Seattle Or Bust!

Last week my sister-in-law, Angela, and I went to visit our cousin Jane and her husband Mike in Seattle. We were only able to stay for a few days but we definitely spent our time wisely. We saw all the sites, and even fit in some much needed Jane Austen movie watching. Jane's husband is in residency so most of the time it was just us girls. It was so fun to have a girls trip! Jane is also 37 weeks pregnant, it was so fun to see her pregnant belly and talk about babies :)

First we visited the world famous Pikes Place. It is an awesome Fish/Farmers Market. You can buy everything there from lotion for a pregnant belly to hand painted hats to the best mac n' cheese ever! Jane and me in front of the market

The famous bronze pig in front of the fish "throwing" market.
Jane, Me, and Angela having a blast at Pikes Place. I really loved this place!

The water is beautiful, those girls are pretty good lookn' too!




Our second night there Mike was able to go out with us, so we hit up the best Indian Food in town. Yummy!




Here was another highlight for me: Trader Joe's! I love this place. I wish Utah could have one :(

Angela and me at the space needle. It was so cool!

We were sooooo lucky to be in Seattle at the same time as the Harry Potter Exhibition. First I got the privilege to be chosen to volunteer by the sorting hat. I then was sorted into Gryfindor (of course) We all then saw almost every prop and clothing item used in the movies, including the Hogwarts Express! I even got to pull on a mandrake and play Quidditch!!! I was like a kid at Christmas skipping from one thing to an other. It was amazing!


The Monorail at downtown Seattle was even decorated for the occasion. I was so excited, Can you tell?

At the end of our trip we went shopping at downtown Seattle. Here Angela and I are at the food court. We are so excited because Angela finally found the Hello Kitty watch I had been looking for at McDonald's. I know that its silly but I LOVE Hello Kitty and I have the best sister-in-law ever! She was on the search the whole trip for this watch and she found it the last day :) Thanks Angela!!

This was a really fun trip and I hope we can do it again soon before Jane

and Mike move.

Zion's Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year Jake and I went down to Zions National Park with my family. We ate dinner at the Zion Park Lodge and just played around. It was a fun trip and a nice get away.

Here are three generations on the trip down to Southern Utah. grandma Zona, mom Christy, and me.

Zion Park Lodge. This is where we ate our Turkey Dinner buffet. :)

Grandma Christy with Ava

Bennett and his favorite uncle!

My brother with his boys :)

The views were beautiful!

It was so nice to get away for the Thanksgiving Holdiay with the family. I am looking forward to next time.

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Finally!!

This past Thursday night Jake and I went to the Harry Potter movie premiere. We went with a few Harry Potter nerds just like us. We spent a few months preparing for this premiere, It was so fun to dress as a bad character, Bellatrix Lastrange! Jake was also an other menacing character, Severus Snape. Everyone else was decked out in there Gryffindor clothing provided by moi :).

Here is about half of us getting ready before the movie. From left to right: Angela, Me, Nick, Jake, Abbey, and Shayla.

It was so fun to be the bad guys! I stayed in Character most of the time.

Here Jake and I are about to see the movie. It was sooo fun!! People in the theatre would stop us and tell us our costumes rocked and take pictures with us. :)


We loved the movie and can't wait for the last installment!! Left to Right: Me, Jake, Nick, Dan, Trish, Angela, Abbey, Shayla, Stacey, and Brandon.

Harry Potter 7 Days!!!

I just wanted to inform the masses, if you don't know all ready, the first installment of the last Harry Potter movie comes out in exactly 1 week! Jake and I are very excited and of course we are going to the midnight premier along with a few friends. Below is a picture of my alter-ego, Bellatrix Lastrange j/k :). I will be dressing as Bellatrix Lastrange for the premiere. I will definitely post pictures of the whole thing! I can't believe it's only 1 week! Yay!!!

Halloween 2010

This Halloween was especially fun. The highlight was definitely Jake's, Angie's, and Dan's costumes. Below you can see the original picture taken about 20 yrs ago on Halloween. Jake was a cute pirate, Angie, the California Raisin, and Dan is a sweet little bunny. On the right is their re-enactment of that Halloween. Angie even found a California Raisin costume on EBay. It was so fun!!

I was Little Red Ridding Hood
Me and my Baby Pumpkin :)

I can't wait till next Halloween. It is by far my favorite holiday. I love being with family and friends, the crisp fall weather, dressing up in fun costumes, the smell of jack-o-lanterns lit up out on the streets, children laughing and playing, trick or treating, and sometimes getting really scared!

Halloween at School

Today I threw a Holloween Party for my Class. We had a blast! There was a drawing for a prize, a costume contest, we watch Nightmare Before Christmas, and played a Jepordary Test Review Game.

Here is my student Jacklyn and I. She was my assistant for the Test Review Game, and I think we also look super cute as Dorothy and Little Red Riding Hood

Here are the results of the costume contest

(left to right)Me-Little Red Riding Hood: Best Overall. Jacklyn- Dorothy: Funniest.

Michelle-Love Bug: Most Creative. Chy-Pirate: Scariest

This Party was so fun! My students rock!

High School Friends

This past Saturday I got together with some of my best friends from high school. A few of us still hangout but it has been years since we have all been in the same state together. It was so much fun to reminisce and catch up on everything. It's kinda strange that we all look pretty close to the same as we did in high school. We must be aging very gracefully :)

Amber, Me, Christine, Katie, Katie, and Bekah

Here we are just goofing around. It totally reminds me of how silly we used to be. Christine is talking to a baby on the floor but it totally looks like she is having labor pains. Haha!

Phillip in the Future

I've had a lot of people ask me, "What is Phillip going to look like when he is all grown up?" I have tried to explain it but a picture is better than anything.

Below is a current picture of me and Phillip. I know, he is the cutest dog ever!!!

Here is a couple stock photos of an adult Cavalier. I definately think Phillip will be more handsome cause nobody is as cute as Phillip!

But this is the best example, I think, of what he will look like. Lady! on Lady and the Tramp. If you haven't seen this famous Disney movie then shame on you! Go to your grandma's house and watch it. (I'm assuming that all grandma's own every Disney movie!) I love my puppy and I am so excited to see him grow into a handsome dog!

Up The Canyon

This past weekend we decided to go up to the local east millcreek canyon and roast some hot dogs. A few family members met us up there and we celebrated our birthdays. My birthday was the 28th and Jake's was the 29th so we like to celebrate them together.

Everyone getting prepared for the roasting of dogs :)

I look like I am so excited to eat, haha!

Taylor, Kaitlyn, and Cameron being silly.

Angela, Phillip, and I trying to stay warm by the fire.

Oh, how sweet.

Sisters: Dianne, Sharlene, and Marianne.

Cousins having a blast, Hailey, Brian, and Erin.

Happy Birthday Jake! I love you and I am so excited to spend forever with you!

****Please Read Below, There Is An Other New Post To READ! :) *****

St. George Retreat

So I know that I am posting this a month late. I guess my blogging juices haven't been flowing lately, but I have to tell you about my St. George Retreat with my mom over the Labor Day Weekend.

Mom and I decided we needed a trip for just the two of us, so we traversed down to St. George to have a fun relaxing weekend.

We hiked, went to a show at Tuachan, got Pedicures, and most important we just relaxed!

Here we are in Snow Canyon. Taking pictures with just us two was kinda hard so there was a lot of reaching or just taking individual pictures of each other.

I had to take a picture of the best breakfast restaurant ever!! 'The Egg and I'

At the top of the Dunes in Snow Canyon, "Namaste!"

I have the cutest mom ever!

The view down snow canyon

On Saturday night we went to see the show "Crazy For You" at Tuacahn Amphitheatre. It was so fun! There was a lot of Gershwin music and tap dancing, oh and I can't forget the fireworks at the end!


We then got pedicures at the BEST Spa resort in St. George. Red Mountain Resort is an all inclusive wellness/weight loss center but they do allow public into their spa. It was awesome!



I had to have my pictures taken in front of this statue, It was right in the middle of a round-about but I thought it was so beautiful!!! Again, we were alone so we have our own pictures. :)

This trip was so much fun, and very relaxing. We even had enough time to lay at the pool and get a run in around the temple. Thanks mom for going on this trip with me! Let's do it again next year. Love you!!