I celebrated my 24th birthday Wednesday and have had a lot of fun as we've celebrated pretty much all week, hence the post title. Really though, who doesn't like the attention and to be pampered like that? (I don't know what happened but I managed to get absolutely no pictures of the festivities this week, and I'm not usually like that. So sorry for the visual-element lacking post)
I feel it kind of kicked off last Saturday when my mom and I made our annual spring trip to Park City for some serious shopping. (I found the cutest zebra plates, and those of you who know much of anything about me, I absolutely LOVE anything zebra and feel this uncontrollable compulsion to buy most any item if it is zebra printed. I know...I should see someone about this). As usual we had a lot of fun, and the 10 hrs we spent shopping around felt more like 2. It flew by like crazy, but not without consequences...when I returned home that night I wanted to saw my feet off they hurt so bad. It was worth it though and by the next morning I had made almost a complete recovery.
Tuesday evening we celebrated with my side of the family and grandparents. I made strawberry-cream cheese zebra cupcakes, although Brad claimed they weren't exactly zebra-like. I blame it on the lack of appropriate tools. If you knew that's what they were suppose to be though, you could see it. At least they tasted good.
Wednesday I took work off and spent yet another day shopping my little feet off and enjoying the day off. I shopped all morning, had my nails done (zebra print airbrushed of course), met up with Brad for In N Out burgers for lunch, shopped all afternoon, Brad took me to Maria Bonitas for dinner (delicious), and then to Macey's for a yummy soft serve ice cream cone. It was a great day.
Thursday I showed up to work where the ladies I work with had decorated my desk with balloons, confetti, and birthday banners. They also gave me some really pretty yellow-orange roses, and have offered to buy lunch Monday. I work with great, thoughtful people.
Friday Brad and I went to the Cheesecake Factory (thanks for the gift card Kellie!) It was so yummy, and they give you a TON of food. And what's a trip to the Cheesecake Factory without a slice of cheesecake?! Brad and I ordered two slices and split them in half so we could each try them. We got a chocolate chip cookie dough one that had cookie dough mixed right into the cheesecake (what a great idea, it was heaven) and a white chocolate raspberry slice that was amazing as well. We then hit up the Clark Planetarium at the Gateway in SLC where I have been dying to go for a while now. After many awkward traffic moves, getting lost in the car and by foot in the parking garage, then me asking a girl with a Clark Planetarium shirt in the elevator if we could follow her which Brad found creepy :), we decided that it's better we don't venture from Utah County very often. ha ha ha. We saw the Hubble 3D movie at the Planetarium and it was awesome! The screen was huge, the 3D was awesome, and the movie/story itself was super cool and interesting. If you haven't been to the planetarium I suggest you go, it was great and I can't wait to go back and see the one they're going to do about Mummies and Egypt. What a cool place!
And here we are a week later, and the birthday celebration isn't over quite yet. Today we have a birthday lunch/party with Brad's side of the family, which should be fun as well. I feel super spoiled this week and have had so much fun. Too bad birthdays only come around every 365 days, cause I could sure get used to this! Thanks Brad and all of our family for making my week so great!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Moab Jeep (uh..Toyota) Safari
First off, please ignore the fact that this post looks like a link, and when you click on it it takes you to "signature making" website. I used a signature in one of my previous posts and have some how managed to screw this post up with it. Frankly, I'm too tired to care.
Second, it's hard to believe our trip to Moab was two weeks ago now, and I am just getting around to posting. Obviously work and school keeps me pretty busy. We had such a blast this year, and are anxiously waiting to return sometime soon to play around some more. One highlight of our trip was winning a rock slider set for a jeep at the raffle that Red Rock 4 Wheelers holds during the Safari, and since we drive Toyotas we had no use for them, threw them on KSL and the next day made $350! So not only did we get to enjoy a weekend in Moab, we made money while doing it! (Discrete plug: My parent's also won some jeep gear at the raffle, a jeep bumper & winch kit. They, too, drive a Toyota so if you know someone looking for such things, let me know as they are trying to sell their winnings as well).
Friday we hit the trail called Fins N Things and had a lot of fun (aside from being in a very large group of 45 vehicles). It was somewhat challenging, but not-pee-your-pants-while-crying challenging. So that was good. Saturday was a bit more on the frustrating side, but more so because of our guide rather than the trail itself. He had us lost for 2 hrs before finding the trail....and when he did find the trail, it was the end rather than the beginning. We were very frustrated (along with most others in our group) and decided to venture off on our own after a little while. While doing so we made a trip at Potato Salad to check out the trash....I mean, people, and their vehicles. (Seriously, talk about hillbilly-wife beater wearing-while sitting in the back of a truck bed on a sofa-all while drinking beer- type of people-heaven. I had to take a photos of that. See below. Can you see the couch in the bed of the blue truck? Oh yeah..that's what I'm talking about.)
Our frustrating morning, turned out to be a good day though overall. (Perhaps the above scene set the stage and allowed for that to happen) :0) Brad was also able to get me behind the wheel of the 4Runner and we went back to Fins N Things where I did some driving. That's right, me behind the wheel of a large vehicle on slick rock and steep inclines. Scary, huh? I had so much fun though and if I don't say so myself, I did pretty darn good. (My mom has some photos of this for proof, I'll have to get them from her).
Below are some more photos of our trip. We had a blast, lots of laughs, and are anxiously looking forward to our next trip to try out some new trails.
Second, it's hard to believe our trip to Moab was two weeks ago now, and I am just getting around to posting. Obviously work and school keeps me pretty busy. We had such a blast this year, and are anxiously waiting to return sometime soon to play around some more. One highlight of our trip was winning a rock slider set for a jeep at the raffle that Red Rock 4 Wheelers holds during the Safari, and since we drive Toyotas we had no use for them, threw them on KSL and the next day made $350! So not only did we get to enjoy a weekend in Moab, we made money while doing it! (Discrete plug: My parent's also won some jeep gear at the raffle, a jeep bumper & winch kit. They, too, drive a Toyota so if you know someone looking for such things, let me know as they are trying to sell their winnings as well).
Friday we hit the trail called Fins N Things and had a lot of fun (aside from being in a very large group of 45 vehicles). It was somewhat challenging, but not-pee-your-pants-while-crying challenging. So that was good. Saturday was a bit more on the frustrating side, but more so because of our guide rather than the trail itself. He had us lost for 2 hrs before finding the trail....and when he did find the trail, it was the end rather than the beginning. We were very frustrated (along with most others in our group) and decided to venture off on our own after a little while. While doing so we made a trip at Potato Salad to check out the trash....I mean, people, and their vehicles. (Seriously, talk about hillbilly-wife beater wearing-while sitting in the back of a truck bed on a sofa-all while drinking beer- type of people-heaven. I had to take a photos of that. See below. Can you see the couch in the bed of the blue truck? Oh yeah..that's what I'm talking about.)
Our frustrating morning, turned out to be a good day though overall. (Perhaps the above scene set the stage and allowed for that to happen) :0) Brad was also able to get me behind the wheel of the 4Runner and we went back to Fins N Things where I did some driving. That's right, me behind the wheel of a large vehicle on slick rock and steep inclines. Scary, huh? I had so much fun though and if I don't say so myself, I did pretty darn good. (My mom has some photos of this for proof, I'll have to get them from her).
Below are some more photos of our trip. We had a blast, lots of laughs, and are anxiously looking forward to our next trip to try out some new trails.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
547 Days
547 days = 1.5 years
It dawned on me earlier this week that this Saturday those numbers equal the amount of time Brad and I have been married. Perhaps it's overboard or juvenile to celebrate a year and a half milestone (or 6.5 years of being together in general), but it's the small and simple things in life that matter. Time has flown and I'm sure in another 6 months I'll be saying the exact same thing as we celebrate our 2 year anniversary. Unfortunately, time is going to fly by and keep ticking away whether I like it or not, but I'm sure glad that I am fortunate enough to get to spend that time with my best friend.Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Just in Time
Thursday evening we are off to Moab for the Jeep Safari weekend, and it couldn't come soon enough. Brad and I have been dying to get out of here and DO something for a while now, but with school and work tying us down we haven't had much time (aside from weekend trips to dinner and a movie).
Between loads of homework, seemingly never ending work days followed by hours of classes and homework each evening, and the lady downstairs (just as an update on that...she called the cops on us for "pounding on the floor" early Monday morning because of her snoring again. I don't know what this woman's problem is. No matter how bad she wants us to, we don't hear her snoring, therefore we don't pound on the floor at all hours of the night. Cops showed up at our door looking for us Monday while we were both at work, according to management. It's just too bad we weren't here....darn!), I dare say we definitely deserve this vacation.
Spring fever has been kicking in and we are just itching to get out, away, and play in the red dirt. Brad has installed a locker in the 4runner for this trip with his share of the tax return (amongst a few other things I can't recall right now) and I know he's excited to get out and give it a try.
So, in a few days (assuming we make it that long) it's "good bye" worries of the world and "hello" fun, dirt, relaxation, and good company! Ahhh....
Between loads of homework, seemingly never ending work days followed by hours of classes and homework each evening, and the lady downstairs (just as an update on that...she called the cops on us for "pounding on the floor" early Monday morning because of her snoring again. I don't know what this woman's problem is. No matter how bad she wants us to, we don't hear her snoring, therefore we don't pound on the floor at all hours of the night. Cops showed up at our door looking for us Monday while we were both at work, according to management. It's just too bad we weren't here....darn!), I dare say we definitely deserve this vacation.
Spring fever has been kicking in and we are just itching to get out, away, and play in the red dirt. Brad has installed a locker in the 4runner for this trip with his share of the tax return (amongst a few other things I can't recall right now) and I know he's excited to get out and give it a try.
So, in a few days (assuming we make it that long) it's "good bye" worries of the world and "hello" fun, dirt, relaxation, and good company! Ahhh....
Monday, March 22, 2010
Dear Neighbor
Dear Downstairs Neighbor,
We realize that some people just never have enough things to do, which is why Brad and I believe those types of people really should invest in some sort of a hobby to avoid or suppress the urge to make up absurd stories about their neighbors, and then complain to managment about us on multiple occasions. We also realize that sometimes complicating your own life just doesn't give you satisfaction enough so you base stories that involve other people to keep things exciting. This is most likely the reason you've dragged us into your fables, as well as the lawyers that you've threatened to get---on what grounds? I'm not sure.
I have a few (friendly, of course) suggestions for you, to make both of our lives easier. Perhaps you see an otolaryngologist as neither your nose or ears seem to be working properly. Maybe he can find some explanation as to why you are smelling cigarette smoke coming from our apartment above you, where we--two non-smoking mormons--happen to live. And while he is at it, maybe have him take a look at your ears as you seem to be hearing us "pounding and throwing things on the ground above your bedroom (which happens to be below a room we NEVER use, other than for storage) to get you to stop snoring (cause we can apparently hear it through the floor) at 8:30 pm every night". In fact, I just had another fabulous idea! While he is looking at that nose of yours in regards to our cigarette smoke, perhaps he can FIX that snoring problem in and of itself since it seems to make you so self-conscious that you make up these stories about us causing a ruckus over it, when neither of us even heard it.
Most of all, please please please (for your sake and the possibility of me spending time in prison) do not make me come down there and solve this problem on my own. It will not be pretty, and I may provide you with a peacefully- everlasting, non-snoring sleep and solve both of our problems.
Sincerly,
(Sorry for the intense sarcasm, but SOME people! Give me a break)
We realize that some people just never have enough things to do, which is why Brad and I believe those types of people really should invest in some sort of a hobby to avoid or suppress the urge to make up absurd stories about their neighbors, and then complain to managment about us on multiple occasions. We also realize that sometimes complicating your own life just doesn't give you satisfaction enough so you base stories that involve other people to keep things exciting. This is most likely the reason you've dragged us into your fables, as well as the lawyers that you've threatened to get---on what grounds? I'm not sure.
I have a few (friendly, of course) suggestions for you, to make both of our lives easier. Perhaps you see an otolaryngologist as neither your nose or ears seem to be working properly. Maybe he can find some explanation as to why you are smelling cigarette smoke coming from our apartment above you, where we--two non-smoking mormons--happen to live. And while he is at it, maybe have him take a look at your ears as you seem to be hearing us "pounding and throwing things on the ground above your bedroom (which happens to be below a room we NEVER use, other than for storage) to get you to stop snoring (cause we can apparently hear it through the floor) at 8:30 pm every night". In fact, I just had another fabulous idea! While he is looking at that nose of yours in regards to our cigarette smoke, perhaps he can FIX that snoring problem in and of itself since it seems to make you so self-conscious that you make up these stories about us causing a ruckus over it, when neither of us even heard it.
Most of all, please please please (for your sake and the possibility of me spending time in prison) do not make me come down there and solve this problem on my own. It will not be pretty, and I may provide you with a peacefully- everlasting, non-snoring sleep and solve both of our problems.
Sincerly,
(Sorry for the intense sarcasm, but SOME people! Give me a break)
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Grandma + Grandpa: 50th Wedding Anniversary
This week my Grandma & Grandpa VanAusdal celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. We held a party for them on Saturday and it was great. We had a wonderful dinner of Prime Rib, dutch oven potatoes, rolls and green salad. Followed by a video compiled of photos of my grandparents through the years, their children and the grandchildren. It was so fun to watch and see how much people have changed. It's crazy how fast the time flies, there were photos of our cousins together when we were young, and you don't realize how much older everyone has gotten. You still imagine everyone the way they were back then.After the video we gave them a book containing letters of memories everyone had wrote about grandma & grandpa and a hardbound photo album. After the tears and laughter died down we played a fun Newlywed game where the grandkids and grandma & grandpa were put up against their spouses and had to answer questions about their relationship and try to guess the same answer their spouse did in order to gain a point. Brad and I won (wahoo!) and were the lucky winners of some NERF dart guns to duke it out with each other. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time, some of the answers were hilarious (thanks Kyle) and it was fun to learn some things about my grandma & grandpa's story as they were dating and such. Following the game Grandma & Grandpa cut their wedding anniversary cake togher, which I thought was a fun idea. Overall we had a great time and it was so fun to have everyone together as a family and celebrate with Grandma & Grandpa. Family is awesome.
Grandma & Grandpa and their children:
Cutting their anniversary cake together:
Look how excited everyone is over the cake! :0)
My aunt Kim. How can you not love a face like that?! This photo is her to a "T" and sums up our family parties:
All of the grandkids (minus McKenzie)....some things never change, and I like it :
Brinlee, my cousin Ronni's daughter:
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)