Future me

I often think about the future.  I have been asking myself a lot lately what I want to do and be.
Here's what I have come up with: (I realize it's not proper to end with a preposition, but 1} I don't want to fix that and 2} it just doesn't sound right to me)


* Mom. The kind that raises kids who know they are loved, can make good choices, and are kind to others.


* Gardner.  I would be delighted if I could grow most of the produce we ate.  I love the idea of being more self sufficient.


* Crafty.  I want to feel comfortable with tools/saws/drills/etc.  I would love to whip up a hutch or ottoman.  I would also love to repaint/make over furniture.


* Artist. I recently started playing around with watercolors.  The biggest problem is that I want to be really good right now.  I don't want to have to put in the time.  Lazy, I know.


* Well rounded.  I'd like to know a bit about enough things that I could relate to or connect with anyone.


* Fit.  This is kind of like being an artist; I want to be amazing, but I don't want to put in the time.  I'd love to enjoy running.  I would love to be able to say that I have run a marathon. Yet I don't want to have to experience any discomfort or exert myself.  (I should probably add 'motivated' or 'dedicated' to this list...)


* Happy.  Seems easy enough, but that can be really tricky. It's really easy for me to focus on the unjust  depressing or sad things that come my way.


* Rich.  Honestly, I know I would make a superb rich person.

* Fun.  I feel like I'm not as fun or crazy as I used to be.  I don't know how much of that is due to age, and how much is because of other factors.


It is so easy to fall into the monotonous routine of life.  I go day to day.  I go to work, come home, eat dinner, watch Netflix, think about the productive things I could or should be doing, spend time on my church calling, occasionally go to the gym, go to bed, repeat.  And then when I am not content I wonder what I should change.  I guess I need to start working on the things on my list.  But first I think I am going to take a little nap.

Sailing

 Last month we headed to San Diego with my mom's side of the family for our annual family reunion.  My mom rented a sailboat for us to ride.  Good times were had.  The weather was windy and chilly and we watched as catamaran after catamaran tipped over around us.  We thought they were all so incompetent until we realized that they were doing some kind of training and were tipping over on purpose...

 

 

 

Also, I am fairly certain my brother was born to be a sailor.

Quarter Century

I had my birthday and now I'm a quarter century old!  The big 2-5!

For my birthday this year my dad (who is a pilot) flew us up to Heber to stay at their cabin Friday night. 

 

 

 

We got to the cabin just after 6 and fell asleep by 6:30.  I thought we'd take a little nap then go to dinner.  Turns out we were so tired that we slept ALL night!  I didn't get up till 7:30 the next morning.

 The next day we went to lunch at Casa Ramos.  Tanner ordered the Mexican pizza which turned out to be enough food for 3.

I ordered a burrito which was also way more food than I could eat!  But it was tasty.

 While we were out and about we went to the local Heber thrift store.  We stumbled across these fantastic jump suits!  A deal we simply could not pass up.

We headed back to the cabin and napped (because we obviously hadn't slept enough the night before) and relaxed all afternoon.  My dad came and got us around six that night and flew back home.  It wasn't a very long getaway, but it was so nice and so relaxing.

The next night we went to Sunday dinner at my in-laws.  My sister-in-law Tabitha made me two delicious cakes.  They sang to me, we ate, and enjoyed each others company.  here are some pictures from that evening.  (Thanks Lisa for the pictures!)

All in all my birthday was a success!  Tanner also bought me a beach cruiser bike that is so much fun!

So here's to being 25!

Check

Here's a glimpse into my week:


Renew teaching certificate.   Check

Get a flat tire on the freeway.     Check

New catalytic converter in my car.     Check

Fail emissions.     Check

Pass Emissions.     Check

Take care of a very sick hubby.     Check

Avoid working out.     Check

Have the bug man spray my house.     Check

Go to a class on Saturday.     Check

Have 2 of my kids ditch class in the morning to go to QT.     Check

Boy in my class write "have s*x with (name of a girl in my class)" on a little piece of paper.     Check

Get my teaching contract for next year.     Check.

Get car registration renewed.     Check

Take the final for my online class.     Check

Keep a mostly positive attitude.     Check

Risky dinner

I have done my best to stay away from this restaurant during the course of my life due to the fact that I am always afraid I am going to accidentally say a swear word...

But this past week I was in the mood for a burger and suggested Red Robin.  Tanner doesn't care for Red Robin to this was his alternative suggestion.  

My favorite past was that they have a little bar that you get your burger toppings from.  They had the good kind of pickles.  The kind like they have at Krazy Sub: in spears AND slices! Mmmm!

 

I got the buffalo burger on a wheat bun.  It was pretty good, but next time I'm going for the regular beef burger.

 

Tanner's favorite part is that they have cheese sauce.

Overall, it was good and we'll go back.

Daddy Daughter

Last weekend was the daddy daughter camp out for my parents' ward.  My mom and sister mentioned it and I thought it would be fun!  My dad and sister had things early Saturday morning, so we just went for Friday night.  We left at 4 and got there just before 5.  My mom had prepared foil dinners for us so right when we got there my dad got some charcoal going.  He set up a table and chairs and we all pulled out books and enjoyed the nice weather.  When dinner came off the coals it was delicious!  We went and sat around the fire for a few hours and enjoyed the company.  It started getting too cold for my liking and I made sure I stayed real close to the fire.  They had planned some "Minute to Win It" games and and it was fun watching the girls play.  We headed home around 9 and I had a nice chat with my dad on the way home.  It was a nice little adventure.

This is for McKenzie

and for Brad my brother, and

to those who haven't given up on me as a blogger.  Thank you!

I am having trouble putting writing between the pictures, so let me just give a brief overview of what I have been up to.  I successfully completed my first year of teaching (hooray!),  I got to have a summer vacation that was paid, I went to my parents' cabin, went to Disneyland, stayed on the beach for family reunion #1, spent a few days in the mountains with the young women in my ward, got my license suspended, spent the 4th of July in Manti Utah for family reunion #2, bought my very own atlas, wore a flower pin that one of my students made for me, fell in love with chocolate soy milk that's individually packaged, went to the Landmark resturant for my birthday (1st time there and I loved it!),  went to the Manti temple, played in the last-day-of-school-teachers-versus-6th-graders-softball-game, packed up everything in my classroom so I could move rooms, hung out with my family, slept in almost every day of this summer, went to my cabin again for family reunion #3, and an gearing up for family reunion #4.  We are also buying a house! 

Here's what I have been up to lately.

Good news!

Nothing says "new school year" like a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils.

I got a job!!! After a lot of stress, time, worrying, and interviews, I got a job!!! Yes, I'm starting a month into the school year, but better late than never, right?

I am going to be a 2nd grade teacher down at Emerson Elementary; the very school I attended years ago. It's going to be an adventure and I know I'm going to learn a WHOLE LOT!

The Happiest Place on Earth!

My little sister Annie turned 12 on Wednesday. She's never been to Disneyland, so that was her birthday present. It was just going to be her and my mom, but last minute I snuck my way in on the action! (The one perk of not being employed is that you can abandon your life for a few days and that's totally okay).

We had SO MUCH FUN! Annie loved every second, and it was so fun to watch her so thoroughly enjoy it :o)

Here was my FAVORITE part of the trip. We were on splash mountain: Annie in the front, my mom second, and me third. We were having a blast when we came to the drop at the end. Right as we started going over the edge my mom looks at the drop. In a terribly frightened and alarmed voice she says, "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" Each work got louder and more frighted. Annie and I could.not.stop.laughing!



It's a Small World.


I let Annie drive... bad news!


Yeah, I could totally be Zerg.


Annie and Alice are supposedly the same age...


A classic first time picture :o)


I think I'd have that look on my face too if there was a robot attack!



Big Thunder Mountain! I love that ride!!!


We're that strong! Well, Annie is... I just look helpless.


We walked my mom into the round. She had to take a little power nap!

Happy birthday Annie!!!! I am so luck to have you as a sister. I love you! Thanks for the great memories!

Copy Cat

Yes, I am a copy cat. Lauren does this thing on her blog where she posts "Things Lauren is Happy About".

This post is:
Things Lindsey is Happy About!
(Thanks Lauren)

1) I'm a college graduate!

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from ASU! I now hold a bachelors degree. I also got my teaching certificate last week, so I am a real teacher now. It feels G.R.E.A.T. for anyone who is now in school, hang in there.

This picture made possible by my brother Brad.

On the way to graduation. That face is because I am NOT looking forward to putting on the ugly hat.

With Tanner, the ugly hat, and my empty diploma case (they mail the REAL diploma later).

Seriously though, those graduation caps are attrocious! I mean we're graduating from college--this has required a good amount of time, energy, work and money--doesn't that deserve better?! I mean they should give us the cutest hat ever invented, not that ugly piece of junk. I don't think anyone looks good in those (well, except Afton at high school graduation)

Camille, thanks for being my graduation buddy and sitting next to me!

Thanks family for being so supportive and making the sacrifices to be there (especially you Brandon!). And thanks for dinner at Chevy's afterwards.

2) My little brother Connie (his real name is Austin) got his mission call!

He's going to Omaha, Nebraska and leaves July 1st.

This is just me, my sis-in-law, and my nephew Brig. Love him.

3) Lisa, one of my former roomates, got married!!!

This is the old roomies at the cheesecake factory after her bachelorette party.

Here she is at her reception. She was beautiful! And VERY skinny! I think my bones alone make me fatter than that!

4) My brother is cute and took Brig on a lawnmower wide. I love this picture.

5) Tanner and I made collages!


Here's the one I made for Tanner. My favorite part=the picture of bottles of mayonaise. He told me that just seeing the pictures of the mayo made him feel gross. Haha.

Here's the one he made for me. It's really funny. My favorite part='recycling: rest in peace'.
That's funny because it's true. I really don't recycle. I'm the opposite of green (what does that make me? Red? And I'm totally fine with that).

6) my birthday is this Thursday. And guess what the universe decided to give me... The season premier to So You Think You Can Dance!!!!!!! Thank you universe!


7) There's a new addition to our family! Any guesses as to what it might be? I'll give you a hint: it's NOT a baby/child/fetus/anythinglikethat.