Indoor Conference this weekend!!

I will be going to conference championships. They are being held on Sunday and Monday (the 1st and 2nd). You will be able to watch it live via the internet.

http://www.usd.edu/track/greatwest/

Justin

I am super excited to be able to watch him race via the internet!!!


Katie

Sping Bulbs!!!!

I am super excited!!! We have sooooo ooooooo many Bulbs coming up right now all over our yard! We even have bulbs in our grass and parsley is growing every where! I am super excited to see what flowers we will have.
so far we know we have:

• Alliums
• Red Hot Pokers
• Roses
• Mini roses
• parsley
• and some bulb that comes up in October!

I really hope we have some tulips and daffodils. I am super excited about the Alliums!!!
Yeah for spring!!!!!!!

My silly little brother

As soon as my little brother Chris learned how to write his name it began popping up all over our house. He would write it when ever he had the chance.
Then it started popping up in some pretty random places.

Here are a few of my favorites:

• In pencil underneath the window sill.
• In pencil behind a picture.
• In eyeliner and lipstick in his closet.
  
• In eyeliner in the bathroom drawers.

And my personal favorite

• Mom, Spray painted in dark green on the yellow house, and his name underneath
  

Chris also tried to convince my parents that his brother had spray painted the house to get him trouble. By then we knew he had written in eyeliner and lip stick in various locations. It was not a very solid case against Andrew. It was pretty funny when we we went outside and saw what he had done. He is such a funny guy. I wonder if we took pictures of it...
Eliza and I didn't discover most of the pencil ones until many years later when we were prepping our house to paint it.

Nuclear Free Utah

I received this e-mail today:

WESTERN BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE

Dear Katie--

Utah is going to need a lot more power in the coming years if we are to create new jobs, grow our economy and "keep the lights on" in our homes, schools, farms and places of business. In fact, experts say we will need about 25 percent more electricity generation in the 10 years.

Most Utahans believe we ought to rely on a broad diversity of energy sources to become energy independent like: clean coal, solar, nuclear, natural gas, oil shale, geothermal and wind.

Senator David Hinkins is sponsoring a resolution in the Utah Senate to encourage reliable and affordable new nuclear power development in Utah. Nuclear power is a secure and cost-effective option for Utah's future. Go here to send an instant message to your elected representative in Salt Lake City:

Senator Hinkins' resolution points out that nuclear power has economic, environmental and fuel diversity benefits, in addition to its impressive operational safety and security record. It also notes that construction of a new two-unit nuclear facility in Utah would:

• Create 3,500 construction jobs;
• Inject billions of dollars into Utah’s economy;
• Create 800 high wage jobs over the 60+ year life of the plant; and
• One proposed project would contribute over $2 million in 2009 to the State Institutional Trust Lands Fund in 2009.

Senator Hinkins' resolution also:

• Declares that nuclear power has been shown to be a viable cost effective option, that current rate payer protection laws and regulations are sufficient and that no new legislation or special action is needed for the Public Service Commission to recognize nuclear power as a prudent investment;
  
• Declares that no appropriations for special committees or programs are needed to determine whether nuclear power can be built in Utah; encourages all investor-owned and municipally owned utilities and power marketers and traders to consider participating in a nuclear power project in Utah; and recognizes commercial nuclear power plants as a market-based, commercially competitive enterprise.

Ask your legislator to support Senator Hinkins’s Senate Joint Resolution Supporting New Nuclear Power. Please take a minute and let your elected officials know of your support by going here.

Thank you very much.

Jim Sims
President & CEO
Western Business Roundtable

I DO NOT want a nuclear power plant in Utah. It is just a quick fix. They can create The same amount of jobs through development of solar and wind power plants. PLEASE PLEASE write your Congress, and Senate representatives and tell them you do not want nuclear power in Utah. Let them know you do want things like SOLAR and WIND!!! Usually I am middle of the road on most things. But nuclear power is something with long term problems I don't want my children and their children to live with. High school science classes have taught me that much:)

Also It is OK if we use less power...
Maybe go to bed earlier, use power saving light bulbs, unplug things when you are not using them, and just getting outside and doing something!
What I like best is that those things save me money and I feel healthy!

Super Sweet 16

So I hate that show first of all...
Anyways one of my cousins just had her 16th birthday and it got me thinking about mine.
I know I had a party I remember people came over and thinking to myself "This is the lamest party ever... why did I invite people over...." But I was happy that it was not a huge party with a bunch of people that I didn't know well. They were my friends so that helped me not to feel as lame as I could have. I got a sweet card, that I still have somewhere...
But on my birthday it was a very depressing day.
My birthday started out good.

• I got a CD player and Mmm Bop.
• I had a marching band show, which we didn't do well at.
• My ride forgot to pick me up at the school afterward, I waited there for 3 hours, and nobody would answer the phone at the house when I called to get a ride.
• I had to get a ride home with the band teacher, who I absolutely hated.
• Then I got to baby sit and not go to the Stake Dance on my birthday, where my friends were waiting for me. The dance, I believe Eliza did get to go to...

This was my worst day ever.
I have tried to make sure that my brothers and sister had good sweet 16 parties or at least did what they wanted.
Don't worry, I am over what happened. I just have not thought about those events in a while...

Oscar Night

So I didn't watch the Oscar's last night.
They are kind of boring. I love movies how they are made etc. In the last few years the writers have done a super crappy job. It is not funny. So I don't really watch it anymore. Anyways for those of you that would like to know who won, here is a list:

The Associated Press

Picture: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Actor: Sean Penn, "Milk"

Actress: Kate Winslet, "The Reader"

Director: Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"

Foreign-Language Film: "Departures," Japan

Original Song: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Original Score: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: Jerry Lewis

Film Editing: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Sound Mixing: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Sound Editing: "The Dark Knight"

Visual Effects: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Documentary, Short Subject: "Smile Pinki"

Documentary Feature: "Man on Wire"

Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"

Short Film: "Spielzeugland"

Makeup: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Costume: "The Duchess"

Art Direction: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Animated Short Film: "La Maison en Petits Cubes"

Animated Feature: "WALL-E"

Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire"

Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"

Supporting Actress: Penélope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

I was very happy with all the people who won this year! Usually I very dis-satisfied.
I really would like to see Slumdog Millionaire!

Taxes DONE!!!!

Last night Justin and I did our taxes! It feels good to have them completed!

We were nervous about how we were going to do them since we did them last year at my parents house, and my parents computer has died since then. I was ultra worried we would have to do them by hand. I tried that one time. Scarrry!!!!!

Then Collin told us that Turbo Tax has an online tax thing. So we used that! It was super easy!

Three Cheer's for the internet!!!

Hip Hip Hooray!
Hip Hip Hooray!
Hip Hip Hooray!

A visit from Mom and Dad T and Valentines/Presidents day fun!

Here are some highlights from last week. In no particular order:

Justin's parents came and visited us and Collin.

• Justin got some much needed advice and help with careing for the Roses in our front yard.
• We had a cousin dinner with all of Justin's cousins that are in town. I think I used all of my cooking dishes! I still don't know how I was able to prepare dinner for everyone on that tiny stove ;) It was very nice to have room for everyone! I love having a bigger place!
• Dinner at Red Robbin! Yeah for Burgers!
  
• Re-decorated our bathroom!!!!! I can't express how grateful I am for a new shower curtain!!
• Ran and walked at BYU's indoor track. (I ran 2 miles!!!!)
• Borsht. Justin's mom made this soup. It was really good. I am eating the leftovers right now. It is better a few days after it has been made!
• Dinner at Bombay House, twice! Thank you again Collin!!! (you must try their food it is FAB!)
• Justin's mom helped me pick out fabric and make some curtains for my home! They look so good!!!!

Valentines Day, Justin and I took it easy.

• We went to our ward dance. It was fun because the children were also invited. They really liked dancing and poping the ballons.
  
• I made Valentines Day cookies! It is the easiest cookie mix ever. 1 cake mix, 2 eggs and 1/2 cup of butter. I made red velvet cookies and strawberry cookies. They looked super cute. They also tasted good too!
  
• We did laundry! I know super exciting and romantic. But it needed to be done:)
• I made a flower bouquet for my brothers girl friend.
  
• SLEPT IN!!!!
  
• Watched the new episodes of Flight of the Conchords! (I love that show!)
  

Presidents Day

• Slept in again!
• Went to Jude and Eliza's
• Eliza took me, Jolene and Laura to the Quilting cottage. It is a fantastic shop! Lots of really pretty patterns.
• Worked on finishing the curtains for my front room. I spent a LOT of time measuring and thinking before I cut or sewed.
• Made enchiladas.
  
• snuggled with Justin.

Friday the 13th

So today is Friday the 13th!!!
oooh scary!!!!

I was thinking about traditions on Friday the 13th.
Most people watch a scary movie, or avoid certain places.

Personally I have never been a fan of horror movies. I choose not to watch them. I don't think showing all the blood and guts and gore is always necessary. (mind you one of my favorite movies is Shawn of the Dead and one of my new favorite books is World War Z. Go figure :)

I would like to know the details of what happened without actually seeing what happened.
I prefer a psychological thriller. I really enjoy a good Hitchcock movie.
I miss doing one thing on Friday the 13th. In Young Womens we would do a camp out. It was fun to ride together to the camp site. (I remember one year watching Casper in the Mellon's Van.) We would have dinner and a camp fire. I think we tried to tell ghost stories but they usually ended up silly. ( Mary Crase "And they ran." oh man that still makes me laugh. Oh and the time eliza told Mary to be louder while she was telling a story....) good times...
We would also ride this train thing... I think we paid the guy who owned it in pennies.
In the morning we would swim and then go into town do some shopping, try apple cider.

Anyways I was thinking that I liked that tradition of going on a camp out on friday the 13th. And thinking that that would be fun for our family. Its not to scary and a lot of fun. Oh and listening to the song thriller every Friday the 13th. I am deffinatly going to do that today when I get home.

I hope you have a Happy and not to scary friday the 13th!

Green Fever 5k

UVU's student athletes are sponsoring the 2nd annual Green Fever 5k Run/Walk!!!
Justin and I did the walk last year and it was a lot of fun.
Race information:
Location: McKay Events Center at UVU
Registration: 8:00 a.m.
5k race: 9:00 One mile
Fun Run/Walk: 9:30 a.m.
Early registration is $15.00 per person Day of Race registration is $20.00
All Ages are invited and the money goes to the Orem Rotary Club
Check out the web site link for more information.
I can't wait to see you there!!!

Current Hobbies

These are some of my favorite hobbies:

I love to buy clothes. Before I got married I would go shopping at least once a week. I wouldn't always buy things but I would still go. From that I developed a shrewd shopping practice of only buying what I can't live without, are on sale or look fabulous on me. I have cut most of my shopping out (it was super hard!) and I am grateful I have developed those practices. I have even added making a list of things I need to buy. (it really helps me keep on task:)

I love buying paper and various crafting accesories. Every time I go into a Craft shop I almost always buy paper. I really love it. It is easy to get carried away but I only buy the paper I can't live without. Or paper for current projects.Thankfully paper is fairly cheep!

I love Kitchen things. We went into a kitchen store the other day and I found a ton of things I would like to have. I don't currently have any kitchen needs, I have to keep telling myself that. There were some awesome pans and cookie cutters...
Honestly the things I want are things I don't need and would only use maybe once or twice a year.

Food! I Love it! There are so many new things to try and taste. I have some fun cookbooks with new and exotic things to try. If I had my way I would spend at leats one day of the week doing some serious cooking. And another doing some serious baking. New recipies are also a lot of fun! Oh and I am going to try something new next month. A cooking journal. I am super excited about this one beacue I can label pages and make notes on what I am cooking. Super Excited about it!

But I found something NEW! Fabric and its accessorizes. I knew Julie, Eliza Nancy, Ariel and Janel really liked fabric and had lots of it. But i never got it until I saw fabric I REEAALLY REEAALLy wanted. (I have done most of my fabric shopping at Wal Mart, until yesterday.) Wow!!! I went into a local fabric shop and fell in love with the button selection and fabric. (The Cotton Shop) I did eventually gain composer and found things I needed. It is kind of a pricey hobby! I am super excited to use my new sewing machine and get creative!

I just hope Justin is as excited about my Hobbies as I am.

Or are they addictions...

Water water every where but not a drop to drink

Wow, I almost died today.
So I was just minding my own business drinking some water when BAM!
I had to cough, I tried not to spew the water that was in my mouth. But I could not hold it. I got water everywhere...
The ceiling, my clothes, the computer, my desk a few students computers.
luckily for me no one was in the lab. I still can not believe how far the water got.
Good times at work today...

Work issues

I just need to vent for a moment.

So I love where I work. I love the people, I like most of the students:) and I really think we perform a valuable service for the community.
BUT it gives students a way to procrastinate making up failed classes. Really at the end of the year I want people to fail there tests because they have waited to the last min. to make up classes.
It amazes me how much work they can get done the last week of school!
I feel bad that I feel this way, but I have no sympathy for students the last month of school. I have never felt bad failing anyone of them. The only ones I feel slightly bad for are the ones who all year long their counselor has said that they are fine then oops, you are missing a fine arts credit.
At my high school my counselor told me straight up she could make mistakes. I need to know precisely what credits I needed to graduate and make sure I had space in my schedule just in case I failed.
Also there are a crap load of students who are good kids who take a ton a music classes and decide to make up the needed credits at the end of the school year. What! Wait, we are open all year long and have been for like 10 years and you are JUST Signing up with 2 weeks left of school?!!?
Anyways I am VERY VERY grateful to work with people I like who help relive most of the stress.
Don't worry I do remember to breathe. I know that it is not my fault that they are here, and that I just need to relax and enjoy the business. Because that is what keeps me employed:)

It's a Small World After All

So It's a Small World got a face lift. I didn't know.
Here is a new article all about it.
I really love when they change things at Disneyland. It makes it so exciting to visit and see what is new or has been updated.

Sweet Potatoes!!!!

So over the last year Justin and I have eaten a ton of sweet potatoes. We eat them in curry or baked. They are fantastic! Our favorite way to eat them is fried in a pan. Here is our recipe:

Pan fried Sweet Potatoes

• Cut up your sweet potatoes in to strips. ( between the size of potato wedges and fries. Just depends on how quickly you want them to cook.)
• In a deep frying pan melt 1 tbsp. butter on a low heat
• Add sweet potatoes and salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover the pan and stir occasionally. Keeping the pan on a low heat.
  
• Cook until sweet potatoes are tender

Sweet Potato sauce

• 1/2 cup of best foods mayo
• and about 1/2 cup Jimmy Dean BBQ sauce.
• Mix together until blended.
  
• The sauce should be a light tan color. Taste and add more BBQ sauce or mayo. (just depends on what you like:)

Make sure you use the specified mayo and BBQ sauce. Those ones taste the best together!
Mix the sauce while the potatoes cook. That way you can eat the potatoes while they are hot!

Resolutions Update

So I thought it would be good to update how I am doing with my new years resolutions. One month in lets see how I am doing...

• Exercise. (I have been doing pretty good at it. Last week I missed 2 days. That is all I have missed for the new year. Not to bad yet.) (not burnt out yet!)
  
• Eat Healthier. (I haven't really changed much. I have been using less salt and butter in things. And Making sure I buy fresh veggies.)
  
• Clean everyday. (It is working. My life feels more relaxed. I am not perfect yet, but I am happier.)
  
• Bake Bread. (Still have not done this. But we did borrow my parents wheat grinder, so that is a step in the right direction.)
  
• Use my Cookbooks. (I made a goal to read all of my cookbooks. I started on February 1st.)