A Trip to the Ogden Temple...

Since the Ogden Temple is now closed for renovations, my mom, Taylor (my little brother), and I decided to go down right before it closed, so that we could walk around the grounds and take some pictures. It was so fun and so many mixed feelings...I'm super excited to see the temple when it's finished (I love the pictures of how it's going to look) but I'm sad to see this one be torn down at the same time!
I love the feeling of just being around the temple--it's so peaceful and the Spirit is so strong! I am so blessed to live where I do and have so many temples that are within so close of a distance!

I'm Still Here!

So seeing how I've been like M.I.A for the last 6 weeks or so from blogging, from church for a few, and from school for about a week, I figured I'd let you all know I'm still alive! I'm here, just trying to get over having mono! Yea...NOT! Oh well, part of life, and I have been getting some much need sleep! Other than all of that excitement, here's a quick little glimpse of what's been going on this year (sorry no pics--I've been sick and the other's are on my mom's camera and I just figured while I was laying here I'd do a quick update, so no pics this time). Anyways, here it goes:
--Started back up at school at Weber State the beginning of January--majoring in psychology with a minor in health promotion. I love school and it definitely keeps me busy. I'm able to take one class on-campus, an institute class, and then two online classes this semester, so that's nice; and I'm glad that I'm able to be up on-campus for at least a little bit!
--I had my hearing a few weeks ago for my social security disability case (since I haven't been able to work due to my health circumstances...I'd honestly love to work and wish I couuld, but since I can't). I applied in April 2009, but didn't get approved and had to eventually go through to the court hearing. Well, I had my hearing the beginning of this month and I was approved! The judge told me at the hearing, so it was a great relief and such a help for myself and my family!
--For Valentine's I got to have a couple fun events...First, we had a little Valentine's party with all my family. My older sisters and their families came over and we had pizza, the kids played a couple games, then the kids all passed out valentine's to everyone, and we decorated heart sugar cookies. It was fun! I was thinking how the kids always have Valentine's for each other, but they don't always get to see each other to give it to them so I wanted to have a party and my mom was all for it--she got all the stuff and made everything (I felt bad I couldn't help but I stayed in bed up until everyone came...lame, I know). Second, our stake did this fun party for all the adults, the Saturday before Valentine's, so my mom and I went to that. It was dinner and this huge 60s show (singing and stuff from people in our stake impersonating the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Monkees, the Temptations, and so many more)! It was great!
So it's been a pretty busy, but a good year so far!

Christmas and Catching Up...

So it's been a little while since I last posted--sorry--things have been a bit crazy and I've just slacked off on it, but I'm finally taking the time to upload some new photos and to sit down and actually write something.
First off, Christmas!!! Here's a few more pics of all the fun Christmas decorations...








Christmas was great...we had a family Christmas party out at my sister Jodi's house on Christmas Eve, and had a blast! The kids did the Nativity story (with puppets), we ate dinner, exchanged gifts (we draw family names), the kids did an ornament exchange (each of the kids make ornaments for one another and give them to each other), and we played games, talked, and laughed lots! Then, on Christmas everyone came over to our house and my nieces and nephews opened their presents from my mom, we ate yummy food, and just spent time together! I love Christmas time!

All my nieces and nephews...


Then I had to get some pictures of the "pairs" of nieces and nephews I have (my sisters tend to have their kids at the same time...it's kinda funny and fun!)
(Jodi's oldest boy Jeremy and Janeice's oldest boy Corey are just 4 months apart--April 2000 and Aug. 2000--but I didn't get a picture of them together.)
These three were all born within 9 months...kind of fun having three sisters pregnant at once(Kaleb--Jessica's little boy--was born in Nov.2003, Jace--Jodi's little boy--was born in April 2004, and Ashley--Janeice's little girl--in July 2004)



These two were born just 2 months a part (Jessica's little girl Sammy was born in June 2006 and Jodi's little boy Jon was born in Aug. 2006)...



So Christmas was very fun and full of family!
Since I posted, I've also been busy...graduating with my associate's the beginning of December, starting a new semester this past week, spending some time with friends, I was in the hospital for a few days (but am doing tons better--Priesthood blessings and prayer are amazing!), and just relaxing! I am so grateful for this wonderful time of year--to spend time with family, to celebrate the birth of our Savior, for the Gospel in my life, and for the joy and happiness surrounding us!
I hope you each had a great Christmas, that your new year is going wonderful, and that you're each doing well! :)

Let It Be Christmas...

The semester is over, the Chirstmas tree, lights, and decorations are up, it is Christmas time!!! Yea! I love this time of year--family, friends, yummy treats, decorations, celebrating the birth of our Savior, and just a fun time!
The semester ended great--I pulled off a 4.0 so I was very happy--and I graduate tomorrow (Friday) with my associate's! So I'm excited! I sold my books back, got my books for next semester, and am ready for my classes--I think I'll relax and enjoy my 3 1/2 week break though first! I was super excited though, because I filled out the papers and did the 'lowest price guarantee' thing at the bookstore and saved like $70 on my books! Heck yeah...what a way to start off the Christmas season!
This last Monday I went with my mom, brother (Taylor), and Grandma Liptrot to see Scrooge: A Christmas Carol out at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse! It was way fun! We go every year, and it's just way cute and a fun time! We all went out to El Matador for dinner first, drove around to see some of the Christmas lights downtown, and then went to the play...a very fun night and a nice start to celebrating Christmas!
Next week (on the 17th) I'm going with my mom and Taylor (brother) to see Voice Male! I'm excited...we've gone to their Christmas shows before and they are way good and very funny! So it should be a fun time!
Last night we had achievement days (I'm with the 10 and 11 year old girls--it's so fun), and we did Christmas stuff...the girls made their own advent calanders--coloring a picture of the nativity scene and then taking Hershey's Kisses and making like a candy necklace (twisting them and tieing them with yarn and things in plastic wrap) and then they stapled the necklace to the picture...it turned out way cute! I took my camera and was going to take some pictures to post, but the batteries weren't working...lame! So you'll just have to picture it in your head!
I was home the other day and playing around with my camera taking pictures, so here's some...
I put Barkley sitting on our little reindeer by the tree and he totally sat there and posed for me!!!



I had to take a couple of myself by the tree too...(I'm a nerd, I know, but that's okay, it's fun!)



My other little dog--Pocco--wouldn't sit still to let me take a picture of him, so I may have to attempt that one again another time when someone else is home and can help me try to get him to hold still for a minute. I need to take some pictures of just the tree and the lights and stuff outside too...so pretty and fun! I'll have to post those later with more Christmas season news and updates!
Life is wonderful and I'm loving it!!! I hope you are all enjoying this Christmas season!!!

Grateful...

With it being Thanksgiving this month I wanted to take time to do a post on gratitude. So, here's a list of things I am grateful for (in no particular order):

1. The Gospel (having the Gospel in my life, a testimony, the gift of the Holy Ghost, being sealed to my family,the Atonement, the Book of Mormon, prayer, everything!!!)
2. My Family
3. Great Friends
4. My Health
5. The opportunity I have to further my education
6. A nice home
7. A car to drive
8. Living in a free country
9. Having so many temples so close
10. The advanced technology we have (through medicine and through technology to communicate with people)
11. Music
12. Writing
13. Books
14. Creativity (being able to have fun making different things and baking and things)
15. Having such a perfect mixture of seasons where I live (summer, spring, fall, and winter)
16. The mountains (outdoors)
17. Movies
18. Love, peace, comfort, support, strength (so many great feelings)
19. Insitute
20. Sleep
21. Pictures (captivating memories)
22. So many countless blessings
23. Clothes, shoes (sometimes it's fun just dressing up)
24. Food
25. And so many more things, the list could just go on and on....

I am so grateful for all I've been blessed with in my life and for all that I have!

Surgery, Birthday, School, Fructose...Busy stuff!!!

Kind of a weird title to the post, I know! But I figured it's totally beyond time for me to update this, so I figure'd I use words of things that have been going on for my title--very creative, huh?! ;)
So first off...on August 23rd, it was a crazy day--fall semester started and I was having surgery that morning (so I went to one class and then headed over to the surgical center to have my thumb fused). The surgery went really well--I'm in a pink cast right now! They took a little bone graft from my wrist and put it in one of my thumb joints (the mp joint), put pins through so that the bone could grow together, and it'd be fused! I ended up having an allergic reaction after the surgery so I had to go on some steroids to get it cleared up, but it got cleared, they got the stitches out, and the cast is on so that it can heal completely!
Here's some pics:





I also turned 23 a couple weeks ago, and was able to do some fun stuff with my family! On my birthday I went with my mom, grandma, and little brother down to Trolley Square in Salt Lake to the Spaghetti Factory and then we walked around and shopped after...it was tons of fun!!! Then, the next day, my siblings, their families (my brother-in-laws, nieces, and nephews) came over and we had scones for dinner, ate outside, the kids played games, and we just visited and had lots of fun! I love my family!!!
Now onto school!!! I know this might so weird, but I LOVE school! I was like counting down for the semester to start! I have one on-campus class this semester (public speaking...yikes!) and two online classes (stress management--awesome class--and microbiology). They've been great and I was totally excited because I actually finished my microbiology class today!!! I decided I just wanted to hurry and get it done, so I did the entire semester's work in the first 5 1/2 weeks of school! haha...I know, total nerd, but hey, it's done now! But this semester's going great, and I love it!
And finally...fructose! I know you're all probably thinking, what in the heck?! Well, I went and had this test done the other day and I went to the doctor yesterday for my results and to follow-up with everything, and it turns out that I have a very high fructose intolerance! Yuck! It's good cause I finally know what's going on, but it's a little tricky trying to stay away from fructose, high fructose corn-syrup, sorbitol, sucrose, and stuff when it's in like everything! So, if any of you know of anything without these in them that's good, I would love to have any input! haha!
Well, I'm finally caught up now in posting...yea!!! I totally need to do better on this! But I hope everyone's great--I love reading your blogs and hearing what's going on with everyone!

Getting Ready and Getting Things Done...

I have totally been so bad at keeping this blog up to date!
I've gone on a couple fun trips since I last posted. We went up to Lava Hot Springs for a weekend, and then the next weekend we went to Bear Lake with my family, my aunts, uncles, and cousins--it was a blast!
Today has been a busy day, but very fun and productive!!! We went to Walmart and my wonderful mother bought me a new cabinet/stand for my room to give me some more room to put things in and on, some of those plastic drawers, and then I went home and went through tons of stuff! My drawers have turned out WONDERFUL--I put all my ribbon, buttons, fabric, scrapbook stuff and craft things in them! Talk about organizing and looking so much better!!! The cabinet still needs to be put together, but once that's done, I can finish all my organizing! I'm loving it!
Throughout these last few days, I've been working on bows for my nieces for school (to match their new school clothes), working on the organizing and cleaning stuff, and getting all my school stuff ready and together (the wonderful going to buy all my school books--the books actually aren't that bad, I love them...just not the amount you have to pay for them).
And the final thing and probably one of the biggest going on is...I'm having surgery on Monday the 23rd! The end of July I went into see the hand specialist, because my left thumb has been subluxing and is very unstable (due to my ehlers danlos). Well, the doctor injected the joint with cortisone injection and wanted me to follow up in a couple weeks to see how it was. (He told me the shot should help with the pain, but it won't fix/help the instability.) I went back for my follow-up this past week and I told him that the shot helped take away the pain for about a week, but then it started coming back and is just gradually getting worse. So, the decision...fusing my left thumb at the mp joint (the joint just below the knuckle)!!! I'm kinda nervous, but the doctor is an amazing doctor, I'm ready for my thumb to get better, and I know that things will go well! The doctor said what they'll do, is take a small bone graft from another place (probably my forearm), cut out the cartilage and part of the bone in that thumb joint, put the bone graft between the bones, and then place pins and wire in--to hold it in place! So we'll see how everything goes--I'm sure great though!
I'll try and post again before the surgery (so within the next week), but I don't know how long until I'll be able to post again after--I'll try my best to, it just depends how I'm feeling--but I'll check on here for any comments, I'll be checking my email, and I'll have my phone with me if anyone wants or needs to get ahold of me!
I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the last part of your summer!!! :)