12.20.2010
it's beginning to look alot like thanksgiving, christmas and everything in between...
We've been enjoying our first official holiday season as a married couple. Thanksgiving was filled with lots of food and family! The day before Thanksgiving I had work off, so I baked pies (admittedly, a first) for both Thanksgiving dinners. Thanksgiving morning we slept in and then headed over to Don's parent's house where we ate yummy antipasta (who knew that stuffed olives and anchovies were so good?) and all of the traditional Thanksgiving food. We had a few hours to digest and then headed over to my family's house for round 2. It was a fun day spent with lots of food and lots of family. Sadly, we only have pictures of the Thanksgiving at the Willies because....our camera was run over by a car. (We apparently are hard on cameras...seeing that our other camera drown in the ocean on our honeymoon).
The next morning we woke up bright and early (3:45 am to be exact) and headed with my siblings and a few friends to shop. Oh, Black Friday, how we love it! Don was a trooper and stood in line *alone-and-in-the-cold* at Best Buy to get our purchases (a camera to replace the one that drown and was smashed by a car). The rest of us ventured to Target. We always go a little later than the early birds, so when we got to Target nearly everyone was in line and we basically had the store to ourselves! Not too bad. They even had the 16 mile check out line going pretty fast. Best of all, we got all of our Christmas shopping that morning.
The rest of November was filled with studying, studying and more studying. Don took the LSat on December 11th. He is feeling good about how it went and will get his scores back in the next couple of weeks. He'll begin applying to law schools in the next few weeks. We celebrated by going to lunch and then he came home and hit the books to study for his 5 finals the next week. I also sent my graduate school application off to the U.
We've had fun decorating our cute little apartment for Christmas, seeing the Rockettes, going to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert and making/eating some yummy treats. Now enjoying some much needed r&r after a crazy four weeks!!
Happy holidays to all!!!
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| The turkey! |
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| Thanksgiving at the Willies |
The next morning we woke up bright and early (3:45 am to be exact) and headed with my siblings and a few friends to shop. Oh, Black Friday, how we love it! Don was a trooper and stood in line *alone-and-in-the-cold* at Best Buy to get our purchases (a camera to replace the one that drown and was smashed by a car). The rest of us ventured to Target. We always go a little later than the early birds, so when we got to Target nearly everyone was in line and we basically had the store to ourselves! Not too bad. They even had the 16 mile check out line going pretty fast. Best of all, we got all of our Christmas shopping that morning.
The rest of November was filled with studying, studying and more studying. Don took the LSat on December 11th. He is feeling good about how it went and will get his scores back in the next couple of weeks. He'll begin applying to law schools in the next few weeks. We celebrated by going to lunch and then he came home and hit the books to study for his 5 finals the next week. I also sent my graduate school application off to the U.
We've had fun decorating our cute little apartment for Christmas, seeing the Rockettes, going to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert and making/eating some yummy treats. Now enjoying some much needed r&r after a crazy four weeks!!
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| Our first Christmas tree. |
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| Rockettes |
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| Before we headed out to see the Rockettes |
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| Decorating gingerbread cookies |
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| Lauren's fancy gingerbread woman! |
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| Sprinkle attack! |
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| Caramel popcorn for my co-workers |
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| Stage for Christmas concert |
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| My sisters at the Christmas concert |
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| Spencer, Kenard and my mom and dad at Christmas concert. |
11.19.2010
Fallen off the planet? Maybe.
Well, it has been a while. We had a busy and fun end of October complete with...
- going to the pumpkin patch with our good friends, the Swinks and the Stephens.
- Carving our pumpkins together later and having quite the festive apartment. (I even carved one for my classroom with an apple in it (only appropriate)).
- A fun classroom Halloween parade and party with some great help from parents!
- Purchasing a new kitchen table for our apartment that we had our eyes on for nearly a year!! (We even got it 60% off...how could we have passed that up? False. We could not.)
- Hosting a little impromptu election night party.
- Studying HARD for the Lsat (well, Don is) that is coming in THREE WEEKS.
- Applying for Grad school for next fall (me).
- Figuring out future life.
- Counting down the days to Thanksgiving--such a wonderful holiday.
- And of course, counting our many, many blessings.
10.27.2010
Impact Day
Last week, Don and I birthed a baby named Impact Day. For the last four months, Don has eat, sleeped and drank Impact Day. Now, you may ask, "what is Impact Day?" Impact Day is when candidates running for local, state and national races (from Utah) come to the U and give students an opportunity to meet them. There were about 80 candidates (a record) and thousands of students that came through! Don did a wonderful job planning and pulling off such a huge event--who wouldn't be impressed with 80 candidates coming? It was a great success, and most of all, we are glad it's over.
P.S. Don't forget to VOTE on Tuesday!!!
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| Picture courtesy Deseret News |
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| Nick, Emi and Don...Government Relations Board at the U |
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| I took work off to come and help! |
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| Ad for the event--they also had smaller signs and lawn signs around campus. Go Utes! |
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| Beginning of day when candidates and students are starting to arrive |
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| Introducing candidates to speak. Look how cute. |
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| Future politician? Maybe. |
10.20.2010
Where in the world...
....will we live next time this year? This last weekend the heavens aligned and UEA (which equals 2 days off of work for teachers in Utah) and Fall Break for the U ended up on the same week. Marvelous. Simply marvelous. With law school application deadlines nearing, we decided to take a quick trip to Colorado to visit their two law schools--Denver University and University of Colorado at Boulder. One of my co-workers recommended that we drive through Laramie...claiming it would be a beautiful drive. False. Sorry, Wyoming, you are not beautiful. But, we did see some of the wind energy things....(that makes me sound like an eco idiot, sorry). Which was neat. (We did drive home the other way, through Colorado and up through Price and Provo, which was GORGEOUS because of all of the fall leaves...well worth the extra 30 minutes).
Our first stop was Denver University. Oh, my. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful campus. It's located about 10 minutes from downtown Denver. The law building and education building are brand new...beautiful! (A huge difference from the crumbling Milton Bennion Hall that I spent my undergrad years in at the U). We were really impressed with our respective departments, but most importantly Don loved their law program. They have some really great programs in place.
Later that day we went downtown and explored a little bit, which was alot of fun. They have some neat museums, an outdoor pedestrian mall and a beautiful capitol building. We of course also perused the surrounding neighborhoods, of which we thoroughly enjoyed. Every neighborhood has a park with little restaurants and shops tucked in--very fun.
Our next school stop was University of Colorado at Boulder. I have never seen such a HUGE campus. It too was beautiful and sits right against the mountains. We spent the afternoon driving around Denver and found a yummy falafel restaurant. Yum.
We absolutely loved Colorado. Add it to the list of places we want to go to law school!
Our first stop was Denver University. Oh, my. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful campus. It's located about 10 minutes from downtown Denver. The law building and education building are brand new...beautiful! (A huge difference from the crumbling Milton Bennion Hall that I spent my undergrad years in at the U). We were really impressed with our respective departments, but most importantly Don loved their law program. They have some really great programs in place.
Later that day we went downtown and explored a little bit, which was alot of fun. They have some neat museums, an outdoor pedestrian mall and a beautiful capitol building. We of course also perused the surrounding neighborhoods, of which we thoroughly enjoyed. Every neighborhood has a park with little restaurants and shops tucked in--very fun.
Our next school stop was University of Colorado at Boulder. I have never seen such a HUGE campus. It too was beautiful and sits right against the mountains. We spent the afternoon driving around Denver and found a yummy falafel restaurant. Yum.
We absolutely loved Colorado. Add it to the list of places we want to go to law school!
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| Downtown Denver |
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| US Mint |
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| Capitol Building |
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| Capitol building...does it look vaguely familiar? |
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| Downtown little plaza area |
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| Art Museum |
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| Pearl Street Mall in Boulder |
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| We made it to the Denver Temple (don't mind the van parked out front) |
Tis the season...for elections!
It has been a crazy few weeks in our house! Don is studying hard for the LSAT in addition to studying hard for school and working hard for the Government Relations board at the U (whew, busy boy!). I am not sure how he manages to keep up with it all. He often will stay up hours after I have zonked out at night studying and working on things, just to wake up with me early in the morning and start the day all over. What an amazing guy.
A few weeks ago the "Fire Pelosi" bus came to Salt Lake. The RNC (where Don interned this summer) has a big campaign going called Fire Pelosi in conjunction with the upcoming elections! To end the campaign, there is a bus. Yes, an actual bus that has huge letters on it making its way around the country. Being the politicaljunkies advocates and fans that we are, we of course had to see this bus. (An aside, anyone who came and visited us this summer whilst we were in DC, knows I was not the biggest fan of this slogan, but I am warming up to it more. Plus to see it in bus form is kind of interestingly funny.) Along with the bus coming, there were several candidates that spoke. Ahh yes, we love a good political rally!
A few weeks ago the "Fire Pelosi" bus came to Salt Lake. The RNC (where Don interned this summer) has a big campaign going called Fire Pelosi in conjunction with the upcoming elections! To end the campaign, there is a bus. Yes, an actual bus that has huge letters on it making its way around the country. Being the political
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| Happy camper |
9.30.2010
What do you make?
I am a third grade teacher. I teach at a Title 1 school in downtown Salt Lake. My class is comprised of 28 little 8 and 9 year old kids. Most of them qualify for free breakfast and lunch. For most of them English is their second language. Some of them live in the homeless shelter, some in the hallway of the shelter. I hand picked this school to teach at because I knew I could be a good influence in these kids lives, yet I have to admit that there are some days when I get in my car at the end of the school day exhausted and nearly in tears wondering why in the world I chose the career of teaching. And there are even days that I get home and cry to my husband that I can't do it anymore because it's too hard and too frustrating. Today both of those things happened. Three years ago I would have thought it was silly to become so frustrated with being a teacher that someone would just fall apart. Admittedly, it happens to me alot. It's hard being a teacher. It's hard knowing that you are responsible for 28 kids 6 1/2 hours a day 5 days a week. It's hard knowing you have a list 10 miles long of things you are required to teach and to know that your students must know it. It's hard knowing that I have 28 different levels in my room ranging from beginning kindergarten to middle school and knowing that I am responsible for keeping every single one of them engaged in what's being taught. It's hard spending hours preparing lesson plans and materials, all for them to complain and whine that they "don't want to do it." It's hard knowing that I can spend day after day after day teaching something and there are some who will never grasp it.
...After I spent some time tonight moping in my frustration and exhaustion, I called my dad who always offers good advice. After receiving some great advice, I have a renewed surge of will power to learn some patience (those of you who know me well, know I am not a patient person), and to realize that while my job is hard, I am making a difference and that's all that matters. My advice from my dad made me think of an email I got from a good friend when I began my student teaching. (It is a little cheesy, but I like it).
What do teachers make?
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.
...After I spent some time tonight moping in my frustration and exhaustion, I called my dad who always offers good advice. After receiving some great advice, I have a renewed surge of will power to learn some patience (those of you who know me well, know I am not a patient person), and to realize that while my job is hard, I am making a difference and that's all that matters. My advice from my dad made me think of an email I got from a good friend when I began my student teaching. (It is a little cheesy, but I like it).
What do teachers make?
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education.
He argued, 'What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided
his best option in life was to become a teacher?'
He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers:
'Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.'
To emphasize his point he said to another guest; 'You're a teacher,
Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?'
Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied,
'You want to know what I make?
(She paused for a second, then began...)
'Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't
make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.
You want to know what I make?' (She paused again and looked at
each and every person at the table.)
''I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write.
Keyboarding isn't everything.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math. They use their God-given brain,
not the man-made calculator.
I make my students from other countries learn everything they need
to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in
the United States of America .
I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given,
work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life. '
(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)
'Then, when people try to judge me by what I make,
with me knowing money isn't everything,
I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because
they are ignorant... You want to know what I make?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?'
His jaw dropped, he went silent.
He argued, 'What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided
his best option in life was to become a teacher?'
He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers:
'Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.'
To emphasize his point he said to another guest; 'You're a teacher,
Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?'
Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied,
'You want to know what I make?
(She paused for a second, then began...)
'Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't
make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.
You want to know what I make?' (She paused again and looked at
each and every person at the table.)
''I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write.
Keyboarding isn't everything.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math. They use their God-given brain,
not the man-made calculator.
I make my students from other countries learn everything they need
to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in
the United States of America .
I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given,
work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life. '
(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)
'Then, when people try to judge me by what I make,
with me knowing money isn't everything,
I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because
they are ignorant... You want to know what I make?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?'
His jaw dropped, he went silent.
9.24.2010
Spaghetti and meatballs anyone?
My sister-in-law, Lauren, and I have been taking a continuing ed cake decorating class. It has been a fun way to spend Thursday nights while Don is at his lsat class. This last week we made spaghetti and meatball cupcakes! So easy and fun.
Here's what you'll need....
cupcakes
white frosting
pastry bag (or a ziploc bag)
number 3 cake tip
sugar-free strawberry jam
ferrero chocolates
Here's what you do...
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| Don't mind the low quality picture...it was taken with my phone while my other hand was covered in frosting! :) |
Here's what you'll need....
cupcakes
white frosting
pastry bag (or a ziploc bag)
number 3 cake tip
sugar-free strawberry jam
ferrero chocolates
Here's what you do...
- Frost the cupcake so there isn't any cake showing
- Fill pastry bag or ziploc bag with white frosting
- Wriggle the frosting around so it looks like spaghetti
- Coat ferrero chocolate in jam
- Place chocolate on cupcake and voila!
9.19.2010
Stuck Like Glue
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| 8 years ago we met here... |
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| 4 years ago we bumped into each other here... |
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| A year ago (nearly) Don bought this... |
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| And then asked a really important question... |
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| A few months later, we took some pictures to show people how in love we are and to come celebrate with us... |
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| And then, six months ago we did this... |
Happy six-month anniversary to my wonderful (and very attractive) husband!
9.14.2010
Men vs. Women
Yesterday as we were getting ready to go to school/work at some obscene hour (usually the 6 o'clock hour), I emerged out of the bedroom with one shoe on one foot and a different shoe on the other foot...I couldn't decide which one to wear.
Jen: Which shoes should I wear?
Don: The green ones.
Jen: They're both green.
Don: Oh. The ones that look green then.
Gotta love it! And no, this is not a sign I have too many shoes (even though they may or may not have taken over one of our bedroom closets...and some of our coat closet....and under our bed....).
Jen: Which shoes should I wear?
Don: The green ones.
Jen: They're both green.
Don: Oh. The ones that look green then.
Gotta love it! And no, this is not a sign I have too many shoes (even though they may or may not have taken over one of our bedroom closets...and some of our coat closet....and under our bed....).
9.06.2010
Jen, Don and the Giant Peach
Today we decided to make a little trek up to Brigham City to get ourselves some peaches. Don's family goes up every year to buy a bushel, but I had never experienced this. So, we decided to go up today since we had the day off of school and work. Don's sister, Lauren, and her friend joined us for our little adventure. As it turned out, we made really good time and got up there pretty early, so we decided to drive around Brigham City a bit. We went over to Willard Bay (I think we need to go back and rent wave runners) and then over to the future temple site. We ended our peach adventure by stopping at Pace's in Bountiful for rainbows! Oh, how I love days off of work.
P.S. We also bought 1 watermelon, 3onions, 2 garlic cloves, a bunch of carrots and 1 eggplant for $4.00. Thank you, Brigham City!!!
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| Of course the fruit stand wouldn't be complete without a giant peach. |
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| And of course you then have to take pictures in front of the giant peach. |
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| Success! |
P.S. We also bought 1 watermelon, 3onions, 2 garlic cloves, a bunch of carrots and 1 eggplant for $4.00. Thank you, Brigham City!!!
End of Summer Highlights
Somehow, September has already snuck up on us! I can't believe that today is Labor Day. We're looking forward to all of the fall fun stuff around the city (Greek Festival, Oktober Fest, pumpkin patches, haunted house, etc). But in the mean time, here's some end of summer highlights.
Later that day, Don and I went up to Annapolis to look around and, of course, get one last crab cake sandwich.
As mentioned, we had a fun summer adventure, but we're glad to be home and back to "real life." Our first weekend home we went for a little hike up Ensign Peak.
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| One of our last weekends in Maryland, we went with some friends to catch some good old Maryland blue crabs. Yum! |
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| Some of the catch for the day. |
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| Derek's ready to go! |
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| On our way back to Laura & Derek's house to eat, we stopped to buy some fruit--look how HUGE this cantaloupe is! |
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| Mmmm!! All cooked and drenched in Old Bay. Yum |
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| In front of Annapolis State House. (Don't mind the construction). |
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| State House--the Senators & House members still use it today. |
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| Our last crab cake sandwich of the summer--so amazing. |
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| Had to get a feet picture in sometime during the summer. |
As mentioned, we had a fun summer adventure, but we're glad to be home and back to "real life." Our first weekend home we went for a little hike up Ensign Peak.
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| It was SUPER windy! We almost blew away! |
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