Top 10

Here are the Top 10 blog posts that should have happened in real time last year, which I'm just getting to now.  :)
1. Diagnosis!!!  I've been really sick for the last two years, and it has been pretty crummy.  Thankfully after 12 doctors I finally have a diagnosis!  I have Ankylosing Spondylitis.  Google for more info.  It is manageable, but there is no cure, so I give myself a shot every other week.  At first the shots were hard to give myself, but now it takes less than five minutes and I feel so much better.  Here is a picture of what my feet looked like for most of last year.

This is  right before getting them painted for Jordan's wedding (they look weird unpainted).  But, the real thing you should be looking at is the second toe on my left foot.  Ouch.  Compare to the right one.  How about those cankles? Yikes. I hurt just looking at these.  I can hardly believe how good  I feel!  The change is night and day different.  Modern medicine is a wonder.

2. Sod party at my house!  We can't thank all of our friends and family that came and helped enough.  People that help you lay sod are people that you should never let out of your life,  We had two semi truck loads of sod and it only covered the backyard,  We finally got smart and had my grandpa go get his tractor.  It was an entire day of backbreaking labor.  I wasn't much help lifting (see #1), but I watered every inch of our yard.  The pedometer on my phone still says that it was the most steps I've ever gotten in one day - 11 miles!  We also got some boulders for the front yard and I planted bulbs the first year we moved in.  The front yard will be our project this year.

Crocus flowers are my very favorite! 

3. 3rd Anniversary.  We kept it low key this year and hung around town.  We went to a baseball game which ended in pouring rain.  I loved it!  I never like sports until I met Stan, but have found out that baseball is a hoot and a half to watch live.  If I wasn't so cheap I would buy season tickets.  Maybe next year.

4. Travel.  I finally started to travel a little bit with my company because I was put in a new position in May.  Unfortunately, it was after my feet exploded so I was a bit slow walking around, but I got to explore Orlando, Boston, and Seattle this year.  I would love to live in Boston for two years!  I'll keep dreaming ...

Let's pretend that my coworker centered and focused this one better

The Gum Wall smelled weird, but I was determined to find it

I actually did work on my trips, there's just no pictures to prove it

5. Jordan got married!  What a whirlwind day that was.  We were in Manti for less than 12 hours and that included spending the night.  I feel really bad because I was so sick the day of her wedding.  I wish I could have enjoyed it more, but I honestly think that was one of my very worst days.  Every time I see pictures of me at the wedding I immediately think one of two things.  "Yikes.  Can you say prednisone cheeks? Or. Ugh, Every single part of my body hurt so bad that day I couldn't even stand up straight, I look terrible."  That's ok, I'm glad I was actually able to attend, I was dreading that long car ride.  Stan lucked out on the car ride and found orange flavored Moon Pies at a gas station we stopped at.  Anytime we head south in the future I'm sure we will be stopping there.

6. We went to Lagoon with some friends for our birthdays.  I was pretty miserable, but was not going to let it stop me from enjoying birthday week at our house!  I paid for it dearly the next day, but it was so worth it.  We now have the best family picture, of which I don't have an electronic copy.  Come visit to see it.  

7. I discovered some coloring books at Michael's that I absolutely love.  I got them just before conference and this is the first time that I've stayed awake for all conference sessions.  Don't judge, I don't know why I can't.  Even more annoying I always wake up for those lame specials in between sessions. 

8. We became adults and bought furniture this year!!  We bought a kitchen table, an entry table/dresser, and an entertainment center. And not one of them have even a square inch of press board!  I can't tell you how adult that makes me feel.  It's fantastic.  Although, the first time my brother saw my dresser was also the first (and only) time I've ever heard him swear.  It shocked me so much, but also was one of the funniest things I've ever heard.  

9. We ran a 5k!  Obviously this was before the joints exploded.  I've been trying to get Stan to run with me and he has absolutely no interest in it, so when I heard that his friend was having one for a scholarship in the name of her sweet children who were killed in a car wreck you can bet that I hounded him to run it.  If she can go through something so incredibly horrific, we sure as hell can run a little bit to help support her.  It was pretty close to the last active thing that I was able to do.  My heart broke when I heard about the accident and was glad that we could at least do something, even if that something was so minuscule comparatively.

10. I was in YW for a little while in our new ward (my new med wipes my immune system, so figured it would be best to become a part hermit and get released).  For our camp fundraiser we did a cafe rio style dinner.  I was tasked with making the dressing.  Have you ever had to purchase 5 - 5lb containers of sour cream and GALLONS of mayonnaise?  Gross.  I thought it might take a couple of hours ... ha ha ha ... um, we were up until well after midnight on a school night!  We made over 20 batches of the stuff.  

There you have it ... my year in review that should have happened in real time.  I'm a work in progress.  

 

Also from last year, but not in these categories.  I was just proud of the results. And it makes up for the other things that I was too lazy to grab the pics of :)

Resolutions

At the first of the year everyone gets so excited for resolutions.  I'm no different; I love goal setting and list making.  This year I heard about a new kind of resolution called 101 in 1001.   Which is a list of 101 goals to accomplish in 1001 days.  Here is mine:

1. Give up Facebook for Lent
2. A-Z travel project
3. Celebrate my Golden Birthday royally!  (TBD how)
4. Visit another country
5. Visit the Grand Canyon
6. Back to pre-prednisone weight
7. Donate my hair - in the wintertime my hair gets so static-y, right now it isn't long enough to donate unless I shave my head, which I was so tempted to do today, I'm really excited for this one, but also nervous at the same time  
8. Dress up for Halloween
9. Attend the hot air balloon festival
10. See the sunrise on my birthday
11. Grow a garden
12. Plant a tree
13. Participate in a 30 day Instagram challenge
14. Color my hair - after donating
15. Moonlight hike
16. Try water aerobics
17. Get glitter toes / a pedicure
18. Have a Pi Day party
19. Make homemade bread
20. Make homemade candies for Christmas
21. Catch a fish
22. Skydive
23. Visit Yellowstone National Park
24. Yoga 3x/week for a month
25. See a Broadway show
26. Go somewhere where I have to dress fancy
27. Keep CHES (CE Hours) current
28. Learn to knit baby booties
29. 365 days of photos
30. 4 weeks of exercise before work
31. Swim in the ocean
32. Decorate a gingerbread house
33. Make a purple rose cake
34. Host a fancy dinner at my house
35. Take a pottery class
36. Paint Night
37. Ride a Century
38. Get rid of 101 things
39. No snooze for 5 days
40. Buy a plant stand
41. Complete my ancestor wall
42. Read Chronicles of Narnia
43. Donate old wedding dress
44. Read BoM twice
45. Index 100 names
46. See The Christmas Carol play
47. 100 push-ups for 100 days
48. Make homemade salsa
49. Visit a museum in Utah
50. Finish studying ACSM trainer book
51. Run a 5k
52. Blog 1x/month for a year
53. Host a dessert night
54. Watch a movie at a drive-in
55. Have a late night with nieces and nephews
56. Finish basement floor
57. Take vitamin everyday for a month
58. Celebrate 5 years of marriage in a big way (TBD how)
59. Continue flossing every single day - Started this one December 1, 2012 - Flossing is the best!
60. Go one day without speaking
61. Journal everyday for a month 
62. Vacuum / detail my car
63. Buy a new (to me) car
64. Save up for #63
65. Drink 64oz of water per day for one month
66. Shelving for the basement
67. Organize garage
68. Wear mascara AND eye shadow everyday for a month
69. Paint fingernails 10xs
70. Build a snowman
71. 10,000 monthly steps average for 1 year
72. Plant a blackberry bush
73. Start (and finish) painting the four canvases for living room
74. Build shelves for closets
75. See the sunrise and sunset on the summer solstice
76. See the sunrise and sunset on the winter solstice
77. Follow a cleaning schedule for a month
78. One day no foods that come from a package
79. Address my anxiety with a professional
80. Attend pro baseball games
81. Ride a roller coaster
82. Visit 9/11 Memorial
83. Hike to Ben Lomond
84. Go see my 91 year old great-grandma
85. Input MFP for 200 days in a row
86. Celebrate 30th birthday epic-ly
87. Pull off a surprise party for someone
88. Photograph the Spiral Jetty
89. Finish yarning second branch - pictures will explain it better
90. Go to a car show
91. Memorize The Living Christ
92. Hang curtains in my bedroom
93. Build garden boxes
94. Get a wall map
95. Make a 4th of July wreath
96. Memorize a hymn
97. Get a guest bed and organize my spare room
98. Visit three states that I haven't before
99. No candy for a month - this will possibly be the hardest one for me
100. Knit 15 dishrags for my family reunion
101. Learn how to cook or bake 5 new recipes

I have until October 10, 2018 to do this.  I started my 100 push-ups for 100 days today.  I'm sure my arms will feel great tomorrow.  

Strangers

I've been pretty shy for as long as I can remember. I don't consider it a bad characteristic, just a fact of my life.  When we were younger and my dad lived in Brigham they asked him to help pass the sacrament one Sunday.   For some reason in that ward the men/boys that passed the sacrament sat up front for the entire meeting, leaving Zane and I  to sit by ourselves in the chapel. Afterwards, Dad came to get us and an older man complimented us on what good kids we were because we were so quiet and well behaved.  It wasn't that we were really fantastic kids, I was just scared of getting yelled at by a stranger. 

If we were ever in public and I had some garbage to throw away I was too scared to walk even 25 ft by myself to a trash can. I always begged Zane to come with me because I was terrified that a stranger would kidnap me, even though I never left my parents line of sight.  Poor Zane, he got stuck with lots of stuff like that when we were kids.   Basically, stranger danger wasn't something my parents really had to teach - I was already very aware that every. single. stranger. was extremely dangerous. 

As an adult I still don't like to talk to strangers.  I'm not scared of being kidnapped anymore,  but I am wary and don't trust readily. It hasn't ever been a huge issue, I'm just not super comfortable talking to someone who I don't know.  I think now I am starting to put up more walls and I'm getting concerned that by the time I'm 50 I'll be a recluse.  I don't even like going grocery shopping by myself because I might have to talk to people.  It has gotten bad enough that if I see someone that I know I'm too chicken to stop them and say hello.  Even if I really like that person and know I won't see them again for a long time.  I quickly will turn down another aisle and act like I didn't see them. I'm not trying to be a jerk, but obviously am suffering from some serious social anxiety.  I usually regret (often for years) not stopping and saying hi.  

It's not that I hate anyone, but it causes me so much stress top talk to people (why didn't I put makeup on today? I haven't seen them in a long time, they might not recognize or remember me. *do they even know who I am?, etc), if I do see someone and I can't avoid them in general I'm quite happy that they stop and say hi, then I feel bad that I even thought about not saying hi.  But, it isn't just out in public, I'm bad at this even at family events ... people who ice known for 28 years still cause me this stress!!!

I believe that social media makes it worse for me because I can keep up with what my friends are up to and although I should, there is no requirement for me to comment.  It's allowing me to be a creeper and I really hate that aspect of it. But, I really do like that it allows me to keep in contact with people that would not be in my life of it weren't for social media. Am I alone in this?

Speaking of Facebook, I don't comment on most things not because I'm rude, but I don't want to look dumb or be attacked.  One time a friend asked for movie suggestions, I commented, but then a stranger commented about what a terrible movie that was.  I hate confrontation and after that I commented less and less. I'm on instagram (just barely), but only follow a few because I don't want people to think I'm creepy for following them. Clearly, I'm not entirely sure how to Internet.  :) I've commented on blogs of strangers exactly four times and two of those times I used a different name even though my comment was totally normal, because I didn't want to look stupid and have someone know it was me that commented.

The more I write about this the creeper/wackier I feel.  I'm working on being braver socially, but I feel like I'm not progressing very quickly (posting this is HUGE). I'm not sure how people can just talk to others that they don't know. It boggles my mind! Can someone please tell me I'm not the only one?  And don't even get me started on talking on the phone. Oh my gosh.  I HATE that! I can't read body language and just end up interrupting for the whole conversation. I really, really hate calling to ask a question (things that normal adults just do), because I never think that I sound like an intelligent human being, which is weird, because I'm not dumb. Then I  hang up the phone and realize how I should have worded my question and then remember there were other things I needed to find out. The poor nurse at one of my doctor's office just knows me by my awkwardness now. 

I do feel like I have a lot to offer in a friendship if I could just get the guts to talk to people.  To make matters worse I'm being put on a medicine that will kill my immune system (my body is attacking itself - a story for another day) where even a fever has potential to hospitalize me. I'll be on the medicine for at least six months, which will enable me to be more of a hermit than I already am. A few months ago I was sitting in ward council next to a woman that I swear I had never even seen before, turns out we are next door neighbors and had been for at least eight months and I had no idea until someone said her last name.  After the meeting did I go introduce myself? Nope, I think I was in my car before anyone else had left the building. In my defense I've seen her a few times since and she looks different every time.

My 2016 goals need to include some sort of social aspect. I can't keep living with this paralyzing fear of strangers.  Becoming a complete shut in at 28 is nor on my bucket list. I've just recently discovered this about myself, not that I didn't know I was shy, but now I can put more of it in words.  For work recently I went to a conference where I just talked to strangers all day; it was so out of my comfort zone! But, "there is no comfort in the growth zone and no growth in the comfort zone" (thanks Dr. O!), so i hope that by going to more conferences and similar training for my new position at work that it can eventually help me learn that most strangers are just good people, probably more outgoing than me, but people nonetheless. I'm just awkward and need to learn how to talk to them.

Oh man. What a jumbled mess! Anyway, here are some random thoughts that have been bouncing around my head for awhile and I need somewhere to put them. So, why not put my insecurities out where everyone can see them? Look, I'm improving already. :)

One last thing, if I've ignored you in the past please don't take offense, is just a severe case of social awkwardness that I'm working through. 

Half

I ran my half a couple of weeks ago!  This one was a little rough.  I've been having some stomach problems, so I haven't been able to train like I wanted to.  I ran a lot slower than I planned on and had to walk through a couple of water stations, but I finished it.  The night before the run it started getting really cold down here, so I had to go buy some pants.  When I got up to the buses the next morning it was 28* and they said it was about 10* colder at the starting line.  Yuck.  I had a hoodie, a jacket, a long sleeved shirt, and my tank top, plus two pairs of pants and I still was frozen.  I had to use the porta-pottie before running and was nervous that I would freeze to the seat!  :)  Thankfully, I didn't. 

 

 Stan snapped some pictures of me as I was just coming into the finisher's chutes.  I figure if I can still be smiling like that after running 13 miles, then it was a good day.  I was only sore for two days afterwards, even went running this week without any problems.  As I was at about mile 8 a lady turned to me and said, "this sucks", and my response was, "I would rather be doing this than anything else, I'm so glad I have a body that can do this!!!".  Yeah, it is hard to run, and I complain about it sometimes and call myself crazy for getting up early all summer so I could do this, but I would be so disappointed if I wasn't able to.  I love being active and getting out there to enjoy life. 

I think that because of my stomach I have found that I am more grateful, because I know how lame it is to not be able to go out at all because I hurt too much.  Friday I had my gallbladder and appendix removed.  They were both inflamed (I'll spare you the pictures), and my appendix had some gross fatty-tissue growing all around it (be glad I'm sparing you the pics), but I have faith that this will fix my problems.  I'm glad though, that it is making me appreciate what I have and that I need to take care of what I have so in 50 years I can still *hopefully* be running this race.  :)

Southern Cooking

We were able to go to Florida with my dad in September.  I loved the food down there; so, it shouldn't have surprised me to come home and gained 5 pounds.  The weather was perfect and the condo we stayed at was so stinkin' close to the beach.  I want to go back and stay for another few weeks!  Because it was in September there weren't as many crowds; it was fantastic!  Most of the other tourists were from Europe, so I got to hear all sorts of amazing accents.  :) 

We drove up to St Augustine for a day and got to see the castle, and then took a trolley all over town so we could see everything because we didn't have much time.  Fun Fact: I got bit by chiggers while walking through this moat.  Those bites are terrible!!  But, the castle was really cool to see.  I loved this old town and would love to go for a few more days to just explore.  Fun Fact#2: This is a dry moat that they would grow crops in, or they would put their animals in, but it was never filled with water.


 Gorgeous sunrises!  We were busy much of the time, but did make it out to see the sunrise and get some pictures.  I love, love, love watching the sunrise!!!! 

 I forgot to charge our camera before going to Gatorland, so most of our pictures are on the phone, but here is one of the gators jumping for chickens.  This place was a hoot!!  They gave you a few hot dogs and you got to throw them to the gators.  This park was huge!  There were all sorts of boardwalks and paths you could go down to see more gators, snakes, cougars, turtles, flamingos, and crocodiles. 

 Our view from the condo!  This pool was so warm and amazing, but I didn't get in until the last night we were there because we were so busy, plus do you see how close the ocean is?!?!?  It rocked.  We drove into Orlando one day while Dad was at work and played at a waterpark.  I think that I need to have an indoor waterpark near me ... but one with only a few people because I don't like the crowds.  I felt like a kid in a candy store.  We didn't take the camera in because I didn't want it to get wet, but it had the coolest waterslides and there were hardly any lines.   

 At Dixie Crossroads, a yummy, fun theme restaurant in Titusville. 

 There were all sorts of statues to get pictures with ... I couldn't pass them up.  :)

 The pier by where we stayed.  I love this view! 

 Trying to get all of us in the picture.  I think Dad probably has a zillion pictures, but I haven't stolen any of them from him yet. 

 More fun at Dixie.

We found a lighthouse in St. Augustine.  We climbed all the way to the top and were able to see forever because they have no mountains ... it is such a weird concept to me!  I loved all the green though, everything except the chiggers was lovely. 

July

Dang, I'm a blogging slacker.  Our July was busy.  We had my family reunion, but I don't know where my pictures are.  This one of Stan, Mom, and my niece is all I have on my computer.  We had lots of fun playing in the creek and getting to visit with family.  The drive is so long, I wish (most) everyone lived closer so I could see them more.  :)  Especially, my brother and sister in law and their cute kiddos. 

 This pic is one of the few from girl's camp.  I'm really lucky to get to serve in the young women's in my ward, so I was able to go up for a couple of days, and got to go on one of the hikes with the girls.  They are some of my favorite people to be around because they are so vibrant and excited for life.  Also, I swear they never run out of energy!  Pretty sure some of them stayed up all night long.  How fun. 

 Our annual Pedal Away Parkinson's Ride, we ride this for my grandpa Larry.  I hate Parkinson's disease; it is horrible to watch someone you love go through something so debilitating and awful.  I would love to see the day when this horrible disease is cured, so others do not have to go through this.  

 Our birthdays!  Stan and I share a birthday week ... which is basically awesome.  Yep, that's a triple layer cake wrapped in kit kat candy bars.  Yum.  And pigs made out of edible modeling clay ... not so yum. 

 We headed up to Bear Lake a couple of times to hang out, sometimes fish, and sometimes get a shake or lunch.  :)  I love how pretty it is up there. 

Summer Happenings

I passed my test! I can officially put more letters behind my last name.  That was a great stress relief to get my results back, so now I can go do all sorts of adventures this summer without worrying about studying. 

I went to Girls Camp for a couple of days.  It was fun, I forgot how much I loved going to camp back in the day.  I haven't downloaded any of my pictures from camp, but I was able to go on one of the hikes and I loved it.  If I could have a job that just included going hiking everyday with well-behaved, happy teenagers (which mine were), and I got paid well and it had good benefits ... I would be happy as a pig in poo.  So, if anyone sees an opening like that (Stan would prefer one that paid enough for him to be a stay at home dad with no kids), let me know so I can apply for it. 

We went to Georgia!  I think I could live in Savannah, it was gorgeous!  We went to see our BIL and SIL and their cute kids.  Here are some pics of our week there. 

River Street in Savannah.  I can't get over how gorgeous it is there!  Kyli and I went running down there one morning, but after a mile I got sick (stupid stomach, hopefully getting it fixed soon) and wimped out, I feel like I need to redeem that run.

 My dream home.

 The park that Forrest Gump was filmed.  There actually isn't a bench there like the one in the movie and for the movie traffic went the opposite direction, but I still had a great time seeing it all.  We even stayed just down the street from the café that Jenny worked at. 

 It wouldn't be a trip to the south without learning a little about the war of northern aggression.  I honestly don't think I read any of the signs, I was just excited about the hike here.

 Braves Game!  It was Freddy Freeman night, so we all got free Freddy Freeman bobbleheads.  Could life get any better than 10th row seats and a free bobblehead?!?  Oh, and the cow doing the tomahawk chop?  I think not. 

 The Georgia Aquarium.  The whale sharks were my favorite.  They are huge!  And have a posse of fish swimming around with them, it looked like the wimpy kids hanging out with the bully so they get spared giving up their lunch money. 

 This place was right in downtown Atlanta, I couldn't believe how big just this tank was.  They even had a tunnel you could go underneath on a moving walkway and just watch all of the fish. 

 Not Georgia.  But it was in my pictures.  We went down to see Grandma and the boys and Charlie enjoyed kicking it on the porch.

 More hiking, supposed to be learning about the war.  Kalin and Porter love their uncle Stan!  They wore him out this week!  :) 

 The beach.  Lydia was the best baby!  We were in the car for hours and hours and hours and hours!  And she didn't cry at all, just enjoyed chewing on her fingers.

  I love the look on her face when Porter is tickling her. 

We were so lucky to be able to go down there and be with our family this week.  Thanks guys for letting us stay with you! 

Anniversary Numero Uno

Our first anniversary.  WooHoo! 

 We celebrated our adventurous first year by going to Ruth's Chris and eating the best steak ever.  And by going to a hotel that had an adult's only swimming pool, which in my mind equates to less pee that I'm swimming around with.  It was fantastic. 

The first year traditional gift is paper ... so I got Stan a mini-piñata.  He gave me a subscription to NatGeo.  Currently we are watching a documentary on Victoria Falls, so NatGeo is perfect for me!  Yay for anniversaries, here is to many, many more.  :)

 

 

So, it's been awhile ...

 There is lots to catch up on ... but, I always forget, so here are just a few highlights of life since December.  In no particular order.

 

Me and the birthday girl.  I still have my coat on because their power was out all. day. long.  We almost froze. But, man I love being an aunt.

Valentine's dinner.  Because we're awesome like that. 

The snow on our car when we went to visit my brother and sister in law and their cute girls.  This is the day that their power was out forever. 

 We went hiking this morning.  We also looked for a geocache, but found ticks instead.  Between me, Russ, Stan, and the dog we found seven ticks on us.  I still feel a little itchy just thinking about it.  We have been hiking a lot more, and love that we have so many trails near our house so we can get out and enjoy. 

Charlie is a hiking fool.  She was jumping up over boulders that were taller than me with no problem.  Every couple of hundred yards she would turn around to make sure we were still there, then would trot on ahead.  Hiking, ranger rides, and snuggling with Russ are her favorite things in the entire world.

 Stan and I at Jordan's mission farewell luncheon. 

 

The week before Jordan left we went down to do a session in the Manti Temple.  Oh, how I love that temple.  Here we are on the car ride down.  What dorks.  Haha. 

 

 My little brother got married a few days before Christmas.  For some reason no pics of him and his bride at the wedding or reception (they must be on my phone), but here is Stan and me at the reception.

 Not so much a fan of me in this pic, I think I was getting sick here, but this is when Jordan got set apart. 

 

 Family pics.  Love it.  This is the first time my mom has had all of us in a picture.  Every time we try to get family pictures something happens to Russ, like he falls off of a horse and breaks his nose and face, or he is in a small explosion at work and his skin is falling off of his face and all yucky looking.  So, for these ones we made no mention of pictures until right before they were going to be taken.  Looks like our strategy worked.  We have better ones too, this one was just funny.
 

 Jordan, Mom, and Russ before she is leaving.  She is doing really well right now, lives in a ghetto, but seems to be enjoying it.  I'm excited to get to talk to her in a month.  Her weekly emails are hilarious.  15 more months.  Yay.

Yep, we're classy like that.  My grandma got us an electric fireplace for Christmas.  It is awesome!!  So, when we have fancy candlelit dinners we can also eat by fire-light if we want.  Yes, that is a batman picture hanging on the wall in the background, don't judge, we still haven't hung pictures yet, but we did get a new (to us) table, no more fold up chairs and lifetime table in our kitchen.  

Unfortunately, I am studying for a big certification exam at the end of this month, so we don't really have much else going on, just living life and loving it.  Oh, I also signed up for two half marathons this summer, so I've been running, and Stan said he might run a 5k with me in July, so it has been nice to have a running partner for at least a mile, it is surprising how much my mile time improves while I'm running with someone.  If anyone is interested in running a half (or two) with me, let me know, there is still PLENTY of time to train, and you get a t-shirt out of the deal, hard to pass that up.