Happy Birthday and the Best Husband

Well I have made it to 26 years old. It seems really old to me but maybe that is because my cute adorable husband keeps reminding me that he is only 24 right now. I had a wonderful day. We went up to Bountiful on the 23rd to see the parade so that we wouldn't have to get up early on the 24th. It was nice except something happened that postponed it for about 20 minutes. Well we weren't going to sweat to death waiting so we left. We went over to Jeff's friends house for fireworks which were awesome and headed home. On the 24th we were able to celebrate my birthday with my family. It was a great day filled with delicious food from the Gray Cliff Lodge. Neither Jeff nor I have ever been there, but it was one to remember. They fill you pretty full. We then went back to our house and did our own fireworks and ate Chocolate Pie. It was a very nice day with my family.

I also want to mention how wonderful my husband is. He is definitely one of a kind. I think it must be from growing up with 5 sisters. He didn't want any help getting my birthday presents this year. He did it all on his own and he did such a good job. He paid attention to hints I gave over the last few months and showered me with everything I love. I am amazed at his ability to get the perfect gifts every holiday. He always outdoes himself and surprises me with things I actually love. Now I dated many guys that didn't have a clue about gifts for girls so I am pretty excited that I have a husband that does such a great job. Thanks Jeff!!! I love you!

Washington D.C.

So my plan was that I would update my blog regularly during Jeff and my trip to D.C. this last couple of weeks, but unfortunately time just got away from us and all we had time to do was walk around all day and crash when we made it back home. The few days we did get home early were completely taken up by our really cute nieces (which was fine by us). So instead I will show some of the pictures we took along the way.Here we are the first day walking and walking and walking to see all the memorials we could. We were excited to start and we saw everything we could. That day alone w e started with a tour of the White House and then went and saw the Washington Monument, the WWII memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, the Lincoln Monument, The Old Post office, and Rob's work.Day two included a long walk to go see the Jefferson Monument and other sights along that area of town. We also got a chance to go through many of the Smithsonian museums that day.

Finally on day three we got to relax a little since it was the 4th of July. Here are some pictures of us at the US Capital, where we went to see the fireworks. And of course a picture of our sweet new niece Jocelyn. (What a cutie!!!)The next week started out with my favorite part of the trip, a walk around Arlington Cemetery. Here is a picture of the Unknown Solder and the Solder that guards his tomb. That was a neat thing to see. We also drove out to Mt. Vernon and took a tour of Washington's house, and a short stop to look at the Washington D.C. temple.For the next two days we traveled up to New York on a bus and spent our anniversary up there. We were able to go see my favorite thing about New York - Wicked, and something Jeff really wanted to see- The Statue of Liberty. They were a very packed two days as we tried to fit in everything we could along with a 5 hour bus trip and then another 2 hours on the Metro. Thursday we returned back to D.C. to see the Capital building, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, Holocaust Memorial, and then to stay late to see the monuments at night. This day started off wonderful since all the first buildings were all right around each other. By mid-day though that wasn't the case and after that day was over we had walked about 16 miles. Boy were we tired. Here is a picture of Jeff at the Capital, me at the Library of Congress, and the monuments at night.Friday we took a trip with Meredith and the girls out to Monticello to see Thomas Jefferson's house. This had to be my favorite tour because the tour guide was so knowledgeable. It was a fun day to spend with the girls. The last day in Washington was probably Jeff's favorite. We went and looked around the National Air and Space Museum (here is a picture of the Wright brothers plane) and then hung around to eat at Fogo De Chao - a Brazilian Restaurant. After that day we just packed up and on Monday we went out to Baltimore with the kids to an Aquarium then out to eat and back on the plane to come home. What an awesome trip we took.

Off to Washington We Go

It is finally here. On Wednesday Jeff and I leave for Washington D.C. to visit Jeff's sister and her family and to see all that Washington has to offer. I have never been back there and Jeff hasn't been since he was a little boy so we are really excited. It took us two years to save enough money for this trip and now we are only a day and a half away. It still doesn't seem real though since we bought our tickets about 5 months ago and didn't really plan what we were wanting to do until just a week or so ago. I couldn't ever get Jeff to sit down and plan anything out before then. But now we have a pretty good idea of what we are going to do and what we are going to see and I can now get excited about it. I can't wait to leave. We are also going up to New York for our anniversary and I convinced Jeff to take me to Wicked (my new favorite Musical). I love my husband. He is so sweet and wonderful for taking me on this trip. I am also excited to see my beautiful nieces. Jeff's sister has four of the cutest girls in the world and we can't wait to play with them. This is definitely our trip of a lifetime.

End of School and Airshow

YEA!!!! School is over for another year. I actually have some mixed emotions this year because I had a wonderful group of kids. Two years ago I really struggled with my students, and actually thought to myself a few times that maybe I shouldn't be a teacher anymore, but this year redeemed all that. My students were great! They listened and worked really hard, and after I saw their End of Level Scores I felt like I really am where I need to be. It was pretty rewarding, and so to know that this year is over and I get to start all over again was pretty sad. I guess though it is a new adventure each year and I should be excited for that. Well after having a pretty stressful last month of school, Jeff and I were able to go have some fun this weekend. We started out Friday going to a car show in Ogden. Jeff loved it, and I thought that nothing would top that experience for him. I was wrong. Saturday afternoon we headed up to the Airshow at Hill Air Force Base. Jeff left that night after watching the Thunderbirds saying that there is nothing in the world he has ever seen that was cooler than seeing those planes. I probably have to agree. They were really neat. Jeff has even started looking up their schedule to see if they will do another show anywhere close to Utah. We found a show at Reno over Jeff's birthday so we may be planning a fun vacation to Reno in a few months!!!

Happy Graduation

Well, we have finally reached a Milestone. Jeff has 4 more days of school and he will be a Salt Lake Community Graduate. He has worked really hard in his program and finished all he can do now at SLCC. He has to now go on to the University of Utah. It is great that he is almost finished, but at the same time it is sad that we will be spending so much more for school than in the past, and it is further drive for him. But we do what we have to do. I am so proud of all the work he has put in to his education, and being a wonderful husband as well. I hope he knows that I am so proud and so excited for him to be graduating and getting his Associates Degree. Just a few more years to go!!!! Congrats hun!

SPRING BREAK

I can't believe I finally made it to this week. I know that kids just love having time off of school and I have to admit as much as I love teaching, I get really excited for spring break as well. Now I just have to figure out what to do with my time. Today I spent the whole time paying bills and getting my car registered. That isn't really the most fun way to spend my break, but I guess I have to get it done so I might as well do it now. Tomorrow Jeff and I get to play though, so that will be fun. It is funny because when we first were dating we thought that when we got married we would have so much time to spend with each other, but in reality we spend less because of our work and school schedules. We have to just enjoy the few days off we get to spend with each other. So we will try to find something fun for tomorrow. The rest of the week is just relaxing for me. That is fun, but feels like a waste. Hopefully I can find something exciting so that I can feel like I spent my Spring Break in a good way!!!

Babies

It seems like babies are all around us lately. Jeff has had two sisters who have recently just had babies and we have some friends that are trying to have children right now as well. It has been interesting to us because we are not ready to start trying to have children quite yet, but with all the things surrounding us it sure does make us think. I was actually thinking about the parents we will be in the future and if our children will be like us in any ways. I know that Jeff and I have many differences, especially with how we view school and how we viewed school as children. I think though from our recent expenses that our children will be a nutty, fun combination of both of us. For instance I think that whenever I think about my own childhood I think back to school. I loved school and everything that surrounded it. I would go home from school and teach my sister all I learned. I am sure she hated me for it, but she at least put up with me all those years. From that love I have become a school teacher, and now spend far too much money on reading centers and activities to help my students love school as much as I do. Jeff jokes that our kids won't know how to play normal games because they will have too many learning games to play. Jeff on the other hand was the type of child that took things apart and built them back again. I therefore see a whole bunch of little engineers running around our house taking everything apart and probably driving me nuts doing it. At least they will have a dad that can help them put them back together again. I see that in Jeff every time he buys a new K'nex roller coaster and creates new and different ways to use and build them. He is so creative. So when we finally do get around to having kids they will probably have a little bit of a love for school and a little bit of a love to build and that is fine with me!