The Wait is Over!!

The NINE boxes of Girl Scout cookies I ordered have arrived!!  And I am VERY happy about that!

Gold's Gym, here I come!

Confession.

I really can't believe I'm saying this, but I think that I, too, have a little bit of a crush on Justin Bieber!  UGH!  SO embarrasing!!

He's this 16 year-old singer that all my students are obsessed with.  I made fun of him for so long.  But last week, my kids burned me a few of his songs and made me listen to them.

Well, one thing led to another, and last night, I found this music video of his... and I watched it and giggled out loud... and now I'm hooked!



I'm thinking this is a sign that I need to spend less time with 12-year-olds!

Haircut Happiness!

SO.... Wednesday, I got my hair cut and more low lights... and it ended up being quite a bit darker than it was before...  I'm thinking that I basically LOVE it like this!!!

Anyone else get a cute cut lately??

Fantastic Family, Pt. 4

This is the last post about my week with the girls, I promise!!!

So, Friday morning came around, and I was feeling (ahem) a little under the weather.  Good thing I had my mama there to take care of me, huh!?!

Since I wasn't able to go to school, and the girls were flying out of Vegas early Saturday morning, we decided the smart thing to do was to go down the afternoon before.  So we did!

We stopped at the St. George Temple to show it to Claire & Erin.  It's closed for cleaning for 2 weeks, but wanted them to see it anyway!  I really think this is a gorgeous temple!  Especially when you see it against the red rock!

After our pit stop at the Temple, we headed down to Vegas.  Our first stop?  The Temple!  Yep!  That's 2 in 2 hours!!  But this time, we did go in and do baptisms, since Claire was with us (and Atlanta's closed for 2 years, so my fmaily has to drive really far to go to one)!

Can we just pause for a moment to appreciate how gorgeous Claire is??

Don't you just wish you could hate her!?!  Too bad she's so nice, and smart, and talented... Oh wait!  Those are even better reasons!

Next stop: The Stratosphere!!  Dad offered to pay for all of us to go on the rides at the top!  Mama said no.  Erin & Claire did one.  And I did both that were open!  It was SO high and SO fun!  One was like Tower of Terror up on that pointy needle part.  The other was like a revolving claw that tips you down towards the ground and then spins you out over the edge of the building.  That's the one I did by myself!  It was pretty freaky, but totally worth it!

After our adrenaline rush, we went to the Luxor to check into our room!  We chilled for a bit and then took off to show Claire the city (she'd never been).  We went to one of my favorite joints on the Strip: The Bellagio!  Why??  (Do you even have to ask?!?!)

Gelato!!!

Then we watched the fountain show!  Still pretty every time!

And then we walked back to the Luxor and got ready for bed!  The girls left early the next morning to catch their flights (they hugged me, but I was still half asleep).  And I slept in a little bit and then took off to come back home!

On my way, though, I stopped one of the 2 Starbucks in our hotel to get the perfect breakfast: hot cocoa and a chocolate croissant!

A Taste of Heaven!

I was one HAPPY girl!

The whole week was wonderful!  I loved seeing my mom and sisters!  I loved seeing cousins!  I loved sharing my new home and world with the people I love who haven't been here yet!  I loved making new memories and taking WAY too many pictures!

Ladies- Thank you for giving up your breaks to be with me!  Thanks for spending time away from home, husbands, and friends, and for spending it with me instead!  I love you!  I am greatful for you!  And I am so happy that our family will be together forever!  I can't imagine it any other way!

Fantastic Family, Pt. 3

After brunch at Denny's, we hit the road (yet again) to go back to St. George!  On the way, Claire taught me how to crochet!  She learned a couple weeks ago and is quite the excellent teacher!  (On a side note, I'm almost done with a hat/scarf/mitten set, and will be posting about it soon.) 

When we hit town, it was dinner time, so we introduced Claire to the In-famous In-N-Out. (It's more than famous!!)  She'd never been before, and it was a success!

After In-N-Out we went to see Valentine's Day.  I thought the parts that had Ashton Kutcher or Jennifer Garner (or Taylor Lautner... although I may deny that if ever asked) were good.  But on the whole, I felt like it was disjointed and didn't flow enough...  Cute enough to watch, though!

Tuesday I had to teach, but we had a fun night planned, so the day went quickly!!  First, we had dinner at Cafe Rio (Claire had also never been there).  I made her order the pork barbacoa.  SO DELICIOUS!!!

Then we went ice skating (also a first for Claire)!  I am both pleased and proud to announce that she did not fall at all!!!  I wish I could say the same of my first time on the ice!  Haha!  Evan Lysacek better switch to pairs and pick one of us as a partner!

Mom didn't want to skate (she didn't want her 14-year-old to show her up, I think)... so she was kind enough to take pictures for us!

I LOVE THIS PICTURE OF CLAIRE & I!!

She eventually did skate without holding on to me!

Wednesday, Claire came to school with me!  It was fun having her there!  My students loved having her too... Especially the boys, who were very quick to point out that some of them are only a year younger than her, and that they're very mature for their ages.  Yeah right!  But they haven't stopped asking about her since!

For lunch, Mama dropped us off some Jack in the Box tacos, at Dad's request.

Wednesday night, we had my branch additional Relief Society meeting for the month.  As the 1st Counselor (and the one over the meetings), I had to go early.  Claire was a good sport and went to help me!  It was Nail Night, and we both came away looking cute (and oh so girly)!

Claire's toes... I did the flowers!!!

After that, we got milkshakes with Mama and watched the Olympics.  Then, about 11pm, when Claire had gone to bed and I was working on grading, Mama decided she had to go to WalMart for something.  I was busy enough updating grades that I didn't think twice about it.  She came back 45 minutes later with a surprise... ERIN!!!  I think they both walked in and I said, "Hey Mom!  Hey Erin!  ....  ERIN?!?!?!?"  It was great!  And, of course, we felt like a picture was required to mark the occasion!

No makeup, pajamas, retainers, and all!!

It was a wonderful surprise!  I had no idea!  Erin & Justin had been traveling on their week off, but Justin had to get back to work.  So I guess Erin & Mama had planned the whole thing that day!  I can't remember the last time all of us girls (and JUST us girls) were together!  I loved it!