Escalante

Last week Bre and I went down to the desert near Escalante for a little break before I started back to school this week. Every time I go to this part of southern Utah I am constantly singing   the words of RJ Garn from his song Escalante... "Camping alone late at night on the river darkness settles down over me cold as the breeze gently rustles the trees and it sounds just like waves on the sea. I’m camping alone late at night on the Escalante and I'm free under the cottonwood trees." We watched the sun set on the slick rock while laying on a small beach under the cottonwoods.

The Cottonwoods are all filled with tent caterpillars right now. There were so many falling from the trees that it sounded like it was raining on our tent.

Bre making her first jump into Bluebelly. 

This is one of the arches located a couple miles up the Escalante river. The alcove in the bottom left has three large Anasazi structures.

Twitterpated

What is with the new "Twitter" fad? I don't get it... Every news station, TV show, or radio station that I have listened to this week has mentioned "Twitter" and I really don't understand what it is. On KUER today, they were talking about a Twitter Revolution, and this makes me nervous. Please, if you tweet or have been tweeted, enlighten me. What is so awesome and why is everyone so Twitterpated?

Read this article if you are as confused as me... It doesn't answer any of my questions, but it demonstrates the fascination that I'm talking about.

Spring Break

I know I have become a horrible blogger, but our lives haven't slowed down since January. Ty started his first semester at the U and he has enjoyed it so far. The worst part is he has to drive from Springville to Orem so he can catch the bus at 6AM that takes him to school. It's only on Tuesdays and Thursdays so it hasn't been too bad, but we're hoping to relocate further north as soon as this semester is over. I am almost finished with my last semester of classes and I couldn't be more excited. I will student teach in the fall and then I'll finally be a college grad (without a job, nice!) We change our plans of where we are going to live and what we are going to do with our lives on a regular basis, but that's life!

We did manage to squeeze in a much needed vacation last week during our Spring Break. We were excited to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather and we were extremely disappointed as we drove home through Spanish Fork canyon in the snow. We had a fun weekend and I got some excellent advice from our nephew, Ryder, when we stopped in Moab for a night. He was debating on whether or not he should listen to his mom and go get his pajamas on and he said, "If I listen to my mom, then my life will be good." Very sound advice from a four-year-old who has heard that phrase a few times. 

Sorry about the mini video... I don't have time right now to try and fix it.

Eavesdropping

Me listening to a conversation between three junior high kids at lunch today...

A bus pulls up to the gas station. The kids see it out the window.
Girl 1 - I want to be a bus driver. Ya know, like, a cool one. You could play, like, cool music and stuff.
Girl 2 - What? Why?
Girl 1 - Do you know how much they make?! They only work four hours a day and get paid for six!
Girl 2 - What would you do for the rest of the day if you're only working four hours?
Girl 1 - I don't know, like, go shopping or something.
Girl 2 - Why would you be a bus driver if you could be a doctor or something?
Girl 1 - No way! That takes way to much time, and, like, money.
Boy 1 - Where's our food?

(And, yes Kell, the exclamation points are very necessary in this conversation.)

Moral of the story: Why am I wasting all this time and money to get a degree when I could be a bus driver? Hmmm...

Get Your Snuggie

This week Bre has been complaining that our apartment is too cold. Well I just so happened to find this great product on TV and thought it would be a perfect gift for her. It really is such a great idea because isn't everybody as sick of blankets as I am? Blankets today can just be so frustrating to use. I am so thankful there are people out there creating such fine products. I just wanted to share this great Christmas gift idea for everyone. Be sure to order soon before they are sold out!

I Am Thankful For..

1. Tyler - I'm thankful to be married to such an amazing person. I could go on and on, but that gets annoying.
2. The Gospel
3. Our awesome families - we are so lucky to have amazing families who we love to be with.
4. Sonic Diet Coke with real cherries and limes (yes, it is this high on my list)
5. Our jobs and great employers who are flexible with our crazy schedules.
6. My education
7. This country and the freedoms that we enjoy.
8. Chocolate and Salt - not together, but two of my favorite things.
9. A great landlord and a warm place to sleep at night.
10. All of the little things we enjoy each day that get taken for granted.

Me Being Patriotic

Patriotism... this word has taken on so many different (and strange) meanings in the last few years. What makes me patriotic? I don't fly an American flag from my car, I don't have American flags hanging from my ears, my husband doesn't sing Toby Keith's "I'll put a boot in your ass..." at the top of his lungs. (I can't even finish the lyrics because they are so ridiculous.) So are we patriotic?

I was thinking about the different ways people support the country and I believe the number one way we can do what's best for this country is by letting our voices be heard tomorrow, election day. Tyler and I voted early this year and it made me think about how involved we have become in this election. We researched the candidates, found out the FACTS (which can be hard to do) and we really made educated decisions when it came to most of the candidates. I'm proud to say that I made a contribution to the future of our country, especially in this scary time of uncertainty and doubt with many of the issues we are being faced with today. I'm feeling very patriotic, although I may not look the part. No matter which candidates you support, tomorrow is the day to let your voice be heard. I know you'll make the right choice. (right Bob and Mom?) Just remember, "Yes we can."

Another funny political comment for the day... my little brother, Mike, text me this today "my friends are bashing Obama, I need some good stuff to argue about him." His friend said that "there is no good reason to vote for Obama." I would definitely beg to differ, but like I told Mike, that can be his opinion but obviously there must be SOMETHING good about him since he's made it this far in the race. You need to research those issues that are important to you and decide for yourself. Funny how we can see things so one-sided and not think twice about it. Moral of the story: Be open to others opinions and look at both sides of the argument.