The weeks go by...

Well, it has been much too long wince I have written, time just seems to get away from me. I am not sure how or why, but it does.

The biggest and most significant event of the last week or so has no doubt been Ashley and Taylor's wedding! It was wonderful. I have decided undoubtedly that I will be having an afternoon wedding, no getting up at 3 on my wedding day!

We were able to sleep in until 8 or 9 am. Then all us girls went to Mindy's to get our hair and make-up done, note: I did not get my hair in an up-do, contrary to some people's questions. Then we came home and moseyed around for a bit and got ready to go to the temple. The sealing was beautiful and I have never seen Ashley so happy! She had the biggest smile on her face all day - I reckon her face must have hurt that night!

The dinner was beautiful that night - and no doubt the cupcakes were a hit! everyone loved them. The Key Lime was voted the favorite, although personally I loved the double chocolate, german chocolate, and coconut. And the pina colada was also amazing, and the red velvet... okay, they were all amazing!

Other than that not much happening - work should slow down soon as our Legacy Dinner is on May 13th.

Yesterday, I went to Smith & Edwards for the first time! I went specifically to talk to Bert Smith, Shell's grandpa and owner, about buying a table for our Legacy Dinner, but having gone for the first time - I had to get the grand tour of the place. It was incredible - something like 44 acres of what some would call junk and others call treasures! I was amazed at the variety of everything that they had - from Caldrea to original WWII bombs.

It was Bert's birthday yesterday, and so he didn't get in to work until about 11 am, but it didn't bother me too much as I had plenty to look at and Shell was an excellent tour guide! When I was able to talk to Bert - well, I just wish I could of had a video camera from the moment that I met him, walking up to his office and him giving me an auto donut, which they had had an entire Semi-truck full of and now there were only about 20 left. He wrote on the back "NC" (no-charge) and "Bert". We then went to his office where he took a copy on the constitution and marked it up for me, then we just sat and talked about the Fed and the teachers unions, etc. Part way through our conversation I had a very distinct de ja vu, very strange. After over an hour - he wrote out a check and then invited me to hi birthday lunch, I sadly had to decline - but enjoyed every minute that I was able to spend with him!

Shopping

Well, I did not get a massage today, although I will be this week. I did however find another excellent stress relieving activity, shopping. And TJMAXX has got the right price! I should probably not even admit how much I bought, but it was a de-stresser and it was nice to spend time with my Mom and Grandma.

So, 7 pairs of shoes, 3 tops, and 1 skirt later - things are looking up!

Diagnosis: Stress

Well, I came home from work early today, because I literally could not talk to anyone without having to pause in the middle of a sentence and take three deep breathes. I came home and couldn't really do anything I just go tin my sweats - I reckon I watched 4 hours of TV, which I NEVER do!

When my Grandma got home she listened to me breathe and told me everything was fine, and the likelihood was that I was simply stressed - which is the second time I have had such a diagnosis. I couldn't tell you exactly what I am stressed about, but when my Grandma said, "well, lets see you got home from your mission, got back into school, graduated, got a new job, your sister is getting married, and your parents are leaving on a mission for 3 years, I think anyone would be stressed!" And when you put it that way there does seem to be a lot that I can be stressed about - and I am more than happy to take her prescription: a massage every week for a few months.

Done.

20+ Hours of Sleep and Still Exhausted

Let's just put it this way - I came home from St. George on Saturday night, went to bed around 9:00 pm, woke up on Sunday morning around 9:30 am. Ate a delicious breakfast, then fell back to sleep around 10:00 am till 11:00 am. Got ready and went to church, could hardly hold my head up let a lone stay awake, so I came home after Sacrament meeting - slept for another 4 hours.

I have no idea what is wrong with me, but I am ready to go back to sleep and its only 9:00 pm.

St. George

Went down to the Washington County Convention - much to write, but will use this as a place holder for now! I just can't forget the delicious food at Gunbarrell Roadhouse and bleeding people in Cedar City.

A week of...

You know those days and resulting weeks that go by and you wake up and think... what the hell have I been doing? I have been feeling like this ever since I returned home from my mission!

Does life ever just slow down?

I have tried to slow some things down - I have been listening to books on tape in my car, and even on occasion just sitting in silence as I drive (since I seem to spend a lot of time in the car and much like the bathroom it is a place that you can be entirely by yourself without having to worry about any interruptions).

It doesn't seem to matter how well I plan out my days, I still seem to run out of time to accomplish everything I need to - I want to find time to read, be with my family, and just sit and do nothing, just have time to think.

Grandma & Grandpa are home!

Well, as I mentioned yesterday my Grandparents came home yesterday!

So other than my Dad being released as Bishop yesterday, which was emotional - we were able to couple it with the joy of having all the family around! I reckon we had more people over than we have in a while - Natalie who usually doesn't stay too long, stayed for a long while along with both Keisha and Kacey who came. Even Cody, Jordan, and Samantha stayed longer than usual. Plus we have had a few babies recently so we had three under the age of 1 - which made things quite fun!

I am so grateful for such a wonderful family!

Ashley's Bachelorette Party!

Well, today was.... well it started at 5:00 am. On a weekday that is no big deal, but on a Saturday it's rough. I had to be at the Davis County Convention at 6:15 am in order to get a booth and get set up before the convention started.

After the convention - which was very successful and exciting - yes I am crazy, but you just need to come to one and you will realize why they are so addicting. After, I came home finished cleaning the basement for my grandparents to come home from Nauvoo (they had been on a mission). Then I had to run to Costco get stuff for dinner tomorrow, picked up lunch for my grandparents. By the time I got home they had arrived! It is so exciting to have them back home! Then me, Heidi, and Grandma decided to get pedicures which were long overdue! Well, that set us back for the bachelorette party - plus we had to run by the airport on the way down to Provo to drop off a car at the airport so my parents could get home...

Needless to say by the time we made to Magleby's I was tired and starving and not too excited for a party - I was more in a mood to sit at home alone, but I didn't have a choice as I was planning the evening. So we had dinner - which was a bit of a disaster... the waiter couldn't keep our drinks filled, didn't bring enough bread with the appetizer, the main course came out before the dinner salads, and my main dish was wrong, Rachel's food was cold - fortunately the chocolate cake was good. Part way through the dinner I died laughing between the exhaustion and the 'failed' evening I couldn't help but just laugh.

After dinner we all got 'Grow a Boyfriends' and had to find 4 things to described Ashley and Taylor's relationships and take a picture of it. Well, not only did we get the best pictures - we also picked up 4 guys in a car as we were driving from Wal-Mart to the BYU football stadium who were from Washington and made them take a picture in front of the cougar with us. Then we were going to spoon me to get a picture and took the guys with us and had ice cream. One of the most awkward 30 minute dates in history. It could have ben really fun...but the one kid was a bit full of himself, and sadly I think his friends knew it. Oh well! Other than the awkward one, they were all from out of town and I reckon we made their weekend one to remember!

Night with Nana

Well, tonight me and Heidi went up to have dinner and play games with our Nana. It was awesome! Since my mission, life has just been a complete whirlwind - and I don't feel like I have really seen anyone. I have yet to see my cousin Todd since my mission and I've been home nearly 10 months! And those that I have seen, I haven't spent a lot of time with. Well, my Nana called yesterday morning and said if you would like to come up she would love to have me - well it was one of those opportunities that I had been praying and looking for, and when God throws it in front of you - well you better take it!

We had a great night! We got take out from Costa Vida and then went back to Nana's place and played SkipBo. It was just so fun to spend time with her. She is amazing - an incredible example of love, fun, patience, and testimony.

Maddox

Well, given several recommendations and the fact that I was going all the way to Brigham City for the Box Elder County Convention, I went to Maddox.

Short note on the Convention - it was total chaos. Bob Bennet's folks were at the corner when you walked in, disgusting. He's got a bunch of young, may I say attractive, men working for him, but they are clueless - simply wrapped up in the power of it all. I will say Bridgewater took the cake for the most signs and what not. Most interesting was that the Club for Growth was there - quite impressive. They have spent so much money to defeat Bennet, it's amazing.

People of note that were there: Senator Bennet (blah!), Congressman Bishop (smile), Governor Herbert (mas o menos), and then the candidates and such. I do have to note that while both Congressman Bishop and Senator Bennet had no security, Governor Huntsman had three... go figure.

I was at the convention for PCE - there were lots of friendly people there!

Okay, Maddox it was delicious! I think I inhaled my food too fast given how hungry I was. But it was delicious - I got a buffalo burger with bacon, fries (amazing!), and a chocolate shake. YUM.

I had to take a picture of this sign - what is the purpose of this sign? Do they think that cows will read it and surrender themselves saying, "well, if that is my fate, let me be a Maddox burger?"

dyson

Well, I never thought that this day would come, I never thought that I would be so excited for a new vacuum, but let us note that this is not just an ordinary vacuum this is a dyson. And I have been wanting one for a while - you see the carpet in the basement in long, I like to call it shag, but my Mom says I know nothing about shag carpet given the 70's and I have learned better than to question her at my age. Anyway, it is very hard to vacuum the basement carpet - and well the dyson, I believed, could do it.

Well, I went to Costco yesterday and picked one up, assembled it tonight and took it down to test it out. For those of you that have seen the area in the basement that has the pool table and such the vacuum canister filled up just vacuuming that area...

looks like the verdict is in a we have a winner!

Two hours of 24

Well, two hours of 24 in one night... while I personally enjoy it, I am not sure its very good for my heart, given some people belief/concern that I will need a pace maker early in life.

Alas, I love Tuesday nights - not only because of 24, but more because I am able to spend time with friends and my sisters! Nothing like a good tradition of food and fun!

Global Warming?

I reckon I would be okay with a little global warming these days! Did I sleep through the summer or is it really still April?

We were craving frozen yogurt, little did we know it looked like this outside.

I had the camera set on some weird exposure - it kind of turned out kind of cool though.

The snow and wind were blowing in our eyes and we were really cold - so excuse the looks.

General Conference

What an awesome weekend! I love General Conference. It is like getting a steroid shot every six months to make it the next six months. There was no doubt an overall theme of families - parents teaching children and children heading the council of their children. Being single it seemed a little misplaced for me personally, but as I thought about the perilous times that we live in, it will truly be our families that we need to turn for strength, peace, and even our temporal needs.

While we will be judged individually, we are saved as families.

Short Work Week = Pampering

Well, due to the Good Friday holiday tomorrow, the office is closed! Hallelujah! I forgot how good it feels to not have to go to work. Note I did take a vacation to Nauvoo last weekend, but having a real day off when I don't have to do anything in particular. And given that - I started the holiday early with a haircut and my eyebrows and tomorrow after the gym and the temple I will be getting a pedicure, which is long overdue!

And of course I will be preparing for General Conference weekend! It is absolutely my favorite!