Christmas Tree Maham!!

I really wish I had real pictures to go long with this, but try and imagine if you can...

This whole last week we have been trying to decorate the house, get the tree up, make cookies, and get into the Christmas spirit. Last night, it all came tumbling down on us... I haven't been feeling all that great this last week, maybe it's a bug or maybe I'm still experiencing detox from planning the company Christmas party, but I was not in the mood to decorate our Christmas tree. I don't know about all of you, but we have "jobs" in our house about who does what when it comes to certain things and my job is always to put the lights on the tree. My dad was a master at it and all us kids took on that tradition, in my family, the lights were far more important than any ornament. I mean the whole essence of the tree was its lights and some years, it seemed the ornaments almost ruined the tree... sorry loosing focus.

So each day, I would put some lights on the tree, get bored, then stop, and Rob would just wait until the next day hoping I would eventually finish. Last night, I was so fed up with our little tree, which is fake, but that's a whole different subject, that I get almost to the top and guess what? ... I ran out of lights. I tried to spread it out as best I could, but it looked like the saddest excuse for a Christmas Tree I had ever seen. The lights were so concentrated at the bottom and so spread out at the top that even Rob didn't like it and he was the one that was pushing me to finish...

We both were so mad, him at the shotty light job I had done, me at the fact that it looked terrible I felt I had disgraced the family name, and it was all my fault. Rob decided to take off the lights and start over, but I had tangled them so badly that branches were flying off of the tree in his attempt to quickly unravel this disgrace I had created, even the dogs ran for cover under our bed... in the next room. The last thing I wanted to do was start over so Rob attempted the lights, got to maybe two branches and quit. In all my rage I took over, put the lights on the tree in record time, not caring about what it looked like, we plugged it in, took a step back and... it was gorgeous!! Don't ask why I just didn't do this in the first place, but it looks so good, I swear angels were singing in the background. We started to feel stupid at how childish we had been and sat to admire our little tree, that we almost through out in our moment of chaotic frustration...

Needless to say, our sad, little fake tree is up, with lights... next come the ornaments.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

OK, I promise we will get our computer fixed, however now we have had our internet shut off because we couldn't use it anyway... but I promise it's coming.

We have been really busy lately!! I am almost to the end of planning our Christmas Party at work, and have been putting together all the charitable activities for it. We have set up our own Angel Wreaths at work with tags of children who have a parent serving overseas in the UT National Guard and will not have a lot for Christmas. We volunteered to take over 13 families, about 40 kids and it has been amazing how much everyone has been willing to pitch in. I had to start doubling tags up with two people in order to accommodate everyone who wants to help out. We are also doing 80 food baskets and 100 soldier stockings as well and it has been so much work trying to get it all together in time, but so much fun as well!!

Career Step, where I work, also broke record numbers in September and to reward the employees the owner sent everyone to Disneyland!!! It was so much fun!! I had only been once and it was so fun to come back! It was for only one day, but I was able to go see Christian and Naomi while I was there (bug them for not posting our pictures yet!!!)... Oh, and Rob couldn't come because it was for employees only :(

So this has been the month of large expensive things to break... if you remember earlier back, the pictures of me boiling water and pouring it into the washing machine because our hot water heater broke down... it went out again and we had to replace it. That's $700 we'll never get back. We also had both cars break down and their registration expired, our vacuum broke, and the handle on our shower broke too (that one isn't so big or expensive, but really annoying!!) ... Needless to say, it may still be a month or so before we can get our computer fixed and our internet set-up.

Cardinal Sin... and Annie

I understand that having a blog and going as long as we have without posting is a cardinal sin, however, Pops, I am sorry!!

Yes, it is absolutely ridiculous that after two months, we have yet to get our computer fixed, but it's true and unless you would like to pay for it, you'll just have to wait until we can be active bloggers again!! Until that time comes, don't cast us out of your blogging world just yet :)

So much has happened and I couldn't even imagine trying to go back and reiterate it all for you, but this is something that stuck out in my mind...

Annie, our orphan ...OK her name isn't really Annie, but it should be!

Most of you know that conference was last week and while Rob was on his way to the Priesthood session, he almost hit a stray dog! He stopped to see if she had a collar or license, which she didn't and I was called. She was an Australian Shepard mix, I'll post pictures later, and she was so cute! I brought out some treats and food to where he was, mind you it is raining at this point, and we waited for the cop to come pick her up and we could go on our way living our lives. Well, when he got there, he said she was most likely dropped off here by an owner who just didn't want her anymore and left her to fend for herself... I'm sorry, who does that?! He said that a lot of people do that in the field where we found her and I asked where she would go and he proceeded to tell me the whole process.

1. She would be placed in a kennel, which is a nice way of saying a chain link fence on a cement slab... with no roof (remember it's still raining), and then someone would come the next day to feed her.

2. Then on Monday (two days later) if she didn't have a microchip she would placed in the state shelter. If no one comes to claim her in three days... they euthanize her, which in case you don't know, they KILL her.

Well neither Rob or I could live with that on our conscience, so we took her home, set up a little area in our garage and she proceeded to eat us out of house and home for two days... OK not really, but it seemed like she hadn't eaten in forever and didn't stop!! It was so sad!!

After a few days of that, we couldn't find anyone to take her and she didn't have a microchip, and I am just not one who can live with making a dog stay outside 24/7. At this point, I just couldn't take it anymore and so we made the trip up to Salt Lake City and dropped her off at the Humane Society.

Needless to say, I balled like a baby!! I felt so bad that we couldn't keep her and I totally felt like we were just another person dropping her off somewhere, hoping someone else would eventually want her. I was convinced she would hate me for life!!

So, if anyone wants a dog she is currently at the Salt Lake City Humane Society and is one of the best dogs anyone could ever own!!

GO GET HER!!!... I mean it right now!! :D

Explanation

Due to recent, current, events we have been unable to update our blog in the fashion most of you are accustomed to. We are currently without a working computer at home and therefore have been unable to download the many pictures that have been taken. I promise as soon as we are back up and running we will be back to our normal blogging selves.

We apologize for the delay...

(I'm at work, posting this right now just to let you all know that we have not fallen off the face of the earth)

Small Update...

Other than watching the Olympics...

I GOT A NEW JOB!!! I'm so excited!! I got a job in Springville, so much closer to home!! It's working in Human Resources, which I am so happy about (I love accounting and all, but it tends to get really stressful and redundant sometimes and I'm ready for something new)!! I start next week and could not be more impatient!! I had the worst day today which only confirms my decision to leave... even my boss joked about how he was just making sure I didn't want to stay, by making things horrible!! It wasn't really his fault, but every time he called or came to talk to me something horrible had happened and by the end of the day I'd had it!!

Rob is on another softball team for the fall! They play once a week, a double-headed each time! It's fun to go and watch him, but by the end of the second game, it gets kinda late and we are ready to go home... They took first in the summer league though, which was exciting!! He is now trying to get a football team together for this fall so if anyone wants to play leave him a message!!

Sorry, this post isn't that interesting, but it's pretty much all we've been up to!! I'll start taking pics again and hopefully more will happen...

The 2008 Olympic Games

So I don't have any new pictures to post, mainly because we haven't been doing a whole lot other than sitting and watching the Olympics every night. I haven't really been into the Summer Olympics before this year and so far we have loved it!! Our favorite, of course, has been the swimming events!

Dara Torres was amazing! She is 41 and won GOLD!! She also held up the race so that one of the swimmers from the Swedish team could get a suit on because her other one ripped right before the race was about to start! She was the perfect example of sportsmanship!!
For us, they have been really exciting, especially watching Michael Phelps win all 8 gold medals! It's insane!!

Ok, am I the only one who thinks he looks like a completely different person with his swimming cap on?? I didn't even recognize him!

Our Latest Obsession

So, we went a little crazy and splurged this last week, but hey, we're just helping out the economy right?!! This is our latest obsession, and although we are a little behind with keeping up with the rest of the world and their discovery with Guitar Hero, we are having fun!!

Rob rockin' out!!

This is Rob's favorite...

Things kind of got a little carried away... hahaha :)

Santaquin Canyon

A few friends invited us to go up Santaquin Canyon to meet up with their family who were up there camping. I can't say the family "Talent Show" was the most exciting, but it was fun to go up the canyon and get away for a little while. I was really surprised at how much the canyon reminded me of WA, minus the evergreen trees that is. Here a few pics from our little adventure, the pictures of us are terrible, but you get the idea!

There was this little river that ran right next to the campsite which was so nice, except it attracted all these bugs! Really though, it wasn't that bad and the sound of the water running was pretty relaxing.

So I made the mistake of saying that this canyon reminded me a little bit like being back home in OR & WA and Rob decided to have some fun. Since, the northwest is notorious for tales of Bigfoot, Rob thought it would be fun to take a sit and hit it across the tree. Yeah don't ask, they did this in Monster Quest we watched. It's supposed to draw them to you...

As you can tell, he thought it was fun...

We saw this across the river and thought it was a cool little cave in a hollowed out tree.

This is Jess and Meg

Of course, this is Rob and I... I told you they were terrible pictures!!

Grazing Dogs

Since it has been SOO nice outside the last couple of nights, Rob and I have started to take our camping chairs out and read or just talk while the sun goes down (yes, just like a little old couple does and it is so RELAXING!! Just ask Pops and Chels, they know!!). Last night, as I was sitting outside and I look up to see this...

Ty... eating the grass.

I look over to the left and see this...

The worst part is that Tess was doing more than just eating grass from this little spot... she would move around the entire yard eating it like a cow!! I swear we do feed our dogs!! I don't understand why they like grass so much, but what do you do??

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Ok, so I did this on a friend's blog and I think it's fun so here it goes!!

Memory Lane...

Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together (It can be a memory with either Rob, Kjerstin, or both). It doesn't matter if you knew me/us a little or a lot, anything you remember! I only ask that you be nice!! :D

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.This is quite fun.I hope everyone I KNOW will participate!! So start thinking hard! Also, when you leave a comment.. you are tagging yourself..so re-post on your own blog!

Have fun!

Faith is a gift, using it is a choice

I read this today and it really made me think for a minute. I think it's too often portrayed that faith is something you earn or work towards, almost like it's something you obtain, but really it isn't that difficult. Faith is a gift, it's as simple as that and I think where people are mislead is that, like many other gifts, we have to receive it. Then when we have it, we need to use it and if we allow too much time to go by between uses, it begins to dwindle...

The last few months have been a bit hard for us. We have started taking steps in new directions, dealing both with careers and with schooling, among other things, however we feel we are no further along than we were 6 months ago. We are trying so hard to move forward and progress, but it feels like there is all of this resistance pushing against us. Normally it is us that tends to resist change however, in our situation, it seems that change is resisting us. When I read this comment it occurred to me that maybe we need to stop trying to force change and practice all of this faith we claim to have. That possibly, if we stop focusing so hard and putting so much energy into it, just to allow change, it'll happen. I suppose we also have to remember that things don't always happen when we want them to, but we'll keep trying to work hard and trust that things will come together when it's time.

Does this even make sense?

July 4th

So after an exciting morning of sleeping in until 10, lounging around the house for a couple of hours, and Rob going over to the rental house to water the lawn, we decided we needed to actually get out and DO something!! I was going crazy!! Although it was nice to be able to sleep in (which we NEVER do) and not have to do anything... I was so bored!

I grew up in Vancouver, WA where usually we had the largest fireworks show west of the Mississippi River. Fort Vancouver was packed with vendor booths, food, they had a concert, and lots of people. We would always go down to the college just north of the Fort Vancouver, about mid day, and hang out until the fireworks started. We'd play football, Frisbee, someone would bring a BBQ, and we'd meet up with tons of people from the neighborhood and just have fun the WHOLE day!! ...well needless to say, that's not exactly what happened yesterday.

After we decided to go out, we needed a place to go. I'm not sure what exactly possessed me to say this, but I suggested Wingers...really I wanted Asphalt Pie!! ;)
As most of you will know, they give you popcorn as the appetizer. Rob decided he didn't want to eat popcorn because it's usually a food you eat because it's there, so what did he decide to do with it instead...?

...he proceeded to through it at me!! I know, now this is a picture of a loving husband isn't it?? ...It's a good thing they weren't that busy because I'm sure he could have had a few kids join with him at making a mess with the popcorn. He was having way too much fun with this!!!

Now, for the grand finale!!!! My favorite and really the only reason I even go to Wingers... ASPHALT PIE!! We got it to go because at this point we needed to start heading over to find a place to watch the fireworks...For those of you who don't know, it's a mint ice cream pie on a Oreo cookie crust, with whipped cream, and caramel on top...Hmmm, doesn't that just look wonderful!?!

As soon as we had our Asphalt Pie ready to go, we met up with Rob's parents, headed over to Provo and watched the fireworks show. I left my camera in the car so all I have to show for our day is pictures of ... Wingers.

Tim's Birthday!!

So yesterday we celebrated Tim's 18th birthday!! Tim is Rob's little brother and he is so much fun to be around!
I told him to look serious so I could take a good picture and this is what he did...

I'm not sure what he was doing, but I told him to look serious...

All of his gifts were wrapped in Victoria Secret bags, which was awesome!! He secretly loved it!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPOONIE!!! (That's from Rob)

Lehi Rodeo

My oldest brother's, Destin, wife and kids have been in town this last week and on Saturday, we all went to the Lehi Rodeo...

This is his youngest and only girl, Gabby, and she is soo CUTE!!
With our little digital camera, we couldn't get very many good pictures, but this was the best one and I was excited!

This one wasn't too bad either...

Needless to say, it wasn't as much fun as the Spanish Fork Rodeo, but we aren't going to be able to go to that one this year so it was better than nothing... The animals were in a funk though, at least 5 different horses refused to leave the pen when they opened the gate, it was crazy!!

Introducing R-Dizzle...

So on our way home from work last Monday Rob heard on the radio (1280 The Zone) that they were going to have a free style rap competition for 311 & Snoop Dogg tickets. It had to be related to sports and it wasn't supposed to be rehearsed, completely free style...I thought he was joking when he got excited and decided he was going to call in. I had never heard him even attempt to rap anything, but he was convinced he would win and made us pull over in Spanish Fork. This is what he came up with...

The Coach for the yewts
His name is Coach Kryle
He's been wiping that tear away for quite a while
His onside kicks when he's up by 43
He wears his pants so tight
That you can see his wee wee
He gives a free pass
To guys like Casteel
But if you ask him he just keepin' it real
Yeah poor Coach Whitt
Coaching his last year
But it's OK 'cause he's a great big ...

They put him through to the finals and he had to do a "rap-off"... this was his second one... (Keith was the guy he was up against in the "rap-off")

Keith is a week yewt
Yeah, he is sad
Living in the basement of his dear old dad
He's a filthy yewt
In his parents downstairs
His favorite sport is figure skakin' pairs
As a yewt
He's a filthy drunk
I'm beatin' down on him that' nasty punk
I beat down those yewts
Yeah I be stormin'
Slappin' round those yewts
Those anti-mormons

And with that... HE WON!!!! People were calling and texting in like crazy and Rob won by a landslide! It's was hilarious and he did such a great job!!

He would now like to be referred to as R-Dizzle... he's always wanted to be called that since his mission in Chicago. I suppose I have no excuse not to since he did win a rap competition!! haha

R-Dizzle or not, I LOVE YOU ROB!!!

The day has finally come...

Christian, my second oldest brother for those of you who don't know, is getting married!!! Her name is Naomi, she is Swiss/Italian living in Switzerland, and she is perfect for Christian!! This is a picture of the happy couple... it also helps that she is gorgeous! :)
They are getting married November 1, 2008 in Atlanta, GA... can't wait!!

I have a lot more pictures, but you get the point... CONGRATULATIONS!!! We are so excited for you guys!!

Pictures from NC

So I haven't received pictures from Jed in a long time, but this is now the second nephew I have that I have never met...sad I know!!!

This is Weston, Jed's second son!

Look at those big eyes!!

This is my brother Jed with his boys Bryce (right) and Weston (left). I think he looks tired, but then again, having two lively boys is a tough job!!

Here is Emily, Jed's wife, and her two boys. Such a cute picture!!

So excited to see you guys this November!!

Jacaranda Trees

Ok, I stole these pictures from Naomi's blog, but I absolutely love it! Look at how gorgeous this purple tree is!! I just had to have this picture...


Look at how beautiful this street is!! Could you imagine driving down this street??

These pictures remind me of the paintings in the movie "What Dreams May Come" with Robin Williams... I just love it! Thank you Naomi for posting these pictures, they really are gorgeous!

The light at the end of the tunnel...

If there is one thing that I am the most like my mother, it is the fact that I can not handle the heat!! When I am inside the house, or driving in the car I do not want it to be 90 degrees and sticky! Don't get me wrong, I love summertime and being outside by the pool or hiking or going to the beach etc. but when I am inside, the heat should be outside or you do not want to be around me!!

This last week in UT, it has been getting pretty hot and we, of course, bought an older home that does not have air conditioning...it has been miserable!! Just ask Rob, I almost become a different person, a very mean and nasty person! So I finally convinced him to help me put the AC unit in our bedroom window, we turned it on and I promise I heard angels sing... it was glorious!!!

It's almost too good to be true, but it truly is the light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel!!

We are still not cooking because the kitchen is far away and gets really hot, but we are working on that this weekend...

For all of you (my family) in the deep south laughing at this, I know I have no idea how bad it is in Georgia and North Carolina and to be honest... I have no intentions of ever finding out!!

Strawberries!!

Ok, so this is something that I didn't have anything to do with, but bare with me now... I'm going to take full credit for it!!!

When we moved into our new house the previous people had two garden boxes, one with something that obviously died because...well it looked dead, and the other one had strawberries. For a while it was just a bunch of green leaves and we didn't really care so it was left to fend for itself until one day... we had strawberries!!! Ok, I've never grown anything in my life, and yes I understand that I didn't actually do anything to contribute, but they are in MY yard so I'm taking credit...I grew strawberries! :)

This is Ty eating the grass around the garden box... I promise we feed him, he just loves grass.

Ty eating more grass...

So there is a second part to our story... one day when we came out to check on my strawberries (yes they are MINE) I noticed that a few of them that had just turned red had been chomped on. We decided that it had to be bugs or something, but oh no, we were very mistaken. We took the dogs out one day and Tess disappeared off in the back of the yard and wouldn't come when we called. We walk over there to find this...

Needless to say, we are keeping a closer eye on her...

Here are a few pictures of the colorful strawberries!! Look what I did!!!

OK, so I wasn't tagged or anything, but I'm home sick today and extremely bored... Thanks Amy, I stole this from your blog!!

Four jobs I have had:
1. Nanny!! (favorite job!)
2. Pre-school teacher
3. Sales Associate at PacSun
4. Accountant at Shelf Reliance (right now)

Four movies I have watched more than once:
1. P.S. I Love You (with a box of tissues)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Keira Knightly version, it's shorter)
3. High School Musical 2 (that's right, I said it!!)
4. An Affair To Remember
(I promise I watch more than chick flicks, but lately that's what it's been)

Four places I have lived:
1. Vancouver, WA
2. Spanish Fork, UT
3. Orem, UT
4. Payson, UT

Four TV show I watch:
1. Supernanny
2. Jon & Kate Plus 8
3. Food Network (pretty much the whole channel)
4. So You Think You Can Dance (first time watching this year and I love it!)
*My favorite four aren't in season...The Hills, The Office, Lost, & Grey's Anatomy*

Four places I have been:
1. San Diego, CA (willing to move at any time)
2. Atlanta, GA
3. Canada
4. Las Vega, NV

Four people who e-mail me regularly:
1. Fogg Family
2. Pottery Barn
3. Real Simple
4. Work...

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Ice Cream...I grew up a Sampson, it's an essential food group!
2. Thin Mints
3. Tomato Soup & Cheese-wiches (grilled cheese)
4. My Favorite Dessert (I don't know the real name, but my whole life it's just been "my favorite dessert." It is layers of mint ice cream, crushed oreo's, cool whip, & caramel)

Four places I would like to visit:
1. Italy
2. Paris
3. London
4. New York City (to see a Broadway play)

Four things I am looking forward to in the coming year:
1. Buying new furniture...??
2. Remodeling Kitchen...??
3. Traveling ...(even if it's just to St. George or Vegas)
4. ...starting a family :)

It is what it looks like...

If it looks like I'm pouring hot water into our washing machine to do laundry...I am. We haven't had hot water for two weeks now. We have two large pots permanently situated on our stove top to boil water to wash dishes and do laundry daily. We've been taking turns between showering at my Father's house and at Rob's parent's house. Two weeks ago our water heater stopped working because the people before us installed it incorrectly and it finally blew out a part. The manufacturing company sent the wrong replacement part and the nearest expert on the type we have, is in Sandy. Rob took this picture because he thought it would be funny to have.

We now have no AC in either car or house, Rob's car is still sitting in our driveway because we can't get it fixed, Rob goes back to school this summer and now we have to boil water on the stove to do laundry and dishes. We are definitely experiencing the typical poor first couple of years being married. At this point, it's just funny now...

Our little boy is hurt : (

Most of you know that Rob and I have two dogs, Ty and Tess. Ty, who is 2 1/2, is half Mini American Eskimo and half Toy Poodle, where Tess, who is a 1 1/2, is full Mini American Eskimo. We seriously love them like they were our kids...
This is Ty when we was just a puppy. We call it his calendar picture, so cute!!!

(don't pay attention to the date on the picture, it's wrong)

So last Saturday we took our puppies hiking up Payson Canyon, nothing extravagant, but it was fun. We went up a few trails, looked out over the valley and then came home (sorry I didn't have our camera on me at the time). The next morning we noticed that Ty was limping around and wasn't walking on his back right leg. We instantly got worried especially when he didn't want to play fetch, that meant something was seriously wrong. It was the saddest sight to see when he goes to jump on our bed, only make it half way and see him latched on for dear life as he is trying to push himself up with only one leg :(

The next morning we take him into the vet and he feels around his knee to see what is wrong. After a few minutes go by he tells us he has the dog version of a torn ACL and most likely would need surgery. At this point I'm holding back tears as he continues to tell us that we should leave him there for a round of sedation and x-rays. I'm not sure what was worse, watching our little boy being dragged out of the room with this terrified look on his face like we have just sold his soul to the devil, or the thought of him possibly needing surgery a week later...either way, I wasn't handling this well. We came back later that afternoon to get Ty and hear the details about the x-rays. The vet then tells us that it doesn't look as bad as he originally thought it was and surgery wasn't necessary right now. He went on tell us a lot of other stuff, but all in all, his ligament is either extremely strained or partially torn. Either way, there isn't anything he can do other than give him pain killers for the next week and a half and hope that his limp doesn't come back or get worse. If it gets worse and the ligament tears completely, surgery; if it's just strained, it should heal itself; if it's partially torn, we pretty much have to wait it out until it tears completely...yeah that sounds fun.

For the time being our little boy is doing pretty well, the only times he is upset is when the medicine has worn off and it's not quite time for a new dose. He can't run or play hard (life fetch) for two weeks and if he's outside he has to be on a leash. Which for Ty, life as he knows it has ended...

Saturday Morning

So as most of you know, I enjoy a good rain every once in a while, it's refreshing. However, when you are expected to come and help pour a cement foundation for a backyard shed using wheelbarrows and another cement slab for the side of your father's house, it doesn't quite set the mood for a pleasant experience...

They had to wait as one by one they filled up the wheelbarrows, haul it to the where the cement was wanted, and dump it to be spread out.

Here is Rob, waiting so patiently... can you tell he is having the time of his life in the rain??

Rob about to haul it to the backyard...those things get really heavy!!! I can't tell you how many times the tires went flat and they'd have to fill them back up again.

Here is my Dad, in the back spreading the cement. Gotta say, love the hat!!!

He may be 64, but that doesn't stop him from doing the work himself...

At least they had a lot of neighbors who knew what they were doing and could make it smooth. This is the foundation for the shed my dad is going to expand.

All in all it was a pretty eventful morning. They were able to get the cement poured and the foundations smooth so I would call it a success. It's not every day you get to wake up and spread cement first thing in the morning while it rains... For the record, it stopped raining about half way through and as soon as they were done and cleaning up... the sun came out.