Another Year

Is it a little bit funny that although I've been out of school for a couple years, there is the part of me that still meaures years as if they begin the end of August/start of September? Look what they ingrain in us through our early years. They also ingrain in us that we should have a few months of summer break. That's a rough reality when you grow up and realize that most adults don't actually get that. I'm slightly bitter still. But I digress.

As it has been two years since I finished school, I did hit a pretty big milestone - work wise. I finished up the hours and other things required for me to get my LCSW. That's a licensed clinical social worker. Previously, I was just a CSW, or certified social worker. It's kind of made me laugh as I've realized that hardly anyone really knows what I mean when I say, "I got my L!" But they act excited with me anyway. :) I guess I really do understand. I really didn't know anything about the licenses involved until I actually got into the field. So if you are reading this and saying, what is that? Feel free to ask. So here's my name plate at work. I had some friends a couple years ago that thought I was pretty cool because I had 3 letters after my name. Now I have 4. :)

Another favorite part of school starting/fall is that football starts. I realized the other day that I really miss the good ol' days when the thing to do every Friday was to go to the football games for the local high school. It was all of my growing up because my dad taught at the high school. There's just something so great about enjoying the outdoors, enjoying some games, building that sense of community... Ahhhh. Well, this year, my oldest nephew Jeff is now in high school. First of all, yes, the immediate reaction is "What the....?" How is he that old? I don't know. But he is playing football (and is actually really quite good if I can whisper that out there) and I got to go down to his first game this week. What fun! He's the quarterback for the freshmen team. Hopefully I'll get to go to others. But I was able to get a few pictures for those of you that missed out.

So everyone, I hope that you too get to enjoy some good football this season. I'm looking forward to it. Happy new (school) year! :)

Summer Fun

Wow it's been a little while since my last post. The summer has gone by quite quickly. I don't have lots of pictures, but here are a few of the things that have happened.

I went with my ward down to the Manti Pageant and we did a session there as well. Always good to head back to Sanpete County and of course partake of some Fat Sticks as well.

Here's my friend Laura and I with some of the peeps in the pageant. We thought their costumes were very cool. :)

I got to go to the play 110 in the Shade at the Hale and then meet Audra McDonald, who came to Orem for a couple weeks to be in it. I've been a big fan of her for a few years, and she really is amazingly talented. What fun!! Here's Laura, me, and Candice with Audra.

We had some 4th of July merriment in Richfield, but I didn't get too many pictures. So here's one I did get of Hayley and Steven.

I watched a little baseball. Here's my nephew Jeff.

I don't think I've even posted about my niece Claire who was born in May. We got to go up to Logan today for her blessing. She's a cutie!!

And as far as additions go with the family, Daniel and Jenny had their babies the end of June. We're very grateful that they're doing so well. I haven't gotten to meet them yet, but I'm borrowing a picture from Jenny so you can see how cute they are. Ava and Wyatt.

Race for the Cure

Last weekend I went with my mom, sister, brother, and sis-in-law up to SL for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I have to say, like I did last year, this is a very cool event and very touching to see so many people come together to fight something that has affected so many people. With my mom with us this year, we stuck around to see the things that they did for the survivor's of breast cancer, including the survivor's march and having them all come together for a photo. It is an awesome experience and made me again grateful that my mom made it through that rough time and that she's still with us today. I would definitely recommend it for anyone in the future.

I'm a bad girl...

Okay, yes, I put that as the title simply to get your attention. :) Now let me give a disclaimer. It's not that I'm a girl that has done a bad thing. It's that I'm somewhat bad at being a girl. Let me explain.

There's a guy that moved into my ward in January. He kind of caught my attention and I have since been somewhat, shall we say, intrigued? Not quite sure how I feel, but paying attention. Sunday - we were texting a little bit and then he called and asked if I wanted to go to ward prayer together. Sure. So he came over, we went, then he came back and stayed and chatted for like an hour or so. He was leaving and said something about thanks for listening and I said something about how I enjoyed talking. Then he says, "Maybe when I'm not so stressed... do you like sushi?" My response? Well, um, not really, but I've only had it once and maybe it was a bad experience. But I think he got the hint that no, I don't like fish. I'm texting my sister after that and she says, you should have said "but I like ice cream" or something to that effect. Of course I should have. But did I say anything like that? Nope. He kind of went oh, okay. I'll see you later.

So, although I'm not really the type of person that enjoys putting much personal information out there, I guess I'm hoping that someone can explain to me why I'm so stinking lame. Or maybe I just feel like amusing everyone tonight. So laugh if you want. Cry if you must. Maybe you'll do both. And I'll keep sitting here wondering what on earth I was thinking.

A little vacation!

Last week my roommate and I went on a nice leisurely vacation to the Oregon Coast. It turned out being quite decent weather and was, of course, very beautiful. We went around and saw a few things, but were not rushed to do anything and were just able to enjoy getting away. It was so nice and so needed. And what can I say, I didn't want to come back. :) Here are a few of the fun things we were able to do, so you can enjoy as well.

We were able to go to the temple in Portland, which was awesome.

The Classic Chinese Garden in downtown Portland

The staircase in the Pittock Mansion in the west hills of Portland. Super cool!

The outside of the Pittock Mansion

Tillamook Head Lighthouse

Flavel House in Astoria

Cannon Beach - Haystack Rock

A beautiful sunset while eating dinner at Mo's at Cannon Beach

No listening pleasure

I'm sorry to say that apparently the Michael videos are too big, so my blog will not upload them. Blast it all.

WHAT A SHOW!!!!!

One thing I've wanted to do for a long long time and one of the things that is on my list of things I need to do in my lifetime - Go see my favorite music artist in concert. And who is that you may ask? Well, okay. Those of you who know me well don't ask. You know. And yes, last night I got to go and have a fantastic night listening to a voice that could melt butter. That's right! Michael was singing to me. (And like 10,000 others, but whatever). I have to say. I was very very impressed with the show. Not only does he have the best voice in the world, but he is quite the entertainer. Very engaging with the audience and a lot of fun. The sound was awesome. The lighting and effects were very cool too. All in all, a definite A+++. So, for future reference, if you ever get the chance to go see him in concert, I would jump at the chance. Here are just a few pics and some videos for you to enjoy a small amount of what I did. The sound isn't super super great, but really not too bad for a camera.

Okay, okay. Videos will have to come later. They won't upload tonight.

Other Happenings

I'm super slow, but here are a few pictures of some other things that have been going on in the last couple of months.

February -

Jace, my nephew got baptized. Here's a cute picture of him and his dad (my brother Kevin).

March -

Lillie's blessing


And I got some new bedroom furniture. Well, a bed frame and a dresser. They actually just came today. I'm pretty excited about them.

It's Madness!!!!

And it's beautiful! :) I love March, if only for the exceptional basketball that overtakes my life for a few weekends. Today was the first day of March Madness. What a crazy day! I can't believe how close so many of the games were. I did pick a few of those upsets, but I'm still blown away by a couple of them. Here's to more greatness and a lot of tv watching to come!

In Search Of....

Well, many things. :) But in particular at this moment, I'm looking for some good books to read. People always tell me good ones, but I usually forget. So I'm going to start writing them down. I have heard the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is really good, so I'm planning on reading that one. I've also heard great things about the Hunger Games. So I'm putting it on my list. So now here I am, ready and open for your wise suggestions on what I can do with my time so that I don't just watch tv when I come home from work totally brain dead and burnt out. :) So advise away!