I LOVE THE SHOPVAC

We officially closed on our house last Wednesday! Since the 24th was a State holiday, the loan funded on Friday, the 25th. We went there straight after work and started working. So much of the work that needs done, unfortunately, Tyson has to do. I'm just not tall or strong enough to get some of the tasks done. We started by scraping the popcorn ceilings down, which fell onto the gross carpet. My mom came out and helped all weekend , and her and I rolled up the carpet and padding, and took it to the trash container. That took most of Friday evening.

Saturday, bright and early, we went back, and Tyson chipped out the tile flooring in the kitchen, the back splash in the kitchen, and the tile shower in the master bath. My mom and I continued to clean and do odds and ends. My sis, Natalie, also came, and she ripped out all of the baseboards and existing tack strip. Wow, we got a lot done that day! My mom then took us out to the Olive Garden and then a little shopping that evening.

This, I feel really bad about, but my cousin Stewart came down from Ogden Sunday morning and textured the ceiling. He runs his dad's construction company and could only help us that day, and we just don't have time for Tyson to do it all, sorry cuz, but thanks for helping us, it looks awesome!

Monday, was the day for prep work, and sucking up all the dust left from the ceiling mess. I have been introduced to a lovely "tool" of my husband's, the SHOP VAC! You can clean just about any mess up with this little dandy of a machine, and I LOVE IT! It makes all the dirt, dust, and crap go away! Yay for the shop vac! Its so fun to run it along the walls and watch it suck stuff up, I've actually really enjoyed cleaning up this house, the shop vac has made it more than bearable.

We've primered the ceilings, painted them with real paint, and a shout out to Benjamin Moore paint, it seriously rocks! Tyson has torn out doors, casings, bathroom mirrors, showers, toilets, vanities, old appliances, and we are finally ready to start painting the walls with color and getting the flooring in. The entire house already feels, smells, and looks, like a completely different home. I've taken pictures, but I'll wait and post the before and afters together to get the real affect.

LIFE COACH ENRICHMENT

Last night was my ward's Enrichment night. They had a Life Coach come and talk to us about replenishing our own well so that we can help fill others. It was really interesting to hear her ideas and suggestions. She handed out a little worksheet, and I thought it would be fun to post, like a tag...

"Sisters, find some time for yourself to cultivate your gifts and interests. Pick one or two things that you would like to learn or do that will enrich your life, and make time for them. Water cannot be drawn from an empty well, and if you are not setting aside a little time for what replenishes you, you will have less and less to give to others. " Elder M. Russell Ballard

List 10 Things you Like to Do:

1. Exercise
2. Play the Piano
3. Go Shopping
4. Golfing
5. Being outside in the snow, sun, rain
6. Scrap booking
7. Traveling
8. Going on drives with Tyson
9. Going to dinner/date with Tyson
10. Learn to do something new

List 10 Things You Feel Good After Doing:

1. Power Cleaning
2. Step Aerobics
3. Weeding/Gardening
4. Going to the Temple
5. Working on and Finishing a Project
6. Chinese Lessons
7. Writing Letters
8. Writing in my Journal
9. Scrap booking/Creating Something
10. Watching the Rain and Lightning, Listening to Thunder

"In all of living have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed not just endured."
President Gordon B. Hinckley

"Find a purpose in your life. choose the things you would like to do, and educate yourselves to be effective in their pursuit."
President Gordon B. Hinckley

Questions for Personal Reflection:

1: If you had three months to live, what do you wish you had done or experienced?
2: If you had a year to pursue anything you wanted to, what would it be?
3: If you were transported to your 85th year and were asked to review your life, what would you say?
4: If money were no object, what would I be/do/have in my life that would make me happy?
5: If I could be with people I chose, what would my relationships look like?
6: If the functional part of my life was taken care of, what interests would I pursue?
7: If someone else saw me living my ideal life, what would they describe?
8: If I took classes in areas of interest or need to improve, what would the class topics be?

The Life Coach talked about picking one thing at a time and spending 15-30 minutes three times a week pursuing it. She also suggested finding a friend that would keep you motivated, that you check in with to talk about your pursuit. She also said to reward yourself when you accomplish or are able to do something on your list. It was a great evening to learn about filling our own wells so that we can help replenish others. It is so important to take time, even just 15 minutes a few days a week, for yourself so that you can be happy and enjoy all that this beautiful life has to offer.

HAPPY 27TH DEAR!

Yesterday was Tyson's 27th Birthday! I made him french toast with french bread for breakfast, it was super yummy, and then our boss took the office out to the Harvest restaurant at Thanksgiving Point for lunch to celebrate (Yes, we have a totally awesome boss)!

After we came home from work, we had a bunch of friends and family over to our house for a BBQ Batman Birthday Bash! I got a bunch of Batman stuff to decorate with, Tyson loves Batman, and the new movie, "The Dark Knight" just came out today! I bought tickets to see it tomorrow night for his birthday. The Larry H. Miller theaters let you pick your seat online when you buy the tickets, its going to be awesome! Everyone brought salads, and we had BBQ'd chicken and birthday cake. It was so great to get together with friends and family and just enjoy each other's company! Thanks to everyone for the good food and great company!

I don't think Tyson's family makes a big to do about birthdays, with the exception of Tralina, who is always willing to celebrate anything with us. But this couldn't be more different than my side of the family. Our birthday's are always a big deal, and I've tried to keep that going in my own family. I know the Batman stuff was silly, but it was so fun to see the kids play with the Batman treat bags, and Tyson really did love opening his gifts in Batman wrapping paper. It was a fabulous day, Happy 27th Tys!

4 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Great Wall May 08'

Maui January 08'


Jackson Hole October 07'

Today is our 4-year Anniversary! Four years ago, we were married in the Vernal temple. We moved into a dinkie little duplex, and were working full time and going to school full time. Now we are in the process of buying our second house, working, and loving that we are finally out of school and can get on with living life!

I can't believe how quickly time goes by... its amazing to me. I have been so blessed to wake up next to my sweetheart every morning for the last four years. We have traveled all over together, worked hard together, and have grown closer each day. We have shared so many experiences, and can't wait to go through many many more together. I know we were in love when we got married, but each day, we love each other more than the day before... Its been the best four years!

I feel so fortunate to be married to my best friend and love of my life. Even when we have had to go through some very hard times together, we have been able to smile. That means so much to me. When we got married, we promised each other we would try to make each other laugh every day. Laughing together, at no matter what it is, is one of our favorite memories.

Vernal Temple June 08'

This morning, we exchanged little presents, Tyson got me a Willowtree figure, the Anniversary one of a couple sitting on a bench, an Under Armor shirt to workout in (they are awesome), some yummy gum, and the sweetest letter, which I will cherish forever. I got Tyson a couple of his "favorites" wrapped in an Optimus Prime Transformers bag, which of course made him laugh! We went and got a jamba juice and a bagel for breakfast, and he is taking me to the Melting Pot tonight for dinner. Its been a great 4 years!

Happy 4th Dear!

I never posted about Bear Lake. We had an awesome time! Wow, it is so beautiful up there. We, of course, forgot our camera, and my fam hasn't forwarded me any of their pics yet. But we drove up there through Monte Cristo Canyon, it was so gorgeous. Everything was so pretty and green! We met up with my family up there, my parents' friends have a cabin/house on the east side of the lake. We ate yummy food, especially the famous raspberry shakes, YUM! We had so much fun boating, riding jet skis, swimming, and enjoying the sun. I got a little crispied, I'm just now starting to peel, no matter how moisturized I try to keep my skin...

We were able to watch fireworks from the cabin's deck, and we celebrated my nephew's 1st Birthday up there. It was a lot of fun. It was great to spend time with family and friends!

BUSY SUMMERTIME, AND A NEW HOUSE

Well, I think summer time is just a busy time of year... or my life is just busy, which both are probably true. We survived last week (thankfully)! My friend posted about being BUSY... It stands for Being Under Satan's Yoke... and I really feel this way sometimes, I'm working on recognizing what is really important and trying to cut out what just doesn't need to fill up my days with stress... and I dont' even have kids yet, but I'm not planning on working full time and having 7 clients with kids. My full time job will hopefully become a client, and I can just do client work, thats the plan anyway.

Last Thursday night, our Stake's Youth Conference started out with dinner and games at a local park. I tripped of the curb going to my car and sprained my ankle, kind of embarrassing, but I hurt it pretty good. I usually go walking with my great friend Amanda in the mornings, and I went to text her to tell her I wouldn't make it because I could barely walk. She texted me right back, she had just slid down a grassy hill and sprang her ankle too... weird coincidence, but we just barely started walking again this morning, both of our ankles are a little tender.

The rest of Youth Conference was up at Brighton Camp. Tyson got to go with me, and it was so beautiful up there, still a ton of snow! I hobbled around all the courses they have set up for kids, there is a ropes course, a zip line, repelling and a hike. It was really fun up there!

We hung out with family and rested from the busy week over the rest of the weekend. I didn't even have to teach YW because it was the 5th Sunday and the Bishop wanted the youth to attend a combined meeting with their parents.

Monday, we came into work and we had an accepted offer on the house we are interested in. It was built in 77', and it definitely needs work. But it's all stuff that we can handle, and we are getting it at a smokin' deal. It's a bank-owned property that has been on the market for over a year. We have spent a lot of time at that house, we have met the neighbors, and we are really looking forward to getting into our own place. We are going to the ward on Sunday, just to get a better feel for it. We are really excited, its going to take a lot of money and work, but it is going to be so nice, we've been picking out paint and lights, and then we are picking out carpet, flooring, and appliances at Tyson's old work, Basin Appliance the 2nd weekend of July. Its not the prettiest house ever, but we have to start somewhere right?

We are going to Bear Lake for the 4th of July weekend, we are going to relax and enjoy the great outdoors and just have fun for a few days. Once our loan gets funded, we are going to be very busy fixing up our new home!