Crazy 8's - the tag that is

Okay, well, Jenny tagged me with this one. So let's see...

8 TV shows that I love to watch:
1 - The Office
2 - Chuck
3 - Bones
4 - Psych
5 - Private Practice
6 - Friends
7 - Gilmore Girls
8 - BYU Football (Especially when they win. Which is a lot right now!!!!)

8 Favorite Restaurants
1 - Costa Vida
2 - Olive Garden
3 - Winger's
4 - Mimi's Cafe
5 - Chili's
6 - California Pizza Kitchen
7 - Tucano's
8 - I love New York Pizza (It's in Albany)

8 Things that happened yesterday
1 - Went to work
2 - Was amazed by some of the really stupid decisions some teenagers make
3 - Tended 4 of my nieces and nephews
4 - Went to a birthday party for a friend
5 - Stayed up too late
6 - Got my finger cut and bruised in a sword fight (yes, it's still swollen)
7 - Laughed when people didn't understand and gave me funny looks when I told them about #5
8 - Got new play therapy toys in the mail

8 Things that I am looking foward to
1 - Christmas season! (I know, maybe a little lame. But I really am)
2 - More fall-like weather
3 - General Conference
4 - Eating strawberry-rhubarb pie the next time I go home
5 - Someday (hopefully) feeling like I actually sort of know what I'm doing as a therapist
6 - Going to Wicked again in April!
7 - To someday have my own place where there aren't four of the same items all over the place, and to know that any mess that is made is by me or someone I chose to live with
8 -Eating some good food today.

8 Things on my wish list
1 - To get married (if you want me to be honest anyway)
2 - Go to Italy
3 - Go to Disneyland again really soon. :)
4 - To get to see all my cool family more often!
5 - To be done with roommates (Although I really do like some roommates!)
6 - To attend a Michael Buble concert (and sit real close!)
7 - To not get sick when flying (yeah right, but as long as I'm wishing...)
8 - To have more opportunities to sing. I don't have a lot of those right now.

8 People I Tag (uh....)
1 - Holly
2 - Emily Roundy
3 - Lori
4 - Emily West
5 - Bonnie
6 - Tiffany
7 - Hilary (One of those roommates I like :)
8 -Audri

It begins again...

And so it goes, that the end of September brings about the beginning anew of some of our favorite shows. :) Tonight was the premier of The Office. I love this show! Seriously. If you don't believe me, here's a picture of our Christmas tree 1 1/2 yrs ago.

It was a good premier. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the show again. This show just totally makes me laugh. And just because, I'm going to throw on a picture of Pam and Jim. :)

And then, there are other shows. Blasted TV. It kind of sucks me in. Okay. I really only have a few favorite shows. The next one that I'm most excited about --- Chuck!

I don't know if any of you are really familiar with this show. It was new last year. It's on NBC. For some reason, I totally love it.

I know. Pretty sad that this is currently the highlight of my life. But, my world can be complete again with my Jim and Chuck crushes to carry me through. Happy watching!

Flashback

Remember back in the day... you know, about 15 years ago. There was a group that was pretty popular. And then they seemed to disappear. And then they reappeared again. And in Orem, UT. Woa. Funny enough, Boys II Men came to Orem to do a concert. My friend Becky invited me to come with them, so I figured why not? It's always fun to go back to middle school days, right? So here are a few pictures and videos!

They performed some old Motown songs.

Here's the group of us that went. Kyle, Becky, Melissa, Ali, and me.

And, I apologize that the videos aren't so great. It didn't help that they didn't have lots of lights on during some of these songs. But I think you'll still recognize it. :)

Ha ha. Good times!

So much for my bedtime...

Well, since starting working, I have done really quite well at going to bed earlier than I used to. Usually about 11:00 or shortly thereafter. I've been pretty proud of myself. But, then came last Friday. And since that time.... I've been up until past midnight almost every night. And it's all because I'm glued to the tv - watching the Olympics!!!!


Okay, I'm not really complaining. I love the Olympics and it's so fun to watch. The swimming and gymnastics that have happened the last few nights have been a lot of fun. I have to admit. I am enjoying it a lot. Even if that means that this morning I didn't hear my alarm for almost a half hour. (I was up and out the door in 13 minutes. I think that's gotta be a record.) But, just for fun, I'm going to throw on a few fun pictures. :)

Of course, watching Michael Phelps swim is very exciting. He rocks at it!

The Womens All Around Final for gymnastics. This was awesome! Go USA!!!

Just Thinking...

So, I just went and saw Prince Caspian - the movie. I've been wanting to see it for awhile, and finally did. I've been thinking about it since I left. I guess part of that thinking comes from something my institute teacher said in class. She played for us the song that plays during the credits and pointed out a couple of things that have made me think. It's interesting to see that Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy don't feel like they really belong in the world they live in. They were kings and queens in Narnia, so England wasn't quite right. I think that's often true for us. We don't quite feel like we belong here, because we don't. We know that there is another place that we're working to reach. There's somewhere else that we belong. And when we come to truly believe that, we are changed. There are instances and times in our lives when we catch that feeling. I believe that one of those places is the temple. When we're there, we catch that glimpse of what our home trully is.

Here's a link to the song. See what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CkbCAsUmUQ

And here's the lyrics:

I've got my memories

They're always inside of me

But I can't go back - back to how it was

I believe now

I've seen too much

But I can't go back

Back to how it was

Created for a placeI've never known

Chorus:

This is home

Now I'm finally where I belong, Where I belong

Yeah, this is home

I've been searching for a place of my own

Now I've found it

Maybe this is home

Yeah, this is home

Belief over misery

I've seen the enemy

And I won't go back

Back to how it was

And I got my heart

Set on

What happens next

I got my eyes wide

It's not over yet

We are miracles

And we're not alone

(Chorus)

And now after all my searching

After all my questions

I'm gonna call it home

I got a brand new mindset

I can finally see the sunset

I'm gonna call it home

(Chorus)

Now I know

Yeah, this is home

I've come too far

And I won't go back

This is home

A little game

My friends Audri and Michelle have this on their blog and I think it kind of sounds like fun!

Here's what you do

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you (or, even if you don't have a blog please still leave a comment....it'll be fun). The end :)

American Idol Concert

So, my brother, sister-in-law, sister, and I attended the American Idol concert last night. We've all been pretty into American Idol this year. And it was actually a really good year. Many of the top 10 were actually really good. So we figured, let's go to the concert! It was a lot of fun. Talk about super loud, that's for sure. Thousands of screaming girls - out of control. But it was still a lot of fun. Here are a few pics of our adventures there!

Me, Janell - my sister, and Daniel - my brother waiting in deep anticipation!!!!

Chikezie - was totally one of my favorites the whole season. Too bad he didn't last a little longer.

Michael Johns - He was never one of my favorites during the season, but he totally rocked it out. It was the best I had ever heard him sing. :)

Carly Smithson - this girl's voice rocks. She's really good.

Brooke White - did quite well really. Even if we couldn't get the greatest picture of her. :)

Group Number

Syesha - she was always one of my top favorites during the show. Her songs were mostly good tonight, although I was not at all impressed with her. Sad day. But she does have a great voice.

Utah's own little hero - David Archuleta. He did a really good job. It seemed like he may be losing his voice, but he still did a good job.

And, of course, the American Idol himself - David Cook. This guy really rocked. I was very impressed with his stage performance and everything. Well done!

Lions and Tigers and Bears... Oh My!

Except for the fact that the Hogle Zoo no longer has any lions and the tiger didn't want to come out and play. Disappointing. But, the zoo was fun! I went with my brother and sister-in-law, Daniel and Jenny, and their little girl Hayley. My parents also came with us, as well as some of Jenny's family. It's been a long time since I've gone to the zoo, but I believe it was a grand time to be had by all. The Ghost of the Bayou - although it totally looked fake, it's an all-white alligator.

Not albino, just white.

The only lion I got to see - and it tried to eat me!

Me and Hayley by the elephants

A bald eagle in front of the American Flag. We went to the bird show, which was actually really cool. This is how they ended the show, with the bald eagle in front of the flag. It was pretty cool.

This is a red panda. It's like a bear, cat, racoon, mix. But I guess it's actually most closely related to bears. It was so cute. I know the picture doesn't quite show how cute his face is, but he looked so cute and cuddly. (Although he probably wasn't cuddly :). But he was my favorite!

Daniel, Hayley (sleeping), my mom, and me on the Zoofari - the train!

It's 10:30...

and I'm going to bed. I just had to mark this day down in history.

Happy 4th of July!

What a great weekend! I was able to go home with most of my family to spend time together and celebrate our nation's birthday. Maybe I'll eventually get pictures of us on the 4th, but I just wanted to say how grateful I am to live in this country and for the many blessings we enjoy. I know that I definitely take things for granted a lot, and things aren't perfect, but we enjoy so much here.

I am also very grateful for those who have given so much throughout the years in the cause of freedom. Working with war veterans last year gave me a whole other perspective on the sacrifices that so many have made for us to live here and have the rights and freedoms that we do. Thank you to all those who have, who are, and will serve this great country.


"Have mercy, O Lord, upon all the nations of the earth; have mercy upon the rulers of our land; may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the Coonstitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever." D&C 109:54

Happy Birthday America