101 in 1001 Monthly Update

1. Make a wreath for my front door - 10/16/11

2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10

3. Eat a meal from a food truck

4. Go to the symphony

5. Go 1 week without watching TV - 1/9/11

6. Finally buy wedding pictures...

7. Hang wedding pictures

8. Go to the ballet with Jed - 11/27/10

9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum

10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 3 years ago - 3/23/11

11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10

12. Lose 20 pounds!! - 11/3/10

13. Lose 20 more pounds!!! - 6/22/11

14. Go snorkeling again

15. Catch up on 30 Rock - 12/6/10

16. Eat vegetarian for a week Try fish - 12/15/11 (tilapia)

17. Go to a Rangers game - 5/13/11

18. Do a ropes course

19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month

20. Go rock climbing again

21. Go back to school - 3/23/11 :)

22. Take a picture each day for 3 1 month - 12/14/11

23. Ride on a real train - 11/19/11

24. Bear my testimony in church

25. Get my picture taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)

26. Get our family photo taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)

27. Swim 10 continuous laps

28. Get a dog

29. Visit NASA

30. Family prayer and Personal scripture study every day for 1 month - 2/3/11

31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday - 7/4/11

32. Join a choir - 10/10/10

33. Make a sourdough starter - 5/9/11

34. Go white water rafting again

35. Pick up the violin again

36. Take Jed to a rodeo - 1/20/11

37. Buy cowboy boots or hats - 11/6/10

38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting

39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites

40. Go to the Dallas Temple - 2/23/11

41. Take Jed to a jazz bar

42. Fly a kite

43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10

44. Complete Couch to 5K Challenge Ride a mechanical bull - 11/19/11

45. Participate in an organized 5K! - 7/11/11

46. Get my palm read or fortune told

47. Go on another cruise with Jed

48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house - 12/7/11

49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls - 10/30/10

50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls

51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed

52. Buy a homeless person lunch - 3/14/11

53. Have a baby

54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10

55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10

56. Go fishing with Jed - 5/30/11

57. Be 100% credit card debt-free

58. Ride a horse - 7/30/11

59. Go to the Dallas Aquarium

60. Dance to a vinyl record

61. Take a cooking class

62. Get an SLR a video camera

63. Skydive

64. Visit Gettysburg or Williamsburg

65. Make out in the rain

66. Go to Six Flags with Jed

67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy - 2/22/11

68. Make a hole-in-one

69. Take a hot-air balloon or helicopter ride

70. Change my own oil

71. Go to NYC or San Francisco with Jed

72. Take an art class

73. Jump around in a mosh pit again

74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10

75. Deep clean my bathroom - 2/10/11

76. Visit my sister, Laurel, in California - 4/6/11

77. Ride a motorcycle  Buy a house

78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10

79. Go one week three days without simple carbs - 11/11/11

80. Dance barefoot

81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner

82. Get on a bike again

83. Buy myself flowers for no reason - 2/12/11

84. Go camping in Texas with Jed - 5/6/11

85. Go camping on a beach

86. Go to the Texas beach Float the river with Jed - 7/3/11

87. Donate blood again

88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm - 11/15/10

89. Go to the Grand Canyon

90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar

91. Paint pottery again

92. Join a bowling or softball league

93. Watch a movie at a drive-in

94. Grow and eat my own vegetables - 12/1/11 (green onions)

95. Sing karaoke again - 11/4/11

96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour - 11/6/10

97. Don't eat out for 1 month 2 weeks

98. Go to the batting cages with Jed - 4/1/11

99. Donate plasma

100. Eat fried green tomatoes - 11/6/10

101. Do 1 correct push-up

101 in 1001 Monthly Update

1. Make a wreath for my front door
2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10
3. Eat a meal from a food truck
4. Go to the symphony
5. Go 1 week without watching TV - 1/9/11
6. Finally buy wedding pictures...
7. Hang wedding pictures
8. Go to the ballet with Jed - 11/27/10
9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum
10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 3 years ago - 3/23/11
11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10
12. Lose 20 pounds!! - 11/3/10
13. Lose 20 more pounds!!! - 6/22/11
14. Go snorkeling again
15. Catch up on 30 Rock - 12/6/10
16. Eat vegetarian for a week
17. Go to a Rangers game - 5/13/11
18. Do a ropes course
19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month
20. Go rock climbing again
21. Go back to school - 3/23/11 :)
22. Take a picture each day for 3 months
23. Ride on a train
24. Bear my testimony in church
25. Get my picture taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)
26. Get our family photo taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)
27. Swim 10 continuous laps
28. Get a dog
29. Visit NASA
30. Family prayer and Personal scripture study every day for 1 month - 2/3/11
31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday
32. Join a choir - 10/10/10
33. Make a sourdough starter - 5/9/11
34. Go white water rafting again
35. Pick up the violin again
36. Take Jed to a rodeo - 1/20/11
37. Buy cowboy boots or hats - 11/6/10
38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting
39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites
40. Go to the Dallas Temple - 2/23/11
41. Take Jed to a jazz bar
42. Fly a kite
43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10
44. Complete Couch to 5K Challenge
45. Participate in an organized 5K
46. Get my palm read or fortune told
47. Go on another cruise with Jed
48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house
49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls - 10/30/10
50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls
51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed
52. Buy a homeless person lunch - 3/14/11
53. Have a baby
54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10
55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10
56. Go fishing with Jed - 5/30/11
57. Be 100% credit card debt-free
58. Ride horses
59. Go to the Dallas Aquarium
60. Dance to a vinyl record
61. Take a cooking class
62. Get an SLR a video camera
63. Skydive
64. Visit Gettysburg or Williamsburg
65. Make out in the rain
66. Go to Six Flags with Jed
67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy - 2/22/11
68. Make a hole-in-one
69. Take a hot-air balloon or helicopter ride
70. Change my own oil
71. Go to NYC or San Francisco with Jed
72. Take an art class
73. Jump around in a mosh pit again
74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10
75. Deep clean my bathroom - 2/10/11
76. Visit my sister, Laurel, in California - 4/6/11
77. Ride a motorcycle  Buy a house
78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10
79. Go one week three days without carbs
80. Dance barefoot
81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner
82. Get on a bike again
83. Buy myself flowers for no reason - 2/12/11
84. Go camping in Texas with Jed - 5/6/11
85. Go camping on a beach
86. Go to the Texas beach with Jed
87. Donate blood again
88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm - 11/15/10
89. Go to the Grand Canyon
90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar
91. Paint pottery again
92. Join a bowling or softball league
93. Watch a movie at a drive-in
94. Grow and eat my own vegetables
95. Sing karaoke again
96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour - 11/6/10
97. Don't eat out for 1 month 2 weeks
98. Go to the batting cages with Jed - 4/1/11
99. Donate plasma
100. Eat fried green tomatoes - 11/6/10
101. Do 1 correct push-up

Thankful Thursday - Thansgiving Style

I am thankful for a roof over my head.
I am thankful for my steady income, a paycheck I can count on.
I am thankful for Jed's job.
I am thankful that I live in a free country.
I am thankful for fast communication - phones, internet, Skype, etc.
I am thankful for our cars.
I am thankful that all four of our parents are alive and well.
I am thankful for all of our siblings, biological or 'adopted'. :)
I am thankful that we live close to some family.
I am thankful for modern conveniences, like microwaves, indoor plumbing, airplanes, pillows, dishwashers, etc. SO many things to be grateful for.
I am thankful for Archie, Sharky, Goldie, and our other fish. [Original names, huh? ;)]
I am thankful that all five of my grandparents are alive and well.
I am thankful for a cozy, warm bed.
I am thankful for my new clothes.
I am thankful for the Gospel and what it brings to my life.
I am thankful for my good sense of direction.
I am thankful for my ability to learn.
I am thankful that I am able to go to school.
I am SO thankful that it hasn't really snowed much yet this year (knock on wood).
I am thankful to be able to be a part of the Provo Posh & Chic Boutique this year.
I am thankful to have enough food that I don't ever go hungry.

I am thankful for my Savoir.

I am thankful that I am never truly wanting - I have everything that I need.
I am thankful for my wonderful, patient, warm-hearted husband. He is my world and I love him.

Monday Memoirs

Oh what a weekend!
Friday - Jed played frisbee while I worked on some projects at home. Then we had a movie night.

Saturday - We went geocaching (in the rain - not recommended) in the afternoon. And then we went to the pet store and got two fish and a frog for our fish tank. :D

In the evening we went to a Passover service at BYU. Dr. Ludlow puts together several of these services each year around Passover. He is incredibly knowledgeable and kept interjecting neat comments about certain aspects of the service. It was a really neat experience and I'm glad that we were able to participate in this special Jewish tradition.

We got home pretty late that night and completely forgot about Resurrection Buns and Resurrection Cookies!! Maybe next year. Or next week. ;)

Easter Sunday - I hope everyone had a fabulous Easter Sunday! We had stake conference which was a little bit disappointing because we didn't get the usual Primary program and other things that you associate with Easter Sunday church.

We went to my grandparents' house for Easter dinner and games. There was no egg hunt or anything like that, but we did have ham. That was as close as we got to doing anything really "Easter-like".

We came home, picked up our Wii, and headed over to the Nielsen's house. It was Adam's birthday and we brought our Wii over for his party. We also playing the new Monopoly (with the credit cards!) and that was really fun.

**Frog Story**
When we got the frog, the girl at the pet store dropped it on the floor not once, but twice - I should have taken the hint. Then, Jed gets up the next morning and can't find the frog in the tank - he thought it was just hiding somewhere. Five hours later, he sees something hopping around on the floor. Who knows how long the frog had been out of the tank....he was covered in hair and dust and dirt. :\ So Jed puts him back in the tank and he was doing alright but then we came home after Easter dinner and found this:

We thought he was just chilling by the tower. But no, that's how he died, standing up... :(

No Stress Saturday!

*Don't judge me - I'm terrible at this whole picture layout thing... It would be a whole lot easier if it didn't change from the "compose" tab to the "preview" tab. Maybe I'm just clueless about what to do.*

This Saturday was wonderful! Jed woke up early and played frisbee (one of his passions in life) and I got to sleep in late (one of my passions in life). :) After we both got ready for the day, we did some errands and then headed north for our NO STRESS SATURDAY!!

I surprised Jed by taking him to The Living Planet Aquarium because he loves fish and aquariums and such. We had a great time! We saw tons of animals - we even saw a super active octopus that was really sweet. They have a tank right in the middle of the building that has fish and sting rays in it that you can just walk up and touch as much or as little as you'd like. Jed loved that. We also saw a really good show at the aquarium where they brought out birds, snakes, spiders, etc. It was really interesting and we both liked it a lot. We would definitely recommend The Living Planet Aquarium.
































After the aquarium, Jed and I went up to SLC, grabbed a bite to eat, and headed to the Salt Lake City Public Library. Neither of us had been there before, though we'd driven by and always wanted to go inside - it's really a neat building with great architecture. We studied there for a little bit until we got kicked out (apparently they close at 6:00 on Saturdays) and then we walked around the grounds and looked at all of the neat things there.





























We drove to the Conference Center and saw an incredible concert put on by the Utah Symphony and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, with solos by Denyce Graves (who we thought was WAY over the top) and Brian Stokes Mitchell (who we thought was an amazing performer with a fabulous voice). My co-worker, Laurie Bailey, is in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and she gave me the tickets. (Thanks Laurie!!) It was such a neat concert and it felt good to get out and do something nice and "adult" for a change. :)

Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked and Walked and Walked and Walked

Yesterday was Pioneer Day here in Utah. I guess I can't make too much fun of it because it gives us an extra holiday. Well, most people get an extra holiday - I had to work, but that's ok because then I get the Friday after Thanksgiving off and I'd rather take that day off anyway.

My coworkers threw me a combined Bridal Shower/Pioneer Day BBQ. We have a grill and a basketball court in the back of our building, so we just grilled and had a potluck lunch. Jed didn't have to go to work yesterday, so he got to come to the BBQ and meet everybody which was nice. We got some good advice and some good presents (the theme was centered around food, so everyone brought a recipe and then ingredients to make it with). It really was a lot of fun!

On a sad note, our dear friend Krabby died yesterday. He was our favorite guy in the tank. :(

We will have to get another fiddler crab because they are SO interesting and entertaining to watch.

After work, I was able to go home and take a short nap (it was an hour and I still woke up tired!) before Jed and I headed out to Salt Lake to meet up with my family to celebrate Pioneer Day. It's been so fun to have my mom, my sisters, and my nephews here this week, and be able to spend time with them! We all went out to Nancy's house and had dinner and played games until the fireworks started. Nate is so big! He's still my special little buddy though. Emily told me that they had a talk and Nate said that he didn't want me to get married because then I would go away and he would never see me again. It was so tender. He's still a little weary of Jed (last night he made Jed the "bad guy" who we had to "beat up"), but I think he'll warm up to him. ;) Aidan is huge too! Last time I saw him, at Christmas, he was only a few months old and still 'newborn'. Now he's crawling and drinking out of bottles and making faces. It's crazy how fast children change and grow up!

The fireworks show was pretty neat and the younger kids really like doing their own fireworks in front of Nancy's house (once we got a lighter that worked...). I wish I could say that there weren't any injuries, but I (yes, me. it was partly my fault) was helping Eli with a sparkler and as soon as it went out (while it was still hot), he put his hand on it and burned himself. I felt really bad for him. Poor guy. :( But we got ice and a bandaid on it, so I think we will be all better soon.