Whoops...

Just had to add this to our many memories... The story: We pulled up to our home but needed to move the green car off of the driveway and swap with white car in the middle of the street. One of us was rushing (as the other requested) and left the white car in the street and got into the green car to back it out. While backing out that one person still rushing, accidently crunched the side mirror into the tree! The other person watching from the street... hoping all was okay and yep all was... except for the whole side mirror!!!! Glad everyone was okay though, easy mistake.

Nothing that can't be fixed. Poor green car... now though it's new and beautifully painted, it looks a lot better than the rest of the car!

Which one of us did it?? Well, lets just say he won't be named :)

Dating Races

For those of you who have LOTS of time on your hands... this blog is AWESOME!! (even if you don't have lots of time like me!)
http://thedatingrace.blogspot.com/
My amazing friends are having a race to see how many dates they can rack up over the month of January - and taking pics - and posting about the date - then we all get to vote on who they should go out on a second date with at the end.... Well, I'm pretty impressed by all they are doing and going through. I only read a bit, and hear a bit more from Shayla (she's doing our flowers - whoopie!!!). We actually went on a quadruple date with Shayla and a date and Eric and a date last week and it was crazy to see that they Shayla had been on 4 dates that day. Oh my gosh! But really, I think I could have almost done the race if I had a good friend doing it with me - and also if i didn't already just find my man :) :)

My Best Friend

I just had the BEST weekend ever. REALLY!!! One of those moments every person waits for and dreams of.... Yep....

I'M ENGAGED!!!!! To David Clark!!!

...

We're engaged!!! Aren't we cute??? I haven't stopped smiling since Friday Nov 20th - when it all went down. .I'm so happy and in love. My life is taking a big turn soon and I'm just thrilled. I'm getting married to my best friend and best person in the world. I'm so lucky to have David in my life.
So, here's the brief story. Maybe it won't be so brief... we'll see. David & I met in our singles ward back at the beginning of 2009. We were friends and that was it as we continued on our seperate paths and dating others etc. David always likes to tell me how he was interested in getting to know me but had to wait till I was available - and it did finally happen on August 1st. Our first date was up in SLC by the Capital above a park called Memory Grove. That first date we had Jamba and walked through the park and chatted until we got above the park and watched the sunset over the Salt Lake Valley. That spot became "our spot". Over the next 3 months we've spent EVERY day together. I've been on cloud 9 and still am. Last week we went to AZ so David could meet my family and had a great time. I had thought the ring might have already been picked out and ready... but Wednesday last week David totally threw me off by saying we should go ring shopping sometime around Thanksgiving. I have been so excited to be engaged but figured I had a bit more waiting to do...patience Andrea right?? Well, he was just getting me off his track and also made up another story about going on a double with some friends in SLC. So we were supposidly waiting for his friend to get off work and we "happened" to drive through the area where our spot is. David casually said - yeah, lets get out and go visit our park... (I was starting to maybe suspect something but still not getting my hopes up)... We chatted a little bit and David mentioned some good memories we've had, etc... And then all the sudden he got on one knee!!!! What??? Yeah, I was in - shock mode - so as he was down there I said (in somewhat of a shocked or threatening tone) David! What are you doing???!!! He then proposed... (I just couldn't believe that the event I had dreamed of was happening right then) And I said YES!!! We took a few pics and watched the beautiful red orange sunset. Then we didn't go on the fake double date - and instead we visited family, called family, and just spent time together till we were exhausted.

Here are some responses from our announcement:

- My grandma Ginny - "We'll it's about time! We were all hoping. Now your Dad doesn't have to worry about you. We like him!"
- Grandpa Clark - "Oh great! So you finally decided huh David? That's wonderful"
(I guess our grandparents thought 3 months was too long of a wait?? :) )
- Autumn Clark (6 yr old sibling) - Wow, so what am I going to be?? (She's hoping a flower girl)
- Megan Davis (previous roommate) - She let out a blood curdling scream in the chapel about 5 min before church was starting. It scared me!!
- My mom - "Oh my gosh!! Even though I already knew... I think I'm going to cry..."
- My dad - "So, where did the momentous occation take place??"
- David's dad - "Are you sure you want to be apart of this (looking at all 9 kids running a muck)??"
- Diane & Bri - "Congratulations" - in a sing song voice...
- Eric - "Cool. ...Well, dad called and asked if I talked to you yet, so I figured..."

And I'm sure I'm missing some, but anyway... most everyone said Congrats and then begins the 100 questions - when? where? how? dresses? honeymoon? reception? food? etc etc... But we hadn't figured out details yet. All we knew was that someday soon - We're getting married!!! Yep. We're nailing some details down. So far...we've got:

Marriage Date: Friday February 12; 1:00PM; SLC Temple
Reception that night to follow somewhere
And a reception in AZ on March 20th....

Yay for us!!! Still can't stop smiling, or really focusing, or anything really. But who cares right? Once in a lifetime experience. And a forever lifetime experience together as David & Andrea Clark. I can't wait....

Not yet...

So... It's not Christmas YET...........but SOON!!!

I saw this picture and I just HAD to post it :) !! Really, I would totally do this if I had a real house and cool neighbors that I would never be able to beat at decorations. It's so funny to me!! (The title of the e-mail going around said "Money Saving Christmas Idea" :P )

In other news... here are the updates so far:

• I went to AZ this past weekend!! It was an awesome 48 hour trip - I'll have to post some pics soon when I can get a few minutes.
• I have 2 WEEKS until I take the PHR Certification test. YIKES!!! I just took a test at my study class and didn't pass....yet. So, I've got LOTS of studying to do. I'm thinking positively, but if I don't get it, I can try again in May. BUT, for now I'm going to try and study at every down moment possible.
• It's getting COLD, but it's good - the Holidays are among us.
• Work has been very hectic with problems with payroll commission stuff, a few layoffs today that killed me, gift card problems that are never ending, etc etc etc. I could write about all that jazz forever too. But instead I should be working, so I will.

Happy Christmas!! Okay, not yet. NOT YET... but SOON!!! Happy November and week before Thanksgiving. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas :)

My SLC friends...

I have made some GREAT friends since I've been in my Murray area...

When I first got here, I met Katie - she was also new! She was tossed into the RS Presidency and she brought me along with her. And then Shayla joined us too. We've had a few 2nd Counselors, but the 3 of us at least are STICKIN it out together... for the whole year!! Sweet! Here's us at some random hike FHE activity. Sadly, our first picture together and it was like September...hhahaa.

Then I also did a little trail hike with Shayla a few weeks ago. We hiked where all the snow skiing trails will be - we saw signs for black diamonds and everything. And we weren't the smartest since we kind of forgot to take flashlights...hahaah. Luckily we survived. And had a LOT of fun! Shayla actually asked me out on a date for this activity. She's just such a fun person!! Really. You have to meet her. Her and I just laugh whenever we're together. We love to just be silly and who cares what people think of our crazy laughter? Its fun... And it was gorgeous on our hike, the pics don't do it justice.

Lastly are some pics of us at the most recent Corn Maze with the ward. First is Emily and me - she was also in the RS with us before she switched wards. I just love her, she's a very happy person and I just could depend on her for everything.

Then yeah... I'm pretty sure I have other friends, but mostly, I do stick around with the same crew. Here's Katie, Shayla and myself. We had fun trying to find the different parts of the maze. Really, we didn't succeed at all, but it was fun! I mean, look at this face, we had to have fun right?

Shayla is so stinkin cute! She's talented and just a great friend. Thanks Shayla for all you do. I have to say a few other things - on my birthday - I will never forget that Shayla texted me "Happy Birthday" every hour - no joke! And then her and Katie found a key to my house and were the ones who decorated it all so sweetly. They are just so amazing friends, I'm glad I found or was thrown into callings with them so we could be close all the time... And Katie is so thoughtful as well. She keeps us in line and really knows how to serve. We're crazy...

And of course, I've got to throw in one more pic - of another type of friend - Boyfriend, yes, haha David :) Awe...

New Jersey here I came!

THE LONG AWAITED NJ TRIP DETAILS!! I know, finally! It's going to be long, and several posts... BUT, so worth it! So many funny moments not to be forgotten :)

May 22nd 2009

Schedule of events:

11:30 pm the night before - get in to Newark and Lexie pick me up!

6:45 am - Wake up to the sound of 3 little boys eating cereal, playing, crying, etc.

7:30 am - Finally wake up a bit more after Lexie crawled in to my air mattress with me

11:00 am - Lexie and I drop off the boys with one of her friends and we head to the mall to do a bit of shopping and grab lunch - NJ doesn't have taxes, so I went a bit crazy...

2:00 pm - Pick up the boys and play with them a bit

3:30 pm - Rob came home and Lexie and I ran to the grocery store for a bit

5:30 pm - Lexie and I grabbed the NJ train and headed into NYC to go see MAMMA MIA!

8:00 pm - After 1.5 hours of walking through the city, we got in and watched the awesome musical!

10:30 pm - Started the trek home...

1:30 am - After getting home and chatting for hours, we decided to head to bed.

Okay, so now here are the details for DAY # 1 with Lexie, much more exciting!

• The boys - Even though those little rascals woke me up at 7 flippin AM they are just the cutest boys ever!! So entertaining really! I'm realizing if you have kids, although they are a lot of work, cry, etc - they still are so funny and can always put a smile on your face! Reven is 4 now - wow! He's so big. And then Mason is the middle child and has the cutest dimples, and has the emotional middle child syndrome a bit, and then Jesse is the youngest but more the bully than any of the boys. They are just the CUTEST kids though. I hate to say that I was almost hoping this "trip" would cure my baby hunger pains (I just love babies right now!!). But, the boys didn't cure it. They were too cute. Even if they were messy and woke me up and stuff.


• NJ Traffic - it's horrendous! There are all sorts of crazy drivers, but what's even worse are the actual roads! The "freeways" are so funny - no on or off ramps, buses stop on the side of the freeway, the roads are all tangled up and all over the place! The side roads have barriers and you can't make a left and get to stores on that side till you get a mile or two past it and turn around...ah, annoying.


• Eiffel Tower - So, Lexie and I were driving back from the needed trip to the mall. Isn't it funny that I've been needing to go shopping and I've been in UT and spent hours finding nothing, and then I had 2 hours with Lexie and was like Ms. Shopaholic...! Anyway, back to the car afterwards and as we're driving I got a quick glimpse of the NYC skyline!! I excitedly looked at Lex and said - oh look! The city! And, that's the Eiffel Tower!!?? It's the tallest right?! Sweet!! Lexie says - yes Andrea, the "Eiffel Tower" - sarcastically - and I was like - what?? Lexie - Yes, Andrea we are in Paris aren't we?!?! Oh man! You're right, what's that called again Lex? Lex - You are serious? The Empire State Building!! Me - Oh yeah! Whoops...hahahahahhahah. At least I said a tall building that started with an "E" right? Luckily I don't get embarrassed too much, and especially with Lexie, she's heard and seen it all... This weekend trip had at least 100 CrAzY Andrea Experiences like this one. I started making a list so I wouldn't forget...

• Walking through the city - Lexie and I dressed up for Mamma Mia and took the train and then walked about 25 blocks to the Theatre. It was nice weather, cheaper than the subway, and I needed to see the city anyway... So, we walked. In our dresses. And high heels baby! At a nice lady from the Bronx came up to us and said "You look like you are NYC girls, can I follow you guys there?" She looked at me and I kinda laughed because, oh wait, I'm totally NOT from here and even Lexie hasn't been on the trains too much so we thought it was pretty flattering - guess we looked the part at least! Also, my dress has sooo much fabric that the wind could really pick it up and send it up higher than I wanted! It was pretty funny for Lexie to watch me panicking every time it would blow. The best was when we were standing on the side over a subway vent - the subway came by and up went my skirt - all the way to my elbows!! Yeah, I'm sure people saw everything - well, only my whites, but who in NY knows what those are??

• More walking experiences - So, more stories... After only a few minutes of walking the 25 blocks we needed to go, I grabbed on to Lexie so I didn't have to try and dodge the hundreds of people all over the place. We even had a bit more fun and would hold hands sometimes to watch and see if we got a reaction. Even in NYC we did get a few stares. There were LOTS of people for us to stare at too - those weirdos, so we were just joining the crowd. Rob, Lexie's husband, knows that I am Lexie's one true love still even though he got to marry her...hahah.


• Butt checks - YES! So, here we are after the musical, trying to dodge the crowds again on the way back to the train stop. Since we were all dolled up, I made a comment to Lexie saying that I was surprised we hadn't had anyone try to do anything to us (more joking a bit)... She said that this was NYC and people are still civilized here, gosh! Not more than 3 minutes later we were stopped at a light before a crosswalk (The yellow ones don't stop! Taxi's!) and my words came to pass! A shorter man was walking past us from the other direction when we all were in congestion and rather than him passing by us, he stopped and basically stood behind us longer than he needed to. I noticed his hesitation and just thought he was kinda weird. Well, then I realized that someone had just rubbed their hand down my butt - YES, my butt!! What?? I basically jumped forward because I'm not too used to having that part of me caressed.... And then Lexie looked at me and she too had a weird expression, he had just grabbed her butt too!! We looked around and the little guy and ran off. Lexie turned to me and said, did he just touch your butt? YES!! Me too!!! No way!! What is this world coming too??!! Yucky!! But it was one of those moments to add to the list of crazy things we've experienced!! Yes, we were looking fine and a guy just totally grabbed our butts. No, not just one, but went for both of us - and then disappeared! Hahah. Only in New York right??

• Mamma Mia - Yes it was great!! The movie is great too by the way, but something about sitting and watching the actors and seeing a bit different portrayal, or a bit more in depth portrayal, is just SO AWESOME to me. I love Broadway Musicals! (And I just realized that they are called Broadway's because they are on the Broadway Street - yes, blond moment - but why would I know this if I really haven't been to NYC too much?) I love Abba songs! Lexie and I snuck in our soft pretzels from the stand outside and continued to eat and take illegal pictures till it started. More just to be rebels and for that little "thrill" like we'd get when we'd spy on people back in high school, etc... The musical was great though. And it was hilarious to watch one 70 year old man usher who during the last number busted his groove and got jiggy with it in the back row! If only he wasn't the picture Nazi, we would have videoed him!

Double edged sword

**Side note about last post** I thought it was kind of funny - my last post I said that I evaded an embarrassing moment. Then I posted the whole story on my blog - so really I didn't avoid it did I?? Funny. I'm Funny.

There are LOTS of double edge swords in this life. For example:

1. At work - employees are kind of like that. They are never happy! Not sure if you'd consider them a double edge sword or just never satisfied or always complaining - or maybe it's that MY job is UN-Thank-able. If that's a word. We just don't get recognized, I knew that and am okay with that, but we also only hear the complaints. A few months ago we started the "Weight Watchers At Work Program" and have several employees that go to that and are starting to be successful!! Sweet! And then on Tuesday we had a "Awards Program" and afterwards we had Leatherbys come and have an ice cream bar open for a couple hours. Employees should be pretty happy about these sweet "free" advantages - when we have free candy, or awards, or ice cream! I know they've missed our "troph" of food and free popcorn, etc. So, heck, it's ICE CREAM, right?? Yes!! Well, we even got a complaint about this...they said - "It seems a bit contradicting that you would offer/tempt us all with Ice Cream, when you know that you're also promoting the Weight Watchers program. How can you guys do that?" Are you serious?? HAHAH. It totally made me laugh! People people, either you want free stuff, but you want certain free stuff, and you still complain when we give you the free stuff. The napkins aren't soft enough, the coffee cups break, the ice cream - is a bad temptation! Dude, isn't life full of choices? And I think on Weight Watchers you could do ice cream and just use all your points right?? So, come on guys, just don't go down and stare at it then! Hilarious.
2. Dating. Another double edge sword. So, either you WANT to have a boyfriend and there are just NO guys. At all. And you just keep wishing and searching and even maybe cry! OR... Then you actually GET called out, but the phone just keeps ringing and ringing. And there's 5 different boys asking you out. And maybe they all aren't ones you want! So, you feel torn and stressed and you keep hoping one is right... you cry again! No matter what - you aren't really getting what you want and either way you're crying. Or I'm crying. Haha. Stupid dating!! Oh, okay. It's good. It's really good. I mean, it's "the way". It's how I'm going to save myself from living alone and being the "cat lady" in the neighborhood. And I hate cats, so hopefully I don't have to have that fate! Actually on the dating front, I've been stressed but just keep protecting my little heart. So, it hasn't been too bad. But now I think I've got to let go a bit and take more chances. We'll see what happens...
3. Desserts - yes, another double edge. It just tastes so good! And makes me so happy. That ice cream at work, was just heaven with that hot fudge... But, 20 minutes after the fact - I didn't feel so hot. Plus, I probably gained 4 lbs from that crap dripping in sauce. Oh well, maybe since I couldn't eat anything the rest of the day, I lost a bit of it...

Okay - there are tons that are popping in my head, but I'll save you from the rest for now. Just wanted to share a few stories/thoughts from the week that just keep cracking me up. The crazy employees here are just so funny!! Honestly. Sometimes it'd be nice to just get a bit of appreciation or love or...oh well. Peace out.

Almost Embarrassing

Ahhh... So, I appologize for the overshare again, but this was too funny...

You know what I mean when I say, I hate being a girl sometimes? Yeah, so it's that time when Aunt Flow comes. Yippie! Right? No way jose.

Today I visited the bathroom and while in there I realized that I got a little somethin somethin on the very top of the back of my pants. I'll save you from the details. Anyway - I have a white undershirt on and didn't want to mess that up, so I tried to just dab at the pants while still in the stall... Not working too well. Ladies were coming in and out and here I am taking up one of the 3 stalls for - way - too - long. Maybe somehow I can beam myself home for a minute to change? Or Maybe I can tell my boss and she'll say it's okay to go home?? Or I can just cover it up with my shirt - but probably ruin both pants and shirt by not getting them clean?

Finally - BRIGHT IDEA! Okay, I'll pull my shirt down far in the back, quickly wash hands and exit the bathroom. THEN - I'll run into the private bathroom/shower area. And I can take off my pants and wash them easier that way. So, I proceeded successfully. (Usually when I get any crap on my clothes I take it off, take it to the sink, wet that area slightly and scrub, and that usually does the trick). So, I took off my pants, got the area that I needed and basically tossed the whole pants in front of the sink. BUT - I forgot that this is an automatic sink. CRAP! Now all of my butt, front, crotch, and upper thigh areas are totally wet! And how am I supposed to get them dry?? Okay... so I scrub out the problem area - good to go. Next problem - I'm standing in the bathroom, my pants are wet and when worn it looks like I totally had an accident...and some! Oh dang. I can't sit in here for 30 min waiting for this to dry. People will want this room after lunch so that they can shower after their lunch run/exercise...(yeah, if only we were all guys and could just shower at work and be good to go in 10 min)... Can I cover it with my shirt?? NO!! Wait! - What is that?? NOW I am noticing another spot that needs cleaning on my pants near the knee. How the heck did that get there?? Yeah, stupid periods! So, I again take off the pants - but am smarter and grab paper towels, wet them, and dab the area clean. Okay - that spot is pretty bad too, but maybe I've taken enough time that the upper area is drying?? Not really yet. I put them back on again and check what I look like in the small mirror above the sink. Still pretty bad! Wait!!! - What is that now?? Oh yes - there's another crappin spot on the other pant leg - same area. Can I really do any worse at this moment? So, again like for the 4th time - I'm without pants in the bathroom and dabbing the area till it's clean. And by this time I notice that the upper pants are looking a lot dryer! Sweet! Actually it's a good idea that I did notice the other 2 spots before exiting the bathroom - that would have been embarrassing too! And the pants had dried a bit more from the time I was taking. Sweet!

Anyone ever seen HITCH? Yeah, I'm Albert Brennaman in the bathroom before he goes into the legal advisement meeting to meet his true love Allegra Cole. I think he had gotten something on his pants and was in the stall cleaning them. And blow-drying them. (At this point I'm wishing we had blow-dryers here in the bathrooms! Funny thing though - just last week our admin came and asked what we thought of that idea as a cost saving idea. But both of us here didn't like that idea - heck, we all like to dry with clean paper towels rather than have the germs in the bathroom just get blown around on our hands. Well...my mistake!) Well, at least I'm not totally Albert because I'm smart enough to put on my pants and then once I didn't hear anyone in the hall - I made a dash down the hallways and to my desk. I made it!!

So, actually... embarrassing moment evaded!

L O L

Last Sunday I spent a few hours at my cousin Steph's house - doing the family thing :) I think I've said it a few times on here, but it sure is nice to be close to them!!

Well, Sarah, her 9 year old daughter was sitting at the table with us and I said something funny, I thought, but I can't necessarily remember, so I'll make my part up:

Me : "Sarah, you should eat your food or it's going to be sad that you didn't like it... hA HA ha!!"

Sarah looked at me with a puzzled face - thinking ???

Steph : "Andrea means LOL"

Sarah : "AHhhh... hahahhaha! Funny!!"

What is this world coming to today??? They don't know a joke unless you say "LOL" ??? I'm sure I said something that was funnier than the above, but I can't remember. But either way I laughed more at the response and that Steph knew what to say to help Sarah get it. It's times like these when I feel old...

If I had kids....

HA ha HA!! Hillarious. Happy Friday everyone!

Okay...one more, since recent Swine Flu craziness - badly informed precautions are happening everywhere - slaughtering of pigs in Egypt, and others - at least the one thing that is a good idea - wash hands and stay home if you are sick (people need to do a bit of reading.... PIGS aren't carrying the flu)

If I had PIGS....

Escape

This is my new FAVORITE picture. It totally describes my feelings right now (at work, and in my life)!! Ohh... it just makes me smile...




Anyone remember Finding Nemo?? "Ess-caa--pay" Ah, Dory...hha. I need to ESCAPE!!