Ashton's Distinguished Young Woman (Junior Miss 2012)

 Morgan was asked a couple weeks before the night of the competition to do the stage decorations.  Being the wonderful friend that I am, I volunteered myself to help her if she needed it.  She needed it!  I am so happy that I was able to help her, because it just turned out AMAZING!  Morgan has some awesome vision and Andrew and I were there to help her execute it all!

Above you can see the backdrop for the stage.  Of course it was so much COOLER in PERSON!  

DO YOU FEEL AFRICAN SAFARI!  I know I did!

When the curtain opened for the first time, we even had the elephant moving back and forth.   You can see that in the video down below.  

Morgan used vinyl talecloths for the backdrop and then we traced the tree and animals on big pieces of cardboard using an overhead projector.  We cut them out and pieced them together, taped and spray painted them black.  Morgan cut out the grass as well.  Andrew and I missed out on the hanging of the big pieces, because we had to go to a meeting for the guy Andrew was campaigning for at BYU-I!  I am still soooo amazed that Andrew S and Morgan were able to hang them by themselves.  They amaze me!  

We put our clamp lights we used for a wedding behind the backdrop and it shined through the tablecloths.  BREATH TAKING!

 

 Off on one of the wings of the stage we set up an African Safari tent scene. 

Morgan did a great job knowing what to put over there. I just kept thinking Tarzan.  What would Jane bring to an African Safari???

This is the other side of the stage.  Morgan painted all the boxes.  The podium is covered by the big gray box.  That is where the MC spoke from.  It looked great!

 This was their photo wall. Morgan and I worked very hard on putting this up.  The sad day came the next day when it was all on the floor.  Morgan quickly put it back up before everyone came.  Oh goodness.  Morgan did a great job with putting this all together.  I was just glad I got to help.  Even though there were times that I was SUPER tired and my whole body ACHED.  I guess being pregnant doesn't allow me to do as much as I would want to do at one time.  But it all got done and everyone loved it!

 It was a great evening. Since Morgan and I had been up there the whole week putting up the decorations, we were able to watch their rehearsals as well.  It was so neat to see how much the girls improved throughout the week.  Saturday night everyone did such an AMAZING job.  It was fun to watch them on stage doing their best!

Here is Ashton's Distinguished Young Woman.  She did such an awesome job all night.  And that dress!!!!!  I just love it so much!  It just screams confidence.  Good Luck at State Sarah!

For our Jackson!

We have finally found the FIRST thing we wanted to buy for Jackson.

We found this last night at Ross and just had to buy it.

Andrew picked it up and said, "I can't wait to see my little son in this outfit!"

And wait we will have to do!  It is for 18 months.

So, next December (2012), Jackson will be sportin' this get-up!

He will be SOO handsome!

Such a STUD!

Logan, Bear Lake, Crib & 25 Weeks

 Saturday at NOON we got a phone call from Andrew's parents. 

They told us they were going to Logan for the night and then staying in Bear Lake at the Worldmark Resort.  They wanted to know if we wanted to join them.  Before Andrew could even tell me what was going on, I said, "YES!"

It was great to do something spontaneous and we had a great time.

We left at 3 after a meeting Andrew had and got into Logan at 6:00!

We met up with the parentals at Fredrico's for PIZZA!

Yummy, yummy pizza!

Then we headed over to Logan Arts Cinema to listen to some music.

 

We heard Tim Pearce and Accidentally Involved.

They were both great.

We definitely enjoyed ourselves.

Thanks for the INVITE!

 

Andrew and I having fun at the Concert!

 

Here is the Worldmark Resort.

It was a bit snowy on our way up the canyon, but we made it safe and sound.

We had a great time hanging out in the room playing games and just relaxing.

Such a nice relax-ful time.

The beautiful Logan Temple.

Some fun on the ride home...

TOP PICTURE--If you look carefully HEB is on the license plate. 

For those of you who don't know--

HEB is our FAVORITE grocery store in TEXAS!

Gotta love HEB!

BOTTOM PICTURE--This is one of my favorite signs we pass every time we come home.  It is pointing to the SHELLEY AREA...not just SHELLEY...but the SHELLEY AREA!  I just love it!

 

Look!  Look!  Look!

WE HAVE A CRIB!

It is a mini-crib.  Mom Walker got it for us.

THANK YOU!  

We were going to put it in our TV room, but after seeing how it fits nicely in the room, and knowing little Jackson won't be staying in that room for long, and knowing if we put him in the TV room we were going to have to buy even more new furniture, we thought it was an OK idea.

Not ideal...we know!  But it will work.

When we move to where ever Andrew gets a job, we will have a REAL nursury.

Unitl then...in our room he will be!

Here I am!

25 weeks PREGNANT!

15 More to go!

Things in the pregnancy are going well.

I have been feeling him move all over the place.

I have even seen my skin move a couple of times.

I know it will get even cooler as the days go on.

I of course am EXHAUSTED all of the time.

After teaching 23 4th graders all day, I just come home and CRASH!

Every once in a while my Sciatic nerve hurts me,

but I use the handy dandy rice bag Morgan made for me...

and I am good to go!

I also have a ton of mucus in the back of my throat ALL of the time.

Sorry if that is disgusting to you...

but I am just documenting here.

Oh, and the most ANNOYING thing..

my PREGNANCY CARPAL TUNNEL!

That's right...my hands are ALWAYS asleep.

When I use my hands all of the time oh man, THEY HURT!

Doc says the one of the only ways to get better is to NOT use my HANDS!

She then looked at me and said, I know that won't happen.

So, sleeping fingers I will have to deal with.

But hey!  I know I have it way easier than most.

I also have a new bed..the couch!

Andrew has also moved into the TV room.

He sleeps on a mattress on the floor.

Just so he can be with me!  

LOVE HIM!

But, I will take all of this to have a little one in 15 weeks...

and to be a MOM!

Oh goodness...

Just can not wait!

The BEST Meatballs EVER!!

This is the best recipe for sweet and sour meatballs.  Morgan introduced them to us and our lives have not been the same ever since.  I really wanted them tonight, but Morgan is in Utah and I couldn't go get the recipe....but THANK GOODNESS for the Internet!  I FOUND THE RECIPE!  We are now enjoying a great evening of meatballs and rice.

 Here is the recipe...

Make 'em for dinner sometime.

Lion House Sweet & Sour Meatballs

MEATBALLS:

• 1-1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
• 3/4 c. rolled oats
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1/2 c. finely chopped onion (or I like to use a palm full of dried onion)
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1 t. salt
• 1 t. worcestershire sauce
• pepper

Combine ingredients. Mix well. Form into 12 balls, each about 2 inches. Place in casserole dish. Cover with sauce (below). Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Serve over rice.

SAUCE:

• 1 c. brown sugar
• 1/2 c. apple cidar vinegar (just not white vinegar)
• 2 t. prepared mustard
• 1/2 c. barbecue sauce
• 2 t. worcestershire sauce

Combine ingredients & blend thoroughly. Heat in sauce pan and pour over meatballs.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss & Happy Texas Independence Day

 Today is one of my favorite days of the school year.  

My class always spends it celebrating Dr. Seuss.  

He is my all time  FAVORITE author.

I have loved his books ever since I was a small child.

My dad would read his books to me growing up.

I even have Dr. Seuss slippers.

My brother got them for me one Christmas when I was in High School.

LOVE DR. SEUSS!

Today, we ate Green Eggs & Ham, watched some Dr. Seuss cartoons, participated in a school-wide parade, ate cupcakes, had High School students read to us and read a TON of Dr. Seuss books ourselves.  March 2nd is Read Across America Day.  I had the my students read picture books.  Each time they finished one, they were able to color in a state on a map of the USA.  Their goal...to color in ALL of the states.  They absolutely LOVED doing this activity.  More than I thought they would.  It was so neat to sit back and watch them read and then color.  They were so excited.

 Today is ALSO Texas Independence Day!  We didn't do anything MAJOR.  I just made a cake and decorated it.  We took it over to the Schauerhamer's and ate a few pieces or so.  We didn't do any partying because the Schauerhamer's have been sick lately. 

The girls loved eating the cake.  They were so happy to scarf it down!

(I am suppose to excuse the girls' hair.  Like I said before, Morgan has been sick, so their hair didn't get done today.  I still think they are DANG cute!)

It has been a great day.  A tiring one.  But GREAT!

Gotta Love March 2nd, 2011