Waterfall Canyon

Sunday we hiked Waterfall Canyon, in Ogden, with some friends. It was Dave's idea and I had never done it so I wasn't sure what the hike was like. I asked some friends come along, one of which is 6 months pregnant. I asked Dave the intensity level of it and after trying to come up with a good answer, he answered with, "I'm not sure, I just run up it and don't pay attention." Of course. One of the couples had done it and gave us a heads up about the difficulty yet we all, including Clar (pregnant friend), trudged on up the trail. I was super impressed with Clar! It got pretty tiring, there was a lot of climbing and my legs were feeling it. She was a trooper! We all had a blast though! It was a beautiful hike, every part of it, especially the waterfall.

This was taken near the bottom at the end. It was a perfect night!

Dave, me, Tracy, Clar, Allie and Jake

The waterfall was gorgeous! I thought we were somewhere tropical.

Dave loves to pull the moves out!

Heading back down the trail

Dave loves scenery shots and I hardly do much with them so I wanted to post and dedicate this picture for and to him

a perfect saturday

slept in

went for a run

learned how to operate a lawn mower

made taco salads for lunch

Netflixed Wild Wild West

played tennis

made delicious calzones for dinner

Netflixed Man vs. Food & Prison Break

played with niece & nephews at the park

watched the West Haven fireworks

...all while being with my hubby

Summers Off

I have been away from my classroom for 3 weeks now. It has been a new experience for me for one main reason: no need to stress about if I'll have a job come August. I can't say how great it feels enough. I feel a big difference this summer compared to last summer. A big weight is lifted off my shoulders and I can just enjoy my summer. I am really loving the teaching thing. I enjoyed every moment during the school year, even the hard ones, and I am enjoying the time off. There have been a couple moments that I get a glimpse of cabin fever in the last 3 weeks and it makes me realize I am probably not a staying home type. I am a happier and more whole person when I am productive and out in the world among others.

This summer I have kept busy. I decided I wanted to teach tennis again. I did it back about 5 or 6 years ago and I've been wanting to do it again. So now that we are settled and I have my summers open I jumped on the idea. I am teaching all ages. It is a lot of fun so far. I have also been playing on my mom's tennis team. We have a match each week and I am really enjoying it. I've had a hard time finding people to play tennis with since being married and living out of Salt Lake County and I've only done a few tournaments since we've been married so it's nice to be finally playing some matches again. I was able to go to the library for the first time since last summer a couple of weeks ago. I love going to the library without any ideas of titles or of what I want. I go up and down aisles and just browse through all the books, reading the excerpt on the backs. I look for things that peak my interest at the moment. I've found some great books this way so I continue to do it each time I go to the library. I've found that I really enjoy historical fiction, LDS fiction and then sometimes I pick up the fun fictions where a lot of them are based in the New York life. It was nice to be able to get back to the library and find some books. One other project I am determined to finish is our wedding album.

With being out of school I have also been able to get in a lot of much needed but dreaded doctor appointments. Not my favorite thing to do, actually it's my least favorite, most hated is more like it. It has become a joke wondering what is going to be the next thing to go wrong with my body with Dave and I. We've had insurance for just over 2 years now and ever since my body has been finicky. I have learned a lot about health and a lot spiritually. Well the spell is not over because I am still dealing with things from past problems and my doctors keep finding new issues. I'll have to give more details in a later post but I now believe that I am destined to learn something from all of it. I am an idiot and didn't think of it before someone that I look up to very much in the health biz mentioned when she got a blessing. I asked Dave to and jumped right on it and even fasted before. Dave gave me a blessing and my eyes were water fountains through it. It taught me a lot and calmed my mind. It was truly a blessing.

I have been able to do a lot so far and am excited for the rest of the summer. I have noticed that I have been spending a little bit more money since being out of school and having more time on my hands...eeh! Hopefully that trend slows down!

A Summer Weekend

We spent Friday working on beautifying our yard...Except for the garden, I've kind of neglected the exterior of our house since we've been here so I finally decided it was time to start giving it some attention. Well, when I have a picture in my head about the way something should be and look I go on the hunt to find that exact thing I'm picturing. I go to each and every store, some stores more than once, scrounging to find what I pictured, and the best deal of course. I've been somewhat scared to tackle the planters thing but thanks to the help of my plant loving mother-in-law, Sunny, and my endless-giving husband we got it done.After hours of searching for some planters and plants, and then planting the plants, I can tell you that that is as far as I'm going to get this year on the exterior. I'm tired. Maybe next year I'll get to the back deck more. Now I just need people to share it with so that I don't feel like I did it for nothing. So here is your peek! Now remember, the plants just were planted so they might look funny now but in a month or so they will fit better...hopefully!

Saturday, we went to a barbecue for my childhood friend, Alli, and her cute family because they are packing their things and moving to Philadelphia for at least 5 years. Bon voyage and all the love Barton family! Hope to see you in the not to distant future!

Celebrating 4 Years Together

4 years ago (yesterday) we were married....

...and even after 4 years, he still makes me smile each and every day like this.

Yesterday, we celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. If we didn't have a calendar, we'd know that yesterday was June 6th because of the finicky weather. Our plans had to be postponed because of the weather. Dave came home from work holding out bright orange flowers to brighten the days dirty wind outside.

We will be going to the driving range and having a picnic tonight but yesterday we made homemade pizza, watched our wedding video (I am so so happy we have one!) and went to X-Men: First Class.

School's out for...Summer

I completed my first full year of teaching yesterday. Not only did I survive it, I came away happy. I never thought in a million years that I could or would teach first grade, but I did it! I am in love with my job and I don't think this year could have gone better. I believe I really made a difference in each one of my students lives. Even though there were days I felt as if I had failed them, in the next few days they'd reassure me that I had done some good. Oh how I already miss those munchkins!

I also worked with the best staff in the world! I couldn't have asked for anything more. It was a complete 180 from last year. I have never felt so much love and support from co-workers as I had this last school year. If you know me then you know I don't usually go asking for help, I keep to myself because I know people have a lot to do themselves so I don't like to bug them. Some have I was stuck up because of my keeping to myself but that has always been the way I see it. Throughout my year at Lake View, I had co-workers coming to check on me in my room constantly as well as supporting me through all the hooplah that has been going on with my position. I worked with such great people that I'm going to miss so much! I will be at Willard Elementary next year teaching first grade. Yes, it is a plus I have a job and that it is the same grade and that it is even closer to my house but I honestly wouldn't trade that for great co-workers. They can make and break it all and so I hope I can find that at least somewhat!

We had a picnic at the park Thursday with the whole first grade. This is my team trying to be cute and getting ready to pose for a picture.

Heidi, Cathi, me and Bev

Mr. Price, a Hit for 1st Graders!

My students earned a marble party as a class and I told them if they earned it, then Mr. Price would come to the party...just an extra incentive to be good the last couple of weeks:) Dave came Friday at lunch time and stayed for the rest of the day. It was great! The kids ate him up and it gave me a little break to sit back.

He played

He read

and he stole the hearts of my first graders....

just like they have all stole mine.

Michael's B-day/Going Away Party

Last Thursday we celebrated Michael Price's Birthday and bid farewell and good luck for the summer. He's off to Philly jumping in on the summer sales bandwagon. We celebrated at Boondocks in Kaysville. We had a little bit of fun...

I-Fly

Two Saturdays ago, Dave and his brother, Jon, tried out the I-Fly in Ogden. They had a blast and they flew like they had done it before. It was great fun to watch! We've watched others do it but I liked watching my husband enjoy and rock it.

I think we'll be going back for more in the near future...maybe even out for the real thing. Eeh!

Teacher Appreciation Week

Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week and I felt so spoiled! I have the best room mom!

Each day, I received a special gift. Monday was this basket full of treats with cute sayings and then notes from each one of my students.

Tuesday, I got my fave! Marshmallows and s'mores making goodness! Also, there was a cute poem about things I could do during the summer and then notes from my kids giving me ideas of things to do. (sorry pic is upside down)

Wednesday, I received this adorable vase full of pencils with notes from my students wrapped around them.

Thursday was this cute flower pot full of thank you flower notes.

And last but not least, Friday, I received a nice storage box full of office goodies and drawings of me from my students:)

I received many needed classroom items from my students and parents as well and a gift card to the movies. We also got spoiled from the rest of our PTA. They spent the whole Spring Break demolishing our faculty room and giving us a nice new one! They also gave us a catered Maddox lunch Friday. I am so sad I have to leave this school! I love the people I work with, the children and the parents. I am very blessed to have been where I am this school year!

Easter Weekend

Yes, we were in beautiful St. George again. Dave and I are beginning to believe we're locals down there. It's kind of fun.

Friday, we tracked back up and down Angels Landing, but this time we took my dad. We pushed him pretty hard and made it in under 3 hours round trip. We stopped at the top to take in the view and eat a little lunch. On the way back down, my dad decided he would count the switchbacks the trail had to offer...46 switchbacks later we were at the bottom. Which means you do a total of 92 switchbacks when hiking just up to the base, before the spine.

Dave lived for egg hunts (which were really candy hunts because there was too much candy and not enough patience for stuffing the plastic eggs) growing up. They enjoyed finding candy months later in new places around the house. I decided to give him a little taste of his childhood along with the other kids (Kaitlin, her friend, Michael and his gf-Terissa).

Easter came and brought a lot of joy to this Robin Egg fanatic!

We even caught my dad joining in the festivities.

Us Lately

It's been awhile since I've sat down and posted anything other than our St. George trips so I decided I should finally sit down and post other things.

Dave:

1. Chugging away at his Masters program (gritting his teeth along the way)

2. Still employed thanks to the government not shutting down

3. Sold the moto... I'm not sure how I feel about it.

4. Just signed up for his 3rd go around of Lotoja

5. Gave us a 3 week vacation in San Diego this summer (he has some work stuff to do)

6. Keeps our cars running for minimum cost

Rach

1. Finally found the answers to my exhaustion that I've had since Christmas - Epstein-Barr Virus (the virus that Mono comes from) Think I am finally feeling myself again, energy wise, if I can ever get a decent night sleep that is! :)

2. Have 30 days left of teaching my little munchkins...and the only reason I know that is because we count our days in school, it's not that I'm am yearning for that day because I'm actually not. I have loved those little ones since the day I got each one of them and might cry the day they leave...

3. Trying to keep up the exercise routine despite sleep deprivation.

4. On the job hunt again for next year, and trying to not be bitter about it.

5. Getting Dave involved in my love of playing basketball and tennis (we try to play both together each week)

6. Last, trying not to let the weather determine my happiness. I want more sunshine!

Yes, Yes, Another St. George Post

I finally took some personal days off work last week. I was stubborn. I didn't want to use any of my days off because I wanted to save up, but it was honestly the best thing I could have done! And of course we went to St. George. We went down with Dave's whole fam this time and, boy, did we have one fantastic time! There was 15 of us sleeping in my parents house down there and there were no blow ups or hard feelings towards one another! It will be interesting if we can still make it work as the family grows more.

I swear, St. George just keeps getting better in my book. I keep finding mor

e and more things I love about it. We left Wednesday evening and came back Sunday. We didn't waste a second of enjoyment. We hiked, biked, ran, swam, relaxed and of course ate! We celebrated Ryan's birthday as well. Happy 31st Ry! The weather was perfect! It was high 70s to mid 80s during the day and only got to the low 70s at night. Can't get more perfect than that.

We spent Friday day in Zions. I finally experienced Angels' Landing. On the spine part of the hike, I did pretty well because I just wouldn't think. I just focused on the steps in front of me and didn't look around. I didn't get freaked out until right close to the top where it seems as if every step gets a little tighter. As Dave's other half, I seem to do pretty well with his extreme childlike exploration but on this hike I almost lost my nerve a couple times because of some of the things he did. Normally, I just laugh at everyone else freaking out at the things he does but this time, I was not okay with them. But, we all made it through it and enjoyed it. I was quite sore the next couple of days because of the constant pressure from the steep switch backs on the way back down.

Snow Canyon Hike

Michael and I on our way up to Angels' Landing

The Top

I wouldn't get within 5 feet of the drop off

The whole gang- minus the munchkins and the 2 babysitters

On our way back down

My first bad sunburn everHuman Totem Pole

The Zen Trail

(Mountain biking is not my thing)

Flying a kite off the deck of the house

Awe...beautiful!