Flashback Friday: The Sunday Edition

So I know what most of you are thinking... It's Sunday so why am I doing a flashback Friday post? Well there are 2 reasons. Reason 1: I didn't post on Friday. Reason 2: Today is a special day so it made sense to wait till today to post this story.

Exactly one year ago from today, August 31st, Brad and I got engaged. When we got engaged people encouraged me to write the story down so that people could read it and I wouldn't have to tell the story every time people asked how it happened. I wrote it down, but not somewhere that people could read it so now I will retell the story so you can all smile at how cute my husband is and shake your heads at how dim I am.

Brad and I had decided to get married and had picked out a ring that I loved. Brad decided to check around for prices to make sure that we were getting a good deal. At that time Brad was still living in South Jordan at his parents house and I was up in Logan. School started and Brad told me the very first day that he had purchased the ring. I was kind of confused that he told me he had purchased it and I figured that maybe he wasn't planning a surprise since we had already discussed getting married. He told me that the jeweler was going to take 3 weeks to get the ring sized and ready. I was a little bummed that there would be no romantic surprise but was excited to know that he had purchased the ring. I knew that even if he was planning a surprise that now that I knew it was going to be 3 weeks that I would be so suspicious of everything he wanted to do just in case he was going to give me the ring.

Fast forward to that following Friday. Brad had a job that required him to work on the weekends. We were going home that weekend so he worked late Friday night to finish the job so we could leave Saturday morning. I sat at home Friday while Brad worked and watched TV and ate bonbons. Brad got home and called me at about 10:30 and told me that he had an assignment that he'd forgotten about that he needed to complete before we left town the next morning. He needed to go up to campus and he asked if I wanted to go with him. Even though I was feeling blah from just sitting around I thought it would be nice to get out of the house and be with him so I agreed to go up to campus while he did his homework. He was taking a study skills class and he told me the assignment was for that class. The assignment was to go to a USU landmark and write down all of the things that made that landmark important. It was to be like he was listening to a lecture and taking notes on the important parts. Brad had chosen the Amphitheater on campus as his landmark. I thought this was a silly choice and thought he should write about something like Old Main or the 'A' because those are more well known landmarks but it was his assignment so whatever. We went to the amphitheater and found a plaque that had the date it was built and who donated the money. Brad said he was going to write that down but he wanted to wander around first and "glean" as much important information as he could. The fresh air was finally waking me up and so we went to the stage and we searched in the dark for "important" things for Brad to write in his paper. As we walked around I began to notice how beautiful the amphitheater is. It overlooks the whole valley and it has a great view of the stars. I began to think, "in 2 weeks when my ring is done, Brad should bring me here to propose."

After we sat and talked and looked at the stars we finally went back to the plaque so Brad could write down what it said. He got out a piece of paper and pencil from his backpack. As he was writing he asked me to get a paper with the instructions for the assignment out of his backpack. I unzipped the pocket he told me, and there was no paper inside. There was however, a large wooden box. I was opening the box and saying "What the heck is this?" Before it finally hit me. It was my ring box. I looked at Brad and he just looked at me and laughed. He had made up the whole assignment. He squatted on one knee and asked me to marry him. I pushed him over and began to cry and laugh while I said yes.

In hindsight I realize that of course rings don't take 3 weeks to size and why else would he choose to take me to such a beautiful location. But I'm glad I didn't figure it out because it made the night so much more fun without me stressing out about what was going to happen.

Couples Tag

Traci tagged me and I'm bored so even though it's the second post of the day I'm going to do it.


What is his name: Muffin
What is her name: Amy
How long have you been together: 1 year 5 months
How long did you date: 9 months
How old is he: 23
Who eats more: Depends on what we're eating. I eat more snacks that's for sure.
Who said I love you first: I asked him if I was to say that I loved him if that would be ok.
Who is taller: This is not even a contest when I'm in the mix.
Who sings better: Brad would say me, but I think he sings just fine.
Who is smarter: In what subject?
Who does the laundry: Brad does if I sort it and put it away.
Who pays the bills: He makes the money these days but I am the only one with checks.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed: Depends on the bed.
Who mows the lawn: The staff of the apartment complex.
Who cooks the dinner: Cook? What's that? We both stand in the kitchen while we heat up frozen food.
Who drives: Usually Brad
Who is more stubborn: About what? Neither of us really.... I don't know.
Who kissed who first: He kissed me on April fools day, but it wasn't a joke.
Who proposed: He did.
Who has more friends: Brad has millions of friends that he can access online at any time of the day or night......... I probably know more people face to face....
Who is more sensitive: Amy
Who has more siblings: We both have 3 siblings but he has one brother-in-law already so we'll say he does.

I'm not going to tag anyone because I'm not actually sure if anyone reads my blog...

Catching up (end of summer parties part 2)

Wow almost a whole week without a blog from me!? I must have actually been doing stuff. First off I would like to share some pictures from the activity I attended last Saturday.
That's right we attended Oktoberfest. Brad loves Bratwursts so the drive up to Snowbird was worth it for him and his dad. I had a good time eating my potato pancakes (read: hashbrowns) while we listened to some German music. Afterwards, we looked around at the booths selling handmade jewelry and clothing and watched a yo-yo champion.


When we were done wandering Brads family decided they wanted to go down the zipline. If any of my blog readers happened to be at 5th grade camp with me back in the day they might remember me sitting in a tree for a half an hour crying before someone finally pushed me out of the tree down the zipline. Another experience that my family member blog buddies may remember is a family reunion at Brighton Girls Camp where again I cried for a good amount of time before I finally went down the zipline. Well I decided I would go with the zipliners and face my fear. I clung to the handrail all the way up the tower but once I got to the top the ride workers told me they would give me 3 seconds to cry or wet myself. As they pushed me out the door the operator told me to aim for the grass if I fell. I didn't fall and I didn't cry or wet myself so all in all I'd say it was a good day.


So that was Saturday's activities. Sunday we went to our ward for the first time. It was strangely difficult to figure out where we were supposed to go to church, but we finally got it figured out. After that I drove to Logan and stayed with my aunt and uncle for a couple nights while I had orientation for student teaching. It was so weird seeing people that I wont be seeing all semester. I felt like everyone should be WAY super excited to see me because I don't even live there. The problem was that nobody knew I didn't live there. Since it was the first day of school many people were back from the summer and they weren't surprised to see another friend so I made sure to tell everyone how lucky they were to see me in Logan.

The orientation was pretty boring and I didn't feel I learned anything more than I'd already been told. The only thing that was any different was that they changed the teacher I'd be working with for student teaching. I was a little upset at first but now that I've met the new teacher I think I'll be just fine. When I got back from the orientation I went to the school and got things kind of figured out there. I don't just take the class over right away so I probably wont have any teaching stories real soon but I'm sure I'll post them as they come.

End of summer parties part 1

Since school is fast approaching Brad and I have been looking for things to do. We had seen a very large school bus in the parking lot of one of the stores at Jordan Landing for the past couple weeks so we were really excited to find out that our nephew J.R. would be in town on Thursday. Secretly I think Brad wanted to go but felt like he needed the 3 year old to justify riding on a monster school bus. So on Thursday right after work we took J.R. to ride the monster bus and then to play on the playground. I worried the whole time that J.R. wasn't having fun because he wasn't smiling but he kept saying he was having fun so I guess he just hasn't figured out how to show joy on his face. He also doesn't like pictures, I think it has something to do with how often his mom gets out her camera. Am I right Shauntel?
J.R. in the tire of the monster bus.

This is the face J.R. had the entire time, he just stared straight ahead. This was right before his seatbelt broke and right before I got flung into the wall of the bus. It was a wild ride on the monster bus.






























After the monster truck we went back to our apartment to play on the playground. J.R. had a blast playing with Brad on the shaky bridge.


While playing on the playground Brad told J.R. that he was a troll that ate kids that tried to go through the tunnel to the slide. J.R. laughed and giggled as he tried to get past the troll. Once he succeeded, he hurried down the slide and came running into my arms. Once he got there he cried, "Don't eat me Brad! You don't eat kids you eat food!" Oh man, it was so great. We had some great times on Saturday but I have to wait for pictures so part 2 will come as soon as they come.

Flashback Friday: The First day of school

This is a picture from the first day of Kindergarten. I don't remember being scared or anxious about this day, but I'm sure I was just a little uncertain of what laid ahead for me. I feel the same way right now. I'm not sure if I'm scared or anxious, but I do know that I'm uncertain of what the next school year holds for me. The good news is that Kindergarten worked out well and I graduated with flying colors so I'm hoping that I still have some of those smarts and I will be able to figure out how to share my knowledge with the kids in my classes!

My last week

So this is my last week of being just a student on summer vacation. Starting next week I will be doing my student teaching and then I will graduate. I've been getting stir crazy lately as I try to figure out what to do with the last boxes of my junk and just sitting at home waiting for Brad to get home from work. One thing is for certain..... I would struggle as a stay at home wife. I have been searching for a hobby to keep myself busy. I'm hesitant to really start anything because I know once school starts I'm likely to abandon any project or hobby that I have started. I decided to buy a quart of paint and to paint a bookshelf that we inherited from my aunt and uncle. I'll probably post pictures of it when it's done if it turns out well. I made a bunch of designs out of painters tape and I'm hoping that everything will turn out alright when I am done painting. We've been waiting for our internet to officially be set up (it's not stealing if the neighbors don't secure their network...) So today I think I'm stuck at home waiting for the the Qwest guy to get here. He was supposed to come yesterday but apparently the guy who put in our order messed up a code or something and didn't actually put in our request, instead there was a note made in our file saying that our home alarm was messing up our internet........ huh? Because we have a home alarm..... Whatever. Hopefully it gets taken care of soon cause I'd really rather use a secure network, plus I have a feeling I"m getting charged for internet that doesn't work. So for the next few days I plan on getting up early and painting a few more coats on the bookshelf while the weather is still cool and then I'll watch the Olympics until Brad gets home. I know I'll miss this boredom someday, but for now I'm just ready for something to do.

When my husband got kidnapped: dedicated to Traci and Celeste

Ok fine Traci and Celeste I'll post about the time you tried to be creepy but failed.

So before Brad and I left Logan we went to a movie with Ryan and Mel. When we got home there was a lovely note on my door typed in the newspaper clipping style font that said that if I ever wanted to see my husband again I would have to go to a park and do a headstand and then leave 10 different colored skittles on a bench. It was signed BARB. That's right Barb, someone (or 2 someones) is doing evil things and blaming you. Well my husband was standing right next to me so I knew the threats were idle. I said to him, "Do you want me to go do this so that I can see you again?" And he replied,"No those demands are unreasonable, you would have to buy several different bags of skittles to get 10 different flavors." And so I didn't.