So it's been more than a month since my last post. I really need to do better and have been meaning to, but school is just really crazy right now. It's almost the end!! And the 4th grade has HUGE projects going on right now. We're doing this huge Utah program with songs and stuff. I'm over social studies and so I've been in charge of a lot of it. Not that I mind it's actually been quite fun. It's just there's always stuff to do. Plus the kids are doing county reports. And to top it off no one wants to be in school right now (including me). Summer can't come soon enough.
So my parents have turned in their mission papers. They haven't gotten anything back yet, but it shouldn't be too long.
Devin and I have taken on the yard. Growing up I was never a fan of yard work and I'd quite often choose to clean inside while everyone else cleaned outside. This year though I feel more in charge of the yard work. Devin and I have planted a garden and it's been so much fun to plan what to plant. We have zucchini, 2 different types of squash, pumpkins, green peppers, red peppers, banana peppers, purple peppers (I didn't even know these existed but the sounded good), cucumbers, corn, carrots, onions, lettuce. It's a rather large garden. I'm hoping to take some pictures once things start growing and post them. Besides the garden we have a huge backyard that Devin has to mow twice a week and lots of flower beds. If anyone would like to weed you're more than welcome to come to my house!! The flower beds aren't the top priority so they're still kind of sad looking, but the garden looks great.
Who knew yard work could actually be fun?!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Spring Break cont...
So here's what happened the rest of our trip... Day 2:
We headed into San Fransisco to tour around the city. I had been there before, but it was still fun for me to see all the sites and Devin had never been there. Our main attraction for the day was Pier 39. 
We had some of the best donuts I've ever tasted. They were really small too, which made you think that you could have a lot :) My dad kept handing me money saying, "Go get some more donuts." I think we probably could have just eaten donuts all day and been perfectly happy. 
We saw quite a few sea lions who practically permanently reside at Pier 39. They are always there and they're even marked on the map. 
My sister and I watching the sea lions. If you can tell, the one above and to the right of my sisters head was actually sleeping with his arm raised. We just kept joking that he was probably dreaming of being at school..."I know the answer, call on me!"
We took a ferry out into the bay. It was really windy for part of the time, but it was a lot of fun and we got some great pictures. 
We saw the Ghiradelli chocolate factory and Alcatraz -- more pictures of Alcatraz to come.
The ferry took us out by the Golden Gate Bridge and we actually went right under it. It really is a huge landmark and is such an incredible architectural design, especially considering it was started around the Civil War time. 
Me, my mom, and my niece Emma -- We kept telling my mom that we were trying to take a picture, but you can tell from her face she obviously wasn't listening :)
The Rock! I've actually been on the island of Alcatraz and it's just a creepy place. In this picture you can see some of the rundown buildings. They say that that the water currents and temperature of the water made it virtually impossible to escape from. Plus they would bring in sharks as part of the guarding system too. Definitely wouldn't want to live there. 
Devin was the cameraman manning the video camera most of the trip. That's Alcatraz behind him. 
We ate lunch at a famous Boudin's Sourdough bread factory. It was really cool because you could see them making the bread at one part then go over and buy food. It was really yummy! Go San Fransisco Sourdough bread!We walked a little bit more around Fisherman's Wharf, touring some of the sites around there. We wanted to go to the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, but the rest of the family was starting to get tired at this point. Outside the museum we saw this sign...
So we thought, "why not?" Who knows, maybe these fertility statues will give us some good luck! 
We decided to go into the wax museum, because that's the one my nieces wanted the most. Here are a few of the famous people we met while there...
We drove around the city a little bit and went down Lombard Street -- the curviest street in the world. It's kind of funny because there's always a huge line of cars waiting to drive down the street. It's so curvy that you literally can't go more than 5 mph plus it's steep too. These pictures were from the car so they aren't the greatest and it's a little hard to tell how curvy the road really is. I can't believe people actually live on that street. We were going down the street in a suburban which was an adventure in and of itself. San Fransisco has got to be one of the hilliest (is that a word?) places in the world. 
Well, after driving around a little bit we ate dinner at The House of Prime Rib. The menu -- Prime Rib. If you're a vegetarian this is not the place for you. The menu literally consist of prime rib and that's it. Basically it comes down to how big a piece of prime rib you want -- small thin slice, small medium slice, medium, or extra large. Here's a link to see the menu for yourselves http://houseofprimerib.net/ Devin and I opted to split the King Henry VIII cut -- the largest portion. This might have been the most expensive restuarant I've ever been to and Devin and I figured sharing one $50 plate would be cheaper then getting two $30 -$45 plates. It was a really nice place with great food.
Well, that was day 2. I'd finish the rest of trip now, but I'm just tired at the moment -- have to finish later.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Spring Break
This was the first year in a while that I've gotten a spring break off school -- BYU doesn't have spring break. Devin and I really took advantage of it. We found a REALLY good deal on airfare and went to California!!
Here are our adventures...
Day 1: Wicked
We flew into Oakland in the early afternoon. This was actually our first flight together. Oddly enough we've taken separate flights since being married, but this was our first together. We were picked up by my oldest sister and then went to her house where we were able to relax, eat, and play with my adorable nieces. Then we headed into San Fransisco. We got to see one of my favorite plays -- WICKED!! It was awesome as usual. I almost liked it better here than in New York because the theater was smaller and we were closer to the stage. They kept saying no photography, but I snuck some pictures anyway. It was a really cool theater -- even the ceiling was very intricate.
Well, that sums up day one!
Here are our adventures...
Day 1: Wicked
We flew into Oakland in the early afternoon. This was actually our first flight together. Oddly enough we've taken separate flights since being married, but this was our first together. We were picked up by my oldest sister and then went to her house where we were able to relax, eat, and play with my adorable nieces. Then we headed into San Fransisco. We got to see one of my favorite plays -- WICKED!! It was awesome as usual. I almost liked it better here than in New York because the theater was smaller and we were closer to the stage. They kept saying no photography, but I snuck some pictures anyway. It was a really cool theater -- even the ceiling was very intricate.
Well, that sums up day one!
Friday, March 20, 2009
50 Weird/Random things about me
So my friend did this on her blog and I thought it was fun...
Here are some random things that you may and may not have known about me.
1. I am the youngest of 8 kids
2. I was an aunt at the age of 7 and am closer in age to my niece than to my oldest sibling. Oddly enough my oldest sibling is one of my closest siblings.
3. I babysat a lot growing up and I always enjoyed babysitting the girls more than the boys...I like boys, it was just always nice to pull out my inner "little girl" and play dress up, barbies, dolls, and so much more.
4. I am very ticklish
5. I play ping-pong just about every night (sometimes not by choice)
6. I love to sew and make little stitcheries
7. I have to fold the laundry right when it comes out of the dryer or else it doesn't get done until all the clothes are dirty again.
8. I hate ironing -- I've been known to put the clothes back in the dryer and then fold them right when they get out to avoid ironing. I will iron things that only HAVE to be ironed.
9. I've been trying for over 2 years to have a baby -- please don't get offended if I get jealous if you have children.
10. I love the outdoors
11. I teach 4th grade and some days are better than most
12. I am amazingly patient -- maybe that's why I'm a teacher. Today I had a student who really struggled paying attention (maybe he/she didn't take their ADD medication). Believe me it was hard to be patient and yet I was! Go me!
13. My husband is hilarious -- he always makes me laugh
14. Sometimes I whine like a little kid
15. I cry REALLY easily and then get headaches after.
16. I got sick on the last night of girls camp every year I went. I think it's because of testimony meeting and me crying then I'd get sick and throw up.
17. I love going to girls camp
18. I live in my parents' basement
19. I attend the same ward I grew up in. This can get a little weird at times with people only remembering me from when I was little.
20. I'm not afraid of silence
21. I don't really like small talk -- some people may think me shy because of this.
22. My classroom has a camping/hiking/outdoors theme and I LOVE it
23. I have 4 nephews and 9 nieces with one on the way -- just on my side
24. I recently (Monday) became an aunt on Devin's side -- Troy Benjamin Allsop was born early!
25. I love reading children's books.
26. I'm currently reading Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan's Curse. It's about a 5-6 grade reading level, but I am totally engrossed in it.
27. I love when I do a read aloud to my class and when I stop they all shout "No!"
28. I have a continually growing library at my school thanks to scholastic -- Every month I get new books
29. I could spend endless amounts of money on books
30. I love to window shop -- I realize I don't have the money to buy things,but I can't help looking.
31. I love to go camping and hiking
32. I really like to ski and have never snowboarded.
33. I have my own pair of snowshoes and really want to get some for Devin
34. I love working out with the wii -- who knows whether it's actually a good work out or not, but it's definitely fun
35. I don't mind running on a treadmill
36. I always gain weight in the winter because I hate to run outside when it's cold
37. There are occasions when I don't breathe well if it's too cold
38. I was 3 months early -- weighing 4 lbs. 13 oz.
39. In elementary school pictures I was always on the back row for class pictures -- I don't think I've grown since 7th grade -- I'm 5'3"
40. I love to cook and bake
41. Tonight was the first night in weeks maybe months that I've made dinner -- I realize these past two might seem contradictory, but let me explain. Living with my parents we've got a system worked out. Devin and I do breakfast and lunch by ourselves and then my mom does dinner. Yes, I always help out, but rarely do I do all the work. At times it's nice, but sometimes I miss making dinner. There are times, like tonight, when I make dinner and I think I need to do it more often.
42. I beat Devin in Around the World tonight -- that's very rare so I have to brag about it.
43. I love the city I live in -- Alpine -- it's so beautiful!
44. I like chick flicks, but at the same time am often in the mood for action and adventure movies too.
45. I admit that I drive too fast and reckless sometimes
46. I was in band in junior high and high school. I was a marching band section leader -- I really wasn't that good and I rarely practiced.
47. I played the clarinet and was really good at pretending to be good
48. I was in Alpine Jr. Miss my senior year of high school. I didn't win, but it was a neat experience just the same.
49. I was married at age 20
50. I have almost been married 3 years to the love of my life. I am so lucky to have Devin as my husband. He is so wonderful to me and I am so happy in life!
There...now you have some interesting facts about me!
Here are some random things that you may and may not have known about me.
1. I am the youngest of 8 kids
2. I was an aunt at the age of 7 and am closer in age to my niece than to my oldest sibling. Oddly enough my oldest sibling is one of my closest siblings.
3. I babysat a lot growing up and I always enjoyed babysitting the girls more than the boys...I like boys, it was just always nice to pull out my inner "little girl" and play dress up, barbies, dolls, and so much more.
4. I am very ticklish
5. I play ping-pong just about every night (sometimes not by choice)
6. I love to sew and make little stitcheries
7. I have to fold the laundry right when it comes out of the dryer or else it doesn't get done until all the clothes are dirty again.
8. I hate ironing -- I've been known to put the clothes back in the dryer and then fold them right when they get out to avoid ironing. I will iron things that only HAVE to be ironed.
9. I've been trying for over 2 years to have a baby -- please don't get offended if I get jealous if you have children.
10. I love the outdoors
11. I teach 4th grade and some days are better than most
12. I am amazingly patient -- maybe that's why I'm a teacher. Today I had a student who really struggled paying attention (maybe he/she didn't take their ADD medication). Believe me it was hard to be patient and yet I was! Go me!
13. My husband is hilarious -- he always makes me laugh
14. Sometimes I whine like a little kid
15. I cry REALLY easily and then get headaches after.
16. I got sick on the last night of girls camp every year I went. I think it's because of testimony meeting and me crying then I'd get sick and throw up.
17. I love going to girls camp
18. I live in my parents' basement
19. I attend the same ward I grew up in. This can get a little weird at times with people only remembering me from when I was little.
20. I'm not afraid of silence
21. I don't really like small talk -- some people may think me shy because of this.
22. My classroom has a camping/hiking/outdoors theme and I LOVE it
23. I have 4 nephews and 9 nieces with one on the way -- just on my side
24. I recently (Monday) became an aunt on Devin's side -- Troy Benjamin Allsop was born early!
25. I love reading children's books.
26. I'm currently reading Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan's Curse. It's about a 5-6 grade reading level, but I am totally engrossed in it.
27. I love when I do a read aloud to my class and when I stop they all shout "No!"
28. I have a continually growing library at my school thanks to scholastic -- Every month I get new books
29. I could spend endless amounts of money on books
30. I love to window shop -- I realize I don't have the money to buy things,but I can't help looking.
31. I love to go camping and hiking
32. I really like to ski and have never snowboarded.
33. I have my own pair of snowshoes and really want to get some for Devin
34. I love working out with the wii -- who knows whether it's actually a good work out or not, but it's definitely fun
35. I don't mind running on a treadmill
36. I always gain weight in the winter because I hate to run outside when it's cold
37. There are occasions when I don't breathe well if it's too cold
38. I was 3 months early -- weighing 4 lbs. 13 oz.
39. In elementary school pictures I was always on the back row for class pictures -- I don't think I've grown since 7th grade -- I'm 5'3"
40. I love to cook and bake
41. Tonight was the first night in weeks maybe months that I've made dinner -- I realize these past two might seem contradictory, but let me explain. Living with my parents we've got a system worked out. Devin and I do breakfast and lunch by ourselves and then my mom does dinner. Yes, I always help out, but rarely do I do all the work. At times it's nice, but sometimes I miss making dinner. There are times, like tonight, when I make dinner and I think I need to do it more often.
42. I beat Devin in Around the World tonight -- that's very rare so I have to brag about it.
43. I love the city I live in -- Alpine -- it's so beautiful!
44. I like chick flicks, but at the same time am often in the mood for action and adventure movies too.
45. I admit that I drive too fast and reckless sometimes
46. I was in band in junior high and high school. I was a marching band section leader -- I really wasn't that good and I rarely practiced.
47. I played the clarinet and was really good at pretending to be good
48. I was in Alpine Jr. Miss my senior year of high school. I didn't win, but it was a neat experience just the same.
49. I was married at age 20
50. I have almost been married 3 years to the love of my life. I am so lucky to have Devin as my husband. He is so wonderful to me and I am so happy in life!
There...now you have some interesting facts about me!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Randomness
It's official...
Parent-Teacher Conferences make me exhausted.
Oh wait, they haven't even started yet :(
So I have been totally stressed trying to get everything cleaned and graded and updated before tomorrow night. Now I'm almost done and I am completely tired. Who knew teaching was such an exhausting career? Even Devin, when he comes to my class is tired at the end of the day and he doesn't even teach.
I have never been very good at math (in fact my mother was afraid I would never learn my X's tables). It has indeed been an adventure for me to now be the teacher of math. Although I am better now there are still occasional struggles -- such as teaching 4th graders how to compare fractions without totally confusing them. During my lunch break I realized that I had totally said something wrong. So after lunch I tried to correct my mistake...it didn't really work; instead it just confused them more.
So since this has been a totally random post, here's another random thing -- we're still not pregnant :(
Hope your day is going better than mine and that you're not exhausted too.
Parent-Teacher Conferences make me exhausted.
Oh wait, they haven't even started yet :(
So I have been totally stressed trying to get everything cleaned and graded and updated before tomorrow night. Now I'm almost done and I am completely tired. Who knew teaching was such an exhausting career? Even Devin, when he comes to my class is tired at the end of the day and he doesn't even teach.
I have never been very good at math (in fact my mother was afraid I would never learn my X's tables). It has indeed been an adventure for me to now be the teacher of math. Although I am better now there are still occasional struggles -- such as teaching 4th graders how to compare fractions without totally confusing them. During my lunch break I realized that I had totally said something wrong. So after lunch I tried to correct my mistake...it didn't really work; instead it just confused them more.
So since this has been a totally random post, here's another random thing -- we're still not pregnant :(
Hope your day is going better than mine and that you're not exhausted too.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Happy Valentine's Day!
Devin and I had a really great Valentine's Day. I made him a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit and served it to him in bed. As I was making breakfast he started to come upstairs. My mom was helping me and when she saw him she yelled at him, "Get back in bed!" He was very obedient and quickly turned around and went back downstairs.
So we ate our breakfast in bed, played several games of ping-pong, and got ready for a day of fun. Devin had the whole thing planned out with things he knew I'd like to do. We went to the mall and I was able to window shop -- something he hates! As a Valentine's gift he bought me a whole new outfit - pants, tank top, and 3/4 length cardigan sweater. He was so nice and patient as I tried on various sizes of pants and he even gave me advice for what he liked and what flattered my figure. The outfit is really cute -- it's bright colors and makes me think of summer. I'll have to put a picture on here soon.
We got a quick lunch in the food court and then went to the movies. We saw a chick-flick (again something that isn't his favorite). We watched "New in Town" and we both really liked it. It's clean, funny, and romantic.
We went to an early dinner -- okay so by the time we got seated is was a little after 5. But we put our name down early because we knew it would be crazy. We went to Olive Garden -- one of my favorite restaurants. While waiting to be seated we played games on his itouch. It was actually a lot of fun and really made the time pass quickly. Who knew pictionary could be so much fun? We shared a meal which is really the way to go. Not only does it save money (and after my new outfit we really needed to save), but it creates a more sensible portion size. We left feeling full and satisfied.
I bought him a few movies for Valentine's Day and so when we got home we watched one of them. The whole day was so much fun just being with him. I realized how lucky I am to have Devin as my husband. He is so sweet and always thinking of me. He asked me if I was sad that he didn't get me flowers. I told him flowers are always nice, but a day like we had was even better. Flowers wilt and die, the memories that we created will last forever.
Devin -- I love you!
So we ate our breakfast in bed, played several games of ping-pong, and got ready for a day of fun. Devin had the whole thing planned out with things he knew I'd like to do. We went to the mall and I was able to window shop -- something he hates! As a Valentine's gift he bought me a whole new outfit - pants, tank top, and 3/4 length cardigan sweater. He was so nice and patient as I tried on various sizes of pants and he even gave me advice for what he liked and what flattered my figure. The outfit is really cute -- it's bright colors and makes me think of summer. I'll have to put a picture on here soon.
We got a quick lunch in the food court and then went to the movies. We saw a chick-flick (again something that isn't his favorite). We watched "New in Town" and we both really liked it. It's clean, funny, and romantic.
We went to an early dinner -- okay so by the time we got seated is was a little after 5. But we put our name down early because we knew it would be crazy. We went to Olive Garden -- one of my favorite restaurants. While waiting to be seated we played games on his itouch. It was actually a lot of fun and really made the time pass quickly. Who knew pictionary could be so much fun? We shared a meal which is really the way to go. Not only does it save money (and after my new outfit we really needed to save), but it creates a more sensible portion size. We left feeling full and satisfied.
I bought him a few movies for Valentine's Day and so when we got home we watched one of them. The whole day was so much fun just being with him. I realized how lucky I am to have Devin as my husband. He is so sweet and always thinking of me. He asked me if I was sad that he didn't get me flowers. I told him flowers are always nice, but a day like we had was even better. Flowers wilt and die, the memories that we created will last forever.
Devin -- I love you!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Catching Pigs
This was an interesting email that I received.
"A chemistry professor in a large college had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the professor noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back, and stretching as if his back hurt.
The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government.
In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked, 'Do you know how to catch wild pigs?' The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punchline. The young man said this was no joke. 'You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyd ay to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd.
Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.
The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America. The government keeps pushing us toward socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc.. While we continually lose our freedoms -- just a little at a time."
"A chemistry professor in a large college had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the professor noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back, and stretching as if his back hurt.
The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government.
In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked, 'Do you know how to catch wild pigs?' The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punchline. The young man said this was no joke. 'You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyd ay to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd.
Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.
The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America. The government keeps pushing us toward socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc.. While we continually lose our freedoms -- just a little at a time."
Reading this story really makes me grateful for the values that I have been taught and especially the value of hard work. I'm reminded of phrase my family uses (I'm not sure where it originally came from): "Hard work has never killed a man, but it certainly has scared a lot of people."
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