Backpackin in the Backwoods

So for my Outdoor Recreation class our final assignment was to go on a weekend trip packpacking to Jack's River up in north GA and it was so pretty! The trip was only 9 miles round trip.. which could have been done in a day.. but It was fun to be able to go to this beautiful waterfall. And the weather was perfect for us! Here are some pictures I took that I am pretty proud of especially taking them with my camera phone!

The Big 23!

So I didn't update about how my bday went! Maybe it's because I don't have pictures but that's even more of a reason to blog about what happened! But It was such a fun day on the 3rd of Nov I took the day off school since I only had 1 class that day and pete wasn't working! We spent the morning running some errands and watching my moms tennis team play which is always fun- they crack me up! Then I had to get back for my tennis lessons for the 5-7 yr olds that I still coach. Then went to Glady's and Ron's Chicken and Waffles which is just delish!!! And they had a recording of Glady's singing a happy birthday song that they played for ME! It was great and yummy! For my party we had about 30 friends and family come to celebrate at Dave N Busters to play! Everyone was also asked to represent their favorite team or player and I wore number 23 to represent the Hall of Famer and great Michael Jordan! It was fun running around playing the arcade games and I must say.. I did beat Pete and Dallin in the Nascar racing game! it was so awesome- and they weren't even letting me win! haha But my friends were winning tickets for me which I bought some cheerleading shorts with at the end of the day for my present! I also received some gift cards, a stuffed ga bulldawg from Dave n busters and my wonderful husband gave me a compound bow and arrows!! I took an archery class and I would come home telling pete how much fun I was having and he got his mom to ship out his Dad's old bow that pete would shoot with as a kid! At first we didn't think it would work because it was a 60 lb bow.. aka i couldn't pull it back! but We made it work and we tried it out at my parents last weekend! It was great.. and it looks like I'll be bringin home the dinner!! But finally my last birthday present from the dallin and michelle were tickets to see Twilight and New Moon on opening night! It was great to go out with the girls and I was so excited to see the movie!! I just love love stories! I enjoyed myself!! I think my overall conclusion is I really like Taylor.. and I really like Edward... if that makes sense.. haha and I meant exactly that. But I can't wait till number 3.. and then 4 (which i hear might be 2 movies!!!:))

Overall..GREAT birthday!!! Thanks to all my friends

and family! My mom made me the best present! A b

lanket with a t-shirt from every school I have been to and my sports teams.. well the school teams at least.

playing Dress Up

Oviously being such a tom boy growing up I didn't ever really play dress up... Well the older i've gotten the more i've really enjoyed the art of putting costumes and outfits together! I think thats why i love shopping.. and accesorizing. But Halloween comes around and it is just so fun! I had to dress up three times in the month of october.. and was thinking about what to be in early/mid september... haha sad i know.. but here are the pics..

1st party- birthday/mission farwell for friends= Angry Serena Williams from US open

2nd= Olive Oyl for City of Acworth carnival

3rd =Pamela Anderson!:) (paired with michelle as kid rock who is not pictured)

Lately

So this lovely fall weather has been SOO nice! After all the crazy flooding it has been so nice!! It just smells of football season!! We have quite enjoyed watching football on tv as well as playing in our co-ed league that has just started up.. We are only 1-2 and my husband is quite depressed about it.. but it is fun to be able to play again! And i think i finally found the place i want to do my internship at. It is 2 miles from my apt. and it has a cafe, spa, indoor/outdoor tennis and swimming, gym, courts, and sandy volleyball.. SWEET! I don't know exactly what they would want me to do yet.. still have to email but I did get to talk to the manager and he said I would be able to do my internship there in the informational interview i had to do for a class. But it was a good experience and he seemed to really like me. Something else fun that happened this week was in my last day of archery class we got to shoot balloons on the target and it was so sweet! I got like 5 balloons! I have really enjoyed archery class and will now be moving on to badminton..not as exciting.

Random bit of info thats been interesting.. I have found the solution to my back pain.. I have an L6.. you're only supposed to have 5.. i have 6 lumbar bones. So i have been going to the chiropractor for about 3 days a week but finally there has been some improvements and I won't have to be going as frequently! Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of my low back pain! And pete has been doing great as well working and playing ball.. a little depressed about our flag football because we have not been winning as much as we should.. but life overall has been great!

The month of August

Sorry it has been so long! But the month of August has been quite adventurous!

The first week we had a fun time at the lake that our wonderful friends the Jambors put together! It was great Pete got up on the wakeboard for the first time!! It was so fun! I got to work on my skills and be more comfortabl

e out there on the water. Sadly michelle had to go get stitches on her head.. but it was just a lil adventure... but I am so glad she was alright! I was going back

and forth from my tennis camps and pete was working a few days as well

Then we got to visit some of Pete's old friends from Southern Virginia University up in Nags Head NC. Also being able to go to the tiny temple in Raleigh NC. It was nice to visit and play games. We also got to spend 2 days in the water.. one day was sunny.. one not so much.. But it was a great time! We are so glad for our wonderful hosts the Couey's. We also spent time Carla and Ryan and their boys.. one of them which fell in love with me! the 3yr old.. it was funny

Then the next week school started!! This semester my classes on Monday and Wed are: Developmental Movements( really for PE teachers.. but teaches how to play games and teach them..) Outdoor Rec. ( get to do teambuilding, orienteering, canoeing or kayaking, backpacking and camping) Archery and Badminton ( I have almost gotten a bulls eye every class! We use the Compact and the Recurve bows) and Senior Seminar ( where you do the practicum and work on resumes/interviews)

Tuesdays and Thursdays I have Intro to Italian (just for fun! Buon Giorno! I will go to Italy some day..) and Coaching Principles( I really like this class and learning more about coaching)

I am still coaching tennis through the fall and get to have some kids from my ward there! The campa twins and the Heckers son noah are playing tennis are there. But I am also helping Sequoyah High Schools volleyball teams. Also I am coaching their middle school team, or teams.. There were so many interested they made two teams and Both teams won their first game!! It was a lil crazy but it worked and i was going a lil hoarse at the end.. but we had victories!!

And last but not least.. We are now officially Macbook owners.. Our other computer crashed so pete went to the store and bought a Mac.. just like that! hehe but it is nice..

Summer 09 Vaca week 3 almost over!

We landed back in LA and went to dinner with James at Ruby Tuesday's- quite delish before making our trek home in traffic... we also watched the movie Boy in the Stripped Pajamas on the way back and it was really good! Sad, but good! the two boys who are in it are great!
Friday we make our way over to the Del Mar fair where Petes' brother John had sponsored a pig in the fair. We had a great time and I never really went to a fair before so it was fun!! There was a monster truck show.. which of course we went to, pig races, spinny rides, some yummy food and a TON of people!!

On the 4th we went to Oceanside beach which was also really crouded and Pete tried to surf.. he almost got up if it weren't for John's board getting in the way!! The water was also FREEZING compared to hawaii!! so did I get in? nope!! We went to a BBQ of one of John's friends and then went and saw the movie The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds.. SO FUNNY! i loved it and so did the boys!! it was perfect! Sunday was full of church and... idk.. Monday was our last full day so we went to San Diego and went around Old Town San Diego which had some sweet shops and met up with John for lunch at a great mexican restaurant. We then went to Coronado Beach.. well Imperial Beach which was beautiful! and enjoyed one last day at the beach before our flight at 10pm that night.
The Red Eye really messed up our schedule but we were SO glad to be back in HOTLANTA!! We got in around 9 am and slept from 11-5 pm.. so our sleeping schedule is still recovering and trying to get to sleep earlier to get out of bed before 12!! Pete has had a few days of work to get him back in the loop, and I don't have tennis camps till next week! So more beach days and relaxing for me!! Only one more month till my last semester of classes starts!! :)

Summer Vaca week 2.5 - HAWAII

It was so nice to make it back to the Aloha State where I was returning for the 2nd time and pete was going for his 1st! Both of us agree that it was an amazing trip!! Mainly full of relaxing and i got to do some of the touristy stuff i didn't get to do previously! We also got to spend lots of fun time with stacy and spencer since they didn't have to work at all while we were there!! how perfect!!
Day 1-chill and grocery shop then eat with stacy and spencer
Day 2-BEACH- Wiamea!one of my favorite beaches to go to while at school... and dolphins welcomed us!! there was about 5-6 of them and they were putting on a show for us! one was jumping and flipping and doing all sorts of tricks! it was great!! lots of swimmers went out to meet them since they hung around for about an hour! but then the lifeguard asked everyone to move back for their space! but it was great! we also ate at a lil motor home restaurant shack and ate some yummy shirmp and steak with rice!!mmmmm we also brought out the boogie boards! idk whose legs those are... The boys also got to go play ball while we hung out with the Perkins fam.








Day 3- we went to Kailua beach- some did not put enough sunscreen on to handle sun for day 2... but we still had fun in the sun and got our boogie on! After the beach we went to the movies and watched Transformers 2.. it was entertaining=successful move
Day 4- Hanauma Bay Snorkling.... not as hyped up as it seems... but pretty and has a lovely beach area!

Day 5- Me and pete went on a hike to Maunawili Falls... This was the ONLY thing pete required of us doing this whole vacation... to make out under the waterfall... hahah .. i had previously done this hike and it was only a few min from where stacy and spencer live! It was a fun muddy hike and then a refreshing finish.. except the fire dept bringing a helicopter in and getting the guy who broke his leg out on a stretcher.. that was interesting

Day 6- we went Shopping! Stacy had some errands to run so I went with the boys shoping down in Waikiki at the Ala Moana Mall and we all purchased some clothing.. the boys got polos and i got some pants and a shirt.. and sunglasses.. and a bracelett.. . hehe but i bet Ispent about the same amount of money as the boys! We also went to dinner at The Back Yard House with one of spencers roommates on the boat!There was this old lady outside wearing a hooters shirt and spandex.. had to get her in the pic

Day 7- Sunday! Went to church and had a good time with Stacy and Spencer's friends we had heard so much about the Perkins' and had FHE and dinner over there with their fun family! Pete had some nice typical hawaiian food and some fresh orange mangos which were yummy!!
Day 8- Pearl Harbor Day- We got to go early and take pictures of spencer's roommate Lee getting promoted on the USS Arizona memorial.. We got to be there all by ourselves without the other tourists around. We also watched the movie at the visitors center which really put the whole situation into perspective- then went over to see the USS Missouri which spencer helped give some insight on what his boat will be like that he will be on. It was a perfect place to go right before the 4th of July and what hardships we went through for our independence. We then went to the beach at Lanikai where we had a fun photo shoot and got to see prettier fish and coral there than at Hanauma bay!!Day 9- MORE BEACH!! we originally went down to sandy beach which we had passed previously cause we saw big waves.. but once we got out of the car.. we were obviously not up to par for the INTENSE waves!! so we watched and then were told there were"fun" waves at another beach and.. where pete got stung by a portuguese manowar and played football and enjoyed the rays.. stacy and spence boogied lots this day!!Last full day-10- Laie Day.. we went to the Hukilau Cafe for lunch and stuffed our faces full of yumminess.. then i took them over to the point where i had jumped and bruised my legs severely.. hahah and then made our way to the PCC and go to some fun villages and the luau where i worked!! I also finally made it to see the night show.. which Kala and Albert got us better seats cause they got the hook ups! My friend Shaina from my old basketball team came over that night too and we talked from 12 am-2.. it was great catching up!!Day 11-We left for the airport around 5:30 am the next morning! It was so fun spending days at the beach and nights watching a movie or video games eating ice cream and. Stacy made us some wonderfull meals while we were there and they were the best hosts She also took 50-75% of the photos which also are always top notch!!! Thanks for the great time!! and now our next stop... back to LA!

Week 1 of summer Vacation!: UTAH

Well to start our lovely trip we drove from the LA airport to Mammoth Creek Utah... aka long drive with our niece addie and nephew taylor. While in Mammoth creek we were in a cabin right on the river where the kids loved to play. We also got to go to Bryce Canyon with the whole family on a small hike. Me and Maggie had a good ol time this whole week together!

We also were able to spend a day up at a gun shop and came back to shoot in the mountains which was fun. Minus the fact me and pete were a little off .. it was still fun and we had got to make some fun explosions with this powder stuff the guy at the shop gave us!



Me and Pete also celebrated our 2 yr anniversary on the 16th and he came home and surprised me really late/early in the morning after picking up his brother in Vegas. He brought me flowers and a very cute card.. he is the best! I love him long time and these last 2 yrs have been great! They have seriously flown by!!And to finish off our week we drove up north to visit Dean and Natalie for Lunch as well as stop by to see grandma for a visit! It was great to catch up with them and visit! We then went up to Salt Lake to our rental house and was visited by the cutest little boy ever!!:) Brooke and Mason got to come and visit! This was the first time he got to meet his awesome Aunta Lisa and Uncle Pete!!
Saturday we were able to go through the Salt Lake Temple for the first time! It was great! Afterwards had lunch at the wonderful Cafe Rio! mm then took tours of salt lake through the conference center then to the joseph smith movie. My favorite part of the movie that touches me the most is when they talk about being able to be with your family for eternity!
That night Pete got to see some of his old mission companions and it was fun catching up with them!
We left sunday for our drive back to california before we had to fly out to HAWAII!! that blog to come soon!:)

Summer Tennis Instructor!

So that's been me for the last 2 weeks.. sexy thought I know.. haha just kidding. But i have been able to teach 5-11 yr olds how to play tennis and it's been great! I have also been able to at least pick up a racket every day which has helped my tennis game a bit! But I really want to keep doing it throughout the summer if possible. I still don't know about volleyball if i will be able to do my clinics for the month of july, hopefully it still works out when we get back from our vacation! We leave sunday to our 1st destination of CALIFORNIA (for a bit) before we make our drive to UTAH! I will keep you updated on how it goes!! I am so exited to spend time with Pete's family! Pete has been working very very hard for us to be able to go on such a long vacation and I am so greatful! Pictures will be coming soon!!:)

ANOTHER DRESS UP PARTY!?! whoo hoo!!

So I also was able to go to the Richard's Kentucky Derby Party!! i did not have as much time as i needed to truely prepare for this party.. but i guess it all worked out because i got best dressed for the women.. and mr Jeff Garrison won for the men! (the host couple origianly won.. but they said it was not allowed) And Katrina won best hat.. it was quite amazing!! but the horse who won the actual race.. no one chose even by random guessing.. so it was really a surprise! we would have all lost a lot of money! haha but here are some pics from the party!!!


Also I am done with school for the semester and have made All A's and 1 B! which i am proud of cause i had some really tough classes let me tell you!!! i mean soccer was really strenuous.. dance was stressfull... weight lifting made me sweat... and psychology really made me think!! haha :) it was a fun semester and i will really miss a lot of my friends that will be doing their internships and will not really get to see them much anymore.. i had some really great classmates this semester!!
I am also now planning out my summer being the Volleyball Coordinator for Winning Spirit Sports (you can check em out online) I am in charge of setting up volleyball clinics for middle schoolers getting them ready for high school volleyball and making sure it all works and flows.. and finding someone to take my place for the weeks i will be in UT/HAWAII/CALI June 14- July 7th!! which we are just EXTREMELY excited for! especially since stacy is already out there and i have talked to her quite a few times already since she's been gone! But I hope this volleyball thing works out and I can have a lot of fun with the girls! I am also doing 2 weeks of tennis clinics for 5-8 yr olds! i know i am no expert at tennis.. but i know the basics to teach these lil fellas and have a fun young guy who is in the same boat as me to help teach these guys! it will be fun and decent money! But thats been life and we are just trying to stay busy with our leagues.. softball is almost over- we are going into the tourny #1!! and volleyball is going great with my new team- we haven't had the best competition yet.. and we also lost one of our guys to a knee injury :(.. but we should be ok hopefully!! Pete has hit a few calm weeks with min. basketball games and it has been nice so he can work extra shifts and just help around the Apt! but life is good and i am SOO excited bout this warm weather!!:)

PETEY PABLO, PETIS, PETA FAJITA, PEDRO...

some of peter's nick names!...
So we are in our new place completely! and the move went pretty well... Thanks to my sister stacy and our friend brandon harper for helping us with the move... i luckily did not have to move our washer and dryer in.. or else it could have been a very emotional day! haha not that i would ever do such a thing... but our place is great.. still have some pictures and things to put away- but we love being able to do our laundry!! and we have Oh so much of it to do!!!
Anyways since the last post.. Pete has been working away, even though he did come down with a bad sinus infection/ear infection/bronchitis - but my lil sick hubby is all better now!! But the most exciting thing for him is his 27th birthday was April 30th!! We went out to the classiest place around to eat with some friends.. .HOOOTTTEERRSSS!! haha it was a lot cheaper than the other option of brazilian BBQ.. and pete got to stand up on a stool as the girls sang to him! We had a great time and are so greatful for our amazing friends we have here!!! I am so greatful for my wonderful loving husband who is just so easy to love! I don't know of many people who can't get a long with the man... especially when he gives you that great papa bear hug!!! For his birthday he got a pull up bar.. and P90X..(we're working on our beach bodies!!:) a new tie, some gift certificates from friends, glow in the dark condoms that are just for looks- not use... haha he always wanted one... who knew? a new workout outfit, and a hooters shirt signed by some of the girls working! But i love him so much and can't wait to keep growing and having many adventures to come!!

hellogoodbye!

So 1st off welcome baby Mason!! My sister had her baby this week and i'm so excited for them and their family.. and my mom's 1st grandbaby! Mom and baby are doing well from what i hear and i am sure can't wait till my mom gets there tom. to help let mom sleep!!!
Some other exciting news is we are moving! But just to the apartment complex next door! We figured we have one more year.. might as well go ahead and get the washer and dryer hook up so we stop free loading off others.. even though it is always a good time getting together when we have to do laundry.. and then we also will have a tennis court, nicer pool.. and cheaper rent! It is nice being able to clean out some stuff and it will definitely be my spring cleaning for the year! We are trying to move out by next week so we can go ahead and shut off our power and water and such.. but we don't have to be moved out till the end of the month!
I have also started my new dress i am making.. luckily i got to spend time with my mom a lot last weekend and she helped getting the project started. I must give a shout out to my dad who is a trouper and has had to go the hospital more than he needs to because he is on blood thinner. .. any injury he has is multiplied 100x because of it. and he had to go to the hospital with a torn hamstring. He did get to come home from the hospital and was feeling much better by the time the weekend was over which was good! My brother dean and stacy were in town too so it was fun being with my family- especially since pete was working all weekend! But life's great and we are moving slowly but surely!

Savannah Trip!

So i am sorry this is a month behind... every time i thought about updating about our trip i was not on my computer with the pictures.. and just never got done.. ANYWAYS we got to take a weekend away with our friends the Thomas' and the Jambors! We got to go around downtown on friday and eat at this pizza place that refused to sit all 8 of us.. so we went in four at a time.. tricked them.. they were just dumb! but the pizza was pretty good! then we walked through many of the squares. We thought about doing a walking ghost tour.. but decided we could make up our own scary stories as we toured the town ourselves! Since it was the weekend before St. Patty's day (aka leprechauns day at the school i work at... ehhh) there were lots of fun people watching going on all weekend as well as some live music on the street! We had a great time dancing and singing and making fools of ourselves... and trying to compete with each other to try and get beads. I lost.. but it was fun to compete. Then Saturday was spent at Tybee Island after we ate at Sticky Fingers for a late breakfast/early lunch then we went and played football on the beach in jeans and jackets with our bathing suits on under neath.. just in case the sun came out! But the bead competition got hard core on saturday with the parade! there was no flashing going on.. just screaming and dancing to get attention trying to get someone to throw some beads! I had to kiss this old pirate man on the cheek for one.. michelle danced with an old man.. it was gross.. but it was all for the competition! haha We finished off the day with dinner at Maggianos and hot tubbing at the hotel before me and pete made our way back home for him to make it back to work!! We had such a good time visiting the old city and getting to know our friends better! We were upset we did not get to visit the "Forsyth Park" which is one of the largest in the city and has the large water fountain. We hope we can go again next year!

80s Party!!

K so i think i did not play dress up ENOUGH as a child.. i mean i did.. and always seemed to have some kind of "make up" on my face... but i just love any chance i have to dress up and help others as well!! My friend Carol had a birthday this last weekend and it was 80s themed... and requirement to dress up.. oh darn! Of course pete was working this day because he misses all fun parties like this! and Dallin was out of town.. so me and michelle had a whole day date! but the night was fiilled of pictures with friends, 80s kareoke- i sang some Madonna, Capri Suns, Ding Dongs and other food from the 80s. Overall it was a great time!! I am just so gratefull to have fun wonderful friends that enjoy dressing up with me too!!!





Ps... all of mine and michelle's items came straight from our closets!!! hehe