Snowboarding

Today I went snowboarding for my very first time. I was super nervous and wasn't sure that I even wanted to do it, but I did it because not only did Derek's family buy me all of the gear, but I know how much it would mean to Derek if we could do something athletic together. After falling on my butt a lot and getting snow down my pants, and falling getting off of the ski lift, I have decided that it was totally worth it! I think that I am a boarder for life!

I ended up staying the night at Derek's house and getting up early so that we could beat the crowds. We headed up to Brighton and I started my class at 10:15, with Igor, the snowboard instructor. Igor was pretty cool, he is from Brazil and has been an instructor for a few years. We started off learning how to do the basics, like putting our feet in our bindings and doing the 1 foot in the binding and one foot out thing. We went down this little hill like that, and I honestly couldn't do it! I was getting really frustrated and nervous because the next step was heading up the ski lift. I am a wimp when it comes to riding the tram thingy at Lagoon, so I was pretty scared going up in it, luckily I was the odd person so I went with Igor. When getting off, I totally ate it! I was able to get up quickly though and get out of the way, which was a relief! My first time down was pretty scary and frustrating, I pretty much ended up going down on my butt the whole time!

After lunch we all headed back up to the bunny slope and Derek ended up giving me great tips and encouragement, which meant a lot, because I wasn't feeling very confident in my new abilities! I told Kevin and Cheryl that they could do their own thing because I felt like I was cramping their style, and after that I started doing pretty well. I fell really hard near the bottom and I bruised my butt really hard! After a few more times going down I started to get the hang of it and crashed a lot less and not nearly as hard!

It was a wonderful day and a wonderful experience. I can't wait to head up the mountain again once I heal! Below are some pictures that Kevin took for me.

Before my Class

Getting ready to fall

Doing pretty well, but I fell right after that!

Yep, I fell, but I had a great time doing it!

My B-day

So, it has been about a month since I last posted anything. A lot has happened, and school has been keeping me pretty busy, so hopefully I can keep posting at least once a month!

My birthday was great. I got a lot of cool clothes, as well as a snowboard, boots, bindings, pants, helmet, goggles, gloves, and lessons from Derek and his family and my family. I am excited to learn how to do it, I'm nervous that I won't be very good at it (I have terrible balance on flat ground, let alone in the snow), but Derek says that he will help me out as much as he can.

I also received a basketball case to place my personalized Paul Millsap autographed basketball in, as well as a D-Will jersey. Since I am a HUGE Jazz fan, it made me super happy!

My Birthday was awesome and it was great going out to my new favorite restaurant called the Green Papaya and spending time with family.

School has been pretty chaotic this semester, all of my tests are pretty much at the same time, and all of my papers are due at the same time, so needless to say, I have been a bookworm! I do have a favorite class, it is my Science Methods class. We are learning fun ways to teach science to our students and to broaden the thinking. We get to do fun science experiments and come up with one for a science fair.


One bad thing has happened. My wonderful digital camera got stolen from me. I think it got stolen at the Gallivan Trax stop, but it could have happend up here at school. It really sucks, I had awesome pictures on that camera.

Other than my camera getting stolen, it has been a great month!

It's Been A While...

Wow, I can't believe that I haven't posted anything since Dec. 11th. I have been fairly busy lately and there really isn't much to post about, but I guess I'll catch you all up on what little I have been doing!

I had fall final's the week after Dec. 11th. They went pretty well, I ended up with 3 B's and 1 A- and ended the semester with a 3.1 GPA so luckily I am still on the Dean's list.

Christmas went pretty well. I got snowed in and hung out with Uncle Daren & Aunt Terry and the doggies all day. The next day I went up to Derek's grandparents and his whole family ended up going back up there and gave me a Christmas that I'll never forget.

New Year's was uneventful. Derek and I ended up going back to his house and watching movies all night. It was nice having time with just the two of us, we rarely get to be alone in the same room together, so it was really relaxing just having it be us.

I just started a new semester of school. I have 5 classes this semester, so I am pretty sure that I will be stressed out! I have a Law class that seems like it will be cool. I also have a Science Methods class where I actually have to come up with a science project and do research and present it at a science fair. I'm really excited about it, but I have no idea about what I want to do it on, so if anybody has ideas for me I would appreciate it!

I am also getting ready to officially apply for the education program. I have to gather letters of recommendation and write an essay about why I want to be a teacher as well as get a background check.

Needless to say, I am pretty busy so if you don't here from me as much, you know why!

Picture Taking

I haven't really had the time to get out and practice my picture taking skills, luckily Cody & Amy (my brother and his wife) asked me if I would take some family pics of them and their dog Twig so that they could send them out with their Christmas cards.

We had a great time, we went to Murray Park to take the pics. The ones posted are my favorites.

How we Met

I am sitting here in the library up at the U and I read someone's blog where they tell how they met their spouse. Granted, I am not married yet, but I think dating Derek for as long as I have pretty much makes him my spouse! So here is my side of the story of how we met:

I met Derek during fall semester of our senior year in high school. I had just broken up with my ex and I was really depressed and so I had changed my schedule around so that I could be Mrs. Duncan'[s T.A. for her Lit. through Movies class. I also had signed up for Mrs. Neilson's Food's Class, just because it sounded like fun. It was in Mrs. Duncan's class where Derek and I were introduced by a guy named Billy Yang. I instantly thought that he was super cute. He had spikey blonde highlighted hair and wore a leather jacket and had the most gorgeous eyes and smile that I had ever seen. I instantly had a crush and in food's class I started flirting with him and stuff. I probably looked like nerd, but I didn't really care! One of my favorite moments was in food's and Mrs. Neilson had Derek and another guy transfer crisco from a box to a bucket and Derek thought that it would be funny to try to get some of it on me. He also tried to throw me into the garbage can's in the locker banks. But my absolute most favorite thing was that he stood up for me when someone was being a jerk. It was at that moment that I really wanted to date the guy.

I waited for Derek to ask me out, but he didn't, so I took the initiative and asked him to the Sweethearts Dance. I have to admit that the date kind of sucked. My friend was having troubles with her boyfriend and spent the time crying in the bathroom. So we didn't really even dance or hang out or anything, it was kind of lame. Luckily, Derek asked me to Prom a month later and we had a great time, and I think our first kiss was when we were at the after activity at a Gymnastics gym in one of the foam pits.

Derek is a wonderful guy and has stood by me in good times and bad, and I love him and appreciate him more and more each day and I can't wait until the day that we are married and will spend the rest of our lives together.

(The picture is of me and Derek in 2006 when I took him to see Pearl Jam in Vegas for his 1/2 Birthday.)