My Birthday!

So it's been WAY too long since I've blogged. I'm a slacker. I decided that on Sundays (as I had planned when I started my blog) I need to update it. Yes, my Sundays are crazy busy for the most part. But so are all my days. But on Sundays I don't have to feel guilty about blogging instead of school work.
So the next thing that really happened since my last blog was my Birthday--which of course this year (November 26th) fell conveniently on Thanksgiving.
I am poor-ish, and so I didn't get to go anywhere away from here, but I did start my celebration on Wednesday of that week!
I went to the Temple and did my favorite (Initiatories)! Alessandra was with me (of course). Really, she stayed in Greeley so that I could be selfish and have her with me for my Birthday, hah, sad that I'm so crazy I know...
We then went to Sweet Tomatoes (a fantastic buffet, of course I had to pre-pare myself for Thanksgiving the next day) because it'd been years for me, it was yummy!
This picture was taken because I had to try all 3 of the pastas, and it was funny how little of each there was, I'm nuts.

Alessandra was worried about using the ice cream soft serve machine itself straight on the wee Sanra-size cone, so she scooped it in herself. I just thought it was really funny, she's just the cutest little girl ever!

This is what happened when I did put the ice cream directly in the cone. Lol, I thought my face was funny here!
Alessandra was then cold.
We then went to Riverdance downtown at the Denver Performing Arts Center! It was one of the most amazing things I've ever been to in my life! I drank in the whole thing and felt like I couldn't get enough. The music was phenomenal, and of course the dancing was ridiculously good! Sigh. Just remembering how good it was I wish I could go again...
We thought this statue outside of the Center was so cool we had to try to pose like them (this is with us placing the camera on a wall and using a timer, we had to run down stairs--about 20 feet away after pressing the button, haha).
Then we went to the IMAX theater in Westminster (N. Denver) to see A Christmas Carol (very appropriate name choice) on our way back up to Greeley.
We even then stopped at the Denison's (a member of our Bishopric's house) in Johnstown on our way home for their pie party. We missed some of the best of the ~20? pies they had. It was still fun.

When we got back we popped in Funny Girl and I worked on a puzzle. Alessandra almost fell asleep on the couch--it was a crazy long day! She did move to Kristin's bed to sleep, but we did stop the movie early so she could sleep.
On my Birthday itself, I started the day giving a friend a ride to work since jumping his car didn't work. Then I slept more, then we finished our movie, and I did more puzzle.

We double booked ourselves so we had TWO Thanksgiving dinners! (Remember, I'm crazy, and selfish about my Birthday.) Hehe. So we started at 2:00 with a dinner at The Coleman's (the Institute director here in Greeley).
The oldest Dalton boy who was there was cutting his roll on his second helping and the butter knife sliced his finger open and blood was squirting all over the table. This is the crime scene, there was blood that squirted over to my side of the table and we had to wash it from the wall and carpet. It wouldn't stop, he ended up at the ER with some stitches, it was crazy!
They could only find this votive candle for me when they sang to me over the pie, it was awesome! I loved it. Two years ago I had a cream puff 'cake' with tea candles. Love it!
After that we went to our Bishop's house with the Sisters and a few other kids. This is one of the only pictures I have, lame right?! I know. They were folding the napkins under Alessandra's direction. This was SUCH a great ending to my Birthday. They sang to me before we ate, and it was really really fun! Alessandra and I played the piano and sang for forever after dinner. It seriously was at least 2 hours. Hah. Perfect. Their son David even sang with us some, made me feel like I was at home with my brothers. Awesome. We ended that night with a conversation about Jane Austen/Elizabeth Gaskell!! Yeah, how ya gonna go wrong with that?!?
Josh and Serena called and talked to me, lotsa ppl wrote on my facebook and/or called/texted me. Great Birthday.

Friday was 'still' my Birthday, we got Bryn to work (4:30 am) and to buy a battery after. He passed out in my back seat. I got an oil change.
We (Alessandra of course, and Corey joined us) went to dinner at TGI Fridays (in true tradition), and I got my vanilla bean cheesecake!
I gave Alessandra the strawberry since she shouldn't have much cheesecake.
We then went to Ryan's where we played Rummikub (yes, a more complete Birthday) and watched Star Trek (I actually hadn't even seen it yet before then, whoops). I got a letter from Tanner! (He'd just gone into the mtc.)
After getting home a bit late I started watching the new Emma online...it's fanTAStic!

Saturday I also decided was an extension of my Birthday, haha. Corey's Birthday was Monday, and she said, oh, well maybe mine can start today, and I said of course, so we decided our Birthday's overlap even though their 4 days apart. Funny I know. So our ward had a Temple trip on Saturday, so I went and I did sealings which turned out perfect. Then we went to the mall and to the Container Store (the BEST and only place to get hangers, thanks to Vanessa). It was good because I hadn't gotten to stop there on Wednesday. Yes I'm crazy.
Saturday night Ashley joined us, and we had some fun leaving notes for our friend Ryan who had an eye infection in one eye and pink eye in the other.

Anyhow, the point of this was to tell about my Birthday, which of course was forever ago, and this is insanely long (though believe it or not I did leave details out), so I must be done! Maybe I'll get another blog in before it's been 3 months or something! Lol. I'm ridiculous. But I do want others to know what I'm up to. I, as any of you reading this probably know, love to just let everyone know what's going on with my life. Hence, the title of my blog site. Hah.

Oops, August, September, October?

So we've all discovered I'm AWFUL at blogging! Lol. I always want to do some sweet clever elaborate post with pictures and witty captions. Then I get behind, then I can't get caught up. And I'm always busy with something, so it just never gets done. :( But I decided that I can still post something without pictures. Though it makes me sad. The pictures just drive me crazy because I want them to upload a certain way, and I have to post them in backwards order if I don't want to have to move them around. It makes me tired just thinking about it. Sigh.

August started out with me in California with my family. My friend Alessandra came with me and that was awesome, we got to do some fun things. See some wonderful people who I wasn't expecting to get to see, it was great. My newest nephew was blessed. Then I got back and school started. Not teaching what I wanted, and ended up taking a class and started to get ready for my huge "Comp"--a comprehensive chemistry exam I have to take for a masters degree. And started as the Choir director for our Institute Choir here in Greeley--very daunting! Our school is known for teaching, and for music! We have bunches of music majors--singers even--and I am very underqualified. It was terrifying for me (believe it or not) but it's working out well so far! They're amazing!

As school started and life got crazy (since that seems to be always the time that things start to work out?), I decided to finally revamp my scripture study, with the little prodding from my new Stake President. And that's been wonderful! I think it's better than it's ever been. As it should be, right, we should always be improving our scripture study huh? ;) And I go to way too many Institute classes! At least one everyday, literally...crazy I know. Ugh. But there were too many I wanted to go to. One is a Spanish Book of Mormon class, I haven't gone every week, and I don't understand a whole lot, but it's been good. My Spanish reading & translation has been slowly improving (though I'm starting to feel at a wall because I'm not doing enough Spanish to really get very good).

September, still school, preparing for the comp, teaching, helping with a Best of EFY day camp, a barn dance, finishing up our Temple Prep class at church for the last few missionaries who've left or who're leaving shortly. Oh and throughout all of this having started sometime in June or July I think, I may have been getting caught up on all the seasons of 'The Office.' ;) Zuchinni, summer squash, tomatoes (oh reaping the benefits of knowing people with gardens), cooking, studying for my comp. I did get to fly home to California for a weekend for my niece's baptism! That was wonderful, and I got to sing with my family and hold baby Paul some more.

October, my Comp finally came. Ugh, had to be the worst test of my life! It took me 6 hours!! Very literally, I started at 8:00 am friday the 9th, and did not finish till 2:00 and I had not really finished everything because I couldn't figure it out. It was an Analytical Chemistry Comp (for any of you that it might mean something), and it just worked me over like I haven't been worked very often. I was wiped out beyond belief. But I did get to end that day wonderfully in the Temple with a girl who leaves on her mission soon, it was beautifully perfect. I did get my results the next week and I had failed--a 60%, but my professor let me redo it all, with notes and he and I discussed the problems and I got that back this week, I passed with an 89%!! I'm happy with that score! It has been a huge relief.

Now I get to focus on research somehow. :( Someday soon--like next week. I also get to finish getting ready for our Institute Choir fireside! Eek, November 22nd is the day, it's going to be pretty intense finalizing the preparations. My pianist is thankfully AMAZing and pretty close to literally a professional! So she's been a HUGE help for me, who knows close to nothing about directing a choir. But she is also the lead in the Opera here the week before. So she's insanely busy, got the swine flu and will have missed a few of the practices beforehand. A little crazy, but I'm flexible. I'm trying to learn how to use my left hand while conducting--it's so inept and I haven't been successful yet. Hah. So sad.

Well that's sorta a quick rundown of my life right now. Oh, haha, so part of the reason why I'm having a successful choir experience is because I've promised treats every week. And I make them. It's way fun for me, and a stress reliever so I love that. And they really love it. I try to make them somewhat interesting. It's helping me get to flex my domesticity skills. ;) And we're getting more guys in choir than they've ever gotten here and than I've seen in any ward choir, I'm pretty sure that it really does relate to the food.

Conference was WONDERFUL right at the beginning of October (of course)! I loved every talk, and have already gotten caught up on Priesthood, which was awesome. Then I got to start teaching the 'Teaching, No Greater Call' Sunday School class. I just love that book--it's amazing! I have amazing people in the class, I have something like 30 people who are on a list that are supposed to be in it. But some are teaching during my class, and some took it last year from me. So I've had 22, 19, and 20 in there each week so far. It's great, and I love it!

Oh, exciting, I started a puzzle before school started, a 1000 piece puzzle (my favorite), of daisies, and once school started and I wasn't around, and if I was, I always had to grade, or study. Anyhow, it's just been moved all around our living room for months, and I finished it this morning! Yay! There is one piece missing, but I bet it's around our living room somewhere, it was moved around so much. But that made me really happy.

I'm gonna try to not let it be 3 months till I post again, course it won't be 3 months till tomorrow, lol. ;)

Love to all,
Carol Joy

Grapes of Frath Murder Mystery Dinner

The year was 1920, and here are,

The Suspects:

Fearless Captain Mal, with his medals from war where he received the injury necessitating the use of a cane

Jules, the jewel thief

Bella Maria, the conturasoprano

Nadya, the Russian brothel owner

Lucie

Miles, the race car driver

Desiree Fambeau, businesswoman, proprietor of Flambeau vineyards

Wellington, businessman and expert on fine wines

or could it have been Lily, the flamenco dancer on board?

Some of the facts unravel...

Miles and Desiree may have had something going on, and Miles kept trying to hold her hand, but she was resistant in public.

She had to hold his wrist to stop him.

Jules didn't only like the jewels, but he also liked the ladies!

And liked to share the jewels with the ladies...

Miles likes to drive the cars. Fast.

It was quite the night of crazy mayhem. Lots of French accents, accusations, laughing. Good food. Good times! 'Twas a blast. As for who committed the murder?! Well guess you'll just have to do this one yourself sometime... ;)

Utah! Utah! Utah!

July has been nuts. First weekend was the 4th, and I got to pick up Alessandra from the airport in Denver as she arrived back in the US after a month studying abroad in China. It was awesome! She was only in Greeley for 4 hours. Hah, Chelsea was able take her back to the airport in the morning, but of course we got pictures in.

This was a picture Alessandra was taking of a drum she bought so she wouldn't have to take it to Utah for her family to see...

Chelsea got to come over for a bit after the Greeley Stampede, so, like I said, she was able to take Alessandra back to the airport on her way home, it was a huge help.

The second weekend of July our friend Ryan was going out to Utah for his mission president's homecoming talk, so I went along for the ride, and to see Alessandra. We were originally going to pick Alessandra up, but her parents didn't want her to leave. And her family had tickets for the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House, so Ryan and I worked friday night (till 10:30pm), I went and took a couple hour nap, and we left Greeley at 3:00am Saturday morning! Ryan, has a manual so I couldn't help drive, just help keep him awake, but he was crazy fast, and we made REALLY good time to Alessandra's house. We even had time to take a wee nap. The open house was amazing! The temple is so beautiful. I look forward to going back after it's dedicated.

This is a picture Alessandra took so I could see what I looked like with her sister Luli's glasses. I wanna get new frames, so I was just curious what I looked like. I don't think they're me...

You can't see us very well, but here we are in front of the temple. Ryan, Alessandra, Michella, Ruth, and me.

After the temple, I went down to Provo and got to hang out with Nicolle and Jillaine. Michelle was at home in California.

Sunday I got to go play with my cousins. It was really fun. Here I am with Deborah and Liza! Love those two bunches and bunches!

So the next weekend, Diane was going out to Utah for a wedding reception. So her job was to pick up Alessandra. She wanted me to go with her. Of course I wanted to. I really didn't want to cancel my Sunday School class for another week, so I told her that I'd go if we could make it back in time for church sunday morning. So we decided we'd leave Utah whenever her reception was over saturday night. Crazy, but I figured we'd be able to take turns sleeping in the back seat.

So next the question was when we would leave Colorado. Originally I thought the plan was to leave on friday morning. Then maybe friday night. But that didn't work out for Diane. So we left Saturday morning at 8:00am, and we left Utah at 9:00pm to come back. It was nuts! I hung out in Provo with Michelle, where Alessandra met up with us, and then we met back up with Diane. We got into Greeley at 4:00am sunday morning. I got 3 hours of sleep before church! It was crazy! But we all survived. Whether we've recovered or not is another issue. ;) It was fun though. And how many people can say they've gone to Utah and back from Colorado in one day?! Hah, not many. But Diane and I can. In fact it was so fast there and back that I have no pictures to show from it. How'd I manage to not take pictures? I'm really not sure.

So I got Alessandra, and sunday afternoon we made a big dinner for the Toy Family who was moving away to Mississippi on that next tuesday. We ate with them of course (oh, the food turned out amazing, orange beef with broccoli, and tons of vegies), and then hung out with them till birthday cake for Kristin Nelson followed by games at the Huffines called us away.

Alessandra got quite the workout playing with the 4 adorable kids (especially since it was so hot)!

How cute is baby Ammon?

Thursday of that week we were going over to Ryan's to have some dinner, watch some of The Office, and I had some zuchini bread to make (with yellow squash as an experiment). As I took a corner a little too fast to make the light (the one at 34 and 47th Ave, horrible light), two of the eggs jumped out and cracked. Of course I had to take a picture of Alessandra with the dripping egg. Hah, I was laughing so hard. The bread turned out awesome though!

Alessandra had to be in Colorado primarily for Chelsea & Sean's wedding and reception friday the 24th. It was great, and I'll post a blog entry about it, but when we got home we were beat! It'd been a really long day--over 12 hours down in Denver area, and dancing on hard wood with bare feet (couldn't do it in my 4-inch heels), so we soaked our poor dirty and tired feet in hot soapy water while we watched an episode of Robin Hood with Ashley! It was fun. We felt better after that.

Saturday was another wedding reception, then Sunday was filled with church (of course), choir stuff, visiting teaching, the Nursing home, packing, dinner, fireside, and finally we left Fort Collins at 8:55pm for Alessandra's house in Sandy. Doesn't Alessandra look so happy to be driving? She drove first of course.

I slept in the back seat while she drove for the first 4 hours. I slept for prolly around 2.5 hours. Not bad! Would've totally thought that would've been enough. She was still feelin alright to drive when we filled up on gas at 1:00am. Look at that! We didn't even end up having to buy gas on the Sabbath!

But we decided I'd drive anyway since I'd slept so much.

Well turned out I was WAY tired, normally I'm way good to go late at night and stuff. But turns out that was a big negatory. I was okay driving, but I was way tired. So after trying to get some Taco Bell and failing (apparently Wyoming doesn't believe in 24-hr Taco Bells, a friend mentioned Taco Bell a few too many times during the month of July, and I really wanted some), I lasted only until 3:00am.

We were already in Utah at this point. I knew we were close to Sandy, about 45 minutes away was all. But I had to close my eyes for a bit. So I pulled into a rest stop, Alessandra stirred in the backseat and I told her where we were. I curled up in the drivers seat thinking that I'd sleep for a half hour or maybe an hour. (I don't normally sleep very well in cars.) Yeah, Alessandra and I woke up at 6:00am! We slept for 3 hours! So I drove the 45 minutes to her family in Sandy, where I then slept for another 5 hours! Guess everything else in July just wore me out!

So I drove to Utah for 3 of the weekends in July (hence the blog title, know what movie it's a play on? I haven't actually seen the movie, but I've heard of it anyhow). And I saw Alessandra every weekend of July! It's been crazy!

Now Alessandra and I are at my house in California. Again, more to come later.

Till then...

Life since Nauvoo

So I decided I oughta put a little about what I've been doing since then. I decided (prolly dumb, oh well) to do them backwards chronologically. Well I have been super cleaning/organizing (for me at least) my room, and I will do it's own post with pictures when I'm all done, there are still some finishing touches I've been working on. It's been quite the process. I also haven't been taking that many pictures, and some that I have taken are still on my camera. Hah.

Many of you may know that I'd gotten fairly addicted to Alias. Well we finished all 5 seasons just last week! It was very exciting, started April 7th, finished June 26th. Not too bad. On one episode in season 3 or 4 (shoot, I can't remember) Jennifer Garner had her hair in three braided buns on the back of her head and I LOVED it. So I tried it once, and it was a disaster, but then one day I tried it and was fairly successful if I do say so myself. ;) I should have used clear hair ties, it could still take some perfecting, and my hairs a little long for it, but it was fun. Nerdy I know, haha.

Alessandra's in China for study abroad, and we were video chatting on Skype, and she took a picture of me and sent it to me. It's always funny because the video will pause momentarily on the funniest facial expressions. She caught me at quite the moment with this picgture, Jessica was staying at our hours that night, so she was talking to her too.

It was a friend of our's birthday, so we bought some army men and bobble head people, made signs and put them all over his car and front porch. It was awesome! Unfortunately he figured out was us and a member of our band ratted us out. Oh well for anonymity...

Tanner and I went put-put one night, it was fun, I actually beat him (by 4) which is amazing because I'm TERRible at it. We both had way high scores, but it was fun.
Aagh, who's hands are whose?! Wacky...

The night we got back from Nauvoo we went to a baby shower, and my foot ran away with me hypermimiating a little too much, and dumped Cheche's chocolate all over her. I felt so bad, but it was really funny too! I'm ridiculous.

Almost caught up...yay!!

OMAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I feel the need to explain a little, and no pictures of Omaha/Winter Quarters made it in my last post. Oh yeah, that's because strangely enough I didn't take any. Lame, right? Oh well. I guess I figured I had enough pictures from when I lived there. It was awesome going to the Winter Quarters Temple because I was just going home. It was amazing.

Here's home for me:

So I was of course excited to go to Omaha because I hadn't been there since I moved (almost a full 2 years). So before we left on the trip I got excited talking about it. I always hypermimiate (excessive use of the hands while talking) in general, so especially as I was excited about Omaha I guess I threw my hands up in the air because I couldn't contain it very well. So as we were driving in everyone (well Bryn and Bishop Hatch led it, I think Bryn started it) started shouting OMAHA!!!!!! And throwing their arms up in the air. I was excited to see familiar places, and everyone just made fun of me. Bryn and Bishop Hatch were dancing in their seats, then standing up. That was probably the loudest the bus was the whole trip! It was really hysterical really. Embarassing to some degree, but SO funny!

While I was in the temple Alessandra and Megan took this picture in honor of me, that's what any of them do now anytime Omaha may come up, throw their arms in the air as they say it and act really excited. It's crazy. Just a little odd that everyone on the bus was making fun of me. But it was all in good fun.