Outdoor Excitement

This is why I love Utah...

The Narrows @ Zions National Park


It was so fun to watch Brick's cousins, Kayden and Kenyon
chase lizards and make Matrix moves off the cliff walls.

Hubba Hubba! Check out those MUSCLES!

This weekend we also got to spend some time with our friends Laura and Harv, who were visiting from California. We roasted some INCREDIBLE smores and laughed at Harv as he used up a whole bottle of lighter fluid to start the fire.

Yeah, it was THAT good!

The Savior's Enabling Power

Well the new semester did not wait for me to be ready...It has just plowed straight ahead without asking my permission. That seems to happen to me a lot. Change is good, but hard, and it never asks for our consent.

Brick continues to enjoy his new job at Verizon, especially since his trainer is Spock himself, you know, from Star Trek (at least I think it's Spock...might be one of those other weirdos...Star Trek Geeks, I apologize for my lack of ST knowledge). Seriously, this guy dresses up and goes to Star Trek conventions and everything, and totally looks authentic. Anyway, Brick pretends he's not a ST Geek himself and gets a kick out of the guy.

As for me, I am taking 16 credit hours, but as I like to tell people, this is my "fun semester." Three English classes, a photography class, a wheel-pottery class, and an institute class. I finish in December, and I figured I'd go out with a bang!

I am so excited about my classes, especially my institute class. It's "The Enabling Power of the Savior," and when I walked into the class yesterday, it felt so right. The past week has been a struggle for me, as I have had some hard news about my Grandma Maxine. I grew up next to her, and last semester finished up her life story. She is so close to my heart. Among other things, she has recently had to have her leg amputated, and has only been allowed by her caregiver to take Tylenol for the pain. It breaks my heart to consider the suffering she has been enduring. I think about how the hydrocodone I took for my wisdom teeth was sometimes not enough, and then I think of my poor grandma. My family has been praying so hard for her to receive the care she needs, but we are so far away and feel helpless.

As I have considered all this, and then walked into my class, I felt so strongly that the Savior is there for her. I realized that His atonement works for all kinds of pain, and that perhaps she is being allowed to suffer for just a little while so that, if nothing else, her granddaughter can learn the power of the Atonement. I still pray for her comfort and even release, but now I realize that all things happen for a reason, and I have to trust that.


P.S. I apologize for writing so much, again.

Stephanie Meyer, Watch Your Back

My first day of fiction writing went like this: I sit down next to a blonde kid with an afro and sports jacket, the kind with elbow patches that professors usually wear, and an expression on his pasty face that says, "I am a self-proclaimed writer, a professional. I don't need this class. I'm just taking it for pure pleasure." I'm surprised he wasn't smoking a pipe or something.

Then the teacher announces that we are to write non-stop for ten minutes, just make sure we use the words, "broken," "angst," windshield," and "bucket," in the writing exercise. Then he says "Go!" and 30 pens hit paper with a mixture of angst and excitement. We all scribble away anxiously and the silence remains unbroken except for the sound of our concentrated breathing and the scratching of words flowing onto the surface of our future novels.

Ok, I can't think of a way to use windshield and bucket, but I can say that, while the exercise was fun, I am not too confident in my creative writing skills. Therefore, when afro kid turns to me and says (in an annoyingly sophisticated voice), "May I?" and makes to reach for my paper, I am taken by surprise. Normally I try to be nice and tend to make excuses for myself in my insecurity, but I was so surprised by his audacity that I just snorted (with disbelief in my voice), "No." His surprise was written all over his face. He couldn't believe that I had turned him down, and dejectedly turned back to his own scribbles.

The teacher goes on to tell us that, while he hates to put restrictions on our creativity, that is just what he is about to do. He further explains that we are to restrain from participating in genre writing: no thrillers, mysteries, romances, etc. In other words, no vampire stories. Darn. I am no Stephanie Meyer, but I considered walking out right then and there (I'm kidding).

Edward's cousin will just have to wait for my next fiction writing class.

Late-Night Wisdom (Teeth) Continued

Well so much for the drowsiness that those pain med bottles like to brag about. They're all talk, no action. I watched midnight creep by, then 2 a.m., then 4. I finally gave up a half hour ago, thinking maybe I could catch the sunrise or conk out on the couch. So here I am, but at least my mouth is no longer oozing drool or pain. The meds followed through on that part of their big talk.

Since I fasted before the procedure, I was starving after the numbness was gone (thank goodness it went away. The doc acted a little nervous about the location of the nerves and warned me about what could go wrong, aka paralysis of the lower jaw). But I digress. The hunger...my brother-in-law, who was very kind and also gave me a ride home from that wonderful place they call the dentist, bought me a Kiva juice. If ya'll haven't had one, you are seriously missing out on one of God's great gifts. Try the Berry Delicious. It is true to it's name.

Berry, BERRY DELICIOUS.

Then when the Hubs got home from work he bought me the most amazing soup from Paradise Cafe, Zesty Tomato. Once again, folks, ya gotta have it. But the best part of my day was the sweet treatment that came my way from another of God's great gifts...my wonderful honey. Thanks, hon, for the special treatment, and not only that half gallon of perfect goodness.

You're my favorite. You get the blue ribbon.

P.S. Once again, forgive the goofiness...

I'm Still Doped...FUN FUN FUN!!!

Pain, Amoxicillin, and Drool

Well, the wisdom teeth are finally out.

I had one chance in high school to have it done, when my dad so lovingly suggested we cross the border to Mexico where they do it cheap. Seriously, Dad? Seriously? I said no thanks

(of course!), but the last three months they started hurting so badly that I even started regretting that decision. Yeah, they hurt THAT bad.

Thankfully it never came to a trip across the border, because, as I mentioned earlier, we finally got insurance. School starts up again next week,

so I went ahead and got all four of them out.

WHAT A WACKY EXPERIENCE!

I go into the operating room, sit down, they stick an IV in my arm, I make a comment about how much I LOVE the James Christensen painting on the wall (Who wouldn't?), and then I'm waking up to a BLURRY James Christensen painting on the wall while trying to spit out the bloody gauze in my mouth. I didn't even know the IV was the anesthesia! Then I vaguely remember walking into another room, but nothing, NOTHING else. I've never been put out before, but,

WEIRD!

Did I mention how fun the blood and drooling is?

Or the numb tongue that feels like a foreign object in my mouth that gets in the way every time I try to swallow?

Or the PAIN? OH, THE PAIN!

Ok, I admit, I am fishing for sympathy, as I pretend I'm the only one who has ever had their wisdom teeth out.

However, I still wouldn't mind a smoothie or icecream, or homemade soup...(Hint, Hint)

By the way, I apologize for any weirdness or bad spelling. I'm doped up.

Now THAT is fun.

Reminiscing

When I stumbled on this picture today I couldn't help but smile. I always do when I see this particular one, and what rednecks we were. Well, we still are, but we have learned how to hide it. We have moved up a notch from mis-matched socks and hand-me-downs, but we still have the country in us. Yep, some moments in my life I can't help but think I would be willing to trade a day of bustle and unimportant business for

one barefoot day in that small town.

Oh to be young and dirty and not care!

More on Kids

I miss my family when I think about these kiddos. Its been more than two years since I've seen most of them, and some are even TEENAGERS (When the freak did that happen?)!!! I'm no longer "Aunt Tandice," but just "Candice," or "Candio," which doesn't make sense at all. They shouldn't be old enough to talk, or even decide that I deserve a nick-name, or any of that. I remember the day when I got fuming mad because my two toddler nieces got into my makeup and perfume and spread it all over their faces and the walls of my bathroom. Now they are almost old enough to wear it for real and know that lipstick does not double as blush and eyeshadow. And get this, my nephew Tanner has a

FACEBOOK ACCOUNT!

It's just too much.

I stole these pictures from my sister-in-law, Cat, who took them about ten years ago at an easter-egg hunt. Those were the days. I hope I have kids that are this chubby.

Little Michelin Babies. * Sigh.*

Aunt Tandice

I have been an aunt since I was 8 years old. I remember how exciting it was the first time one of my nephews said my name: "Aunt Tandice!" Wow, was I a proud little nina. My older siblings always told me that because they had to babysit me when I was little, that they had the right to recruit me as their babysitter as much as need be...And they really took advantage of that! Considering that I have: 8 siblings, who each have from

2 to 4 kiddos = 7 nieces & 17 nephews, they have kept me busy for the last thirteen and a half years. But I really enjoyed it, as it is really rewarding. And now that I am married, it is especially fun to see how much those kids love my husband, and vice versa.

This weekend we were able to baby sit once again, and the guinea pigs were 2-year-old McKenna and baby Cooper. They are so much fun, and I think that in that little girl I have a competitor for Brick's #1 fan. Man does she adore him. But I adore him more.

But maybe not. It's a toss-up.

A NOTE: Brick is starting to tease me about how much I blog. I admit, it is beginning to be an obsession, and the funny thing is, it took me a long time to get my own blog because I didn't think I had an interesting enough life. Well, that still might be the case, but I do enjoy my life nonetheless, so whether or not anyone else does as well, I will continue writing about it.

Creative Itch

Since I finished Spanish and Brick started working, I have become bored and my creative bone has started itching. It does that sometimes. I am my mom's daughter, and she has a VERY ITCHY creative bone. My sister-in-law Burg's received an awesome "flirty apron" at her bridal shower this last April, and I thought it was SO cute. So, I decided I would try out my new sewing machine and make one for myself.

This is how it turned out...

Happy People

These are my parents in the Phillipines. Have you ever seen two bigger smiles? I guess the lesson I'm getting from this is:

Service=Happy

Although I think if that were totally true,

the cow would have a HUGE smile....

FLAMBAM UPDATE

Last month was quite eventful as far as news goes...and I have yet again been reminded of how blessed the two of us really are. Every day I get email forwards from people complaining about the economy, health care, and just our country in general. So for Brick to have FOUND A JOB in this economic climate is big news indeed! He is now working for Verizon Wireless and (drum roll...) we finally have insurance (and GREAT insurance, at that)!!! It has been a little bit scary the last two-and-a-half years without it, and now we can breath a sigh of relief! The second bit of news is that I am finally done with my Spanish class TODAY! Another BIG sigh of relief. I will have a couple of weeks off and then it is on to my next and FINAL semester. I can't believe I made it to graduation. I knew everyone thought I would have a baby by now and would have to quite, ha ha. Well, I'm glad to say I have been able to accomplish it, and I am not at all afraid to say "good riddance" to school!

EL FIN Y ADIOS!

Ouch

It's a good thing Brick is so hard-headed (ha ha) or else this could have been worse. He was playing basketball and got head-butted by his defender. Luckily his dad is an ER physician and has mad skills with a needle! Thanks to him we didn't have to pay out or our noses for four stitches. 

p.s. I apologize for the gruesome pictures. I almost posted a video of Mark giving him stiches, but thought that might be too much for some.

Outdoor Adventures

Brick's acting like a five-year-old in this video, thus the reason I sound like I'm talking to a five-year old here. It's a little bit embarrassing...

Brick and I have been dreaming of going on a hike all summer, so last weekend we took advantage of an overcast day and set out on our adventure. Despite the allergies Utah's plants seem set off in my system, I loved seeing all the beautiful wildflowers in bloom, and really enjoyed searching for each kind of flower to snap a shot of. However, my favorite part was watching the little boy that seemed to "bloom" right in front of me. Within minutes Brick had found a "beater stick" and started hacking new trail through the forrest. When I questioned his method of hiking, he said, "You have a thing or two to learn about little boys." I guess within all grown men there lies a little boy somewhere.

You'll shoot the moon, put out the sun...

...When you love someone.

I have to remember this line (I love Brian Adam's smoky voice and wisdom!). When I was growing up I liked to think that, with all my amazing big brothers to observe and learn from, I would be a pro at spotting a winner...someone I could trust and love and share every little piece of sunshine, and sadness, with. I figured if I could take a pinch of patience from one brother and a tad of humor from another, (and I could go on and on...7 brothers), I could make the perfect man. Well, I was right, I spotted that person I had imagined in my little-girl mind, but now I find that I have to constantly remind myself to be that same kind of person, otherwise I won't deserve the man I created in my mind and then searched the world (ok, or the south west) for! Some days I wake up to breakfast in bed, or even just a sweet cuddle before the day starts, and I think, "Wow, am I lucky." Yet it doesn't take me five minutes to start picking him apart. He tells me when I start acting like that he asks himself, "Is my wife hungry, or tired, or hungry?" Usually he is right on the dot, but it's no excuse, no matter how bad a day I'm having. And my days really aren't ever THAT bad. When we were married, I had three words engraved in the inside of his ring, "Come what may." So far, much more good than bad has come my way than I could have ever asked for, and mostly that's thanks to him.

After all that rambling, I guess I should explain that I am feeling a little bit of writer's remorse for my last post. So, this is a tribute to all I love about my honey, which goes to explain

the cheesiness...but if you are anything like me, you LOVE cheese. You think cheese is one of the best things in the whole world. Well, you'll get you're fill here.

Multi-Tasking, or Not

Someone told me the other day that women are wired to multi-task and men aren't, plain and simple. I've noticed this since I've been married, as this theory has proven itself to be true time and time again when it comes to sports. This is unfortunate, because the hubby is fanatical about sports and has to watch ALL big football and basketball games (Women, am I the only one who has noticed that there seems to be a "big game" on every single night?). And when he plops himself down in front of that TV he enters some man zone from which nothing in the universe, be it a natural disaster or the telephone ringing, can disturb him. It's like he's in a tunnel where nothing else exists except that game. All conversation is banned from this tunnel, or maybe not so much banned as is just unable to sustain itself for lack of support. And as my cartoon shows, I could say anything, ANYTHING, and it would not phase him...Honey, I'm pregnant, HONEY, I spent $500 dollars today at the mall, HONEY! MY MOTHER IS COMING TO LIVE WITH US. Nope, nothing (By the way, for all my over-eager siblings, I am not pregnant).