The only logical thing to do is...

The only logical thing to do when you get snowed in is... build a gigantic snowman!
I woke up Tuesday morning and looked outside to find over a foot of snow. My boss called shortly after that and said the roads are horrendous and don't worry about coming in. Deal! You don't have to tell me twice. Dane and I got up and built a huge snowman in front of our friends James and Tracy's house.
It took us over two hours to do it, and Dane pulled his hammies.... still worth it. The scarf is a twin blanket rolled up, and it still just barley made it around the snowman's neck. Our crowning moment was when random people started taking pictures of it and posting it on facebook, and it got back to us! (Thanks Ryan and Chris.) Awesome!

Battle Wounds

So once again, another year of intramural sports and another great story to come away with. I don't know what it is about intramurals that just makes people not think clearly.

I was captain this year. That's not really anything fancy, all I do is add people to the roster online, call the coin-toss at the beginning of the game, and e-mail or text everyone to make sure they are coming and we have enough girls.

We had a typical "ward" team. A lot of people signed up and each game we were worried if we were going to have enough players. We had a few key players that helped us out, and by some miracle we made it to the second round of the playoffs. Yes, we just had to win a single game to get there, but that was the first game we had actually won.

The second tournament game was a different story. We got the trash kicked out of us, so much so that they swapped out their goalie to see if she could try and score a goal. This is really where my story begins.

So this goalie is the typical goalie build.... big, broad, strong. I was defending her and another girl. I got tangled up with the other girl and got around her just in time to block the goalie's shot on goal. It was kind of like the movies, where you see this massive girl wind up, and then the camera zooms in close on my face only to see the terror. Ok, I wasn't terrified, I was glad that I could actually do my job as a defender... that was at least until the ball made contact with my thigh...

So this ball comes flying at me with the power that only a goalie could deliver; like she was literally trying to send that ball from her goal to ours. Instead of it making it there my thigh got in the way, and the ball shot straight up in the air. As soon as the ball made contact I said "Owe! That REALLY hurt." Then I started looking around, and I couldn't see the ball anywhere. I said, "I don't even know where the ball is!" That's when I saw it coming back down from the atmosphere. It HURT!

Needless to say we lost the game, and that was the last one of the season for us. So I went home and looked down at my leg.... only to find a soccer ball there!!!!!
I woke up the next morning, and it was still there! This game was on November 18th, and it was just within the past week that the imprint finally disappeared. Here is a progression of the lovely mark of courage!
I think this was the next day. The redness had gone down.
You can see the bruise starting to form in an arch around the top of the soccer ball imprint. This one is the day after that.... still have some progression.
You can see some green-ness forming, maybe some purple spots. I had some definite purple spots, etc. This was the last picture I took. The colors on my computer monitor don't really show the full effect of it, but you get the idea.
That goalie has no idea what happened and I'm sure she's forgotten me, but I will remember her. I remembered her especially at first, every time Dane would reach over and squeeze my leg while driving in the car or eating at the dinner table. He even trained himself to not grab my leg, and would do periodic checks.... "Does it hurt when I do this?" I think he was relieved when I finally gave him the green light and was back to normal.

Sold the monster TV. and I miss it.

Just over a year ago Dane and I moved into our new apartment, and were busy settling in... Dane was doing well for about a week or two... Then he really had to feed his addiction to ESPN and all the joy that brings (for him). We started looking for TV's on craigslist, and were looking for a while. We had seen a few TV's we were interested in, but they didn't quite work out.
One evening I checked it, as was routine, and saw a 62" and apparently in good condition. The best part was that it was only $300. We called the guys and drove over right away thinking this was too good to be true. There had to be something wrong with it, fuzzy picture, DVD's don't work, broken speakers... We got over there and it was great. I remember Dane seeing it and being so happy he had to put his hand over his mouth to hide the smile. He was thrilled we had found it. He had just gotten paid from his job, and we had cash in the car so we agreed to buy it.

We didn't have access to a truck right then, so Dane told the guy we could come get it in a few days. The guy and his roommate offered to drive it over right then in their truck... (an offer they would regret.) We said great, and started trying to move that 400+ lbs. TV. We got it back to our place pretty easily, but getting up our rickety stairs was the biggest job ever. There were several times I thought that thing was going over the railing. With a lot of grunting, and maybe a few silent swear words they got the TV up into our little attic apartment.
So for the past year we have had so much fun on this TV. We had to scoot our couch back as far as possible so you can take in the whole screen.

Recently Dane and I have been getting prepared for our move... Next April (tentatively). Thinking about it and even though we would love to keep this TV it just isn't the easiest thing to move. We had tried to sell it again on craigslist but we didn't get any bites on it. We kept posting it for $50 less then the last time we listed it. So this went on for some time, and finally someone was interested in taking it. We were happy that we wouldn't have to move it, but it was so sad when they came and took away our huge TV. I was a girly girl, and I teared up a bit.
So the guys showed up (over an hour late) to take our TV. They were $20 short hoping that I would say, "Oh, don't worry about it." But the guy was like, "I could go back and get it, if you want me to." I just said, "Yes, that would be great." I was sure to tell Dane in front of them that they didn't bring enough money and would be bringing it by later. Moving the huge TV down the shaky stairs. Dane was glad he wasn't the guy lifting it down.
Up and over the corner in the stairs. That's the tricky part, where the TV almost ends up going over the side of the railing. And the dusty back of the TV. They put a few new dings in the TV on the way down the stairs. Dane said that it was nice not stressing over what it bumped into.

So now our TV is gone, and I'm guessing Dane will go nuts without ESPN within the next couple weeks. We'll see how long we can go without cable. We are looking for a great deal for TV's on black-Friday. So there is a good chance we'll be getting up at 3 am, and getting in line at some store. Yuck.

My GREATEST Accomplishment.

At the college I work at I deal with a lot of students and resumes. I help them work on their skills, and remember all their achievements. Recently, I was asked to grade some papers while one of the teachers was out. This assignment was to help the students realize that they have accomplishments. I was very impressed with one student in particular that listed "getting married" as an accomplishment.
I totally agreed with her considering that I gave that as my answer in a job interview for the question "what is your greatest accomplishment."
In the assignment the student has to list what skills, traits or attributes are needed for this accomplishment. I was impressed with how she answered the question. Her answers were:

1. Understanding
2. Sense of humor
3. Respectfulness
4. Generosity
5. Gratitude
6. Honesty
7. Kindness
8. Patience
9. Relationship-building
10. Trustworthiness

Those answers showed a lot of wisdom to me, and I totally agree with her. Of course that list could be extended, but I think that a large bulk of the skills needed in any good relationship are there. ...Actually, I take that back. One of the most important things that got left out was FUN!!!! (That's probably the yellow personality coming out!) So take all these attributes and you will have great relationships!

Hit me

I just added a "hit counter" to my blog! It looks like a little odometer! Is that an indicator that I like cars? (Well, I do.) It's way down at the bottom of the blog. See what hit you are!

Headstone thoughts

About two years ago I was on a run. For some reason running through the Provo Cemetery was something I had taken to. I would spend some time trying to find my aunt's headstone (which I finally found after about a year and a half of looking) and I would run up and down the streets finding cool things. So one day I am running up to the entrance and I came across the weirdest head stone I have ever seen. I don't think I'm going out on a limb to say that this is the weirdest headstone I WILL ever see. I rode my bike down there the other day to get this picture.
Initially I was struck with the boldness of the designer who had put all this guy's sins right there in stone for every person that walks by to see. I wondered if this guy's wife was a bitter woman, looking for a way to get back at the husband that left her for drugs, alcohol, prostitutes, poker, prescription drugs, etc. That had an edge of sadistic humor to it, and I was amused by this brazen woman I have never met.
Then the nicer person in me came out, and I thought "if I were to die right now what would be on my headstone?" There is some room for self reflection here. Are you living in a way that you wouldn't be ashamed if every passing person could see you at every moment of the night and day? Are there some things that you don't want engraved in stone six feet above your head?

Dane, my dear, if I die before you please just put my name on the headstone!

Light the Y

Tuesday Dane surprised me by calling part way through the day and asking if I wanted to hike the Y? I was all over that. Then I found out that they were lighting the Y that night! How exciting! I had told Dane that before we left Provo I wanted to hike up there and see the Y lit. So I drove home, got my dinner of Captain Crunch... there's a power meal. We headed up the mountain.
Dane told me that if we were among the first 150 people to reach the top we could get a light bulb and help light the Y. So that in mind we were huffin' it up the mountain. Or, at least we started out strong. Apparently I am not in shape as much as I would like because my legs started to burn so badly and my lungs didn't feel great either. I'm just stubborn enough to not stop and take a rest. Plus Dane was about 5 yards ahead of me the whole time and I can't let the boys win! :) Dane asked several times if I wanted to take a rest. I told him No, I was training for the Amazing Race. Genie, my sister-in-law, and I have this fantasy of getting on the show. So I pushed myself up that hill in pretty good time with that dream being the motivating factor.
We got to the top and found out that we totally dominated! There were tons of lights left. We picked a light and waited for the power to get switched on so we could screw it in. I have always wondered how they lit the Y so getting to the top and finding those 25 watt light bulbs was a bit of a surprise.
It looked extraordinary and was a "dream come true." I love checking things off my bucket list.

Construction Zone!

I don't know if it's just me... but I thought it was best not to drive heavy machinery into a natural wet land... a.k.a. swamp. Call me crazy, but I think there are much better things to do with your resources!

This is the I-15 project going on... and apparently not as successful as they would have hoped.
Notice it's a swamp! They were trying to get rid of this swamp by just filling it in with dirt. We were under the impression that the swamp came from an underground spring, so you just can't put some dirt on it and call it good... I wonder what my engineer brother-in-law would have to say about that.
It took two additional "machines" to get it out.... and that was after digging away all the loose topsoil they had just put down. People are just funny... and sometimes just stupid!

Why we need men

My co-worker Doug was telling me a story that happened in his Sunday School. There was some sort of discussion about how women don't really need men for anything... I don't really know the whole discussion about that and I'm not looking to argue that point, but what he did say really stuck out to me. He raised his hand and said that he could think of one thing that women absolutely need men for... and that was to make them feel beautiful. He told me about his mother that had lost her husband the previous year. She was getting ready for a party or something like that and had gotten all dressed up and then just got sad. She told Doug that she just missed feeling beautiful. Her sweetheart always made her feel like the most beautiful woman around and without him she didn't have someone to compliment her on how she looked.
I thought about that and I am grateful for the man in my life that gives me confidence and makes me feel beautiful. I hope I continue to trick him through pregnancies and old age. Knowing Dane like I do, I'm positive that he will continue to keep his optimistic outlook! Thank you men! We love you for making us feel beautiful.

Let the fun begin!

BYU Football has begun!!! One of my favorite things about Provo has been going to the football games. Yes, I'm from Patriot country but, I never went to any games growing up. In all reality it was worth it to transfer to BYU for the football games. SO FUN! Plus we love our Cougs.
Then after a prayer... the fun begins! hahaha.

Brad and Camille came back to honor their alma mater.

Dane's grandparents Sam and Joyce are season ticket holders. Sam was feeling pretty good about things when he called the ticket office and told them that they had bad knees, so they needed good seats.... They got them! :)
Cosmo! Dane caught this picture.

This past weekend we went back to Dane's home town to hang out and have a little mini family reunion. For quality time we went out and SHOT SHOT GUNS. (and a 22).
Dane pulling off the "no look" shooting technique. Once we got back from the hospital it was a great day. JUST KIDDING!
Grant manning the launcher thing.

Adam looking tough.

Brad making sure I'm not going to kill someone.

Genie dominating! That's a big gun for such a little girl!

Christina catching the vision from Brad!

Still happy and in love after one year of marriage!

After shooting we went and watched the BYU game at Sean's house (Dane's cousin). It was depressing. Our team left their "A game" at LaVell Edwards... hopefully they'll pick it up this Saturday.

Cousins! (mostly). The two blondies were born on the same day! These guys are my favorite! Notice all those bright blue eyes!

Dane Swenson with Dane Kelly. It was a great moment to see the two meet for the first time. We love you Fer and Liz! Congrats on such a cutie!

Football games and family... we are all about fun!

Summer Splash!

We have had a busy summer! We have been to the west coast and the east coast, the north and the south. We have been to weddings and parties and sporting events! Here's a smattering of the picture's we've taken.
Dane and Aimee with Chris and Ashley Bernal at Ryan and Tiffany Bernal's wedding.
Can you find the baby in this picture?

Or how about this picture?

This is my 87 year old Grandma. She took her last tube ride at 80, then "retired" from it. That didn't stop her from taking a nice jet ski ride!

What a hunk. Dane not only got up on water ski's for the 2nd time, and also learned how to drop a ski. He tried his hand at slalom skiing and did great!

Here's the evidence:

We had fun kayaking around the lake.

Here's some fun pictures from the rope swing.

YEAH FOR FENWAY!!!!!!!! I loved being home and going to my sanctuary. Even though this season won't yield much I still love my SOX!

It's been a great summer and this is just the tip of the iceberg! I haven't downloaded some pictures yet... so more to come!