I Am a Utah Man, Am I!

This holiday season has brought snow, cold weather, and a suprise! Yep, that's right a surprise! Parley and I are moving back to Utah right after the new year. We will report to Salt Lake City sometime on January 9th or 10th. Parley has accepted a new job offer with a company called Career Step based out of Provo. He is excited and anxious to start his new adventure and is looking forward to working with talented businessmen. With this new company, Parley will have to travel quite often, but after lengthy discussions we both feel and agreed that if he ever were to travel, it would be best for us to be in Utah for right now. Thus, we are making the journey back. We are excited to reunite with our family and friends for the time being.

Minnesota has been wonderful to us. We have met so many wonderful people and friends that will last forever. The members of the Maple Grove ward are amazing people and we are sad to leave them. We know we will always stay in touch with them. They have taken us in and have loved us and helped us become the people we are today. We will always be grateful for this time in our life together as a married couple, because of the impact our "new family" has had on our lives. Thank you to you all! You will be truly missed. Parley has been assigned the Midwest as his area of coverage, so we know we will visit often.

We are excited for the Christmas season and for all of the many blessings the New Year will bring. Merry Christmas to you all and Happy New Year!

Everything is Possible - Great video!

I found this awesome video on a friend's gmail status, of all places. The things these people can do are amazing! It must have taken them a TON of PRACTICE and NO FEAR. It's inspiring because it makes me think of what I can accomplish if I try hard enough and am resiliant. Watch the video, it's really cool! You'll have to pause the blog music at the bottom of the screen so that you can hear the soundtrack to the video.

They'll break your heart

Last night we went to the Jazz vs. Timberwolves game with our friends Ryan and Kylie Merrill. Parley and Ryan are BIG Jazz fans! When Parley and I were dating, we had to watch every game! We bought the cheapest seats we could but then just went down to sit in the lower bowl behind the Jazz bench. It was pretty fun when we were dominating, but after halftime it was rediculous to see them let the lowly T-Wolves back into the game and eventually win. Seriously, how do we lose to the 2nd worst team in the NBA? The Jazz need to play better on the road, but that's nothing new. It's frustrating, but I don't really let it ruin my night like it does for Parley. After the game we went back to Ryan and Kylie's new house and watched the end of a football game. They are fun to hang out with. We're thankful to be friends with them.

Here's our team. What's up with Deron William's new huge jaquar tattoo? That thing is ugly...I liked the "No Guts" and "No Glory" on his triceps much better. haha. These guys in the NBA are crazy with all their tats. There are a couple good new rookies on the team, but for some reason the main group hasn't been playing very consistent. Well, it's a long season and we're on pace to make the playoffs, but we need to get on it if we want to make a post season run. Go Jazz!

Catching up!

Wow... I think I am the worst blogger! Ha! I haven't blogged for a couple of months and so many fun things have happened. So... it is time to catch up, if y'all know what I'm saying. Here is a recap. The Fall season, which is now coming to an end since the last time I wrote, has been a short one. Actually, for a while there I thought we were going to skip Fall, (my favorite season of all time), and go directly to winter. Some days in October were a bit sketchy and freezing. It has even snowed a couple of times. Parley says, "you just have to compartimentalize the winter, which makes it easier to bear," I guess! What a character! I don't think any sort of mechanism is going to help this winter be more bearable... YUCK! I probably should start having a better attitude, because the winter might even be longer if I don't.

Let's see... October was full of all sorts of Halloween festivities. I even was able to throw Haloween party, with the help of our friends Patrick and Maria Tedjamulia. It was The First Annual Halloween Spooktacular! Thanks again guys! It was off the hook. So many people came. We had so much fun with all the decorations, games, and food. We even made a couple of Youtube videos, one of which stars the Maple Grove Single (Married) Ladies. You should check it out!

Parley went out of town the last week of October. Okay can you say, NO SLEEP! Yeah I didn't sleep one bit the entire week. It was my first time ever being alone in a new city. I was a little terrified. I made Parley stay on the phone with me the entire night one of those nights. He fell asleep of course and all I could hear was him snoring and breathing... which was not helping me one bit. Let's just say we didn't try that again! I think that was the longest week of my life! Our dear friends the Ayllons took me in and fed me a couple of nights. They are the best family. We have enjoyed so much meeting new friends, and a few in particular have become really close with us, which helps with all of the homesickness I seem to be having still.

Parley and I ventured out to see an apple farm again this year. Although, I think we had more fun last year. The weather which we thought was going to be good, ended up being really cold and overcast. We didn't stay long, it was just enough time to share a huge gingersnap and check out the craft boutique. I totally want to have my own boutique some day! How fun would that be! Halloween night was a blast! We went over to the Ayllon's home againg and watch the Utah vs. Wyoming game with our other friends Cameron, Wendy, and Miley Clark. Cameron and Wendy both went to Wyoming for their undergrad and Cameron actually played football there. We thought it would be so fun to get together and watch the game. Sorry, Cameron Wyoming is no match for the Utah Utes! We killed'um~!


Speaking of Utah Utes. They are 8 and 2! Not as good as last years record, but they are still a great team and we love watching the running Utes play ball. November has been filled with Utah football, which is the way we like it. The game against TCU, well I really have no comment on that one, other than Las Vegas Bowl, maybe? We got creamed! TCU is amazing this year, but it didn't help that one of our great Utah players is injured and that the game was played on TCU's home field either. All I can say is off to the Cougar Stadium to cream BYU. Look out Cougs, we're comin at ya! Parley I don't think has ever missed a BYU vs Utah game...ever! So guess what? We are making the trek back to Utah this weekend to spend the Holidays back home. Yep, we are driving. Well we really don't have another choice in the matter. My car's lease is up and it has to be turned back into the bank in December. We thought it would be better to drive out now rather than wait and drive in December when the weather is a lot worse. Road Trip!! Parley is dreading it, but I said we would have fun. I am going to read New Moon to him, which is the second book of the Twilight Saga! He and I watched the first one together a couple of weeks ago. In the need to be matcho, Parley just won't come out and say he really liked it. He says, "it was okay," with a huge grin on his face, and We All know and love that grin. Ha! I can't wait to see the New Moon movie with my sister. She is actually going to the mid night showing tonight, but she said she will definitely see it again with me when I get into town. Jacob is a Hunk-A-Hunk of Burning Love in this one!

What else... Oh I don't think I mentioned that I was deathly sick a couple of weeks ago too! I mean it was awful. I have never been that sick in my entire life. Well, maybe not my entire life, but as far as I can remember. I thought I had the big "SWINE FLU"... ha! But come to find out after waiting an hour and a half at the Urgent Care, I had what is called Viral Pharyngitis... yeah don't ask me what that is. I guess it is kind of like Strepp Throat, but not as severe. I wouldn't bring it up to Par, because it's sort of a sore subject... :)! Anyways, I had a fever of 102.4 for two days, my throat was swollen shut, my body ached like you wouldn't believe, and I couldn't get out of bed. After being sick for almost 5 days straight, I decided that I needed to go to Urgent Care. The doctor, bless his heart, said go home, drink lots of fluids, and get lots of rest. Duh... I could have told myself that! Really! Well I can't wait to see the bill! This will be classic!

Happy days are here again.. I am all better. We are excited to see our families and friends, to watch the big game, and eat lots of Gobble, Gobble! We haven't been back to Utah for four months. I think that is my limit. I can only go so long, ya know! I can't wait to see my nieces and sisters and brother, Mom and Dad, John, Diane, and Sam, and all our friends. I can't wait to get my hair and nails done too. It's going to be a great week. I think this about covers the recap. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Go Utes!

Another Season Has Begun!

Live with Dancing with the Stars! Fall isn't just for football fans, it is also for avid ABC watchers! All of my favorite shows are starting back up, one of which is Dancing with the Stars! From tonights episode, it looks like it is going to be another great competition. I am looking forward to the fun dances, stand up comedy, the bloopers, and seeing how the stars improve each week. I am a huge fan of Cheryl Burke. She could make anyone look like a pro. I also am looking forward to seeing more from Donnie Osmond and the pro dancer Ashley and her new snowboarding partner. There were some pretty neat dances tonight and some of the star dancers weren't too shabby. I always like to predict who is going to win from the very first episode, but I can't decide between two couples. It is going to be a close competition. Parley will have his Monday night football fix and I can have my dancing fix. Ha! FHE, Football, and Dancing with the Stars, what more can you ask for on a Monday night.

Awe The Weekend...

TGIF (Thank Goodness Its Friday)! I am so glad the weekend is here. Now that I am working at the Primrose West Plymouth school, I look forward to Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays. I love working with all the little pre-schoolers and the afterschool kids, but by the end of the week, I am exhausted. I really enjoy my job though and it is helping me to prepare to become a mom. This week has been a crazy week. Primrose is short handed so I have worked extra hours to help them out, which by looking at my apartment, it shows that I am a bit behind. Good thing I will have most of today and Saturday to clean it up. What a mess! Tuesday night I went out for a GNO (Girls Night Out) with some ladies in my ward. Boy, was I in need of one of those. Ha! We ate at Mongos Grill... so, so good! We laughed, talked, and enjoyed getting to know each other better. Thanks girls for a really great time! Parley has been studying every night for an hour or two. He is doing a great job. Keep up the hard work honey! Tomorrow is another exciting Utah game. Go Utes! They are playing Oregon. They are 2 and 0 right now and we are hoping they continue their winning streak. We love the "U" games. After the Utah game, Parley and I are going to be heading up to the Albertville Outlets. I've been wanting to go shopping there and check it out for sometime now. We have passed it a couple of times driving to various places and it looks to have really great stores. I love outlet stores because you can find awesome stuff for great prices.... Not only am I excited for shopping, but I get to spend quality time with my cute husband. Date night will have to be on Saturday. We'll eat at a nice restaurant and do a little shopping while we are out. We have quite the weekend ahead of us!

Go Vikings

If you can't tell already, we love sports. It's awesome to live in city with professional teams for all the major sports. Parley's friend has season tickets to the Vikings and gave them to us for their last pre-season game against the Cowboys. This was my first NFL game. I'm more of a college football fan, but this game was fun too. I have a pretty sweet picture of Tony Romo while he was standing on the sideline, but Parley said the only way I could post it is if I let him include one of Jessica Simpson...well, that's not going to happen so you'll just have to believe me that I saw him. The Vikings are off to a great start, winning their first game today. It's fun to have Brett Favre here in Minnesota since he is one of Parley's all-time favorite NFL players. Hopefully he'll help them have a good season. I dated Parley last fall, but since we were long-distance I didn't see how completely obsessed he is with the sport. I better work more on my hobbies because I think he'll be doing alot of football the next few months. If the pictures seem small, click on the collage to blow it up.