Dad

I have the greatest father in the whole world! I didn't get to be home on Father's Day because I was working, but I sure did think of him all day. My dad is so much FUN! We are always having a good time together. He has been fabulous in teaching me to work hard when it's time to work and to play hard when it is time to play. He is such a good provider and spiritual leader for our family and we all trust him completly. Now that I have started working and supporting myself almost entirely I have realized that the responsibility to provide for others must be super stressful and I am grateful that he takes this job so seriously. I love going for runs or bike rides with my dad. I love talking to him on the phone and talking about all sorts of interesting subjects with him. My dad has always been so encouraging in my pursuit of an education and a career. I don't think I could have made it through school without his support and encouragement. I like how my dad enjoys the outdoors so much, I like how he makes up silly words or phrases and then uses them constantly for the next several months, I like how he pulls out the "dude rag" and wears it around the house, I like his laugh when something is really funny, I like how he always asks if he should wait for next Christmas to open any present, I like his leftover meals.

One of the best things about my dad is his spiritual leadership in our family. I have some very tender memories of father's blessings, prayers, family home evenings, and special events in our family. He has lead by example, showing us the best way to lead our lives. For example, I have never once heard my dad swear. He never has had to tell us that we shouldn't swear because he shows us that it is unacceptable. I want to marry someone who is like my dad. If I can find someone even close to as good of a husband and father as he is to us I will be the luckiest girl in the world. Thanks Dad for everything you do and for everything you are!
I like this picture of Eric and Dad. He is so proud of Eric and all of us kids when we do what is right. I love the love that I see coming from my dad to Eric and I feel that everyday from him.

The most important men in my life: Grandpa Waddoups, Grandpa Christensen, Cameron, Eric, Dad, and Preston. I love you guys and Happy Father's Day!

Eric's Home!!!

So my BIG little brother got home from his mission last Wednesday. He served faithfully and honorably for two years in the Florida Jacksonville Mission. It was so fun to see him come home and it is fun to have him home. Here are some pictures from the airport. I realized I didn't have a single picture on my camera with Eric-hopefully someone else does!

This picture is funny. This was Pres and Cam waiting for him to come. We were all straining to see him through the glass!

Here he is walking in the doors! Doesn't he look good!
Classic mother/son picture! I love it!

Classic father/son picture! They look so much alike!

Here are three generations! Both grandpas, dad, and the boys! The priesthood of the church!

Eric said that Cameron had changed the most. He said everyone looked older except Mom and me. He also said we both looked prettier than before! (What a wise boy!) It's been fun to have him home. I only got to be around for a few days bet we had a good time. He really has some amazing stories and miracles from his mission. He was truly blessed and watched over. The miracles he witnessed and the changes I see in him are a testimony that he was a good and faithful missionary! I love you Eric!

Mom

I have the best Mom EVER!!!! She is is kind, beautiful, smart, loving, supporting, and fantabulous. She is my very best friend. I have always had a really good relationship with my Mom and I am so grateful for that. We have never had to go through those rocky years when I was a teenager because we have always got along great. I can tell her anything and she listens patiently and lovingly. She is an amazing cook and loves to feed us! I think one of the best things about my mom is that she genuinely cares about people and what they think or feel. She will pay attention to people that others shun because they are disadvantaged. My mom has so many people who view her as a close friend and that is because she cares about them. Even in her insurance job my mom is sympathetic and loving of the people she serves. If the insurance she wants to sell them will not be good for them she tells them that and helps them find something that will help. She is a wonderful example and I hope to be half the mother she is someday. Her love for her husband and her children is such a wonderful example. I love you Mom! Happy Mother's Day.

Spring Projects!

Now that I am out of school and not working nearly as much as I would like to be. ( I was hired part time. However, starting in June I will be full time!!! NIGHTS!!! Yuck! I don't really like nights, but hey, I am glad to finally be going full time with everything that comes with that-money, benefits, less spare time, etc.) Anyway, I had to pick up some hobbies; I am also trying to cultivate my homemaking skills. So I have been doing some fun projects. Today I planted a garden!! We have a spot but it doesn't get a ton of sun, so I am a little dubious, but I think it will work out. I will keep you posted. Here are the flowers I planted. I planted marigolds, dusty miller, and some strange purple flower. Yay for flowers! I will post pictures as the summer progresses to show the growth.

Now to the vegetable garden. Here are the pepper plants I planted. One green bell and one orange bell.

Tomatoes are a must for me in the summer. Here is my cute little tomato plant. I have great hopes for this little plant! Please grow for me!

Here is the whole thing. It's a nice little garden, don't you think?! I planted tomatoes, peppers, walla walla onions, carrots, cucumbers, and cantelope! The cantelope are in another area, but you are looking at everything else! I really hope this works because I love fresh veggies and I like saving money at the grocery store!

Another fun project I finished today was the rag quilt I have been working on since I moved to Utah. Look at how cute it is!!! It was my second quilt, and my first rag quilt and I had so much fun making it!
Here is a picture of the back of the quilt. I went with green and purple as my main colors and I really love how it turned out.

This is a close up of the fraying. I washed it today and I was worried about how the fraying would turn out, but it worked!

Here is the finished project on my bed! It looks a lot better with my curtains than my other quilt!
The other thing I did this week that I was excited about was I made a menu! I have been planning on doing this for quite awhile, but I finally did it. I find that it does simplify life quite a bit. I don't have to think about what I am going to eat. I used to end up eating something that was fast and easy because I was always starving by the time dinner came around. Now I find that I am cooking better food, and I am able to use leftovers to make other meals. Some fun things i've made this week are: fajhitas, rice pudding, german pancakes, and tonight I had lemon-herb chicken that was FANTASTIC! If anyone would like the receipe let me know! Wow I am liking this domestic stuff! Now I just need a man to cook for!!!;)

Home Sweet Home!!!

So I may have mentioned before, but after having lived with my aunt and uncle for about a month and a half I finally found a place to live on my own. It is in South Ogden, so it is slightly closer to where I work and it is close to Weber State University, so that is nice to be around a college again. After being used to living with six girls in apartments with next to no room, the place I found to live is a TREAT! First of all it is a house, a big house, with only three other girls besides myself living here. The girls are great; I like them a lot. This house is a little old, but it has been remodeled on the inside and it is beautiful! I am so glad I found this place!

This is the front of the house. Notice the nice big windows in both the upstairs and downstairs- I love big windows!Especially when I don't have to wash them!!!This is the entryway. This picture is a little dark, but notice the stained glass window?! Screams 70s in my opinion- I like it!
Here's the kitchen. Also screaming 70s-observe the dishwasher and refrigerator. Love them! Seriously though there is enough room for all of our food and dishes and tons of counterspace which is really nice.

Upstairs family room. Oodles of room. In fact we really can't fill it up. No one has furniture. Notice the fireplace. There are a total of three fireplaces in the house- Love it!
Bathroom I share with ONE other girl. Not two or three girls, but ONE! It is rather short on shelf or counter space, but still. Love it!
Here's my bedroom! I love my bedroom! TWO windows- I love windows! There is tons of space and I like having my own room again. The curtains are nice for when I have to work nights and need to sleep during the day.

Here's my closet. Again, tons of space. Love it!

Best part of all!!! The backyard is fabulous!!! Look at these trees! I love the backyard.

Close up of the trees!

Yes, my friends, we do have a pond. Obviously no water in it right at the moment, but there is a cool waterfall thing that winds around and drains into this pond with a bridge over it. Can you tell why I love it so much!!! I never thought I would find such a great place! So, to anyone out there reading... Please, come and visit! We have tons of room and we can play in my backyard and have a blast! I love my house!

Easter Weekend at Zions!

Easter weekend was fabulous. First of all it was conference weekend too, which was awesome! Secondly, we took a family trip to Zions National Park. The boys were on Spring Break and I had the weekend off work so the timing was perfect. They headed down on Thursday but I had work so I met them there Friday. The weather was a little cold which was disappointing but we didn't get rained on or anything while in the park. There was a foot of snow in Cedar City when my family was there Thursday night, but that was about it.

The Emerald Pools hike. I can't believe Cameron is also taller than me now!
I loved this waterfall on the Emerald Pools hike. The silhouette is just amazing.
Snapped this picture of Cameron and he looked up at just the right moment. I think this is a fabulous picture of him. I've always kind of envied his blue eyes and I really like them here.Preston and I were snapping pictures at the same moment.Picture of Dad on the Emerald Pools hike.
We also hiked Angel's Landing which was my third time on the hike. I love it more every time I go. This part is called Walter's Wiggles. Basically it is something like 30 switchbacks in a row. Love it!
Fam on Walter's Wiggles. Preston decided to run up them! Too much energy!

This is the view from the top. It is a straight dropoff of something like 1500 feet! Such a beautiful view from the top!

It was such a fun trip and a much needed stress reliever from work! I love Zion's!

Trip to BYU!

So a few weeks ago Preston was trying to decide which college to attend after he graduates in May. He had a pretty good idea that he wanted to go to BYU, but we decided to go there for a trip just to show him around. It was just me and him and we had a great time. We stayed with our aunt and uncle and had a fabulous time with them. First we looked at some college in Salt Lake City. I can't think of the name right now. It was a pretty small campus but we had fun looking at the old architecture.Next stop was BYU campus. I made him walk all over campus and we looked at every building. I shared all of my memories and secrets like where the best place to study is, where the best nap spots are, and other fun ideas.

Here is Preston in the Joseph F. Smith Courtyard. We enjoyed the warm weather immensely as a break from cold, windy Idaho.

Preston's idea of a fun photo- he "fell" down the middle of the spiral staircase in the JFSB! Pretty realistic! He got some weird looks from the students! At the duck pond!

Last but definetly not least! We were able to secure some last minute tickets to the BYU/New Mexico mens basketball game. It was an intense game which our men ended up losing by two points in overtime. That was the only downside, but we had a good time. The picture above is me, Preston, and our cousin Jason who went to the game with us. Go BYU!