Bookworms Magoos

Alright, well I'll start with our little NBA finals shindig.  Dust wanted to do a little NBA finals 'party' with the 3 of us and I was put in charge of the food.  So I thought 'well what's better than good ol hamburgers with fruit salad with some pop' and off to the store I went.  The boys were pretty excited and enjoyed scarfing down dinner.  We also had chips and dip and although we didn't enjoy the outcome of Game 6 with Miami winning it all, we did enjoy the delicious food that accompanied the game :)

Last Sunday, we had an office bbq at the rocky beach we go to.  It was a ton of fun!  It was an absolutely beautiful day with the sun shining and little to no breeze.  We had smokey's and snacks galore!  The boys threw footballs around and some even dared to play in the water a little.  They did a marshmallow competition where they had to put as many marshmallows in their mouth as they could and say 'funny bunny' to pass to the next level.  My pregnant stomach didn't enjoy watching, but I did get a couple good pics and a video of the boys doing it.  Pretty hilarious.  We have such a great office with great families, which we feel very blessed to have!  It makes a huge difference when you're working and surrounded by great and positive people!

Here's Cars playin catch with Ben and below Dust has got his mouth full of big, white, fluffy marshmallows :)

I just couldn't resist this morning.  For two months now our morning have consisted of us waking up, Cars turning on the country music station on the tv, hustle and bustle with getting the boys ready and sending them off.  This morning was quite different and it was so peaceful and a REALLY nice change.  Dust and I got up a little earlier to go get some groceries together at Dominion, which turned out being a little interesting as we were going through checkout and I started gagging and had to run out the door to spit up some flem :)  I felt fine after haha.  When we got back, we put the groceries away and Dust made breakfast for Cars and him.  Now here's the fabulous part... initially Cars had turned on the tv to listen to country music, but after the boys finished eating... all of a sudden it was silent.  It didn't hit me at first, but as I finished my own breakfast, I felt like something just wasn't right... it was too quiet.  This is how I found the boys:

That's right, both completely entranced in books they're reading.  I couldn't believe it haha.. I'm supposed to be the reader in this house haha.  Carson downloaded a book that was shared with him in a meeting by Jake Bevans, who Cars has bonded with and looks up to.  The book is called 'Outliers' by Malcolm Gladwell and he is just amazed with the content. He keeps sharing lil tidbits of the book and then back to reading he goes.  I don't think I've ever seen Cars get into a book like this!  Might I add that it was CARSON who turned the tv off too, so he could concentrate more on his reading :)  And Dust... every night now (and perhaps mornings to come now) he has been reading 'Hunger Games' which I have been trying to get him to read since last Christmas.  Now he can't put it down haha.  We went and saw the movie in Edmonton and he really liked it, so he is just loving the book and how it has more details and parts to the story.

It was a relaxing and proud morning for me :)  I felt like a proud momma watching her boys dive into the great world of reading and it was fabulous!  Now I just have to work on finding books for them to read after they've finished these ones. So fun!!! :)

One Lucky Lady

So as you all know, yesterday was Father's Day and we had a pretty great day. Unfortunately I caught the horrible cold/flu that the boys had last week and this weekend was a rough one for me.  Not fun getting sick while pregnant!  Saturday night, I had trouble breathing when I laid down because both of my nostrils were plugged completely and my throat felt closed and my breathing was unsteady.  Dustin tried calming me down with a back rub and I called mom for some advice which she said I may have to sleep sitting up tonight.  In my highly emotional mind, I thought it was the end of the world and just wanted to cry myself to sleep haha, but Dust came to the rescue and forced me to go have a warm shower as he said it would help clear my nose, breathing, and the chills I was experiencing.  I did as I was told and it definitely calmed me and warmed me up.  It took a little while to get to sleep, but finally got some sleep.  When we woke up, I felt like the room was spinning :(, but it was Father's Day and I wanted to do my best to make it a great day for Dust.  So we got ready for church and headed to sacrament... which ended up being... well... difficult for me.  I was sweating and then cold, and sniffing and coughing and wanted to stretch out on the bench and fall asleep haha.  So we headed home after sacrament.  I had a nap and the boys went fishing with Ben Sommerfeldt.

Dust got a new wallet, 2 fancy dancy ties, and a very high end homemade T-shirt :)

Now about a week ago, I had invited Ben (whose wife and kids have been in Alberta the whole time he's been here) and Ricky (another single guy who Cars and Dust have became buddies with and who catches a ride to church with us) over for a Father's Day dinner.  I put roast in the oven in the morning and had big plans for the meal.  I set my alarm to wake up and get dinner ready while the boys were out.  Not so fun when your head is spinning, but I got it done and the boys LOVED the meal.  I made some dessert that the boys also devoured and we had a good time.  After dinner, we all headed out to go fishing, which was fun.  Of course, Cars fell in a couple times and Dust too, but they came back to the car with smiles and good stories.

                                             

Dust just fishin away and below Ricky tryin to untangle Cars' old fishin line while takin a stroll :)

And here's a gorgeous picture of the path we walked on to get to the river where the boys went fishing :)

What a lucky lady I am to have such fun guys around eh!?!?!  But here's the REALLY lucky lady part.  Even though it was Father's Day yesterday, which shoulda been solely focused on Dust, we got home from fishing and Dust turned another shower on for me, gave me a massage and rubbed vicks on my chest and throat and tucked me into bed by 9.  Lucky right!?!?!? Well guess what I woke up to... a spotless bathroom and kitchen too.  He deep cleaned both and they looked FABULOUS!!!!! It felt so nice waking up to a clean home!  I feel so lucky to have a such a great man in my life.  He always let me know that he appreciates all the things I do around the house during the day and even chips in and helps do things when he gets home!  Sure do love my Dust!!!!!!

And here's some catch up pics of our lil adventure here in Newfie land :)

Sometimes Dust is REALLY tired when he gets home from work and falls asleep in 'interesting' positions haha

My snack craving one day haha

One day it was incredibly foggy here and I caught some pics from Signal Hill lookout 

Hawaiian haystacks for dinner :)

We're having fun and enjoying out team on the East coast!  Excited to be home with our families again in a few months and get preparing for our new lil addition in December :)  Oh and Dust had our first baby dream last night that he shared with me.  He had a dream that we had baby twin girls and that I took them to the grocery store and had one baby in each arm with groceries and made it home and he tried to do the same thing with the babies and groceries and gave up at the grocery store cuz it was too hard haha.  We had a good laugh!

Daddy... I Love You!!!

Happy Daddy Day!!!!  I know this is a lil early... but I couldn't wait till next week!!!  Here are just a few reasons why I love my daddy eleventy -four:

1. His passion for sports... especially watching and supporting his kids in their sporting activities!

2. His love for the outdoors has been passed on to all his kids and we have all grown a passion for hiking, camping, hunting, and just spending time in the beautiful land we are surrounded by.

3.  I love how when he sets his mind to accomplish something... it gets done!

4. He always has good advice (even if I don't always follow his brilliant counsel hehe)

5. He tells great and creative stories just like Granny Hill did for us ;)
6. He love love loves his dogs! It's so fun to see him play or train them and you can tell he loves dogs!
7. He's such a handsome devil :)
8. He makes the best french onion soup, chimichangas, steak and mushrooms in the whole entire world.

Daddy and I have a special and unique bond.  We are both stubborn ol mules (mostly him hehe) and sometimes knock heads, but we sure do love each other and would do anything to help the other.  He's one of my best friends!  I appreciate all the sacrifices and support he has given me throughout my life and love him more anything!  So although dad doesn't like father's day or his birthday to be a big deal... today is a big deal because we get to celebrate our amazing daddy who has been there every day.  So dad... take some time today to sit down and reflect on how amazing you are and how many people love and appreciate you in their lives!!!!  I love you eleventy-four daddy!!

And just to show how much he loves me... check out the latest gift he got for Dust and I... well kinda for Dust and I...

Ya it's a little small for Dust and I... so I guess we'll have to put it on the baby that's coming at the end of December!! That's right... we're pregnant!! Due date is December 29... so Christmas will be interesting this year! :)  We're really excited!  Especially cuz Lynz is also pregnant and due in October, so we're gonna have lil babies close together!  Lynz is so pumped that FINALLY one of her siblings in starting to have kids haha! She's been hounding me for a few years now, so i'm glad I can make her happy!  Anyway... I'll be keeping ya updated on preggo life for the next few months.

Satisfaction!

Well my reflection for this post is a day when I felt ultimately satisfied with my life... well... I do remember a day when I was in South Korea.  I had spent a busy weekend with the Rogers' family and was heading back to Uijeongbu on the 1 1/2 hour subway train ride home.  I took my journal out and started thinking about my life over the course of the past 10 months I had spent in Korea and I broke down specific aspects of my life: spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional.

As I thought about these four parts of my life, I couldn't help but smile and feel great pleasure in how I was living my life.  Spiritually: I felt closer to my Heavenly Father than every before and I wasn't afraid to share it with anyone who came in my path (as long as they spoke English haha).  I felt more confident in my scripture study and gospel principles.  I wasn't afraid to share my thoughts and feelings during classes or activities and I felt like I became an example in our branch and it felt amazing.

Physically: Well along with losing 30 lbs while I was over there, I also felt energetic and strong.  I gained a love for walking and an appreciation for taking the stairs rather than the escalator (mostly because I could get up the stairs faster than on the escalator).  Sadly I still had some insecurities, which I now think 'what the heck was I complaining about', but I was happy and felt more content with my physical looks than I have in my life.  I felt beautiful, strong, healthy, and happy!

Mentally: I think through certain experiences I had while in Korea, I was forced to expand and challenge my mind and way of thinking.  I learned to think more for myself than to follow what others wanted me to do.  I gained more confidence in my ability to learn and to teach and gained a passion for both.  I think the greatest mental gift I gained was the power of optimism/positivity.  PJ is the happiest and most positive individual I have ever met and I truly didn't know it was possible for someone to be so happy and to have such an enormous and positive influence on those around.  I didn't realize it till I got home, but spending time with the Rogers family was such a great blessing as an abundance of their positive energy was shared with me and I was the happiest I have ever been.  PJ taught me that a huge part of why he is always so happy is because of his mindset.  Every morning he wakes up and says to himself that it's a great day and that he is awesome.  It sounded silly to me at first, but PJ challenged me that every morning I go to my bathroom mirror and say 'Dang, I'm beautiful!' and 'Man I am smart' as well as 'Today is going to be a great day!'.  The first time I did it, I laughed at myself and thought I had clicked into Looney Land, but as I continued to do it (and not even every day), my attitude and perspective of not only myself, but those I was surrounded by began to alter and change in a more positive and productive way.  What a blessing and something I need to work on getting back to again!

Emotionally:  Korea was very lonely in the beginning and took a toll on me emotionally at times.  I definitely had some good tears of sadness, plenty of happiness, some anger, and other emotions, but I gained respect and more awareness of my emotions and was able to make adjustments when needed.

Yes, this was a great day!  I realized that by focusing on little goals within each of these four aspects of my life, I became the woman I had always wanted to become.  It makes me a little sad to think that I've lacked in a few of these areas since that time, but it also motivates me to buck up and live a happier and more fulfilling life both for myself and for those around me.  It's amazing the influence one person can have on a group of people and this is true in a variety of atmospheres.  No matter what my mood was for the day, I knew when I walked in the Rogers home, I was going to be happier and feel better about myself.

So I am VERY glad this reflection came up because it's a great thing to be reminded of often and a very satisfying moment in my life that I want to revisit often in my current life!

Newfy Land

Well we have made it over to Newfoundland and will be spending the summer here for Vivint selling.  The weather has been alright.  Lots of overcast days with some breezes, but it is still a beautiful place!  Yesterday morning, Cars and Dust took me up the hill to what I think is called 'Signal Hill National Historic Site' and it is a beautiful place!  I kept looking for whales, but apparently we were in the wrong spot to see them, so I'm hoping we do a whale watching tour while we're here.

It's nice because this spot is a walk away (it's all uphill there, so a good excuse for a workout) and definitely worth the view!

The boys had fun playing with the scope even thought there wasn't much more to see and it was nice to get out of the apartment and find a place I can wander around now and then.

The boys have been working hard out here and are enjoying the people.  Dustin and Carson have both mentioned that it's kind of annoying how nice the people are here.  They're knock on a door and the person will invite them in for a drink and listen intently commenting on how amazing everything sounds and then when it comes time to sign the contract, they nice 'oh now thank you, I think we're fine without' and Cars and Dust can't even be mad because the people were just so darn polite in how they rejected them haha

Here's another great story from my Newfy adventure.  Today I decided I was going to walk to the grocery store to get a couple groceries.  So I got my backpack, which I figured I would fit all my groceries in and headed off.  It's about a 20 minute walk to the Dominion grocery store and the great thing is that just down the street from the grocery store there's a large pice of water with a path surrounding it, so I decided to go for a little strong and hang out on the benches watching the ducks who seem to have zero fear toward people play in the water about 2 meters from where I was sitting.  It was so relaxing and peaceful!

Then I decided it was time to get the groceries and head back home, so off I went.  Here's the problem, when I go to the grocery store rarely do I leave with only what's on my list and today was no different.  I picked this and that up that I knew the boys and I would enjoy and headed to the till.  The nice teller asked how many bags I wanted and I said 'I think I'll only need two because I'm going to try to fit most of it in my backpack'.  Well 4 groceries bags later and a packed full backpack, I was back off to home.  Now I did really try to back my backpack as full as possible and pushed some bananas into the top before zipping it most the way up. About half way home my arms and shoulders really started aching, but I knew I was close and kept thinking what a great workout I was getting.  As I finished my last hill up to our apartment, a very kind man who was walking out the building held both doors open for me.  I got to our apartment and set all the bags and backpack down and went to go unpack when I realized my backpack was now mostly unzipped and there was no bananas to be seen.  I thought for about 10 seconds, now is it worth me going back and searching for them or not... ... ... ... heck yes it is... so off I went jogging back downstairs and down the hill and across the street and back up the hill toward the grocery store.  Just as I began thinking that maybe someone saw me drop them and were excited that I didn't notice so they got a bundle of bananas for themselves, there they were... about 100 yards from the grocery store haha  I jogged back to the apartment with bananas in my hands and will put them to good use this week :)

My Favorite Childhood Toy

  Hmmm... well I don't remember really being into barbies or dolls much, but I do remember really enjoying my popple (I think that's what it was called).  I was always a fan of power rangers and teenage mutant ninja turtles, but I don't remember much else of my childhood toys.  I'm sure my older sis or mom and dad could maybe remind me of a few, but that's all that comes to mind right now :)

Big heart, potential through the roof and Loving

You may be wondering... now what or who is this title referred to!?!?!? Well let me tell you.  I have the most amazing brother in the whole entire world and I'm going to tell you why.  Carson has an enormous heart of gold and only wants to help and make others feel loved and cared for.  He has been one of my best friends since we were little kidlets and I became quite protective of him while growing up along with my other two sisters.

Whether he liked it or not, Cars had an entourage of strong, independent, and stubborn women who were always there to nag, build up, support, laugh with, and share memories with throughout his life.  Life has thrown a few curve balls his way, but he has NEVER given up and has always strived to better himself by taking little steps to be in a better place.

Those who truly know him LOVE him to death and can't get enough of his Madagascar quotes, fun loving personality, and ability to make anyone smile.  He has always had my back and has built me up and made me believe in myself when I needed someone to depend on.  I couldn't ask for a better brother and am so proud of the things he has accomplished and will continue to accomplish throughout his life.

I know that Carson is going to do AMAZING things because that is who he is and he is a true Comet at heart who will never settle for less than what he deserves in ALL aspects of his life.  He is an amazing friend, brother, and example in my life and I just want him to know... I love ya Cars and am so proud of the man you've become and I know that as you continue to focus on the important things on life, you will continue to grow in the man that God wants you to be!  Love you eleventy four and know that I will always have your back through thick and thin!!

 Isn't he a stud!?!?!? Anyway... okay moving on to my life... so Dust is officially out in Newfoundland selling his lil hiney off.  He already has 4 sales in 2 days and I'm so proud of how hard he works and his determination to be great at whatever he does!  I miss him like crazy and can't wait to get out there after my graduation on May 13!  Other than that, I have been relaxing and spending time with the family around the house.  The weather hasn't been great, but I was able to get out and mow the front and back yards which are richly green and are looking amazing right now!  I need to take some pictures tomorrow because I haven't seen our yard so green before!  I am absolutely loving being home and being able to spend some quality time with my fam before heading out to Newfoundland for the summer, but I am also really looking forward to spending some time on the east coast with my hubby and seeing the sights over there!  I've heard great things and will have to make sure I do a good job at taking pics and updating!

6. My Zodiak Sign and if I Think it Goes with my Personality...

Well I went online to check out what a Virgo's traits are like, so I'm going to post what they said and then write my own thoughts after each paragraph:

Virgo and Independence:

Virgo is a very independent zodiac sign. They are fully able to put their intelligence to use and get things done for themselves. It is possible however that their narrow mindedness causes their creativity to suffer and they may lead regular routine lives. They may dwell too much on the past and over complicate things and this may limit their ability to move forward and confuse themselves. In conclusion, Virgos are able to be independent but the less evolved types will have difficult if someone is not there helping them to achieve more and not be so critical of themselves.

Well... I have been told I'm a pretty independent person a time or two :) haha  I think this paragraph is pretty dead on with how I am!

Virgo and Friendship:

People look up to Virgo for friends because they are straight thinkers and solve problems logically. They are truthful, loyal and determined. Some people might find them cold or emotionally detached because they live in their minds, not in their emotions and feelings. It might be hard to pin down how a Virgo friend is feeling because they easily live in denial. A person who is able to read deep into another person will notice when Virgo is not well but if they confront them about it, they would rather retreat then talk about it. It is best to keep your emotional distance from a Virgo friend unless they open up to you first. Virgo might try to analyze and control a friend's life but only with the idea that they will improve their life, not purely for the sake of controlling. Be patient with your Virgo friend and understand that their recommendations are only to make your life better.

I'm going to have to disagree with this one a bit.  I would definitely not call myself cold or emotionally detached.  If anything, I'm on the extreme other end of the spectrum haha.  It also is not hard to know how I'm feeling because my emotions are pretty evident to detect most of the time, so I think they're pretty far off on this one.

Virgo and Business:

Virgos are very intelligent, they have an excellent memory and a highly analytical mind. This makes them good investigators and researchers. They also have the ability to probe into a person's emotions and they can often see into people and detect what their motives are. This makes them great policemen or interrogators. Virgos are very good at problem solving, this is what they do best. They are confronted with a problem, they will pick apart the pieces and put it together in the proper order. They are rational thinkers and are good at settling other people's disputes and putting them on the right track for reconciliation. Any position that requires the above features, which is a very long list, is perfect for the Virgo. They keep the world in order.

Hmmmm.... well maybe I should rethink my career decision.. police officer.. here I come. haha  Not entirely sure how I feel about this one.  I don't feel like it is closely related to me for the most part.  I am pretty good at problem solving once I actually settle down and stop stressing about it and think about it logically, so perhaps this one has some truth.

Virgo Temperament:

Before a Virgo plunges into anything, from a problem to a vacation idea, they need to analyze all the facts and know all the details before they plunge in and make a decision. This makes them seem indecisive and slow. Virgo's perception is their reality, more so then other astrology signs. What they believe is what will be, if they have a negative outlook on life, things will present themselves to be negative and they will be very moody and isolated/detached. If they are positive, the same events that occur will be held in a positive light and they will be a pleasant, well adjusted person. A Virgo mind is a very powerful mind and they must have the proper attitude for their life to be happy and successful. Virgo needs to get in touch with their feelings, this is why they usually seem cold or detached. They are very prone of living in denial. They will say the feel okay or everything is alright even when it's not. This is an easy way out, the one thing that Virgo does not like to analyze is their feelings so pretending everything is okay is a good defense mechanism for not having to take a closer look at their feelings. Virgo has an unpredictable and sometimes unstable temperament.

I would say I'm a little more spontaneous about decisions at times, but there are also times when I need organization and to know all the facts of a situation before I make a decision.  I TOTALLY agree with this in the sense that if I have a positive mind set, I can handle anything, but if I have negativity floating around, it becomes quite the job to get through.  The focus is to stay and often re-assess where my mind is and ensure that I am keeping an optimistic view on life (then again, I think this is true for everyone, not just me!)

Virgo Deep Inside:

They need to be organized in their mind, sometimes all their energy is taken from organizing their mind that they have a difficult time organizing their surroundings. They easily look too deep into an issue and over analyze what they percept. Virgo is ambitious and strives to always know more and have more. This is in their eternal quest to bring order to chaos. Even if order is obtained from an outsiders' point of view, Virgo will not be settled for they have a very active mind that is always thinking and can never be silenced. Virgos want to be of use, they need to be important and essential to everyone in their lives and in everything they do. Virgo's major life lesson is to learn to trust in and have faith in the unknown. They have to understand that things in life happen for a reason that is not always known to them, they do not have to always know everything. They need to learn to calm down and not over-analyze a situation or event. Deep inside, Virgo is very sensitive and they need to be appreciated for all the things they do. When is Virgo is offended or hurt, they may never show it.

Intriguing! I more related to the second half of this paragraph.  My mind is definitely always going especially at night time on different things that need to be done or that I can help with.  I truly believe in that everything happens for a reason and that we may not understand it in the beginning, but it will turn out if we have faith.  And yes... i do like to be appreciated... who doesn't though!?!? :) 

Virgo in a Nutshell:

Virgo exists in the mind, everything is inside. To the world, Virgo presents a calm and collected exterior but on the inside, nervous uncontrolled intensity in the mind, trying to figure things out, how to improve everything, analyzing and thinking. Virgo can tire itself out without even moving! Virgo has a constant drive to improve and perfect, this can lead to extreme pickiness and finickiest. They are pure, their motives are honest never malicious and they want to accomplish something. 

HA! Calm and collected exterior.... mmmmm depends on the situation, but I definitely would not call myself calm and collected :)  I don't think I'm too picky or finicky... well maybe with some things, but I do have a drive to improve things in a consistent way and always want to accomplish things :)

I'm interested to see what the rest of my fam thinks of these traits and if they're closely related or way off when compared to me :) (This is your cue to comment daddio haha)

Officially DONE!!!!

Well it is official... I am done my final year of university and I couldn't be happier! My last final was on Thursday and I was so relieved to have them done. I still kind of feel like I'm supposed to go to class tomorrow and found myself checking to see if I had anything due and then remembered that I am DONE! Did I mention I'm done taking classes... hopefully forever :)

This weekend we got to do some celebrating too! Our education program put on a celebration party last night, which was a lot of fun! We had a delicious dinner of roast beef, chicken, carrots, salads, buns and desserts. Then we had a little program and got pictures with all the friends we've made over the last 2 years and Dust and I headed home.

Here's Robin, her man Chris, Dust and I

Dr. Joanne Neal... hands down my favorite professor EVER!

Section B of the Education Students! We're the BEST!

Robin, Britt and I dancing with some of the grad-dressed A's :)

I am excited when I think about having my own class to teach and have been lucky to have already been shown some interests in a couple of places. I feel very blessed to have made some connections from back home and hopefully they'll help me land a job or at least get high on the sub list for next year! I'm not positive of what Dust and I will be doing or where we will be, but I'm sure it'll be great!

5. My favorite comfort foods and why?

Well during finals I had many comfort foods (anything and everything in front of me), but one that has been pretty consistent lately has been plain yogurt mixed with a little splenda, little vanilla and frozen blueberries... mmmmm delicious and healthy too.

One of my other main comfort foods is definitely popcorn with butter and salt... Every Sunday it is tradition for us to eat popcorn and drink our pops back home and Dust and I have carried on that tradition and I love it! I wish I could do it every night, but I have a feeling I'd feel pretty sick if that was the case.