Hallmark Movies Should Have a Warning Lable

                                                                                                      

Confession, I LOVE Hallmark movies. The picture above is one of my favorites. I love the simplicity, the innocence, the happy endings and the cheese (the cheesier the better). A few months ago the Hallmark channel stopped working at my house and you better believe that I called the direct TV repair man that day. Today as I was folding my laundry I turned on the Hallmark channel to a movie that went a little like this. A good looking widower and his daughter live in a small town. A beautiful woman moves into the town and the daughter plots to get the woman and her dad together. I know, I know, it sounds sappy, but it was pretty much the best thing ever. The problem is that Hallmark movies are, well, how do I say this....not real! Maybe these stories are real for some people, but definitely not for me.  Let me explain. Today at the grocery store I was looking for fajita mix.  I was standing next to a man with three boys looking for something on the same shelf. We made short conversation about not being able to find the fajita mix and how it was a coincidence that we were looking for the same thing. I eventually found it, handed him one and left the isle. As I walked around the store these were my thoughts (don’t judge). He was a good looking guy, I bet he is a widower, how sweet of him to take his boys grocery shopping with him, I bet those boys could really use a mom, maybe I could be thier mom. As embarrassed as I am to admit this, I walked around the store trying to track this guy down and prove my theory. I saw him at the checkout stand, checked out his left hand and then reality hit....HE WAS MARRIED! Of course he was, life is NOT a Hallmark movie. This my friends is exactly why I am going to send a letter to the Hallmark channel and demand that they put a warning label on every Hallmark movie.

Well, maybe I won’t, but I'm definitely going to take a break from the Hallmark channel. I'll just stick with reality TV. That stuff is for real right?

Layton High School Officers

My cute friend Cristy and I are the advisors for the officers at Layton high.  It is one of my favorite parts of my job.  These kids CRACK ME UP!  They give me dating advice, tease me, and make me feel like the most important and capable person ever.  I LOVE them.

The SBO officers

 

All of the officers (Senior, Junior, Sophomore and SBO)

Lesson Learned:  I am 100% sure that the Lord knows exactly what I need and want.  He wants to give me  those things, but because He is all knowing, He waits for the right time.  When I was in Junior high I wanted so badly to be a student officer.  I tried twice and didn't make it either time.  I remember being so disappointed that I wasn't going to get to wear the coveted officer sweater.  Ten years later I finally get to wear one.  Life is all about timing.

The Day in the Life of a Teacher

This video pretty much sums up my job.  I laugh every time I watch it.   ENJOY!

http://www.schooltube.com/video/30747e2e060f4e4efc5b/Seinfeld-Teaches-History

Sugar Glider

Have you ever heard of a sugar glider before?  Did you know it was one of these?

Today I took my art class to the park to do a value drawing. It was wonderful. I love drawing at the park! Anyway, as I was walking around checking on all of my students one of the girls said, "It's a little cold outside," and then the boy next to her said, "yeah my sugar glider is cold." Sugar Glider? I quickly sorted through the high school slang that I have picked up over the last 5 years to help me out, you know things like sick, ight, bad, etc. A sugar glider, yeah, I had no idea. After swearing not to tell the  principal, my student pulled a black sock out of his pocket, rolled the cuff down, and out poked a cute little flying squirrel. He went on to tell me that they are all the rage. According to this website, they are nicknamed pocket pets. For only $100 you can have one of your very own ;) Wow, if focusing in school wasn't hard enough lets just add a flying squirrel.

I'm going to work on bringing the tomagotchi pets back. They were pretty cool right? ;) Remember those?

Gardening with Dallin

This week is my spring break. It has been wonderful! My mom had to work today, which meant that I got to spend the day with this kid. Man I love him!

We decided to plant part of my garden. I planted beans, peas, onions and lettuce. Dallin planted sticks, rocks, and bark. Dont worry he even used Miracle Grow. Given my lack of success with a garden last year, I'm a little nervous that Dallin's garden will put mine to shame. ;)

Lesson Learned:

There is happiness is simplicity. Any of you who know Dallin know that the small things make him happy. You make the kid a cheese sandwich and he gives you a hug while saying "thank you, this makes me SOOO happy." As Dallin and I were driving in my car today singing along at the top of our lungs to Sieze the Day from the movie Newsies, I thought to myself "this is what happiness is."

I love this quote by Joseph Smith, "Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if will pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God."

Happiness comes from the simplicity of obedience. We are meant to be happy! I'm so glad Dallin is here to remind me.

27, My Favorite Year So Far

Today I read an article that said that old age begins at 27. Read it here. My first thought was "Man, I misplace my keys at least twice a day, it must be true." My second thought however was "Are you kidding me?" followed by a few eye rolls. I loved (a very sarcastic love) that the picture they used for this article was one of Beyonce with a caption saying the she is "past her mental peak." Maybe I'm being rediculous, but did Beyonce have an amazing mental capablilty before she was 27? That was rude, sorry...but come on, they chose to use Beyonce!?! Anyway, my point is that I love being 27! I am happier, more confident, and am learning more about life than ever before. If this is what "old" age is, then BRING IT ON.

Here are just a few reasons why I have loved being 27.

1. I became an aunt! My little brother Neal and his wife, Becca, had a little girl named Lydia. Being an aunt is wonderful! Sure, I would love to be married and have my own little girl, but until that happens, bring on the nieces and nephews!

2. I'm realizing more and more every day that I dont want to be "normal," I want to be myself. I want to be quirky, a little nerdy, and even obnoxiously optimistic. Hey, if Flo can do it, so can I.

3. My friend Kami and I went back to El Salvador (that's where I served my mission) for the dedication of the temple. We also went to Costa Rica and Nicaragua to visit some of our friends. It was wonderful. It was exactly what I needed spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

4. I bought this little beauty! A 2012 Ford Focus. Candy-apple RED. Buying it was very unlike me. I'm usually very frugal and logical about big purchases....but then I thought WHY NOT? I bought it, and love everything about it. I'll just blame "old age" for effecting my sense of reason.

Recently I have thought a lot about the quote by Joseph B Wirthlin, "Come what may and LOVE IT." Believing/following that has made all the difference for me this year.

Joseph B Wirthlin said that when he was 91 years old...."27 is the peak of a persons mental capacity"....?.... I don't believe a word of it.

Bad date stories to tell my kids one day

Good times #1

My good friend set me up a few months ago with one of his friends. After an awkward dinner he invited me to play games at his house. While driving to his house he explained to me that he is a night security guard, so he would need to change into his uniform because he was going straight to work after dropping me off at the end of the date. He then said, "Although I'm sure you wont mind because girls like a guy in uniform ;)" GAG ME. We got to his house where he gave me a complete tour of his house including his alphabetized dvd collection and food storage. My favorite part was the excessive amount of vinal lettering all over the house. When I asked about it, he told me that his former girlfriend had taught him how to do it. Odd? Maybe it's just me. After playing games, he changed into his "uniform" and said "don't worry I'm not wearing my gun belt, I didn't want to scare you." I smiled and secretly rolled my eyes.

Good times #2

I happened to sit next to this guy in sacrament meeting one Sunday. The next Sunday he walked up as I was talking to a friend and gave me a note. The note had his name and number and said "maybe we can get together sometime." I decided what the heck and sent him a text. He ended up asking me out for the next Friday. He picked me up, and between my house and the restaurant he told me his entire life story. It went a little like this. "So, I went on a mission, but came home to Flordia early because I was sick. While living at home I got in a really bad car accident where the person in the other car died. I decided to go to school at BYU but because I was so depressed about the accident I gained 300 pounds, stopped going to school and became inactive. I moved back to Flordia, had gastric bipass surgery and lost the weight. Loosing the weight gave me more confidence so I started sleeping around with girls. But don't worry I'm active in the church now." I pretty much wanted to open the door and jump out. The icing on the cake came while we were at dinner. I mentioned that I had five younger brothers who happened to be taller than me. He looked at me for a second and then said, "wow they must be tall because you're a big girl." I was drinking water when he said that and started choking. He then said, "Oh, sorry was that offensive?" HELLO! The rest of the date was thankfully uneventful, and I wasn't sad to see it end.