just a picture

I love where I live.

I miss being near the ocean, but having such pretty mountains nearby makes up for it.

crazy <3

I so want to see this movie. Maybe it's the song they play in the trailer but it looks so melancholy and pretty.

Now, watch I'm gonna hate it!

I rented the movie Public Enemies last night, thinking I would really like it, and I hated it! It was boring! Johnny Depp's character was totally rude to his girlfriend (played by Marion Cottilard, who I love) and she still liked him? The supposed fued between Johnny Depp and Christian Bale's character was especially lame. 20 minutes into the movie I said to Kristofor, "This better get better or I'll be pissed." And it didn't get better.

So let's hope Crazy Heart doesn't dissapoint!

Any movies out there you're particularly excited to see?

no subject

Right now I'm filing my nails. See, I painted my nails red last night and realized today I need to remove said nail polish . . . only I don't have any nail polish remover. So I asked Lynette if I could use hers. She said yes . . . only we couldn't find hers. So, here I am, filing my already-filed-just-last-night nails in an attempt to remove the red to try and make them look presentable.

Why?

I'm going job shadowing for Radiology tomorrow at the hospital here in town and I want to make a good impression.

Would a normal person get so anxious about job shadowing? Probably not. But here I am filing my nails, planning how I'm going to do my hair, what to bring for lunch and should I wear the orange shirt or the thermal shirt under my (Kristofor's) scrubs? It's like the first day of school all over again.

Wish me luck.

In other news, my poor little companion Oscar Shabadabu Monson died last week. I had him for 1 year and 3 months. He was a very well behaved fish and will be greatly missed.

But with the sadness of losing a fish, comes the excitement of getting to go to the pet store and pick out a new one! (Really, I do miss Oscar. He was fun.)

Introducing Feathers!!!

Don't you think he looks like an alien here??

i got my baby back

This is the damage done to our trusty PT Cruiser. Poor little guy.


It wasn't expected to be ready for nearly another week, but Kristofor's uncle Kevin called and said it's ready for us to come get! We are so blessed to have someone in the family who can do this work for us. Kevin's been working on cars since he was a teenager and is really talented (from what I hear - what do I know about cars?)

And he didn't even make us pay the deductable.


We'll be reunited tomorrow - WAY!!

Jofus

Little Jofus sent home a postcard on Nov. 10 - the day after he left. it says:

"Arrived safe! Just got my head shaved. Have PT uniform. I got less than two hours of sleep but I feel like I got 9. I believe it's due to my prayers. The first guy I talked to on my 1st plane was the only LDS in my platoon but I didn't know that at 1st."

I love his sloppy handwriting. And even though there wasn't much room to write on the card, I feel like he managed to say a lot. I love that kid. Can you believe he's so grown up?

hours of fun

I'm listening to the Duke Spirit in my new room - currently dubbed 'the Brown Lounge.' Kristofor and I made the move yesterday. In the blizzard. He got in a car wreck.

But he's okay and that's all that matters... Right? ;)

Things are actually really okay. We still have to move a few things from our apartment to our storage unit and clean our old apartment, and we'll finish that up this week. I like being here. There are people to talk to and lots of yummy food.

But it makes me miss my baby brother Joseph even more - I think it would be fun to have him here. He left for basic training last week and it's weird to not be able to text him - and get random texts from him at 2:30 in the morning asking if he can come use our computer. He is a really cool kid. In fact, I used to hate my cheeks - they are pretty huge. But he would pinch them and say they were fun - hours of fun. And so now I don't mind my cheeks anymore. Because he liked them first.

ch-ch-ch-ch changes

Kristofor and I are moving.

It's been over 2 years since our last move. About the only thing I remember about that move was that his brothers were carrying our dresser and the top drawer fell out - exposing all my ugly undies, socks and . . . yeeah. My lingerie.

We're moving in with my parents in an effort to save all the money we can. Hopefully we'll be out of their house before the summer.

I'm excited and nervous.

I'm excited to move on to a new chapter in our life. Excited to be closer to my parents. Excited to start saving so much money a month.

But nervous to leave our own little apartment. Nervous to have to share the bathroom with people other than my husband. Kind of annoyed that I won't be able to get ready for the day in the buff anymore.

I know.

I've been spoiled.

You Capture - Red

This past week's challenge for You Capture was 'red' - now I have to admit, red is probably my least favorite color, so it took me a while to find something red that I actually liked - and this is what I came up with.



It's the stamp on an envelope that's been run through a postage machine.

On another note, does anyone know why is it that lightened red is called 'pink'? And not 'light red'? We have light blue, light green, light yellow - and pink?

longwinded

I've heard all my life that people are put into your life for a reason, but I've always thought of these special people as ones who are with you for a long time - parents or siblings, etc. But today I met a man. A stranger. I don't know his name, and I don't know if I will ever see him again in this life.

But I believe he was put into my life for a reason. It sounds cheesy. Hang in there with me while I clumsily try to explain..Kristofor and I were at the school, trying to study for a test. I say "trying" because we had just been in a big fight and it's hard to concentrate when you're upset.

An older gentleman walked by, and, I won't lie, he was outright staring at us. A few minutes later he approached us and asked us what class we were studying for; it turned out he was studying for the same thing. He left and we starting studying again.

Then he came back again, this time asking if he could sit by us. Of course we didn't mind so he sat down and got out his books, laptop, etc. He wasn't shy so he started up a conversation. Anyone who knows Kristofor and I know we are not the most outgoing people. And considering that I was still upset, I wasn't exactly in a chatty mood.

But we talked - or more, he talked.


I can't describe the conversation exactly, but the feelings I got from it and the words I heard will stick with me for a long time.

He asked us how long we'd been married, if we were born in Utah, if we were LDS, etc.. Turns out he is LDS too. He's from Haiti, speaks Creole and French, went on a mission to Florida, and translated the Book of Mormon and Doctrine & Covenants from English into Creole for the LDS Church. He's been through a divorce and he described how being that felt with him being a member of the Church - see, I told you he wasn't shy.

I told him about how my mom died when I was young, and he said that although that's not necessarily a good thing, we are given things from God to "digest" - for him it was his divorce.

He told us about going back to school when he's over 50. If he doesn't do well in this course, he will simply take it again because he's determined and patient - and knows what he wants. His wife helps him study; she reads out loud to him from his text. He said he wished she could be there with him at the school today to help him.

I thought that was sweet.

He talked about America, the land, the civilization. He told us about Haiti and the people there, and how lucky he feels to be here in the US so he can live a free life with potential. We talked about how we don't even realize what great power we have, to be able to get an education and live where we do.

He talked about black people and the issues of 'racism' in the church, and the history that all goes into it - you see, he wrote a book about the history of 'his African ancestors' that gives insight into why blacks have only been able to receive the priesthood fairly recently (this is a subject I have had questions on - and he helped me understand).

He bore his testimony to me in a way that was different than other testimonies. He didn't say "I'd like to bear my testimony"- rather it was in the little things he mentioned. Like how he keeps praying for help with this test. About how he believes Heavenly Father influences our bodies, to make them healthy or let them be sick.

He doesn't just have a testimony of the Church, he has a testimony of history, America, the potential we have for good...

He was straightforward but not overbearing. He was sincere. He was open to what we had to say (although we mostly just nodded and prompted him to go on). I felt like he was the type of person I could pour my heart out to.


I had been feeling very self-pitying before our conversation. But afterward I felt renewed. Determined to press on. To study more and complain less. To realize how blessed I am and to continue to try to do better. He made me realize that my small, little world is not the only thing that matters.

Like I said, I can't explain it. But I feel extremely blessed to have met this man, although it was only for a short while. I cried after our meeting. My heart was so touched. I feel like his words reached into my soul.


I don't know if any of you have made it all the way through this - pretty sure it's my longest post ever. But I mostly wanted to write this down so I'll rememeber that man - and our long talk.

You Capture (very late) - Fall

Alright folks, I know it's late but oh well. Here are some pictures that remind me of fall - ugly fruit and changing leaves. =)





I like the blurriness of this second picture. That way instead of it being a picture of something specific it's more like a picture of feelings. Laugh all you want, but that's how I feel!


Go here for more of You Capture.

milgram me

I had to go to court today. I really psyched myself out about going - "Do I have to say I'm guilty?" So I went and sat quietly, judging how other people presented themselves to him - were they respectful or whiny or casual or . . .? And tried to decide how to act.
I was submissive and courteous and just went along with everything that was said.

Have you heard of that experiment where they made people give electric shocks to someone? (go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment - I really need to learn how to insert links) And basically everyone obeyed authority instead of stopping, even when the voltage was enough to kill a person?

Yeah, that would be me. Killing someone with electric shock because my superior told me I had to.



It's amazing what getting a speeding ticket can make you think about.

Love You Madly

Today was the last day of Summer. And it really felt like it.

The air was cold and the sun went down too early.

This calls for a new jacket.

You Capture - Up Close

Here is my first try for the You Capture challenge! Forgive me for putting up so many pictures but I couldn't decide on a 'theme' for my macro experimentation, so they are just a bunch of random pictures!











I love macro, but that doesn't mean I'm good at it! So any helpful hints or comments would be great! ;)


To see everyone else's great ideas and photos, just go to I Should Be Folding Laundry and take a look around!

<----Click me!

so yeah. i went to the fair.

We had a crazy car drive over! (Not really, we just played with crocodiles and flies)


Rocks are fun. Doesn't my nephew have pretty eyes?


Jameson was so excited about all the birds we saw flying in a "V." I asked him if he knew why they do that, getting ready to explain it to him, but he already knew why! Smart kid!


Eww! Look at the snot hanging from the sheep's nose!

the horses

Lately I have been going over to my Aunt's house to ride horses and hang out. I usually ride her (nice) horse Raine, and she'll ride either Angel (the white one) or Whisper (the black one). It's been so nice to be around horses again. I've been obsessed with horses since I was little, and when I was a teenager (I can actually say that now!) I used to take riding lessons. I haven't been able to ride much since I moved back to Utah, so finally being able to has been the BEST! I am so grateful that my busy busy aunt lets me come and play!




"The Babies" - Levi on the left and River on the right. They have such fun little personalities -Levi is way laid back, and River is curious and a little . . . can we say princess-y? But seriously they are so adorable, they could cheer anyone up.


Can you tell they're friends?

Title:

I met up with my (best) friends from high school last weekend and it was a blast! We happened upon a car show which was great, and then went and got Farr's ice cream - Yum! [Of course, catching up and laughing was the best part of the night - we are good at it.]


And . . . lately I have NOT been loving green. Surprise! to anyone who has ever shopped with me. It used to be my favorite color but I've ditched it lately for cheery yellow. However, this picture makes me question my decision . . .

Her name was Lola . . .

After much waiting . . . .

. . . . and waiting . . .
. . . and waiting . . .

. . . . and waiting . . .

. . . and foot rubs . . . .

SHE WAS HERE.

(can you believe how good Madi looks after what she just did? And she didn't have any makeup on!)

Lola Monroe Elgan.

madi's shower

We had a baby shower for my sister Madison a few weeks ago. It was really relaxed and fun and I had a great time visiting with friends and family. I didn't have my own camera (although I'm sure I would have forgotten anyway) so I didn't get any pictures of her loot, but everyone was so sweet - baby Lola was loved long before she was born.

"The sisters" - nice one, Madi. You perv.

catching up

To start off catching up on my blog: INCUBUS.



So, I am not the biggest lover of Incubus, but Kristofor is and ever since he heard they were coming to concert he's wanted to go. He found VIP tickets on Ebay that included meeting the band, getting autographs and bags and seats in the pit, and did I mention we got to meet the band?

AFTER the concert (all sweaty - concerts are hard work!)

BEFORE

Yep it's another 4th of July post

I had a fabulous 4th of July. I took some extra days off and had a blast. I spent tons of time with both sides of my family, and even more time with the hubby! Kristofor and I went to Lagoon - it was so fun, and hot, and the lines were super short! Whooo!

We also went camping with his family up at Tony Grove, and lemme tell you it is GORGEOUS!! I seriously was having heart attacks on the drive up because I did not know Utah could be so pretty! There were wildflowers everywhere and it was sooo green. The colors were killing me, I couldn't get enough.

A view of the lake on our walk down from the campsite. . . *sigh*

The boys heading down to the lake to fish.

Fishing is hard work.

If you ever get a chance to go up there, DO IT! It's worth it.