Gymnastics with Red!

When I was younger my sisters Tamarah, Christine and I did gymnastics for a while. Christine and I were on the Jr. High team together and then I did it for half the season my sophomore year and then I just didn't have the time to continue. I really enjoyed it while it lasted. A little over a month ago the Logan Institute rented the Sports Academy in Logan for a Friday evening and they have a gymnastics room. I played around in there for a few hours and things started coming back! By the end of the evening I even threw a round off back tuck! On my drive home I called Tam and Christine to share the news! They could really appreciate that after a ten year absence from Gymnastics.

Since then I have been dying to go back. I finally convinced Christine to come with me this weekend while she was up in Logan for family things. We both realized we were terribly out of shape and not as flexible as we used to be. But we had a lot of fun doing it. Here are some videos and pictures of the evening. Please keep in mind that we took these at the end of the night and we were already tired. Our tricks had all been worn out. Next time we will remember to get video when we are fresh!

Winter Hike

Looking West, down the canyon and over Cache Valley

I'm feeling like I have something to blog about again so here goes. Last fall I didn't really get to fully appreciate the hiking that is available here in Logan before the snow set in. Since October I have been dying to get out and do something! I am still on the hunt for a cross-country skiing partner that would go out with me once a week but today it was too much to bear! I could wait no longer. So, I took Ryker and headed up Dry Canyon. Dry Canyon is a tiny canyon just to the south of Logan Canyon and it is not so full of snow that we couldn't hike a bit. Plus it was still in cell phone range so I could go alone. Ryker did a great job off-leash. He is learning his place in the family pack and recognizes that nothing changes even when we are off hiking. The sun was out and the air refreshing. It was just what I needed. I love the snow but I have to say, its March, and I'm ready for the Spring and more great hiking!

One beautiful dog!

Looking east, up the canyon

Tour of Room and Ryker!

Here's a tour of my new room. I got it all clean for the Sabbath so I thought I'd better get a video while it stayed that way! Its nice to have my own space and its quiet down in the basement. The only downside was it was pretty cold down there. But now I have this great space heater and I'm sleeping like a baby at night.

And here's a short clip of our new dog Ryker! He's a chocolate lab/golden retriever mix and doing a great job for being in a new home with a new pack for only two weeks. He's learning all the rules and some new ones. I think he's going to be a great addition to the family. 

Happy Valentine's Day Weekend!

This last weekend I went to Provo. My friend Amber was flying in from OK and photographing a wedding and she invited me to come assist her. It was super fun to spend my Valentine's day with her!

The wedding was at the Jordan River temple

We had a lot of fun visiting and catching up. Amber and I served in Taiwan together and although we never were companions, we somehow just clicked. We laughed and talked and got Jamba Juice and made books!
Deborah is taking this bookbinding class at BYU and has been so excited about the paper she has been making and the things she has been learning. We got to go into the special building on campus and see all the materials and tools they use to make books. We made coptic bound books and they turned out quite well! I'm going to use mine for a special affirmation journal. It was just fun to be creative!

It was great to see all the old friends from the ward but the best part of Sunday was the cousins dinner at Joseph's! The theme was Chinese food and we had quite the spread. I laughed so hard I left with both my cheeks and stomach sore. I am so lucky to have such wonderful cousins. I miss spending time with them. The conversation ranged from pregnancy to dating to spotlights. Lots of laughs. There were some important cousins missing-namely Mitchell. We called him on the phone so he could be a part of it. Good times. 

Monday morning I went shopping with Deb and roommate. It was great to have girls to go shopping with again! Here in Logan I have learned to go without anyone to affirm my chosen outfit or provide important opinions when shopping! :) Monday afternoon I made the easy drive back to Logan. So that was my weekend! Fun to have a day off and time with great friends! Happy President's Day!

Moving and Farewell to Dixie

So here I am playing catch up once again. I thought I'd better put some pictures up of the moving process. Packing in Vancouver was pretty amazing but everything got here to Logan safely and we are in the process of de-junking and getting it all into a much smaller house. 

Ben was our expert packer

Lunch break with all the crew. We had wonderful help from family and friends in Vancouver. It was great! Thank you everyone!

Here's the shed still full of all our stuff!

And our amazing back yard. Joseph got up early and took advantage of the warmer weather for one last juggle with the soccer ball. We are really going to miss that space! We were blessed.

We made the long trip home with Dixie who was finally going to enjoy life with the family again. We were so excited to have her back! She spent a few nights with a friend and then we signed on the house and we all started the move in process. Mom and I went and picked up Dixie at our friend's house and she was so excited to be going home. She explored the house and spent one great night on a new dog pillow. The next day, while I was at work and the family was moving stuff in, Dixie got out somehow and got hit by a car and died. It was a huge damper on the move. We were so happy to finally have a home and have her back. I think we all realized just how much she meant to all of us. We will miss her. We have since adopted a new dog from the pound. Pictures will follow.

Here's the new home!

Some painting had to occur first. We spent two days painting the whole interior! Goodbye white walls, hello color! It looks beautiful.

So there's the new home. We have now been living here almost three weeks and it feels like home. We still have a garage full of boxes to sort but it will happen and in the mean time we are in awe at God's hand in this family's life. We are so blessed! 

We're moving!

Well its time to play a little catch up! I'm surprised at myself. Here it is January 24th and a lot has gone on. January 3rd I went to my friend Sarah's wedding were I was a bridesmaid. Super fun and she was beautiful. It was a great reminder in the temple about what is really important.

Also in January, I started going country dancing on Wednesday nights! I used to know all that stuff but it's been a few years now but is is all coming back. I look forward to it each week!

Last Saturday, Dad and the boys and I took of for beautiful Washington. We have finally leased our house there which puts us in a position to buy one here in Logan! So we went up to Vancouver to pack all our stuff into ABF trailers. It was three days of hard work but it was wonderful to be in the NW again! I woke up the first morning there and enjoyed every breath I took during my quick walk around the yard. I will miss that beautiful home and all the memories of Vancouver. I visited the Clark Singles Ward and of course, hung with my best friend E. 

Tuesday we went to the Portland temple and enjoyed an endowment session together. I sure miss that temple. Afterward we went out for dessert for E's birthday. Just good times together. 

Last night I went to the Sports Academy here in Logan. They have a gymnastics room where I spent the whole night. It was crazy! After ten plus years away from gymnastics I managed a round-off back tuck! It was exhilarating! I came home dead tired and sore though. I can't believe I used to do that everyday!

So, its been a busy month and its almost over already. But I have enjoyed most every minute! I have yet to go snow shoeing or cross country skiing so look forward to those posts. For now, here's me signing out from Cache Valley.

Welcoming 2009!

Just like Christmas, this New Years has been different from any other. Most of my siblings are back at school, home, etc. The boys and dad are up in WA at the house and Mom decided to spend the evening with her mother and sister down in Perry. Usually we play games and eat all kinds of food but this year I was home alone so I went out seeking adventure. I went to a friend's party for a few hours and then to the Institute dance and finished at another friend's house playing card games. The music at the Institute dance was kinda lame so we didn't stick around on the dance floor very long. We tried the speed dating and that turned out to just be long. Some of the guys were interesting but lets face it, it's speed dating. :)

When we got to my friends house it was 15 minutes to midnight. I got my sparklers and little fire works from my car and we got things all ready. I've had these fireworks since July 4th and I was excited to use them! I was even more excited when I discovered that my friend likes to run and dance with sparklers just like me! Here are some fun shots of us dancing the new year in!

So, it was a different New Years eve but still a good one. This last year has been an amazing one. I remember it was last January when I found out I was accepted to the Jerusalem study abroad program. Then I finished my last semester at BYU and spent the summer in Jerusalem and then playing in Provo. Then in September I moved to Logan and it has been a wonderful thing to be here. I'm still adjusting but learning so much. I have my goals all ready for the new year I'm just going to take a little time tomorrow and put together some statements of faith to see my goals through. I'm excited for a new year to live and see what blessings Father in Heaven has in store for me! I am so blessed to know that whatever it brings, I understand the important things in life and will see it all through with a smile! So Happy New Year! Hope this year is the best yet!