Funny Stuff

I was in Reno yesterday and saw this sign. I had to turn around and do another drive by to take the picture because I thought it was so funny. What I just don't understand is why they didn't do more of this type of thing when gas was over $4 a gallon.

Terminology has always been interesting to me, especially terms that teens come up with. I love the term 'chillax' which combines chill and relax. Today I heard a new one that I never thought of putting together. The nurse at school came in my office and was venting about something going on at the school, she kept saying, "I am just so flustrated." Now, I know that she is a very proper person and would not sink to creating her own pop culture vocabulary, so I had a very hard time not laughing or even smiling when she repeated this phrase over and over again. She was indeed very frustrated and I believe she would have become more so if I started grinning at her mistake. It was hard to sit and continue to listen with a stone face.

That reminds me of another story. Once my boss on temple square told me to move my 'thinger.' I asked her to repeat her directions and got the same request. I asked what a 'thinger' was and she told me I ought to know because there are five on each of my hands. She had always heard 'finger' incorrectly and literally thought that it was 'thinger.' How did she ever get through English class without having been corrected?

Finish it Strong

I have been postponing posting because I haven't had time to upload my pictures and report on the end of my summer activities. I finally found some time today, yeah!

We went hiking up to Lake Winnemucca as a branch a few weeks back. It was so pretty!

Then my FRIEND (please take note Brennan) Benson came out and spent a few days with me. We hung out in Virginia City, Tahoe, Reno and Truckee. It was nice to go play for a while.

I finally moved ALL of my 'toys' to my house, the kayak being the last thing to come. It doesn't make my car look too small does it?

I got to attend the wedding reception of my cousin Jilyn and her husband Andrew and catch up with all of my awesome cousins!

Then I got to start school. This first week has been crazy busy! I got my bus permit on Tuesday, drove for a couple hours on both Wednesday and Thursday and have been loving it so far. I'm a little nervous about the driving test, especially the pre-trip inspection portion! I finally got my PE curriculum done and can't wait to start next week with our activities.

Coaching is amazing! I thought I would be less confident than I am, and it's been nice to have my team practice every day this week. We had a scrimmage this morning and they are looking good. ( : Today I had to choose captains and it was one of the hardest things I have had to do so far.

Last week the head girl's basketball coach at Carson High called me at work and asked if I wanted to coach his freshman team this year. Wow. I don't know what soccer is going to take out of me, and if there will be enough to go around for back to back seasons of coaching. I told him I would think about it. Any suggestions?

I am loving the busy life that comes with being back in school. It has shocked me how much I really missed the students at SSHS. It's been so nice to catch up with them and see them again. It feels like coming home.

Summer Mileage

With my second year of teaching beginning in the morning, I have been reflecting on what a great summer this has been. This summer has reminded me of the summers I used to enjoy when I was a kid and didn't have to worry about working or getting up early or anything like that. This summer has given me the gift of a carefree life, doing anything and everything I want to. It has been a huge reward, and a nice time to adjust my standards back to what they should be. It has been so nice to be able to breathe for a while; I think it will be nice to remember that breathing when I start back tomorrow.

I was looking at my odometer the other day and realized that this summer has found me in my car many, many times. I have driven to Salt Lake, Sacramento, Salt Lake, Hope's Valley, Salt Lake, Buck's Lake, Salt Lake, and Salt Lake. It has been quite an intense summer. I have read numerous books on tape and listened to hours and hours of music. All in all, it's been about 6,600 miles of family, friends and fun.

I've visited with family and friends and had family and friends come visit with me. I have learned a lot, grown a lot, relaxed a lot and played a lot.

Now it's time to hit the grindstone, being the new JV Girl's Soccer Coach, the new English Department Chair, the new PE teacher at the high school, the new bus driver at the school, and the new mentor to two new teachers. I hope to be able to hold that refreshing summer breathing until October, then learn to breathe again. I can't wait to be so busy that I don't have time to think! Seriously, that wasn't sarcastic.

Family Camping

A couple weeks ago my family got together and went camping. We always go to the same camp site, so it feels like home. We were there for a total of six days and we had a blast-we always do! We played 'nerts' every night, had skits, played guitar and sang, told stories, teased, laughed, went on treasure hunts, went on hikes, carved and raced boats, got smelly, got dirty, and loved every minute! I love camping with my family! We were almost all there, Bryce just lives so far away that he couldn't make it... ( :

Here is Ember in her role as 'Rod' in one of the skits.

Yes, my mother is riding a broom, voluntarily!

Callie and Jonah. Poor boy can't walk yet, and was eating too many twigs and rocks, he was in arms all week.

Brynleigh, the chipmunk whisperer. She could charm a snake if she put her mind to it.

Coby, Net and Liv

The 'cute couple', Bren and Jes

A meadow at Silver Lake

The trailblazers!

Gillie is such a good cousin!

My brothers...they are all such good guys!

Coby the cowboy-grandpa would be proud.

The "fongullar" (four wheeler) was a great source of entertainment for these three boys!

It seems as though Ember has taken a liking to dirt as well...

Tiny Piper is always so smiley!

JD is just a little excited about the boat races.

A good time was had by all...can't you tell?

Even Piper and Livia had their own camp chairs! Oh, the tiniest campers...

Donna and Bompa

What a happy camper

This is all of us, minus Bryce-we missed you Bubba.

Girls

A few weeks ago, after I kind of moved into my new place, I drove out to Utah, picked up my nieces, and brought them out to Carson City for a visit. We did A LOT of driving.....and Gillie was bored, so there were many car pictures. We also listened to a couple books on tape on the way, they are always my favorite when crossing Nevada.

Our first full day we decided to head up to Lake Tahoe to have fun in the freezing water. It was very refreshing. We even turned Gillian in to a mermaid, and a fat one at that!

I think that Ember only got completely wet once, it was cold!

Ember had fun on the beach...don't ask...( :

We brought up some things to barbeque with and had a great dinner by the lake.

The next day we went to Scheels, this amazing sporting goods store that has a ferris wheel in the middle of everything. The girls got to ride, and then we went to Circus Circus to see some shows. They loved it. After driving through downtown Reno, we ate some dinner and then headed on our next adventure of...

...Miniature Golf! Brynleigh and Ember had never been before so it was lots of fun. We played until it was dark.

Then we went home and did mud masks! They loved it!

The next day we went to see the movie 'G-Force.' It was in 3-D and pretty good too! We also went for a great walk by the river and on a ranch. I have such cute nieces!

They didn't want to go to primary with people they didn't know, so I brought them to the branch with me. They were a little bored by the end of the three hours. I don't blame them.

We finished with chocolate fondue on our last night, and then made the long trip home with another trusty book on tape. It was so much fun to hang with my nieces!