Tis the Season

The best part about having a dad that works at the Conference Center is scoring tickets go stuff like the Christmas Devotional and taking friends. Pres Monson's talk was my favorite because it was a nice story. Elder Eyring and Uchtdorf's talks required to much thought for me, especially at Christmas time. he he. The music is the best part and if you have never been to the Conference Center and heard Motab live, you have to do so. It's amazing! I love this time of the year.

Merry Christmas y'all!

Rethinking Figs

I had the opportunity to go to Italy this past September. While there, I feel in love with figs. It wasn't until the last week there that a kind person in our group informed me that she didn't eat figs because of how they are pollinated. I didn't think much about it until I was watching the food network today with my mom and saw some figs on TV then thought to look up the fig pollination process. This is the information that I have gathered -

Edible figs are pollinated by fig wasps. There are two types of figs, a male fig and a female fig. Fig wasps themselves are born inside of the male fig because this type of fig has a place for the babies to house. The only way for a fig to become a fig is by being pollinated by a fig wasp. If a female fig wasp goes into a female fig to try to lay her eggs, she will die inside of the fig. The reason for this is because she loses her wings on the way inside the fig so she has no way to get out. Meaning, each fig must be pollinated by a fig wasp and once the fig wasp enters the fig, they can't get out.

So - what I am trying to tell you is this: every single fig we eat is guaranteed to have at least one dead fig wasp inside of it.

GROSS!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I ran!

My friend Becca asked me if I wanted to go to the Mesquite Marathon last Sunday at church and of course I said yes. Today I ran the 10k which is 6.4 miles and got a time of 1:06:04. That means that I pretty much did my average which means 10 minute miles. I did end up placing 2nd in my age division so yippie for that. My favorite moment in the race was the last mile where I decided that I wanted to beat the two girls that were in front of me. When I passed them, they got a little bit faster and passed me. I followed them until I could see the finish line where I sprinted in to beat them. They weren't to happy about that, but a girl has to do what a girl has to do.
Becca ran the full marathon and got a time of 3:30:00. She is pretty much an amazing runner and also got 2nd in her age division.

We went to the St. George temple and walked around then decided to take pictures with our medals :)

The two most attractive girls running in Mesquite.

Running!

K guys, I know there are people out there that read my blog. Somebody want to run a race with me sometime in November? Check out the list and let me know!

http://www.utahrunningguide.com/home/races/november-2009-races/

Shallow Hal

I had only seen Shallow Hal once and it was a long time ago, but I remember that at the time I really liked it. Today while flipping through the channels, I came across this movie from my past and found that the same affection I once had remained today. Not only does it include two of my favorite movie myraids - Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow, it also has a message that goes beyond the ever popular but pointless slap stick comedy. What makes it endearing is that the once 'shallow' Hal is hypnotized into seeing the appearances of people by their inner beauty. A physically handicapped man was seen to be strong and handsome, children in a burn hospital with huge physical scars were seen to be whole and beautiful, and he sees Rosemary - a severely obese woman as Gwyneth Paltrow. After time, he falls in love with Rosemary because he realizes that she does have an amazing heart and great personality. When the hypnosis finally wears off, he loves Rosemary so much that it doesn't matter what she looks like and he fights for her love and affection. Anyway, both times I saw this movie it made me think about how often I overlook people and make unfair assumptions based on appearance. It makes me recall 1 Samuel 16:7 which says:

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

Happy Halloween!

For the 3rd year in a row, my bff's and I gathered for a Halloween fest. This year was pretty exciting because we read predictions that we had written about ourselves a couple of years back. It's funny how what you think will happen with people over time does or does not happen. For the most part, everybody was on track. Amy went on a mission and although not engaged yet - it may happen any day now, Tiffany had a baby and is still working at her night job, Jessica got married but is not working in the medical field, and Stephanie doesn't have kids yet. Of course I was predicted to be engaged and already started in my teaching profession but the reality of where my life is at now is so much different then what I had planned. I don't see this to be a good or a bad thing, it just is what it is. I wonder what may have happened with my life had I not taken so many adventures, but then again that's what life is - one big adventure.

Now I'm finally ready to go onto the next step. So dear blog let it be known to you that as of yesterday, I have officially sent in my letter of resignation and will soon be no longer be known as "the nanny." I'm ready to go back to where I originally started and to get my life back into focus. The money was good, the travel was nice, I've had great experiences, but I no longer want it. It's time to use what I have gained for some greater good if it be through teaching, family, or whatever it is no longer about me. So Provo, school, life, here I come.

Home Sweet Home - California

Cleveland

Tiffanie and I went to Cleveland. Here are some of the pics :)We stopped at a museum along the way and these are the actual stairs that Jesse James walked up as he was going to rob a bank.Some miner guy we saw in some town and decided to take pics with

*~*~*~*~* Life is a Highway *~*~*~*~*

She's Gone Country

Montana was probably the best place that I've been so far. I think I liked it so much because there was a lot of outdoors things for me and my nanny kid to do. Here are some highlights from the weekend.
Yes, I am finally on a horse. And my Dad laughed when he saw the way I was riding the horse - apparently I look like a new rider. Luckily my child is young enough that we just rode around in the horse corral in a circle for a long time.I got my own house and it was adorable. It was so nice to get away and not feel like I was always at work!

Loving Home

While going to Italy was an amazing experience, I love being home 10 times more. Can you see why? Oh how I miss and love my family. But, its off to Montana tomorrow. I hope I survive at the ranch.

To Naples and Back

On top of the yacht

I realized I loved my job today as I was going wakeboarding, snorkeling, then ended by kayaking through a cave on the Med.

Just Another Day at Work

Life is Great

Well I'm sick, tired, and ready to fall asleep in two seconds but I thought I would do a quick blog. Today my child and I finally had some time alone to ourselves for the first time since being here in Italy so we decided to go to the shops where she bought a toy, a game, candy, gelato, ate lunch, and got to pet the cats for a good while. No wonder I am such a great nanny. It was actually quite enjoyable to get her away from so much activity because she is so bombarded with people that she doesn't have a chance to just be a 4 year old and the result of this is some not so good behavior. I like when I can get her away and let her mellow out a little bit and just act her age. It puts everybody in a much better mood - her and those around her. Anyway, here is a picture of where we went today. Not such a bad place, huh!