Hmmmm

To blog or not to blog. After about 6 months of blogging (my last post before just recently was in June I think?) I have completely lost any interest to blog. Sometimes it almost seems silly to write about our lives and broadcast it for everyone to see so that people can briefly read through it for their own news entertainment...and then the reader feels somewhat connected with that person because they know everything that is going on in the blogger's life. Does anybody think it's weird that we can know so much about somebody's life, and at the time that person may know very little about what's going on with you?

To be private or open. Then I thought maybe making my blog private could be a good idea. Maybe I've watched to many Criminal Minds episodes (which I am trying to quit because I usually watch them when I'm home alone at night which results in me being freaked out that some serial killer is going to sneak up on me), but I'm not sure I want any random person reading my blog. Does this weird anybody else out? I think I'd feel safer having just people I know and care about reading my blog?

What do you guys think? I'm very interested to know.


P.S. By the way, Colorado, California, Alaska, and Pine were fabulous - maybe someday I'll blog about it-haha. Jeff started school :( I'm excited for Carissa to have her baby. I didn't like Mockingjay. I was sad to say goodbye to Anna. I can't wait for my Granny's 100th birthday party. And I made tacos for dinner :)

It's been....

3 years since this happened...

and I couldn't be happier!

Living it up at Lake Powell

We went to Lake Powell for a week with my family and it was great! No matter how many times I go, I am always mesmerized by the beauty of Lake Powell.

Here's some of the things that I loved about the trip:

Kayaking! I felt so stealthy and swift... like an alligator

Hiking up an awesome slot canyon where we met Fireball and Freddie

Overpriced soft-serve ice cream from Dangling Rope, it was delicious

Painting all the girls toes red. Brett wanted his painted too- but Ruth would not allow it :)

Rainbow Bridge

Spending lots of time with family, my favorite peeps! (and... "it was me!")

We had some new additions on the trip: my floppy hat and Jeff's "mr. mustachio" :) Unfortunately, mr. mustachio was eliminated as soon as we got home from the trip.

Do I Look Stupid?

Warning - this is a possibly boring and/or controversial diatribe - so do not read if you easily offended or if it makes you want to right rude or combative comments on my blog - come back next post after I write about our sweet Lake Powell trip :)

I don't think I look or act stupid most of the time. Ok except when the grocery clerk rings up my ice cream twice and I don't catch it until I get home - but that's probably more just not being vigilant right? (Grrrr happened last night). Or me eating my newly homemade granola until my tummy hurt - but that's more just making unwise eating choices right? Or me buying a gallon of milk grocery shopping each week and then throwing most or all of it away when it expires - I know I really should just buy a half gallon...

Anyway, this weekend we got Jeff's Social Security benefits statement saying what he will get when he retires at this point. On the front middle of the page highlighted reads "Will Social Security still be around when I retire?" and it goes on to say "YES". Most people probably stop reading there - content - and go on their merry way. But, if you read on further (because let's be honest - I was a little surprised) it says if there are not changes made, the Social Security Trust fund will be depleted in 2037. (For those of you who were not English majors, depleted = gone, bankrupt, sucked dry.)Now I must admit I was a finance major and do carry a financial calculator in my purse at all times, but anyone that can do simple math can figure out how old they will be in 2037. Jeff will be 54. The current retirement age is 65 and so far I have not heard of the retirement age getting younger- if anything they are pushing it back older and older. So it appears to met there was a BLATANT lie in the statement that there will still be Social Security Benefits when we retire.

Basically we put in 6.2% of our income each year to a huge ponzi scheme, but it is somehow ok because the government runs it. In my own little utopia - we would do away with any Social Security taxes, let the exisiting funds pay out those who are retired, and privatize retirement savings for everyone else (I know this is a crude outline so please do not debate me over any flaws and how this would be impossible). How nice would it be for ME to decide how I want to invest that 6.2% in whatever investments I please - it is my money afterall.

Anyway, long story short, I do not expect to see a penny of Social Security and we have/will happily plan for our retirement accordingly :)

P.S. Take that Uncle Sam - then we can retire whenever we want!

Hello and Goodbye

The end of April was a lot's of fun seeing friends and family. We said:

Hello to Karyna and Macy. They came to visit from California and it was a delight to finally meet little Macy. We had a great time and Macy was a champ traveler :) Here's some sweet sunglasses we found shopping!

Goodbye to Jeff's parents. They were here all winter and it was great having them just a mile away. Can't wait until you are back next winter!

Hello my little Annita! Anna came to visit in between coming home from Israel and going back up to P-town. How I miss my spunky little sis!

And why is May going to ROCK? 3 reasons:

• School's out for summer - I'll have my baby back!
• I found the desk for the office :)
• Lake Powell - need I say more?

March Madness

So- I already broke my New Year's resolution of posting every month... but I figure if I post about March then I'm ok! So here are some of our March highlights:

Cereal Milk: We made cereal milk- for our friend Brennon's birthday. Please note the excitement and glimmer in their eyes :)

A Lovely Guest: My college roomie, Carissa, came to visit for a week. Upon her arrival she announced that's she's having a little bambino! A baby boy in September- wahoo! We had so much fun! While she was here we went hiking, drove around with Ruby's top down, laid out, tried to feed some snobby ducks, got to see Julia Bulia and Rush, and talked lots and lots. She's one of those friends when you see them, it's like no time has passed! P.S. that does'nt mean I will give up on trying to get you to move to AZ:)



Mom of three? Then, I got to take care of 3 cute little munchkins. Ruth and Scott went out of the country for a couple weeks so I watched Heidi, Amber and Brett. They were quite entertaining and I just love them to death. We had some good times - except changing Brett's poopy diapers- Ruth you owe me big time:)

Heidi and Amber- two peas in a pod

I love sponge curlers! Amber before and after

And little Buddy Bud Brett. He loves his trains (chu chu) and even in sleep could not be separated from them

So for those of you that were reading through this post anxiously looking for some morsel about NCAA tournament, I'd just like to say that my bracket was 4th out of 25 in our group:)

A Time of Reflection

The last couple weeks I've been able to reflect on life and what's most important. My grandpa passed away and I went out with my family to Texas for the funeral. It was a sad and happy occasion, all wrapped up into one. We celebrated the good life that he lived, the wonderful family he had, but will miss him as well. I found it interesting that most major events in life are a mixture of happiness and sadness: leaving home for the first time, getting married, graduating college, moving, funerals, etc. I guess whenever a chapter of our life ends, there is excitement and happiness for what is to come- but a twinge of sadness that it is over.

I found a picture for our study (the most recent home project) that says, "Never let your memories be greater than your dreams." The quote got me thinking, is there a period of my life where I'd want to go back- is the best of life behind me?

Let's see...
Jr. High - no way
High school - no thanks
College - tempting... was such a blast, but no

I can definitely say I have no desire to live in the past. I have had a wonderful life up until now, but I also have so much hope and excitement for the future- for tomorrow, for next year, for 20 years.

One New Years Resolution - Check

So as promised in my last post, we finished our first house project of the year! I wanted to decorate our guest bedroom and when I first started out I wanted a pieced-together, eclectic, cottage look. Well I changed my mind before I really finished the first idea, realizing that really wasn't the look I wanted for that room. After searching the inner depths of my soul, I decided I wanted a more traditional yet cozy decor. It took us three weeks from start to finish and we learned how to install wainscoting, chair rail, crown molding, and case in a window - we could practically work at Home Depot now :)



BEFORE






AFTER

It's A Small World After All

So the other day, my sister, Wendy, calls and tells me about this piano she found on craigslist and that she wanted me and Jeff to come with her after work to check it out (ok mostly she just wanted Jeff to go since he has "The Ear"). So we drive to Mesa and knock on the door. You will never guess who answers the door...my friend Mary, who is a friend from BYU Nauvoo! Seriously, what are the chances of my sister finding a piano on craigslist AND her asking me to come with her AND it just happens to be an awesome, somewhat long-lost, friend! Such a small world! Anyway, it totally made my day.

On a side note, I'm really excited... we've been working on a house project this last week, which I am determined to get done before Jeff starts school next week and I am a "single wife" again. Anyway, hopefully I will unveil it's completion on my next post :)