Clarks 2013

Clarks 2013

Thursday, September 24, 2009

09/09/09 09:09

So, what were you all doing during the coolest time ever???

It was 9/9/9 - or September 9, 2009 a couple weeks ago. And I definitely made a wish....(at 9:09 pm too!) while watching Keith Urban Live in Concert at the Delta Center!!! Whoohoo!!
Megan (my roommate) and I splurged for a night on the town together. And it was a blast! We sang, we danced, we chatted, took funny pictures, talked, and talked, and just did all the usual girl stuff. Keith Urban was great! This was my 3rd concert of his - I really haven't been to too many concerts, but I sure am entertained by him. Music is just one of my favorite things, so of course, this was great. And fun songs, cute songs, happy, romantic, etc etc just make me smile.
Here are our documented pictures. We were on the first row of the upper level... And the one of us outside is us in front of his official "Tour Bus" :) Megan is great! She's such a great roommate. I did live by myself till this summer, and it's been nice to have someone around to talk with and play with. It's funny though because our schedules are so opposite that sometimes we don't see each other for a week. That just means we have to "schedule it in"... But it works :) Thanks Megan for going with me!! Oh, and side note - while watching Keith run to the back of the arena to play a few little ditties for us back arena people, there was a part of the audience's seats that totally collapsed as a few were trying to reach out and touch Keith. Oh man!! You had to be there, but talk about dangerous! For Keith, for his guitar, and for all the people above him who fell about 10 feet! I hope they got something free from that - probably the wheelchair rides were free at least right? Sad I know!!

Monday, September 21, 2009

No place like home

I took a quick trip to visit home over Labor Day weekend.... It surely was a busy vacation, so can you really call it a vacation? Probably huh? It was great. I did tons!

Scorpions - So, yeah, the last time I went to AZ I had the encounter with the scary scorpions. I was well aware and still slightly afraid to sleep, but I was successful and didn't get stung. Thursday night, when I got in, Eric picked me up and drove me to Dad's house. We ate dinner at like 10 pm and then I decided I wanted him to show me how to scorpion hunt. I would be sleeping with a black light and needed to know what to look for if I saw one. Well, probably not the smartest idea I've had... I did see them... but after I saw about 5 crawl out of the back wall of the backyard, I was feeling all creepy crawly and knew I would have nightmares. Amanda (we'll get to her) and I watched from afar as Eric spraid and killed them. The last straw was when #4 scorpion fell from above and probably could have landed on me - I was definitely done after that... hahah. Eww. Sleeping that night was rough to say the least. I woke up every hour and re-checked everything with the black light. Here's what one looks like with the black light on it. It's neon like the color white is in disco lighting etc...
Wakeboarding - I went wakeboarding with Lexie on Friday!! (YES, she happened to be visiting AZ too that week with her family!!). I learned how to almost jump the wake. I totally got a lot better though and had a blast. Boating in AZ was a lot warmer, and more enjoyable for some points. I wish I could do that more!!! We went to the Saguaro lake around 8 am and stayed till about 2. They let me wakeboard a couple times, and after watching all the pros - I figured out how to glide outside the wake and cut back and stuff. Lexie and Rob and his brothers and sisters went as well and they were just awesome. I loved seeing Lexie for the few hours that we could chat. And I think they all had a blast taking a few hours out of the kid life to play as adults. :) (the middle pic is Lexie, yeah I wish I was that good!!)
Lunch - Friday I went to lunch with Dad and Diane. I was able to spend some one on one with both of them a few times over the weekend seeing that I slept at their house, ate with them, taxied around with them, etc etc. I love my parents. It's so nice we can chat and laugh and just have fun together. The funniest part of the lunch, to journal, was when Diane was on the phone with Briand explaining that Max (we'll get to him soon!!!) will adjust to taking a bath soon enough. Her exact phrase was, well, new born babies aren't too comfortable being naked and all exposed. It was hilarious to me because right then I thought - and us as adults like our naked bodies all exposed??? Yeah right!! Hahah, it was just, well, you had to be there....

Mom's b-day Celebration - So I wanted to celebrate Mom's b-day since it would be on 9/11 and I was just missing it by one week. Eric and his girlfriend Amanda came with Mom and I to Teriyaki Kitchen for dinner and then bowling afterwards. It was a lot of fun. I was pretty exhausted, more than that, from boating, so I was pretty impatient but also feeling kind of silly and mom can always be like that, so we all had fun. Amanda fit right in - I love how she can laugh and have fun with us too. And I knew that I had to take advantage of Eric wanting to come - usually if he's dating someone, he's more likely to be outgoing and want to do stuff with his family, so hence, I put it together. I hope mom had a good time :) Eric won the bowling tournament. But we all did pretty good - well, they all did...hahah...
Saturday shopping - Mom and I took a quick trip to Chandler to get some stuff. I realized after about an hour that my body was even more sore, so clothes shopping was out. Sad! Instead I finally got my 24 HR fitness pass from Costco. I've been trying to get it in UT for like 3 weeks, and who knew that all I needed to do was go all the way to AZ to be able to get into Costco and them have the passes and everything... (that's another story I won't go into...)... Shopping just hasn't been my expertise this past month. Oh well...

Maximus Oviatt - So, finally, the reason I came to AZ in the first place was because Briand had her little baby boy!!! Max. He's the cutest thing ever. And I'm not biased at all. Okay, maybe a little. He is my nephew. The first! And so adorable. I'm not the baby expert, but I sure love being around them. He seems to have such a strong neck already and it was only his 4th day here! He has big blue eyes and was awake a lot. I thought babies just slept all the time when they first get here... Anyway, I spent all Saturday afternoon and evening at Briand's house. Dad and Justin left to head to the ASU game... so it was just us girls. I'm so glad I was able to spend a few hours there and get to see the after birth adjustment a bit more. Briand is such a good mom already. Her and Justin were pretty wiped out, so Diane and I tried to just hold and play with Max for the 2 hours he wasn't eating...and they would crash and sleep. Eventually Diane had to run some errands and was pretty tuckered out herself, so I got Max for several hours. And since it's my sisters baby, I felt okay if he would cry and I would still just hold him and try to calm him down. And I actually did!! Awe. Anyway, I could go on and on, but instead I'll post some pictures. Also, a funny story is that earlier yesterday at lunch I knew I'd be eating my words, but I said anyway, that I'm not ready for kids and they are just hard and stuff. But here I was holding Max and I want one!! Yep. Someday though, I'm not ready yet, but I will just have to surround myself with more newborns. I'm sad I won't get to see Max grow except only from afar.
Sunday - I wasn't feeling 100%, so I just went to Sacrament Meeting and then spent some time at mom's. I'm always at home at my house I grew up at.... Then Dad and Diane headed back out to Briand's and I was definitely there!! So, I got a few more hours with Max before I would be heading back to UT. It was so sweet to see my Dad hold him and put him to sleep and then both of them just sitting and rocking and sleeping in the chair. Awe.

Monday - I headed home and was pretty glad to just have a few more hours to take a break from my vacation and spend time with my favorite person David.

I loved visiting home and family. What a great vacation. Thanks everyone for making it such a great trip. I LOVE YOU!!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

In the clouds

So, I haven't posted for awhile. Life is just too good at the moment. Basically. But, not much to really update you all on... hahah.
But, this last month of summer has topped off this whole year! I went, or tried, to go boating the last 3 weekends. The 2nd one we camped at Bear Lake and it rained, so no boating. But last weekend there were 9 of us in a group that went up with Eric's boat, and that was a blast. We set up on the beach and took turns going out and playing on the water. It was a bit cold, but the sun warmed us up. And we were totally exhausted again this time. I stayed up too late all this week and then crashed on Sunday for 3 hours. Yay for naps!!

Besides boating, I've spent some time with a really great friend just doing whatever and it's been a blast. I don't want it to end!! We've got Lagoon coming up this Saturday, and I'll be headed to AZ for a Labor Day trip to see Bri's baby and play with family and friends!!

Then FALL officially starts. I'll post about my upcoming fall soon. But I just keep telling myself "think happy thoughts...think happy thoughts" and I hope I can just embrace the winter more.

Here are some pics:
Bear Lake Pics with some ward gals:
Kara and Shally Clarke and I drove up together. The lake was the most beautiful blue green I have ever seen!! And then I slept on a huge air mattress with Katie Kelson and Emily Marble. Sweet!

Boating up near Park City:And I happened to get to babysit little Jillaire! She's adorable, although maybe I'm still not cut out for kids. I was exhausted afterwards. She's a wiggle worm!
I'll post more when I get back from my trip in the clouds...

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Sushi!!

Guess what I ate yesterday??

SUSHI!!!!!

Ssss uuuu sss hhhh iiii !!!

Yeah, and it was good. I even ate stuff I hadn't had before like Octopus and the raw fish w/out the rice roll around it. I like the rolls best though. And Edamame- yum!!

And I took a first-timer with me. Way to go David!! He liked it of course!

Monday, August 10, 2009

East Canyon Lake

So, can I say...my weekend was AWESOME!!! Yup. What is better than BOATING??

Saturday August 8th, 4:45am I headed out with David to East Canyon Lake!! Yeah, I'm crazy, but I couldn't let him drive alone...






We met up with Eric, Celeste, and Jill from our ward. They were camping the night before and had the boat all ready to go when we got there. We were getting an early start because this was our Ward Activity for the day. Sadly, it was FREEZING cold and totally rained a little bit. So, the first few hours were spent in the boat. Eric was crazy enough to go skiing (which he is like the best water sports person I've ever seen, no joke). Then once it was raining we busted out the boat cover and put it on while we were in the boat that was still floating on the lake. Since David and I hadn't slept too much (he didn't at all the night before) we kinda took a nap as best as we could since it was a lot warmer under the cover. And Eric continued to be the driver/look out man. Our ward got to the lake around 7:30 or so.




We finally got out at like 9 to go pick them up and take a few out on the boat. I laid on the grass and tried to sleep and eat a bit. I was exhausted already. But, as soon as I saw 2 Jet Skis dock at the beach, I grabbed Nancy and we took a nice ride out to the end of the lake and back. I think that could have been my first time driving a Jet Ski. And it was AWESOME!! The steering wheel is so sensitive I had a hard time getting used to it, and I think I was a bit too cautious because I didn't want to get thrown in and wet...seeing that I would have frozen afterwards. But, it was fun, and I will do it again for sure!







Next up: Boating with Brother Linton... I got off the Jet Skis and didn't waste more than 5 minutes before I heard that Brother Linton was ready to take another crew on his boat. Well, I was excited. Comes to find out his boat is like one of the BEST EVER. His boat is the one to the left under my sleeping pic. Like 400 something horsepower something... I have no idea. But you could just see how much he loved that boat. And I do too now! It was so fast. Yesterday at church he thanked me for my screams. He said I was the crew's motivational person?!? Yeah, I just like to scream. And cheer for people. And scream when we're going fast, or when I'm slightly scared... It adds fun. He said he always knew when to turn around because it meant that the person on the rope was doing something awesome. Go me.

Even though everyone was pretty awesome compared to my not-so-experienced-or-daring-self... I still wake boarded. And if I go a few more times this year I think I'll get the hang of it again. I got up every time, but once my feet popped out of the wake board, I gave up. I was pretty tuckered out already from no sleep and no food. Yeah, I didn't realize I hadn't real food all morning till about 3 PM, besides a roll and a cookie. Whoops. I was too distracted by the water toys!




One handed baby! Even if it was only for 15 seconds.. ah hahh...






After about 6 of us wake boarded, they busted out the tubes. I was too cautious on this one since last year I almost lost my eye when two tubes are hooked on the back. It's dangerous... So, here's David tearing it up. He looks a bit tired huh? And that was before the tubing. They all hung on pretty well while Bro. Linton tried to get them off. It was funny. David and I were thoroughly worn out. We laid on the beach afterwards and tried to rest before the drive home. We were almost the last people there and helped clean up and put the Jet Skis away.





It was like the best day ever this summer so far. But I'm hoping there will be more like this still!! We have a stake Bear Lake trip this week... but I haven't found people who want to go yet. But I sure as heck do. 700 YSA's, free food and boating... Yeah... People are crazy if they don't go.




This is Katie Squires and me. She's a sweet girl in the ward and new in our RS Presidency. And my crazy after-the-water hair. I was calling it my beach boys do. Cute huh?

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Over

Just FYI - The boy is GONE. Its over. Maybe I jinxed it by posting about it huh?

No worries, back to shopping again... Actually I did go shopping with Megan Cannon Williams and it was a BLAST. I think shopping cures the heartache sometimes? Or at least lessens it since now I feel extra-gorgeous in my new clothes. Honestly though, the heartache hasn't happened yet. Or maybe it has, and it was just so small or earlier on since I knew it was ending. Or maybe it just wasn't right. Probably. And that's why I feel okay about it. A bit "alone" again, but heck, life is wonderful.

I'll find something else to post about soon...cuz let me tell you, soon life will be busy. I only have SO MUCH summer left. I am already trying to prepare myself for the cold, don't worry, its not here yet, but it will be and I will be in denial. I need to find a good part of it. Christmas. YES! Okay, but for the rest of the summer I am planning on a few more things still...and wishing on a few that haven't been planned yet but hope to soon:

- Boating - with my ward for sure, in AZ for sure, and then maybe with the Cannons and Speirs
- Lagoon - I totally want to although it won't live up to the others I've done this year
- CALI - Not sure how or when I'd get here, but maybe when it gets chillier I will go and play at the beach if I can't do it now
- Keith Urban - totally getting tickets like, today.
- AZ - to see Briand's baby once it comes...can't believe 9 months is coming to a close

Okay, that is just a bit of what I haven't done yet. I will have to forgo the white water rafting, the ski dos, and Hawaii (wasn't in the plans, but sure is a dream)... At least I did Park City and a few other trips to the East, camping, swimming, and Fireworks already. Fireworks are one of my FAVORITE things. Seriously. I went to several in July. And my new favorite is being up-as-close-as-you-can. I can see them being shot off. My body shakes because it's so loud. And it's just fun to be with the crowd. I will do this always! Katie, David, and I had the best time on July 24th...

Monday, July 27, 2009

Especially Annoyed

Okay, first off, I have to say I'm not a speech pathologist, speech therapist, or even an English major... BUT, my mom is... and even as a child as she would continually correct me, I'd say things wrong just to bug her. He he, I was a bad child...

Maybe I'm getting payback now. There's one word that I swear EVERYONE and their Mom and dogs say wrong and sometimes I just get so annoyed!!

Especially. Yes, that's the word. Say it now before I teach you how and maybe you do it wrong too. Remember, everyone does basically.

Es-pe-cial-ly
Pronounced = [i-spesh-uh-lee]

Why do people put an X in it??? I always hear: EXpeshuhlee. But Look above, there is no EX in it!! Seriously! And maybe I even said it wrong once. But someone pointed it out...and now I will forever hear it and just drive myself nuts!

And now, it will drive you batty too!! Sorry... :)