Bear Lake

This weekend was Shaanta's birthday and her Mom has a time share in Bear Lake and so we headed up there to celebrate for the long weekend. It was a little cold, but we still had lots of fun. I was able to bike in the mornings. It is always nice to have somewhere new to bike.

All these pictures are in no specific order and there are tons of them so here we go:
Emily trying out the kiddie swing

Shaanta was the crazy picture lady. We thought she must be getting tired of taking pictures of our faces so we gave her some new material:)

I tried out my under water camera for the first time.

Lots of sleeping and lots of eating on this trip. And when I say lots I mean LOTS!!!

I thought we were posing like the lady but apparently I was the only one that got the memo.

The water was so beautiful. This is on Sunday, which happened to be the nicest day.

We rented a surrey and peddled Shaanta around for her birthday.

The sail boats. I am not sure why I am putting this on but I like the picture.

The three of us on the Surrey. A little cramped but seriously so fun.

The KOA in Bear Lake is awesome. We stayed in a condo but I want to go back and tent camp because their KOA had so many activities. That is where we rented the Surrey. We made homemade ice cream for Shaanta's bday, shopped at the outlets and just relaxed. It was a great way to kick off summer break. Now to recover from all I ate.

It's Over

School is over. Can you believe it? The year really did go by quite fast. I have to work a few days this summer (8 to be exact) I am planning on getting all my days done the first two weeks of summer so after that I can enjoy.

This is the first summer in three years I have not been in grad school. I am so excited. Lots of biking, hiking, and camping awaits. But first a weekend away to celebrate Memorial day.

just can't quite get enough of it

Homemade ice cream!! I mean really how could you get enough. So I made the mistake of buying the coolest ice cream maker ever. It does not require ice or rock salt and it is so easy to use, emphasis on so easy to use. I just dream of all the flavors I want to try. I know it's a problem. So I try to wait until I at least have a good excuse before I make the next batch. To date I have made blackberry, fudgsicle, peach frozen yogurt, cherry pepsi slurpie, mint n' chip, strawberry, and oreo.

The great thing is that it can make slurpies, frozet yogurt, sorbet, as well as ice cream. It has many functions. It was cheap. It has a three year warranty.

Last night I made strawberry and oreo for the sisters I visit teach. I mean who would not want to come to my house to be visit taught if they knew there was homemade ice cream involved. I will pretty much come up with any excuse to make ice cream.

My favorites so far were the mint n chip, cherry pepsi slurpie, and strawberry. Here is to an amazing summer filled with lots of ice cream. (I better bike a lot).

The Weekend

Friday I took a really long nap after work. For some reason I thought it would be a great idea to have a basketball camp after school all last week. While the camp was well attended and fun it just added to my end of the year stress and really wore me out. I will think twice before I do that next year. So when I got home at 6 I slept for 2 and 1/2 hours. Then I cleaned my entire house before going to my soccer game at 10:40. I am loving playing soccer but seriously they schedule games 24 hours a day. It is so crazy.

Saturday I just layed around all day trying to convince myself to bike. I really wanted to do a long ride but I was so lethargic. Finally at 1pm I made it out the door. I biked 68 miles and barely made it home in time to shower before heading up to Murray with Dan to attend Amanda's orchestra concert.

Dan, Sam, and I had lots of fun watching Amanda. Sam taught us all about orchestra etiquette which I am sure he never had any knowledge of whatsoever until he married Amanda. And I loved watching the 80 year old violinist. He was the cutest little man ever.

After we ended the night at Denny's with some dessert.


Amanda looked so nice in her concert dress.

Then on Sunday Erica called me up a few minutes before diner and invited me over. That was great because I hadn't seen her in forever. Jana and Ben came over and we all played some games and visited. Overall it was a great weekend and I just can't wait for two more weeks when everyday will be a weekend.

Mom Day

Faces only our Mom could love! Dan was snapping away at wacky angles.

To my Mom from her Utah children. We love you!

Dan was talking to Mom in the car while we were driving to Nancy's and he said, "Mom I told LaNell we should fly out to California and surprise you but she was like no that is too expensive. Obviously she doesn't love you as much as me." Whatever. I need to stop driving that kid everywhere.

We spent the evening with my Aunt Nancy. She is our Mom away from Mom. She does a great job of taking care of us. Sam and Amanda brought delicious enchilladas. Dan brought a salad.

And I brought some homemade blackberry icecream. Yum!

We finished the night by playing our favorite games. Wipe out, Skipbo, and Hearts. I won at hearts. I shot the moon twice. It was glorious. I was very excited.

I feel so blessed to have a wonderful Mom. She is such a great example and I love her so much. She is just a good lady and I hope I can be more like her. I also am grateful to my Aunts and my Grandmothers. All of them are great women and I look up to each of them for so many different reasons. Maybe if I take all their good qualities and develop them I will be a great lady someday as well.

Bought this

AWESOME handle bar tape to go on my bike. I am so excited. I think it will accent my pink bike so well. Which is great because having a trendy bike is super important:)

last week.

i have a set of parents not happy with me.
they complain about me a minimum of once a week.
this has been VERY challenging.
i am grateful i have a supportive administration.
it's so hard because i really feel like i am working with their child.
i feel like i have to walk on pin cushions in my class.

track ended.
we won 3 of the 6 district trophies.
i didnt get dunked.
it was snowing and we as coaches didnt bring any water jugs.
i already have some BIG ideas to make next year better!

womens conference was great.
i so needed to take friday off.
so nice to do something uplifting.
take home point: when you think you need to change others change yourself first.
and 2nd STAND UP against evil at all costs.

i am so mad i didnt take more photos.
i suspect others will post theirs, remember full size ladies.

woke up with circles under my eyes this morning.
little reminder of why i need my sleep.
4 nights in a row of little sleep.
it was replaced with lots of fun and tons of laughter.
wouldnt have traded it in for anything.

finally bought an easter dress.
i love love love it.
spent too much money.
turns out i can shop i just need minimal encouragement.

biked 65 freezing miles on saturday.
it rained and snowed and was a little sunny.
it was slightly uphill for half of the ride.
it felt great to have my legs burn.
ate an entire cafe rio salad after.
i have never done that before.