Ultimate Frisbee

On Saturday, the Elder's Quorum had an ultimate frisbee activity...Elle and I tagged along and I captured these cute shots. Later one of the guys left and I got to take his place...it was super fun but then my legs were all kinds of sore Sunday and Monday...I guess I am not used to all that stopping, starting, and changing direction kinds of running! Paul was just happy to start making some new friends.

rainy days and mid-afternoon munchies

So this has been our weather for the past little while! And I haven't spent much time in the kitchen for the last couple of...YEARS!! so here is what I made...salad,

Spaghetti,

and chocolate chip cookies!!!

mmmmm....yummy

Now maybe I should tackle something a little more complicated?!...Nah!

still cutting hair!

So Ellie was due for a trim and I was hoping that she would let me try out some of the new techniques that I recently learned. Alas, she was ADAMANT that I cut off only a TINY bit. She wants it all long and no layers. BORING. but it's her hair...

I took off an inch.

She read a book the whole time. Then I gave her braids.

The End.

makeover

So I gave myself a new haircut this morning. I thought about going short again and looked through one of those "short hair cuts" magazines, but decided to do something a little less drastic. Most of the styles in those magazines are completely unrealistic. They are ridiculous. There were maybe 2 styles in the whole thing that a real person could wear every day. Now, if you know me, you know I hate paying for haircuts because I am never really happy and I feel like it's a big waste of money (thank you, parental unit!). I have been cutting my own hair since high school (before that, my sisters Candi and Rachel did it). Anyway, I got online and watched a bunch of "how-to" videos on putting in long layers and I think it turned out perfectly professional looking. Sorry, I forgot to take "before" pictures this time! I also went a little crazy with the eye-shadow today. It's fun when you don't have to go to work! Can you tell I am getting bored yet??

Running: The good, the bad, and the sweaty!!

Running at sea level is wonderful...you can go really fast without even getting out of breath!! For at least a year, I have been battling running injuries and FINALLY I can go running pain free!!! It just rocks! It is awesome!! Alas, I haven't found very many good places to run from my house yet. Just big commercial roads which means a lot of concrete sidewalks! grrr...I hate concrete! It's the worst running surface! Luckily, I bought a huge bag of paper cups which I keep filled in the freezer and I have been DILIGENT about massaging my shins, knees, and heels with ice after every run. The benefit of running on main roads is that I refuse to look slow in front of all those strangers and therefore I have been keeping a good pace. Right now, I am running alone every morning, but that is a good thing because I have to get up at the crack of dawn to beat the heat and humidity here. We have had weather in the upper 90's and low 100's since I got here and the humidity is unreal! Another benefit to running at sea level...NO HILLS! That may sound like a negative to some of you hard-core athletes, but to me, it is pure running bliss!

Oh what a difference...

Above is a picture of our sunroom. I have big plans for it but right now it houses my favorite piece of furniture. My mother somehow acquired this from my Aunt Diane when I was about 5 and I laid claim to it before they moved to Tennessee. I am going to get some flowy curtains and a sisal rug and a wicker settee with fun pillows to soften it up...but not until AFTER I find a new job!!

Below is Ellie's cute bathroom. I just love the cabinet space!!

Here are all Ellie's books at the foot of her bed. I made her get rid of half her collection before we moved, but she still has plenty as you can see. At her 5th grade graduation, she won an award for "insightful comments in reading". They gave each of the kids adjectives that most described them and hers were "bookish and bouncy"! I have to agree. Right now she is reading Anne of Avonlea. It's one of my favorite series.

Here is her new bedroom. All the new stuff we got for her birthday looks even better at our new place!! And I recovered the lamps just before we left. I was going to put a cute print above the bed, but she insisted she have the pictures of Christ and the temple. I love this age! She is growing up, but still holding on to her childhood.

I am pretty excited about our new place. It makes me giggle a little. It is a lot smaller than our old place, but sooooo much nicer! Even though we still have to rent, it is a lot better when you actually like your place!

The kitchen has a great pass-through to the dining room and has a laundry room. We found a washer and dryer set for $160 on Craig's list. SWEEEEET!!!!

This is the master bath and below is the living room and dining room.

Here is Ellie a few weeks ago after I gave her a little makeover...I guess she is trying to have a staring contest with Buster. He is Sam's doggie so we had to leave them both behind and we miss them.

Painful Good-byes! SAD PANTS

Sam was the Maid of Honor over the weekend at her friend's wedding. Doesn't she just look beautiful? I am so sad that we won't be sharing a house anymore! This past year has been really fun for me. It's so nice to have sisters close by. I am also leaving my super-sweet sister-in-law, Coleen. She has been there for me through A LOT of personal drama (and such a patient listener) and I am really going to miss my brother (Jeremy) and their little boy too!! We had two fun get-togethers recently...and I forgot my camera for both of them! Also, they all help with Ellie and I am so grateful they have been there for her for pretty much her whole life!
My cute little friend, Holly came by to hang out one last time before I move. I try not to get sappy but I really hate leaving her!! She has been my sanity and my cheerleader and she is soooo funny!! Of course, she is moving on too so I would have to say "good-bye" regardless! I will miss her though!! Tomorrow is my last day of work. My boss wants to do a little "send-off" party. That will be thoroughly embarrassing. For some reason, I only like being the center of attention in certain groups...family mostly:) and other times, I find it quite uncomfortable!