovely hot chocolate to keep us warmer...good idea! Just to explain the post title - I will always be a bit partial to my DC lights, so SLC is a close 2nd with AZ as well. But we had a great time. A great date on Nov 28, 2009. Things to remember.... David LOVES the big red tree. What do blue lights mean? (still gotta figure that one out)... Hot chocolate was the best so I didn't freeze. We should ask people to take our picture more since all our pics look similar. After getting to temple square we started listening to the Nativity - I glanced up and saw the SLC Temple. Oh how beautiful!! Then it HIT ME - I'm getting married there!! To David my one and only!! Looking at the temple meant so much more to me that night... Here's a bunch of us having so much fun:
Oh and then afterwards David showed me one of the lights places that he goes with his family called - Christmas Utah. They acutally have a radio station that plays music and the lights blink according to the beats etc. Way cool!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Thanksgiving 09

Happy Thanksgiving!! It was our first true holiday as the newly engaged couple :) And the first time splitting our time with each family. We went to my Uncle Richard's house at noon. We played games and stuffed ourselves. And my mom was in town so that was nice!
Next up was David's parents house... but I didn't get too many pictures - just one with Sam, the first nephew. They're too cute huh? David was good to still be hungry 1.5 hours after our first meal - I ate too but definitely couldn't pack in as much as he did. We played with his siblings - usually we do Nintendo and air hockey... And then headed out for the evening. That night we met up with Steph and Co. and went to see a movie. David & I stayed up a bit longer enjoying time together on the holiday. I didn't get too much rest before heading to Black Friday with Steph & Mom. I didn't do too much shopping either. I was surprised that I showed up to go out with them at like 6ish and they weren't ready for another hour at least. But we still found some good deals. We also took a road trip later on to visit Ogden relatives. And then the rest of the weekend was devoted to STUDY. I had my PHR test the next week (which you already know I passed... !) But I was pretty nervous, so instead of getting lots of R&R - D & I studied. But since he was sitting next to me, I was a happy studier.

Trip to AZ in November

So, I have a few things to catch up.... maybe before the New Year?? :) Well, I'll date it as so...ha ha
I took David to my HOME!!! (The week before we were engaged) Mom picked us up Friday Nov 13th (sweet day!) and we checked out her work before heading to Chili's with Eric & Amanda (his sweet girlfriend). So, we all piled on the food until we were stuffed. I think I tried everyone's food but didn't find the best meal there yet. Next up was a movie (I was hoping scary to go with the day theme..). It was fun being with the family and doing our normal snacking, chatting, and watching. We finally went to bed. David was lucky and slept in my old room while I bunked elsewhere...
Next came Saturday... we had Crepes for breakfast. Yum! And then Mom & I gave David the tour of my hometown Tempe. We stopped at a park and here are some candids and posed since Mom was willingly snapping our picture. (Didn't know we were practicing for engagement shots huh?)
I think I also am losing all memory since it took me awhile to find where my elementary school was and other stuff that I should totally know! We also took David to In&Out for his first time there. Yum! By the afternoon I borrowed Eric's car and drove David out to the boonies where Dad lives. All the family was getting together to say hi and meet him :) We had lovely French Toast cooked for the whole group that is getting bigger everyday. Below are pictures with us with the pond. Then me and the nieces and nephews. (They always tackle me into some sort of game or toys, which I love!) We then headed to Cold Stone and got some ice cream. Yep, Ice Cream to go with our Syrupy French Toast.... talk about sugar huh? We picked up a movie Dad was referred to and we all watched it. Meet the Parents. Yep again. Hahha. It was good that David met the family before they watched the movie, because they could have gotten ideas to do from it... but everyone was great and Dad grilled David to get all his info and then later Dad quizzed the family to see what they remembered. Silly.
Sunday was the last day, still busy busy. We headed to Glendale where I met some of David's family! They all coordinated and met us at his cousin's house where we had breakfast and chatted for a bit before their church. They are a very sweet bunch. We didn't get to stay too long, but the point was probably mostly for them to meet me - mission accomplished. Next up we drove back to Tempe and went to my Dad's ward. We were spiritually fed and basically the theme for the lessons were marriage - so that was fun. David & Dad had a little "chat" before we piled into his van and headed to the airport. So all was accomplished that we could in those 48 hours - - - at least meeting the family and seeing my home town etc. It was great going with David and having him see all - even my room or school etc. Now when I tell stories he can imagine it better. I remember visiting AZ in September when we had just started dating - I had wished he was there so he could understand what I was describing - and then I did convince him to come :) :) Fun weekend!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

PHR

I'd like to introduce you to the newly...

Andrea Everts, PHR

Yeah, I'm sure no one knows what that is huh?? I hadn't heard of it till I started my job. And now I have it at the end of my name!!! So, what is it?? Okay...

Back in September I started studying and taking an HR class to take a huge test to get these 3 initials after my name. It's called the Professional of Human Resources Certificate. It's a way for those in HR to distinguish themselves. Its not mandatory or anything like PhD or stuff, but it felt like quite an accomplishment last weekend after the 4 hour test was over and the computer printed the words - "Passed" !!! I spent every Tuesday night this fall at an HR class with about 20 other professionals where we studied all the different facets of HR. It was a 4 hour class that was pretty long for me after work, but it was definitely a help for my preparation. Then I spent the last 2 weeks studying at every moment possible, even during Thanksgiving, sadly... I was pretty worried since the test is actually pretty gruesome. I had memorized, or tried to memorize all the many HR Laws like Civil Rights, union stuff, benefits laws, salary stuff, and so much more. And then the test is actually isn't just factual, but more about the HR best practices and what the best thing to do in certain situations might be. So, it felt tricky - and who knows how I passed. David, co-workers, and friends would tell you it was because I studied ALL the last few months anytime I could. Yay!!! I'm done!!! And even better, I passed the test and I have something to put on my resume and get a bit of a raise hopefully :)

Now it's on to the wedding planning... only about 2 months away. Can't wait!! Oh, and Christmas, which should be good too.