A Weekend Getaway

I don't have much time to blog this morning, but I know I've been slacking. I wanted to share my fun weekend with you all. We were invited to go to Zion's National Park and St. George on a weekend trip with some friends to celebrate their anniversary. The first night we stayed in Cedar City in Ryan's brother's empty house, stopped by the Grandparents the next morning, and then made our way to Zion's. It was a beautiful day, where we actually got to wear shorts! We did the Emerald Pools Hike, and it was so much fun. It felt good to get out and active in Nature. The next day we spent in St. George, touring some historical sites and shopping at the outlet stores. On Sunday, we took a big detour back through Zions for a scenic route. It was too short of a weekend, but it felt so good to get away!

HIKING IN ZIONS
BRIGHAM YOUNG'S WINTER HOME

Movie Tag

I've been tagged by Kristi, which I was excited about because I haven't blogged in a while, to take the movie survey:

Favorite movies you have to be "in the mood" for in order to enjoy:
1. The Simpsons Movie
2. The Music Man

Favorite movies that make you laugh out loud no matter how many times you have watched them
1. Wayne's World (both parts)
2. Christmas Vacation

Your favorite "Guilty Pleasures"
1. The Princess Diaries.
2. A Knight's Tale.

Favorite movies you have seen so many times, you can recite all the lines
1. White Christmas
2. Sleepless in Seattle

Movies that "Opened your eyes."
1. What Dreams may come.
2. Life is Beautiful

Most Overrated
1. Pirates of the Carribean (I do like it, don't get me wrong, I just think there are better movies out there)
2. Harry Potter

What were the last 2 movies you watched
1. Pirates of the Carribean, at World's End.
2. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (well I'm progressively watching it during my workouts)

Favorite "smart" movies
1. Any of the Ocean's movies.
2. National Treasure

Your spouse's/significant other's favorites
1. I'm guessing these but... Black Hawk Down.
2. Office Space.

Your all time favorites:
1. Back to the Future
2. Lord of the Rings

Wow, it was tough to think of just two on some of those.
Alright now I tag, Julie, Gregory, and Stacy. It will be interesting to hear other's answers.

Happy Valentines Day!

When your husband's job is to plow everyone else's snow, you're forced to get pretty good with a snowblower. So after many storms of practice, I thought I would hurry and take care of the snow last night. I cleared the driveway, sidewalks, and of course, a path for Tessy to potty. This morning, you would have never guessed that I had done anything.

Since the school district called off schools, I figured I deserve a snow day too! Actually, I just knew I wouldn't be able to get out of the driveway, so I took half the day off and spent most of it snow blowing.

I just had to take some pictures, because it was quite a sight!

This is Tessy's path off of the deck, she disappeared when she first jumped in this morning. As you can see by the look on her face, she is not a big fan of the snow!

These were the snow drifts hanging of our roof, I thought it was impressive!

So I hope all of you have a great Valentine's Day, at least the sun is shining outside now. I just hope to SEE my Valentine today, poor guy!

A little smack talk

So, rumor has it that there is some bragging going on in the blogging world about an arm wrestling match. Well, I'm here to set the record straight. Kristi will tell you all about how it got started but let me tell you when it really started:

Working for a company which employs not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR Kristys (or Kristis) makes a person feel defensive. So when one Kristi interrupts another Kristy, the game is on! So after winning a light-hearted arm wrestling match for the attention of the IS department my spirit was high. The second match involved a cell phone recording which I felt obligated to loose after such an easy overtaking of the first match. After sitting at my desk a few moments I realized, "I don't want the video to be of me loosing, when I can clearly win so easily". So yes, it's true, I called for a rematch.

That night while I was doing my weight training, songs such as "It's the Final Countdown" and "Your the Best Around" thumped in my mind... I was going to win. Long story short, I've got to hand it to Kristi, she was a worthy opponent and proved to be the victor. I now have even more respect for her, and the marketing department. And although she may have lost a little respect for me, I hope she can find it inside of her to bond together as the "upstairs Kristy(i)s". At least I know who to call if I need some back up in a rumble.

To check out the video and the full story, be sure to visit Kristi's blog.

Seeing the Big Picture

Well, sorry folks. This blog may be a little depressing, so consider youself warned before you read on:

I went and saw my father in the nursing home this Saturday. I haven't seen him since his stroke a few months ago, in fact, I hadn't seen in over a year. It's funny how sometimes the Lord pushes you in directions you've been avoiding. I received an anonymous phone call letting me know that someone in the care center was using my Dad's account for their own expenses. So I figured I better to get to the bottom of this and had to go to the care center to question the accused woman.

I used to think I could never resent anyone as much as I did my dad. But seeing him that day I couldn't help but love him, and I don't know how to deal with those feelings. My heart goes out to him, although I keep telling myself that he created this horribly lonely life.
On the other hand, as I was feeding him, and rubbing his neck part of me was thinking "you've dragged me back into your life. You've got me worried about your financial situation, worried about your care, so I'm no longer able to ignore you" which made me infuriated. But that's life, and there are no words to describe how unexpected life can be. Just when you think life is easy and worry free, God throws a curve.

In the few days I've had to absorb the situation, I've come to terms with my father, and have decided I will do everything I can to see that this last chapter of his life is handled as well as possible. I have recieved numerous phone calls about his financial situation and have had to take on much more responsibility for my Dad than I ever wanted to, but he's a different man. Seeing him in the state his in is making me remember more of the good about him, and I am grateful for that.

It's taken 12 years to see why the Lord has given me this specific trial, but I know now that it has made me be more patient and forgiving of human imperfections. Thanks for listening (or reading I guess)

Christmas... a month after.

I'm so bad at posting blogs because I feel like I never have anything new to say, but... hello! Christmas, I could post about Christmas! I have always loved being home for Christmas, Ryan and I have never traveled and we have no reason to. With both of our parents still living in Tooele we get to have our Christmas in the morning, go to one family's for more, and then the second family's for the rest. It's like one big long day of present opening and spending time with the ones you love, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

This year we had to wake up early to open each other's presents because our niece and nephew were at Ryan's parents this year, and we wanted to watch their excitement. So I think we started the day around 6:00 am and rushed to the Lees at 7:30. Santa was good to those kids, the living room was filled! We were cracking up at our nephew Peyton who said "Hey! Those aren't supposed to be in there" everytime he opened clothes. So after Santa time was over, we had to rush back home to get ready for brunch with my family at 11:00. We were having all of my family over to our house this year, so I had to prepare for brunch. I love the fact that all of my family is here now, by brother Ryan and his family lived in Washington for so long that we only saw them on Christmas occationally. But now, with the whole family living near Tooele, it finally feels right.

Although it was a great day, it felt like Christmas was over by 2:00, which I wasn't used to. Below our some pictures of Christmas with my family, I wish I would have thought to take some at Ryan's parents as well.

An original water color done by my brother Eric.

My brother Eric, sister-in-law Amy, niece Brigitta, Mom, and Jim.

My nephew Taylor, brother Ryan, and sister-in-law Melissa.

Marley was dead to begin with.

This year I have struggled a little bit with finding the Christmas Spirit, and I don't know how to react to this strange phenomenon. Usually I am one of those people who loves the day I hear the first Christmas song on the radio and can't wait for that first snowflake to fall. This year, however, I think I litererally said "Ugh" when I woke up to "Angels we have heard on high". I don't know what's wrong with me. My Christmas tree is usually up the first weekend after Thanksgiving... I promise I will finally put it up today, along with the Simpson's Christmas Village, and my favorite Children's Theatrical Nativity.



So back to the snow, I used to love the snow! I would stare out the window on any stormy day in October hoping the rain would change to big fluffy flakes. Well, I married a man who is accompanied with a curse of "snow means work". Ryan worked with the school district for 10 years as a custodian, if it snowed he had to plow before any lawsuits happened. This fall Ryan took a job with "Turf-it" a landscape company, who also offers snow removal as a service. So now I find my self chanting "let is stop, let is stop, let it stop" when ever a snow fall begins. Deep down in my heart I still love the snow, I just wish that Ryan and I could sit home watching it out the window together for once!



A Redeemed Spirit

Last night Ryan and I were lucky enough to go see "A Christmas Carol" at Hale Centre Theatre. The gift card was a present from my boss, and one of the most thoughtful gifts I had ever recieved. See Stephen knew I loved the theatre and haven't gone to more than a high school production in many years. I didn't care what play I saw so Ryan and I agreed on A Christmas Carol. I was extactic at the thought of seeing some amazing talent. So all day yesterday the snow would come and go and my stomach was in knots at the thought that Ryan might have to work. He did get to come with me and it was a wonderful night! I think it really did help bring out the Christmas Spirit in me. The actors were spectacular, and our front row seats helped us catch every wonderful little detail. I loved every moment, and would love to see another one very soon!