Dear Blogger Friends and Readers (if there are any of you left),
I must apologize for my almost year of absence! Life has been busy, but mostly with work, Marc starting a new job (almost a year ago), and moving. We really haven't done anything I find to be blog worthy in that time. The last year has definitely been a roller coaster. We did got on a family vacation to San Diego this summer, I will post the pictures once I pull them from my phone. I promise to blog again soon! We have finally settled into life again and can plan fun things! In fact, I guarantee the fun we have planned next week will be blogged about and will redeem my self from my hiatus. Stay tuned! You won't want to miss it!
Mel
Monday, September 26, 2011
Monday, November 15, 2010
We Are Thankful For...
With Thanksgiving right around the corner and this month being one to reflect on our gratitude, we decided to make a list of some of the things that we are thankful for in our lives, some are silly, and some are more serious, but they are all things that we are grateful for this Holiday Season!
His:
A Wife That Cooks Good Food
Star Wars
Xbox
My R2 D2 Droid
Dogs
Food That Can Be Delivered
Lazy Saturdays
Breakfast In Restaurants
Kung Fu Movies
Toilets
Fresh Fruit
Swimming Pools
My Mission
That I Was Able To Find A Job In A Rough Economy
Brothers
Hers:
Rain
Pretty Flowers
Hot Chocolate
Warm Blankets
My Bed
A Clean House
A Dishwasher
A Washing Machine
A Husband That Likes My Cooking
Creativity
Music
Smiling Faces
My Dads Garden
That We Live In A Big City
Modern Medicine
Ice Cream
My Primary Class
That Marc Served A Mission
A Brother & Father That Served Missions (And Another Leaving Soon)
Clothes To Wear
Theirs:
Family
The Temple
Each Other
The Gospel
Scriptures
Education
Good Jobs
Our Home
Health & Safety
Eternal Marriage
The Temple
Each Other
The Gospel
Scriptures
Education
Good Jobs
Our Home
Health & Safety
Eternal Marriage
That We Have Nice Things
Time Together
Technology
Yummy Food
Modern Conveniences
That We Can Live In Arizona
That We Have Family SO Close
Freedom
People That Fight For Our Freedom
Our Country
Good Friends
A Car That Works
Hobbies & Talents
The Savior
The Prophet
Local Church Leaders
Holidays (Paid Time Off)
Good Books
Answers To Prayers
Spiritual Experiences
The Holy Ghost
That We Can Be With Our Families Forever
Tasty Treats
Missionaries
Family Vacations
And Much Much More...
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Summer Getaway...
This Summer we were lucky enough to be able to spend a week with my family at our camp in Maine! It was a crazy trip! We left on a Friday night and took a red eye, which we will probably never do again, and I will also say never wake up on a plane and eat airport breakfast for your birthday...Happy 24th birthday to me! Anyway, my brother who is in Idaho flew to Phoenix and we met him and flew to Maine with him. Even though we didn't get to talk, it was nice to have him along, and it wasn't until a few days before that we realized that we would fly with him. We had a a layover in Philly, then flew to Bangor Maine. After we got to the airport we got a ca to take us to get the rental car. We still had about a 2 hour drive to camp. It is pretty tricky to find, but we found it without any trouble! When we pulled up in front of the driveway, my grandma, sister and brother jumped out in front of us with balloons and sticks on their heads pretending to be moose! I didn't get any pictures, but it was definitely a sight to see!
My mom and grandma had made a yummy birthday lunch. We ate and opened presents, then we played in the water. Here are a few picts! I know this is a gross pic, but the water was really cold, we were a little chicken to get in and if we had the camera, the boys wouldn't throw us in! It is always hard for my to dive right in though, the lake is 80 ft deep right off our dock, yeah, that is scary, plus it takes me a bit to get over the swimming with wildlife, and eels thing, my parents would tell you some pretty embarrassing stories from when I was younger and too scared to get in, but we will save those for another time!
The Sunset was beautiful that night, here are a few pictures, but a big warning, I love the Maine Sunsets, so there will be plenty pictures of sunsets! Sorry some of the pics are dark, I haven't had time to lighten them up.
The first Sunday we were there was 4th of July. There is a little town about 40 minutes from our camp that we LOVE to go to on the 4th. They have a town party there is music craft booths, yummy food and beautiful weather. There is a lake that the town is built around. For the 4th people go out on the lake in their boats and crowd around the edges of the lake to watch. They take a boat out into the middle of the lake and set off the fireworks, they reflect off the water and are so pretty. I didn't get any pictures, I forgot my camera at the house, but believe be, it was beautiful and so fun! The weather was great!
The next day was my brothers last day before he went back to school so we went and hiked. The mountain we hiked is the one that is in the sunset pictures. Here is a play by play of our hike, it was pretty hot and took us about 4 or 5 hours from start to end, but this isn't a nice easy hike!
The next day we went to Bar Harbor Maine! We ate yummy food and had fun walking in the shops. We went and stuck our feet in the Atlantic Ocean. Marc called his parents because they were in San Diego playing at the beach and we thought it was pretty funny they were at the Pacific Ocean while we were at the Atlantic Ocean on the other side of the country! Here we are with the ocean in the back ground eating our delicious ice cream. We went through blueberry withdrawals after that trip!
On the drive home we found an LL Bean outlet and couldn't pass it up! They had great deals and we each got some fun stuff! We decided we were going to stop at a fun ice cream place that we love on the way back. We had driven in two different cars, so my brother and sister came with us. We were a little surprised when we pulled up and my parents and grandma were there too. They stopped at the store on the way back and we went on ahead. As we were driving we saw a moose running along the side of the road. It got scared back into the woods but we sat and watched it for awhile.
We always have a work day at camp. Since so many families share it we all pitch in when we are there it make it look great! This last year a new cabin was finished on our land. There were a bunch of trees that had to be cleared so that the cabin could be built. My parents rented a wood chipper and we spent 8 hours clearing trees and plants around the camp. It was so hot that day! We took tons of water brakes and a lunch break but we were beat, and dirty! But since we were right by the lake, we jumped in clothes an all and that was the BEST part of the day! Here we are getting our much needed swim after working all day!
We had so much fun going out at night looking for moose in the boat and showing Marc around camp. Here are a few more pics of how we spent the evenings. The first pic is a loon that swam right by us. There was also a beaver that would swim around the dock at about the same time. It was so fun!
Here are a few more sunset pics and some of us walking across the train tracks. The train used to be how our family got into camp. They would stop and have to carry their bags all the way to camp. The train still goes through camp, but it doesn't stop anymore. The bridge is super scary, if you are like me and scared of heights! I made Marc hold my hand the whole way! I was so scared I would fall!
My mom and grandma had made a yummy birthday lunch. We ate and opened presents, then we played in the water. Here are a few picts! I know this is a gross pic, but the water was really cold, we were a little chicken to get in and if we had the camera, the boys wouldn't throw us in! It is always hard for my to dive right in though, the lake is 80 ft deep right off our dock, yeah, that is scary, plus it takes me a bit to get over the swimming with wildlife, and eels thing, my parents would tell you some pretty embarrassing stories from when I was younger and too scared to get in, but we will save those for another time!
The Sunset was beautiful that night, here are a few pictures, but a big warning, I love the Maine Sunsets, so there will be plenty pictures of sunsets! Sorry some of the pics are dark, I haven't had time to lighten them up.
The first Sunday we were there was 4th of July. There is a little town about 40 minutes from our camp that we LOVE to go to on the 4th. They have a town party there is music craft booths, yummy food and beautiful weather. There is a lake that the town is built around. For the 4th people go out on the lake in their boats and crowd around the edges of the lake to watch. They take a boat out into the middle of the lake and set off the fireworks, they reflect off the water and are so pretty. I didn't get any pictures, I forgot my camera at the house, but believe be, it was beautiful and so fun! The weather was great!
The next day was my brothers last day before he went back to school so we went and hiked. The mountain we hiked is the one that is in the sunset pictures. Here is a play by play of our hike, it was pretty hot and took us about 4 or 5 hours from start to end, but this isn't a nice easy hike!
The next day we went to Bar Harbor Maine! We ate yummy food and had fun walking in the shops. We went and stuck our feet in the Atlantic Ocean. Marc called his parents because they were in San Diego playing at the beach and we thought it was pretty funny they were at the Pacific Ocean while we were at the Atlantic Ocean on the other side of the country! Here we are with the ocean in the back ground eating our delicious ice cream. We went through blueberry withdrawals after that trip!
On the drive home we found an LL Bean outlet and couldn't pass it up! They had great deals and we each got some fun stuff! We decided we were going to stop at a fun ice cream place that we love on the way back. We had driven in two different cars, so my brother and sister came with us. We were a little surprised when we pulled up and my parents and grandma were there too. They stopped at the store on the way back and we went on ahead. As we were driving we saw a moose running along the side of the road. It got scared back into the woods but we sat and watched it for awhile.
We always have a work day at camp. Since so many families share it we all pitch in when we are there it make it look great! This last year a new cabin was finished on our land. There were a bunch of trees that had to be cleared so that the cabin could be built. My parents rented a wood chipper and we spent 8 hours clearing trees and plants around the camp. It was so hot that day! We took tons of water brakes and a lunch break but we were beat, and dirty! But since we were right by the lake, we jumped in clothes an all and that was the BEST part of the day! Here we are getting our much needed swim after working all day!
We had so much fun going out at night looking for moose in the boat and showing Marc around camp. Here are a few more pics of how we spent the evenings. The first pic is a loon that swam right by us. There was also a beaver that would swim around the dock at about the same time. It was so fun!
Here are a few more sunset pics and some of us walking across the train tracks. The train used to be how our family got into camp. They would stop and have to carry their bags all the way to camp. The train still goes through camp, but it doesn't stop anymore. The bridge is super scary, if you are like me and scared of heights! I made Marc hold my hand the whole way! I was so scared I would fall!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
David and Goliath
I have to post this mostly because it was too cute to forget, and it was a few weeks ago!
I teach the 9 and 10 year old Primary class in our ward. We talked about Ruth and Naomi and it said to let the kids know that David that slew Goliath was the great grandson of Ruth. So, I asked the kids if they knew the story, and since we had a few minutes and would be learning that lesson in a few weeks asked if someone wanted to tell us really quick about the story. A boy raised his hand and said he knew, so I asked him to tell the class the story. The story went something like this " There was a little boy named David who was walking down the street and saw a lady selling beans..." (Do you see where this is going?) "He bought some from her and planted them, it grew a really big beanstalk and he climbed up it and there was a big giant that lived in the clouds and David killed him!" I did my best not to laugh, and told the boy that he confused David and Goliath with Jack and the Beanstalk, he then said "well they both kill giants, same thing"! Too bad he wasn't at church the week we learned the real story! I wonder how long he will go thinking that Jack and the Beanstalk is a Bible story?
I teach the 9 and 10 year old Primary class in our ward. We talked about Ruth and Naomi and it said to let the kids know that David that slew Goliath was the great grandson of Ruth. So, I asked the kids if they knew the story, and since we had a few minutes and would be learning that lesson in a few weeks asked if someone wanted to tell us really quick about the story. A boy raised his hand and said he knew, so I asked him to tell the class the story. The story went something like this " There was a little boy named David who was walking down the street and saw a lady selling beans..." (Do you see where this is going?) "He bought some from her and planted them, it grew a really big beanstalk and he climbed up it and there was a big giant that lived in the clouds and David killed him!" I did my best not to laugh, and told the boy that he confused David and Goliath with Jack and the Beanstalk, he then said "well they both kill giants, same thing"! Too bad he wasn't at church the week we learned the real story! I wonder how long he will go thinking that Jack and the Beanstalk is a Bible story?
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Playing Catch Up, Marc's BIrthday!
I know we have been non-existent in the blogging world, but here are a few reasons why
1. My little brother's High School Volley Ball Team were playing GREAT! They ended their season 22-0 AND Arizona State Champs! We went to all the games we could near the end of the season and were there to scream and shout as the winning point went down on the court!
2. The same brother graduated from high school and celebrations were abundant!
3. Marc decided he wanted to go back to school, so I have been working full time and over time while he studies and goes through the application process to get a masters.
4. Summer vacations and swimming have kept us out of the house and off the computer!
5. Marc and I each celebrated our 24th birthdays almost a month apart, and between celebrating with both families, our weekends have been used up.
So, now time to play catch-up!
On Marcs birthday his parents, took us and his little brother out to lunch. Marc wanted to go to a family favorite Mexican restaurant, and we were so full! We had fun visiting with them though! Then that night we celebrated his birthday, just the two of us! I heard earlier this year that Bennihana, a super fun teppanyaki grill, has great monthly coupons. I signed up to get them and put Marcs name and birthday down thinking that if there was some fun birthday coupon I could use it! BEST IDEA EVER! About a week before his birthday I got an e-mail for $30 off a meal and dinner and the chef's table. I called and made the reservation and did my best to keep it a secret, I have a hard time surprising people because I like to see their reaction, but I kept this one. We got in the car and I drove so he wouldn't guess along the way. He figured it out before we turned into the parking lot, but he was so excited! We had been wanting to go but never had! When we got the menus they told us that their monthly special was a $40 dinner for two! It included, soup, salad, shrimp, chicken, steak, veggies, and rice all cooked on the grill right in front of us! It was SO tasty! Because it was Marcs birthday they brought out a half a pineapple that was carved to look like a fish with orange slices, lime slices and a cherry to make the tail! It was so cute, but I forgot to take a picture since there was a creepy little girl sitting by us that looked like she was going to attack it! They did take a picture for us and gave us a copy and emailed us one, so here is the only picture we have!
I felt pretty bad though, because I have made him a cake every birthday since we have been married and wasn't able to since I was working, but my mom made him a delicious German Chocolate Cake the Sunday after, it is his family tradition for just about every birthday!
We also celebrated with his family but there are 4 birthdays within a month, so we had one big party! We went to Ancala for a Delicious dinner then back to his parents for ice cream cake, swimming, and presents. Overall he isn't so sad about being 24 anymore!
1. My little brother's High School Volley Ball Team were playing GREAT! They ended their season 22-0 AND Arizona State Champs! We went to all the games we could near the end of the season and were there to scream and shout as the winning point went down on the court!
2. The same brother graduated from high school and celebrations were abundant!
3. Marc decided he wanted to go back to school, so I have been working full time and over time while he studies and goes through the application process to get a masters.
4. Summer vacations and swimming have kept us out of the house and off the computer!
5. Marc and I each celebrated our 24th birthdays almost a month apart, and between celebrating with both families, our weekends have been used up.
So, now time to play catch-up!
On Marcs birthday his parents, took us and his little brother out to lunch. Marc wanted to go to a family favorite Mexican restaurant, and we were so full! We had fun visiting with them though! Then that night we celebrated his birthday, just the two of us! I heard earlier this year that Bennihana, a super fun teppanyaki grill, has great monthly coupons. I signed up to get them and put Marcs name and birthday down thinking that if there was some fun birthday coupon I could use it! BEST IDEA EVER! About a week before his birthday I got an e-mail for $30 off a meal and dinner and the chef's table. I called and made the reservation and did my best to keep it a secret, I have a hard time surprising people because I like to see their reaction, but I kept this one. We got in the car and I drove so he wouldn't guess along the way. He figured it out before we turned into the parking lot, but he was so excited! We had been wanting to go but never had! When we got the menus they told us that their monthly special was a $40 dinner for two! It included, soup, salad, shrimp, chicken, steak, veggies, and rice all cooked on the grill right in front of us! It was SO tasty! Because it was Marcs birthday they brought out a half a pineapple that was carved to look like a fish with orange slices, lime slices and a cherry to make the tail! It was so cute, but I forgot to take a picture since there was a creepy little girl sitting by us that looked like she was going to attack it! They did take a picture for us and gave us a copy and emailed us one, so here is the only picture we have!
I felt pretty bad though, because I have made him a cake every birthday since we have been married and wasn't able to since I was working, but my mom made him a delicious German Chocolate Cake the Sunday after, it is his family tradition for just about every birthday!
We also celebrated with his family but there are 4 birthdays within a month, so we had one big party! We went to Ancala for a Delicious dinner then back to his parents for ice cream cake, swimming, and presents. Overall he isn't so sad about being 24 anymore!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Gila Valley Temple!
The Gila Valley Temple is doing their open house, the temple is about 3 1/2 to 4 hours away, my parents decided they wanted to go with my brother and sister, so Marc and I tagged along. We left about 7am and were home about 6pm, it was a pretty quick trip! We have some good family friends that live in Thatcher, the city where the temple is, so we used their house to change into our Sunday clothes. These friends wrote, choreographed, and organized the Temple Cultural Celebration that will be held before the Temple Dedication. They had all day rehearsals and since we had to run get the key to their house, we got to watch some of it! It was amazing!
There were a lot of people going through that day so we didn't really get to stop and talk too much. We were in and out in about 10 minutes, not including the 12 minute video before and our pit stop for cookies after! It was so beautiful! It will be a huge blessing to the people in the area to have a temple so close to them! Here are a few pictures outside the Temple. My dad took some of the family, minus himself, I'll post some of those as soon as I get them! Sorry about our squinted eyes, the sun was so bright!
There were a lot of people going through that day so we didn't really get to stop and talk too much. We were in and out in about 10 minutes, not including the 12 minute video before and our pit stop for cookies after! It was so beautiful! It will be a huge blessing to the people in the area to have a temple so close to them! Here are a few pictures outside the Temple. My dad took some of the family, minus himself, I'll post some of those as soon as I get them! Sorry about our squinted eyes, the sun was so bright!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
I Need Ideas!
I love our ward. It is small. Everyone is so friendly! We know this is the ward we were supposed to be in. We didn't really like the apartments we moved into, but something was telling us to do it. We found out that the ward had been fasting for new people to move in. So here we are! I was pulled into primary within the first few weeks, so I don't really know too many of the women. Some how Marc and I keep getting asked to do things. For example, a few weeks ago we were asked to speak to the Young Women about preparing for the Temple, I used to be in Young Women, but I was TERRIFIED! We did really well, and had parents come up and say how their daughters talked about it after. Well, Sunday the Relief Society President called and asked if I would speak at the Visiting Teaching Conference on Sunday. Again I am TERRIFIED, but this time for very different reasons! I have been to the temple, I remember preparing to go through, I could relate to the subject. This time I can't. The topic they want us to speak on is from Elder Aoyagi's General Conference talk "Helping Hands, Saving Hands". I have only been able to have Visiting Teachers for 5 or 6 years, but my experience has not been anything to model after. I will admit, I have had times where I don't go, I have had companions who won't go and leave me to go alone, but I have never had Visiting Teachers that come like they should. I have always been under the impression that if other sisters take time to visit you, you should do the same. I do my part, but the other half is rarely fulfilled. I don't know how to talk on how Visiting Teaching has helped me in my life other than serving others, I have to talk on both. So, If any of you have stories of how your life has been blessed by Visiting Teaching can you share?! I promise I will not claim your stories as mine, and I also will confirm with you if I can use your story if it is something I feel I should share with these sisters. I know that some of your experiences may be personal and you may not want to share, I totally understand, feel free to share your comments on here, or if you would rather e-mail me at mliving at hotmail dot com. Thanks so much!
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