Christmas Festivities!

Hadly and Tyler's gingerbread houses!

The Dirty Dozen-minus half of them...slackers. We may have been few in numbers, but we were large in spirit! Love these girls, can't imagine life without them!

Here is my gingerbread house, it may not look good to you but I am pretty proud of it! I spent a lot of time on it. I usually don't have the patience but this year I did...I think the patience came from 23-7 year olds that I teach! :)

Wow. I can't believe it is Christmas Eve! This week has been filled with all of the usual festivities with friends and family. This year I was spoiled by my students. It took two garbage bags to pack it all out of my classroom. They are too good to me. I am always getting sweet notes, and presents from them. I love them.

Hey Baby Let's Go to VEGAS!!!

This year I told myself that I was going to the NFR no matter what! For the past couple years, I haven't been able to go because of school, but this year it was going to happen and it did! I flew down to Vegas on Friday night after school and stayed til Monday. It was so much fun to get away for a few days and not have to worry about anyone but myself! Our days went like this....

Sleep in

Shop

Eat

Shop

Shop some more

Go to the rodeo

Eat

Play

Play some more

It was wonderful! My mom and I found lots of cute trendy "cowgirl" clothes that I love! We were also able to meet up with some friends and family for dinner after the rodeo. So glad I was able to go! Can't wait til next year...Thanks mom and dad!

Bed

Giving Thanks

So Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and I have the day off today and I have to admit I am somewhat bored! I never thought I would say that, but my life is go, go, go and I forget what it's like to have downtime! Yesterday with my class we make the cutest little thankful turkeys. (I wish I could post a picture but it isn't legal!) They each had to write four things that they were thankful for, and let me tell you they were so sweet! Some of them were thankful for the worldly things like their wii, or xbox. But every single one of them were thankful for the food they had, or the house they live in. I love my students! They make me excited to go to "work" each day. They reminded me that I need to be thankful for the small things in life too...so here is my list of things I am thankful for-one for each day in November:

1. My Family
2. A warm house
3. Food in the cupboards
4. A job, with a steady income
5. Friends-old and new, young and old
6. Cafe Rio :)
7. Warm clothes to wear during the winter "blizzards"
8. A reliable car
9. A sense of humor
10. Diet Coke
11. Music
12. Great Movies
13. My Health
14. Skype-so I can see my cute niece, and brother and sister
15. Facebook- lame I know! But it keeps me informed!
16. Summer- playing in the sun all day
17. The Gospel
18. those who serve me
19. Jesus Christ
20. My intern coach- Steph
21. My 23 students
22. A place to call home
23. SLEEP
24. A wood burning stove
25. TV and DVR
26. Weekends
27. Snowy days-when I can stay inside all day long
28. Sweats- I love them
29. Cabin Rummy with the Family
30. Being able to travel

Well there is my list...It could go on forever...I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving. Take the time to be thankful for all you have!

We can't help ourselves...

I can't hold in my Christmas excitement any longer! Yesterday my mom, my cousin Lana and I went to the wood connection and picked up a bunch of cute Christmas sayings, and so today was a day all about crafts! We watched lots of Christmas movies too! Gotta love this time of year... I know I sure do!

November = Time to Be THANKFUL

I am aware I am behind in my blogging but I just wanted to quickly blog about a few things that I am thankful for...

1. I am thankful for my job...I never thought that I could love 23 students as much as I do! They are so cute, crazy at times, but I wouldn't trade any of them. They make it worth it. It is weird how so quickly I became attached. I don't look forward to the end of the year. I am also thankful for a great work environment! I love my job!

2. I am thankful for the weekends....I now understand the value of an empty Saturday and Sunday! I would lose my sanity if I did not have my weekends. I need at least one day I can wear my sweats all day! :)

3. I am thankful for friends, who know when I need an out. It is easy to just come home and not go out, but luckily I have friends who drag me out! :)

4. Last I am thankful for my family. Not only my immediate family but also my extended family. I really am so lucky to have a large amount of family so close! I realized how lucky I am as we all piled into my grandmas for homemade chili and scones on Halloween, a tradition that has been alive as long as I have. I don't ever want that too change!

It really is easy to get caught up in all of the negative things taking place, and I forget to look at all the little things I have in my life that I really am thankful for. That is all for now. I am sure there is more to come! :)

Happy Halloween

To the surprise of many, I am not a Halloween fan. I have never really been into dressing up and going out. I find myself dressing up for other occasions, but not Halloween. This year our neighbor made my mom this super cute spider headband to wear to school, and I decided that we all needed one. So I ran to park city and got some stuff for Sara and I to have headbands too. For Halloween we went to my grandmas for her amazing homemade chili! It is always fun to see all the cute kids in their costumes, and of course eat delicious food!

Kenlee's Blessing

Today my sweet neice, Kenlee was blessed by her dad, Tyler. It was a great day. Something really cool about it was that Kenlee wore the same dress that both Sara and I wore the day we got blessed. She looked so adorable, and perfect. It was a great day with family, and friends!

Fall 4 wheeling

Well I have been wanting to return to our favorite 4 wheeling spot up cascade for the past month to see the fall leaves! So on Saturday Lynsee, Denise, Kellie, and I went for a ride! It was so much fun, and the colors were incredible! It was perfect weather, and we found huge puddles to play in! I don't know why we don't go more often it is close and we always have fun!

Jordan's Big Day

October 14. 2010. What a beautiful day to get married. The sky was clear blue, the sun was shining, and my best friend looked AMAZING! Jordan and Denver couldn't have had a better day! Jordan has been one of my best friends forever, and I am so happy that she ended up marrying Denver! I love the both of them so much. Weddings are always hard on me, it's not because I will never see my friends again but things definitely change! I know that Jordan and Denver will always be apart of my life, and I thank them for their friendship and wish them the best of luck as they start out a new adventure together!

Harvest Moon

After Jami's wedding I went on a little adventure with the Sorenson crew! We went up to Sundance and went on the midnight ski lift. It was so AWESOME!! We left Heber around ten, and raced to get to sundance, to wait in line for 1 1/2 hours! at midnight we finally got on the lift. It was so cool, the moon was so bright that it lit everything up. It was so calm and peaceful! I would do it again! Thanks to the Sorenson's for the fun!

Somebody Loved..

Last week Jami got married! She got married in the St. George temple on Thursday, had a reception down south on Thursday as well. Then on Friday had a second reception at her house in Midway. It was beautiful. She worked so hard for everything to be just right, and that is was! I don't have any pictures with bride but I know that her photographer got some so I will have to make sure and get some to post! I am so happy for her, and wish her the best of luck! Love you "Jami Bonner the little french girl!"

Fall happenings

Fall is here again! This is my favorite time of year, but it always seems to go by so quickly. That seems to be the case again this year. All though I am trying to find time to enjoy all of the beauty that nature has to offer! A couple of weeks ago my mom, Lynsee, and myself went on a ride up co-op. It was a awesome! While we were riding we ran into a bull elk calling for a cow. It was so cool! Lynsee Jokes that I was being too loud and scared it off. Either way it was awesome! The next day Denise, Kellie, Lynsee, and I went on an adventure to cut some leaves for an art project I was doing at school! The leaves were gorgeous, my students made incredible art with them as well!

The newest addition to our family....

Kenlee in her rocking chair that used to be Tyler's when he was a little tyke!

She is an excellent sleeper! :)

First "real" bath!




Kenlee Ty Kunz is here! Born on August 27. 2010 weighing 6 pounds and 10 ounces. I was teaching when she was born, but as soon as the bell rang at the end of the day I was out of Heber and off to Logan. She is a tiny thing! But boy is this little girl spoiled already! We all love her so much, and can't get enough of her! Here are some cute new pictures of the little peanut! :)

The adventure has begun!

My new adventure has started...My adventure in second grade that is! The beginning couldn't have gone any better! I love my school, my class, and my co-workers are so great! I couldn't have been successful without my parents, and friends, and especially my intern coach Steph! Here are some pics of my classroom before the year started! I still wish it looked this clean! Maybe it will look this clean at the end of the year! :)

Bear Lake With the Ladies!

Well for our last summer Hoorah! We packed up and headed to Lava Hot Springs and Bear Lake for the weekend! It was so much fun! I didn't want to come home. We spent a lot of time doing absolutely nothing! Ah...it was perfect! We went to the mineral pools at Lava, which was way cool. I can't wait to go back. Then we headed to bear lake, there we spent lots of time just playing in the sun! One of the nights we went to "Pickleville Playhouse" it was hysterical. I highly recommend it. Here are a few quotes from the trip...

"Did I say it? I didn't want too!"

"Denise are you angry?"

"Why aren't you barfing right now?"

"That idea just crawled into my ear and murdered my brain cells."

"I am gymnastical"

Also we can't forget our favorite game of five crown...It was a great girls trip! Can't wait to do it again! :)

Camping with the Barker Clan

The camping continued for a third week! It was a blast. It is always a party with our good friends, the Barkers. We have camped together forever, and always will. It doesn't matter where we go, we always have a good time playing games, eating, more games, and more eating. This year Steve took us to catch some crawdads. It was so much fun! Then he cooked them all up for us to eat! (I opted out!) Another hit at this years camp was the teeter totter that hugh built! I think I played on it the most! :) It was a great camp! Can't wait til next year!

Blogger Award!

Blogger Award

So Mindy tagged me in the blogger award almost a month ago! Yup I am awesome, but here it is! Thanks Mind, you are the best!

Amazing Blogger award

Terms of this award: must list 10 things about yourself, thank the person who gave you this award, and pass it on to 10 wonderful bloggers.

1. I am a nervous Nellie, I worry about anything and everything. I wish I wasn't this way, but sometimes it is a good thing!

2. I hate clutter! It makes me crazy, I can't focus when there is clutter around.

3. I just learned how to fly fish this summer, and I am loving it! (Ok so I have only been one time, but I am dying to go again!)

4. I am teaching second grade at Midway Elementary starting August 26! I am so excited and nervous, and very very anxious! It is going to be an adventure for sure, but I can' t wait to get started.

5. I love camping with my family and friends. It is something my family has always done since I was a baby. I don't know a summer without camping. I hope I never know either! :)

6. I am going to be an aunt in September! I can't wait, she is going to be the cutest little girl ever! Spoiled too! Our family is so excited and can't wait for her to get here!

7. One of my favorite treats to eat is movie theatre popcorn and hot tamales!

8. I have the most incredible family! I can't imagine life not being surrounded by family! I am so grateful for my parents especially, I couldn't have accomplished half of what I have in my life without them. Same goes to Sara, Tyler, and Josh!

9. I am a movie junky. The end.

10. I love seven peaks. I would go everyday if I had the time. I think I love the sun, more than seven peaks!

Now I tag...Lana, Sara, Leslie, Jordan, Jami, Kelsey, Michelle, Wendy and anyone who wants to do this! :)

West Fork Camping & Fishing!

Lynsee with her baby fish!

I pulled that worm out of the fish! So crazy!

Here are the fishermen hard at work! I don't know that I would be able to fly fish. I lack patience.

Here are the classy bunk beds!

My favorite thing about July is West Fork camping and fishing with the family! It is something that my family has always done since, well, forever really. Whenever I go out there I have so many memories from my childhood of being with my family and friends! This year Lynsee decided to join, which I am so glad she did! We got to camp on Friday, set up, had dinner, and played some cabin rummy! Another family tradition! We then squished into our bunk beds! :) The next morning we went fishing with my brother and dad. That was an adventure for sure! We weren't fishing so we just played on the shore. It was my job to hold the fish after my dad caught them. (just like when I was a little kid!) We also skipped rocks for literally half an hour! So entertaining. After fishing we headed back to camp for some more game playing! It was a great weekend. Can't wait to do it again...good thing I am going again on Friday! :)

Lake Powell or Lake Pal?

It was another great year at Lake Powell with the Rasband family! Too bad we had to cut it short due to school! We had a good time though! It was so nice to just get away and spend some time relaxing, and doing absolutely NOTHING! I couldn't have asked for a better week. Thanks to all those who made it a blast!