Happy Birthday Matt!

Most people reading this know my little brother Matt. He is 18 years old today!! I know, its hard to believe isn't it! I am actually having a hard time with it. How can this be, where has time gone? I am mostly struggling because in a matter of a few months he will be off to Iowa State. My whole family is really going to struggle with him gone (especially my parents). He is just the sunshine of the family. He is such a good example to all of us in so many areas. I know we all like to view him as the baby, that is why it is so hard to believe that he is now an adult. It is sad that this is an ending of an era (LOL, Friends line). No more high school football games, wrestling matches, or assemblies. I am sure my parents can hardly believe that all 6 of their children will now have graduated from good old CHS. My parents are probably the most loyal people to that school. Maybe I should say that my parents have spent the most money at that school :)! I just feel sad that this era of our lives is coming to a close. I think that I still think of myself as being a couple years out of high school, when in reality my sophomore year was almost 10 years ago! Yes, most of you are my same age and can't believe that's really true! This time 10 years ago we were having our 9th grade promotion! It seems like yesterday. Anyway, I don't know why that makes me sad. I had such a wonderful life growing up, but it has only gotten better the older that I have got. I wouldn't go back because my life now is even better than I dreamed it would be. What are your thoughts?

Happy Birthday Matt. We love you very much!

Going Green!

I think I have got the green bug! It started with the new National Geographic magazine "Green Guide". Then, I found this website that I love: http://eartheasy.com/live_menu.htm.
Check out some of these facts:

• Every ton of recycled paper saves 17 forty foot Douglas Fir trees.
• Paper takes up as much as 50% of all landfill space.
• Up to 90% of recycled glass can be reused to make new glass items, such as bottles and jars.
• Every glass bottle recycled saves enough energy for a 100 watt light bulb to be lit for 4 hours.
• Americans throw away enough aluminum to rebuild the entire commercial airline fleet every six months.
• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run your TV for 3 hours.
• Thirty-six recycled bottles can make one square yard of carpet.
• 130 billion beverage containers are sent to US landfills each year.
• Recycling a 1-gallon plastic milk jug will save enough energy to keep a 100-watt bulb burning for 11 hours.

SO, I am starting small but have hopes of getting better and better at this! Nic and I set up some recycling boxes (I read that it's cheaper and better for the environment to use boxes instead of recycle bins). Secondly, we are planting our first garden!! Nic has been working on the planter boxes and we hope to get everything planted by this weekend. It is such a neat feeling to be doing something good for the environment and yourself! Do you have other GREEN tips? Please post your comments!

Wedding Anniversary Weekend

Nic and I went to Island Park for our Wedding Anniversary. It was so much fun. We stayed at the cutest place, Eagle Ridge Ranch, in a cute little cabin. It is located in such a beautiful place in the mountains. So secluded and romantic. Each cabin there has its own hot tub and spectacular view. We went to Yellowstone Bear World and it was a blast. Here are some pictures of our trip:

This is our cute cabin
This is the view from our front door:
This was the prettiest waterfall I have ever seen, Lower Mesa Falls:

More Pics

Gone With The Wind

Have any of you seen this movie? Can someone please explain to me why #1 this is on any list of top movies of all time and #2 why this is often referred to as a romance? The cover of the movie shows Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh gazing into each others eyes and looking so filled with love and passion! I guess that just shows that you really can't judge a book (or a movie) by its cover. I was SO disappointed with this movie! Not only was it not a love story, but it's a stupid movie. Scarlet O'Hare is a brat the entire time and you keep thinking she is going to change the whole movie and she never does! Everyone she knows in the movie dies (I am still puzzled as to why her father and daughter die from falling off a pony and a horse, does that usually kill people instantly?)! Scarlett and Rhett never even love each other and they are not even likable characters--so you never want them to end up together. And don't get me started with the ridiculous ending...! Why would Tara bring back Rhett to her? I was disappointed to say the least. I am just appalled that this movie is considered one of the greatest movies of all time. I don't get it.

Am I the only person who feels this way? Please post your comments on your opinion of this movie (Good or Bad)!

3rd Wedding Anniversary

What were you doing 3 years ago today? I was at the Hampton in with my best friend and sisters watching "Wedding Date" and feeling so nervous and excited for my wedding the next morning! May 14, 2005--it really was the best day of my life! I have never been so filled with joy. The day went perfect, nothing went wrong. It was the most beautiful weather and the flowers looked amazing all over temple square. The sealing ceremony in the temple overwhelmed me with happiness to know that I was finally getting sealed to the man of my dreams. My reception was a blast and we were able to stay in the Grand America Hotel. The next 4 days we spent on Catalina Island and I will always think of that place as Heaven. I cried when we left because I thought that my life could not get any better than it was that week. It's amazing to me that your life and marriage just continue to get better every day. I am so happy for the person that Nic has helped me become. I want to dedicate this post to my husband and tell him my favorite things about him!
I love that you are tall, strong, & handsome!
I love that you make me feel so good about myself!
I love that you are so good with money!
I love that you are great with your hands and can build or fix anything!
I love that you like 80's rock n roll music!
I love that you love to BBQ!
I love that you are still a scout--and are always prepared!
I love that you love football & wrestling!
I love that you will do anything I want to do on a Friday night!
I love that you have all of the great qualities of both of your parents!
I love that you put my happiness above all else!
I love that you have taught me to be a more independent thinker!
I love that you love John Wayne movies & old westerns!
I love that you work so hard at everything that you do!
I love that you are so smart and know the answer to everything that I ask you!
I could keep going forever. The crazy thing about all of his amazing qualities is that they are EVERYTHING I wanted in a husband. I remember a lot of friends telling me that I was way too picky and that there was no such person. I know fully well that I don't deserve him, but he is everything I had ever dreamed about and I am so glad that I waited for him. Anna, thank you again for all that you did to get us together. I owe so much of my happiness to you.

Nic, I love you so much. Thank you for making me the happiest woman alive! Happy Anniversary!

Golden Spike Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival

Nic and I went with his family to the first Golden Spike Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival. It was at Peery's Egyptian Theatre in Ogden (It's really awesome if you haven't been there). A good time was had by all. The festival featured Baxter Black. Baxter is the most famous cowboy poet in the country. The New York Times said Baxter was "perhaps the most succesful living american poet."

Spring Makeovers

I don't know if you guys get this way in the Spring, but I have been itching to do home improvements and yard work! Now we rent a basement apartment, so what we can do is limited, but we do our best. I redid my fireplace decor and potted some flowers for our entrance way. This week I am going to make a birdhouse and another bird feeder for the yard.

Trip to the Zoo!

We took our nephew to the Zoo for his birthday. It was so much fun. I went on the train for the first time and it was a lot of fun.

Got my spurs!

I had my fourth riding lesson on Thursday and I love it more and more everytime I go! I don't remember if I mentioned this before, but my trainer rides on my horse with me for my lessons. That way she can tell me anything I am doing wrong. Up until last week my trainer controlled the reins and I was being trained on how to hold my body and ride corrrectly. On Thursday I had to take the reins and start controlling the horse myself. I was amazed at how much harder it is to control yourself AND the horse. My trainer told me that I needed to get spurs on my boots so that Hawk (the horse I train on) will move into a trot or canter when I need him to. As of right now, I kick him and he doesn't even move :). SO, here are my new spurs!! I will keep you posted with everything I am learning.