Some Reflecting Time

It's Christmas Eve 2012(that is when I started this post), I know New Years is a week away, but I wanted to reflect a little....

I am full of gratitude and joy right now, even with a crumby migraine that has lasted for over a week now! I feel so blessed with what I have. This year has been a rough road  and the bumps continue, but I've come out on top, I believe. I have to mention my most amazing blessing first, David Albert Price. I know I say he's great all the time but that is only because HE IS! Anyone that knows him, knows just how great he is but I know so much more than that! He is glue that keeps me together. He is rock that I can stand on. He never stops serving me. He never hesitates to lend me a hand or two or three. He constantly supports me in all my crazy ideas. His patience is ridiculously unbelievable! He makes me laugh even when I want to cry. He works so hard for us. He loves me day in and day out through my emotional state and every flaw I have (and there are quite a few). And he fills in for my short comings. I am forever in debt to my Heavenly Father for this blessing alone.

Although I did not get handed the best plate for the first 4 years of my career, I believe I am a stronger teacher and even individual because of all the misfortunes. This year has been no exception in the misfortunes, but I am so grateful that I just have a job! I get to teach little ones (yes, sometimes they are difficult) and I also get holidays and summers for myself and family. It really is great! I get a little high when I get my pay stub in my box at school at the end of each month because I always forget I get paid for what I do.

I was just called to the Young Women's presidency and I couldn't be more excited. I hope that I can just make a positive difference in those girls' lives!

My excitement is overflowing because Dave and I will be building a home in Mountain Green (which is just 10 miles east of where we are now) in the next year or two. It has always been a dream of ours to build and we are both a bit taken back that the opportunity has come earlier than expected, but we couldn't be more ecstatic and grateful! We are working on nailing down the floor plans to our liking at the moment. We have so many decisions ahead! We're not in a rush, but we could be breaking ground late next summer. That is a BIG might! We're taking each step one at a time and trying to be smart at each point so that we can have the best experience. It is pretty cute to watch Dave's OCD take over. Once he has his mind on an idea or project, he'll spend countless hours researching, planning, brainstorming, etc. He has read many articles and books, drawn plan after plan, written question after question, made call after call and much, much more. Needless to say, he's excited and so am I!

Last, I love the people in my life! From Dave to friends, family, coworkers, students, wardies and beyond. Sometimes quirks of others might bug me or rub me the wrong way, but I realize that I have many quirks and short comings that probably rub people the wrong way. We all have short comings. We're all in this world to learn together. I love what I can learn from those around me. I love the diversity of talents, personalities, characteristics, views and perspectives that I am surrounded by. It is amazing to me how different each of our lives are. I hope that I can continue to learn from those people and I pray that I can have a better attitude towards the differences and quirks that I am surrounded by.

Anywho, that last part was a bit of a soap box. I love this time of year, especially this year. With all the bad that surrounds me, there is much good and I feel it. As I strive to gain a better relationship with my Heavenly Father and a have a better attitude, those bad things seem to become light and I feel enveloped with a warm, cozy happiness feeling. I am definitely feeling the reason for the season this year!

Well, MERRY CHRISTMAS!  

Bring in the Christmas Spirit

We definitely got a taste of holiday cheer this weekend! Friday was Dave's extended family party on Sunny's side. There was good food and the white elephant exchange was memorable. It's hard to fully partake in the white elephants because the little kiddos get pretty attached to their item. This time, it was an electronic Christmas dog. It caused a few kids' tears.

Saturday, my mom's side had our Christmas party at my parents'. It felt like the old days when the house was full of people. My cousins and I used to be the ones running around the house, causing chaos and making up plays that we would perform. This time it was y cousins' kids. We also got to see one of my cousins that I haven't seen since being married! Her son is so much bigger too. It's crazy how fast time has past. The men watched the Utah State bowl game and Kaitlin got the rest of us to play Pictionary. Needless to say, we had a great time!

Last night, we had the awesome opportunity to go to the Christmas Concert at the Conference Center, downtown. Our friends, Alli and Justin had extra tickets and invited us. Dave and I were so happy they did! We were blown away by the show! The music was amazing with Alfie Boe, which I haad never heard of but that is probably because I'm not to involved in the music culture, as well as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Bells and Orchestra on Temple Square and the organist was amazing too. Tom Brokaw was there and gave a story that I began to recognize more and more as he went and come to find out I did know the story. It was about the Chocolate Pilot or Bomber, he's known as. At the end of the story, Tom Brokaw welcomed him, Gail Halvorson in person! It was awesome! Probably not a dry eye in the house! We really enjoyed the experience and are thankful we got to  go! Dave was so giddy after. I think he could have been in heaven.

Love this time of year!

Books I'd Love!

This list could get quite large, depending on if I or others act and get the hint...As a teach, I have found so many fun books and I know that I will discover more as the years go.

Polar Express
Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot
Candy Bomber: "The Story of the Berlin Airlift's "Chocolate Pilot"
Today, I Feel Silly

Pig, Pigger and Piggest

Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter

I'm Gonna Like Me

The Giving Tree

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon

The Dot

Miss Smith's Incredible Story Book

The Junkyard Wonders (Patricia Polacco)

Willow (Denise Brennan-Nelson)

Mercy Watson (Kate DiCarnillo)

Giraffes Can't Dance

Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal

Hurty Feelings (Helen Lester)

Dogzilla 

An Early Christmas Surprise

Who is the most amazing husband? David Albert Price is!
Why, you ask? I had one less night of sleeping by myself than I had expected. Dave was gone for 2 whole weeks for training in San Diego and he was suppose to get home yesterday early afternoon, but he had a surprise up his sleeves and he drove all day Friday to surprise me late that night. I couldn't have been any more excited when I heard the garage opening. (He had to warn me with a text and a call right as he was opening the garage so that I wouldn't freak out and think it was someone breaking into my house.)  What a cutie I married!

New News

As of November 21, we officially own a little piece of Mountain Green, Utah! We are so excited to call it home in the near future!

Sunny's Sweet Sixtieth!

Sunny's birthday is November 3rd. So this post is way late! 

The girls, Brittany, Bridget, Julie and I, took her on a shopping extravaganza at City Creek in the afternoon. We were stoked because we had such great success! We found a whole outfit for her! We made her change into it and dropped her off with Mike. Sunny thought he was just taking her out for the evening...but there was more up our sleeves. While Mike and Sunny walked around City Creek, we ran on over to meet Dave, Jon, Ryan, Cris and Michael at The Roof restaurant. We each held a sunflower to give to Sunny when she arrived. She was very surprised when she saw us. Inside the restaurant, we had a beautiful view of the temple and conference center. We knew it was a successful evening when we got her to tear up!

That makes three successful 60th birthdays for our parents this year! We're goo at this! Now, just one more to come in January.  

Waiting to surprise and prepping the flowers

The five original Price kids

Sunny

Jon's masterpiece during dinner.

Success!

Rachel's Fragile Brain

I dropped Dave off at the airport Sunday, October 27 and as I drove home, I bawled! And sadly he leaves me again for two weeks next time! I am stoked it will be his last long one but the only thing is, I won't be able to know where he goes in the future work trips. The secretiveness makes Dave sound that much cooler. SO, I had Halloween week by myself. A lot of peeps said they love it, anyone that knows me knows that I HATE IT! I am not meant to be alone! I was able to make it through still. However, there were a few hiccups....

Monday morning, I went for a jog and took a key with me so that I could lock my house up while I was gone. I am very cautious because I tend to freak myself out but better than letting my guard down and being sorry I think. Anyway, I guess the key I grabbed was the WRONG key! The spare wasn't where it was suppose to be either! Dave hadn't been gone more than 12 hours and I had locked myself out of the house! After many phone calls and sleepy Dave helping me while I was in a panic for over an hour, I got in. I'm not going to tell you how because it freaks me out how easy it is to get into someones house!

Then came Halloween...It was a normal day for behavior on my students' part. I've got a wild bunch this year. That night, I went to Jon and Julie's house to participate in their festivities. As I was getting ready to head home, I couldn't find my car keys. It usually takes me a minute to find the keys but I checked every little crevice! They weren't there and I as I was looking, I told Jon and Julie about my incident on Monday and we all thought it would be hysterical if I did it again. Well, I did. My keys were sitting on the passenger side next to the seat belt clip in. I have know idea how they got there even! Luckily, I thought ahead and put a house key in my jacket pocket just in case (thank goodness!). Julie drove me home to get a spare.

I told Dave that he can't leave again!

My contribution on Halloween.

Can you tell what I was?!?

My adorable niece and nephews!

Oh man! Sometimes I wonder where my sharp brain went.

Weekend

We finally finished the whole series of Prison Break, Friday. It's been a very long time since I have had to fight tears so hard and then have them burst out like they did while watching the last two episodes of the series Friday night. My tears were out of control! While the ending was a tear jerker, I don't believe that Prison Break had that big of effect on my emotions. My emotions have been on edge for quite awhile and it takes a lot of what I have to hold them in right now. Many times I have found myself almost in tears or the tears coming to my eyes but then I'm able to pull out of it, but it was too much to handle this time. Back in the spring when I learned my fate of moving schools again, my excuse for everything to Dave would be, "I'm in a bad state." A lot of the time, I would say it to bring some humor in the moment but it kind of started to change my attitude for the worse. I try not to pull that out so much anymore which has seemed to help. Now, I am in just a bit of a fragile state. Dave knows me so well and just loves to watch my emotions during the shows we watch. He thinks it's cute. I hate it! I hate crying, especially to fictional  realities! But they real me in a lot.

Also this weekend, Dave finally took down the tree that tried to overtake our fence. He put the fence back up and it makes me feel so much safer, even though things and people can still get back there by just climbing over, it just makes me feel better.

We had a pumpkin carving fiesta at our friends' Allie and Jake's place, too. Dave's pumpkin was pretty cool this year. It's full of warts and tumors.

My Birfday Party

Sadly I had to share my birthday with parent conferences this year. So, we celebrated on Monday by going to Get Air in Kaysville. I love this place!!!!!  and love!!!! and love!!! Yep, it's probably one of my favorite places to go. Everyone had a great time until we had a casualty; Jake sprained his ankle pretty bad. I felt horrible! He has to be in a boot for 4-6 weeks. Sorry!

We always come up with challenges and this time wasn't any different. There were a couple different challenges made this evening. We wore ourselves out! Then we got to enjoy some treats. Since we brought Get Air so much business, they provided us with a party room. I almost felt like a kid. My nephew, Wellyn, even told me to have my birthday here next time and to make sure to invite him. 

Thanks to all who came!

Sorry Al, I can't turn it:) but it's still adorable!

Bridge, it doesn't look like this ended well...

Random little girl is digging for something. 

Welcome fall!

We took a drive up Weber Canyon Sunday, to see the colors and go for a hike by Snowbasin. It was beautiful! On our drive, we also got to look at some possible lots for our future home...we got a little carried away with this! It was a fun time though:)

Bitter Sweet Lotoja

Don't know how to feel about this year's Lotoja...it was great in some ways, but disheartening and rough in others. (I am two and a half weeks late and there are more photos to come but I thought it was time to finally post about it.)

The weather would've have only been better if it was a bit cooler but the boys were used to the heat; they've been training in it all summer long! They mostly had a tailwind for the duration of the race. They all fell good and rested and ready to ride in the morning. Michael was ready to beat Lotoja's a**, which he made clear in the morning...(sorry to out you Mike). The boys killed their best time by about 50 minutes and last years time by over 50! That's crazy! They were only 59 minutes behind the winner of the whole thing. Never have they been within that close of a margin! Bridge and I couldn't believe how fast they were going. They had determination in every breath they took. The feed zones were quick. Luckily, Bridge and I are pros at support crew! We've pretty much got it down to a science. It's quite funny. Bystanders watch in awe (well, if they are former Lotojans, but if they're not, they look at us in bewilderment). Two of us to three of them. Might I add that they are three grown men that sometimes don't know what's best for them in these confusing hours.

Although Bridge and I have become almost pro at support crew, we still feel stressed and some of the same stresses each year. This year wasn't any different and it was far from stress free. We always wonder why we do it and then by the time things are wrapped up, we know why. This year there were a few new stressful circumstances. We had one of our crewmen crash and then not much later, learned of a fatal accident close to the scene. Many of you probably heard about the fatal accident. It was Lotoja's first death in their 30 years of running. It was heart breaking and I can't imagine how the wife and children felt about their husband and father passing this way. I can't imagine Dave leaving me like that and so I pray and am grateful for his safety! 

The crash happened less than 20 miles from Alpine Junction right after we had just passed the boys on our way to get to the last feed zone at Alpine. Dave and Ry were in the front of the pack and Michael had just finished pulling. He was in the back and the guy in front of him stood up on his bike and his back tire dropped back right into Mike's front tire. They were going around 27 mph and Michael went tumbling. Dave and Ryan wouldn't have known but at the same instance, Dave tire blew so he had to stop and change it. Can you say, answered prayers?!? Bridge and I had been waiting and wondering where the boys were. We finally thought they had slowed down a bit. When they came into the stop, we started doing our job and switching out bottles, food, etc and I hadn't really taken notice to Michael until I heard him start weeping. It was a heart breaking moment, too. He had been trying to hold himself together and push through the pain and frustration and kind of lost it when he saw us. He was pretty beat up and his brand new jersey was torn up, too. Michael finished the race. The rest of the drive for Bridge and I was pretty quiet. 

The finish line came so fast. We barely missed the boys crossing the finish line because of the lines into the parking lot, which was frustrating. The boys tried extra hard for us to not be grumpy this year and they did a great job! Dave was pale like usual, but Sunny gave him V-8 juice and I think it did the trick. He also drank a ton of water, which he's found to help him not get sick as a dog after big rides. We got to have a little picnic by the finish and relax for awhile, which was a nice touch too.

Later that night, Bridge and I were still doing our job, waiting in an hour long line at Wendy's to feed our boys:)

   

Excited Davc

Mike, Sr.'s favorite

Focused Dave 

And they're off!

Poor pale Dave

Average speed

Taking a dip to cool off

Battle Wounds

Named Best Support Crew by Team Alcatraz (Dave, Mike and Ry)

San Fran

Labor Day weekend was spent in San Francisco. I took a day off in THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL, which was ridiculously stressful but can I tell you, so so worth it! My cousin had this wedding planned for almost two years and I wouldn't have missed it! I and we had a blast in the short time we had there and with my family! I was able to finally meet Caroline's husband to be after knowing and hearing about him for 5 years. I am excited for them to some visit. (They promised!) 

There are so many other pictures that were taken but for now here is what I've got!

Exploring the Golden Gate

I love the Nasellas!

Lombard Street. This was freaky!

The Crooked Street

Blackmail....

My beautiful cousin, Caroline

Me, Caroline, Kristen and Kaitlin.
We're only missing one girl cousin.

On out place mats were mustaches and these lovely teeth! So, so much fun!

Crazy fog covering the Golden Gate and nothing else around it.

WE GOT TO MEET THE BUSHMAN!
Dave and I have used him for inspiration in years past in the Price family  spook alley so we had to meet him!