Our Hiking Day

Rick has been a broken record lately getting the point across to me that we are going to be active this summer doing hiking, biking, camping, etc. I told him I got the idea after about ten times of him mentioning it to me this past week, but that didn't stop him, I think he repeated it about 20 more times after that, haha. So, I decided that I would satisfy his craving for some outdoor adventure and we went and hiked Y mount this past Saturday. I was a little nervous because last year when I did this hike...mmm...well...didn't go to good for me. Let's just say I didn't eat breakfast before and I had to stop every 10 steps to take a break, pretty embarrasing. I definitely do not pride myself in being a good hiker so I was a little nervous about how I would do this time.

Me before the hike. I looked happy, but inside I wasn't too pumped.


Rick and I before the journey. After I took this picture I said to Rick, "You are smiling wierd, just smile normal". Well this next pic is what he gave me........


LOL. Yeah, we didn't take any more up close after that:)


We went with our friends Ryan and Rachel who just moved here from California. They have two kids who are the cutest.


We got to the the "Y" and I was so happy cause I had done really well without too much huffing and puffing, but.....


These insane boys thought maybe we should go to the very tippity top of the whole stinkin' mountain. After a little contemplation the final decision was.....



YES....ahhh.



So we kept going and I was actually pretty happy we did, we saw some cool views and burned a lot more calories. Here is Rachel overlooking the beautiful view.


Adorable Andrew. He is such a trooper, walked pretty much the whole way, ALL 4 HOURS!! He was full of questions the whole time and fascinated by all the lizards and snakes we saw.


Us at the top, atleast the top of our journey. We didn't make it the whole way that we were planning on. It was a little bit farther that we had thought it would be, hehe. After we got down the mountain we snarfed down a JDawg..yum!!! It was so much fun to get out and do something with the weather FINALLY being nice. It really got me excited for this summer and all the outdoor goodness we have ahead of us.

On a side note, we got a new car. We got rid of Rick's big truck and got a little car with good gas mileage. We tried doing the one car thing for a few weeks and we decided that even though we work at the same building and could make it work if we wanted, we are just not the couple who can have one car. We are so pumped, it's really nice and 1/2 the payment we had with the truck. Yay for saving money!! Below is a picture of our new beauty!!

Graduation '09

I am finally a college graduate!! Last Thursday and Friday was graduation and it was an awesome two days. I received my degree in Exercise Science and I got a minor in business. It has been a long long road and I am so happy I am done, but I'm even more happy for the experience I had in getting an education. Nothing will be able to replace the lessons I learned while going to school. It was worth all the thousands of dollars and every sleepless night, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Commencement was on Thursday at the Marriot Center with all 6000+ BYU graduates. It was quite the experience walking with 6000 other graduates, pretty amazing. Another special thing was that two apostles were the speakers, Elder Uchtdorf and Elder Nelson. I LOVE these two so much and they gave such a good message in their talks, it was definitely a special way to say goodbye to my days at BYU.

Friday was convocation for each school where they recognized each individual graduate by calling your name and receiving your degree. My whole family was there and Rick's parents came from Cali to support me, I have the most amazing family. Thanks to my mom and dad for having such a yummy dinner afterwards. They put so much time and effort into making this day special. I love them!!

Wooo hooo!!! So what now? Well, about 3 wks before I graduated my current employer offered me a position in accounting that I couldn't resist so I am going to be staying put at my job. I am a little sad that I won't be working in the health field for now but I will definitely not be ruling it out for the future:) Now my focus will be on supporting Rick in getting his last 5 classes done until he graduates!!!!

I love these guys

BYU

Rick is SO happy I am done:)

Me and Bambi(my brother's wife's mom)...the most supportive lady ever!! She was at my high school graduation and I am so happy she was there for this, I love her.

Hansens and Daytons

I Adore Him

I apologize in advance if this post is too sappy but I just want to say that I have the best husband ever to walk the face of this earth. He has been the cooker, the cleaner, the laundry doer....pretty much everything for the past 3 months while I have been hitting the books hard. Not to mention he does all of this after he gets home from a 10-11 hour day at work. All I have to say is his momma raised him well. Yesterday I cooked dinner for the first time in like...hmmmmmm....i dunno.... 2 months (maybe more) I stopped keeping track a long time ago. Poor man. I know it has been hard on him for me to be so consumed with work but he doesn't complain. He just comes over, gives me a kiss on my forehead and supports me 100%. I love him--a lot. I can't wait to one day make it up to him and be the kick butt housewife and mom that I long to be. One sweet day.

Why I hate BYU sometimes...

I am currently at school, it is 11:00 pm. I am trying to study for a test but this IDIOT is jamming out cheesy versions of Michael Buble songs on the piano, singing and all. I love Michael but not this kids renditions. After every song I hope that he is running out of energy. It's 11:00 at night!! Go home and hit the hay so I can get my friggin work done. I realize I should not be blogging about this and should be studying but I was having a hard time concentrating because of this nerdy turdy.

Jason the Jerk

For all of you who watched The Bachelor tonight, I hope you agree with my opinion on Jason. I have been watching The Bachelor with the same group of girls for many seasons and we are always disappointed with the decisions the bachelor makes. This season we thought things had changed, but he let us down:( I was totally sold on Jason and thought he was the show's best bachelor ever. Nope nope and nope. JERK!!!

Here's the rundown-- he picked the RIGHT girl in the finale (who by-the-way shares my wonderful name) and had just about the cutest finale ending I've ever seen, seriously dreamy. Then it took a sharp turn for the worse. Right after the finale there was an "after the final rose" episode and he dumped adorable Melissa!! Not only dumped her, but dumped her.....on television...she returned the engagement ring....then a few minutes later was slobbering over another girl!!! I get way too into this show; I know it's lame. Every season when the guy makes a stupid decision(because they always do), I say I won't watch anymore, but who am I kidding...I will continue:)

Muffin Top

As part of my internship for school I am helping to run a Biggest Loser Contest at my work. It was the perfect time of year to start, right at the end of winter hibernation. There are about 10 guys that signed up and each put in $100 dollars, at the end the winner gets all the money!! No girls signed up(including myself), probably because we knew that a part of the contest was getting into a bathing suit for before and after pics:) We did all the contestants starting measurements 2 weeks ago. Rick signed up for the contest and he has already lost 8 pounds!!! Not that he has a ton to lose but I'm so proud of him for being so motivated to get up early, go to the gym, and eat healthy. The contest lasts for 3 months, so I will keep you updated if we are 1 grand richer at the end!! Well, I guess technically Rick would be 1 grand richer...but what is his is mine right??:)

www.mypyramidtracker.gov is an AWESOME free website program that tracks your daily food intake and helps you be more aware of what you are putting into your body. You enter in your ht, wt, age, etc...& then you enter in your food intake for the day. Not only does its show you how many calories, fat, sat fat, protein, carbs(..list goes on), that you are getting but it shows you what you SHOULD be getting according to your body. It can also assess your physical activity if you are on a exercise regimen. I've seen programs like these before, but I have never seen it for FREE. So, if you are interested in this stuff go take advantage and check it out!!

Another great website is www.dietfacts.com/fastfood.asp This is the best website I've found that has nutrition facts for the different restaurants we all go to. You would be surprised how much hidden fat there is in a lot of the dishes you would think would be semi-healthy. FYI Chilis is the worst!!

:) Go check out these great websites and get motivated to get healthy!!

P.S. I just want to clarify that there is nothing wrong with muffin tops...we all get them. But I do have a problem when they are freely flaunted with belly shirts. It's just not right. Agreed? mkay;)

I Can't Wait....

to buy The Fray's new album tomorrow...... Feb 3.

If you aren't a fan, you should be:)

A Whole Lotta Busyness

So we have been going a million miles a minute for the past month. We do the same thing day in and day out and we pretty much feel like we are NEVER home. So I thought the picture above was very fitting for how we have been feeling lately. I am willing to risk the embarrassment of this unattractive picture to better express our emotions for the month of January. Rick and I were talking last night and saying how we are sad that we have a wonderful home and we are never here to enjoy it.......one day:). So I don't have much to blog about but these are a few things that we have been up to:

• Rick got a Wii and is obsessed with game Super Smash Brothers, I suck at the game so I can't share the fun with him
• I have come to the conclusion I cannot quit drinking Diet Coke aka Poison. I have tried and failed so many times. This unhealthy habit is being so contradictory of everything I am going to school for. You would think after all the health classes I have taken I would have kicked the habit by now. Any suggestions?
• Rick=Work
• Got my hairs cut. A little bang and layers. Thanks Steph!
• My sweet husband surprised me with a night in SLC that included a jazz game, sushi at gateway, and an overnight stay at the Armstrong Mansion Bed and Breakfast. So much fun!!!
• Little bro Mike set a date for the wedding, JUNE 20
• School
• Work
• Sleep
• School
• Work
• Sleep......life is monotonous
• Ah yes, and saving the best for last, American Idol and The Bachelor started!!!!