How Many Licks?

I apoloize that it has been so long since my last blog post. We have had a lot going on...weddings, travel, birthdays, anniversaries. There has been a lot that I am going to post about in the upcoming week, so keep checking back. I am going to start with something amazing that I was able to accomplish lately.

It was a Friday at work and my co-worker Lexie was kind enough to give me a tootsie pop. I love them oh so very much. So I was enjoying my pop and I got the urge to bite to get to the yummy tootsie center. And then it hit me....I have never sucked on a lollipop until I got to the center without biting it. So I decided today was the day. So I sucked and sucked and sucked. I never realized how hard it would be! It took tons of willpower and an hour and finally this was the result.



*I apologize for the picture quality, it was taken from my boss' phone*

I conquered the task. It was fun to see I could actually do something I have never done before. I recommend everyone try this once in their lives.

Thank you for reading our blog and keep checking back for all of the fun things we did in May!

Happy Birthday Tootz!

Today is my mom's birthday. She is an amazing woman whom I am lucky to have as a mother. In honor of her birthday I am going to list 10 wonderful things about my mom.

1. She works harder than just about anyone. She cooks, cleans, goes to the gym, temple, indexing, I could go on and on.

2. She is extremely patient. I guess that is why she is a 3rd grade teacher.

3. She is super smart! She is especially amazing at math.

4. She is a die hard biker. She loves to bike and typically puts 2,000 miles on her bike each season.

5. She never complains! Seriously I never hear her complain about anything.

6. She is the CEO and General Manager of Hotel Hortin. She will take in family and friends whether they need to stay for a week or a year.

7. She has a stronger testimony than anyone I know.

8. She always puts others needs first, no matter what the situation.

9. She loves chocolate

10. She is the best Grandma, Mom, Friend that anyone could ever ask for.

This is one of my favorite pictures with my mom. This was at a bike ride we did together last year called the Little Red Riding Hood. It was my first distance ride. She did the shorter route so that she could ride with me. She was my encouragement. The weather was terrible and it was freezing. But I did it and only because she was there. Had she not been there I would have quit. But that is just the way she is. She won't let you quit, especially if it concerns biking. I love you mom!

If you hide from the missionaries did you purchase a first class ticket to Hell?

We moved to Florida in 2006 for work and a change of scenery. We both worked in the hospitality industry and Orlando seemed a logical place. When you move far away from family and friends you find out quickly that you really are alone. Dennis went to the grocery store one day and ran into the LDS missionaries. He was excited because it was something familiar and began talking to them. After giving them our address he gathered his things and left. Now, if a "less active" member gives the missionaries their address...what do you suppose they will do??? They come over! At the time neither Dennis or I were interested in hearing their message. So after that when they came over, we would literally hide in the closet or a back bedroom. How pathetic is that?!? It wasn't like they could see through the door, or that we were obligated to answer the door and let them in. Looking back I think it was because we knew they were there to tell us something we needed to hear. And for the record after getting to know the missionaries they informed us that they know when you are hiding from them. Maybe it was the lights being on or the TV. We were not the first and certainly will not be the last. Months went by and at least once a week we would come home to a note on the door or a pass-along card from the missionaries. A short time after that something happened and we decided we were ready to at least hear what they had to say. So we invited them over and took the discussions, just like a new member would. We set up appointments and the missionaries started coming over once a week. We usually had them over for dinner and then we would have a lesson. They invited us to church so we went. Well, technically we went for sacrament meeting then made an excuse that we had to leave. The ward was awesome and after a few weeks of going we decided to stay for other classes. It was an amazing experience. Our ward was incredible at making you feel welcome. I even attended activites which were my biggest fear. Dennis starting visiting people with the missionaries, which was a great experience and testimony builder. During those six months we built relationships with some amazing people. Even though we were only active for a few months before we moved we encountered a ward split. This was a huge challenge. We had relationships with our ward members and now we were being asked to move to a different ward. Although that ward was amazing I always feel a stronger bond with those whom we met in the Metrowest Ward. Recently, I was talking to my family about finding our missionaries. They made a huge impact on our life and I just wanted to thank them for everything they did for us. So naturally, I turned to Facebook. And through a few searches I was able to find Elder Bonnett. And from looking through his friends I was able to find Elder Unga. I sent them messages and they are both home and doing so well. They live locally and we are planning on getting together soon. Hopefully Elder Unga will not mind me stealing this picture from his Facebook. I just wanted to show you our missionaries. This picture was taken in the community where we lived called Metrowest. So from Left to Right is: Elder Olson (New York), Elder Hamilton (Arizona), Elder Unga (Utah), Elder Bonnett (Utah)

Going to the dentist=fun

I cannot say that I love sitting in the dentist chair. With my mouth wide open, unable to swallow, a child screaming in the other room because they are trying to take an X-ray. But, at the same time...I don't hate it. The acutal process is not the best. But my hygenist is really nice, they always schedule you with the same one. My dentist is awesome. And they give you a free toothbrush! But truthfully that is one thing I cannot thank my parents for enough. I always went to the dentist...always! Every six months for my entire life. Not to mention the braces, not fun but I am so glad I have straight teeth. And it all pays off in the end. I have had only a few cavities in my life and no additional dental work. And today...no cavities!! So Mom and Dad my teeth and I thank you.

While we are on the subject of teeth. It is often recommended that you chew sugar free gum. There is a gum on the market today that is a fraud! You think when you purchase it that it will be a raspberry delight and will leave you with a "Just Brushed Clean Feeling". The first time I tried this gum was in church. Dennis was kind enough to offer it to my mother and me. So we put it into our mouths and at first it isn't bad. But it goes south very quickly. And you cannot say loudly in the middle of sacrament meeting...this crap tastes like Robitussin! We experimented on Bryan and he claims it tasted like "raspberry".




So here is your warning. The general consensus is that this particular gum tastes like cough medicine. You don't believe me?...try it for yourself.

Goal Jeans, Fat Pants, Before & After

I am really sorry you have to hear more about my weight loss. But I have included some much anticipated pictures. I was getting dressed today and decided to try on a pair of jeans I bought a few months ago. They didn't quite fit but the next size up fit too perfectly and I was hoping to lose more so I bought the smaller size. It felt so amazing when I slipped them on and they fit! Here is a pic of the goal jeans. I have officially dropped four sizes.



So I decided today was the day to show my humiliating fat pants pictures and before and afters.

Here are the pants that I wore when I first moved back to Utah




This is the most humiliting part. The first picture was taken days before we moved back to Utah. It was the end of January 2008.



And here is Dennis and me today March 15, 2009



I think Dennis has lost a few pounds too, eh??

Arlo Guthrie

One of my all time favorite artists is Arlo Guthrie. I have seen him a number of times in concert and I am never let down. He is amazing! Just for a little background Arlo Guthrie is the son of Woody Guthrie. Woody was a folk singer and composer. Some of you may know his song...This Land is Your Land. Arlo Guthrie carried on the tradition of great folk music. Some of you may have heard of the song Alice's Restaurant. It is a talking blues song that lasts 18 minutes and if you have not heard it you must! Alice's Restaurant was also made into a movie in 1969. His daughter Sarah Lee Guthrie is another great folk singer. It must run in the family. We have seen her play a few different times and never leave without a smile. Now, why pray tell am I telling you this?? I get to see Arlo Guthrie at Kingsbury Hall on March 29, 2009! Not only do I get to see a great folk artist in a wonderful venue, but he will be playing music from his new album. I browsed You Tube for an Arlo Guthrie clip so you can hear a taste of his music. I did find one of Alice's Restaurant but it is really long. So if you do want to hear it you can find it on You Tube. I picked The City of New Orleans. Arlo did not write this song, but it a good one and one he is very famous for performing.

*apology, you will have to pause the music at the bottom in order to hear the video*

I'm Alive....and well

Anyone who knows me knows that I love music. I love all music, there is a song I love in just about every genre. I recently purchased the new Kenny Chesney CD and finally received it in the mail yesterday. I put the CD in my CD player at work first thing this morning. The music started playing and the first song really struck me. And ironically, it featured another artist I love, Dave Matthews, but never pictured singing with Kenny Chesney. We all go through things that alter our lives, but we get through them. I know you have heard this a million times, but Dennis is an absolutely amazing person. He has gone through a lot of things in his life and I know he didn't use to feel this way. But he always tells me that things could be a lot worse. This is so true! There is beauty to be found all around us. Whether it be the hills in San Francisco, the beaches in Florida, the lights in New York City, or the Mountains in Utah. There are people around us that love us unconditionally. We are alive and free to do as we please (within the law of course.) There is so much in life to be thankful for. I am going to stop adding up the pain and start living.

"So damn easy to say that life's so hard. Everbody's got their share of battle scars. As for me I'd like to thank my lucky stars. That I'm alive and well."

*apology, you will have to pause the music at the bottom in order to hear the video*