Friday, November 19, 2010

Almost Thanksgiving Break!

Even though I'm officially done with my ten days of thankfulness, that little project made we want to continue to remember the things that I have to be thankful for.  I'm thankful that yesterday I was featured on one of my favorite bloggers, skinnyrunner's, blog! See it here.
This morning I got up bright and early along with my honey who had to go to work.  I was up to go meet my group for a group project.  We made a podcast for our hispanic civilizations class about the state of our countries we are studying, Venezuela and Colombia.  Everybody was pretty much ready to go with there parts so it only took about an hour to put together.  Since I am getting and endorsement in spanish this is my second to the last spanish class I am taking.  I'll be honest, I don't really enjoy history.  It's kind of interesting but all the dates and people get jumbled together in my head and I have a really hard time remembering them after the test.
 Since we were done an hour and a half before my class started this morning I went to Jamba Juice and got a low-cal Mango Mantra smoothie.  I have been on a smoothie kick lately. I have such a sweet tooth and smoothies satisfie it in a healthy way. 
I have been really good lately about doing either a Jillian Michaels or Bob Harper workout video every morning during the week, plus my weight training class.  I rotate weeks with Jillian and Bob being my trainer :) This next week I'm taking Bob with me to Washington and my goal is to stay on track while on vacation. 
This is only the second year that the university has had the whole week of Thanksgiving off and for that I am truly grateful.  I'll be leaving this afternoon for Boise caravaning with my sister and her fam. We are staying at a friend's house for the night and then making the rest of the trip to Washington on Saturday. Poor Thomas has to work till Sunday so he is coming up Monday. I'm so glad I can be homework and stress free for a week!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Day of Thanks #10

Today I am thankful for...
#1 Smoothies.  I made one this morning that was so yummy it totally tasted like one from Jamba juice.  One cup of light vanilla yogurt, one cup frozen fruit, and one cup of airborne (weird I know) it was so delish.  And then for dinner we had smoothies too.
#2 My hubby had lunch all ready for me when I got home from class which I was so grateful for because I was starving!
#3 A warm apartment and a night to cuddle with my babes.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Day of Thanks #9

Today I am thankful that..
#1 My hubby did a whole sink full of dishes. 
#2 My science experiment presentation went well.  In my Science Teaching Methods class we were required to write up two science experiments and guide a group of students in doing our experiment.  The topic this time was earth science.  My project was to model the layers of the earth.  For the inner core the students put a Dot gummy inside a large marshmallow.  The marshmallow represented the outer core.  Then they made rice krispy treats and formed it in a ball around the marshmall to represent the mantle.  Then they poured Magic Shell chocolate over their ball.  I thought it was very successful and fun.
#3 I got ahead on some of my end of the semester projects.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Day of Thanks #8

Today I am thankful for...
#1 My healthy body.  I am critical of my body often and today I want to express my appreciation for all it does for me.  It is strong and allows me to workout every morning.  It is full of energy, it gets me through long days of school and homework.  My brain is sharp and alert and let's me learn new things everyday. I can walk, I can see, I can run, I can jump, I can speak, I can sleep soundly, my body is wonderful and I really appreciate it.
#2 I am thankful that I could go visiting teaching today. One of the girls I visit teach just had a baby on Friday.  Her baby was sleeping and so sweet and beautiful and the mom just looked so happy.  The message that my visiting teaching companion shared was just perfect.  It was the talk from Elder Uchtdorf about when life gets crazy we need to slow down and get back to the basic relationships: God, Family, and our relationships with ourselves.
#3 I am so grateful that my husband is THE BEST back massager in the world.  Seriously! And he almost always will give me a back massage when I request one.  And I ask for one pretty much every day. 

Yay For Shutterfly!

I am so excited to get our holiday greeting cards this year from Shutterfly.  They have the cutest designs and you can choose whether you want one or more pictures on your card.  You can also choose what kind of colors you want on your card (so for example if you want the card color to match what you are wearing in your family picture) and it will show you all the cards with those specific colors. I loved that they had really modern, stylish designs to choose from.  You can get the standard postcard like greeting cards or you can get an actual card with the picture on the outside and then room on the inside to write a message or insert a Christmas newsletter.  I love getting Christmas cards and seeing what everybody looks like and how they are doing.  Can't wait to get ours and to start receiving some as well.  Here are some of my faves from their website.  I like that they use lots of different color combinations not just the standard green and red.



Here is the link to see the variety of Christmas Cards that they have, http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards
And for the fold out card option go here http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery
I also loved their Valentines day cards! Adorable ideas for a more personal card. http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/valentines-day-cards-and-stationery

Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly… sign up: http://bit.ly/sfly2010

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Day of Thanks #7

Today I am so thankful...
#1 That our Sunday School Lesson went so well.  There are now four sunday school classes offered so that means less people in each class.  Normally we had at least 50 people in the class and that meant most people didn't participate but just sat back and relaxed.  Today our class was about 14 people and it was awesome! There was lots of participation and learning.
#2 I ate cauliflower.  I really don't like cauliflower but we got some in our bountiful basked this week from the co-op.  So I found a recipe for cauliflower pizza dough and made it.  It was alright but I'm happy to have eaten healthy and gotten rid of the stinky cauliflower.
#3 I'm thankful that I went to church today.  Lately I just haven't been feeling it and today at church the hymns and the messages just really spoke to me and really uplifted me. 

Mean People

I can't stand rude, disrespectful, mean people.  I've just gotten to the point in my life where I can't put up with them. I hate it when people think they can intimidate others because they are higher in status (according to them) or for whatever reason.  Here is the story:
On Saturday I took my Praxis exam, which is the exam you have to teach in order to be a teacher.  The exam is proctored.  I got there around 7:20am and waited till they let us in the room around 8am.  As you go in the room you show them your entrance ticket and ID.  Then I get in the room and this old man is standing there yelling at students "Test Code! Test Code! Test Code!" Well I knew what he was talking about and told him the test code number and then he directed me to "Seat two."  Well hello the seats aren't numbered and there are about 10 rows with seat two's.  I sit there for a minute and see him intimidate a bunch of students who are already intimidated enough about having to take this huge test.  He's just yelling away "Test Code! Test Code!"  Obviously if they are hesitating they can't find the test code and by him screaming at them it's not going to help. So finally I say "You need to be kind!" He looks at me and says "This is a highly secure test site."  I told him "Well ya, but you can still be kind." He looked kind of shocked and just said "I can be kind."  And I'm like "Yes! You can!"  Well then as he is leading us through the bubble sheet to fill out with our personal information there is a spot that asks you to fill in the test form number.  One male student asked where exactly that could be found on our test and the proctors response was "On the paper".  Really?!? So as the test goes on I cool down a bit and decide to just let it go.  But then I get done a little early and really have to go to the bathroom.  You are allowed to go, you just hand your test to the proctor and go and come back.  Well I hand mine to the woman proctor but the old guy comes up when he sees me and says "You can wait."  OOOOOOOH! It was on after that.  They were letting people go left and right before me but I think he just was discriminating against me cause I called him out.  So after the test in my sweetest voice I said to him "Could I get your name please?" He told me no and if I had a problem I could talk to his supervisor.  I explained to him that I would need his name in order to talk to his supervisor.  He was just like "He knows who I am."  I told him I would be sure to do that and then just let him know how extremely rude and disrespectful he was to students who were already intimidated and nervous about this test.  His whole excuse was that it was a highly secure test.  So! You can still be nice! Then to make it worse as I'm leaving this goody two shoes girl comes up and tells him "I thought you were nice". Wow! Really? Cause she came in at the very last and didn't see what he put other students through.  When she said that he was like a little school boy "See! See! She liked me!" Well I went out into the hall to go find his supervisor and a guy came up to me and thanked me for sticking up for everybody.  We both went and talked to the supervisor who was very nice and understanding to let him know what happened.  Then of course a bunch of other people made comments to me about how rude this man was.  And to top it off I had to take a second test that day and lucky me, he was the proctor again. 
I just do not put up with rudeness.  I must be getting old and tired.  If I am ever rude you can call me out on it. I hope to have a good enough consious to realize it and feel bad and change. And it's not as if I enjoy calling people out, but I feel like if nobody says anything then they will assume their behavior is okay and continue. 
This does make me appreciate kind, respectuful people more.  Last night we went to see "Life as We Know It".  Thomas' boss gave him two free movie tickets because she was so grateful to him for working the night shift at the hospital all by himself last weekend.  So we used those and then went to Chuck-a-Rama for dinner.  Neither of us had ever been and we thought we'd give it a try.  I was so impressed with the service there and how kind everybody was.  We really did like the place. Lot's of good food and I loved that they had a hot chocolate machine and a slurpee machine! I needed that night out so bad.  I could just feel myself relaxing as we drove away from Rexburg and throughout the whole night. 
I desperately need Thanksgiving break!! Which brings me to what I am grateful for, Saturday's edition:
#1 I am grateful that I am done with my Praxis exams. (As long as I passed! Pray for me!! I'll find out my results in four weeks.)
#2 I'm grateful for a date night with Thomas.  I love romantic comedies!
#3 I'm grateful that we could plan a fun Sunday School lesson for today.  I decided to use a bunch of techniqes that I've learned in my elementary ed. classes.  Instead or asking people what their favorite old testament story is and having them raise their hands we are going to have them write it on a piece of paper and throw it to the front of the class like snowballs.  We are going to start off the class by playing name that tune. Two people predict how many notes it will take them to name the hymn and whoever predicts the least gets to attempt to name it.  All the hymns have to do with our lesson topic which is the gathering of Israel and having God's law written in our hearts. 
We are trying these things because it is such a big class and a lot of times the same people participate and others just sit back and are bored so we need to switch things around a bit.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Day of Thanks #5

Today I am thankful..
#1 That I only had one class to go to.
#2 That I got a great 30 minute Bob workout.
#3 That I have a wonderful smelling pot roast in the crockpot just waiting for my lover to eat when he gets home from work. (I'm not a huge pot roast fan but this one smells pretty darn good).
#4 That I could chat with my mom on the phone.
#5 That there is just one more week left of classes until Thanksgiving break.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Day of Thanks #4

Today I am thankful...
#1 That I was able to sleep in until 8am!
#2  That Thomas didn't have to work today so he could take me and pick me up from school.
#3 That I was able to get a lot of homework done today so that this weekend will be mostly homework free.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Thankful day #3

Today I am thankful for:
1. Warm clothes and a warm apartment. 
2. A reduction in the homework load since midterms.
3. Great friends in my classes that make school more fun.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Day of Thanks #2

Today I am thankful that...
#1 I have the Bob Harper workouts videos to work out to every morning. And that I can workout in my living room and still get an amazing workout.
#2 We can have people over for dinner tonight and that my hubby helps by slicing veggies and fruit which I hate doing.
#3 I have such an adorable nephew who makes me happy with his cute little laugh.  He loves it when I chase after him and give him tickles. 

Monday, November 8, 2010

Personal Discipleship Project

For the religion class that I am taking right now every two weeks we submit a proposal for the next two weeks personal discipleship project.  Basically what this project is, is you choose a scripture and based on that scripture decide on a project that will help you be a better follower of Christ.  Some of my projects have been; getting in touch with people I taught on my mission, going to the temple once a week, and reading scriptures with my hubby and saying prayers together while on vaction.  This week I found a scripture about being grateful and made it my goal to say in every single prayer for the next two weeks at least three sincere things that I am grateful for that day and to post at least ten blogs documenting these things.  So today is day number one of being grateful.  I thought this was a very appropriate project considering the holiday season that is coming up. 
D&C 59:7 Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.
The three things that I am grateful for today:
#1.  Thomas is done working nights for a week or so.  This means I get to spend lots of time with him. Tonight we went grocery shopping together and grocery shopping is so much better with him along side me.
#2.  It snowed a good four inches today and this means snowboarding season is coming quickly!
#4 We had such a yummy warm meal for dinner tonight, easy chili and cornbread with butter and honey.  Warmed my insides and made both Thomas and I so happy.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Fall Fun

The weather in Rexburg the past week has been AMAZING! It has been in the mid sixties.  This past Friday we had a really fun time taking little Alex to the park.  The day before Thomas had taken Alex to the park while I was studying (he is such a good Uncle).  So on Friday we walked to the nearby park and played with Alex in the huge lawn.  He loved just kicking around the volleyball we brought while Thomas and I threw a frisbee around. I think Alex kept himself entertained with that ball for about 20 minutes.  After he lost interest in the ball we took him on the toys and he just loved the slide.  I would stay at the top while he went down and Thomas would catch him at the bottom and then hand him back up to me.  Alex had the biggest smile on his face as he was coming down the slide and then again when Thomas would hand him back up to me :) He also enjoyed throwing the bark on the slide and then wiping it off.  Alex is just becoming the most fun little boy.  When he came over to our house the other day it just made my day when he reached out for me while Bea was about to leave for class.  He is saying all kinds of sounds and loves to say ball and book, but they sound like "bah" and "bahck" (like the sound a chicken makes).  He learned how to do the sign for please and will smile when he does it cause he is so proud of himself.  I just love that little guy.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Halloween and New Car

Thomas and I have been busy, busy, busy.  Thomas has been working a lot at the hospital and I've been busy with school and watching my little nephew.  Just this week I had my first opportunity to be an "assistant chef" for Rexburg Catering.  I was hired at the end of August but they haven't had any events since then.  My friend Karlee is the head chef and she needed an assistant.  Saturday we spent about four hours preparing some of the food and the event was Monday evening and we spent four hours that night getting food plated and served.  It's nice to have a little side job to do every once in awhile. 
This past weekend we celebrated Halloween by going to our ward halloween party.  It was a trunk or treat and then a soup dinner and dessert.  We invited Bea and Ivan so that Alex could do some trunk or treating.  Thomas and I dressed up as soccer players.  I was really amazed by how many soccer jerseys my husband has! I'm guessing he has around 20 soccer jerseys. 
The Giles are numero uno!

The tired housewife and the soccer player sisters.

We love our Mr. Stinky pants

The Lion, The Nerd, and The Housewife


Thanks to Bea for provoding the decorations for our car.

Mrs. Witchy guarding the candy.
We got a new (to us) car.  We really like it a lot.  It fits our style and lifestyle perfectly.  It's a 2005 Saturn Vue.  We were planning on getting a Toyota Avalon but the day we were planning on sealing the deal we saw this beauty, took her for a test drive and changed our minds.