To Top it Off!

I have eaten over at the home of the branch president before and we got on the topic of fishing one time. I told him about living in Alaska and soon our mouths were both watering for crab. He has his pilot's license and mentioned that we should fly down to Monterey, California some time and get some crab. He told me that I would have to work hard on his wife in order for this to happen. I didn't really work on her, but he did. He called me last week and asked what I was doing for the holiday last Monday. I told him that I didn't have any plans and he asked if I wanted to go get some crab!

Tahoe is beautiful this time of year, don't you think?




This is the branch president explaining how flying works. His brother was his co-pilot. I learned a ton about airplanes that day!


My friend Noelle and I were sharing elbow room.


It was quite an experience to open the cabin door when we landed in Watsonville. The rush of warm sea air did wonders for the constant throb I acquired for the ocean while living in Alaska.

We went to a fish and seafood restaurant and then played on the beach for a while.


We found some star fish and caught this little crab. We decided to throw him back though and get some papa crabs to take home.





Noelle was not looking forward to holding this crab. It took me a long time to actually catch it because I was being VERY careful. I have been pinched by a crab before and didn't find it to be a pleasant experience. When the branch president anxiously took it from me, it immediately pinched him and he was still complaining about it half an hour later.

After the beach we decided that we had just enough time to drive up to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and go on a couple of rides.

Then we were on our way back home. It took about an hour and forty-five minutes to fly there, but only an hour and fifteen minutes to fly home.

Isn't Watsonville gorgeous from the sky?

We flew home by a couple of peaks. I have climbed the one on the left. It's called Job's Peak.

We got back just before sunset and then went to the branch president's house and had crab for dinner. What a great day!

My Favorite Four Letter Word

I love the four letter word FREE! The night of the talent show a couple of us went out to eat to celebrate the event. One of the teachers turned to me in the middle of the meal and asked if I could use come couches. I responded in the affirmative and then asked how much he wanted for them. He told me that I could just have them! Woo! We set it up that I would go to his place in the morning to pick them up. They go well in my place, no?

When we got to his house on Saturday morning, he asked if I could also use an entertainment center. Scored again! Free ninety-nine!

Now I don't know what to do with the tables that used to be my makeshift entertainment center. I would put them in the empty room but I found a roommate on Saturday, and she hasn't yet decided whether or not she would like them. So they stand stacked for now.

My friend Matt gave me some flowers because he knew how stressed out I was about the talent show. I have the greatest friends!

Talent Tube

Back in December one of the teachers here at Silver State High School asked me if he thought our school could hold a talent show. We started talking about it and created a plan to determine whether or not we actually had enough talent at our school to do this. We filmed (our way of filtering) 'auditions' the week we got back from Christmas Break and scheduled the show for the second Friday back. That was a week ago today-it almost seems like a month. We were impressed with about thirteen students and invited them to come participate in the show. This took up more of my passion than anything has in a long time. We planned meticulously because we had to transform an archaic airport building into a modern, cool coffee house setting. It was a challenge, but I think we pulled it off. We had a rather diverse group ranging from the recorder to a Native American song to August Rush-ish guitaring. Here are some of the highlights:


This is girl sang an old slave song that has been passed down in her family.



These two guys can really wail! I was completely impressed by their skills.



I know that as a recent graduate many of my professors would frown on me for what I am about to reveal, but I just can't help it, I'm human. This is my favorite student. She lives with more passion than anyone I have ever met. She is also a self taught singer/song writer, and she is amazing!


This is Mr. Papke and I basking in the talent of our students.

It was a lot of fun to put this show on. Later that night as I was driving home I realized how much more emotionally invested I had become in SSHS because of this show. I really like it here.

Oh, we are working on editing the film of the auditions and the show and posting them on You Tube.

New Year's Eve

The TyCal family invited us over for New Year's to help break in their house. We played Rock Band until 3:00 A.M. It was fun except when all of the little kids came downstairs and woke me up early. We all slept over. It was cool to all spend the night together in one house. I love doing that. Their house is large enough that every couple had their own room, and I got the couch in the front room. My parents didn't stay over, but they came back for breakfast.

Here are some random pictures from the event.

Ander, playing as usual.

Jonah was smart and sacked-out early. Actually Bradey got the most sleep out of all of us. He was wired the next morning.

Here is Brynleigh watching my dad and brothers light fireworks around midnight.

Gillie and I bringing in the New Year.

Oh, the boys in my family...and their toys!

I know it's not the greatest picture, but here is Callie.

JD absolutely hates the noise that fireworks make. I remember him crying a lot last July. He had to cover his ears, even though most of the fireworks that night were fountains and flowers. Poor kid is scarred for life.

Gillie and Ander. Ander was in love with the fireworks. Like father like son.

The kids loved playing on JD, Bradey and Jonah's new airplane they got for Christmas!

This is just Brynleigh to a tee.

Net and Ander. So cute. I can't wait to see what a little Howe/Bushman girl looks like!

It snowed a lot when I was in Utah. I miss that. I also miss these gorgeous mountains!

Christmas!

We all piled in our cars in the afternoon on Christmas and drove over to Chad and Angie's house. We went through so many presents! My nieces and nephews all made a huge haul! We had a lot of fun, missed Bryce, and played. We got to talk with Bryce for about an hour and a half. It was different without him here, as I'm sure it was for him in China. We love you!

Here is one of Coby and DaNette watching Ander open one of his gifts. He 'got' it this year.

This is Ander playing with one of his new 'toys.' He's so darn cute!


Here is Angie. On this night she announced to the whole family that they are going to have a girl. She IS glowing!

Emmy. Need I say more?

Here is Brynleigh, chillin' by herself on her little stool. She has to have one of the biggest and best personalities I have ever come across. (Coby is in the background using his usual squint.)

This is what is left of Chad. The last time I saw him was in the beginning of September, but I think that since then half of him has been lost! (He lost weight.) Chad, you look great!

Gillie. She is growing into quite a little lady. Such a pretty girl.

Brennan and Jessica. I love these guys. Don't worry Jes, I didn't forget that I owe you a movie!

Mom and Dad. This picture is hilarious because this is her real reaction. You'd think it was HER first Christmas! I love the look mom.

TyCal family. These are some of the rowdiest, cutest, sweetest people I know. I think it's hereditary because they are all alike.

Jonah wore a little Santa suit for his first Christmas, and he was really happy to be there!

My dad bought everyone little stompers that are battery operated. After everyone had one we turned them all on and played for a good ten minutes. It was exciting! If you don't believe me look at Ander.

Visiting Utah

I should have done this a few weeks back, but things have been busy around here. I will highlight the overall trip I took to Utah last month. One of the best things was that I got to meet the newest Bushman, Jonah Cade. He is such a sweet, sweet boy! He doesn't look much like his brothers though.

He even let me put him to sleep a couple of nights when I was down visiting the TyCal family in their new house!

I got to hang out with a few friends that I haven't seen in a long time. We went to Ab's Drive In. (Honestly I don't know what all the hype is about-it's like In-N-Out Burger here. I just don't get it, the food is not GREAT, just cheap.)

It had been a while since Bradey had seen me, and he had been through a lot since we last met. Needless to say I had to throw JD around for about twenty minutes before Bradey decided that I was safe. Bradey gave me the a-okay when he came and jumped on me to wrestle with him. Bradey likes to 'get' people. This is his 'getting' face with DaNette. Coby told me that Bradey has a 'thing' for DaNette. Hmm. What exactly does that mean?! ( :

I got to hang out with my girls a little bit too. We had a crazy sleep over at my parent's house. They are so much fun! I miss them a lot. We found out Christmas night that they will be adding a sister to their ranks in April! Another Rosier girl! Woo Hoo! The first picture isn't all that great, but I had to include it because Brynleigh's face is hilarious!

I also got to go visit my brother Brennan at work. This is his Christmas present. It was fun to see him get all excited about it! He is such a cute boy!