It's About Time

Yes. We are alive. Summer just kept us so so busy. It seemed like we were gone almost the whole summer. It was a ton of fun. We went to South Dakota at the beginning of the summer. Very cool. We loved Mount Rushmore, Reptile Gardens, & everything else. There is soooo much to do there. We could have spent so much more time there. At the beginning of August we went to Seattle, Portland, & the Oregon coast. We golfed, went on a ferry, went to a Mariners game, Oregon zoo, the coast. It was such a blast! We went with my parents & has such a great time with them. This summer was just so fun & exciting.

*What a little model. We are at Devils Tower*

*With Riley's Bestapapa (Grandpa) in Portland*

*At the Mariners game*

School has started again. Kobe is now in the 2nd grade. So far so good. He is really loving going & doing really well. I have news too. . .I got a job. The principle of Kobe's school called me up & offered me a job to be a reading tutor. I am so totally pumped. The hours are so perfect. I work from 8:45-11:20 every day. I love being able to be so close to Kobe. I volunteer soooo much, so it will be awesome to get paid for what I would be doing anyways. The kids are so fun to work with. And I loved the fact that I still have time to get cleaning & other stuff done while Kobe's at school. It really seemed to be such a blessing. I really felt like I needed this in my life. I needed a little pick me up. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity.

*Riley did a field trip for Kobe's class last year. Sorry no pics from 2nd grade yet on the computer*

Kobe played on a baseball team this summer. He had a lot of fun. He was on the Oriels. We had fun cheering for him, but poor kid, his team was not so good. Hopefully it will be better next year. He just started playing fall soccer. He is loving it. He is on his best friends team. He can't seem to get enough of it. We have fun watching him. He is so aggressive out there! I don't know that much about soccer, so it has been interesting learning the rules. We were out watching Kobe at his practice yesterday & the funniest thing happened. A bird pooped right on Riley's head. I could not stop laughing. It really was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I'm just glad it wasn't me!!! He just got his 1st set of golf clubs, so we'll have to put him in some lessons. He seems really excited to learn how to play. He is always going outside practicing his swing. It will be fun watching him learn & progress. Now I just need to get me some lessons too!!

*Proud Dad & his boy*

*Silly face. Too funny not to post!*

Question #35

What was your worst, really embarrassing moment?

Seriously. I have just had so many. When I was around 12 or 13 I went to rough out camp with the young women's. We were setting up camp & I was walking through some really tall grass. I was just minding my own business, not bothering anyone, & BAM!! I totally got hit in the face. Just like you see in cartoons. I stepped on a rake & about flattened my face. It totally knocked me on my back. I just remember everyone crowding around me & helping me to the tent to lie down. But the one thing that stands out the most is my sister crying. She must have thought I was dead or something. I just remember hearing her cry. From what I remember, I didn't cry at all. I was in shock or something. It caused quite the swollen black eyes though!! I have also had many many bike riding experiences. I wasn't even trying anything fancy, just a simple stroll in the park. Bike riding & me simply don't mix. I have flipped over my handle bars to flying into a rock to running into a parked truck on the street. The worst part about that was the getting out of the truck. I was so so so humiliated. We sure laughed though!! Especially now!

Question #34

What is the most important lesson, message, or advice that you have learned that you might pass on to others?

There are so many things that I have learned & I am still learning every day. Sometimes I feel like I don't know anything at all!! Some of the things that I want to pass on are:

1) Don't sweat the small stuff

Really. If you start worrying about everything you will never truly be happy. Time will fly by so so fast. Before you know it, all the good times will be gone. Enjoy every moment. Even the crazy ones. There is a saying that I love; I am determined to be happy. In whatever situation I maybe--For I have learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions & not our circumstances.

2) Be kind

President Hinckley once said "Civility carries with it the essence of courtesy, politeness, & consideration of others, All the education & accomplishments in the world will not count for much unless they were accompanied by marks of gentility, of respect for others, or going the extra mile." I truly love that quote. Kindness has always & will always be very very important to me. Love is what keeps us together. I would hate to think what kind of a world this would be if we didn't have kindness. We need to remember to be polite. We need to get to know people before we pass judgement. Kindness is continual. The job is never done. We can only get better & better.

3) Think Positive

In the media today, negativism sells. That is so sad. People too often like watching a train wreck of events. We need to change our thought process. Find all the positive things in the newspaper, on the news, in magazines, etc. You would be surprised at how few there really are. The good is there, you just need to dig a little deeper for it. We all need to look for the sunlight through the clouds. I don't remember where I heard this quote but I love it. "It is not enough just to be good, we must be good for something." I am so much happier when I have a positive attitude. Everything just seems to run a little smoother. Even the really bad days are easier to get through. Abraham Lincoln said "Whatever you are, be a good one." I couldn't agree more.

4) Be thankful

I have a gratitude journal that I have had for many many years. I used to write in it every day, but lately I have been a slacker. I would write at least five things that I was grateful for every day. It is amazing the things that make you happy. Even the small things. Like a fountain drink. I am so so so happy when I have a Diet Pepsi in my hand. It brings a smile to my face just thinking about it. When there is gratitude, there is no pride. We are truly a blessed group of people. We need to express our thanks.

These are just some of the things that I want to pass down. And really they are so simple to do. Life is never easy, but these things just seem to help me get through the harder times. They remind me of who I want to become. What do you want to pass down??

Question #33

Tell how, when, where you learned to drive and any memorable experiences.

My Dad taught me to drive the summer before I turned 16. I was soooo scared. Looking back I think I was so wimpy about it. But I guess better safe than sorry. We would go up to our church parking lot & go back & forth, back & forth. Then eventually we made our way to our neighborhood streets. I used to practice on a car my parents bought for me that was my brothers. It was a Mitsubishi Eclipse from the 90's. I can't remember which year exactly. I thought it was a really cute car. Sporty & silver. And it had a killer sound system in it. Before my brother owned it, the previous owners were from Cali. They must have been gang bangers or something. My car had three bullet holes in the back. I used to think that was pretty cool. The only bad thing was that it was a stick shift. I learned pretty quick though. I loved driving around with my friends in that car, we had some fun times!! I remember blaring Monica in it. Does anyone remember her?? I didn't have any funny experiences but when my brother was learning. My Mom was teaching him & we were driving around the neighborhood in our huge green station wagon. I was standing up in the backseat (everything was soooo different back then!!). He almost ran a stop sign but then slammed on the brakes. I went flying over the passenger seat & into the dash. I seriously looked like Superman! Not really any harm done though, just a bloody nose. Thank goodness!!

Heaven. . . or Hell???

I started the work-outs yesterday. I really feel it's the latter. I am sore all over my entire body. Everything hurts. And I mean everything. It really was the hardest I have ever worked out. The guy in charge says that for the 1st two weeks I will feel like I would rather die, but then it will start getting better & the workouts will start to feel a little better. I sure hope so. I have to just keep telling myself that the end result will be worth it. Let's cross our fingers! I had to do the dreaded picture shot yesterday. I was so happy that they let me take it in a sports bra & shorts. So so so embarrassing. After the pic, they took measurements & had me weigh in. I think that will be pretty cool to see how different the measurements will be at the end. I didn't know they had to do that, I actually was really glad. It was still very very humiliating though!! To make it even worse too... a buff dude took the pic & did the measurements. Let's hope the soreness goes away. Please!