Excitement

What's all the excitement about?

This came out yesterday!

And we were thrilled.
We ate yummy...unhealthy food...
(the only person who knows what we ate is Misty and it shall remain that way until I hit the grave.)
I hit an all time low.
But I received some unsettling news yesterday, and Burn Notice came out, and Zach's not in school...
So we ate, cuddled on the couch, and watched the first episode.

We're trying to watch the episodes sparingly.
To us, this show=summer.
And it doesn't even feel like summer yet.
So we have to make it last.

But I'm so happy it's here!
Michael Weston...boy have we missed you!!!

And yes, I do know we're nerds.

I Did It!

I made the summer check off list that I showed yesterday from Pinterest.

I did something semi-crafty.
Remember, I don't desire to be crafty.

I do desire to make the very most of this summer.
Because if you didn't know, I absolutely loooove the summer. Love it!
I know the picture's not great.
Here are the things on my list:
-go camping at least twice
-rafting
-fair
-float the river
-pay of (credit card) debt
-exercise daily
-read Book of Mormon
read every day
-walk the Greenbelt once a week
-get a tan
-eat a snow cone
-fancy night out!
-read by the water
-take one road trip (however small) with Zach
-play poker
-sleep over
-drink lots of water
-grow a garden
-church camp
-FHE
-Roaring Springs
-go to the dentist
-go to the doctor
-clean out garage
-see/hold/play with Grace
-have a couples night at our house
-grill
-meet up with friends I don't see very often: Jonnie, Jen, Lynch Fam, Rachel, Renee, etc.
-teach summer school
-play on new KNect
-go for a hike
-temple
-alphabet date
-ENJOY!

Summer Goals

Summer Goals
1. To fit into these jeans again. I haven't worn them in 5 years. I love them. I felt so good at the time in my life that they fit--they are only one size smaller than what I wear now but I'm not feeling all that great lately. SO...I either fit into these jeans by the end of August or they (GULP!) go to the DI where some other more disciplined lady can have these beauties! I feel like if I post this goal then perhaps it will become more likely that I will do it. It also makes me sad that my husband has never known me as confident about my body as I was at that time...and trying to EXPLAIN it doesn't quite come across the same way...

2. Attend the temple weekly by myself...monthly with my husband
3. Organize the pantry
4. Organize the garage
5. Paint dresser I bought at garage sale
6. Finally hang wedding pictures (after deciding where they go)
7. READ!! A few new books, my scriptures, and conference talks
8. I need to do some work for school...not feeling up to it yet, though
9. Have at least ONE Scentsy party!
10. Enjoy myself, my house, my dog, and my husband...I can't go wrong there, right?!

I will check back in on July 8 to let ya'll know how I'm doing

Goodbye Summer!

It is time to (just about) bid farewell to our summer. We have some more fun underway before I completely get swept away with school: 1. Taking the boys to Roaring Springs 2. ENGAGEMENT Photos! 3. Spending some time together in any way we can! :) Oddly enough, I'm ready for school to start. As much as I will be busy...and even though I still have SO much to do with the wedding (quickly, but not quickly enough) approaching...I cannot wait for school to start. For a number of reasons. The main reason being I CANNOT wait to marry this guy! The more I plan the more I'm excited. If you are reading this and you pray, please pray that things will fall into place and happen the way they are supposed to. I would really appreciate it. Here are a few pictures of the happenings since I last really blogged... We spent a day at the lake with our ward and came back FRIED...we followed it up with some Settlers with Austin and Natasha...always a good time! :)

We took an impromptu trip to Lagoon with Misty and Ken and I truly had a blast!


Goodbye summer! You've treated me well. I will welcome you again next year...as a married woman!

"Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it." ~Russel Baker

WOW! Summer is officially over...as of August 28th for me. Actually, I went back to set up my classroom on the 20th...I still relished the late nights until the eve of the first day of school:) August was an incredibly full month, as were the other two, so I thought I'd quickly fill you in. I was doing so well at uploading these pictures in order until the VERY last one. So one is out of order. This will be a "lengthy" post in size, but not in words. Welcome to my summer!!!

The first week of August I had many exciting things planned. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 premiered, Randy Travis came in concert, and Misty and I went to Twin Falls.

The 2nd weekend in August, I asked Misty to ride with me to Twin Falls to see the temple open house. Being the AMAZING friend that she is, she complied. And although she was sad at first that she didn't bring a book for the roadtrip, she managed to be great company for the entire trip :) We made a stop at Starbucks for coffee/frozen hot chocolate before heading to Twin. We waited for a while to go on our tour. The temple was really pretty. It was my first time going through the entire temple and I must say, I'm very sad the Boise Temple is so small. I love it nonetheless. We enjoyed our stay, took pictures, and stopped at Chili's and what we thought was a Dell store before heading home.
Misty and I in front of the temple after the tour.

They had information and cookies waiting for us after the tour. We had a cookie. I dropped part of mine:)

Misty and I outside the theatre after the premiere our movie. Yes, our movie. We read the books. We attached to the characters. We even made our own "traveling pants" :)

Me sitting outside waiting for Randy Travis at the Botanical Gardens. It was pretty much the most awesome arrangement for a concert, ever! Ouside, on blankets, summer night, listening to music. I didn't think cameras were allowed as the security guard warned me about it when she checked my purse. So I didn't get a picture with mom or Bonnie. (Jonnie's mom, who is amazing, joined us for this concert.) I just had mom sneak this picture really quickly to document my attendance.

After the concert was over people had cameras everywhere and Bonnie told me it wouldn't hurt to sneak into the more expensive ticket area and get a picture. I asked the security guards if I could just get through to "get a closer look". They allowed me and I made it to the front of the stage just in time for encore. Two songs, front and center, plus I got to shake his hand!!!!

This summer I worked for the Idaho Foodbank serving free lunch to kids in the park. We served at Owyhee park, but the Foodbank serviced approx 14 parks in the Boise area. Every morning we would meet at the warehouse, load our food in the car, set it up at the park, serve, play games with the kids, tear our park down, and take it back to the foodbank. I worked with Jenny at my park all day. I was acquainted with all the employees, however, from our meetings and interactions at the warehouse every morning and afternoon. This summer job was so good for me. Jeff was so good for me. He opened a part of my heart this summer, which is really hard to explain, but I love him. This is me with Jeff at our end of the summer BBQ.

This is Jenny with one of our reguluars at the park. She wasn't just a regular, she was a favorite. And Jenny's great!

Jenny and I found this book in our "book box" one morning. (We get books donated and we bring them in a box to the park. The kids can take free books, exchange them, or add to them. It's a pretty awesome program.) We played with it from the second we found it. The first morning we were playing with it one of the people from a different park, Nick, walked by. He saw it and goes, "That's exciting!" I told Jenny that it was funny that Nick understands how exciting it is and she goes, "Yeah. How we're all like three!" :) It's true and that's why my summer was SO amazing.




Back in July, I went rafting with my longtime friend Todd, and some of his family--including his dad, who I love! I mentioned how I would love to go to the rodeo but didn't have anyone to join me. (Todd goes to ISU so he wouldn't be in town.) Todd said his dad would go with me. I called his dad and made arrangements to go with him and some of his friends the Saturday of the rodeo. Howard, a.k.a. dad, asked if I would like to raft that morning. I was stoked. Absolutely stoked!!! I couldn't wait. When I showed up that morning I found I wasn't rafting with Howard and his friends, but Todd and his friends! It was an awesome, planned, surprise for me. Of course, Howard was there. I didn't get any rafting pictures but I seriously had a BLAST! It was SO much fun! We went home, changed, and got ready for the rodeo.

The Caldwell Night Rodeo is awesome. I LOVE it. It's probably my favorite of all the rodeos I've been to. They have two sides..the Rowdies (drunken) side and the Civies (more family) side. They have a real rivalry and it's great. I actually prefer to be a Rowdy...no matter how much I hate alcohol. That's my side of preference. This gang wasn't going for it. We were Civies this time and it nearly broke my heart. Among other things that broke my heart: )

Todd with me after the rodeo. I was very VERY frustrated with the evening at this point.

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My classroom. Competely empty. EMPTY! Our school was remodeled over the summer and EVERYTHING was packed up. I had such a mess to work with trying to organize things that I had no idea what to do with. I had so much space to work with but so much junk, too! I threw 4 boxes of junk away. We have an awesome custodian, though. He's so helpful and with all the support my room was darn near ready in time!

When I saw this outside my room on moving day I almost cried. It was just neat. I'm so proud of my Larson name:)

After moving and unpacking the boxes.Yuck!

Corey and Cassie got married in the Bountiful Temple on August 22. They looked great, the temple is GORGEOUS (I'd never seen it before). They didn't have a bad reception either, I must say. I'm happy for them. Although, I will not be traveling with just my parents again, that was just too much!

We're cousins! He's awesome and funny and we were kids together at one point. I love him and I'm happy for him. I'm a little sad that the family dynamic will change, but that's what happens, I guess.

Boot Scootin' Boogie

As for the rest of August. My brother turned 20 in Brazil! I had my very first official school day as a 5th grade teacher. I have, what appears to be, and awesome class. I still have very little idea of what I'm doing but I am SO excited to go to work next week. I won't lie, I'm excited for a three-day weekend as well. I'll definitely keep you posted!

Summertime is Finally Here...

Here's a moderately small overview of the events of the summer thus far...it's been a good one...

~Summer of Hope~At the beginning of the summer I participated in the Summer of Hope walk. My good friends, They Lynchs, included me. It's a Christian organization that works to get orphans from the Philippines here for one month in the summer (July). They are hosted by a family and hopefully adopted by interested individuals. The walk helps raise money for the costs of getting the children here and helping care for them! Mom and Misty joined me and we ate at Applebees in large quantities afterwards:)
Here I am with Courtney and Connor. I may need to blog about this family at some point, they are just amazing...they're the children of the Lynch family! I love them mucho!

The Spill Canvas

One of my very favorite...albeit not very popular, bands! They came to town on June 28th and played at The Venue. I went with my friend Josh and then Jonnie and Jessica met us there. I look terrible because it was so hot inside...and Jonnie and Jessica had just come from her sister's wedding. We had such a good time. If you look at the bottom of this post you can watch/more so listen to my all time favorite Spill Canvas song: Lullaby. I'm posting the lyrics below this picture too...just in case!

It's the way that you blush when you're nervous.It's your ability to make me earn this.I know that you're tired, just let me sing you to sleep.It's about how you laugh out of pity,'Cause lets be honest I'm not really that funny.I know that you're shot, just let me sing you to sleep.

If you need anything, just the say the word.I mean anything.Rest assured, if you start to doze, then I'll tuck you in,and plant my lips where your necklaces close.

It's those pills that you don't need to take,medicating perfection, now that's a mistake.I know that you're spent, just let me sing you to sleep.It's your finger and how I'm wrapped around it.It's your grace and it keeps me grounded.I know that you're weak, just let me sing you to sleep.

If you need anything, just the say the word.I mean anything.Rest assured, if you start to doze, then I'll tuck you in,and plant my lips where your necklaces close.

While you were sleeping I figured out everything,I was constructed for you, and you were molded for me.Now I feel your name, coursing through my veins.You shine so bright it's insane, you put the sun to shame.

(Oh)If you need anything, just the say the word.I mean anything. (I really do)Rest assured, if you start to doze, then I'll tuck you in,and plant my lips where your necklaces close.If you need anything, just the say the word.I mean anything.Rest assured, if you start to doze, then I'll tuck you in,and plant my lips where your necklaces close.

***Fourth of July***We had our Fourth of July BBQ and fireworks fun at Cara's. I sat outside with the boys where they specifically saved a spot for me:) They set it with utensils, water, and all!




Cara had the babies sporting red, white, and blue and I was rather fond of it. Here's Ava. She didn't want her rootbeer float but definitely went for the Otter Pop. She is her mother's daughter!

Here's me with my madre on the Fourth! We had a good time for the most part although I'm dying for some real "tradition" on this holiday. Perhaps camping with Misty, Ken, and the kids:) We ate, played in the pool (that is my tradition with the boys for 3 years now:) and watched fireworks over at Tammy's house.

Roaring Springs!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought it would be fun to take a day off work and take the boys to Roaring Springs. I invited Rachel to come along with us! She used to go to the Y (she was in my group every summer...from the summer before 3rd grade on!) She's amazing with kids, she's a LOT of fun, and I love her..so it made for a great day!

There wasn't a single ride the boys didn't go on! They even rode this one...if you don't know it's a rather scary ride. I was nervous. I followed them up (and Rachel and I rode it afterwards) but I was in tears I was so worried about them...but they're incredibly tough! I was very impressed and they LOVED it! They wanted to go again but I couldn't handle the stress again!

After a fun-filled WONDERFUL day. I felt so blessed and I missed them so much after they went home. I was lonesome for them...they are such special boys!