Blue Sky

Yep, there was blue skies yesterday here in the usually smog filled valley of cache. The morning brought snow and by the afternoon the sun was brightly shining, it was a perfect day. Too bad I was in class or at work from 9am-8pm so I didn't get to enjoy it. If you don't like the snow, you at least have to appreciate that it clears out the dirty nasty air. Here is what we do when we want to escape the red air days..... SKI!

Family Fun Ski Day (last Saturday)

L to R: Tom, Shelly, Katie, Laura, Dad, Adrienne, Sam, Alex, McKinley

Notice those bright blue skies. Even thought the snow was starting to turn a brown color, it was worth it to see the sun again. I heard Beaver Mtn. got 7 new inches and more snow to come on Friday. Saturday will be Family Fun Ski Day part 3!

The freezing cold temperatures have been good for something... Ice Skating!

Clark was super excited to go ice skating and I was just excited I didn't fall and make a fool of myself. My aunt Shelley is the ice skating expert and can skate backwards like a pro. I struggled to go forward, now I remember why I don't really enjoy ice skating. But Clark has been wanting to go all winter, the things you do for your husband!

Happy Birthday Dad

Today is my Dad's Birthday! I love my Dad and I was definitely a "Daddy's Girl" when I was little. He is so patient and easy going and gets along with everyone. I've always enjoyed skiing with him since I was 6 years old. I think the only reason I've been getting good grades is because my dad is always willing to proof read my papers before I hand them in! Thanks Dad

Me and my Dad {Don't worry he no longer has the mustache}

My dad is an awesome skier, I wish I took after him

He also runs marathons, I know he is crazy!

I also did a Birthday Post on our family blog if you want more pictures

Free Money

I have decided to apply for some scholarships! I don't know why I never tried for any in the past, but the other day I decided I'm going to do it. I'm pretty sure I'm a Senior, it's hard to know when you have been in school for 5 years and you should be graduated! But a few of the scholarships have a requirement to be a Junior or Senior so I guess waiting was a good thing. There are quite a few that I'm going to apply for so let's keep our fingers crossed. After this semester I just have my practicum in the summer (6 credits) and 2 classes (6 credits) in the Fall so I really don't want to have to apply for Financial Aid again and take out another loan. So hopefully I can save enough money from my job and I really hope I can get a scholarship. Even if I get it during my last semester I can pay off my student loans with it! They always tell you in High School to apply for scholarships and I guess I'm just deciding to take the good advice. I think the reason I have never applied for any in the past is because I doubted myself and never thought I would actually get one. But I've decided that I am no longer going to doubt my abilities! I think the Dean's List has given me a confidence boost.

Also I am on call tonight for my job from 5pm-9am. Well I said I would be on-call because you hardly ever get called in. Well I was supposed to go out to my Dad's house for dinner for his birthday at 5:30 and at 4pm I get a call saying there was a crisis call and we are going to have kids in the nursery for a few hours and I need to go in! Go figure the one time I have plans during an on call shift and I get called in. I was sad that I wasn't going to be at the family dinner, but it was my fault for agreeing to be on call. Well I went in and played with the kids and fed them some dinner. And even after being called in and missing family dinner, I still love my job. Even though I'm tired and being around kids makes me sleepy, it also makes me really happy! I'm so glad I found a major I love and a job that I love. And I realize that I should have paid better attention to my Patriarchal Blessing earlier on. I know that I'm doing what I should be, and I love that feeling! {I don't mean to get to personal or religious on my blog, but I just felt the need to add that part}

Hapy New Year

I always feel like my posts are so long with tons of pictures and a lot of writing. My goal is to be more precise and just get to the point. So I'll try not to bore you with my posts. For New Year's Eve Clark and I went over to my sister Adrienne's house and hung out with her and her hubby. We ordered pizza and played the Wii. I got the new Wii resort for my birthday so we tried it out. We had a lot of fun and I think we each had a turn to win at something.

I just took pictures of us bowling. Here is Clark's weird bowling form!

Action Shot! I was laughing because the camera was distracting me from getting a strike, I don't just have a permanent smile when I bowl.

Adrienne was on a bowling league awhile back, so she dominated in bowling!

Nick's turn.... he lost.

On New Year's Day we drove down to Salt Lake and had a family dinner with my Mom's family. We all got together at my cousin Whitney's house and it was fun to see the Wray cousins.

Cousin Love

Merrick kept giving Jack hugs, it was adorable

My mom with all of her kids/spouses/grand kids

I love Max's smile!

We tried to get a grandson picture, but Merrick was not feeling it....

Until it was just him and Nana (and he had his dad to make him smile)

Girl Cousin Picture

We always try to get a picture when we are all together. Cute Heidi behind me married my cousin Adam, so she is now included in the girl picture.

Merrick loving his aunt Laura!

But really he was smiling at Clark and he could care less about me holding him

Then on Saturday my cute little cousin Carly was getting baptized down in Mapleton so we stayed in Kaysville Friday night and drove down for the baptism Saturday morning. After we had crepes at my Aunt and Uncle's house and just hung out with my Emmett family!

I took this picture because my cousin Alex and Clark were entertaining each other with the iphone (don't worry Alex is using his dad's phone). At one point they were texting each other and they were sitting in the same room! In this picture they were playing a ski game.

I don't have pictures but after family time I stopped in Provo to see my bestest friend Jennifer! I finally got to see where she lived and we talked non-stop for about 2 hours. She is moving to Arizona in the summer, and now I really won't see her. I'll just have to take a trip to Arizona (preferably in the summer when all the old people are in Logan!) I'm sad I didn't get to see my other bestest friend Janna who also lives in Provo... that just means we will need to plan a time to hang out again!

Picture-Less

Sorry this post is going to be picture-less. My camera is dead and needs to charge so until then, I will blog about boring things. So about a week ago I got an email telling me that I made the Dean's List for Fall Semester. Basically the honor role for College. I was excited because I'm pretty sure the last time I made the honor role was in 8th grade. I was hoping for an official certificate and a candy bar from the PTA, but an email will have to do. Also I just received an email from the big boss lady at work telling me she needs me to help out with our Step Family Classes every Thursday. I will have more responsibilities and will be in charge of the dinner we feed the parents and kids. Too bad this doesn't mean I get a pay raise, but at least they think I'm responsible! I'm taking 15 credits again this semester so my goal is to get a 3.5 GPA or higher again so I can make the Dean's List for Spring Semester. I'm happy my hard work at school and work is paying off.

Clark and I are still managing the apartments, and although we appreciate the free rent and paid utilities my patience is wearing thin. I went downstairs today to clean the social center and someone had taken the curtain that is being used as a closet door in the computer room off of the curtain rod then they used push pins to put it over the window in that room. It's just annoying because I have to take the time to get it down, put the curtain rod back together and hang the curtain over the closet. Then there are like 15 people who haven't paid their January rent so I have to give them all late payment reminders and bug them about paying rent. We just feel like the students this year are very irresponsible and do not respect the property. But we love our boss and it is a great job for going to school. Hopefully we can save up enough money to move out by summer.... I don't know if we can handle the "Olds" for a third summer. Plus I will be doing my Practicum in the summer and that will keep me busy and away from the apartments and summer is a busy time around here with students wanting to sign up for the school year and the "Olds" complaining about a plethora of things!

My next post will include New Year's Eve/Day events that include action photos of us playing the Wii and pictures with cousins and cute nephews! Then school is starting in a week and I will be too busy trying to make the Dean's List to blog!

One Year Older and Wiser Too

Well I'm definitely one year older, and I'd like to think I'm getting wiser in my old age! I had a great 24th birthday. On Sunday Clark and I drove up to the cabin and had plans to wake up and go skiing on Monday. Sadly as we drove up Logan Canyon we realized how little snow there actually is up there and decided skiing wouldn't be that fun. So we are praying that the snow storm that is supposed to happen today and tomorrow brings a lot more than just a couple of inches....

The lake looked really cool with the reflection of the mountains in the water. Parts of the lake were frozen, it was cold up there!
Clark and Blaine made some yummy Dutch Oven chicken, potatoes, and carrots for dinner and then some peach cobbler for Birthday dessert! We were thinking that the candle might melt if we put them in the peach cobbler, so Clark put all 24 candles in a cardboard box!

My "cake"

On Monday we drove home and I took the Christmas decorations down. Our tree was taking up so much room in our little apartment, and I was starting to feel claustrophobic. But I left up my snowman and our skier nutcracker since it is still Snow Season kind of (I don't think everyone is doing their job and praying for snow... come on people I need to try out my new ski outfit and boots). Then we met my mom, Adrienne, Allison and her little boys at Cafe Sabor for some yummy dinner. I LOVE their chips and salsa. I could eat them everyday.

As you can see Max also enjoyed the chips and salsa (he left some on his face for later)

Jack enjoyed staring, especially at the balloons!

Then it was back to our apartment for blowing out candles and cake. Max of course wanted to help. He is the best "Happy Birthday Singer" and "Candle blower outer". Notice my childhood scrapbook on the table. Max thought that was a picture of him....