Langfords

Sink or Swim

2012-01-12T17:03:00.000-08:00

Unless something goes horribly wrong, this is the last semester of my undergraduate career, and my stint of eight year (yes that's right, eight horribly long years) "super senior" will be drawing to a close. I guess at that point I will have to find some other subject matter to blog about. I feel as though I am incessantly talking about school. But hey aside from school, work and Aaron I don't have much of a life or time for anything else. That is except for of course, my other true love, Costco, but you already know my feelings on that subject matter.

I am excited to be done, but I am also kinda scared. School has been my shelter, my excuse, and a big part of my life for nearly the last decade. While I am definitely ready to say good bye to those obnoxious 18 year old, graduated with my little brother, I babysat you when you were little, freshmen (mostly they just make me feel like an old married lady) I am slightly scared to step from the shelter of college and enter "the real world".

I realize that rationally this makes no sense at all. However life's questions such as working at a job I'm not that interested in and don't love and our apparent lack of children, cannot simply be answered with the excuse of school. This is by no means an announcement (one would be a fool to take it as such) I am merely using those two things to illustrate my point. Which simply put is this: I feel like I have to grow up now and face reality. I'm scared to death because I have been happy in the land of denial and graduation feels like a swift kick in the.... out of the land of denial and ejecting me into the ocean (I hate the ocean, it makes me very uneasy) of accountability.

2012-01-05T20:03:00.000-08:00

We'll I'm not sure if anyone reads this blog anymore, heck lets face it I don't read this blog anymore, however given that it has been nearly six months since our last post, for which I can't even take credit for, I decided to give it a whirl again.

I would say that it is one of my New Years resolutions to blog more, but I have resolved to only make resolutions that I have a least a shot at keeping... thus blogging is definitely NOT on the list. I do wish to keep in touch with people more and since I personally would rather stalk them electronically (thank you blogs and Facebook) rather than actually call people and talk to them in person, I decided that I would try to afford those of you who still have some waning interest in our lives the same luxury. Kudos to those of you who are phenomenal and frequent bloggers. I envy you for being able to capture your lives in the written form. I enjoy reading and be a part of your lives through it. I hope to one day be as diligent as you. At the moment however life is busy enough and so I choose to leave out the part where I beat myself up for not being better about recording it (it really does free up quite a bit of time). In short I may, or may not possibly be back into the blogging world on a more frequent basis. I make no promises or guarantees.

To those of you stalwart bloggers out there, keep on keepin on. You know who you are, I may not comment, but I am always reading you and I am grateful to you for sharing your lives with us.

More Ghana photos!!!!!

2011-07-18T17:46:00.000-07:00

That amazing Girl in Africa

2011-07-12T17:36:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Ghana! Thank you all so much for you love and support. I hear that Aaron has been very well taken care of and I thank you immensely for it! (he will probably be sad to see me return in this regard. :) I thought I would take a second to fill you in on some of the happenings these last couple of days….

this was the sunset on the first night of our arrival (Saturday) it was absolutely amazing!

On Sunday we went to a Ghanaian ward. I loved it. The stake president was up at the pulpit speaking and his cell phone went off. Not only did he look at it, but stopped mid scripture to read an incoming text. It was awesome.

The next picture is our first day in the village. We are required to go and meet the king of the Barekuma region and present our mission statement to him and other community leaders for their approval (even though they already knew we were coming and what we were doing). This is a picture of me with the king……

It is also custom for them to present us with a refreshment or gift. Usually it is “malta” basically drinking a whopper sans chocolate, but because our numbers are so large this year we bought the drinks for them and we ended up with coke and Fanta.

These are pictures of the kids. They just swarmed our bus when we pulled in. they love having their picture taken and even started posing. When they figured out that the picture appeared immediately they were thrilled to see themselves on the screen. Even the adults would bring their kids up and ask us to take pictures of them.

The kids remembered the song that we had taught them last year after we had built the bathroom for the school. When they saw us they started singing it and doing the actions.

These two are pictures of the first few elderly people

we interviewed and my Ghanaian counterparts. Philip is in the red and Collins is wearing the button down shirt and drew pants. These were both taken on the second day.

All in all it has been an interesting couple of days. We have definitely had our struggles…. Fire in the hotel, plane delays, no hot water, sickness, and skype not working to name a few. We are tired and hungry most of the time, but most of all we are happy.

Ghana and Africa are much different than I pictured. The weather is not that hot here, 85 degrees at the hottest, the mosquitos are not giant and man eating (In fact I have yet to see one, but I do know that they exist because I have some bites) it is not dry and deserty looking to name a few things.

Here are a few thing that I love about this place:

Fresh Pineapple, mango (normally don’t like these) and bananas YUM!

Things are SO cheap here

Sunsets

Humidity

Thunder Storms

The people

Not really know what day or time it is, and not really caring either.

Singing/ dancing

My group

But most of all I am amazed at how happy these people are. They have nothing and yet they are one of the most joyful people I have ever met. Several of the questions on our survey ask about quality of life and if they are happy/ like themselves. The answer we get the most frequently is of course! Why wouldn’t I like myself? Why wouldn’t I be? “Nyame Tease” (Ney- ame Tey- ah-say) God is Alive.

Thanks muchly to all of you for your love and support and feeding of husbandage. I love you all.

Love,

Hal

Happy 4th

2011-07-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

Not everyone enjoyed the Fire Trucks....

Friday: Drive In movie Cars 2
Saturday: Hanging around home, fireworks with Aaron and I
Sunday: Mueller Park, water balloon fight, Ryan and Aaron's piro techniques, S'mores
Monday: tailgate breakfast at the Clearfield City parade, Transformers 2, Clearfield fireworks

Happy 4th of July Weekend!

Here's Hopin'

2011-06-29T08:29:00.000-07:00

The Importance of Global Surgery in Health Care

By Halley Christine Langford

Surgery, as a means of prevention in the field of public health is a rather neglected resource. The current trend in global health has been heavily geared toward the prevention and treatment of communicable diseases, and the use of vaccinations and medications. While these methods have been highly effective there are still millions needlessly dying and suffering that could easily be helped through the use of a simple surgical procedure.

One of the reasons surgery has been ignored as a method of treatment is due to its multiple components and costliness. Because of this there is a common misperception that surgery is a luxury rather than a necessity in developing countries. However, the paradigm that surgery be reserved for the rich and the insured is one that needs to be challenged. In order to provide surgical services to those who need it most (generally not the rich or the insured), treatment of surgical diseases should be need based rather than dependent on the ability to pay for services. Similar to the way communicable diseases such as AIDS and malaria are treated.

Every year over one million children are left without a mother. More than 80 percent of these maternal deaths are caused by sepsis, unsafe abortion, obstructed labor, and hemorrhage. Many of these deaths were and are avoidable through the use of surgical procedures. Children who have lost their mother are ten times more likely to die prematurely than those who have a mother (United Nations, 2010). Investments in maternal health have a direct effect on women and an indirect effect on child survival. Surgery to stop a postpartum hemorrhage not only saves the woman, but her family as well. Additionally, effective treatment of congenital defects, vehicle and agricultural accidents, cardiac disease, bone fractures and even blindness are equally important for the further development of global surgery as a form of intervention.

Working closely with the physicians in the otolaryngology department has provided me the opportunity to see the effects of surgery firsthand. I have witnessed the restoration of hearing and voice loss, faces that have been damaged by skin cancer rebuilt, brain tumors removed and years of life given back. I have personally experienced the grief stricken faces of people as they enter our clinics for the first time and the increase in quality of life that occurs as skilled surgeons work to restore them. In short, I have seen the miracle that surgery is and the important role it plays in health care.

Bear Lake Adventure 2011

2011-06-19T18:23:00.001-07:00

This weekend my family went up to Bear Lake. We have done so on several occasions and decided to get one last trip in before Ryan leaves. Aaron and I made record time (and not the good kind) getting there this year.

Aaron and I decided to go up over Monte Cristo because we wanted to drive through Ogden Canyon and see how high the river is.... Well for those of you who watch the news you are probably thinking that Monte Cristo is still closed due to snow pack. For those of you like Aaron and I who don't watch the news, Monte Cristo is closed and you can't get through. We found out the hard way (70 ish min detour). It also happens that the Wasatch Back, a Ragnar relay, was also going on this weekend. They run from Logan to Park City and part the route goes right through Huntsville all the way down Trappers Loop, which as it happens is the exact route that we needed to double back to get to Bear Lake through Evenston (40 ish min. delay).....

Four plus hours, a scared bunny, two saddle sore Langfords, and a dead cat later we finally reached our destination.

However the ride was absolutely beautiful, everything was so lush and green and all of the wild flowers were blooming. It was also fun to see how high the rivers and lakes were (there is NO beach at Bear Lake, none!). We also found the decorated vans and Ragnar runners to be highly entertaining. Among our favorite team names/ slogans were.....
Over the hills and through the woods
Bless our Soles
What the Hill?
We do it Three Times a Day Sweaty
We got the Runs
Girls gone Ragnar (Aaron thought this was hilarious, I thought it was lame)

The lake was FREEZING but we had a blast anyway, and it was fun to have the place to ourselves. We ate, snuggled, played games, watched movies, rode 4 wheelers, made sand castles and had a great time.

Called To serve

2011-06-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

ELDER Ryan Mark Jones, Huston South Mission
Ryan opened his call on Wednesday June 15, 2011. He will report the the MTC on September 28, 2011

Memorial Day 2011

2011-06-19T17:37:00.001-07:00

In honor of tradition we had our usual Memorial Day eve sleep over with Ryan. This began the year Aaron and I were married (2006) with Ryan and Karson. We started with both of them and as missions and life have occurred our numbers have fluctuated. his year we were able to celebrate with Ryan. To say the least it was out last hurrah before he leaves us for two years on his mission this fall.

These pictures are from 2006 of Karson who is currently serving his mission and will be home in August.

We finished off our Memorial Day celebrations by having our annual brunch. We moved it to my parents house this year to accommodate our growing numbers. Brunch was delish and the company was even better.

There never was a question

2011-04-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

But I'm sure glad it's official.

So happy to be stuck with these yey-hoos for eternity!

Ode to Costco

2011-04-03T20:41:00.000-07:00

I've decided that I have developed quite an unhealthy addiction. Yes, My name is Halley and I'm an addict. A Costco addict. I can't help myself I simply love the place. I decided that I had a problem a few weeks ago on a Friday night, the start of spring break, when Aaron asked me where I wanted to go/do to celebrate our momentary freedom. My all to quick reply was of course Costco!

However one of the reasons I love Costco so much is that it is dinner AND a show. Yes, sadly, I get my kicks people watching whilst sitting in the food court underneath the Coca-coal umbrellas (there purpose for being there I have yet to determine) and eating my polish dog. Aside from the people watching thrills I am also addicted to the following products sold there. Some because they are so much cheaper, and some because of the heavenly, mouth watering, gotta have it, can't find it anywhere else taste. So here it is, my usual Costco shopping list (judge me if you will)...

Strawberries, strawberries and more strawberries
Chocolate Milk (there's nothing like it, believe me I've looked)
Raw Tortillas
Cheese (this is taste & cost category)
Dipped Ice Cream bars w/ roasted almonds (from the food court DIVINE!)
Baby Spinach
Grape tomatoes
Polish Dogs (again cost & taste) w/ drink hello can't beat that deal
Kashi Cereal
Rhodes Cinnamon Rolls
V8 juice.....

and any other random odds and ends/ impulse buys. Add in all of the free food samples and cool random stuff they get in every week and I'm a gonner. What can I say, I just can't get enough.

To one of the most remarkable ladies I know,

2011-03-28T21:30:00.000-07:00

To the person who taught me how to play just about every card game I know;

The lady who never forgets a birthday or anniversary and attends every sporting event, piano recital and every other special occasion possible;

The one who recorded a talk on tape to be played at my baptism, and bought me my temple clothes the first time I attended the temple;

The lady who loves to watch football and comes shopping with us the day after Thanksgiving;

The one who gathers her family once a month to make humanitarian kits;

The lady who taught me the value of being thrifty, the joy of simplicity, and the importance of gratitude.

To the woman who's faith is unceasing and who's strength, courage and perseverance is inspirational.

May you have the happiest of birthdays. Your shining and unceasing example of charity, love, service, dedication, strength and faith will be a be looked upon and spoken of by your posterity for generations to come. Thank you for all that you are and all that you've done. You truly are remarkable.

Happy 85th Birthday Grandma!

"Live every week as if it were Shark Week."

2011-03-24T07:44:00.000-07:00

advice given from Tracey Jordan to Kenneth.

I love love LOVE watching old episodes of 30 Rock.

Dear Mother Nature,

2011-03-08T06:55:00.000-08:00

Regarding your antics last night, they are NOT appreciated. I just wanted to remind you that snow is for the winter months, consisting of December, January and February. In case you forgot to change your calender it is now March. If you could please send some sunshine, blue skies and possibly even some warmer temperatures in my direction it would bring me much joy and pleasure. I simply can't handle you toying with my emotions in that cruel way that only you can do.

Frozenly yours, (and slightly lamenting you)

Hal

Generally we have a mutual understanding,

2011-03-06T09:49:00.000-08:00

To me he is merely a creature to be tolerated. I refer to him only as "the cat." He keeps the mice away, so I put up with him. I avoid him, and he avoids me. I also have a firm "get that freakin cat out of my house RIGHT NOW!" policy.

However, I think this weekend we both miss HIM, and so we have temporarily called a truce. In case your wondering "the cat" is much better at catching mice then writing papers.

I've also decided that I'd much rather be the "ditcher" than the "ditched."I'm really begining to feel guilty for leaving for three weeks this summer.

The long and short of it

2011-02-27T17:17:00.000-08:00

Well, given my last post it is extremely ironic that I haven't posted anything in over three months. However in my defense I maintain that I am still suffering/ recovering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from last semester, seeing as the mere thought of having to write anything sends me in to a fit of hysterics. Hyperventilation and the automatic impulse to run up the stairs, hide in the closet, and rock back and forth in the fetal position.... ah memories... (perhaps i can get my hands on those hormones you have after childbirth that makes you forget all about the horrendous experience to want to have another screaming bundle of joy all over again)... but I digress.
I am happy to report that I am not typing this from inside the closet (Ebby was annoyed with the company) and that hopefully my therapeutic techniques will continue to work and I will be evermore present in the blogging world once again.

2010-11-22T17:08:00.000-08:00

Today I'm on the ball,

I Started & finished an assignment that was due at 8:30 am today,

finished one assignment (not due until Wednesday),

finished another assignment (not due until NEXT Monday),

finished part of another assignment (not due until 12/10),

Worked on two different group projects,

carried on four different conversations at the same time (thank you IM, email, text and phone),

done some pretty impressive BYU trash talking to my boss,

gone to class,

done some work (emphasis on some),

and updated my blog...

There are no guarantees for tomorrow, but today (and as the queen of procrastination) I'm pretty darn proud of myself.

Fantastic Finds and Firsts.

2010-11-15T07:22:00.000-08:00

1. Electronic thermostat. (welcome to the 21st century, yes, I know) there is nothing more that I hate than to come home to a dirty house.... except a COLD one. This little baby has the house warmed up to a toasty 71 degrees when I walk in the door at night.
2. Ktichenaid. I recently purchased one over the weekend... simply fabulous. (perhaps this will motivate me to actually cook, something I've not done a lot of recently)
3. Porcupine Pub & Grill. I've been dying to go there for some time now. Their ribs and chicken noodle soup are divine!
4. The long sleeved G. I can hear my sister making fun of me already, but as someone who is ALWAYS cold these little baby's work wonders. I highly recommend them.
5. Seat Warmers. My aunt recently went out of town and as the official house sitter/ dog watcher we got to borrow her Subaru Outback. There is nothing better than sliding into the car and getting warm from the bottom up.

Since hibernation is not an option (sadly) I am instead choosing to find joy in the warm things.

Black Island Farms

2010-10-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

Racing down the big slide

Aaron and Dal facing off on the "Corn Cannon"

The cutest pumpkin there

Aaron dared me to go down the slide face first

We had so much fun with the Hamblin family at Black Island Farms. I am grateful that they let us tag along and share in their fun. After playing on the slides and shooting each other with corn we took a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch where we each got to pick out or own pumpkin and cut if off the vine. We finished off the day with Cafe Rio and Oreos back and Sarah and Dals. It was a perfect ending to a great day.

This week I am going to...

2010-10-13T08:18:00.000-07:00

Take the dog for a walk

Sleep IN

Work in my yard

go to the ZOO with some of my favorite people

Cook

Clean

Play Volleyball

hopefully catch up with old friends

watch Utah beat Wyoming

go to the temple

have dinner with more of my favorite people

Sleep In some more

Bask in the beauty that is FALL

The taste of Freedom is DIVINE.

2010-09-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

Why is it harder to get out of bed when you've had a great nights sleep, than when you've had a crappy or even so so nights sleep?

Wright vs Wrong

2010-09-21T07:20:00.000-07:00

I have always liked math infinitely better than English. Give me a math assignment, great. no sweat. Give me a writing assignment and there will be weeping, wailing, and definitely gnashing of teeth. I've come to the following conclusions...

In MATH there is a definite wright (wha wha) and wrong. There is no in between, there is no grey area. You either get it or you don't. Math never changes.
WRITING on the other hand... urg where do I start... Writing IS very subjective. There is no right and wrong, there is no formula to memorize, there is WAY too much grey area, and there is WAY too much deviation from teacher to teacher. What is an A worthy paper in one class is quite possibly a D or C in another.

MATH: 2+2=4 every single time.

ENGLISH: 2+2=4 except after C then it = 5, but not always, and sometimes it could be 6 depending on which teacher you have.

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On another note, it really bites spending hours on a paper and having it thrown back in your face. Sometimes I feel like college is the equivalent to self flagellation. Why oh why do we do this to ourselves, and PAY for it!?

It seems strange to me,

2010-08-19T08:32:00.000-07:00

That the older you get the FASTER life goes by.
I remeber being a kid waiting for Christmas to get here, it seemed as though it would never come.
Now I find myself every year thinking "dang how did it get here so fast! I'm not ready!!"

-----------------------------------------

I love fall, I love everything about fall, and I'm ready.

Ready for brilliant leaves and

the smell of wet leaves

pumpkins, apples, squash and a cornicopia of other fresh vegetables.

Sweaters, jeans and cool air.

College football

Sigh... It's been a wonderfull summer, but I am ready for fall.

Ribs, Jack, and more ribs

2010-08-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

Aaron celebrated his 27th Birthday last Friday. We celebrated by eating... A LOT... ALL weekend. We kicked it off Thursday night when his parents took us out to Red Robin for dinner (their chocolate shakes are the best!), after dinner we went to my sisters house for our weekly Project Runway party where she presented him with a WHOLE cookie sheet of peanut butter bars!
    Friday we played hookey from work and left at 12:00 and headed over to Sugar House BBQ where we promptly stuffed ourselves full of yummy ribs, brisket, pulled pork and of course you can't forget those infamous potatoes. We then decided that we were much to full to move and that taking a cat nap at Liberty park to sleep off the food coma that was setting in sounded much more appealing. (It was a perfect day 82 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.)
   After the nap we of course decided we were in need of desert and bought blizzards and frozen yogurt at the Gateway while purchasing some much needed back to school clothes (sigh). We then proceeded to Usana to stake our claim on the lawn for the Jack Johnson concert (which was SO much fun. We even managed to view part of the meteor shower while listening to the music.) all the while munching on extremely over priced Kettle Korn and Icees.
   Saturday was my annual work picnic at Liberty park that is catered by Famous Dave BBQ, yup you guessed it more ribs and brisket however we did add chicken to our repertoire that night as well. We chased that down later that night with what else... more popcorn and of course more peanut butter bars.
   Sunday my parents invited us over to there house for dinner to celebrate with them where we had more yummy ribs (the boneless kind, my personal fav), tons of fruit salad, and the traditional birthday cake and ice cream.
It was a perfect way to celebrate Aaron's birthday cause if there is one thing the boy loves it's FOOD! We had a great time celebrating with our families and a great time being lazy together in Salt Lake, even if our clothes may be fitting a little tighter today.

2010-07-24T19:16:00.000-07:00

My one and only atempt at gardening this year. I think it turned out pretty well.
Perhaps next year I'll do two pots.

Scout!

2010-07-24T19:05:00.000-07:00

Aaron's "new" vintage 1972 Honda 175. This is identical to the
bike Aaron had while working on the farm.

Scout got his name while attempting to ride up Farmington canyon with 2 riders,
needless to say he didn't quite make it to the top. But we love'em anyway.

Kickin' it with Kyle...

2010-07-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

In June Aaron and I had the amazing oppertunity to help out with the Chad Lewis Celebrity Golf Tournament in order to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis research. It was fun to see all of the celebs but it was even better to be there to love and support our family in such a great cause.

Here's to you Matt and all the other fighters of CF.You never cease to amaze us!

P.S.You and Bo put on one heck of a golf tournament.

Kayaking at Causey....

2010-07-19T10:33:00.000-07:00

Summer Lovin, Had me a Blast...

2010-06-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

42 degree water

11 complete strangers

10 Hours in the car round trip

9 hours I waited to go potty at the gas station

8 hours of sleep total

4 Runs down the river (also the level of rapids we were hitting)

3 days of going non-stop

2 the number of times Aaron got thrown in the river

1 completely awesome time river rafting

0 the effectiveness of wet suits against freezing cold water!

I'm so excited, I just can't hide it.

2010-06-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

The summer was looking pretty dismal, summer school, No A/C, U2 concert canceled, and nothing remotely close to a trip or vacation in sight. I was feeling resigned to school and heat and already desperately needing a break from both. Until I found this lovely little gem...

University of Utah's Cooperative Adventure trips

I immediately called Aaron and we both promptly decided to "Just Do it." We will be running the Snake River in WY, and here is the best part. We don't have to plan a thing! They've already got the campsites, the gear, the guides, the food, and the transportation. All I have to do is pay them (which is a smoking deal because we are students &staff) and show up and get on the bus!

I'm soo excited it even brought back my desire to blog!

When it rains it pours,

2010-05-06T07:48:00.000-07:00

Right now it feels like monsoon season.

Have a great summer!

2010-04-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

Signing yearbooks

Excitement
Shorts, T-shirts, flip flops

Swimming

Vacations

Staying up late and sleeping in

Camping

Warm nights with sleep outs

Freedom

Popsicles

Watermelon

Laziness

S'mores

Lawn mowing

Drive in Movies

BBQ's

These are things that I used to think of on the last day of school when the teacher would say this to me. So excited and chomping at the bit for summer vacation to begin with so much to look forward too.
I had and instructor say this to me last night as I left class. It was not exciting, it was depressing. I found myself caught by surprise by her statement. It left me thinking about snow, the impending summer semester, and sad that even though the semester was over I still had to get up and go to work tomorrow. It left me wishing I could be a kid again.

Slow and steady FINiSHES the race.

2010-04-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

Aaron and I are training to run the Farmington Festival Days 5k race.

We figured we would give ourselves plenty of time to train.
And use the title as a family motto, running, school, church etc.I figure it is generally applicable, after all why rush into things?

My look must have said it all

2010-04-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

yesterday when a patient asked me for a phone book. She laughed at me. Looking back on it today I'm sure that I had a blank look on my face.

What in the WORLD lady do you need a phone book for? I have one word for you GOOGLE.

A generational gap perhaps?

Life and TiVo

2010-04-02T07:23:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be grand if we could pause the moments and times in our lives that we wish could last just a little longer? Like Christmas morning, or summer vacations, or even weekends.

It would be amazing if we could rewind an event, situation, or even conversation that wasn't perhaps our most shinning moment, and redo it.

It would be wonderful if we were simply able to fast forward through all the difficult times in life, a lame semester of school, hard economic times, illness, and any other times that if given the choice we would rather skip straight through.

Ahh that we all could come with our own TiVo remote. (I'm pretty sure that I would be in fast-forward mode today.)

Character is overrated anyway... Right?

You asked for it...

2010-03-24T08:13:00.000-07:00

I have had many people ask me for this recipe. It's one that I got from my boss and Aaron and I just love. My boss calls it Bean and Avacado salsa, but I like the name Cowboy Caviar better (a name I swiped from Jodi and Bo for a slightly similar recipe.) It is soo yummy!!

**There is one caveat however... If there is any family function or party to which the bringing of a side dish is required I've got dibs on this one.

1 can white corn, drained & rinsed
1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 chopped red onion (I put in half of this and add more if it needs it later)
3 tomatoes, chopped
1 jalapeno (I only use half because I don't like things too hot)
1 red pepper, chopped
2 tsp. garlic, minced
2 avocados, diced

Dressing:
1 T. salt
3/4 tsp. cumin
6 T. lime juice (I use fresh limes it takes about 3 to get enough)
2 T. oil
2 T. apple cider vinegar

Toss all salsa ingredients except the avocados, and set aside. Mix the dressing ingredients well. Pour over salsa and toss thoroughly. Finally, add the avocados. If you add the avocados too early they may mash excessively, thus looking more like guacamole. Serve with favorite tortilla chips.
**This recipe is better on day two... meaning it is better if it sits a while so the flavor blends.

P.S. You can use a food processor for everything except the tomatos and the avacados. It goes MUCH faster that way!

88 reasons why...

2010-03-12T10:37:00.000-08:00

88. I love her prayers

87. she's an example cause she has more morals than i do

86. She's a hiker

85. I love how intelligent she is

84. I love her even though when we wrestle she fakes being hurt in order to get the upper hand.

83. When she talks in her sleep. It's really cute.

82. I love it whn she wakes me up.

81. She makes outdoor/yard chores an activity, even if i whine.

80. During the summer she makes sure we always have pace bars.

79. She wrote me back, seven years ago.

78. How she smells, i know weird but i do.

77. In sports she can actually keep up on the plays better than i can at times.

76. She likes to play baskeball.... and she's good!

75. She helps me to see that i don't need to be someone else to be myself

74. Her laugh brightens any darkness

73. Her voice calms me down

72. How she supports my guitar.

71. the inside jokes we have. "what... SHUT UP"

70. I love it when she's a tease

69. How she's been there for me in very hard times in my life

68. How she lets me try to help her scrapbook, and when i do a page she somewhat hides the pain of my "creativity" and puts up with it.

67. Her scrapbooks

66. How patient she is with my schooling

65. I love how playful she is

64. I love kissing her

63. For waking me up at midnight on my birthday

62. I trust her

61. How much she loves the outdoors

60. How amazing she is in the primary

59. How grateful i am that she puts up with my cat

58.I love that she sings in the car

57. I love how she showed me how to be a U of U fan

56. I love that she wants to watch big sporting events, and the whole thing.

55. Everyone that walks into our house loves her creative thinking on the setup and colors.

54. snuggling during church.

53. When she puts up with my "creative" cooking creations

52. How she lets me win games

51. I love the fact that she is an athlete

50. I love how tall she is.

49. When she tickles my back to put me to sleep. It's like a tranquilizer.

48. How she encourages my fishing, even if i don't catch a thing.

47. when she falls asleep on me on a late night.

46. Sleeping in with her.

45. When she recommends something to read like a talk or something, and it turns into something i've been really needing

44. how long her hair is. I love it

43. How we're sucked into the same shows. GO JACK SHEPARD! i still love you Sayid... yes that's how you spell his name

42.she works so hard to make our life easier.

41.I love her testimony.

40 She wait for my classes to get over for a ride, that's a ton of patience

39. Carpooling with her

38. I'm so excited to have kids, especially that's she'd be their mom. No we're not expecting

37. She strives to make the house our home.

36. When people at work complain about their spouse, i just brag

35. Her eyes are simply extravagant

34. I love holding her hand.

33. holding her at night helps me forget everything that happened bad that day.

32. Her cooking is the best i've ever had

31. The little treats she buys even when i'm paying for it and don't even realize.

30. supports me in all my battles with my issues.

29. How patient she when i try to explain my thought process

28. How she keeps stealing my heart

27. How she puts up with my incredible amount of cheezy-ness

26. how she makes every holiday worth remembering

25. Reminding me that she's there for me even if i am stubborn

24. Remembers special occasions

23. Showing me my potential and it has become something eyond my wildest dreams

22. How she still dresses me pretty much.

21. Helps to laugh at myself in embarrassing moments

20. how self-sacrificing she is, except with spiders. She's throws me to the lions in those situations

19. How smart she is with money

18. Her individualality

17. How she humbles me when i'm prideful

16. She tolerates my toys, yes i'm 26 and still love going to toys R us

15. She without fail keeps on the laundry, if i do it i fail.

14. I find her incredibly intoxicating

13. For teaching me how to do a left handed lay-up

12. For always keeping the games inbetween us fun.

11. How we have to go somewhere new everytime we go out, even when i whine, i'm grateful she does it.

10 she goes the extra mile with kids.

9. When she taught me that mac & cheese, ramen, and ice cream isn't a good diet.

8. she has shown me the great joys found in porch sitting

7. She loves (most) animals as much as i do

6. You can't sway her from her goals in life

5. She loves the same shows as i do. Except on saturday mornings

4. She looks even better today than the day i married her.

3. She looks great in the morning. Seriously there's some folk that you think you're still dreaming of something wrong. But that's not the case waking up to Halley.

2. She's My prize

and the #1..... She was an answer to my prayers for months on end.

Now you all know some of the reasons why i love this amazing woman,
I love you babe. Can't wait to see you at the end of the day

I recieved the following email at work this morning...

2010-03-09T09:10:00.000-08:00

Dear tenants and visitors to the Williams Building,

Building management has recently noticed unusual wildlife activities around the Williams Building property. Specifically several mountain lions have been sighted in and around the parking deck. Building management is working with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources with regard to this activity however we want to make you aware of the following guidelines from Wildlife Resources should you encounter a mountain lion when entering or leaving the facility:

Do not panic. Most lions will try to avoid confrontation.
Raise your arms to make yourself appear as large as possible. Lions prefer smaller prey.
Slowly back away. Never run and never turn your back toward the cougar. Yell at the lion and wave your arms as you back away.
Do not make direct eye contact. Lions perceive eye contact as aggressive behavior.
If you are attacked, fight back. Try to prevent the lion from getting behind you.

If you do notice a mountain lion on property, please notify building security/life safety at 801-587-8725.
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Thanks,

......Um yeah I have a few concerns.... how 'bout getting EATEN!!

Thats why I married him...

2010-02-27T13:40:00.000-08:00

I Lost my wedding ring today

Instead of being mad he helped me look for it.
Instead of scolding me and telling me to be more careful he took me by the hand and prayed with me.
Instead of lecturing me he took apart the washer, put his hand down the disposal, and helped me tear the house apart.
When I started to cry and said I was a bad wife, he took me in his arms, told me he loved me and that he would aerate lawns all summer to get me a new one if he had too.
And when, after an hour and a half of desperatly searching, he found it sitting on my dresser, he laughed picked it up, put it on my naked finger and told me he loved me.

Aaron you are my constant example of unconditional love, patience and kindness. My I one day be as slow to anger, and quick to help and love as you.

What is worse that forgetting your ponytail holder at the gym?......

2010-02-23T07:40:00.000-08:00

      Forgetting your ponytail holder AND
     your headphones to your Ipod.

If you think about it...

2010-02-19T14:25:00.000-08:00

Please don't think me irreverant, However Heavenly Father in is infinite wisdom made February (the last true month of winter) with only 28 days, and that is something to shout for JOY about.

Erg

2010-02-10T12:40:00.000-08:00

I managed to blow the microwave up at work today... which is pretty indicative of my week.

Enough said.

My... How things have changed!

2010-01-20T07:44:00.000-08:00

We used to best friends, spending hours each week together.

We used to be so close and in sync with each other.

However life happens, schedules got busy and it became

harder and harder to make time for you.

After a year and a half last night was supposed to be our triumphant reunion.

I guess I am not the same person I used to be, I have somehow grown soft over the years. I could not keep up with you. This morning instead of being excited to see you again, I find myself looking for reasons to avoid you.

Perhaps with a little more time we will be able to rekindle

our relationship.

Intervention Needed!

2010-01-15T07:51:00.000-08:00

I am sad to say that Aaron and I have become LOST "Junkies!" We have recently acquired seasons 1-4 (thanks to a dear co-worker of mine) and we just cannot help ourselves. The dishes have begun to pile up and we have lost many hours of precious sleep to this addicting TV show. The bad thing about having the whole season on DVD is that when one episode ends the next is always there beckoning you to watch.

2010-01-14T12:21:00.001-08:00

On your mark, get set, GO!

2010-01-11T07:07:00.000-08:00

Deep breath, hold it,
Head down,
eyes squeezed tight
Fists clenched....

Today is the beginning of yet another semester in my college career, which admittedly is taking a lot longer that I had anticipated.

Sometimes I feel as though I am running the Kentucky Derby as I try to balance school, relationships, work, church, and regular day to day housework. I often times feel very overwhelmed, tired and out of breath. I have enjoyed it though, I have finally found a degree that "speaks" to me, and for the first time in my college career I feel like I have some direction and I am on a path that I will not only excel at but enjoy too. I am also excited because there is FINALLY an end on the horizon, not for a while mind you, but at least I know where I'm headed.

HOME for the Holidays

2009-12-29T12:56:00.000-08:00

Sleeping, LOST, family
food, shopping, sleeping
snuggling, movies, cookies
Home, sleeping, games

It has been a blissful holiday season, these are a few things that describe how we have spent our time off. If we haven't seen you these past few weeks it is nothing personal we have just thoroughly enjoyed actually being HOME and together.

Seasonal Pet Peeve...

2009-12-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

I don't know why it is bothering me this year, it has never bothered me in years past. This year for some reason it seems as though every time I decide to listen to Christmas music on the radio it is ALWAYS Neil Diamond singing.

Why does this bother me you ask... well because I love Christmas music because of the spirit and feeling that it brings, and it REALLY bothers me to hear someone who doesn't even believe in Christ or celebrate Christmas belting out "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."

Have a little pride and dignity for your convictions man! There are plenty of other Christmas songs that you could sing i.e. Jingle bells, Silver Bells, Frosty the Snow Man, Heck Adam Sandler even wrote is own song, or there is always the Dreydl song.

So to the Neil Diamonds out there I say "have a little respect!"

(Please note, that I am in no way trying to be derogatory to any religion out there.)

Best Primary Program Ever!!

2009-11-24T07:44:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday was our wards primary program, and I have to say that it was one of the best programs I've seen.

I thoroughly enjoyed WatChiNG it from the congregation for the first time in 4 years. Perhaps nursery has it's perks after all! :)

just a picture post

2009-10-30T15:34:00.001-07:00

Vegas Trip:

this is from the belagio

this is the pool at the Golden Nugget

And our trees decided to give us a little welcome home gift of having to rake leaves.

Sorry Kids...

2009-10-21T07:03:00.001-07:00

I know that I haven't posted in a while, I guess it goes with the whole good, better and best theory. While posting is good unfortunately it loses out to school and work. My schedule these days consists of the following...

5:00 am wake up and get ready
5:30 am Leave for work
6:00-11:30 am Work
11:30-12:30 pm class
12:30-5:00pm More work
6:00-9:00 pm class

Sleeping and actually sitting down to eat (other than the car) have become luxuries these days. My spare time is spent studying, and trying to spend quality time (since obviously quantity time is out) with my sweet husband. "Livin for the weekend" has taken on a whole new meaning in our house.

I feel grateful for the opportunity that I have to complete my degree and the desire to do so, and I also feel very blessed, as I'm sure we all do these days, that Aaron and I have been blessed with good jobs, and an employer that is economically sound.

I guess I just forgot how busy life gets sometimes.

It's happening...

2009-09-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

The leaves are changing and fall is coming. To me THIS is the most wonderful time of the year!! Pumpkins, the crisp air, hoodies and sweaters, apple juice, bright brilliant colors, the smell in the air, and lots and lots of leaves. Ahh sweet bliss.

Jam

2009-09-13T10:27:00.000-07:00

As I sat eating pancakes covered in homemade strawberry freezer jam a smile spread over my face as I remembered making the jam.

I came home from work not to long ago to find some of my most favorite people sitting in my kitchen laughing and up to there elbows in the strawberry goo that would become our Jam. It was my first jam making experience and I so enjoyed learning from the women who have impacted my life so much already.

I knew that that it would be that last time that we would all be together for a while and that made it all the more special.

Grandma, Mom, Kate, and Shel I will always think of you with fond memories every time I have strawberry Jam.

Homework

2009-09-08T20:11:00.001-07:00

"The behavior change project"

Pick one behavior you would like to change.
Journal about predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors that are influencing you and what behavior change techniques you used 3x a week for 4 months.
Write a final paper on you findings, successes, and failures

The problem...

As you can probably tell from the sporadic blogging I am NOT good at keeping a journal! (perhaps I should make THAT the behavior change)
I have to pick just ONE behavior to change. Sadly there are so many!!
Do I go for the easy route (ie food, exercise, journaling) or do I go the hard route and pick something that I would really struggle with but most likely REALLY benefit from in the end?

What would YOU choose?

Hmmm...

2009-08-24T07:07:00.000-07:00

Some how the first day of school isn't nearly as exciting as it was when you were little...

Perhaps it is the lack of new pencil box....

Picture Post

2009-08-02T09:38:00.000-07:00

We got this slick new computer that is really fast, and I thought that I would take some time to post pictures from a few trips that we have take this year that I didn't have the patience (or the USB cable) to do before...

MOAB

The whole Family at Dead Horse Point state park.

Mom and Livi "sharing" lunch at the park where we also revived a game called "Five Step" that my dad made up. (patent pending:)

Li
Livi enjoying herself at the park

This is Aaron and I underneath one of the arches we hiked to.

Moab is truly a beautiful place, and I'm so glad that we got to go back as a family again.

A Rude Awakening

2009-07-31T16:56:00.000-07:00

The night before last at about 12:30 AM we awoke to the blaring of all four of our smoke/ CO2 detectors. And by awoke I mean I laid in bed listening to them groggily trying to process just what exactly was going on and sniffing for smoke for the first 5 min or so.

Eventually I came to my senses and got up. By that time Aaron had already gotten up and was trying to disable the alarm. I called out to him asking if there was smoke, still not quite sure just what exactly was going on. (I am not a morning person let alone a jarred from your deep sleep wake up and be halfway coherent person.)

It was determined that there was indeed no smoke neither outside nor in, but every time we put the smoke detector back on it went off, so we naturally left it off and went back to bed.

While lying in bed it occurred to me that the detector that kept going off also happened to be a CO2 detector as well, and that that just might be the problem. After all CO2 does make you very sleepy and I was in fact VERY sleepy.

A call was made to the dispatcher and then to the fire department. We were told to take the dog and get out of the house. It's about 1:00 AM at this point. I really didn't feel like there was anything wrong and that the detector was just malfunctioning but I didn't want to wake up dead the next morning and thought better safe than sorry.

I had hoped that they would just bring one of the small pickup trucks that they have at the fire station all of the half block that they had to travel to our house. Oh no, no such luck. They turned down our street with a full sized fire engine and lights blazing (did I mention that there are no street lights on our street. So much for not making a scene). Then they pulled out the medical gear and tested our blood CO2 levels which were of course at 0. They checked all the rooms, the dryer, furnace and water heater all of which were within normal ranges.

All of the firemen were very kind and told us that we did the right thing by calling, even it was just the smoke detectors that malfunctioned.

I think back on it now and I'm so glad that nothing serious happened because we probably would have been dead before we could even figure out what was going on and get out of bed! I'm also glad to know that our smoke detectors all work and that we wired them correctly. Even if they are just a little sensitive!

There's nothing worse...

2009-07-29T12:09:00.000-07:00

Than being stuck at work bored, when you have a thousand things at home that need to get done!

It was one of those mornings...

2009-07-28T07:23:00.000-07:00

where you are just so cozily snuggled into your bed, and the cool morning air was blowing in through the window and all the world is quiet and peaceful. You hit the snooze button on the alarm about five times without even realizing it's gone off. All the while trying to calculate in your sleep drunken state just exactly how many hours of "sick time" you actually have...

And now you're at work blogging and day dreaming about you're cozy bed, and remembering how irritated you were as you watched the dog jump up and plop down enjoying your coveted spot as you were on you way out the door.

Better off Ted

2009-07-23T07:12:00.001-07:00

If you aren't watching and or "TiVo-ing" this show you should! This is most likely one of my favorite shows on TV. Yes that's right, better than the Office, and probably tied for 1st with 30 Rock. It is so witty and so quick that I could watch the same episode 30 times and find a little tid bit of humor that I didn't catch the previous 29 times. (Or maybe I'm just that slow, but I don't like to think so :)

One episode and you'll be hooked! Check it out! It's on Tuesday nights on channel 4.

Farmington, A Great Place to Live

2009-07-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

According to CNNMoney.com they did a survey of the top 100 small towns to live in the USA and guess which one was ranked #14 on the list!!! That's right folks, good old Farmington UT.

Also on the list was Draper at #22, Bountiful at #71, and lastly for all you Happy Valley people out there, Lindon at #74.

Check it out at...
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2009/top100/index3.html

It's HOT!

2009-07-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

And I CAN'T sleep!!!!

My Best Friend

2009-05-15T12:36:00.000-07:00

I've sat here at my computer for some time now trying to figure out how to eloquently convey how much I love you, as other's do on their blogs. However I have never have been very good at being able to express what I feel in writing. So it simply comes to this...

You are truly my best friend. My complete opposite and I love you the more for it. You keep me in balance. You are a constant example of selflessness, service and kindness towards others. You love me despite of all my flaws.

I love snuggling up with you to watch "our" TV shows together, and I love that you take Ebby and me for walks when you come home, even though I know how tired you are.

I love you, Thanks for three wonderful years!

Stupid Birds

2009-04-18T09:58:00.001-07:00

Aaron and I were watching a movie together last night when all of a sudden we heard a loud THUD coming from the kitchen. We both looked at each other... "NO way!" I said. "The curtains are even closed!" Aaron quickly ran to the kitchen window threw back the curtains and peered out to find two dead birds laying in the dirt right in front of the window.

When I first discovered this little problem a while back and there were no blinds I felt bad, and told myself that it was my fault, and these poor unsuspecting birds couldn't possibly know any better. However now they have stooped to an all new low. I don't feel bad for them. I've done my part!! What more could I possibly do!!

And I really don't appreciate walking out my front door to find dead birds at my feet, and feather remnants on my windows!!! YUCK

TAG

2009-04-17T15:25:00.000-07:00

What are your middle names? Aaron Thomas and Halley Christine

How long have you been together? Married for 3 years in May Know each other for 6 years

How long did you know each other before you started dating? 2 years

Who asked who out? Aaron I guess since he asked for my address

How old are each of you? Aaron 25, Halley 23

Whose siblings do/ did you see the most? Aaron's sister is in our ward, but I think we see mine the most still.

Do you have any children together? Not unless you count the dog

What about pets? One dog that thinks she's human

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? Remodeling our house

Did you go to the same school? Nope Aaron went to Preston High and I went to Layton

Are you from the same home town? Nope see above answer
i don't have a home town

Who is smarter? Halley
of course the person that's writes this thinks that

Who is more sensitive? Aaron

Where do you eat out most as a couple? We like Red Robin alot, we've been trying to eat at alot of different places lately. Papa Murphy's is also a great place in a pinch!

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? Mexico

Who has the craziest exes? Not sure on that one to tell the truth.
i do by far

Who has the worst temper? Halley

Who does the cooking? Halley

Who is more social? Aaron

Who is the neat-freak? Halley, Aaron had never seen the inside of a dishwasher when we got married. :) completely and utterly false, i had seen the inside of a dishwasher twice before our marriage

Who is more stubborn? Halley

Who hogs the bed? Halley... (I'm really revealing alot here with all these questions!)

Who wakes up earlier? Halley I always want to sleep in on the weekdays when I have to work, but for some reason when ever Saturday rolls around I can't sleep and I'm up early.
Yes she gets so up early even though i'm up before her everyday, and you know it sweetheart

Where was your first date? To the park to play games

Who has the bigger family? Aaron there are six children in there family, all have lots of kids except us.
and now 26 nieces and nephews

Do you get flowers often? I used to...
right, since our last date we went and bought flowers

How do you spend the holidays? With family

Who is more jealous? Aaron, he used to get mad when we first started dating when my friends that were guys would call, or text.

How long did it take to get serious? Little over two years

Who eats more? Aaron by far!!!

Who does/ did the laundry? Halley

Who’s better with the computer? Aaron

Who drives when you are together? Aaron

I TAG Kali, Jenny, Sarah, and Jodi!!

Six Years

2009-04-10T11:49:00.000-07:00

I've been dying to see this for six VERY long years, ever since I was in high school and all my friends were doing the New York tours. They would all come home and tell me how fabulous it was, and I was always green with envy. (Pun intended :)

Thanks to a very loving husband my wait came to an end last night! Yes that's right ladies and gentlemen, I can now claim the bragging rights, and how was it you ask??...

It was wonderful, fabulous, breath taking, and even goose bump giving at times. I LOVED it!The whole night was wonderful and Aaron made me feel like an absolute princess. Thanks so much for the tickets babe, and for a wonderful evening!

An Act of Desperation

2009-03-31T20:22:00.000-07:00

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Tonight when we got home from work I convinced Aaron that it would "be fun" to put together the grill Sarah and Dal got us for Christmas.

I have been dying to try out the grill, and when planning meals for the week, before I went shopping last week, planned several that would include the use of said grill. However I didn't bother to look at the weather forecast, and I'm sure you are all as painfully aware as I am (now) that the weather has not been all that conducive for my BBQing purposes.

The equation in my mind goes something like this,
BBQ= Sun, Sun- cold-snow-mud+warm temperatures= happy Halley.
It was sort of the whole "Field of Dreams" approach, you know "if you build it they will come." "If you BBQ it will be warm." Still, I'm not quite sure where I went wrong...

Well I was going to post some pictures of tonight's festivities, however I went to turn the camera on only to find the batteries had died, and of course everything we own happens to operate on AAA's instead of AA's, which I swear changes every time I need batteries!!!

Urg! oh well perhaps if I'm feeling inclined tomorrow I'll go get some... I wouldn't hold my breath though.

And So It Has Begun

2009-03-27T07:18:00.000-07:00

Orange,
Tears of frustration,
Sweltering heat,
Orange,
Slowing to a stifling agonizing crawl,
Irritation, dehydration, desperation setting in,
More orange,
How I hate those orange barrels!!

Yes ladies and gentlemen, road construction in I15 north bound has once again commenced!
BLAST!!!!

Winner Winner

2009-03-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

Today was a first for Aaron and me. As we were driving to work together this morning we were listening to our favorite radio morning show on X96, when they asked the trivia question.

"What was Bella covered in when she woke up the first morning on their Honeymoon?"

So I blurted out the answer as any true twilight reader would. Aaron had this incredulous look on his face, as if to say "those books are SOO lame." I then said jokingly that he should call in, long story short, he did and we WON!!

I'm still not all that sure what exactly we won, but we were both pretty stoked just that we won.

I also got a good chuckle out of the fact that he was the one that called in and gave the answer, now everyone who listens to that particular morning show thinks he reads those "lame books!"

Spring

2009-03-13T09:06:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love the spring. I love everything about it, when all the world wakes up and comes to life again after the long cold winter.

I love the smell of the grass, and the smell of the earth after a long rain storm. I love all of the things that springs brings back. Warmth, baseball, flowers, birds, neighbors and kids outside working and playing in their yards. Everything is so vibrant and so fresh.

Spring to me is like God's way of saying "one more time."

The Dog Door

2009-02-27T07:19:00.000-08:00

May I just take a moment and bear you all my testimony of the the DOG door. In my humble opinion it is the best inVentiOn since sliced bread!! They are fabulous, and wonderful! Your dog can come and go as it pleases, you can be gone for any lenGth of time and not worry about getting home to let dear ol' FiDdo out. You also don't have to feel bad about working all day and leaving the pooch locked in the house (as in our case). Sadly for the past few weeks we have been WithoUt one, and it has been a very long four weeks for all thRee of us, with alot of int erupted sleep.

So yesterday I took matters into my own hands, and did what I do best... that's right... I picked up the phone and called the contractor. The door was installed last night, and thrEe of us had a fabulous nigHt sleep!!

Back in the "Hood"

2009-02-20T06:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday when I got home from work it was such a beautiful day out that I decided to take the dog on a walk. This was quite the feat for me because those of you who know me well, know that I do not voluntarily spend time out in the cold, due to the fact that I hate it. (cold is anything below 60 degrees!) However I bundled up with my warmest down jacket and grabbed the leash and on our way we went.

In my brief time away from Farmington, I had forgotten how beautiful it is, and how much I absolutely love living here. The tall trees that line all the streets, the quiet peacefulness of down town, living within walking distance to Farmington pond and Farmington canyon. I had forgotten how nice it is to have and to be a neighbor to someone.

I love all of the unique houses that line the streets, none of them are the same, they have so much character, and each has its own story to tell. I've been on dozens of walks all over Farmington in the time that we have lived there and each time I see something new that I hadn't noticed before.

I'm so glad to be back in the "hood" again, and I'm so glad that we made the decision to stay in Farmington!

A Blog Slacker

2009-02-18T11:19:00.000-08:00

It's true, I admit it, I am a blog slacker. Part of the reason is that we've moved into our house now! Hurray!! and as such is took us a while to get the Internet up and running again. (We do have our priorities you know. First TiVO THEN the Internet :) Yes both Aaron and I had a whole week of vacation off last week, but we were both just plain lazy, and we absolutely LOVED it!! After all the late nights (Aaron was up until 2:00 am the week before we moved, pouring concrete) and the last min. push to get into our house, we both really needed a week of lazy and let me just tell you it was GLORIOUS!

Now that life is somewhat sane again, I'll be better, I promise. I'll even post pictures.

One Amazing Lady

2009-01-24T20:25:00.000-08:00

My Grandma Cowen has written a book about the lives of each of her children, and several, I think, about her own life. For ages now she has said that she wouldn't let anyone read them until after she had died, for what reason I'm not entirely sure, but I have always been most fascinated as to just what exactly was in those books. So when I learned that she had recently had one printed and bound of her own life story, I immediately wanted to read it.

And reading it I am! It is such a fascinating story, I had know idea the amount of things that she went through, and did. Don't get me wrong I've always thought that my Grandmother was pretty awesome, but that was mostly for her good cooking, willingness to come shopping the day after thanksgiving with us, getting us all to help out and make humanitarian kits once a month, coming to all of our games, birthdays, school plays and countless other things that she has always been there to support us in.

Reading her life story gave me so much more insight, and helped me get to know not only her, but also her parents, sister, and my grandpa on a more personal level. I found my self relating a lot to her and thinking how cool it was that we liked and disliked some of the very same things.

I literally laughed, cried, and found myself unable to put it down. Reading her stories just amazed me, and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to get to know her in all of these other roles in her life, and not just as Grandma. She is a wonderful lady, and I hope I can be more like.

The Home Stretch!!

2008-12-30T09:57:00.000-08:00

The painting is done, the lights have been hung, the wood and tile floors are in, the heat is on, however there is still nobody home.

That's right kids, we are almost there!! After almost a year of plans, tears, prayers, lots and lots of help form everyone, and sheer determination we are almost to the finish line. Without a doubt we have most definitely poured our heart and soul into this. (as well as vacation time, sick leave, pay checks, sanity and sleep just to name a few :)

Lessons learned; Dreams can come true, the Lord does and will bless you in all things wether you recognize it at the time or not, and Patience is a virtue I still am struggling to attain!!

Remodel Update

2008-12-03T19:18:00.000-08:00

Here's another update folks, The stucco's on the roof, drywall's up, and we're on our way.

Rise and Shout the Cougars are Out...

2008-11-24T07:44:00.000-08:00

Out of the picture that is!! Oh what a great day to be a UTAH fan!!! Thanks to my fabulous uncle and a few last min tickets, Aaron and I were able to join the masses at the Utah V BYU game and bask in the glory of five interceptions and a fumble leading us on our way to slaughtering BYU, conference title and a BCS bowl game!! We had great tickets and an even better time. Thank you a million uncle Keith for the tickets, and to all you "cougar" fans out there, better luck next year!! GO UTES!!!!!

It's been a Wire...

2008-11-20T11:03:00.000-08:00

I know what its been a while since our last post. Since construction on our house began I've been meeting myself, and Aaron coming and going. It feels like all we do is sleep, go to work, go from work to work on the house, come home between 9 and 10pm. Stuff food in our mouths quickly and then go to bed so we can wake up the next morning and do it all over again.

Oh sure it started out all exciting and everything was happening so fast, the framing went up in a week the plumbing was done in two days, and even the HVAC guys had their part done in record breaking time.... and then came the wiring... or in other words the sweat equity portion, you know, the portion that the home owners do because they're too cheap to pay someone else to do a job that they feel could be done just as well by themselves.

Let me just say these two words... NEVER AGAIN. Don't do it! Just fork out the money and pay a professional to do the job. (there's a reason they call them that apparently...) Here is my top 3 reasons why you would NOT wire your own house.

1. It is not a learned skill you will ever use again, and I mean EVER. (Trust me by the time your done you will never want to see another wire, hammer, staple, or drill again)
2. By the time you buy all the supplies, new tools you'll need to complete the job, use the gas to run the the nearest Home Depot at least 15 times, and then purchase more supplies to fix the things you screwed up you really don't end up saving that much money.
3. It takes at least triple the amount of time to do it yourself, and it is absolutely not worth the amount of blood, sweat, tears, arguing, and frustration that goes into it.

So here's to you Aaron for all of your patience, kindness, hard work, and willingness to help me wire in the freezing cold and the dark.

And to all of you out there who are as stubborn and cheap as we are, if you ever take on such a task, you know where to find every drill bit known to man and a really good first aid kit!!

Remodel Update

2008-10-27T19:53:00.000-07:00

Well folks here it is! Yup the second story is up and running.

It looks amazing thanks to our friends and family that have helped us get this far

This is the main level. Instead of a crammed living, kitchen, bath, laundry and bedroom, we only have a living room and kitchen on the main floor. This photo is the entrance.

Overwhelmed...

2008-10-13T12:22:00.000-07:00

So, I have been feeling incredibly overwhelmed as of late. Aaron has taken and started and new job, life at work has been incredibly demanding, and we had to completely demolish all of the interior walls and roof of our house by Sunday to have it ready for the framers to come today.

While knocking down walls of a house that has been somewhat of a horror since we bought it is deeply gratifying and very therapeutic it has a tendency to lose its thrill in about ten min. ( which is approximately the amount of time it takes for your arm to decide it doesn't like swinging a sledge hammer over and over.) Needless to say we were in WAY over our heads (more than just being covered with insulation) with this demo thing.

But the past few days I have mostly been overwhelmed with a very deep and profound gratitude to those of you who have shown us such an out pouring of love, support, and sheer man/ woman power. Gratitude to those of you who gave up your weekend and braved the cold, the dark, the snow and rain, the itchy insulation and all the dust to help. Gratitude to neighbors who let us borrow their power because we had none, to those who called the city planning commission in our behalf, and for putting up with our "mess."(however I think that you would all agree that disaster is a more appropriate description.) And gratitude for your spouses who I sure sacrificed their weekend plans as well.

I don't think I can possibly describe, how grateful we are to all of you. So I will leave you with this. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts, you were truly and answer to our prayers.

2008-10-02T10:30:00.001-07:00

Picture perfect

2008-08-19T20:26:00.000-07:00

Now i've seen many different blogs and i've felt like ours is seriously lacking on the photo side. So here we go!

This is a photo of friend from the past and the present. On my left is my friend Doug Argyle from first grade. We lost contact during high school but tracked each other down a few years back. The friend on my right is Dan Soderburg. He's a best friend from my mission.

This is Ebby and i on a hike up Adams canyon.

This is another great shot while inEnsenada, Mexico.

Birthday-Boy Blog

2008-08-13T20:28:00.000-07:00

We all can see how often i participate in this blog page. Well i figured it's my birthday i need to pimp my day today. 25 years ago at 10:38 pm that cute bundle joy was born in Twin Falls.
Now most of you that already know me, know that i'm a child at heart. However, this birthday was the first time that i felt age catch up with me. This morning i woke up to my presents from Halley and one in particular put me in a whole new age bracket. This present was a brand new IPOD nano, now how cool is that? I love it, however the moment i connected it to the laptop i realized.... i have no idea what to do now. All the many years of knowing what to do was just flushed down the youth toilet. I had to call my little brother-in-law to figure the dumb thing out and he's 15.
Thanks for the calls and great birthday wishes. Especially to my gorgeous wife who made this day one of the best birthdays i could ever ask for. I'm saying that now cause i know she's going to see what i wrote after i'm done.

---AARON

No other choice

2008-08-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

Due to the recent lack of blogging by those of you who's blogs I am a frequent visitor of, alas you leave me no other choice but to update my own blog, which is not nearly as fun or as interesting to me as reading others. So here's what going on in our lives this week... or as I so affectionately refer to it as "The Mad Dash."

Friday 8/1 our lender called us and informed us that we would be closing on our loan on the 15th of this month. Five min. after that the contractor called and said that the framers would be there on the 20th of this month. We were ecstatic with this news of coarse for approximately five min. and the reality set in and we realized that this gave us exactly two weeks to do the following
#1. (and probably the most important) Find and alternative place to live while our house is torn apart for the next 3-5 months.
#2. Find a storage shed for all of our stuff
#3. Pack up all of our stuff and sort out what bare essentials we can take, and what needs to go into storage
#4. Move all of our stuff to two different locations!
#5. Demo ALL of the interior walls, and everything in the bathroom and kitchen, and rip out all of the flooring

All the while trying to close on a loan, keep tabs on your contractor (who sadly is now in possession on the #1 speed dial spot on my phone), and trying to decide all of the almost mind numbing details that going to building a house.

However I must give a huge THANK YOU to my Mom and Dad for helping us out with problem #1 and saving us from having to pitch a tent in our own backyard. So thank you, thank you, thank you for taking us in!!!

Olivia Hamblin

2008-07-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

This is the newest additition to the Jones side of the family. Okay she been in our family for a little over four months now, but hey I just barely started this blog.

My sister Sarah and her husband Dallas brought Oliva home from the hospital in March and we haven't been able to get enough of her since!

She's the first grandchild on both sides of the family so needless to say we spoil her like crazy!

So once again, congrats Sarah and Dal! We love you guys and are so happy to have her in the family. (and yes I did swipe these pitcures off your blog :)

House Hell

2008-07-19T22:57:00.000-07:00

As many of you may know we are currently under going, or at least trying to start under going, a remodeling project on our oh so small house. You also may know that this has taken far longer than anticipated!! And apparantly converting a very old house in to a new and improved, much bigger house is a very daunting task.

I'm not much of a talker and more of a doer, and if I have to go over one more floor plan, I think that I'll scream! "Alright already!! Bring on the demolition!"