The Weather is A-changin'

Happy Harvest to all!
Today it was 40 degrees and rainy. There is also snow on the tops of the mountains. The weird thing is on Monday it was 88 degrees! I guess there is nothing to do but embrace the colder weather and the change of the season. I do like fall especially since living in Utah because when the leaves change color it's so pretty. Fall also means that the holidays are soon approaching and I love the feeling of the holidays...I am really excited for decorations and festivities! Fall is also a time to put away the summer clothes and bring out the sweaters and jackets, which I did today. Fall is also a time for baking, I did that today too. I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and plan on taking them to work tomorrow in celebration of October 1st. Although I am dreading the long months of snow I want to do snow actives this year, maybe that way I will enjoy the snow more...I want to try snow shoeing and skiing this year, maybe even some snowmobiling. I am afraid I'll be working over the holidays so I don't have any travel plans made but I am hoping it will be a good holiday season!

More Zoo

I went to the zoo again on Sunday and the animals were so active which was neat to see! I got to see the baby elephant, it was so cute. It was just waking up from a nap so I saw it eat and drink. My favorite animals to see this time, besides the baby elephant were the penguins they were so cute and active. They were all in a group waddling around and swimming. I think it would be cool to have a penguin as a pet! I have never heard animals make so much noise at the zoo as I did on Sunday. The huge tiger was out walking back an forth making a lot of noise and the monkeys were really playful and then 3 of them just started howling it was neat to see and hear. I also liked seeing the giraffes the baby is getting so big and it was neat to see the big giraffes up close.
It was a great day at the zoo! I do however miss seeing the water animals like the otters.

Cruise

The cruise was fun I think we all had a good time and I hope Amie had a good 21st birthday! It was good that papa, Cola, grandma and Dan came to celebrate with us. We celebrated at midnight all with a shot in hand! We also ate a lot of food, watched some comedy shows, went in the hot tub, took fun pictures, walked around and drank a little in Ensanada, and we even did some dancing. It was weird, the whole time we felt the motion of being on the ship which was kind of unsettling. It was good to see the ocean!

Happy 21st Birthday Amie!

My sister turns 21 on Saturday and we are going on a cruise to Ensanada in celebration!! I can't believe she is going to be 21, I am really excited for her! She has lived a good life and I know she will succeed at anything that she chooses to do. Last year when I moved back to Lancaster and lived with her again was so much fun and I loved that we got closer. When I decided to move back to Utah it was really hard to say good-bye to her but I hope we will live near or with each other again!
I love my sister so much and I am so grateful to have her in my life!
Here are 21 reasons why I love Amie:
1) She is always there for me
2) She is so smart, beautiful, fun, unique, and out going
3) She loves the Dallas Cowboys, just like our dad
4) She doesn't care what others think of her
5) She has a great personality and sense of fashion
6) She was the CUTEST little girl and could entertain herself for hours
7) She loves cats
8) She loves aliens and Bigfoot
9) She loves country music and line dancing
10) She accomplishes her goals
11) She knows a lot of interesting facts
12) She loves her family
13) She is reliable, loyal, kind, and loving
14) She loves to read
15) She knows what she wants in life
16) She drove with me to Seattle (our first road trip together)
17) She is the strongest person I know
18) She tells it like it is
19) She is brave
20) She is so cute when she tries to bake
21) She loves beer
Amie, I love having you as my sister...life would be so boring without you! We have shared so many great times together. Thank you for always being there for me and supporting me. I hope you have a great 21st birthday and that all of your wishes come true! You deserve all the happiness, joy, and peace!
Happy 21st birthday! I love you!

Happy Birthday Uncle Greg!

The 19th is a special day as we celebrate Greg's and Amie's birthday! This year is a big year for the both of them...Greg is saying farewell to his thirties while I know exciting things are coming his way as he embraces his forties and Amie turns 21!
I look up to my uncle as he is very adventurous, athletic, out going, hard working, fun, and artsy. He has completed multiple marathons and is now training for the Low to High. Him and Tori are planning on hiking from Death Valley to the top of Mount Whitney. We are all excited for them and this adventure!
He has always been into music and use to play in a band. I remember when I was little and he use to practice and I would tell my friends "my uncle is in a band" I thought that was the coolest.
He served in the Army and I remember I always wanted to go to the airport when he would come home on leave, which I usually got to go, it was always good to have him home!
I am grateful that I am close with my family and that we have always done fun things together.
My uncle Greg is a great father, husband, son, brother, and uncle! We all love him and are very proud of him and his accomplishments!
Happy birthday to you Greg I hope all your wishes come true and that you are excited for your forties, it's going to be a good year!

Getting Together

Over the past week I went with Andrea, Yoho, Emily and baby Talia to the Greek Festival and the Salt Lake City Fair. It was good getting together and going to some local Utah events! The Greek Festival was packed, we stood in line for about an hour to get food, but it was worth it, the food was good and I love the Greek Church building.

Last night we got together to go to the fair and that was fun! Of course we got fair food, walked around, and looked at the animals. Baby Talia is so cute...she seemed to have a good time as her mommy took her on the carousel, which she loved and she liked the animals!
It was good to go to the fair, I have not been to a fair in a few years. I use to go every year to the AV fair but have not been since I have moved to Utah. I always enjoy the fair animals...there were some very large pigs, but then there were cute little baby pigs. I am glad I got to go to the fair and spend time with friends!

Hitting A Wall

Isn't life funny how things will be going great, you feel content and at peace, and then BAM a big brick wall comes out of nowhere...That's how I felt today.
I like to blog because I can express myself and write about my thoughts and feelings. For me writing is very therapeutic as it's the best way for me to get my thoughts out of my head. I think I have a problem with acting solely on my emotions, sometimes I'll do something and then I'll look back and think "I should have just waited it out and not have acted in the moment or let my emotions carry me away" is that a bad thing?
Life is a constant game and it's how you react to the things that come your way that make you a stronger person, I am continuing to see that. I feel that I have improved on the way I view my life and how I react to situations but sometimes those brick walls just get in the way...so I have decided to view those brick walls as a learning experience in preparation for the next one.
Although I hit a wall today I am still happy with where I am in my life and with the person I am and I know everything happens for a reason.

Seadooing It Up

Over the weekend I went to Laughlin, NV with my family to go seadooing. We have gone every year for the past 11 years. Being out on the water on a seadoo or boat is my favorite thing, there is just something about riding on the water that is so peaceful! It was good to see Amie, dad, Berna, Aunt Tery, and Uncle Jim. When Amie and I arrived on Friday we went straight to the river, it was 114 degrees out...so hot! The water was nice but as we were riding our seadoo the hot air was a little much. On Saturday we went to the lake, it was good to be on the open water and we all played catch in the water which was fun! After dinner we rode the train that goes around the casino and Amie and I walked around a little. Then on Sunday morning before we had to leave we went to the river again to ride one more time. It was a good weekend and it was nice to spend it with family :)
Amie, Me, Berna, Dad

Us on the train

Colorado River

Uncle Jim, Amie, Me, Aunt Tery, Dad