SPT - August Week 2

STRONGER, FASTER AND HIGHER.....

The OLYMPICS are fabulous and I enjoy everything about them. I love watching them and feeling the pride in our amazing country. I love seeing all the amazing athletes and watching their dreams come true as they stand up on the platform and the flag waves with the national anthem playing in the background. It really is an awesome moment for them and for us as a nation as we encourage them and cheer them on....

FSA Conference - Day 3

The conference was awesome today too.... I am sad that it is over and that we couldn't have more. We really did have such a good time and learned a ton and now have even more things to think about and ponder as we continue on our path of adoption. But this is all a good thing!

Today our classes were Supporting adopted children outside of the home, Understanding transracial adoption, and Understanding placement. In the morning there was a general session with Barbara Thompson (member of the General Relief Society) speaking and also Cherie Call providing musical entertainment. It was fabulous. I really can't wait for next year and hope that we can tell people about it and get them excited so that we have big numbers from Nevada there to represent...

After the conference today we decided that we would head down to Thanksgiving Point just to walk around and see what we could find. Well, it was a good plan until it started raining right when we got there. We were able to look in the stores for a minute but no walking through the gardens this visit. We happened to notice this huge blue building close buy with bright yellow letters on the side and it was calling my name.... Yep, IKEA was in our future. We stopped in, had some Swedish meatballs for dinner and then did some shopping. We didn't buy anything (can you believe that) but we have some things in our mind that might look great in a nursery! We will see.

FSA Conference - Day 2

We woke up early today so we could make the drive from Rees and Lisa's house (thanks for letting us stay) to Layton where the conference is being held. We had to be there by 8:30 for registration!

Today the conference was amazing. So we were the only one NOT from Utah but that is fine with us... We went to learn about adoption and hear other people's stories and that kind of stuff, so that is the important part. It is so great to be in a place where everyone is so supportive of adoption and here for the same reason. I love it! The classes that we took today were Promoting your Own Adoption (which actually was given by Lindsey who writes on The R House blog), Understanding Openness, Raising adopted children within your home, and a birth mother panel. All of the classes were wonderful and so informative. Can't wait for tomorrow.

After the conference we called up our friends Josh and Kirsten who use to live here with us to see what they were doing. We were able to meet up and decided we wanted to head out to the Salt Lake County Fair.

This was Kirsten's first experience at a Fair, and my first time at a demolition derby. I think we were both pleasantly surprised. Both of us decided that maybe next year we would have cars ready to enter into the derby!!!

We all had a great time and enjoyed the night. It is so fun to get together and just relax and hang out. It was really nice that Josh was able to be there too (since he is a pilot and you never know about his schedule). We can't wait until the next time we are all able to see each again.

FSA Conference - Day 1

After arriving LATE last night we were ready to check out Salt Lake and see what we could find to do. The FSA Conference doesn't start until tomorrow so we have a full day to just see the sights and do what we want!

We went to Gateway and did some shopping. We then decided that we wanted to go to the Salt Lake Temple. Neither of us had actually been to the temple and we felt it would be a perfect time. It was amazing. That is pretty much all I can say about it... AMAZING. After going to the temple we headed just down the street to Little America for some dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Petersen. It was great to see them and to be able to catch up and see how they were doing. I had the chance to have dinner with them last week while I was in town, but Dan has not seen them in a while so it was great.

We are now getting ready for a full day tomorrow of adoption!

SPT - August Week 1

citius, altius, fortius (faster, higher, stronger)

These three words encourage the athlete to give his or her best during competition, and to view this effort as a victory in itself.

*** So what in my life fits into one of these categories...? I must say right now I am totally involved, no, consumed with, all things ADOPTION! I think that my first post for this challenge would not be sufficient if I did not call it Fortius.

Stronger... This process has helped me become a stronger person. Stronger in my faith, stronger in my desire to be a great mother (not just a mother, or a good mother, but a great mother), stronger in the relationship with my wonderful husband Dan and also stronger in the relationships with our extended family as they offer us such unending support and love. Hopefully I will be able to take this strength and hold on to it and use it in other areas of my life.

A boy and his toys....

I leave for a week and I come home to Dan having bought a new truck!!! It is a new work truck and he REALLY needed it so I was not mad (actually I was really glad I did not have to be there when he did it. I hate going to car lots and dealing with all of that drama!)

He is very excited about his new purchase. He is now the PROUD owner of an F-250 4x4 and can hardly wait to start using it. He has to wait for the shell to come in. He has it ordered and it should be here next week. He can't use it for work until that comes in.

He tried to sell me on the truck by telling me about the 6-disc CD changer and the leather seats with seat warmers... nice try but since I don't EVER ride in his work truck it wasn't a big selling point for me! I know that he needs this truck and that his old one doesn't even run past 20 MPH (on a good day) so it is a necessity! I also know that this one has air conditioning which in the Vegas heat is a necessity too. This will be great for him and I am glad he finally found one he likes and can't wait for him to be able to start using it!!!

A week of Stamps!

STAMPIN' UP! 20 YEAR CONVENTION

So besides spending the entire week with a bunch of screaming, stamping crazy old ladies I had a good time. I wasn't quite sure what to expect and I think I got more than I bargained for! I packed up my stuff and headed to Utah with my mom, and our friend Sue and that was about all I knew. We arrived and the rest is history. We stayed up late and got up early (mostly thanks to Sue) and did nothing but attend classes and stamp all day long. It was a lot of fun.

This is a picture of me with the vinyl lettering that I won during the first general session with my prize patrol!!! Yeah me and my green wrist band!

Mom and Sue getting to walk across the stage because they won the trip to Hawaii next March!

Sue and her kit she won during general session for prize patrol.

Me and Aimee with our Ronald McDonald Stamp set that was given away to the entire audience at the last session. What a crazy experience. The crowd went wild when the UPS truck pulled up and confetti went off and they started passing out these stamp sets. You had to be there to see this!

This is for sure something you have to see to believe and something you have to experience. It was fun and I will probably go again (despite all my complaining and giving my mom and Sue a hard time about being such old ladies!!!)

On the Road!!!

Well.... after an exciting night and not much sleep I am on the road and off to Utah for the week.

Let me explain.

My mom and I have been planning and preparing for weeks for the Stampin' Up convention in Utah and we are finally on the road. I don't know if we are totally ready but we are as ready as we are going to be! We took a break last night and had a girls night/boys night out as we celebrated our last night at home. The girls (me, mom, Sue (who is coming to Utah with us), and Cindy) went to see Toby Keith, and the boys (Dan and Brian) went to see Ultimate Fighting match. It was a lot of fun but got us home really late and I still hadn't packed!

But here we are today and on the road ready for our week of stamping, and scrapping and nothing but girlie fun (we hope!). I have left Dan at home and who knows what that will mean. Possibly a new work truck when I return? Maybe a new phone for him? I have no idea what else he might come up with..... Dangerous to leave him at home by himself but nonetheless that is where he is.. 

2oo things

I saw this on HER blog and thought it was a fun idea so here we go....

The items in BOLD I have done. The items in BOLD Dan has done. The items in BOLD we both had done. To play, copy and paste this into your blog and bold the items you have done.

1. Touched an iceberg.


2. Slept under the stars.


3. Been a part of a hockey fight.


4. Changed a baby's diaper.


5. Watched a meteor shower.


6. Given more than you can afford to a charity.


7. Swam with wild dolphins.


8. Climbed a mountain.


9. Held a tarantula.


10. Said "I love you" and meant it.


11. Bungee jumped.


12. Visited Paris.


13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.


14. Stayed up all night and watched the sun rise.


15. Seen the Northern Lights.


16. Gone to a huge sports game.


17. Walked the stairs to the Statue of Liberty.


18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables.


19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope.


20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment


21. Had a pillow fight.


22. Bet on a winning horse.


23. Taken a sick day when you were not ill.


24. Built a snow fort.


25. Held a lamb.


26. Gone skinny dipping.


27. Taken an ice cold bath.


28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar.


29. Seen a total eclipse.


30. Ridden a roller coaster.


31. Hit a home run.


32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking.


33. Adopted an accent for fun.


34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.


35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment.


36. Loved your job 90% of the time.


37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.


38. Watched wild whales.


39. Gone rock climbing.


40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach.


41. Gone sky diving.


42. Visited Ireland.


43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.


44. Visited India.


45. Bench pressed your own weight.


46. Milked a cow.


47. Alphabetized your personal files.


48. Ever worn a superhero costume.


49. Sung karaoke.


50. Lounged around in bed all day.


51. Gone scuba diving.


52. Kissed in the rain.


53. Played in the mud.


54. Gone to a drive in theater.


55. Done something you should regret but don't.


56. Visited the Great Wall of China.


57. Started a business.


58. Taken a martial arts class.


59. Been in a movie.


60. Gone without food for three days.


61. Made cookies from scratch.


62. Won first prize in a costume contest.


63. Got flowers for no reason.


64. Been in a combat zone.


65. Spoken more than one language fluently.


66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone.


67. Bounced a check.


68. Read -and understood- your credit report.


69. Recently bought and played with your favorite childhood toy.


70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did.


71. Called or written your Congress person.


72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over.


73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge.


74. Helped an animal give birth.


75. Been fired or laid off from a job.


76. Won money.


77. Broken a bone.


78. Ridden a motorcycle.


79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph.


80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.


81. Slept through an entire flight; Take-off, flight, landing.


82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than two days.


83. Eaten sushi.


84. Had your picture in the newspaper.


85. Read the Bible cover to cover.


86. Changed someones mind about something you care deeply about.


87. Gotten someone fired for their actions.


88. Gone back to school.


89. Changed your name.


90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands.


91. Eaten fried green tomatoes.


92. Read the Iliad.


93. Taught yourself an art from scratch.


94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.


95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt.


96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common language.


97. Been elected to public office.


98. Thought to yourself that you are living your dream.


99. Had to put someone you love into Hospice care.


100. Sold your own artwork to someone that didn't know you.


101. Had a booth at a street fair.


102. Dyed your hair.


103. Been a DJ.


104. Rocked a baby to sleep.


105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours.


106. Raked your carpet.


107. Brought out the best in people.


108. Brought out the worst in people.


109. Worn a mood ring.


110. Ridden a horse.


111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap.


112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe.


113. Buried a child.


114. Gone to a Broadway play.


115. Been inside the pyramids.


116. Shot a basketball into the basket.


117. Danced at a disco.


118. Played in a band.


119. Shot a bird.


120. Gone to an arboretum.


121. Tutored someone.


122. Ridden a train.


123. Brought an old fad back into style.


124. Eaten caviar.


125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn't need.


126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant.


127. Published a book.


128. Pieced a quilt.


129. Lived in a historic place.


130. Acted in a play or performed on stage.


131. Asked for a raise.


132. Made a hole in one. (miniture golf!!)


133. Gone deep sea fishing.


134. Gone roller skating.


135. Run in a marathon.


136. Learned to surf.


137. Invented something.


138. Flown first class.


139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite.


140. Flown in a helicopter.


141. Visited Africa.


142. Sang a solo.


143. Gone spelunking.


144. Learned how to take a compliment.


145. Written a love-story.


146. Seen Michelangelo's David.


147. Had your portrait painted.


148. Written a fan letter.


149. Spent the night in something haunted.


150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane.


151. Ran away.


152. Learned to juggle.


153. Been a boss.


154. Sat on a jury.


155. Lied about your weight.


156. Gone on a diet.


157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget.


158. Written a poem.


159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox.


160. Gotten food poisoning.


161. Gone on a service, humanitarian, or religious mission.


162. Hiked the Grand Canyon.


163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks.


164. Gone to the Opera.


165. Gotten a letter from someone famous.


166. Worn knickers.


167. Ridden in a limousine.


168. Attended the Olympics.


169. Can hula or waltz.


170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books.


171. Been stuck in an elevator.


172. Had a revelatory dream.


173. Thought you might crash in an airplane.


174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert.


175. Saved someones life.


176. Eaten raw whale.


177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint.


178. Laughed till your side hurt.


179. Straddled the equator.


180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing.


181. Gone to a Shakespeare festival.


182. Sent a message in a bottle.


183. Spent the night in a hostel.


184. Been a cashier.


185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.


186. Joined a union.


187. Donated blood or plasma.


188. Built a campfire.


189. Kept a blog.


190. Had hives.


191. Worn custom made shoes or boots.


192. Made a PowerPoint presentation.


193. Taken a hunter's safety course.


194. Served at a soup kitchen.


195. Conquered the Rubik's Cube.


196. Know CPR.


197. Ridden in or own a convertible.


198. Found a long lost friend.


199. Helped solve a crime.


200. Commented on Aranne and Dan's blog.
     

Play along... It is fun... and of course, change #200!

New Nephew!!!

After years of just girls in the family we are so excited to say that we finally have a nephew all our own... We are so proud to announce Benjamin Cutler has arrived into the world and into the family of Mike, Maile and big sister Ellie!!!! Way to go guys. We can't wait to get a chance to see you all and meet our new little nephew and spoil him rotten.

SPT - Grass

This weeks SPT challenge was grass and I had the chance to lay out in the grass* this afternoon and enjoy the sun. It has been a while since I had this done and I wanted to, so I did... but things changed rather quickly.

While I was outside I realized what a beautiful day it was and decided to call Dan and see what he was doing. He also realized it was a beautiful day and we both agreed it was a day we could not pass up going to the lake. (that happens when you live so close and own jet skis).... so an hour later we were at the lake enjoying the water and the sun.... a nice way to relax.... We were also able to take the kid that works with Dan and let him ditch work with us ( I am sure it was hard for Dan to talk him into it) These days don't happen too often but when they do they are sure nice!

** Our grass is fake. We have had it for about 4-5 years now and LOVE it. No watering required. No cutting required. Just beautiful green grass all year round, and in the desert that is hard to come by!

Weekend Wrap-up

This weekend was busy but not too exciting...

Friday I spent all day at my mom's house scrapbooking and trying to get ready for convention. It is now less than a week away and we are almost ready, but not quite! It was a very successful day and we feel a lot more prepared. I was able to make a lot of swaps, get my projects designed and also get some cards ready for donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities....Then of course we had regular card class.

Saturday was Christmas in July! This was a trial run for us since this is the class that my mom is presenting at convention. It went over well and everyone who attended enjoyed themselves and the projects. After the stamp camp Dan and I ran some errands then got ready for our evening out. We got tickets to go and see Gavin Rossdale in concert at Hard Rock. We took Cindy and her friend with us. We were not quite sure how the concert was going to be but it ended up being a lot of fun and besides his horrible dancing he put on a great show. He needs to take some dancing lessons from his wife Gwen Stefani for sure!

Sunday we headed off to church then came home, put on some jammies and just hung out. It was a nice way to end the weekend. Besides the fact that the storm clouds had rolled in again and didn't leave us much sun to enjoy, so we spent the day inside and that was fine with us.