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!

Christmas on Temple Square

What a great season! Its been wonderful to prepare for Christmas. The whole family has been busy with their gift giving and having family near has been the best part. Last Saturday the family went down to Salt Lake to meet up with old family friends and pick up Allison, who had flown in on Thursday night and spent Friday with the students in Provo. We watched the Joseph Smith movie, had lunch at the Gateway, did some Christmas shopping, enjoyed the lights on Temple Square and sang as a family. I just love being with my family. Here are some pictures of the day.


My brothers are always doing something exciting. I'm not sure that they could simply walk from point A to point B without finding some fun in the surroundings. This time they were slipping around on the snow and leap frogging over each other!

Christmas Glow

Last night I was placing some Christmas gift under the tree and I found a whole stash of Christmas lights that were just sitting there, begging to be used. Back in Vancouver the task of putting up the Christmas lights always fell to me. Partly because I was the only one who really enjoyed the task. There is just something about Christmas lights. My eyes are drawn to them and somehow the light seems to penetrate and warm my soul. In Vancouver we had thousands of lights that covered the house and yard. Here in Logan we don't have the luxury of a home right now but when I found those lights I went right to work and put them up in the living room and kitchen windows. Then I found a strand and put them up in my room. I feel asleep to the colorful glow of Christmas lights and something was finally right. I had put up the Christmas lights for another year of Christmas and today my heart is aglow with Christmas.

Communication Montage

Sunday evening was supposed to be this relaxing quiet night full of meaningful activities. But with one phone call that all changed. I was already planning on calling my best friend E and catching up with her but then my brother and his family stopped by with his four children and any hopes for quiet were gone. I didn't mind because I always love having the family over but I still wanted to talk to E so I sat down at the computer in the living room and opened up iChat. Well that got the ball rolling and soon I was caught up in several forms of communication. Not only was I chatting with E on iChat but I was also chatting with another friend on Facebook and then on Gmail and then my sister Tam wanted to do a video chat on iChat as well. I was also texting a friend on my cell phone. All this while I was quietly listening to the conversation going on behind me between brother, sister-in-law, and father! Talk about multi-tasking! The result, I got all kinds of communicating done! Now I don't want any of you to feel like I wasn't paying attention to you! I love you all. I just find it slightly humorous how many ways the rising generation has discovered to communicate without actually talking with someone face to face!

Happy Thanksgiving

Its been a great past week. Last weekend I went down to Provo and had an amazing time. Friday night was the 83rd Ward Oscars Night. It was an amazing event. Deborah's movie Deb in Real Life won three Academy Awards including Best Movie, Best Actress and Best Director. It was cool to see that event continue. Last year when Shane and I were the activity co-chairs we started that event and I think it will continue on. This year they had eight movies entered and had a program written for the voting. That made every win official and every vote really counted. Anyway, it was fun to see friends again and get all dolled up for the event.



Saturday was the Utah/BYU football game that I don't really want to talk about. It was a sad loss for BYU but we look forward to next year. Saturday night Deb and I happened on some tickets to the Coldplay concert! We went with Christine and her boyfriend Matt. I've always wanted to go to a rock concert and there couldn't possibly be a better concert to go to. I was impressed with the whole production and those men are amazing musicians! We had sweet seats and a lot of fun. 

I got home from Provo on Monday and this week has gone so fast. For Thanksgiving yesterday we went down to Grandma's and met up with three other families of relatives. All in all there were around 38 people there and it was an amazing meal! It was just fun to play with everyone. The boys and I played some football and then someone brought a Wii and Rock Band soon became the event of the afternoon. In the end we even got the adults to join in. We came back to Logan and the playing didn't stop! The dorm was empty and so Ben rode his bike down the stairs and we played Nerf gun war on all 5 levels! It was pretty intense. This morning Matt joined us and the war continued. We have mastered the art and never grow tired of another round. 

It has been so much fun to have family home. I'm so thankful for family and the simple joy of being home for the holidays. Happy Thanksgiving to all you readers! Thank you for the part you play in my wonderful life.

Jumpin' through life

The last week has flown by! Here are the highlights:

Last Tuesday American Festival Chorus had its debut concert in a Veteran's Day tribute concert. It went off amazingly and then again on Saturday AFC performed Mozart's Requiem. Both performances were great. Check out our upcoming schedule at our website. 

After the performance we went to fill up on gas and were excited to see gas under $2! With our Smith's discount we ended up paying $1.84! Pretty funny how exciting that was to us!

I had two interviews this week and both went really well. I now just have to wait to see what happens. Also got a few "regret" letters from other places I have applied to. I hope something comes soon. I'm getting restless! 

Wednesday mom and I watched The Guys. It is an very well-written movie about 9/11. Both mom and I were in tears. It is sometimes still hard to believe that actually happened to us. I am thankful for the service men who gave their lives that day and those still willing to fight today for the freedoms of us all.

Today the maintenance guys came through the dorm and replaced all the single sofas with newer ones. We took the opportunity to play on the old once left stacked outside on the grass. It was pretty fun jumping around and then just laying there. The days are still beautiful here but today it has been windy. I think the cold weather is finally coming. The weatherman boast of snow for Thanksgiving. We'll just have to see. In the mean time, still jumpin' through life.