Sunday Wit

Our RS teacher shared this cute little quip last week:

Glancing through the hymnal last Sunday I noted that as sisters in Zion, we who are called to serve are all enlisted to go marching, marching forward because the world has need of willing men to all press on scattering sunshine. We wonder if we have done any good in the world today because we have been given much and want to do what is right, keep the commandments, press forward with the Saints, choose the right, and put our shoulders to the wheel going where he wants us to go. However, as the morning breaks high on the moutain top, truth reflects upon our senses, and while we still believe that sweet is the work, we also realize that we have work enough to do ere the sun goes down. And thus we ask Thee ere we part, where can we turn for peace?

gauchos

Okay, these look cute on this young girl's skinny, no-hips body but, honestly, can you think of a less flattering style? Yeah...me neither but I bought some anyway. I'll spare you my fat picture as I can't find the wide-angle lens right now but it's not pretty. However, despite the physical effort of sucking in my stomach and the mental strain of avoiding my saddle-bag reflections in mirrors and windows, I am loving them today. I feel like I'm in my gym clothes. Add another sign of old age to my fast growing list...vanity has given way to comfort.

20th High School Reunion

You know you're old when you start a conversation with, "It seemed like only yesterday when..."

Well, here I go anyway. "It seems like only yesterday that I was in High School, " and for good measure I'll add, "It seems like only yesterday that I went to my 10th High School reunion." The truth is that 3 weeks ago I went to my 20th High School Reunion and it was super fun. Even though I didn't reach some of my appearance goals (better weight, hair, outfits, etc.), I wasn't held back by these trivial matters. I was extra happy to see each person who attended, to meet spouses and kids, and to get updates on lives. I can't wait for the next time we're together. Here are some pics from the occasion.

Big pictures left to right, top to bottom:
1. Rockelle Rasmussen-Dixon and me. Rockie is one of the 13 girls from Leavitt my age. (Andy Molcak was the only boy our age and I sooooo wished to see him but he didn't make it.) Rockie exudes energy and makes me smile with just a small intonation of her voice.
2. Brad Nielson and me. Brad is an optometrist (asked me about my eyes so he could "write off" his trip--ha!) and has FIVE kids. He is hilarious. I laughed off all the calories of that roast beef dinner! His wife, Amy, is one of my favorite people even though I don't really know her that well. She and I share random interests and personality traits and we seem to attract the same types of men...Australian wannabes. Ha ha ha. Inside joke.
3. Me. It's all about me...riding on the float in the Heritage Days parade.
4. I had to take a picture of my fancy toes for Kenna in case they didn't make the trip home. I needn't have been concerned. They're still going strong and I've been wearing black sandals and anything that matches for nearly a month now.
5. Jana Atwood-Jensen, Stephanie Phillips-MacDonald, Sue Scott-Warmink and me. I love these girls. There are too many happy, funny, sad, embarrassing, crazy stories to share about this little group. Quincey Gladstone-Atkin and Tracey Leavitt-Bright would have made this mini reunion group complete. We have GOT to get together before another 10 years drifts by.
Small pictures left to right, top to bottom:
1. Marlon Michel and all his hot dogs.
2. Rockelle-Rasmussen Dixon and Sheri Bingham-Terpstra. Sheri was a great surprise! She and her husband, John kept their table laughing all night.
3. Cliff Baldwin won my vote for being the most helpful in contacting people before the reunion and for being the most friendly at our parties...and it's not just the freckles talkin', Cliff.
4. Sherylee Doig-Kartchner (with her hubby, Monte) was a total honey when I called to ask her to bring a grill to our picnic. She and her family are off to Arizona to start a new, WARMER adventure there. Good luck, guys.
5. Shelley Kormos-Quinton. Looooove Shelley. She's the most calm and dependable person. She sweet-talked her husband into driving us on the float in the parade and brought her uber-handsome, taaaaall boys to our family picnic.
6. Lisa Johnson and Reed Lawlor. Lisa was another good surprise. It was a relief to have someone show up who hadn't recevied a formal invitation and wasn't upset by the fact! Reed was a rockstar and a rock. He helped me a ton by running errands, driving me to the Friday activity, and by not thinking I was a complete idiot when being an emotional disaster.
7. Mrs. Rusty Walker, Rusty, and Marlon Michel. This pic says it all. Marlon entertained everyone with his great, although somewhat elaborated on stories all night. Rusty was friendly and had one of the best looking spouses there :-)
8. Kevin Smith sporting a fu-man-chu and a mullet. He deliberately ignored my plea not to wear a HOOTERS shirt to the family picnic. Ha ha.
9. Jason Lehr. Even quieter than in High School!
10. Andrea Creed and fiance and Kevin Leavitt and fiance. Love was in the air. We nearly had to get Kevin and the future mrs. a room!!
11. Steve Rasmussen and darling, happy wife.
12. Duane Beazer and wife, Patricia. Duane was another helpful guy to have around. He still lives in Cardston and was able to contact people about our plans. He was the only one who recognized a few of our classmates because he's seen them around a little.
13. Our not-so fancy parade float and signs.
14. Corey Jarvis and wife. Another happy, beautiful couple. Their four kids look just like their daddy!
15. Wade Henniger doing what he's famous for!
16. Dale Antal and wife of less than a year. Dale is the only guy I didn't recognize. He was super out-going and had a great time being our mystery guest.

100 things about me.

Warning: You will never retrieve the precious minutes you waste reading this list. You may want to just move on!

100. I love to people-watch. I think that's why I'm addicted to reading others' blogs. I got this idea from my friend's wife's blog. Thanks, Jen.
99. I am an Irish Twin. My little sis was born less than a year after I.
98. Neither of my grandmothers ever drove or even held a driver's license.
97. I have lost the 2nd toenail on my left foot multiple times from running. When it's missing, I just paint the skin so no one knows--gross, huh?!

96. I lived and worked in Marin, Switzerland for 3 months in the summer of 1990 as a part of a Foreign Language Internship program through BYU.

95. I taught Home Economics for four years.

94. I have a Teaching Minor in French.

93. I almost missed the last train back to my apartment in Switzerland one night because I misunderstood the German conductor speaking French telling me which train to take.
92. I win stuff--books at conferences, makeup, jewelry, cooking utensils and other wares at home parties, a bike, photo session, $50 gift certificate to a clothing store, etc.
91. I stash/hide stuff at stores when I plan to come back and buy it.
90. I QUIT scrapbooking a couple of years ago. It's such a relief not to compete with the creative geniuses that are stay-at-home Mormon women!!
89. I said the closing prayer at the convocation ceremony where I received my Master's Degree.
88. I gave birth to Kenna on the day of my comprehensive exams for my Master's Program. I had to make the trek up to campus with my 1-week-old girl and spend two days in a small office to make them up.
87. I wanted to name Alec Jack but my bro-in-law's family has a dog with that name.
86. I've been to four rock concerts in my life--Sting in High School, Def Leopard my freshman year at BYU, Sting with Brent in 1994, The Police with Brent in 2008.
85. I've run 1 marathon--St. George 2006.
84. The year I turned 16 and got my driver's license, I got 5 speeding tickets.
83. I was 35 when I first went to Disneyland and I'm still the only one in my family (of origin) that has been.
82. I'm craving fresh peaches right now.
81. I would looooove to get liposuction but I'm too chicken.

80. I know that a lot of people don't like their in laws but I love mine (and not just because they read this blog!!).

79. I got Honors in every subject in High School except for P.E. which I missed by ONE percentage point!!

78. My fingerprints are "worn out". I have had numerous problems with renewing my Green Card and Educator Licenses because no one can get a good print on me.

77. I'm the oldest of six kids.

76. I just got braces on my teeth and have lost 3 pounds in the last 3 days because I still can't chew anything and my cheeks are ripped to shreds.

75. I had braces once before when I was in 6th grade. Wear your retainer, kids!!

74. I set Brent up on a date with my younger sister, Stephanie.

73. I am Canadian.

72. I've never been successful in an attempt to water ski...No, you couldn't get me up either! Many have tried. All have failed.

71. When I was in grade 1 a friend of mine and I switched names while we had a long-term substitute. I realized this wasn't a good when we started reporting our assignment scores.

70. I have rescued a sheep and a goat from the same problem--head stuck in a fence. Stupid ovines.

69. I'm named after my mom's best friend who died when she was in Elementary school.
68. I have a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree from BYU. Go Cougars.
67. I'm a sucker for anything a kid is selling at the door.
66. I resisted tasting avocados and guacamole until a few years ago because of the color.
65. My favorite sound in the world is my kiddos' genuine belly laughs.
64. I participated in 4-H club and raised a bummer lamb named Sugar. (Steph's was named Pepsi.) It sold at auction for $67...a big deal to an 11-year-old.
63. If I had lots of $$$, I'd get weekly massages.
62. I own over 11 pairs of sunglasses.
61. I remember phone numbers very easily.
60. I looooove being an aunt! Spoiling nieces and nephews is so fun and I don't have to deal with the consequences of overindulged offspring!

59. I don't like even numbers or numbers that are divisible by 5.

58. I had a collection of feathers taped to the barn wall when I was younger which remembrance just made me dry heave...Think, "You can't get a disease from a bird," a la Michael Scott on The Office.
57. My fingernails hurt if I don't have polish on them.
56. I just attended my 20-year H.S. reunion and had a blast. Yeah, I wanted to be skinnier, more tan, more successful, etc. but I was surprised that I was mostly comfortable with myself and so VERY glad to see so many people from the past.
55. I would love to be head-turning beautiful for one day.
54. When I taught school my favorite students were trouble-making boys and teacher's pet girls.
53. I was a cheerleader in Jr. High.
52. I was 20 years old before I rode in an airplane.
51. I soooo wanted a Farah Fawcett Glamor Center head for Christmas one year.
50. The person who can make me laugh the hardest is my sister Stephanie.

49. I used to rock my school books at the bus stop because I was so used to holding babies. (See #77.)

48. My sister and I loved to watch the show, "CHiPs" when we were younger. The thought of Erik Estrada still makes me tingle...until someone (BRENT!!) emailed me this picture.
47. My sister Stephanie and I used to tell our sister Barbara that she was adopted. So sorry, Barbs.
46. I honestly used to think that eating a fruit-flavored milkshake was significantly better for you than a chocolate shake. I wish!
45. I have the same middle name as my mom and as my daughter.
44. When I was pregnant with Kenna and nearing the end of my Master's Degree, I applied for admission to and was accepted by the Counseling Psychology PhD program at BYU but decided against going. Maybe someday.
43. I've been a in Relief Society presidency 7 times.
42. I like yoga but rarely make the time to attend a class.
41. I love to play the card game, Rook.
40. I met Neleh Dennis (a Survivor contestant from Utah) and was the first person to get her autograph. We were on the same bus traveling to attend the Olympic Festival in downtown Salt Lake City in 2002.

39. Every once-in-a-while I get a craving for a corn dog.

38. My parents used to let me drive before I got my driver's license.
37. Once I drove into town when I was 15 and ignored my parents' rule to not drive anyone else around. I ran out of gas at a friend's house and had to have another friend's dad bail me out with some fuel from his gas station.
36. If there were a Diet Dr. Pepper Addicts Club, I'd be the president. "Hello. My name is Rita and I have a problem...a 2-44 oz mugs/day problem."
35. Once a couple at a gas station asked if I could "help them out" and buy them some gas. I agreed and told them to fill up their truck. This charitable impulse cost me $127. Ouch.
34. When I was in Europe, several men kissed me on the cheek or asked to have their picture taken with me because of my ORANGE hair.
33. I've never voted in a national election. I was not old enough or not in the country during Canadian elections and can't vote in the U.S.A.
32. I have a collection of keychains from places I've been. This started in Switzerland when I bought a cowbell keychain in most cities that I visited.
31. I resisted reading the Twilight series as long as I could. I gave in and am 1/3 finished the final book.
30. Since we finally took the dive and got Dish Network programming, I hardly ever watch anything that's not on HGTV (Home and Garden TV) or the Disney Channel. I've missed all sorts of bad local, state, national, and world news. I've never been so stylishly, ignorantly blissful.

29. Brent liked my roommate before he liked me.

28. I call our 61" television the Golden Calf. It feels like we worship it sometimes...The kids for the entertainment and me for the babysitting. I can't believe I just admitted that.
27. I always thought about doing Marriage and Family Therapy but decided to go into School Counseling when I taught at a Young Mother's High School for a year.
26. When I applied to graduate school, I almost indicated the wrong department--Educational Leadership rather than Educational Psychology. I might have been a Principal instead of a School Psychologist right now if I hadn't figured it out!
25. I believe that I am on the earth at this time for a reason...epidurals have now been invented.
24. I struggle with road rage. Use a signal light already, people...and use it to get out of the left lane.
23. Brent and I have a deal. If Cameron Diaz ever comes knocking, he is free to go. He loves her.
22. I've had stitches once. Stephanie and I got into a yelling match and she threw a pancake turner at me. It caught me right above the right eyebrow.
21. Little kids always ask me what my freckles are. "What are those SPOTS, SPECKLES, DOTS, SPECKS, etc.?" My favorite..."What are all those SPARKLES on you?"
20. I could drink hot chocolate by the gallon.

19. I want to marry Mr. Goodbar.

18. To celebrate(?) the year of my 40th birthday, I have a goal to run the Utah Grand Slam--4 to 6 Utah Marathons. (Ogden, Salt Lake, Deseret News, Park City, Top of Utah, St. George)
17. My life is like treading water in a sea of guilt. Someone throw me a life preserver already!!
16. Whenever we played "Charlie's Angels" with my cousins as kids, I wanted to be Kelly but they made me be Sabrina because I was the smart one.
15. My brother threw an ice cube tray at me the day before Grade 9 Honor Night. I sported a bruised, fat lip for the occasion.
14. Lortab makes me LOOPY...my body crashes but my mind goes nuts. I hate it.
13. I like to play Mario Kart on GameCube with my kids. Too bad Todd can beat me 99% of the time now.
12. I can't dive. I get scared at the last minute and jerk my head up to ensure a BELLYFLOP. D'oh.
11. I'm not a fan of Mexican food.
10. I'm a picky eater but not nearly as bad as Todd or my dad.

9. In grade 11 I went through a short stint of skipping school. Two of the truant activities I recall were: watching "Dirty Dancing" in a friend's basement and shooting a pistol at a weasel in a field by another friend's home.
8. I cried when Princess Diana died. It still makes me sad.
7. I like and feel compelled to write complaint letters. Hey, people and companies need to know how lame they are.
6. I'm always cold.
5. I loved my English 30 class (grade 12) and CRIED a LOT at home and to the teacher when I didn't get an 'a' on the provincial departmental exam worth 50% of my final grade. (Missed it by 4 percentage points!!) I re-took it the following semester and did very well.
4. I got to work at a florist shop during the Mother's Day rush one year after I had taken a floral design course at BYU. Totally fun.
3. I like to have poetry read to me.
2. I took the ACT twice in order to improve my chances of getting a scholarship. I didn't bother to calculate many of the answers on the Math section on my second time through because I remembered them from the first time!
1. I'm a pretty boring person. (Wouldn't you agree?!)

Twinners

When I scheduled Todd for his initial orthodontic consultation, I decided to check into braces for myself too. Our dental insurance would only cover a portion of Todd's braces and NONE of mine so I waited a few months to get mine on. Last Thursday was the magic day and I've already lost 3 pounds because I can't chew anything. The inside of my cheeks are shredded and my teeth are still aching. This is quite the exercise in empathy for Todd's pain. He hasn't complained very much at all so I am feeling very wimpy but I'm going to continue to whine anyway.

THIS HURTS!!!

It's a lot cuter when it's someone else's kid.

How many times in the last two weeks do you suppose that I talked to this kid about writing on paper only? I should have counted but I'll just leave it as SEVERAL. It was easier to get these marker scribbles off of his skin (including a spot in each ear!!) than it was the walls and door he targeted a few days ago but still. Alec is lucky he's child #3 and so darn cute or he'd have been dropped off down by the BINGO hall by now.

The piano lesson debate

Todd has been taking piano lessons since 2nd grade, Kenna since 1st and it's time to start up again after summer break. Last year I struggled to find a balance with this issue and so I'm hoping someone can give me some advice.

Piano Lessons. To take or not to take???

Here are the things constantly rolling through my brain:

• We loooove our teacher. She makes it fun and offers the right amount of external reward for practicing and performance.


• Both kids are 'smart' enough to learn and play decently but musical talent doesn't register on either's list of strengths.


• I am not as attentive to scheduling practice time as I need to be. Sometimes we end up with 1 or 2 practices before lessons instead of 5 or 6 like we should.


• Getting them to practice can be a fight since it's not as regular a requirement as it should be (my fault) but why do I think that they would WANT to do anything that doesn't involve quantity sugar consumption or computer games? Do they WANT to unload the dishwasher? NO. Should learning to playing the piano feel like a chore? Maybe...for a while until you figure out the benefits.


• Not practicing means that they don't perform as well and so they don't feel the intrinsic motivation of success.


• For the qualifications of our teacher, our relationship with her, etc., piano lessons are a true VALUE but I don't want to pay for anything that makes me fight with my kids.


• Overscheduling is sometimges an issue. Homework, Piano, Sports, Art, Scouts, Activity Days. It gets to be a lot even for just two kids.

What to do? What to do? I want my kids to know how to play the piano. I wish that I played better and well remember my mother telling me I would! Give me some advice you Ann Landers types. :-)

Stand in Dad.

Kenna's last Activity Days event was a Daddy-Daughter kickball game. Because it was scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m., Brent couldn't be there to kick all the other dads'...I mean, participate. I resigned to dawn a happy attitude and running shoes to fill in for Brent.

When I explained the dilemma to Todd, he exuberantly volunteered to "be Brent" before I got out my request that he watch Alec while I played! What a rockin' big brother! He played and treated Kenna like gold the whole time. Incidentally, he was also the only "dad" who didn't look like he might pass out from over-exertion.

McCRAZY

Considering that I am a former Home Economics teacher, it is CRAZY (okay, PATHETIC) how many of our dinners are provided by the rampant (and eeevil) FAST FOOD industry. (Why would anyone cook when you can get a pizza at Little Ceasar's for $5?!)

I don't have the will to enforce a 'this is what we're having for dinner and if you don't like it you can go hungry' rule and we can all find something we like on the lighted McDonald's menu board.

Does it count as a family meal if we eat our McFOOD on our dining room table together?

Kenna can't drive.

Brent told me about something cute that Kenna did while I was out of town at my 20 year reunion. It made him smile but also feel a little useless.

Kenna saw a shirt in a weekly ad and asked Brent if he would drive her to ShopKo to see it. She took a copy of the ad and asked a salesperson where she could find the shirt. She chose her correct size and tried it on in a fitting room. She didn't even bother to okay the fit or style with Brent. She took the shirt to the checkout and purchased it with her own money. It's DARLING and so is she! Brent chuckled and admitted that the only purpose he filled in the whole event was to drive her to the store. What a grown up little honey!

Brace Face

Todd got braces in June. Since when did this become cool? I remember a closed-mouth, half- smile in my grade 6 picture to hide my metal mouth but Todd loves his new tracks. He even passed up the option for clear brackets and was extra excited to adorn them blue and silver elastics in honor of BYU. I love this kid. He looks so cute and grown up to me!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Pilling

It's my dad's 64th birthday. He is a wonderful father. He gives the best advice ("I care, but not that much!"), is so funny, and always listens to my and life's successes and complaints.
I love you, Dad.

He's a great dad but he's an even better GRANDPA. My kiddos love this guy! He thinks everything they are, do, or say is amazing. He always has time and energy for a farm tour, bike ride, or horse tutorial. They adore him even when he teases.

Runnin', runnin' and runnin', runnin...

I'm not fast or cute in a running skirt but I run. Actually, my pace makes me more jogger than runner but here's why I like to run.

• Anyone can run BUT not everyone does. Running sets me apart from others--not because I'm great at it but solely because I get out and do it. I'm more a diligent worker rather than talented in most things I do in my life. Running fits this category.
• Running gives me a feeling of accomplishment. Some days I don’t get much done. Regardless of desire, planning, or exertion I often end the day with looming unfinished projects--a messy house, reports due for work, kids that haven’t been read to enough, etc.. I can withstand the discouragement of an unproductive day if I have run. At least I finished something!
• Running allows me personal success. My kids have quit asking if I won when return home from a race because they know the answer. I will NEVER win a race but I can achieve PR (personal record) goals. Even with the interfering factors of weather, injury, hydration, etc., running primarily depends on my preparation and effort. I try not to compare myself to other runners (because I won’t compete) but I can compare myself to the other 38 year-old women who are still sleeping when I get home from a training run or race.
• Running gives me confidence. When I am consistent in my training, I feel smarter, more out-going, and more confident in everything I try. I think that the small goals I attain with running trigger me to attempt achievement in other areas and help me to take failure in stride.
• Running disciplines me. I’ve got a spouse, three children, a part-time career, and church responsibilities. Balance can be difficult to find but I believe that the self-discipline I gain from running helps me balance the other areas of my life. If I carve out the time to run and plan my training for growth, other things tend to fall in line.
  

So...I haven’t quoted any scientific evidence claiming that increased endorphins from running are keeping me from spending a fortune on Prozac but these are my reasons. Be they illogical, unfounded, completely false, or plain old touchy-feely, they work for me.

I am a runner.

Zimmerman Grandkids

It has been said that

GRANDKIDS
are life's reward for not killing
your children.

Scott and Beverly must have had it tough raising seven kids but I'm glad they plugged through. The Zimmerman genes mixed well with the lucky seven spouses they chose :-)

They're not my grandkids but it is super fun being an auntie to these beautiful, intelligent, crazy nieces and nephews. They are my children that didn't leave stretchmarks and that I don't have to fight put to bed at night. I love them.

Top to bottom and left to right, they are:
Kylie-13, Todd-11, Davion-11, Dani-11, Jacob-8, Kenna-8, Jeniel-7, Gehrig-6, David-4, Skylar-4, Alec-3, Xavier-2, Grace-2, Abbey-2, Trevor-1, June-1, Gabriel-0.5.

We did it...

We stayed married for 15 years!!

Brent and celebrated our 15th anniversary (married January 15, 1993) by traveling to Hawaii in March 2008. It was so great that I was checking for flights to go back three days after we arrived home.
Here's what we did on our island trip:

Tuesday

• Our sweet neighbor friend and Delta Airlines employee, Cindy, offered us an opportunity to purchase *BUDDY* passes to Hawaii back in November. I refused her generosity several times before I gave in when she assured me they would go to waste. March 11th came sooner than I could imagine and we flew a 6 hour-non-stop flight from Salt Lake to Honolulu. We rented an orange Mustang convertible, found hotel, and ate dinner at McDonald's. We were pretty tired and went to bed at 9:00 p.m. (midnight Utah time).
  

Wednesday

• Shopping at the Honolulu Swap Meet was so fun. We picked up lots of cute, cheap souvenirs. I wish we would have saved this activity for one of the last days that we were there so that I knew better what to get but it was great anyway. We picked up lots of T-shirts, foam flower hair clips, key chains, shell jewlery, and a mandatory ukelele.
• We made a brief stop at Pearl Harbor. We looked around a bit and took some pictures but since niether one of us are big World War II buffs, we didn't stay long. I didn't want Brent to start thinking too much about the government's unnecessarily large and IMMORAL role in our lives. (Insert rolling eyes here!!)
• Waikiki Aquarium was small but lovely. We learned the Hawaiian names of some of the beautiful tropical fish and enjoyed the nice day.
• Northern Waikiki Beach was right behind our hotel--accessible, beautiful, and so fun. How could a beach not be? We relaxed and watched thousands of others doing the same thing. Yeah, it was somewhat crowded but still magical.
  

Thursday

• On the recommendation of many, we visited the Dole Plantation. We took a train tour around the pineapple fields. The plants looked way different than I imagined and the iron-rich, red soil looked like something straight from Southern Utah. We cankered our mouths with the delicious fresh pineapple and Brent downed some Dole Whip (pineapple sherbet). Soooo delicious.
• We decided on a whim to drive to the North Shore since it wasn't too far from the pineapple plantation. The legendary waves are legendary for a reason and we enjoyed watching some surfers try their luck. We were able to see several sea turtles in a small cove but were equally entertained by a crazy lady who was going nuts at the sight of them and who even tried to touch one! We purchased some snorkeling equipment for Brent at a great surf shop and he tested it out in a tide pool near Shark Cove the sun set. I got some great photos of the orange horizon. If an inept photographer like me can get pics like that, you know that you're in a beautiful place!

Friday

• We left at 5:00 am for "Wildlife" tour, catamaran ride. We were unable to find any dolphins to see or swim with but were were able to snorkel with sea turtles, see an amazing flying fish and a mommy and baby humpback whale. Absolutely amazing!
• Back to the North Shore and Hawaiian temple. The Visitors' Center missionaries gave me a flower for my hair as we toured the grounds--beautiful and serene.
• BYU Hawaii was fun. The campus wasn't anything terribly exciting or special but I loved the circle of flags in front of the student center and picked up some fun souvenirs for my sisters who once attended there.
• The Polynesian Cultural Center was phenomenal. We took a lovely canoe ride through the "villages", attended a luau and dinner, and were stunned by the grandeur of the famed Night Show.

Saturday

• Because we'd had such a long, touristy day on Friday, we relaxed on Saturday with a little shopping, beach visit, and a delicious outdoor dinner at a fun restaurant--Waikiki Cheeseburger.

Sunday

• We took a short hike to the top of Diamond Head and took in the great view as Brent cursed getting sweaty!
• Hanauma Bay was crowded but we loved it anyway. I was a little more brave with my snorkeling attempts this time and saw sea turtles, coral, and dozens of species of fish including eels.

Monday

• Knowing we were leaving this evening, we kept things simple with our third trip to the North side of the island. Wiamea Falls and Botanical Gardens was a relaxing and beautiful end to our holiday.
• Our non-stop flight during the night was uneventful but not very relaxing. I didn't sleep much and was dog tired when we arrived home Tuesday morning at 7:45 a.m.

It was so great to be alone as a couple, unstressed by the petty pound of daily chores and schedules. It was fun to remember what I love about Brent--his sweet sincerity, unbound intellect, sense of humor, and rugged good looks. (Okay, I threw that last one in just in case he reads this!). I love him and think I'll make it for another 15 years :-)

Giving in...

Welcome! I've been putting off blogging because I'm paralyzed that I can't be clever, deep, or interesting enough to hold the attention of my readers. In the war against chronic self-consciousness, I have finally given in to the BLOG craze. Here are my reasons:

It should deaden my guilt for not being a better journal writer.

Since I abandoned scrapbooking a few years ago, I haven't had a medium for bragging about my cute kids.

I want to document more than just the big events in our lives. Many hilarious and precious moments happen apart from holidays and milestones.

I look forward to introducing you to the people that I love and sharing the lessons that I learn day by day. It truly is a good life.