Thursday, June 28, 2007

Ten weird things about me

I know, this looks pretty familiar right? Well, my cousin tagged me in her blog and I am not one to back down from a challenge.

1. I am a stickler for the correct lyrics to songs. Nik likes to make up his own lyrics when we are listening to the radio, and that is fine, but when we are both singing along and he uses the wrong lyrics, I can't resist correcting him. I feel bad about it sometimes, but I kind of pride myself on knowing the lyrics to most of the songs I have heard in my life. Sorry if you have ever been victim to my corrections.

2. I love to roast marshmallows, but I really don't like smores. And I can only eat like 2 of the roasted mallows. I have put many hours of practice in trying to perfect my tecnique and I have pretty much got it down now. I like going to canyon parties where people just want to eat the smores and i get to roast the mallows.

3. I can't whistle. I just never figured it out.

4. The only place I am tickelish is my feet. In high school I decided that I was sick of being tickeled all the time and I just stopped being tickelish. But I never got over the feet thing. Nik has tried very hard to find other places that are affected, and I will admitt that he has found at least one.

5. I have some weird stomach problems that make it hard to find much I can eat. I pretty much live on cold cereal.

6. I am a red head with brown eyes. I also have dark eyebrows and eyelashes. I have always loved this about me.

7. I am the only girl on my dad's side of the family to graduate high school without a baby. This includes my cousin mason's age. And I think is the youngest one, so my position is secured.

8. I have never broken a bone or had stiches. I had a close call when I was younger (I had mason on my back and fell over) but it was in my knee and they said was pointess. So, I am still stich free.

9. I am allergic to metal. But not all metals, just the cheap stuff. I get a big rash on my neck when I wear necklaces from places like Claires and I used to have to wear a band aid on my wrist to prevent my wrist breaking out. Its a little better now, but Nik is good about getting me the real thing and i can wear it with out any problems.

10. I have a mean right hook. I can give nik a dead arm with one shot. I use this power wisely...well, at least to my advantage. Nik told me to add this one.

Ok, now I tag Amy and Audrey. Good Luck!

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Reunion Weekend

Last weekend Nik and I had the opportunity to go to Cedar Mountain for my family reunion. My great uncle owns a ranch down there and every four years we have the Brooksby Family Reunion. I was really excited to go this year because I have not made it to a reunion since I was about 12. And this time I had Nik to keep me entertained if I didnt want to socialize.

We left around 10:30am friday morning and listened to Harry Potter 5 to pass the time. It was a fun drive and didnt seem as long with the book and Nik to talk to. I have never driven to the ranch, so it was a little adventure figuring where to go after we left the freeway. No worries though, we got there. My family was there earlier in the week, so we met them there, and more extended family arrived as the day progressed. There wasnt much planned by way of activities, but there was plenty of visiting. I hadn't seen most of that family group since the last reunion, and some I had never met before.

That night Uncle Pres (the one that owns the ranch, my grandma's brother) led the family in campfire songs, including the traditional "Sweet Violets" that is a favorite of the Brooksby clan. Nik even entertained us all with his renditions of mormon versions of popular songs like, the "Gilligan's Island theme" and different versions of "I hope they call me on a mission", and "Five Little Fingers". He was a big hit. My parents rented a sweet-awesome cabin on Duck Creek and we were lucky enough to stay with them instead of camping with the cows. The cabin was great and we were able to shower and everything. It even had a big screen tv and satelite.

Saturday dawned bright and early (early meaning 5am when the sun burned through the curtainless high windows) and we had to dress and eat quickly so we could make it back to the ranch in time to hike with the group to the Family Tree. The family tree is cool cause it started with my grandma's two oldest brothers in 1937 while they were hearding the cattle. They carved their names on the tree and then the other siblings were bought up to do the same. The hike was great. The land is so pretty. I even got to help recarve my grandma's name in the tree so it wouldnt grow out.

After lunch the men decided they needed to shoot off the small cannon that was present on the ranch. It launched bowling balls. I have to say, it was pretty darn cool. The bowling balls were shot about half a mile. Awesome. The only down side was that Billie, my moms dog, has a very hard time with loud noises like that. The first two shots saw Billie taking off to the barn and circling back to mom. After the third shot she didnt have time to come back before they shot the fourth one. She didnt come back after that one. We all spent the remainder of the day combing the hills for her. By 10pm we still hadn't seen here. My mom was devistated. My family went back to the cabin about 10:30 and nik and stuck around to say good bye to some people. About as were were getting ready to leave I was sitting in the car and watching a little beagle play out side a campsite, thinking how sad it would be to leave the reunion without Billie. After a while I realized that I was no longer watching the beagle, I was watching Billie! I jumpend out of the car and it took Nik and I a few minutes to get her into my car, but we eventually got here there. Unfortunatly, minutes after finding Billie we realized both our sets of keys were still in the CamelBack we had been using on the hike. And it was my dads. And my dad was as the cabin. Great...After walking around for a while I discovered I had four bars of cell service if I stood at the hood of my car, on the drivers side and faced south. But not if i moved. I was eventually able to get my dad on the phone at the cabin and mom came back down with our keys and took Billie back with her.

Sunday we slept in and packed while we ate breakfast and Dad opened fathers day presents. We were out of the cabin by 11am and on the road after stopping for gas and ice. The ride home was similar to the the ride down, Harry Potter and Nik. We stopped for lunch at our favorite restaraunt (when we are out of town), One Man Band.

I had a great time, and from when he says, Nik and a good time too. I am glad that we were able to go. I love seeing my extended family and I know I wont get to see some of them too many more times. I have to take advantage of it. I know that this one has been longer than normal, but I hope most of you found it at least a little interesting. I regret that we forgot the camera, so there are no pictures.

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Apartment Hunting

Everyone knows that we are moving. Well, except maybe the Gatnnos Family. I have been apartment hunting for a few weeks and have not come across anything of major worth yet. Every thing is either too small for the price or too out of the way to be of use. We would really like something in or arround Murray. It is a central location and puts us closer to both Nik's work and school (when he starts), but now one from Murray will call me back. But, I am not worried. Brandon says we are not in a hurry to get out, and that the end of July was probably still early. I have been slowly packing the things we won't miss for a few months, but can't get too much done with out a better time frame.

The last place I looked at was on 2900 south and 300 east and the manager lady was crazy. Even after two phone conversations she was still confused as to how I knew which apartment was for rent and looked at me like I was going to steal something from the empty apartment when I asked if I could take some pictures for my husband, who couldnt make it because of work. I did a quick look through and left as fast as my little feet would carry me.

The other day I searched the newspaper for the second time (I had to go to the library seeing as I do not get the paper) and only found two new prospects. And only one of them returned my call. Surprisingly, the lady said that even though the apartment in the ad had just been rented that day, that they were expecting another one to be opening up the following day and to call her back tomorrow when she would know more. The complex is Spring Hollow. I had no idea where Spring Hollow was. I called her back as soon as my boss left the room today at work and she said that they were still working on it today, but she let me make an appointment to see it tomorrow after work. She even gave me the address: 4500 S. and 300 E. PERFECT!!

Everyone who reads this, please pray for us. This would be a great oportunity for me and Nik. Having not seen the apartment yet, I am worried that it will not be what I am expecting. If it is the same quality as the ones I have looked at so far, we will be moved in as soon as possible. Wish us luck!

Monday, June 04, 2007

Impromptu trip to the Zoo



On saturday my niece and nephew had a trip to the Zoo planned and I volunteered to take them to Lou's to begin the journey. About half way to her house I got a call from Lou herself saying that her husband was not feeling well, and was not able to fulfill his duties as a second adult on this trip, and asking if I would be able to take his place. I was honored. We made it safely to Lou's and then to the Zoo with Noah in tow.

We really had a great time. I had not been to the Zoo in several years, and not since they did all those amazing upgrades. I was excited for this opportunity. We got to see the White Crocodile exhibit and an elephant show, and the penguines, and the cats, and the giraffes, and the rhinos, and...and...lots of other animals too. By the end Lou and I were both running on empty from chasing three kids around outside. I didn't get sunburned though. Thanks for the sunscreen Ten!

We ended our trip in the gift shop and I gave Spence and Kristin $2 each to buy a souvineer. It was a challenge to find something in that price range, but they eventually did it. Spenacer got this cool glowy fish and Kristin got a beautiful wooden bead bracelet. I found this cool bald eagle bouncy toy for Nik and I got me a great blue camo, short brim hat. I love it.

It was an amazing trip, and I am really glad that Ten was willing to let me go in hes stead. I am looking forward to our next Zoo excursion. I just home that Nik can come.