This Weekend... PICTURE OVERLOAD!!

VIEW TIL THE END!!

We had a busy busy week and topped it off with a busy busy weekend. I guess it wasn't all that busy, but we did lots and lots :)

We decided to switch up our workout this weekend and instead of hitting the gym on Friday and Saturday, we hiked Mount Timpanogos. It is an extremely steep trail that is only a mile and a half long but we climbed over 1000 feet on our way up. Let me tell you, I was feelin' the burn! The steepness combined with the fact that I am still hackin stuff up from my lungs and the super thin air made for a rough time but after you get to the top, there are caves up there. We went on the tour which was super cool. It got really tight and to the point where some spots we had to very nearly crawl but it was awesome. Poor Cody whacked himself on a stalagtite and has a gnarly cut on the top of his fuzzy little head now. The tour is about an hour long and then you of course have to hike (more like try not to run) down. It was a beautiful day and when we got back down we had a picnic by the river. We topped it all off with a swim in the pool and a soak in the hot tub. Here are some pictures!!


The mountain from outside the national park





on the trail!!










resting up before our cave tour


entering the cave



it was so flippin' dark in there!!






leavin' the cave





The End!!

Here are also a few more pictures of what else we have been up to. Enjoy my lovelies!!


Cinco de Mayo with Kevin and Whitney!!


On our way to the Air Force bbq. Just wanted to share my cute shirt!


Friday date night, we went to see Angels & Demons. Let me just tell you, AMAAAZING!!
My cute husband so gracefully put it, "It had more twists and turns than a Mississippi road."


isn't he so flippin' cute?!

Another thing I did this weekend was... go from black to blonde. I know I know, crazy right? WRONG MY LOVES!! I used to be blonde and loved it. I went dark cause Cody liked it. Cody came onboard for my blonde project so I did it. It was six and a half hours in a chair and I had to cut off four inches but I did it :) Its strawberry blonde, but in six weeks, after my hair has had some rehab, I will be able to get the blonde highlights i want to complete the look I was going for. Yaeee!!



I had to throw my Juno Stink Eye in there :)

Umm, Hello?? Where have you been all my life??

Once again, I found something that has pleased me to the point where I would feel guilty for not sharing it. I don't know why its taken me this long to discover it, I heard its "all the rage" with the cool kids nowadays. To see exactly what I am raving about, click on the title and it shall act as a port key (shameless HP reference). ENJOY my loves!!

This site will also be added to my fantastic fashion list.

Soooo Freaking Funny!!

Cody knows me so well. He said, "You will laugh your butt off." Although my butt is still here, I did laugh quite hard. Oh man, thank you Miss Teen USA contestant.. thank you.

Up the canyon and Silver Lake

Last week Cody was sick so I made him stay in bed. He was still feelin' yucky the next day so he stayed home again and we went on a little road trip up the canyon, through the mountains and up to Silver Lake. The weather was beautiful and the river was ragin'. It was a grand day indeed. Take a gander my dear ones.





























It was so nice to just get out and ENJOY being outside. It was crazy, the lake was hidden under 100+ inches of snow so that hike on the boardwalk was a NO GO but we still had a blast. The rental homes and cabins up there were all buried and funny lookin' with just their roofs pokin' out. It was around 50 degrees up there and you'd think we would've been cold with all the snow but it felt wonderful. Perfect t-shirt and jeans weather.

AMEN!!

My friend wrote this article and got selected for it to be published on the KTAR website. She is amazing!! You can also read it at the link that is my title and comment.


The Cost of "Education"
by Hayley Payne/Special to KTAR.com (May 12th, 2009 @ 9:09pm)

This is a guest column contributed to KTAR.com from a @ktar923 Twitter follower. Your voice can be heard too. Send your opinion piece on any topic to webmaster@ktar.com.

"I started at Arizona State University in the fall of 2005. I was anxious to receive my "higher" education, and eager to become a member of the college society. I became an Education major, and was looking forward to the wisdom I would undoubtedly gain from my professors.

I was ready to make a difference in the world, and dreamed of how all of my late-nighters and early-morning cram sessions would be worth it once my degree led me into a sure-fire career field. After all, there is always a need for good teachers!

Now $33,000 in debt and 120 credits later, I begin student teaching in the fall asking myself what my time and money has truly earned me. When graduates spend four hours in the scorching Arizona heat at Sun Devil Stadium, drenched in sweat and peeling their cap and gown off their bodies for relief, only to hear a brief speech and step out into a job market void of any hope or consolation, I sincerely wonder if they will feel like the past four years were worth it. I know I don't.

It is only fitting that President Obama make the commencement speech this year at Arizona State. If you spend any time on campus at all, you cannot avoid hearing from countless students about how wonderful the stimulus package is and how finally America has the right idea about universal healthcare. Young Democrats stroll deep in conversation about how they approve increased spending as long as it's in the name of going ‘green.' But how many of those students, bombarded by the MTV-appeal of Obama and his big government, have stopped to wonder what their education has cost them?

When Obama steps on that stage, I can guarantee there are certain remarks he will omit. He will not tell the graduates that their determination and industry is no longer valued in this country. He will not tell them that under his administration their debt will only continue to increase. And you can bet he will not tell them that no matter how dedicated they are in their career, their wealth will be spread to those whom the government deems fit for the reward.

He will fulfill his role as the celebrity, Captain America, the blind leading the blind. I can only pray that so many of my "rock the vote" peers realize they got exactly what they voted for, but more than they bargained for. I hope they see that if our government continues down its current path, there is no way they could ever repay what we have lost as students.

So why did I bother earning a degree? Why not just sit back, relax, and wait for my own personal handout? Because I still believe the true hope of our country lies in the hard work of people just like me. Our society is starving for some perseverance. The government is not the answer. I am the answer."



Go HP!!!

And so it begins...

I started packing yesterday, just because I am so stir crazy and I am DETERMINED to be a lot more organized in my packing this time around. So i packed for four hours and got a lot done. I was pretty proud of myself. Its weird with nothing on the walls now but I am getting more excited by the day!

Oh the lives we lead...

ARE SOOOO BORING! We are completely ready to blow this popsicle stand and get on our way to Vegas then Arizona baby!! Everyday Cody sighs and with a longing look in his eyes tells me of his desire to just be gone. He is ready to leave this place, begin our new adventure known as the Air Force and see my family and our beautiful nieces and nephews!! He also says he wants to play office with Jeff... silly boy.

I am starting to pack up the house this week to make things much easier in October. I am ambitious alright... Is it still called ambition when I lack the drive and determination to actually START? Who knows?

Last night Cody and I made pizookie and ate it with vanilla ice cream. Can you say Amazing?? (in a sing song voice of course)

That is it for now. Cody is sick in bed. He tried going to work after being up all night and I wouldn't allow it. He huffed and puffed at first but I think it was all for show. You know keep up the rough and tough manly exterior... I'm sure all your husbands do it.

That's all folks!