My life in Music

The other day, I was searching for a song on my IPod. As I was randomly skipping through some of the songs, I had floods of memories come back to me as I listened to bits of songs. I realized, that music reminds me of so much! Entire albums remind me of certain periods of my life. I want to share them with you because some of you were there with me!

"A Season for Courage." One of my roommates (Cami?) brought this to school with her. I'd never heard it before. But the music was wonderful! I still listen to it all of the time! Brother Kunz was my seminary teacher my senior year of High School. I remember hearing him sing his songs, and like the other, I loved them. These two music albums are VERY important to me because they helped me to gain my own testimony of the gospel.

Okay, some of you may think I'm a lame, 13 year old girl. And I suppose I could be. But I love Avril Lavigne. At least her first album and some of her second and third. During an internship I had, my friend Jo and I used to drive around in the company truck blaring her. We were listening to it when I got us stuck in the gravel, when we put scratches up and down both sides of the truck, and when I got the truck stuck on a log pole fence and dented the bumper. Plus, Complicated was popular the summer Jake and I dated, and on our first date, I think we heard it on the radio a dozen times.

Ironic was an anthum for Anna and I. Once we were riding our bikes past the house of a boy she like (I know you love Jack!) and we belted it at the top of our lungs. Then we went and bought penny candy! I think we were only 14 or 15!

Okay, once again, you may think I'm a 13 year old girl. "A Walk to Remember" Becky and I went and saw this movie probably six or seven times at the cheap theatre in Idaho Falls the summer of 2002. That was the funnest summer of my life!!! At least my single life. Summer in Rexburg was sooo much fun! So whenever I hear this music, it makes me think of Becky and that fabulous summer!

Okay, I've always liked Kenny Chesney. Even though he's short and bald. I think I started to like this album that same summer 0f 2002. My roommate, Angela, copied it onto a tape for me. Remember those? But I really just like it because it has so many really good songs on it!

Once again, please don't think I'm a tard or anything. I really hate Barbie Girl. But I really, really enjoy most of the rest of this album. Its so danceable. I used to crank it up and shower. I'm sure the roomies loved that! Stacey brought this to us. It was so much fun to dance to!

Tim McGraw's Set This Circus Down was the first album I bought in high school alone. That sounds weird. I was always being influenced by people to buy certain things, or not buy certain things. But this was the first one I bought absolutely all by myself! Such a big girl! I love these songs, they're sooo good! I'm not a music critic, so that's what you get. They're so good!

Am I noticing a trend here? My mom and I used to watch Pure Country all the time. She still calls me to tell me when its on tv, even though we don't have tv. Plus it has the best love song of all time on it. I Cross My Heart You can't tell me that song doesn't make you tear up a little bit!

What's to say? Its Michelle Branch! I actually think Becky introduced her to me, too. That wonderful summer! But I listen to it while I drive, and I sing REALLY loudly. So if you ever see me singing in the car, its probably this. Every single song on her first album is awesome and so good. Once again, not a music critic! Her next couple albums haven't been nearly as good as this one. But I do like her country twang!

There is lots and lots of music that bring back memories for me. Theres always the high school songs that I detest now from n'sync or Britney Spears. I just thought of another! Bowling for Soup. Jake likes them, so they make me think of him. He's so cute! These are just some of the complete albums that remind me of some of the people I love! What music brings back memories for you?

New Bed

For Christmas we splurged on ourselves. A few months ago, a local furniture store was having a massive retirement sale. So we went to look. But we weren't going to buy. Just look. Yeah right. Well, we ended up getting this beautiful bed for quite a steal if I do say so myself! I love it! It doesn't slide across the floor when you sit on it! Anyway, that meant that we could finally get our old rickety bed out of there and put it in our spare room. Please don't judge me by the ugly flowered chair in this picture. My mom used to rock me in the chair, its so comfy, and it has a nice little squeek! The only down side is that its really ugly and covered in cat hair. But I can't bare to get rid of it!

Smiling Cookie!

A few weeks ago, I baked some cookies. I gave this one to Jake and he started laughing hysterically because his cookie was smiling at him! That was a bit ago, and the cookie is still sitting on our counter. I think I'll sell it on ebay. Any opening bids?

Another Tag!

Where is your cell phone? In my purse
Where is your significant other? At work
Your hair color? Dark brown
Your father? Post Master in Bonners Ferry
Your mother? Silly
Your favorite thing? Being home with Jake
Your dream last night? Is that the cat?
Your dream/goal? Having a family
The room you’re in?I'm at the Library
Your hobby? Music, Birds
Your fear? I'm a chicken! I'm scared of a lot of stuff
Where do you want to be in 6 years? So many places...
Where were you last night? At home cozy in bed
What you’re not? A clean freak
One of your wish-list items? $1200 binoculars (yeah right)
Where you grew up? Shelley
The last thing you did? Had a job interview
What are you wearing? Job interview garb
Your TV? Only Channel 8
Your pet? Porkchop the whiniest cat ever!
Your computer? Used mostly for Zoo Tycoon!
Your mood? Confused
Missing someone? Always missing Jake, and friends who are gone far away!
Your car? Blue Passat
Something you’re not wearing? Slippers
Favorite store? Barnes and Noble, PetSmart
Your summer? Gone!
Love someone? Always!
Your favorite color? Blue and Red
When is the last time you laughed? This morning
Last time you cried? I wanted to cry this morning, but I think it was a few nights ago

I tag everyone who reads this!

Our Love Story

I was sorta tagged! Here ya go!

1. Where did you first meet your husband?
Jake was my FHE (Family Home Evening) brother at BYU-Idaho. He used to hang out with my roommates and I. All my roommates thought he was dreamy, but with my skill, I was able to bag him!

2. What was the first thing you said to your husband?
I don't really remember. Probably "Hey" or something similar. I think we played games that first FHE night, so I was probably a little out of control.

3. Where was your first date?
We went to my favorite restaraunt, Chilis! Then we went to a movie, "Signs." Jake says I screamed all the way through it. I think he's making it up!

4. Where was your first kiss?
On the front porch of the house I was living in. We stood there for 20 minutes talking while Jake got up the nerve. We both wanted him to do it, but I wasn't going to do it!

5. Did you have a long or short engagement/courtship?
We dated for about three months before we were engaged, then we got married six months later. I don't recommend a six month engagement. By the end, I was so antsy to be married I didn't do very well on some of my finals!

6. Where did you get engaged?
On the front step of my apartment building. Jake had me convinced that he was going to do it on another day, but then he suprised me. It was nice!

7. Where did you get married?
In the Idaho Falls Temple!! It was so pretty and quiet and just nice.

8. How did the reception go?
It was fine. Looking back we both desperatly wish we had just eloped though. We had a ring ceremony, which was fine I guess. But I barely remember it, just through the pictures we have.

9. How was the honeymoon?
We went to Glacier National Park in Montana. Most of the park was still closed because it was snowy, and we had to detour a little bit because of snow. Our pictures were nice though. I can't believe how skinny I was!

Ok, so now I tag anyone who feels like sharing there story or would just like to reminisce.

Army of Women

I think that most of us have been touched by, or known somebody who has had breast cancer. My mom had it almost five years ago, she is really close to being in the clear! That makes me so happy! Scientists are doing lots of research to find cures and new treatments to help women. They've even found vaccines for other cancers, like cervical cancer. They've been able to do this because they know what causes this cancer! And that's the tricky thing about breast cancer. They don't know what causes it. I saw this segment of "The View" this morning. Dr. Susan Love has started a foundation sort of thing called Army of Women. Check out the web page here: www.armyofwomen.org. She is gathering a million women of different ages, races, from all over the country. As they conduct different studies they will contact the specific women that they need that match the criteria. But if we all sign up, we can all contribute to helping find a cure for breast cancer! If you don't want to do it for yourself and possibly YOUR future, do it for those you know who have had cancer! We can all make a little difference!

Yellowstone National Park

Every year we go to Yellowstone National Park at least three times. Well this summer has flown by so quickly we only got to go once this past weekend. We totally got rained out! I havn't seen that much rain in a really long time! But before it rained, we had a lot of fun. Here are some

pictures. We left about 6:30 so we could stop in St. Anthony and pick up Nik. We got into the Park about 9ish. We headed straight for Old Faithful because Nik had never seen it. Here is a picture of the two guys. Don't they look excited to be there? It didn't let us down! How crazy is it that ever hour or so, water erupts out of the earth and sprays 300 feet into the air? I think thats amazing! Then we headed up the road around Yellowstone Lake, which in itself is breathtaking and sooo beautiful! We saw Goldeneys bobbing all along the shores. Then we stopped at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. So pretty. Here's Jake and I and another picture of the waterfall. We had cold fried chicken from Albertson's for lunch. I don't know why but its so good. But our big adventure from our trip was the encounter with a buffalo! We were driving and as most of you know, the bison are constantly on the road and you always have to wait for them to move. Well, when it was our turn to go, some started to cross, so we waited for them to go by. But a huge bull and a teenagish cow stopped right in front of the car. The bull was NOT happy! He was bellowing and swinging his head around. We wern't sure what to do. So we waited. Well, at one point he put his head down and took a step toward our car. I'm not sure if I'm explaining this well enough to get the point across, but he wasn't happy and he was going to let somebody know it. All three of us in the car were sure that we were them. I think the thing that saved us was this cow that was standing between us. Because he wasn't moving. He stood his ground when that big bull wanted to move. Thanks to you little cow! Needless to say that it was scary. The rest of the day went well though, although we did get pounded with rain. We stopped at Big Jud's on the way home, and it was also so wonderful! This is a picture of a happy buffalo. We like them.

Piano Lessons

I have decided to start teaching piano lessons. If anyone knows anybody who wants to learn, let them know. I think beginner to intermediate, I'm not good enough to do advanced. It'll be $10/half hour, or whatever we can work out together. And not just for little tykes, but if any adults want to also. On Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday days or afternoons. So if you could let people know if you hear them inquiring, that would be great! Thank you!

"I have a big head, and little arms"

Okay, for those of you who havn't seen this movie, you should. This is a wonderful, innocent story of an orphan boy, Lewis, who invents things and wants to be part of a family. During a science fair, he gets a visit from an older boy, Wilbur, from the future. He takes Lewis back to the future and they get into some trouble then get out of trouble, and its a happy story. The part that I love about this story is that Lewis is an orphan. And at first he wants a family, then he decides that he dosn't. Well, while he's in the future Wilburs family wants to adopt him. Anyway, its a great story. And I have to say that every time I watch it, I cry. Not just a tear or two, but I sob into my tissues. It just touches my heart! I recommend it to everyone who wants a feel good movie.

Yard Sale!!!

So Jake's family decided that they wanted to have a yard sale. So we're going to combine and have a giant family yard sale this Saturday! I know its a little late in the season, but hopefully we'll still get lots of people. Jake's sister has a whole bunch of boys and she said she's got lots of clothes, so if you need boy clothes, I'm sure she's got tons! We also have three bikes, they just need a little love, but they'll be great for somebody. So everybody tell people and come buy our stuff!!

Bird Watching

Yesterday, we celebrated Jake having a day off for Labor Day and went birding. We saw three new species that we hadn't seen before. This is a Virginia's Warbler. We didn't take this picture, but we took the other two. Isn't he cute?

We also saw a Red-Necked Phalarope. I know, he dosn't have a red neck, but ya know winter feathers. We were actually looking for his close cousin, Wilson Phalarope, but alas.

This is a Least Sandpiper. Don't ask me why he's least to his cousins, because I think he's pretty cool. He's only about four inches tall. And he has orange legs. Sexy.
I love to bird watch. It makes me appreciate God's earth and wonderful creations more and more each time we go. Heavenly Father has a good spirit about Him. In one of President Bednar's talks a while ago, he said that often Heavenly Father will bring things to us that bring us joy. Well this summer, with gas being so dang expensive we havn't been able to go birding as much as we would really like. So this summer He has sent the birds to us. This summer we have seen soooo many little birdies at our bird feeder and bath than we ever have before! And I am so thankful to Him because it has kept our spirits high this summer! Birds make me happy!

Cool Running

So now that I've discovered why I'm a little pudgy, its easier to do something about it. Should it be like that? I should've been motivated before, but I wasn't, now I am. Here's what I'm doing. Its a very simple program that has been set up to help the laziest of the lazy run a 5K. So I'm going to do it! I started on Tuesday. The first week you run for 60 seconds, then walk 90. For 20 minutes. I gotta tell you, at first I thought that this was going to be easy! Apparently I am the laziest of those lazies! Nearing the 13 minute mark, I thought I was going to die. I had sweat running across every inch of my body, and I must say, I did not smell so fine! But I have stuck it out this week and must say I am proud of myself. I still don't smell so fine afterwards though. I will keep you posted on my progress!

Home Remedies

I'm not a big advocate of home remedies. Using weird things to fix something that could be fixed with an asprin or a bottle of 401. However, in the last couple of weeks, I've come across a couple that have actually worked, and worked really well!

First, a couple of weeks ago, I had a cold, but I had the worst sore throat I've ever had. Remember that old commercial, "It will hurt if I swallow!" That was me. So Jake got online and found me a cure. The recipe is this;

1 cup of water (I used hot chocolate)
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

I'm really not a fan of spicy. He found a variet of recipes that had stuff like honey and herbal tea. I only used a little less than 1/8 teaspoon in my hot chocolate and it was very spicy. I couldn't taste it, but it burned my lips. Somebody suggested using vaseline on your lips when you drank it. Anyway, it totally worked! I still had a little bit of sore throat, so I guess if I had taken all of it it would've worked completely. But what relief!

The second thing I read somewhere online looking for things to do with lemon juice. I don't know about all of you, but I'm not very good at keeping my microwave clean. I took the lemon juice that comes in one of those lemons and I mixed it with about that much water and I boiled it in the microwave for about six minutes then I let it stand for about five minutes. Then I took a rag and everything just wiped off. I didn't have to scrub anything! It was wonderful!

Hypothyroidism

I have that. Hypothyroidism. In case some of you don't know what that is, its when your thyroid does not make enough thyroid hormone. Which leads to being tired all of the time. Here is a link, webmd.com, if any of you want to read up on it, because I know ya do. This explains why some days I am so tired. It also explains why sometimes I can barely drag myself out of bed or off of the couch! I may be a little vain, but it also explains why I am getting puggier, and can't loose any weight! So for those of you who've know me for the last few years and have noticed my expanding waste line, thats why! Hopefully in the next year or so, I'll be able to loose some of that. I can't tell you what a relief it is to actually have a reason for all of these crazy things I've had going on! I do have a complaint about the lady that took my blood the other day though! She ripped a hole in my arm! I've had a huge bruise for a week now! Ouch!

Survey

ENJOYING: The warm summer days
CRAVING: Popsicles
REGRETTING: Not much right now
LISTENING: Toby Keith, "Should've been a cowboy" One of the best country songs ever!
WEANING: myself off of sweets. again.
PLANNING: Youth Conference for August 8-9. Any volunteers?
LOOKING forward to: My birthday in a couple weeks
MISSING: lots of friends
READING: Only scriptures right now. Anyone have a good suggestions of good books?
CONSIDERING: going to the temple tomorrow afternoon
NEEDING: to see Jake again. I think I'm addicted to him
DECIDING: I hate deciding things
FEELING: happy!
LOVING: Jake, without him my life would be so sad

Top 10 Summer Senses

I've been tagged!

10 Being outside, early, when only nature is awake!
9 Waking up to birds in the mornings
8 Cool evenings after HOT days
7 Laying in the cool grass, in the shade, looking at the clouds
6 Banana popsicles, need I say more?
5 The smell and taste of BBQed hamburgers
4 Fresh strawberries every day!
3 The refreshing smell of rain in the afternoon
2 Watermelon after a day of yard work
1 The smell of fresh cut grass

Now I tag Jessica, Angela, Sara, Natalie

#28 for Jake

Jake turned 28 on Wednesday. We threw him a little party. When I say little, I mean it was me and him and the cat. What a party. This is Porkchop, dosn't he look thrilled?We think it's funny when he sleeps while he's sitting. Here's the loot Jake got. How old was he again? I love him.



He's been wanting the huge transformer since he was two, I'm sure. I'll post pictures before and after, after I can figure it out.

A couple of weeks ago, Jake requested a shark cake for his birthday. I have prided myself on my cake decorating skills, and thought, this won't be hard. I'll whip it out the day before, and it'll look great! Well, much to my chagrin, well, you'll see.

So here is the picture of a cute shark cake I found online. How cute is that?

Well, I looked at it, studied it, and tried to figure out how they did it. I really tried! Here is my first attempt.

Apparently I didn't read it close enough. And dang it for my moist cake touch. It wouldn't hold itself up if it had a million dollars! Anyway, I read what the girl said about her cake. It turns out she made it in a loaf pan. What a good idea! Why didn't I think of that? Well, that went in the garbage (after a good nibble). I decided to just do it on my own, and not look at other pictures. Here's how it turned out.

Please don't judge me by the junk on my cupboards. Anyway, I think this cake turned out significantly better than the first one did! Happy Birthday Jake!

Black Tongue

So yesterday morning, I was going about my business. I packed Jake's lunch, showered, put on my face, and brushed my teeth. Nothing unusual for me, a normal routine! As I spit my toothpaste/slobbers out, I noticed something very different. It was BLACK! Oh my gosh, I opened my mouth, and my tongue was black!! Not just sucked on a purple popsicle black, but midnight black. What is going on here? I scrubbed again with my toothbrush, able to get most of whatever it was off. Freaky! I mentioned this to Jake later in the evening. We discussed what it could be. I mentioned I woke up with a hurting tummy in the night and had taken a couple of PEPTO tablets. But that's the only thing. That couldn't possibly be it. He told me I should google it. So I did I found all sorts of people who had suffered the same ailment. Here's what I found:



Pepto-Bismol has been known to cause one’s tongue and stool to turn black. This form of “black tongue”, however, is a result of the separation of bismuth from salicylate, forming bismuth trisulfide (Bi2S3) in combination with the sulfur found in saliva.



I also found this pepto page with all sorts of weird information. I tried to find a picture to share with you all, but couldn't. I know you're all sad.

Don't you think they should put that on the package?

I love to see the temple!

I went to the temple this morning. Oh, how I love the temple! I went with a head full of questions. I didn't get every single answer that I wanted, but I definitely gained peace and a calm heart. Now I feel like I can answer those other questions. Seriously, who does not love the temple? I've been boosted for weeks!

mowing the lawn

Well, we are so excited that summer is finally here! Some of you may have noticed that we are slow to catch up to it. Specifically, we need to mow the lawn. First, I would like to thank our neighbors. We have a small patch of grass that we share. Occasionally, or always, we are the second to mow our half of that patch. And you have never complained. Never! Not once! At least not to our faces. And we appreciate it. The only sign you give that you noticed we haven't mowed our half, is to go ahead and mow it for us. Thank you for dealing us a large slice of "get off your butt and mow your lawn" pie. It may sound like I am outraged by this, or that it annoys me. But really, I thank you. Do you think you could do the back?

30 Things About Our Family

Here are 30 things that you may, or may not, need to know about our family.


1. We love to go bird watching.
2. We love our cat, Porkchop.
3. Porkchop has a dog costume. Oh yeah, and a clown wig.
4. We bought our house in August 2005, and we love it!
5. We drive a Passat.
6. But Jake's dream car is a 78 Corvette, black, T-top.
7. I just want a car that is pretty and gets me where I want to go.
8. We don't have kids.
9. But we have enough toys and kids books for three kids. Hmm!
10. I love double stuf OREOS.
11. Jake loves sharks and dinosaurs.
12. We both got new bikes for our birthdays last year.
13. It rained the day we got married, so we took our temple pics the next weekend.
14. I wish we had beautiful gardens all around our house.
15. We don't have the internet.
16. We use Jake's blackberry
17. I call it his blueberry.
18. I am nauseatingly scared of fire and tornadoes.
19. Jake is scared of nothing.
20. We watch the birds out our windows and then look them up in books and read about them.
21. Porkchop wakes me up at around 4 AM every morning for breakfast, he dosn't go away till I do.
22. I wish I could run a marathon, and I wish I was motivated.
23. Jake and I cook most our dinners together.
24. I hate politics.
25. We have a season pass to Yellowstone/Teton Parks.
26. We have a pass to Tautphaus Park zoo,too
27. Jake plays the saxaphone and is learning to play the guitar.
28. I play the piano and violin.
29. Jake love his proffession so much (not his job), he does it at night when he gets home.
30. We are never going to move again.

Our First Post

Well, we are joining the world of blogging. For those of you that read this, you will quickly find out, that we aren't that exciting! Our big news for the month is our 5 year anniversary coming up on Saturday, the 3rd. I can't believe that its been five years already! Time goes so fast. Its been great though!

Tomorrow is my last day of work at my current job. I've worked as a teacher's aide, for a second grade class, for about six months. Those kids are so cute! I will be pretty sad to leave them all. I'm trying to decide what I can do for them. Maybe I'll buy them pencils. Kids always need pencils. "Mrs. Ricks? Can I trade my pencil?" Oh sad.

On the upside, I start my new job on Monday! I will be working for the USDA (Deparment of Agriculture) as a soil sampler. I'm slightly nervous, mostly because I don't know what to expect. I suppose I'll be walking a lot and digging in the dirt a lot. But I'm happy because I'm finally using my college education, after four years!

We'll keep you posted!