My once a year post, coming right up!

I have four days off in a row, and blogging seems like an appropriate thing to do because it will help me procrastinate all the other things that I really do need to do.

So, first of all we got a new doggy. And if I knew how to upload pictures, then there would be a picture of scooter right *here*. But I don't, so you'd like to know what Scooter looks like then come visit =)

We adopted Scooter earlier this month. Her name was also Tinkerbelle, but having 2 Tinkerbelles got confusing real fast, and we quickly found a new name for her. My current schedule has me working ten hour shifts and Tinkerbelle was getting lonely being home alone all day, so viola, a new doggy! They are becoming better friends, and mostly like to chase each other around. That is until we get home, and then they just want to play fetch or go for walks.

Also earlier this month Jon's uncle came to visit from Hawaii. I was back in training for work and couldn't take any time off, but Jon was able to take the week off to play. We bbq'd at Deer Creek one afternoon, saw a live radio performance at BYU, played bumper boats at Trafalga, had a birthday bash for Howard, went to Strawberry reservoir to catch craw-dads and soak up some sun, and just had a good time in general. I think we're still trying to adjust from having lots of people in and out of our house to it being quiet with just the 2 of us. And, in all fairness, it is our turn to visit him next =)

I was hoping my once a year post would be a bit longer (and contain pictures) so maybe I'll have to see about posting again in a few months.

2 months ago..

We were just returning from Hawaii!


We made friends with the locals:


And came home craving fresh pineapple and pineapple ice cream.

(Good thing I found a good pineapple cake recipe to calm my cravings!)

In order to swim with the fish, you have to go in looking like a fish?

(Next time we'll take an underwater camera, there were so many cool fish and sea creatures!)

We satisfied my inner history junkie:






As well as my girly, mushy, side:



There were cool trees:


And Rocks:


And we went in here:


to see this:



I'm pretty sure the Ellsworths needs to spend more time with Howard, at his house in Hawaii of course =)

I sewed this:

Yeah, I know red doesn't go with our living room.




I learned how here.

I didn't sew this:



but, aren't they cute??

Summer of Fun- Part 2, Make time for Friends and Exercise

I know there are some who will laugh when I type that I went to see the midnight showing of Eclipse (or that I went to eclipse at all)...but I did! And, I even went to a before party. And no girls night out would be complete without dinner(mmm goodwood)!

Truth be told, I was excited to be going out at midnight, I thought it would make me feel like I was 18 again. Really, it just made me realize that I'm 27 and should adhere to my regular 10:30 bedtime. That's not to say that it wasn't fun, because really when you're out with these girls everything is fun!



And, honestly, I would go anywhere with these girls, no matter what time of the day it might be. On days that I *really* want to move away, they remind me that I have some of the best friends ever right here. It's crazy to think that around this time of year 9 years ago I was just meeting them (and eating their freshly baked cookies...because JoAnn knows how to make friends) and that we're all still friends.

This picture is from April, but if T lived in the country now I bet she would have been right there with us at midnight =)



Also in July I was a substitute mom again for the McArthur kiddos while JoAnn and Nate were on pioneer trek. When I watched them last January Jon wasn't working full time ao spent a lot more time with us than he was able to this time around. For the most part it was me and the 3 kids. Lucky for me they're the best kids around! We had a picnic at the park, we went to kangaroo zoo, had sleepovers in the movie room...basically it was a party =), and I'm glad I was able to help out so that JoAnn and Nate could go and experience trek together.

And since I didn't bring my camera with me in July, here's a silly picture from a sewing night long, long ago that always reminds me of them:



June and July were also great exercise months for me. I stuck with my goal of jogging 3-4 times a week and 12 miles a week. I love love love warm summer evenings outside!

Summer of Fun- Part 1, Yellowstone and not getting eaten by a buffalo

Planning a trip to Yellowstone(where you don't get eaten by a buffalo) involves preparation:
1. Convince the Forbes that you're cool enough for them to carpool with you
2. Have your parents rent the coolest cabin big enough for 17 people
3. Spend lots of time with the niece and nephews, and everyone else too
And
4. Make sure the Kimber's are on the trip (you know, to make sure you drive around the buffalo, right now).

La Moto

This is Jon's new baby. He *might* love it as much as he loves Tinkerbelle. It is a 2009 Honda Shadow Aero, which at the time of purchase had 0 miles on it, and now not even 2 weeks later, has close to 300.



Jon's brother LOVED motorcycles. He had 3 of them. When he passed away, Jon and Jake both wanted to do something together, that would remind them of their brother, and what better way to remember him than by doing something that he had loved? We inherited 2 bikes from Dave, but neither are in great condition, so Jake and Jon created a master plan, consisting of them both buying new bikes. Now Jake and Jon are able to go for afternoon rides, and weekend rides together, and if at any given time I can't locate my husband the first place I look is the motorcycle.

It has also occurred to me that this is an excellent way to convince Jon to move somewhere that is warm all year long. He might not be going for it now, but I'll wait for a moment of weakness on his part, you know when there's 2 feet of snow outside and he really, really, wants to go for a ride. Or maybe I'll get him motorcycle gear for Christmas, that he'll have to wait 4, maybe 5 months to use. mwhaha.

Eventually I'll brave up and take a motorcycle riding class and learn to ride too. Does that make anyone else nervous? Jon has shown me a bit out on one of the old bikes, but I think I'm the sort of learner that won't really get it until I'm actually out there doing it. Even scarier you say? I agree.

A new Be-be

My little nephew Ben does a lot of things that are cute. If you tell him he's bonkers, he will get a smile on his face and say "no, you're bonkers". If I was in the fort and he didnt' want me to leave he'd get a smile on his face and say "don't move a muscle!". Everything, yes, even play dough and strawberries, turn into trains for him. And, when he was in the bath tub, he was using the bubbles to 'paint' easter eggs on the side of the tub.

However, the cutest thing that Ben does is say 'baby' which sounds like 'be-be'. And, he is so excited to have a be-be.

And, I am so excited to be an aunt, again.

Here is a picture of Ben being a monkey in the fort:


One day it was warm enough to swing outside:


Look at what a cute Mom Cheryl is! Part of me enjoys watching her be a mom, especially at bedtime when she is trying to feed Spencer and simultaneously get Ben to bed hehe. This is my favorite picture though.


I'm so glad Cheryl and Jason let me come up and play with Ben and meet little Spencer. I miss them already. Good thing they don't live too far away!

I'm in Wyoming now hanging out with Nate. Well actually Nate woke up and went to school this morning, so I'm just chillin at my mom's house =) My little brother is such a good kid. He even made me dinner last night. He said he got tired of me complaining I was hungry, and I got to experience my very first ramen noodle burrito. It is exactly what it sounds like.

Now I'm just excited to get home and see Jon and my doggy, and to sleep in my own bed.