Monday, February 2, 2009

One Giant Update

Yeah, we haven't posted in a while. Life has been kind of crazy and I've also been a little lazy. I have this thing about not wanting to post unless I have pictures to go with it, too. But anyway, here's what's been happening the last few months:

I went to a Jon McLaughlin concert in November. I had nothing but my phone on me so my pictures aren't super. I found out about Jon because he sings "So Close" from the movie Enchanted, at the part where Giselle and Robert are dancing at the ball. I love that song and I was so happy when he sang it at the concert. A kid named Benton Paul opened for him and he did a great job.

For Christmas, Jared and I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning with his family and then we drove to Southern Utah to visit my family for the rest of the weekend. My sister Megan and her husband bought my parents a Wii and the rest of us kids pitched in to get my mom the Wii Fit. We had a lot of fun playing the Wii the whole weekend.

Jared rocked it on Shawn's Guitar Hero World Tour. Kristin, Michael, Tanner, Dad and Mom all had fun singing and playing the drums.


Before we left we went to Three Peaks and rode the ATVs in the snow. We had innertubes and sleds that we pulled behind us. It was a lot of fun, but sooooo cold.

Awwww, Shawnie and Megan


Michael got a little frosty.


Mom pulling Jared on the sled.



Me sliding down the hill.

Some of the scenery at Three Peaks.

Jared found the swings.

In January, my friends Megan and Malene and I went to Adele's concert. She was amazing. If you haven't heard her sing, you really should. She's only 20 and she has such an insane voice. A really great singer, James Morrison, opened up for her. He was wonderful and it was fun to hear them speak because they're both from England.

Megan and Malene all squishy.

The three of us all squishy and sweaty. It was jam packed with people.
James Morrison

Adele!


For Malene's birthday, she wanted to go to Wendover, so last Saturday we drove out there. For those of you who don't know, there is this really strange sculpture out in the middle of nowhere just off the I-80 between Salt Lake and Wendover. I've been wanting to see it, so we pulled over and took some pictures.

Megan and half a ball.

Malene and half a ball.
There was a picture of me, but my eyes were closed and it just wasn't worth posting.
The sculpture itself.
The tree of balls.

And this is where we went to spend our evening.

The three of us stood on the line that separated Utah from Nevada.

The birthday girl playing the slots.
She won! And then she lost.

Megan playing the Cherries slot machine.

There is an actual line in the street that tells you what state you're in depending upon which side you stand on.

In other news (translated: stuff I don't have pictures for), my younger sister Megan was diagnosed with Breast Cancer just before Christmas. It's pretty lame, but she's doing really well so far. She had a lumpectomy (or two) and has started chemo. Hopefully she will keep doing as well as she has with it. She's really strong and one of my heroes.

Jared started school for the first time in probably 16 years. He's really nervous about it, but excited at the same time. He likes being on the campus and being a student, but he's not too jazzed about the math. I'm just glad I'm able to help him out with it. Amazingly, I remember enough from when I was in school to help out.

I have decided to try a form of veganism. I read a book called "Skinny Bitch" by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. In it, they tell you just how to get skinny (and healthy)! If you read it, it will change your life. But also, it's pretty rude so if you're offended by crude language, I wouldn't pick it up. Anyway, I want to be healthy and skinny and I really think this is the best way to go about it. A lot of things I try with regards to eating and health pretty much fail. Hopefully this one sticks because I really believe in it. Jared is kind of doing it with me and he's being a good sport about drinking soy milk and eating stuff that doesn't have any meat in it. I have the best husband.


Thursday, November 6, 2008

Weather

It's been a crazy week with the weather here in Salt Lake! Here are just a few pictures I took with my phone the last few days. From this:
To this:
And I'm so dumb that I forgot it was going to snow and walked outside that morning with my sandals on. I cleaned my car off and everything in five inches of snow and tried to warm my feet up on the way to work. Not a mistake I made today, mind you!
I really miss California sometimes.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Family Fun Times

My sister Megan and her husband Shawn and my two brothers Michael and Tanner came up this weekend to go to the Jazz game. They got here a little early, so we decided to go find something fun to do.
Jared took a turn at the batting cages.Megan, Michael, Tanner and I played Miniature Golf.
Megan couldn't seem to get her ball up the hill. It took like twenty tries, but eventually she got it. And we all had a good laugh. (Notice Meg trying not to pee herself.)
Our score card. Notice who lost? Me! That's what I get for putting one handed.Jared and Shawn got a bucket to hit at the driving range and we all took turns.
He can't ever take a serious picture, can he?
Well, maybe.

After Mulligan's we went to eat dinner at Sampan. We ate ourselves to bursting and then headed for the Energy Solutions Arena for the Jazz game. The Jazz were playing the Los Angeles Clippers.
Our seats! 2 rows away from the tippy top!
All in all, it was a good day and we had a lot of fun. I love it when my family comes to visit. I don't get to see them as often as I like. I was trying to convince my sister to move up here. But, probably they won't. Oh well!

Halloween Fun

Jared and I both went to Halloween parties this year. Jared went to one his friend throws every year, the Saturday before Halloween. He went as a wizard. Doesn't he look sinister?
And I went to my friend Malene's house on Halloween night. I dressed up as a Drag Queen. My drag queen name is Charlamaine Intervention, baby!
Me, Megan and Malene (they were Edward Cullen groupies)
We crammed ourselves into my car (all 6 of us) and went on a little tour of Bountiful and Northern SLC's supposed ghost stories. A lot of screaming and hilarity ensued. It was pretty fun.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Halloween Pumpkin Carvings

Every year, like the children we are, Jared and I carve pumpkins. Each year we try to do something better than we did the year before. This year, Jared decided to do a bat theme, and I decided to go with the two main characters from my favorite TV show, Bones.

Jared's Bat Themed Pumpkin
The bats carved into the sides of the pumpkin

Allison's Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan Pumpkin
Allison's Spec. Agent Seeley Booth Pumpkin

And, to show you what we've done in the past... a little slideshow showcasing five years worth of pumpkin carvings!


Monday, October 27, 2008

Goodbye Star!

It's sad, but Star (Jared's father's great dane) has found a new home. We will miss her loveable nature, her energy and her playfulness. But we will not miss: the thundering up and down the stairs, the pee puddles in the front entryway, the banging against our door, the barking and the chewing of EVERYTHING!

She was such a cute pup!



And so helpful!



We really hope that she has people who will be more active with her than we could be. She deserves a loving and attentive home. We will miss you, Star!