An American Weekend

This weekend was quite the one at that!

Saturday morning I got up bright and early and took some bridals for Tasha. The weather did NOT cooperate.

Saturday night turned into quite the adventure. Kaleb invited me to go to the Idaho Fall's Chukars game (minor league baseball). As far as the game goes, my T-ball team has more skills than them! Okay, not quite... but they just aren't that amazing. And I just don't have a personal connection with the team. Highschool sports were entertaining because I knew people on the team. All I had to go by for this game was their BA, RBI, and that I liked their uniforms. Now the company, on the other hand was marvelous. I laughed the entire night, and it felt so good to be so carefree!

We headed down to the Greenbelt next to the temple, which is where they were holding the fireworks show. He'd packed a picnic so we set out the blanket and had a nice meal. After wards we decided to take a walk around the Greenbelt. When it became apparent we were further away from our blanket than we thought, we started running....and running... probably ran about 2 miles...and still didn't make it back to our spot in time for the show...which ended up being okay because we had a pretty good view anyways!

Traffic took forever getting out of there. It didn't help that we got a little lost on our way back to the truck and were wandering in the crowd of people. Or that by the time we made it to the truck and tried getting out into traffic, every street was backed up. By the time we finally got out of all the traffic and back into Rexburg it was a little after 1am. Did I mention the fireworks got over at about 10:30? It was crazy! But Kaleb had packed lots of chocolate and watermelon and it gave us a lot of time to talk.

Happy 4th! Sunday I held a BBQ, which was a blast! I'd been itching to have a party, but I'm always a little nervous about them. We had a great turn out and I got to have all the girls together! We grilled mom's chicken yaki tori (it was a hit!) and threw around a football and baseball.

Monday I took some more Bridals down at the Greenbelt (best location!) and then headed off to do some swimming. We went to the Sandbar in St. Anthony. It has a diving board, a waterslide, and a well you can jump off of. It was great! And I got fried! But it was worth it! First time I've been in the water this summer.

Yesterday Tasha and I worked out to a Jillian Michaels video, and we're hitting it up again. Then its hot tub time!

I LOVE SUMMER!

Mocktail Party

Thursday my friends celebrated their 21st birthday! They hosted a "mocktail party", complete with 'bartenders' and 'drinks'. It was fabulous! We got all dressed up and got to do some dancing and orange juice drinking. I've been wanting to wear that blue dress for awhile, but haven't so it was a good excuse to pull it out of the closet :)

Pretty sure Hannah and I looked SMOKING

The mocktailers...I guess Brett decided not to come Chippendale style afterall...

Happy Birthday Becky and Miriam!

Training for Work

Back in March and April, all the staff at Diane's was required to take a Strengthening Families class. A class dedicated to helping strengthen families in order to prevent child abuse.
A few weeks ago, we attended a "Positive Discipline for Young Children" class, which opened my eyes, I tell you what! In going back over some of my notes today as I completed the Reflective Evalutation, I came across "The Significant Seven", which I realized were applicable to ALL age groups. These are things we all want to feel.

1. I am capable
2. I can contribute in meaningful ways
3. I can make choices that empower what happens
4. I have self discipline and self control
5. I can work respectfully with others
6. I understand how my behavior affects others
7. My skills and judgment and wisdom are improving through daily practice

Anyways, just things to think about!

Little Kelly's trail with Uncle Darrell

Uncle Darrell was kind enough to take me out riding last week. I've been out to ride their horses before, but just around their property. This time we (well mostly he) loaded up the horses and took them out to Little Kelly's. Not far from the ski resort at Kelly Canyon.

It was a grand experience going downhill, over rocks and trees, through sagebrush, and the like. It was exciting! A little nerve wracking for the first bit, but I could tell the horses knew what they were doing.

The scenery was amazing! Best ride of my life!!

MOVED!

Well, its happened! I've moved into a new place.

I am so thankful for Tasha and Andrew for lettine me stay with them, but I think we were all ready for a change. Tasha did complain that she would miss "girl chat", but I simply reminded her that our girl chat could now take place in the HOT TUB that the clubhouse has! And I'll see her everyday at work too!

My roommate's name is Briana and she owns the townhome. Its very spacious and beautiful! My room here is bigger than even my room as home (gasp!). I'll try to post pictures later. The exciting thing is really all the space. I can fit it all in my room and don't need to put anything in storage. I'm excited to be living with a single girl. Our shifts overlap though, so I won't see her very often.

YAHOO!

...today...

Ever have a day that makes you feel like you've been punched in the gut?

That leaves you feeling like your heart got ripped out and trampled on?

Like your head is about to explode because you can't stop thinking, yet you're not even sure what you are thinking?

That has you even more confused than ever?

That you can't decide if you really want back what you had, but can't make yourself give it up?

Thinking you want one thing, but opportunities begin coming your way, so you wonder if its best to hold on to something that isn't even a for sure thing but is very important to you, or to take the opportunities as they present themselves?

And when they do, you should be happy. And a part of you is excited but the other part questions every action?

Because when it comes right down to it, you're still confused, hurt, frustrated, unsure, insecure, and indecisive. And you don't know what is right. And you don't know what to do, because you're not sure what else you're willing to put yourself through. And if you let go...you've lost it forever...but you can't hold onto something forever that is no longer there... And when it really comes down to it, you try to convince yourself you're better off without what you want. You tell yourself lies. And then you realize them for what they are. And you can't get peace. And you can't let go. Even if you wanted to. But you don't really want to. But you do. But you don't know!

And you're stuck wondering... and praying you figure things out. Not knowing how long it will take.

THAT WAS TODAY.

Have you had your Palisades today?

All the pictures are backwards, but one...

Yesterday Jared E. and I went to the Palisades to hike. We did about 14.5 miles total. The trail was very muddy which was kind of time consuming. I was trying to save my shoes some damage, mostly because I knew if I got my feet wet it was gonna be a LONG MISERABLE hike. The day was perfect for hiking. It was overcast, not too hot and not too cold, with a light breeze that was perfect when I started working up a sweat.

Our first stop was the Lower Palisade Lake, which we didn't spend much time at. It was actually rather a disappointment. The water was nasty filthy looking. Opacity of like 0%.

We took the next 2.7 miles up to the Upper Palisade Lake. The trail was rockier, steeper, but dryer. It took us less time to hike it than the flatter, muddy sections of the lower trail. The view up there was breath-taking! It was absolutely glorious to behold! The peace up there was indescribable. Birds Chirping. A moose calling. A light breeze. Perfect end to a crappy week!

THE coolest bridge. Looked like something out of "The Wizard of Oz"

A glimpse of the mud we got to hike through

Meandering River meets Rock and Trees

One of the cool bridges we had to cross (out of like 10)

"Yay! My first home!"
Jared took a picture of the inside of this, which just showed some bunk beds. He was getting ready to shoot a picture of the other side when I said, "What if there is a dead body in there?" He freaked out!

Outhouse Heaven

I was looking for a place to go potty. I'd finally given up hopes of there being a toilet anywhere. Afterall, we're in the middle of....not quite nowhere. I decided to rough it, I am a big girl after all. About 300 more yards down the trail, what do we find? THIS! However, I wouldn't have peed in it anyways. It was pretty gross inside. But the outside was cool! Where is the crescent moon?

Upper Palisade Lake

Washing my hands after slipping in the mud. Luckily I caught myself with my hands and not my knees, butt, or side.

FINISHED!!!!!