Ephraim Stuff

I can't remember the last time Jack and I had been on a date. In the middle of the week Jack suggested we go somewhere on Saturday. I am all for getting out of town. We decided to head down to Ephraim. sigh. We love Ephraim. We go down there every once in a while just to slow down a little and visit our old stomping grounds. Jack claims we hating living in such a small town but every time we go down there I fall in love with it all over again.

We left Saturday afternoon after spending the morning with our adorable niece Kathryn. We may be biased but we're pretty sure she loves us the very most. Jack got her to smile and giggle SO much. Aw. We just love this girl.

After Adam and Angeline left we headed down to Ephraim. We stopped and ate at Fat Jack's Pizza. Their food is definitely worth the drive! (yes, we are aware the name was changed to Roy's Pizza... but it will always be Fat Jack's in our heart) We spent the next hour just driving around. Sitting in our old parking lots and remembering the times when we couldn't leave our drive way because farmers were using the roads to herd their sheep. The first Elders Quorum activity we went to and Jack insisted on wearing his ugly sweater. No wonder we had no friends. Playing volleyball with the only other married couple we knew. Running around the track at night. Renting at least 5 movies every weekend from Movie Gallery.

Life was good then.

Life is good now. I have an amazing husband who wants to hold my hand.

What more could a girl ask for.

New Blog Stuff

It's FINALLY happening.

Better Than Burgers is up and running!

My Mom and I recently started our own recipe blog. We are SO excited about this new hobby.

Check it out at betterthanburgers.blogspot.com

We're having a GIVEAWAY right now. Loaded with lots of fun and fabulous recipes.

Add us to your Google Reader, your blog list or just your daily reading. You are sure to find something that anyone can cook!

Jazz Game Stuff

For Jack's birthday I got him tickets to the Jazz/Bobcats game. I was so bummed that I spilled the beans about the game before his actual birthday but I was determined to have fun regardless.

Jack and I headed up to the game after he got off work and enjoyed the ride up. It's the first time we've seen each other for longer than 10 minutes at a time in almost a week. I miss that boy! We ate dinner at Chili's before the game and then headed in early. We got to watch the team warm up for a few minutes- It's always so surreal to me when I see them so close up. They're people too? Weird.

We eventually had to return to our seats for the actual game. We were so far up that it actually made me lightheaded and made my hands clam up because we were so high. I do not do heights! I'm pretty sure they send everyone who fails an IQ test to the upper bowl. We sat in a really interesting section. Apparently the basketball players hear and care about what the people sitting on the top row think. At least the people behind us sure thought so. I decided that I need to become rich so I never have to sit in the upper bowl again- at least not the top half!

We had so much fun though and making fun of the idiots around us added to the experience. I think giving Jack Birthday presents that I get to enjoy also is a fabulous idea!

Turning 26 Stuff

Last weekend Jack turned 26. I know it's not super old but he's now closer to 30 then 20. Which is just weird. This year we decided to celebrate with friends so the night before Jack's birthday we went to Rodizio Grill- just the two of us. It's one of our very favorite places and we're so happy they built one in American Fork. Mmm...

Saturday Jack requested birthday breakfast so I got up and made pancakes, hashbrowns, bacon, eggs and toast. We ate breakfast and opened presents. Jack got a Gift Certificate for a new video card, jazz tickets, a car phone charger and a basketball sleeve. I did SO well at keeping everything a surprise until the night before his birthday when I decided to show Jack my great new planner and for some reason I felt like I needed to show him all the stuff I had to do this week. My page opened to Wednesday's "Basketball Game". I suck at lying so he knew he was getting basketball tickets. Sad. He loved it though.

Jack had a church ball game Saturday afternoon so I tagged along for support. I forget how crazy some of the guys can get in those games. Jack's team lost in the end but I had so much fun watching. Bummer that I waited till the last game of the season to go root for my hubby.

We spent the afternoon at Best Buy picking out Jack's dream Video Card. I hate that guys always want boring stuff for gifts. He absolutely loved it though. He spent all afternoon installing it and trying out his games.

That evening we went to the Mayan Adventure with Sam and Tiffany and Higgs. For those of you who have never been it's a restaurant in Sandy that is themed and has cliff divers. It feels like you are walking into a ride at Disneyland. SO much fun. We hadn't been there in a long time and they had totally redone their menu. I was SO pleased with everything I thought our seats were amazing, my food was really good and we had great company. So much fun. I really wanna go again soon so if you've never been let's double date! (seriously!)


We polished off our night with Ice Cream cake at home. I've been making this for Jack's birthday every year since we got married. It's amazing and SO easy. (you'll have to wait for my recipe blog to come out before you can have the recipe...) It was a perfect birthday. Jack is amazing. I feel so lucky to be married to my very best friend. He truly is the very best part of me. I love you hunny! Happy Birthday.

Sister Stuff

After I spent the long weekend at home with my family I brought my sister Kim back to Orem with me. She's moving out here in June to go to school so we decided she needed to look at housing and jobs. I absolutely love sister time. We spent the week shopping, talking, cooking and looking for houses/jobs.

We spent one afternoon watching chick flicks and crafting. So fun! Here's what we made up.

We drove ALL over Provo and Orem gathering job applications. She did end up with an interview by the time the week was over so I think it was a huge success. She also signed a contract for an apartment.

I love my sister. It was one of the best weeks I'd had in the longest time.
I can't wait for June so she can live here for reals!

Long Weekend Stuff

I loved no school days when I was in school but now that I WORK at a school I love them even more! Last weekend we didn't have school on Friday so I ran off to spend the weekend with my family. I left Thursday afternoon and spent the entire time partying with my fam! It was Kimberly and Cameron's birthday weekend so we ate fabulous food and celebrated them.

Thursday we ate Seashells and Caesar Salad for Kim's birthday. We watched Madagascar 2 and laughed our heads off. (love that show!) Kim turned 18 this year. Crazy! I love that girl so much! She makes me laugh my head off and my problems don't seem so hard when I'm with her. She makes me forget about myself. I feel so lucky to have her as my sister and one of my best friends.

Friday I convinced my mom to let me help her clean out the storage room. Wow. I thought it might take us a few hours but I didn't realize it would take us a few hours to only do one section. We filled two cars to the brim with DI stuff and then another car full of stuff to give away. I love the feeling of de-junking. Especially when it's not my stuff and I have no emotional attachments.

Friday we also celebrated my Grandpa Weight's 70th Birthday. We all got together and had pizza and cake with the rest of my extended family. I feel so lucky to have the family that I do. They are the greatest. I loved being there for my Grandpa's birthday. Sometimes I feel so out of the loop living so far away and it was so nice to be there to celebrate. Love you Grandpa!

Saturday we headed to Altamont to watch Cameron at Region Wrestling. I suck at watching wrestling. It stresses me out SO bad. Those poor boys just beating each other up. But Cameron did amazing and I am so proud of him! He took 4th at Region which meant he got to go to State! I love watching my siblings do something they love. Especially when they are good at it.

Sunday we celebrated Kim and Cam's birthdays with a family party at my mom's. We ate Winger's Chicken wraps and played games and ate cake. I love having reasons to celebrate.

Monday was Cameron's official birthday but I wasn't able to stay that long. Cam is one of the best bro's a girl could ask for (I got lucky with 3 amazing brothers). I could sit and talk to him for hours. He is so fun and makes me feel so good about myself. I love that I still feel like my 16 year old brother is taking care of me. I feel so lucky to have him as my brother and one of my best friends.

I love weekends at home. I love that I have such a close family and feel lucky to call them all friends. Everyone needs weekends like that. Love you guys!

Year in Review Stuff

2009 was hands down the worst year of my life.

I've never cried so much in my entire 23 years combined. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say

I'm seriously not exaggerating there.

While I don't believe there was a ultimate reason we had to endure so much

I am not above saying I learned something from it all.

This year I came to a complete understanding of how much my Heavenly Father loves me. What a comfort that has been. I've come to appreciate the atonement more than I can even express. My loving Heavenly Father sent His Son to not only die for my sins but suffer for my sorrows. On days when I feel like I can't go on I remember that He's been there. When nobody quite understands my pain I remember that He felt it. When I cry myself to sleep I remember that He ached and continues to ache for me. For this I am grateful.

Dear 2010, Be nice to me. I'm fragile.