Throwback Thursday: Family Photo Shoot

These were taken sometime in 1997.

It is crazy how I remember taking these.  Dad always liked our hair parted to the side and one part behind the ear.  I also remember how much I loved that polkadot dress.  We took the shots of the whole family together with dads tripod and self timer.  It was pretty fancy stuff back then.  We had been in San Diego for about a year and the house was still really empty.  All the walls were big and white.  We used to have so much fun in the front room.  Cartwheels, dancing, running, rolling...the best room for a bunch of girls.

Anyway,  I love these pictures!  Especially Porter's rolls.

victory!

In church today, our first counselor got up to conduct sacrament meeting.  He started by saying something like, "I don't know what it is, but something about today feels exciting."

I leaned over to Ashton and told him that it was because of BYU's win last night.

Last night, BYU beat 15th ranked Texas, 40 to 21!  The cougars played an amazing game.  It was so much fun to watch.  Taysom Hill has no fear when it comes to running - which is a little scary, but makes for some edge-of-your-seat plays.

Texas has already fired their defensive coordinator.  He was the scapegoat for their poor performance last night and we will see how the Texas defense holds up the rest of the season.

I am hoping that we will find that last night's performance from BYU wasn't a fluke, that our offense really has the "go-fast, go-hard" in them!  We have one of the toughest schedules that BYU has seen this season so this won't be easy.

Love my cougars.
And while I am no longer there, sitting on the front few rows, with my cougar dedicated friends, part of my heart will always be there.

Ra ra ra ra ra....gooooooo COUGARS!

50 years of love looks like...

...this.

Happy 50th Anniversary to my sweet sweet grandparents.  They are such an example to me and I am blessed to call them mi abuelo y abuela.  I wish Ashton and I were in Utah to celebrate this big day with all the family.

They are in love and it always shows.  A few years ago, Grandma and I spend a few hours chatting about their love story.  It is a sweet one that has created a wonderful family.  A family that I am lucky to call mine.

So far, I have only felt homesick a few times.  I have only started to tear up twice.  The first time was while facetiming my family for Kelsey's baby shower. The second time was when I called grandpa for his birthday just a few weeks ago.  I missed them a lot.  They are so very special to me.

Getting to my wedding meant they had to leave Argentina a few days early.  They arrived in Utah the night before.  I can't imagine how exhausted they must have been, but I am thrilled and grateful they were there.  The day would not have been the same without them.

I love you guys.  I can't wait for Christmas so that I can give you todos los besos y abrazos I have been holding onto.

Throwback Thursday: BYU football

In honor of football season, I want to talk about my love for this amazing sport.

I was born bleeding BYU blue.

I remember dad taking us to BYU vs. SDSU games while we were growing up.  I loved it then, but learned to love it 100 times more when I made it to BYU.

Freshman year I had rotating seats and, while I wanted to watch the game, the girls I sat with didn't even know what color our team was.  It was social time.  Not long after that, I met Aubrey and found my football watching best friend.  Since then I have spent 6 years on the front row of every home football game.  I tried to sit with the old folk after I graduated, but it didn't last long.  I couldn't stand not being with the students.  Standing, dancing, screaming, loving the game.  Once you've experienced front row, nothing else will ever come close.

After we graduated, Mel, Aubrey, and I, have traveled to one football game a year.

2011:  Texas.  It was amazing.  A close loss.  But we met Ty Detmer.

2012: Notre Dame.  I was in awe most of the trip.  Such football history!  Another shoulda, coulda win type game, but this time, I got to fly to Chicago next to Coach Edwards.  Unforgettable.

Sadly, the girls and I don't have our typical "boys trip" planned.  (Girls - let's get on that.  I have some time off the week of the Houston game.)

So here's to the colors changing, sweatshirts and scarves, cougar tails, and football!!!!  My favorite time of the year.  LaVell Edwards Stadium - I am going to miss you so hard this year!

Focus T25

Ashton and I are getting on that Shaun T train and we have super sore calves to show for it.

We started yesterday and we were like ya, 25 minute work out - NBD!  How wrong we were.  But we do love how easy we can fit it into our schedules and feeling like we can get a for real workout from home.

On top of working out, there were lots of food suggestions.  Ashton and I spent our Labor Day at Whole Foods buying lots of healthy, good for you foods.  It was exhausting, but we have some yummy fresh produce, quinoa, black rice, and chicken.  We even bought lentils!  This is for real.

Last night's dinner:  Black rice, lentils, bell pepper, pecans, and a citrus vinaigrette. Delicious.  In Ashton's words, "It's not that bad."

Tonight we had sirloin strips with avocado and a balsamic vinaigrette.  I love meat.  So much.

So here is to getting fit, being sore always, and making real healthy meals!

back to school

Happy first day of school from Minnesota.

It's amazing how their summers actually make it all the way to Labor Day and it's always that way!

This is the start of my fifth year teaching.  I can't believe it has already been five years.  It makes me feel old.  The last three years have been spent in the same class which is amazing!  I was able to build relationships with my students prior to them coming to my class because they were at my school.  Teaching 4th-6th grade was the greatest.  I loved having my students with my all day and being so involved in their lives.  Many of my students were in my class for multiple years.  I became a part of their families and they became a part of my heart.  I have raved about my job over and over again and I could rave about it 100 times more.

Today was the start of a very new teaching experience.  I guess that is one of the great things about being able to teach special education.  This year I am teaching at a middle school, something I never thought I would do.  Middle school just seemed like it would be tough.  On top of teaching middle school, I am also teaching in a resource setting.  I am more of a support for my students as they access the general education curriculum.

Well, today went pretty smooth!  My students, for the most part, are a hoot to chat with.  Some of them have already stolen my heart.  Lots of them are 6th graders and remind me of some of my sweet kids back in Utah.  The best part is my prep time!  Oh sweet prep time.  It is amazing to be productive at work and not feel like I am neglecting my students.  Love that prep time.

I think I am going to like it here.

date night

Ashton and I do everything together, but when he tells me he has made plans for us - my heart still skips a beat.  I love dates with my man.

While I was working in my classroom on Friday, Ashton asked if we had plans for that evening.  Nope. So he said, "I thought that we could go on a date night."  I couldn't wait to leave school.

 

We went to a Riverview Theater to see Monster's University.  Riverview Theater is darling!  It is very vintage, has a real 1950's feel.  It only has one theater so there is a lobby for guests to sit in as they wait for their movie.  I absolutely loved it.  Plus, the movie was pretty adorable too - though, Monster's Inc. is still my favorite.