Sunday afternoon

We had a wonderful Sunday.

Started with church which included wonderful (short) sacrament talks, 2 musical numbers (one was a quartet of Poor Wayfaring man of grief- just beautiful), roudy 5 years old in my primary class (they were extra hyper, and I didn't even give them sugar in their snack), a CTR shoots and ladder game and finally a tantrum from one of the kids in my class because his team didn't win the CTR board game.

He declared, "I hate this game and stomped in the corner." I had to try really hard not to laugh becaue it was so cute.

Then later, when we were back in primary with the other classes, and the same boy who was upset for not winning says in a small voice to himself while looking at a picture of the temple, "I hate the temple." Again I tried hard not to laugh. Then the girl next to him, turns to me with a shocked/disgusted/worried/sad face and says, "he just said he hates the temple." I turned to her and whispered, "I know."

What else do you say to that?

Another boy in my class who I make sit next to me or else he tends to 1) get in the other kids faces or 2) fall on the floor, kept pretend biting my arm but was really slobbering on it. Yay. Fun.

But despite their rowdiness and the fact that I want to pull my hair out sometimes, I wouldn't ask for another calling. Even though they say things like I hate the temple occasionaly, they also light up when they get an answer to my questoin right. I really love teaching in primary.

Then it was back home for some lunch. And then we decided to take a drive. It was so beautiful and it seems like Springtime is a great time to take the windows off the jeep and drive somewhere pretty.

And pretty we found. We were going to drive to Knights Ferry but then opted somewhere a little closer. I'm not sure even what it was called but it was beautiful. There was a nice little path created that parrelleled the Stanislaus River.

Oliver was in heaven exporing. He literally didn't stop running and barking the ENTIRE time. At first he wouldn't get too close to the water but then slowly he worked himself up to it. Then he realized that the water was very cold and he could drink it, so he didn't want to leave the water's edge.

The trail was just so beautiful. It was nice and shady with trees on either side and the water level was pretty high in the river.

It was such a nice family outing, perfect for a relaxing sunday. And by the time we left Oliver was dragging and panting so I think that he got his fare share of exercise.

Then we went home and BBQed some Filet Mignon. It was mouth watering. I had some asparagus and homemade applesauce while chad had two huge corn on the cobs. This was the first meal since going on my diet that was actually filling! Thank you to Chad for a wonderfully cooked filet mignon. That meal will definitely be in our diet at least once a week (who am I kidding? At least once a day) until I can eat more normally.

Dreaming of May

May is a good month. A great month really.

It's the first month usually where it starts to get really warm in CA.

It is the start of summer.

It means, shorts, boating trips and watermelon!

Maybe even some harvesting from my garden? Not sure about that one...

And...May just so happens to be the month I was born in.

It was a close call, just a few mored days and it would have been June. But obviously I was meant to be a May baby.

Sooo...in light of my birthday being only a month or so away (May 28th)...I thought I would dream up a wishlist (This post may or may not be a hint to my husband).

1) Tickets to the Fray concert. We have already seen them twice and I am determined to make it a third. They play at the Ironstone Ampitheater on June 18th. We WILL be going, mark my words. They are AMAZING live.

2) Gerald Lund's (Author of the Work and the Glory Series) new book: The Undaunted. This author always produces a good book.

3) Shorts- These beauties from Downeast basic definitely need to be added to my collection of long shorts.

4) Chad and I have ALWAYS wanted a Christus, but they are a little pricey. This one is on SALE however @ Deseret Books. It would look beautiful on our bookshelf next to our temple and the framed Family Proclamation.

5) Deseret Book is also selling this beautiful set of classic books. You know my obsession with classics lately, well this set includes MANY of my favorites that I would love to add to my collectoin. The books that are included in the set are: Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, Ann of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, Jane Eyre, Emma, Sense and Sensibility and the Scarlet Pimpernel.

Hurry up and get here already May!!

New

New is always fun right? I am by no means a shopaholic but I do like to shop. I do like the feeling of a bag in your arm on the way into your home. I love the excitement of pulling your new finds out of the plastic and then making plans on how to use your new additions.

Well, my friends, if shopping makes me happy, shopping for books puts me over the moon.

I needed to pick up a small book from Barnes and Nobles, (the red one pictured below) and ended up leaving with 6 new books instead of 1.

I don't think it is humanly possible for me to go to a bookstore and just buy one book. Just like it isn't possible for me to get a mini yogurt. It just isn't enough. I must have 6 books and I must have a medium yogurt (not to be finished in one sitting of course.)

Maybe I'm a nut (I am a nut) but just looking at those books makes me excited to start reading them. There are so many new stories and characters to get to know. Knowing I am the first one to read that particular copy makes me happy to. I am not really a library kind of gal. I like owning it, knowing I can go back later and read it again if I please.

I still haven't finished "Wuthering Heights" (pictured 2nd from top) but I will this week. That's my goal. It's not that the book is boring, cause it's not. It's just not an EASY read by any means. It's one of those books that sometimes I can't figure out whose talking and so I will spend 5 minutes on one page until I really understand. But the book ia great. It's different than i expected, but aren't all books like that? Mostly I just think how did this woman write this? How did she know how to make it a good book? Did she know that 200 years later we would still be reading it and thinking, "wow, this is a good book"? Probably not.

I have managed to fit the small red book into my reading schedule as well. I am starting another "new" thing in my life. And I hesitate to write about this new thing at all until it's not so new and I am more comfortable with it. But I will anyways. I am starting a new plan to get myself on track, healthwise that is. I have been sudying the HCG diet. And I really HATE to call it a diet because that word has a bad stigma attached to it. But it's what it is. Again, I'm not going into details yet, but I will let you know how it's going in a few weeks. Let's just say I am really excited about this opportunity and I think it is really going to change a lot in my life. (hoping at least, but let's think positive thoughts)

I also started Harry Potter a while ago and got into Chapter 2. That's where I've been for a while. I will tackle that series soon...sometime soon...Coma is a book my mom recommended. I bought it for her to pass her post-surgery recovery days. So that's on the list for sometime in the future.

Fablehaven is a series I have had multiple people recommend. I did feel a little silly when I asked the Barnes and Nobles employ where I could find that series and she firected me to the kids section. Literally. It was embarassing. But my view on reading is who cares what "age" group its for. Harry Potter was meant for Middle Schools kids and adults everywhere fell in love. So why not read a book that was written for age 10-14. Who cares? After "Wuthering Heights" I am definitely going to need an easy read.

With that said, FableHaven, Ender's Game and Graceling are all on my soon to read list. They are fanatasy type easy read books.

And while I was at Barnes I couldn't help but pick up a few more classics. Their hard bound classics are only 8 bucks! So I chose a few off my reading list: The Count of Monte Cristo(James Caviezel anyone? Love him in the movie.) and The Picture of Dorian Gray (The league of Extrodinary Gentleman anyone?).

And lastly, my wonderful mom picked up that last book, Growing Vegtables, for me a few weeks ago. It's wonderful! And what a nice segway into my next "new" topic.

MY VEGTABLES!
(These are the peas. They have grown the most and the fastest.)

ARE GROWING!
(These are the watermelon. Coming in @ #2 for fastest and most grown.)

FAST!
Don't those wonderful little green sprouts of life make you happy? No? Well they're not yours, they're mine. So they make ME happy. I was suprised at how fast they shot up. Soon enough and we will be harvesting! Can't wait!

And last but not least. Ladies and gentlemen, please help me give a round of applause and warm welcome to Mr. Anemone.

He joined the fishtank in April of 2010 and has been loving his stay there.

He is huge! The biggest one we've owned and was a smal price ($30) for his size.

Also welcome Mrs. Red. She and Mr. Anemone are currently a couple and love to spend their time with each other. Red feeds Anemone and also likes to rub her fishy fins against his long tenacles (too much?).

Anemone offers protectoin to Red from the other wildlife in the tank.

And as you can see, there is quite the population of fish now. We currently have 8 residence and hope to add more in the near future.

And we can't forget to welcome Mr. Arc eye and Mrs. Hammerhead. The former is from the hawkfish family and enjoys perching on rock (thus the hawk part of the name) like a bird. The latter is the purply-green hard coral in the bottom of the picture.
Okay, WOW. That turned into a way longer post than I imagined. I won't feel offended if you skipped over most of it and are now just reading the last sentence. Really I won't.

"New" things in life are great. Exciting. Enjoyable. Especially Books, Plants and Aquarium friends.

But do you know whats even better than new things?

Old ones...(This is what love looks like. That will never get old.)

Snuggling on the Couch

These are the kings of our couches lately.

Chad has been forced to lay down a lot lately due to his back injury from the car crash.

and Oliver...

well, Oliver is there for moral support.

Oliver will also provide any snuggling, face licking and comforting looks that we might need when we don't feel good.

For a small fee of dog treats and belly rubs of course.

He also doesn't mind the occasional cat to chase or neighbor to bark at...if the treats and belly rubs aren't available that is.

It is my opinion that pets know when you are sick or feeling blue. It is also my opinion that Heavenly Father gave them that ability and that one of their purposes is to make us feel better.

That of course is simply my opinion. All I know is that Oliver is a really fun, loving dog who makes our house a little happier.

The finish line is in sight

Finished my last class...Check

Ordered my cap and gown... Check.

Ordered and recieved my graduation announcements...Check.

(Will be sending those out soon.)

Journey to Utah on May 7th planned...Check.

Now May 7th just needs to hurry up and get here so I can graduate!

I think my graduation date being so soon seems so surreal because I have had a few months in between finishing my last class and the actual ceremony.

A few times I have almost forgotten that I am done.

I think walking the stage and getting my diploma will help seal the deal and make it less surreal.

I would have a hard time NOT walking and still feel like I am done.

Have any of you not walked?

How did you ever feel like you were done?

So I am getting excited counting down the days until I can see these faces(obviously I am not excited about seeing my own face but rather the two beautiful faces pictured next to me):

And I guess I should say, since this is what the post is about, I am also excited to see this(view of the University of Utah):

Because that view holds this building. And this building may not look like much but it is the place I will be walking the stage (in the $60 graduation attire I will only wear once to recieve a piece of paper that says I am a college graduate). So really it is an important building and deserves to be pictured.

So let's see if I can wait a month more to do something I have been waiting 4 years to do.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

That's what I'll keep telling myself.

Isn't Spring wonderful?

I LOVE spring. It really makes me happy.

I love being able to open the door and leave just the screen closed.

I love all of the beautiful flowers just blooming.

I love the feel of sunshine on my skin(finally after the long months of winter!).

And this Spring I have loved making my gardening dreams come true!

(Can you tell I am a tad obsessed with my garden? 3 posts in a month's time. I think so)

I thought I would post a little update on my baby garden.

Look there is finally green in the boxes!

The netting is to keep the pesty cats from digging in my beautiful beds.
The sticks are to remind me what I planted where. Ask Chad, I am one of the most forgetful people you will ever meet. I know the sticks are very fancy. I took a lot of time to stencil and write perfectly what is growing in each row. (by the way, that says carrot. I obviosuly forgot to make this one perfect.)

The Swiss Chard looked a little droopy when I first planted it, but it is lookimg much better now.

This little guy will surely grow into a big strong tomato plant within the coming weeks. I am not a huge fan of tomatoes but I am definitely going to be cooking with them more now that I have homegrown tomatoes. Who doesn't love homemade spaghetti sauce?

Mark my words: this garden is puny now but will soon be great. So here is my before and the after will have to wait a few months.

Now onto other topics of life:

Such as parenthood.

Have you heard of it?

No we're not pregnant.

I'm talking about the TV show.

It's genious, really.

Hilarious.

If you haven't watched it, you need to.
The cast is really amazing. Most of them I don't recognize from anything really big. But I think that no namers usually make a TV show better than say Brad Pitt would.

The one actress that I did recognize and was one of the main reasons I started watching is Lauren Graham. I followed her career through Gilmore Girls and always loved her. My dad on the other hand flat out refused to watch Gilmore Girls. He HATED, i repeat, HATED, how they talked so fast. haha
But she is really great in this new TV show.

The whole cast is witty without being annoying and colorful without being disturbing. The series follows a family of brothers, sisters, parents and all of their children ranging from young to teenagers. The family is normal and deals with all of the "perks" of parenthood.

Go watch it, promise you won't be disappointed. (And a thank you should go to my sister Nichole for insisting I watch it!)

And lastly let me explain my feelings on Wuthering Heights. I was browsing through Barnes and Nobles on Saturday with my mom looking for a cat book for my little's sister Easter basket when we came across a secion of classics. They are special editions of many classic books that Barnes and Nobles sells for really cheap. So while I wanted to buy 40 of them, I restrained my book buying urge and only bought one. I have always wanted to read Wuthering Heights but have never gotten around to it.

So I decided it was finally time.

I started reading it on Sunday and am about halway through now. It's...different...from what I've been reading lately. It's not really easy reading, not at all. I think I have been reading too many books written for pre-teens lately and I had forgotten how much I love books written in the 1800's. The feel of the book is so raw and so not fluid. It is the tale of Cathy and Heathcliff, both of which are terribly flawed and dark.

But so far I love it. I can always tell why a book is a classic. Not because it is a can't-put-it-down kind of book. Not because the story line is thrilling. Not even because it is a sappy romance (which this definitely is not).

It is a classic because it is different. Every component of the book is compelling and as a whole they make a realyl terrific book. It is so interesting to be transported back to the 1800's. Back to London's countryside and back to the "dark" ages if you will.

This book is definitely dark, but not in a bad way. More in a I-feel-bad-for-the-characters way. They did not have the gospel on the earth yet and their life was rather bleak. But again, that's what makes it so good. Their days are filled with nothing very exciting and yet the story is still compelling.

Emily Bronte only wrote one novel but that was really enough in my opinion because she did it well. Thank you Emily Bronte for your wonderful "classic."

And really I recommend going to your nearest Barnes and Nobles and picking up a couple of classics today. They are classics for a reason.

Easter Sunday

Today was Easter.

But no Easter baskets, fake green grass or dyed eggs were found in our apartment this morning. That's not to say that we haven't done those things in the past and won't do them again in the future.

I think once we have children of our own the Easter bunny will be a more important member of our household on Easter Sunday.

But for today he wasn't.

What we did do was sleep in and fix breakfast together. Eggs, bacon (that Chad thought tasted funny so we gave a piece or two to Oliver), strawberries and burnt toast (woops).

Then we turned on the first session of Conference and listened to the leaders of our church talk about THE LEADER of our church: Christ.

I always look foreward to General Conference, but especially the early spring session. I think the talks on Christ resonate a little more with me during this session because I know this was the mornnig of his glorious resurrection.

I think we, as in we LDS members, hear others tell us quite often that we aren't Christians, that we don't act like the "normal" Christians, that we don't believe in Christ. All I have to say to that is sit in for two hours during one session of General Conference and it will be pretty hard to say that we aren't Christians.

I would dare say that EVERY talk given today had some mention of Christ, while a majority of them are specifically about Christ.

And while I treasure every talk given (ok I fell asleep during a few, i won't lie), I appreciated President Monson's talk during the morning session today the most. He simply but lovingly talked about Christ. He retold a story we have heard so many times: Christ's life.

He told of Christ's baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.

And how he called the twelve apostles.

President Monson told of how he blessed the sick,

caused the lame to walk,

the blnd to see,

the deaf to hear,

and even how he raised the dead to life.

President Monson reminded us that Christ taught

and testified

and he provided a perfect example for us to follow.

And then, and then President Monson told us that the mortal mission of the Savior of the world drew to it's close.

Ahead lay Gethsemane and Calvary's cross.

But then, then, Christ was resurrected.

He fought death and lived again.

President Monson told us that "The darkness of death can always be dispelled by the light of revealed truth."

And Christ told us "I am the resurrection and the light."

Christ teaches us how to dispell the darkness of death.

He has taught us that we all must die but that we all will be able to rise again.

So we didn't dye eggs and we didn't even leave our house today.

Instead, we celebrated Christ and his resurrection.

Because isn't that really what Easter's about?

Christ is my Savior and my king.

He is my elder brother who loves me.

He is the perfect example I look to every day.

He is the one that I try to be like.

I fall short, every day and every minute.

But then I am reminded by my church leaders that it's ok.

I am not perfect and I am not expected to be.

But I am expected to try to live like Christ did so that someday I can be like him.

So that someday after I die I can be resurrected and live with Him.

Today was a perfect Easter.

I was with the man I love and I was celebrating Christ.

We treated this sabbath with extra care because it is an important Sunday.

It's the day that Christ left the tomb and showed us what we have to look foreward to someday.

Life after death, resurrection.