Brittany with Brad

In the literal sense.

2009-11-16T00:07:00.000-08:00

We watched some videos, that do the literal view of the music video, just search literal total eclipse of the heart on you tube and you will die laughing.

As I was uploading pictures for christmas presents to a website...I realized that some of my pictures could be literally evaluated.

Like taken for what is really happening, not just saying, oh that is atheistically pleasing.

Brad is thinking- Freak Brittany, I know you were on that wedding diet, but hate to break it to ya, I think you gained weight since I last picked you up.

Brittany is thinking-Brad you must me so in love with me.
Well it was a blustery day in the town of SLC, and the groom felt a strong desire to wear the veil. The picture after this you will see the bride slowly lift off the ground and float away.

Yes, I love looking at the temple too Brad.-Brittany

Our kids will love this shot, they will really tell how we were feeling that day.

Peace.

Brit

Lifelong

2009-11-13T16:19:00.000-08:00

I stole all of the following fotos from my beautiful cousin Tess's blog.

Honestly its the cutest post.

She went to Standrod to visit.

All of you know that I am from Standrod.

I stole a few of the pics, but if you want to see the entirety of her post of steps of how to get pine nuts.

Go to this link. CLICK HERE.

Beware, she has the cutest baby ever.

Seriously. Ever.

But I guess mainly from her blog, I took these three pictures because..
Well its pretty self explanatory. This is my Grandpa. He has taught me so many good things. At one point I bore my testimony and in it I said, I know I am supposed to read the scriptures over and over again.

After my testimony he said, "Brit you know why you read your scriptures over and over again? The scriptures never change but you do."

Now I have never forgotten that.

Due to my grandpa not really ever speaking out like that towards me I guess. Not really slamming advice down my throat, he just usually flicks my ear and is on with it. He is the greatest guy. Ask him about the time he buried 8 kids in grain in the silo and had to dig them out before they suffocated. Its a moving story.
And this...I would have to say Prunella thinks she is a dog, cuz she always knocks on the door and they let her in. You think Im joking. Here...animals of any kind are welcome.
Do animals like organized chaos. Well if you look to the right you will see my Grandpas collection of old fashioned egg beaters. Great bday gift for him, just go the dI and round up some 1.00 egg beaters. He loves them, and hangs them all on the wall. My grandma has no problem with pictures of all her 98 grankids. I am probably off by a few numbers but when she has 14 kids, all but 2 with over 5 kids. It adds up folks. In 3rd grade we are learning that folks means peoples. So this may be chaos, but its granmas.

Sorry for posting 2 in one day, but I woke up early, and now ....I feel this strong desire to tell you about my grandparents...all in one day.

Ps. I take the PRaxis manana.

Oh deer in the headlights.

My head.

2009-11-13T07:13:00.000-08:00

Last night was Brad's flag football game. In the rain. He made the awesomest touchdown ever. He ran it in from like the 40 yd line. He may or may not tell me Im lying, but seriously it was a long run where the guy missed his flag and the game was so close, and I was so happy. Ahhhh I was so happy. I stood under the umbrella with my friend Heather who became my friend because she is a gem and is dating Brad's friend. I hope they get married, so we can be friends forever. Anyway, we have been friends for awhile, because we kinda just clicked when we met. We are doing a lesson on friends for our lesson plan whatever thingy, and I thought of Heather when I thought of what a friend is.

I made a list of the things Heather or a friend does.

Now I have been thinking about this a lot.

Friends really listen when you are talking, like really, they look at you, make expressions to go with your comments, and make comments about what you are saying, not their own personal experiences.

Friends tell you that you look good, and tell you its okay if you say, I look like crap, then they say, Oh no you don't I think you look fine!

Friends share blankets, and umbrellas, and last pieces of gum.

Friends cook you meals when you are over at their house.

Friends throw parties and don't charge you.

Brad don't get mad at me for that one. Please oh please.

Friends come to your bridal shower.

Friends come to your receptions.

Friends listen to you.

Oh wait I already put that one.

Friends share their worries, concerns, and stories with you.

Friends have you on speed dial.

Friends have you in their phone book.

Friends have you on facebook, and comment on your pictures and status.

Enough of the friend list.

I have so much in my head, and sometimes its good to just get some of it out so my headache will go away.

Most importantly, Heather has been my friend for awhile and she is throwing a bday party for her boyfriend at her parents house. Brad told me about it last night.

I said, oh ya lets totally go Im excited! Then he said, ya you can see all of Greg Olsen's paintings.

I said, oh do they have lots in their house.

He said, ya lots of orginals.

I said, oh thats so cool, do they know him.

He looked at me and laughed.

He said, Heather's dad is Greg Olsen.

I said, Brad, Greg Olsen is like.....the awesomest painter. Everybody in the church knows him.

He said, I know.

I said, WHY DIDNT YOU TELL ME ALL THIS TIME.

He said, I thought you knew.

I said, When I was little my grandma would have me look at Greg Olsen's paintings so I could be a better painter.

He said, I know.

I was like.....Greg Olsen to me is like Babe Ruth to you.

He said, I know.

I told Heather this story and she laughed.

She said, I'll show you his studio.

Then I said, You are my best friend ever.

Well maybe not, that would scare her off, and make her think im only her friend because her dad is Greg Olsen.

She is the cutest ever.

I think we all have seen this one.

So tonight I will be ultra happy and try to contain myself while I am standing in his studio.

I hope Heather doesn't read this. She will think I am a creepy creep.

Isn't She

2009-11-11T17:31:00.000-08:00

Isn't she just a doll?

I can almost hear her saying, "Brinee".

Or whispering it when she realizes I'm asleep.

Then falling asleep next to my bed while I am asleep in my bed.

As if she is waiting for me to play.

I just left her Sunday, and I miss her already, even though I was done with her calling my name and begging me to 'come here'. I love that girl. Love her to death.

Baby sister Faith at 2 years old. Taken for the tenth time at the school when all the older kids had their school pictures too. Mom said she cheesed it too much, and this is only a half cheese. Sounds normal for Faith.

Is that bad?

2009-11-09T18:51:00.000-08:00

I'm at the point where I feel completely inadequate to be a teacher. I am getting pulled in forty different directions.

Is that bad?

Im at the point where my house is driving me crazy. I feel like I live in a box. I can't store anything, and I have no room for clothes, food, nor extra blankets.

Is that bad?

Im at the point where I feel so overwhelmed, if I think about what I have to do to get to the end of the week, tears brim my eyes.

Is that bad?

Writing lesson plans is a drag.

Is that bad?

My teacher said if we don't like writing lesson plans then to choose a new major. I contemplated switching only because the format is tedious, and lengthy.

Is that bad?

If I lose a few friends for writing this, I dont even care.

Is that bad?

I graduate in April, and every part of me wants to find a reason to stay in school.

Is that bad?

I am continually thinking about how to get skinnier.

Is that bad?

You think everything is perfect on blogs. I proved you wrong.

Is that bad?

Brad just got a new car, and Im mad that mine has a huge hole in it now.

Is that bad?

Im just bad.

Wreck and not Wreck

2009-11-06T13:00:00.000-08:00

Well, its true. A car wreck is what happened. Some special individuals in front of us were not paying attention and they just bammed right next to the nice fellows in front of them. They busted their radiator, Im sure of it, because anti-freeze was everywhere.

The problem with this whole situation is that we were on our way to New York.

Jk.

We were on our way to the Real Soccer game. Pronounced REE-AL. not real. but REE, like pioneer woman, then AL, like the guy who is in charge of AL's toy barn on toy story.

And we had 15 tickets. Only four of which we were using. The other 11 were waiting for us at the stadium. Oh perfect.

So we were so close to the exit. So close. And then it happened. We did NOT get ticketed for driving too close, because the peoples in front of us did not even push on their brakes. They just hit em.

We had no warning. We hit them going like 10. Or something. Still a good hit.

Enough to do this.

Yuck.

So the officer declared it their fault so I thought, oh perfect, my insurance wont have to pay for this.

But really.

I called the other day, and those peoples who caused the wreck.

Didn't really have insurance. Faulty insurance card.

And as the procedure goes, there is basically nothing I can do about it.

So we made it to the game...one way or another.

The convo with my dad was interesting.

Dad, we got in a wreck.(me)

(told him the details)

Its funny how Sally was just saying before we hit him, how her and Landon almost got in a wreck yesterday. THen BAM we hit em. (Me)

WHAT!! SALLY AND ECHO ARE WITH YOU??? (DAD)

Yes, but they are fine. (BRIT)

WHy are they in the car with you (DAD)

uh cuz they came with us to the game (Brit, feeling extremely ......)

Okay, let me talk to them. (DAD)

Thank you dad. I'm fine, thanks for asking. Hand over the phone.

Maybe thats just typical parents. Care more about the ones that are 18 and under than the ones that are 21 and up. Or maybe, its because he feels that I am responsible enough that I can handle my own experiences. And that Sally and Echo need to console with him in order to be accepting of their surroundings. Or maybe I'm just ....weirdo.

Anyway, the game was great.

REEEAL won.

By one.
won by one.

What a play on words.

We ended up giving two of our tickets to the guys who got hit. By the car that we hit.

They were nice folks.

Folks, means peoples.

Sally and Echo did come as a matter of fact. And safe they were, and happy to take a break from Provo.

I can't imagine spending my time with a more car wrecking good handling guy ever. If that didn't make sense to you, it was good to see Brad's skills.

After the game we went and saw Tess's little doll face. Paisley. She loves to open mouth smile. It was Halloween and for the moment, I loved handing out candy. Loved it. Tresa was a little worried that I gave someone a handful instead of one. Due to millions of children coming, and us having to put up a ''out of candy'' sign later.

I guess the wreck, wasn't a wreck after all. Just a spooky Halloween REEal game....

I Participated

2009-11-05T16:31:00.000-08:00

I had something to do with Halloween.

We went to this little party Brad's friends put on.

I guess thats bad to say, Brad's friends......

Our friends?

Regardless.

Thing One and Thing Two were there. They were nice. And Thing 1 is Brad's best friend.

Brad loved Dr. Seuss. Lie. Aj, the real life person dressed up as Thing 1, is Brad's best friend.
Scott could also make the qualification for Brad's best friend. Rebbie, his date, was white trash, and obviously Pregnant. Very pregnant. They tried to make an announcement for me that I was pregnant. I could have proved them wrong real fast with details of terrible cramps causing me to miss class, but thats grossy girl stuff and I decided to just smile and laugh and say..ya...
Brad made his own costume. I was way impressed. I didn't think it was going to be that awesome. His tight spandex made me want to keep touching his legs, but thats just my mom making me do that. She always rubs fabric that soft and silky. My grandma said she did it when she was little too. So....hereditary, or acquired from example. Either one. In this picture we have John Smith, Peter Pan, White Trash Mullet creep, I cant remember what Eli is, Thing 1 and Brad the bee. Why was Brad a bee you ask?

Cuz I was a flower. Don't even think that we were cutesy and clean, its deeper. Only if you get it will you get it. Did that make sense?

I made my costume too. Some people thought I was a lioness. Then they saw Brad and they got it. They put things together.

So I did participate in Halloween.

I promise.

Even though this day was not Halloween but yet the day before...

Halloween... which was the next day was more of a horror than I ever imagined.

Real Soccer Game, Car wreck on the way there.

Just found out today the people who's fault it was gave a faulty insurance card. Yay. Sarcastic.

We went on a little...cruise.

2009-10-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

The other weekend my cohort and all their lovely loved ones decided to go on a little Halloween cruise.

On the Provo River.

Sounds exciting?

It wasn't but, it was fun to meet everybody's spouses or boyfriends...or just to hang out.

As we jumped in the car to go to the cruise, we discovered it dead. Due to my once a week ritual of leaving the lights on. I wouldn't be Brittany, if I didn't do something to cause unperfectness. So we took the scooter. I froze my little nose.

Here is my cohort group. I felt unnaturally squashed as I squatted.
From the left we have Dee, who is a doll and could be our mom. But she went back to school :). Then we have Amber and her first date. Then we have Teresa and Kristin who went together. Then we have Taylor who has his arms on Abbey, (His date) Then we have Erica and her husband. He is nine feet taller. Then we have Camry and her date. Then we have Marie and her husband. Obviously me and Brad are in the lower left corner. Sorry if you just read that and lost all care and love for my blog. That was boring as heck.

Here we are on the lovely cruise. Notice the excitement of the cruise. Or the stunned feeling of the flash.

Here was a captain. He kept going out of pirate character. That alone helped me decide I was never coming back here. And if I did, I was taking three year olds.

I guess it wasn't that bad. Brad and I got to sit across from each other and gaze in each others eyes as we looked at lit up pumpkins.

Or I thought it was nice. Maybe my date didn't love it as much....Somehow I organized a get together after that would make up for our lame cruise.
Who couldn't love it? Well it was a bit crowded and since my spouse was too full from JCW's while golfing...he didn't eat anything. But I got a full of calories dripping in grease chicken burger, and a shake.

These two were just sitting across from us. I decided to take their pre engagements. They look nice. Abbey wears that coat faithfully, keeps her warm for lame cruises.

Wait..

2009-10-27T20:52:00.000-07:00

As time rolls on by, I keep getting these weird bugs. They last like 10 hours. Today it was a weird flu. I told Brad it was the Swine. He offered me anything I wanted.

Hot tamales.

That's it.

And after I ate half the box. . .
My tongue felt burnt. But I was happy.
I was thinking today how come I don't have more close friends.

I decided it is because of all my sisters.

I think I have said that before.

My sisters have my heart. I have no room for any other girls.

Jk all of you that consider yourself my girly friend.

I really forgot the point of this post.

Oh ya.

Brad and I have all these great plans for Halloween.

Carve Pumpkins, go to Halloween parties, make scary ghost rice krispy treats with the marshmellows of orange and white he made me buy months ago, and go to a haunted house.

Well we haven't done any, and sadly I don't really have time to do any of them.

He does the dishes, while I do homework.

I did my first 'observed' lesson plan today.

It went well, I thought.

Still have a lot to learn and work on.

We know what we want to be for Halloween, of course its secret.

But we haven't finalized our costumes yet.

Just know my hair is going to be green.

And Brad never stops texting me Chuck Norris jokes. Thanks Jeff and Travis.

Do I look...

2009-10-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

Lately I feel like I am gaining weight. You know that feeling you get when no matter what you wear, how you look in the mirror, or how you compare yourself to everyone else, you still feel hefty?

Then there are those days when you are like, dang I am skinny whinny over here. Check me out.

So I decided instead of going all day everyday from 7-11Pm, I want to try something. Maybe waking up earlier to work out, run, do something. Maybe that will make me feel better about myself. I am always eating as fast as possible, and usually it is a granola bar and an apple.

I took 5 tests last week.

Brad took a handful too.

It was a stress week.

This morning I woke up after a dream that my dad had 3 wives. None of them resembled my mom. One was Dolly Parton looking, the other a hispanic lady, who was very sweet, but no one understood her, and then another lady who was very homely and scary and always kept her ratty hair over her face.

I found out my dad was a plyg because I was playing this game when somebody referred to me as their sister. I said, "NO WAY I am NOT your sister." Then they got frusterated and took me back to the compound where my dad kept all his wives.

Sally was there, and she SWORE it was totally normal and fine.

I was the only one who was dying inside from this chaotic mess of breaking every law and sinning beyond any sins I had ever experienced. This was a nightmare. But nobody seemed to think it was but me. Sally thought it was great. I kept trying to talk sense into her, my dad finally kicked me out of the compound and I took Faith with me, and she was a devil possessed child.

Anyway, I cried in my dream. And I was telling Brad about it in the morning, and I told him I cried in my dream.

He said, "What's new."

Referring that I cry all the time in real life.

I pretended to be mad.

But I really wasn't. Because its true.

I get so busy, so stressed, and have 3 papers and 50 kajillion text book pages to write, and plan lesson plans to teach in the third grade class that I am in....that I just break down about the stupidest things.

Then I am telling Brad, I am just crying because I am stressed. Because stress makes me cry. Its like I don't know what else to do when all my body can't do what it needs to do.

I got my first test score back, 92. Did they expect for us to get good grades when there is 4 other tests to think about? I dont know, but I sure tried.

So with all the stress, Brad is so nice to me.

I try to remind him that I am a Senior, and its supposed to be hard.

And sometimes when I have to go to work, I just take a 20 minute nap, then drag myself to work in this groggy state.

So one can see how I consider myself hefty.

My intramural bball team got moved up from 15th to 7th in the power rankings. We are in the lower division, but we are ranked overall divisions. haha, we are probably too good for our division. Hope we can make it through tourneys when we get moved up to a higher division.

Brad's intramural team ffball team one barely last night. It was a lucky pass. With no time on the clocky.

I love intramurals. They make me not feel so hefty, and they make me happy.

Plus its fall. And fall means it has a slight chill to it.

Brad taught me how to play raquetball today. I got discouraged easily, then I said out loud, "Just because I haven't mastered this sport in 15 minutes, does not mean I am a failure."

Then I decided I want my own raquet, that will help me love it all the more.

I wish I was a student forever. Free facilities. Free intramurals. Free computer use. Free life.

I am working on my thank you cards. I have so many to send out. I have already probably sent out over half. Writing them hurts my hand.

But getting married was so worth it.

For a second I envyed Brooke because she gets to get married again.

I just wanna marry Brad again. Maybe we will move to a new country, pretend we arent married, then get to know everyone, then fake get engaged, then fake get married and get all the presents and attention again.

Oh but I could have a baby, then we could get all the presents and attention again.

But then we would have screaming and disciplining to deal with. So maybe...I'll wait on that one.

No worries. I love babies. :)

We are going to Midway tonight to visit and watch the game.

The lovey love birds will be up there.

Brooke and Aaron.

They should name their first baby, Braaron.
I like it.

Unisex name.

I am going to name my first baby Friar John.

Peace.

While I was there.

2009-10-16T16:43:00.001-07:00

While I was in Peru, A lot of interesting things happened to me. Things that I don't feel the need to discuss in deep detail. But I know that these things have forever shaped who I am, and my testimony. I guess I can't get some of it out of my mind lately. I thought a good way to express it would be through my blog.

I mean, I have a great husband, but he knows the story, hes heard it many times, and surprisingly even references back to my Peru experiences sometimes.

But sometimes, writing helps me understand what happened to me.

And in all my turmoil and four tests and confusion this week. I keep feeling detached to anything going on here....and thinking of real struggles that I encountered in Peru.

Things that changed my life forever.

Things that made me look at myself in the mirror and be grateful for the prayers for me by those at home.

Grateful that I had a home. And a family, that no matter how much garbage went on, no matter how many lies were told, no matter how many divorces happened, no matter how much tragedy, I had a family who loved me. I had parents that focused their attention on me, and trusted me when I told them "Im going to Peru".

I wasn't alone when I was in Peru, I had the volunteers, the orphans, the host family, and many many others thinking about me. But this little guy, he maybe had a few people who cared about him. A handful. If he got hurt, he maybe had somebody acknowledge it, but me if I get hurt, I have the prayers of anyone I ask, and don't ask. I have hundreds of caring people around me who would probably help me out.

So thinking about worldly items that I have compared to the Peruvians. . . I also have been thinking about friendships, connections, opportunities, and lifestyle I have compared to Peruvians. (This is with the exception of some Peruvians). But in this city, there were very few that had left the city itself their entire life, due to lack of funds. I guess money is the main aspect but...my network is so much stronger, and I want to give what I have to someone back there.

But if I did, would they know what to do with it. Because to them, life is day to day. But to me, its worry about the future constantly because there are thousands of opportunities awaiting me, but to them, the crop is awaiting them, or the next 50 dollars a month they make.. . if that.
So today, as I prepare for my tests, I guess I consider myself grateful that I have the opportunity to take tests, and to be here at BYU, and most importantly that I have a chance to travel, experience, and make my own decisions with the world at my hands, the world at my possibility.

Writing this post makes me want to be a teacher in some far away Africa, while Brad takes his profession there as a doctor, we could just go on a service expedition.

But there I go again, not living in the moment. Not living in today.

I guess I should study, and stop thinking about Peru.

Her worst nightmare.

2009-10-12T12:48:00.000-07:00

We went on this double date with Landon and his 'friend'. It was their first date ever, and I decided about half way through, that it was her worst date ever.

Because....

I planned the trip, fitting to my needs.

I wanted to go to Park City Outlets, because I wanted a new watch at fossil outlet.

Due to me getting placed into a classroom this week....to be a baby student teacher, and I need to see the time regularly, and I cant be checkin my cellular device in a room full of cell phone hungry babies.

Yes, I got placed in a classroom.

Third grade to be exact.

Which I'm happy with, because I am carpooling with my friends....to the same school. It is in Lehi. Alpine school district. Maybe I'll student teach in Nebo??? Ya I will, maybe I will get a nice school where the teacher likes her student teacher, and the little baby students don't spit spit wods at me.

Like Brad did to his student teacher.

Or maybe they won't yell "BORING"

at me...

like Brad did to his student teachers.

Great. I'm in for a treat.

We always tease that because Brad was a bully and difficult child, he will know how to deal with my students who are difficult and he will offer me good advice, and also...he will know how to handle our bully and difficult children who are exact replicas of him.

Back to her worst nightmare.

The date.

Well I planned the date....to fit my needs.

And we fulfilled those needs, and walked away with a watch, which I wondered if I wreally need it. :) (alliteration)

And it was their first date, and me and Brad's cagillionth.

And we are married.

First date with a married couple, BAD IDEA, they talk about gross stuff comfortably, while the date and the datee are in shock because it is their first date...

First date with Brittany, who is abnormally blunt, and talks too much.

So...for her, I teased throughout the date that it was a date she was going to call all her friends about, and say that it was a disaster.

Wait. As if that wasn't enough, Landon forgot his wallet.

Landon is my brother, and he is taking this girl on the first date, and Brad has to pay for everyone, for everything.

Great first impression Landon, you know she is gonna come back runnin to ya after this one.

And....Landon was always running around being awkward.

So, that's another great reason why the date was a disaster.

Oh and also, I kept taking pictures of them.

But, we did eat at Dairy Keen.... in Heber. And that was perfect. Well, at least for me.

Brad slipped Landon a twenty before we went in, just so it wasn't awkward at the ordering station.

Nice Brad.

Brad is nice.

After that, we went to a movie. G-Force.

In which turned out relatively well....I laughed a few times.

Brad thought the whitey tightey part was funny....

I thought, "I look like Paris Hilton's chihuahua" was funny...

So for Brad and I it was a perfect married date.

Tune in next time for 'How to Ruin a Date Successfully'

Forgot

2009-10-09T17:26:00.001-07:00

I almost forgot about this picture.
Then when I saw the plaid, I melted.

N to the ews.

2009-10-08T15:31:00.000-07:00

I couldn't make my post about news again thats boring. But really I do have news.

Lots of it.

Yesterday I broke. We broke. We are now broke.

MacBook Pro 13 inch is now in my hands.

Don't even bother to ask how much.

I didn't sleep last night thinking that it cost the same as my first car.

And half of my second car.

And probably nothing compared to what my third car will cost, because hopefully at that point my saturn will last 20 more years and we can afford a Ferrari with gold plated stallions all over it.

That is if Brad can pass Chemistry.

Jk honey, you will, and that was a bad joke if you are sad.....

But remember, Chemistry is only a speck on the eternal string of life.

Back to other readers besides Brad.

But I had to protect my relationship if he happened to read this.

So MacbookPRO.

Oh ya, Im living a dream. A dream of love and bliss with my macbook pro.

I just bought a computer case on etsy. Sorry it was the last one.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31969173

I probably could have made it myself, but in order for that to happen
1. Dad would have had to repair the sewing machine cord Ammon cut with scissors.
2. I would have had to purchase fabric.
3. I would have waited for the fabric in the mail.
4. I would have had to buy a zipper, and then go through heck trying to put it in, just like in sewing class.
5. I would have to wait for the sewing machine to catch a ride with somebody coming to Provo from Standrod.
6. I would have had to spent a couple hours in front of the sewing maching in order to just figure out how I was going to start.
7. The initial product would have taken a total of 13 weeks to complete.

So you see why it is most important that I just purchased a cute one on etsy.

Thats enough about that.

Other news.

I was in severe pinching back pain yesterday night. I asked Brad to come and punch my back while I was at work. He pushed really hard on it everywhere. It was still pinching. I had an eight o clock class this morning and....trust me, I was not sitting still and I was done 'toughing it'.

Chiropractor at 11AM.

Sprained ligaments on the ribs/spine.

Perfect.

Youchie.

But I'll make it.

The chiropractor knows my family well and he said, Brittany BOO! Did you get in a car wreck!! This is whiplash!!! I said, "ya the truck of a guy who hit me in bball." Thats a car wreck. Im a little smart car and he was a semi hauling stinky cows.

Oh goodness, I'm sure I will survive after a few appointments.

He said not to bend my head without it being in square with my back.

That's nearly impossible without a neck/back brace.

Don't forget General Conference news.

They said, "Just make sure you don't take pictures inside."

Oh great. I so wanted to take a picture of President Monson high fiving little kids afterwards.

I'll just etch it into my memory.

Chell Chelly. Brad's little sister. Who is in nursing school. Who was eight feet tall this day.

Do I look like I slept on Brad's shoulder trying so hard to take notes and stay awake??

I told him I wanted a picture of the temple with him in it....Obviously I was intimidated by all the people and have no skills, otherwise the temple would have been to the side, and not coming out of his head, but ah well.
It rained and was slippery. The old lady wouldn't let us go down the stairs, she said they were wet. I said, "Oh so you are just protecting us?" She didn't laugh.
For so many lovely reasons I love this picture. I don't know why they were laughing, maybe cuz it was the second picture, and I said after the first picture, "Brad is being stupid, SMILE!"

And I love it, because its genuine laughter.

I love President Monson, Brad loves Elder Holland a lot too.

We love them all don't worry.

102.

2009-10-07T18:08:00.000-07:00

102 reasons why I love Brad.

just kidding.

That would bore all of you to death.

More like.

We have been married for 102 days.

I asked Brad why he loved me yesterday, he said, "because you made soup and cookies."
Then he laughed as I poked at him and said, "NO" It can't have anything to do with food!
(That's a house rule. No saying you love me because I make you food.)

Then he said, "because you take care of me."

Fine, that will pass Mr. Brad.

But really, I look at how much we have grown since we got married.

A lot.

102 days a lot and three inches.

I also felt so down today because I'm so scared of teaching.

Scared that I will bore my little chicks.

Scared that I won't know how to teach that one kid who doesn't get it.

Scared that I will just be flat out horrible.

And he sat me down and listed all these reasons why I was a good teacher. He told me all these examples of how he knew.

That's why I love him.

At least I know I will have enough jewelry to entertain my own two year old child.

For now I can please 2 year old sibling Faith...

And yes, thats my ghetto kitchen.

And yes, thats my mom cooking for us :)

News.

2009-10-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

That's right I have news. News for all of you who have stayed updated on my sister's lives.

My oldest sister is now engaged.

Engaged to be married.

Married to Aaron Loewer, a Canadian. Finally he can get his citizenship in America.

Finally.

Maybe that's why he is marrying her...

creepy.

Brooke and Aaron have been through a lot with me. As they were dating before I even met Brad. Before I even knew what marriage was.

They have been dating ever since I was in diapers.

Actually it probably only feels like that.

Here we have me and Brad, and some other randoms, and Brooke and Aaron, little did they know that in this 2009 picture, they would be getting married in the same month, a day after in 2010!

Ps, This is the day Brad told me he loved me.

Young people are blissfully ignorant.

That's what my bishop told me.

I guess I'm still ignorant to how hard and difficult marriage is, because I love it.

Aaron really doesn't care about citizenship, he really loves her!!

I know he does, because he wrote her a poem, and hiked through a blizzard in the mountains to propose.

Well, its up to Brooke to show her ring, I can't take care of all the public announcements for her.

Brittany...wants her husband back.

2009-10-02T15:24:00.000-07:00

That is what my facebook status would say.

But facebook isn't personal.

And my blog kinda is.

More than facebook right?

Welcome to October, PS.

And sorry you have to look at wedding pictures.
But, I can't let them die.
I love them too much, I love that day too much, I love him too much.

Brad is really sick.

And I am at the point where these items:
Vitamin C
Echinacea
Sinus Pills
Loritab
Ibprophen
Snack Pack Puddings of all flavors
honey lemon sucking thingys
and honey mixed with lemon water put in the microwave
are worthless.

He is still so sick.

His sore throat makes him not be able to eat nor drink anything but his first bite, then he is done, because it hurts so bad.

I just want him back.

I want him to talk to me again, instead of staring at the wall.

I want him to be able to walk up a hill again.

I want him to want to go in with me when we go to the grocery store.

I want him to not make me cry when he tells me how bad it hurts.

Gosh, that last line...that was way too personal.

But I just feel like I want to take half of his sore throat. Then it wont hurt him as much.

I don't know if that is normal.

I wish we had a bath tub.

Ammon and Autism

2009-09-30T17:30:00.001-07:00

My sister wrote this great paper on Ammon. I doubt she cares if I post it. I laughed while reading it, because it is all so true.

Enjoy the autistic side of the Hansen family.

My younger brother Ammon was born on November 16, 1999. He was 9 pounds 15 ounces and was perfectly healthy. Two days later, he received, without my parents’ knowledge, a hepatitis B immunization. This immunization was entirely unnecessary but because my parents did not specifically say they did not want him to have it, the doctors gave it to him. Nine months later, Ammon was diagnosed with severe autism. We believe the hepatitis B shot was a major contributing factor to Ammon’s diagnosis, and we have been dealing with the effects of it, and autism, for nine years since. A concrete language barrier and severe behavioral problems are just two of the frustrating results of autism that we must deal with on a daily basis.

Because of the severity of Ammon’s autism, he does not speak. He can say words, but he cannot, or rather will not, formulate words into sentences that can be understood. Occasionally if prompted he will say, “I want sleep” or “I want drink” but many times he does not really want what he says and is just saying those things out of habit. We know he knows what he wants, but for some reason he cannot express it. This leads to terrible tantrums which are frustrating to witness because we, as his family, feel helpless as we hear him scream and watch him bite his hands because he is so angry.

When he is not upset, he is often making weird noises, sometimes very repetitively, or acting very strange because we cannot communicate to him what is and is not “socially acceptable.” For example, if he sees someone with something he wants, he will just go and try to take it. His lack of social skills makes it difficult to take him anywhere in public because he can be very disruptive and many people do not understand his condition. When we do take him places, we can always feel the eyes of everyone around staring awkwardly or giving us dirty looks.

Another reason we cannot take him places is because he frequently runs away. We live in a rural place surrounded by fields and dirt roads and he loves to explore, but he obviously does not tell anyone when he is leaving or where he is going. If we do not keep a constant watch on him, he will disappear and we will have no idea which direction he has gone. When the weather is warm, he will sometimes run away four or five times a day and hours are spent searching for him. The fear this ignites in us is agonizing because there are ponds, creeks, mountain lions, and many other dangers that could quickly harm Ammon. Taking Ammon to the city is just as scary. On one occasion we were at my brother’s house in Provo and Ammon ran away when we were not looking. We all spread out to search and we found him across the street in someone’s house. He had just opened the front door and gone right in. Luckily in this instance there were not cars on the road he crossed, but if there had been, Ammon would not have paid any attention to them. He is oblivious to danger and in turn we always have to be on our toes.

Preventing Ammon from running away is not the only time we have to be on our toes. Ammon’s nickname is “The Master of Destruction.” For some reason we have yet to figure out, Ammon loves to destroy things. He goes through different stages of destruction and no matter what we do to try to prevent him from ruining things, he always finds a way. Sometimes he gets into a “dump things” stage. This is a very messy stage for us, but for some reason he finds it enjoyable to dump whatever he can get his hands on. Bottles of vanilla, syrup, or shampoo are a few of his favorite things to dump. One time he dumped a whole gallon of Dawn soap down the tub drain on the third floor which caused bubbles to flow freely from the toilets on the first floor. Another time he dumped a whole container of Lawry’s seasoning salt into the pancake mix, which my dad then used to make pancakes for breakfast the next morning. Without knowing there was something wrong and ignoring the pleas of the kids, he tried to force us to eat the pancakes. We then made him taste them, he relented, and the pancakes were thrown away.

Another one of Ammon’s favorite stages is his “cutting stage.” During this stage we have to hide every pair of scissors that we own because if Ammon finds them he will use them. His favorite things to cut are sheets, VHS tapes, pictures, and important papers. He seems to always cut our homework or my mom’s paper work even where there are hundreds of unimportant papers lying around. One time during a “cutting stage” he cut the sewing machine cord when it was plugged into the wall. My mom found the pieces of the cord lying next to a pair of charred scissors that had a chunk of metal missing from each blade. He has not cut a cord since then. These incidents are minor, relatively inexpensive, and occasionally humorous, but many of Ammon’s destructive escapades are exactly opposite.

Ammon seems to enjoy spending time in vehicles and damage usually occurs. One time he was in our van during a “cutting stage” and he cut four of the seatbelts. Another time he was left unattended in our suburban and he pulled it into drive. The suburban smashed in to our van, leaving sizable dents in both vehicles. The most expensive damage report so far occurred when my older brother left Ammon alone in the truck one day after school. He pulled the truck into drive and the truck smashed into the side of the school. The truck had a heavy duty bumper on the front so it was fine, but the school received a few hundred dollars worth of damage that my parents had to pay for.

Having Ammon is an adventure. The language barrier and the behavioral problems are a challenging part of Ammon’s autism, but as his family we try to be optimistic by finding as much humor as we can in the things he does. Still, we try to advise as many people as we can to steer clear of immunizations if they want to avoid autism and its effects.

Here is a link to my meet the siblings about Ammon.

http://brittanyhansen.blogspot.com/2008/08/if-you-dont-think-he-is-handsome.html

Here Kitty Kitty

2009-09-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

Brad and I love travelling together.
Brad loves it when I talk and he just sings along to his Steve Miller Band.

Then he loves it when we can make it to Standrod in less than 3 hours.

He likes it when I sleep the whole way.
Oh he loves that part. For the first time in my life I stayed awake the whole way back. Give me credit for that. We talked about all sorts of things. How I went to Peru, where we would have been if we would have just never met each other, how we would move to Standrod if the economy decided to give out and how our car was almost out of gas.

On the way home I just wanted to go back. Really bad.

There are so many things to absorb and spend hours doing, with no time restraints, no limits.

When I got there my camera battery was dead so I didn't get pictures of us going up the mountain and picking pine cones off of pine trees. Why does a human want pine cones? Oh my gosh, did you know pine nuts come out of pine cones?

You know those little whiteish yellow thingys that are soft and crisp at the same time? You need them, you want them, and you roast them. You roast the pine cones then pick out those seeds and eat em. So good.

They have a hard shell on them, which I just bite into and peel off. Then the meat. So, Amanda has all those pictures. Pictures of Brad on the front of the four wheeler, Shad driving. Lad behind him, me behind Lad, and Ian and Amanda on the back of the fourwheeler. PRiceless.

Its hunting season so as we were going up the mountain some old ladies in a camper yelled, "SLOW DOWN" at us. Oh I thought the speed limit was 10 mph, not 2 mph, sorry grumpy lady that is forced to go hunting with her husband.

My camera got charged later, and so Sunday I captured some unforgettable moments. But... I guess it didn't capture how bad I wanted to stay in Standrod. Nor did it capture how much I love a big shower, a big kitchen, a spider free bed, a sister as an alarm clock, a Ward where everybody knows me and cares about me, A 15 passenger van with 17 passengers, a dirt road that is so bumpy that Lad can't draw and he gets mad and keeps saying, "Its too bumpy, I can't draw!" Then Ethan keeps saying, "Just wait till we get home."

Brad says its chaos. He fits in well though. He doesn't complain and just goes along with whatever is happening. He is really nice too. That makes my siblings sometimes take advantage of him.

Like Faith, she is the best at that. She gets Brad to hold her, and sit by her while she plays with her play kitchen, feeding everybody. I was making gravy from the roast leftovers and Faith would not stop yelling, "Brinneeey come sit down by me, come on, just for a mineeite, it be fun, come on please."

She would repeat herself fifty times, then I finally just can't take ignoring her anymore and I say, "How about Brad sits by you?" That satisfies her but probably bores Brad to death. After Brad was sitting there by her, following her every kitchen demand, (you know as the 2 year old cook she can demand that Brad eat the plastic salad with a hamburger bun on it) I saw Brad lie down. On the floor instead of sitting up. She said, "No sit up Bwad. Sit up." He said, "No, I'm just gonna sit like this for a while."

Now I know Brad didn't know I was watching, but I think little Faith wears him out. Later in the day, she was chasing one of our bigger kitties trying to wash her with an empty 1 gallon gas can.

So Brad my dearest, you aren't the only one.

Oh wow, we found the Kitties. Kittys? Whatever. WE found em. My mom said the mama kitty moved them and she didn't know where.

Then we found them. Or someone found them.
My favorite quote of the day was when my mom told me to put some food out for her on the patio. She said there is a bowl out there.

My dad gave her a look. Because he doesn't like food to be put on the patio, then if it spills, it gets all over....anyway he doesn't like it.

So my dad gave her that look, like you know you shouldn't put a bowl out there for her to eat right there.

Then my mom said, "She is nursing 7 kitties. I'm NOT making her walk clear out to the orchard to get her food."

Later we found out that her kitties are in the orchard,so really my mom was making her walk all the way to the patio. Ha, nice one mama.

My mom and this kitty are similar.

Produced lots of babies, and lasted a long time.

And really chill.

They were in the wood pile.
When we found the kitties, we were mawling them. Picking them up cooing at them, holding them tight to our bodies, and mama kitty was concerned, but she was relaxed. She trusted us. We feed her.

There was only 2 white ones. The rest were gray like their mama. I told Brad to give me a light smile. The kitty, didn't really get it.I told them to look in the distance. Brad thought I said, to look at each other. He didn't catch it.
Then I told them to show their teeth. They both got it. Finally, we get some synchronized responses here.
Little runt kitty didn't really know what to expect of these humans, runt kitty just opened his eyes a week ago, all he knows is sleep, suck on mama, and play in the woodpile with 6 fellow kitty siblings. We all were intrigued by these kitties in the wood pile. I just wanted to kiss these kitties, but sadly I am madly allergic. Sadly and madly allergic.

As you can see, the little horsey of Landon's just couldn't leave us be. I sat down on the wood pile, and Mr. Horsey ate my hair. He just wanted to be by us. He liked the attention he was getting. He liked the kitties. They were cute, or thats what he whispered in my ear as he was trying to eat my shirt since my hair was too whispy and had too much product in it.

Pick her up Brad. Show us how cute she is. Dont worry, I don't know what is stuck on Brad's face. Probably barbecue sauce from the roast we just ate. Maybe the kitty can lick it off.
Mama kitty needs to put on some weight. All these babies are sucking her skinny.

She finally went back inside her cavern of a wood pile and fell asleep while we played with the four kittys who weren't tired.

Gotta hand it to her though, nice choice of a home this wood pile, sure attraction for mice to come in and snuggle then to find a mama kitty lookin for a treat for her drooling mouth, protection from the rain, protection from humans, and protection from cars and lawnmowers.

Mama kitty, just keep your babies out of the car engine fan. Cutting April's head off in the engine fan wasn't pretty. April was a good kitty. So good that Faith named all the kitties April cuz she misses April.

She said, "Oh! Here's baby April!!"

I thought, oh gosh, Faith knows April is gone, and is mourning inside, and to deal with it she is naming this kitties April.

How sweet.

Then Brad talked me into playing football. With all boys.

Don't worry, Lad only cried 8 times, and Chandler twice.

I cried once.

Joke.

Baby Sophie makes me want a cute cuddly thing for myself.

I bet Amanda wasn't aware of how Faith could interpret Sophie as Soapy.

"Oh look its baby Soapy!"-Faith.

It makes Sophie that much cuter.

Present

2009-09-23T13:28:00.000-07:00

So due to errors, go to the bottom of the blog to do this:
Click on the pages to turn them. Sorry too small to read.....

And to see the wedding present book.

This is my wedding present to Brad.

I gave it to him yesterday.

Or more like he saw a package by the door. Opened it..then realized it was a book but it had a picture of me and him on it. So he was scared that he did something wrong. He texted me this.

"Something bad happened when I got home."

So when I read that. I freak out.

Freak out like, Oh great he dumped the garbage all over the kitchen and didnt have time to clean it up so he left it, and I will have to clean it up.

Or freak out like, oh great his old girlfriend showed up on his doorstep and he had to let her in and in the process of letting her in she set fire to our apartment.

But I guess I freak out too much.

And I ALWAYS think the worst.

Because something bad happened...really means...I opened something.

I jump to conclusions, like a cat pouncing on a moving ball of yarn thinking it is a mouse.

I'm hectic in my head.

But it all worked out. No garbage all over my house, no burned down house from broken hearted Lucy lovin Brad.

All he did was open it, and feel bad, and get all scared and try to think of solutions.

He told me his solutions were....

to lie and shove it back in the box, then act surprised.

to pretend he didn't open it, someone else must have.

to burn it and pretend like it didn't come at all.

to pour laundry detergent all over the box and say that it was wet so he had to open it.

But instead he told me what he did.

Which was fine.

I knew it would come and he may be the first one there and open it.

But he loved it.

No he adored it.

Don't worry if you didn't get your husband a book like this for his wedding, or don't worry if you don't have a husband, you are still awesome. I just like doing things like this, and may or may not 'look' for opportunities to do things like this.

Maybe I'm abnormal.

Regardless, I made him this book.

History of the Book:
61 days before we got married I thought of this idea. I wish I would have started it way before, but alas I did not think of it so I had to deal with 61 days.

Every day before we got married I wrote something. About our day, what we did, how I was feeling, what I was wearing, what I had to do that day, my fears, my joys, my everything. But the great thing is...I wrote them all to Brad.

So it said Dear Brad:
Blah blah blah.

I think my favorite is when I would write something to help me remember what I did that day so I could go back later and write what I did.

So I wrote 61 days before we got married. Each day saying 54 days left!! Then the date.

Then my day. Or whatever I felt like typing.

I keep getting new pieces of gum. On my third in 20 minutes.

Its a disorder I have.

Gumidious.

Back to the book.

Brad loved it. He didn't quite make it through, because I type too much.

But he did read the last part where I wrote about our wedding day...

I have it listed on private on bookemon.com, but if you are desperate to read it let me know.

But that has to mean that you are just crazy because its all gushy and lovey dovey.

But if you like that stuff.

Some days its not though. Some days it wasn't happy lovey dovey.

Maybe that is what you want.

Either way, I created this flip book for you to look through.

I highly recommend the site.

So beautiful.

The book was hard cover, so easy to do whatever I wanted to it, and they charge by page, not by pictures, or anything else. So it was brilliant.

I will use this site again when I need to make a book for my students or something.

I loved it!

And the best part is, its online always, so if I lose my book, or if I ruin it. I can just order another one.

Its better than any other website I have used.

Enough advertising for bookemon.

They should pay me.

Or give me books free for the rest of my life.

You can click on the little booky above and see our book.

Anyway.

I love it.

Its like a journal in a different form.

I also am tackling school, two jobs and husband.

Just be aware, that I do not really cook that much.

Unless I go crazy and cook a million things in one night.

Then I feel refreshed and I made up for my lack of cooking.

All my sentences keep getting longer and longer by the minute.

Creating a perfect stair on my blog, just what I need to be cool.

K I am done creating the stair. Back to cooking.

And life.

One good thing about school and working so much, is that when I get home at 10 at night....I love seeing Mr. Clark.

We get all exciting and I jump hug him.

Jump hug is you know when you hug then jump up.

You can only do it once you are married......cuz its provocative.

But I did it before we were married.

Whoops.

My favorites...

2009-09-21T09:40:00.000-07:00

In the event that I was married 86 days ago. I just got around to posting my pictures on Facebook. But better yet. Im still married! And happily!!

Brad's mom has this cat.

It makes me allergic.

My throat gets all itchy. And I sneeze and itch my eyes endlessly. We go to his mom's house on Sunday's and usually the sneezing, itching and coughing is over by the time I shower when I get home. I make Brad shower too, or I wouldn't be able to be near him. Don't know what it is about this cat. When I was little I could hold cats till the early morn.

One time I was playing in a field wearing one of my favorite dresses. I had our calico cat above me as I layed on the ground. I remember staring her in the face and holding her below her front legs around the torso. I let go of her then she diareeeeahed all over my dress. Grossy. I didn't even notice till I got back to the house because it was so dark outside. So if I have that memory of holding a cat, and not even being that grossed out about her diareeeeeeeeeeeha then I must not have been that allergic to the dang things earlier in my life.

So, today I am still sneezing itching coughing feeling like I can't breathe. And I didn't put commas in between those because I feel like one big disaster. Just like that sentence feels without commas. It's a comparision that you cannot understand unless I don't use commas. Anyway, you get the jist.

What did I do last week? Holy schmoolleey. I think I did a lot. Let's start with my 100 percent score on my Social Studies Test.

First time ever the screen on the testing center posting the scores has given me any response besides a score. It said 100% PERFECT SCORE!!

Yes. Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes.

I got PERFECT SCORE!! Before I got, GOOD JOB next to a 91% or EXCELLENT next to a 98%, or a YOU REALLY SUCK next to a 45%, or DROP OUT NOW next to a 39%!!! yikeseesy.
So that was Saturday, right after Brad's flag football game where his team murdered the other team, and Brad got some amazing flag football plays that confirmed his skills. I had a choice to go take the test or play soccer. And I kept trying to go play soccer, then I just decided to get that feeling out of my gut and take the test.

Good choice.

Well I'll stop being conceited and facetious.

After my test we drove up to Midway with Sally. We took up 6 boxes of pizza for the fam. Our car still smells like pizza. I ate 9 pieces. Or more. It is now hanging over my jeans on the sides. Remi and Faith are so happy together. Except 99% of the time, when they are fighting.

I tried to teach Remi how to play games on the internet. I kept calling the mouse the mouse. And that was a bad idea, whenever I said mouse she would get distracted and say, Where??? So I resorted to saying, put your hand on this thing and click. That turned into way too long of a sentence for a two year old and she just clicked everywhere.

So it wasn't completely a disaster, but let's work on some fine motor skills then try again.

Speaking of a disaster. All three teams Brad (and I because I support my husband) cheers for lost. BYU, TEXAS TECH, and then....Dallas Cowboys.

I kissed him on the cheek and whispered in his ear, "Football isn't everything."

He said back to me out loud, "Of course I want to make dimple faced babies with you"

Just kidding he didn't say that.

And maybe that was too PG-13.

Okay...I just joined Twitter, and trust me....its awesome. I just don't know why yet.

I have two followers.

Help me.

brittanyhclark

Back to reality where my kitchen smokes us out when we cook tortillas.

And reality where more than two people in my apartment is a crowd.

Reality where we have only one car, a broken scooter, a dead lexus, and a flat tire beach cruiser with no brakes.

Reality where Brad has fifteen bajillion years of school left.

Reality where teaching pays enough for two to live.

Reality where my toenails don't paint themselves.

Reality where I still haven't sent out Thank You Cards.

I won't let this be a graduation failure.

Where I didn't send out any but wrote them all.

Wow.

I'm crazy bad.

We got a card in the mail recently from Brad's great aunt.
She sent a check for the wedding, then a seperate check for Brad's graduation.

She took five years, so I can take five right?

We loved the late gift.

So people will love the 86 days late thank you cards right?

I hope so.

Someone told me I had a year.

Hopefully I hit that deadline.

Fbook has my pics.

I thought I would share with you my favorites...and why.

And right about here you are thinking....who cares.

Boring.

Just like Brad yelled at his student teachers in the middle of class in high school.

I love this one. Love it because my dress is so pretty. And we are sitting on the temple. Sitting on it. And kissing. Kissing on the temple. When I look at it, I think of class, and love, and real life situations. Like sit down with me honey so we can watch our kids play in this basketball game.

Oh look! Our kids! Just kidding. These are the adorable boys I was a nanny for in the wonderful 4 month summer of 2007 in El Paso, Texas. Reid is far left, he was grumpy due to hitting his head on the temple earlier. Trevor in my lap and Bryce far right. I love these boys like they are my own. They came all the way from El Paso. And I almost cried when I saw them waiting for me to come out the temple doors. They were two then, they are four now!! Gosh I miss them daily.

I love this one because I love my sisters. I don't have a plethora of girly friends because I have all these gems to call, help me, and cry to. Well I guess Brad kinda replaced them for the cry to thingy, but mostly my sisters are my examples, best friends, and mentors.

This is how we felt after we got married. Lets run away and get this wedding junk over with. I loved every minute of the wedding junk. Even if my arms hurt from hugging peoples.

This was after it started to rain on the temple grounds. Rain and pour. And I love how celebrity we look with all the retro lights. Thats why I love this one. And you can't see Brad's body.

I love this one because of the dramatic sky before it began to pour. This is real folks. Hopefully its not a foreshadowing of things to come. Ahahahaha Im hilarious. No but really it is gorgeous.

I love love love this one. Its not your typical standard oh coming out of the temple picture. It sorta throws you off, and EverYONE has out their cameras. I love how all the people I love the most are there surrounding us.

This was taken right after all the family pictures got done. My parents have one EXACTLY like this in this exact spot. I love it. I love how time flies. I love how my parents were such a good example to me, an example to get married in the temple. An example of family, and support.

It was raining outside, and the temple shadow is subtle but always in our lives and relationship. In reality, this picture is simple but gorgeous. Rain=life is hard sometimes, but we can get through it. Temple=Eternal life is our goal, and our eternal marriage is a symbol of that. Kiss=we will forever love each other and continually strive to work through the rain, and make it to the temple. :)

Oh I love this one, because Brad's friends were such a constant part of our relationship. They are such a huge part of his life, and such a huge part of his standards. I love all of his friends. Don't mind Luke (big guy holding me) he didn't know what he was grabbing.

I love this picture because Brad has so many sisters now! He has 9 sister in laws on my side instead of just 2 sisters. So he gained a lot, and a lot of love! Also, he is very much loved by my sisters, and at times I was worried Echo was going to steal him from me.

I love this one, because its cute. That's all. Reminds me of Mary Poppins.

And this one, I love Brad's face. Not that I don't love his face in other ones. But he looks so handsome here. So natural. No forced smile, no off guard look, no wierd lips, just perfectly him.

These are all my siblings, with none included. So that's why I love this one. Its my heart, my base, my existance, with my new heart, my new base, and my new existance placed inside of my life. Brad.

Holiness to the Lord. Classy, and makes me want to reach out and grab the knob. Feel the designs. I love it. Next time I go, Im going to walk up on that step and touch it.

Laughing. We are laughing. Most likely Brad said, Im itching all over throw me off this balcony.

Brothers. I have 8 lovely adorable, matching brothers. Who could ask for a better protection system. Good thing they approved of Brad.

All my bridesmaids. Brad's mom made all their skirts. If she ever agrees to anything like that again, I'm sure she would die.

THis was the day before my wedding, and Brooke fabricated this beautiful boquet. I loved it and I loved the colors.

This was taken AFTER we were married. And I love how into me Brad is. How embraced he is with my face. He loves me. And I love him. And Im going to blow this picture up and hang it all over my house someday.

The end.

Swiss Me.

2009-09-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well two weekends ago Tosha had a booth at Swiss Days. So I skipped my Friday classes, got work off on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and Brad and I ventured up to Swissy Days.

We stayed Thursday night, and Friday night, then I had to be back at work on Saturday at sixPM.

I played with Remi and Faith. I told them we should go look at the stars.
I told them to tell stories.
Remi had Noooo problem with that.
For she is the storytelling two year old of the century.

I left them out there for a minute....
They rushed back in yelling, "Brinnetyyyy"

I decided that either I was out there with them....or they were going to come in due to their fear of monsters in the dark. Monsters with legs that can run faster than a two year old. Otherwise they would stay out there, but they knew they couldn't run faster than the monsters in Midway.

I worked in the makeup booth till my feet bled. I also bought some nice things.

Brad bought some ties.

I bought a zebra watercolor by this guy who is talented. I love it.

Together we bought 6 sandwiches, 2 scones, and drinks.

Thursday I swear to you I had sun stroke.

I took a bath in Tosha's tub.

Brad wants a piano, so in order to get one we need to move. In order to move the new place has to have a bathtub. In order to move we will have to spend more money.

So it wont happen. We are both making sacrifices.

I almost bought a macbook pro the other day.

Then I realized I needed to be conservative.

Then Brad's wireless card in his computer gave out.

Now we wish we had that macbook pro.

I dream about it. I dream about the desktop, and all the folders I could have on there, organizing all my teaching folders.

Its all a dream.

Back to swiss days.

Hannah came up from AZ, and all of us sisters were together. There is eight of us.

I tried to turn to minimize my wideness and get the side view, as I believe that is better than straight on. But it turned out to be a half sideways and half straight on pic. I lost, and the camera always wins. Always adds 30 million pounds. I look better when Im moving. Thats my new motto.

But yes, we are sisters. We all have the same smile. Exact. I know what my children's smiles are going to be like.

I also know what their noses are going to look like....

Freckled.

How do I know you ask??????

Well this face here has a few freckles. 95,067,890 to be exact. And my baby will be a mix of this person and me.

My baby doesn't stand a chance.

We went to Stake Conference on Sunday. I was so distracted by all the movement and talking, coughing, and babies.

I said, "Brad, I know what I want for Christmas now."

He said, "What my darlingest wife ever in the universe."

I pointed to a baby in pink and said, "That."

"Okay, I'll put one in a box, except it will be in blue....is that okay." Brad

"Fine. A boy." Me

The conversation died and I continued to stare at the tiny teeny legs and toes, and dreamed of painting my freckled baby's little toenails.

So you know how many spiritual notes I took during that meeting.

Thats right.

None.

Oh we worked in the booth, and my sister Hannah decided to capture our labors.

Brad spent most of the days listening to the music.

I told you he was addicted to guitars.

By guitars I mean everything that has strings and makes sounds, or has buttons you push that make sounds. So he sat in the shade in the bleachers for hours, while I put makeup on wrinkly faces and promised them it made them look better. One lady just pulled back all her wrinkles and stared in the mirror, then sighed..."I wish I didn't have these."

I really felt bad for her. I don't want wrinkles. I don't want them. After putting makeup on 59 million old ladies...I decided that. And now I fear them.

I'll use anti wrinkle cream, till Im broke, then I'll just wear a paper bag over my head.

So that display picture is of me. Only 2 people realized it. Maybe its because I looked chubbier in the picture from what Sally told me. We sold so much makeup. One lady just would buy anything I told her. That was a 168.00 purchase for her. Cha Ching for me.

After this extravaganza of fun Brad and I spent our labor day Monday at the Utah Lake.

It was full of speedos, canned beverages and fun.

At one point all the boys were standing on the back of the boat. Then the driver decided to throw them all off. That turned into this. Try to hold on to the back of the boat while the boat is going a million mph.

Brad rocked the surfing thing.

I am pretty happy just watching and taking pictures.

We were sunburned after this day. I had random white patches where I attempted to give myself sunblock.

Oh and for your video enjoyment..... Brad and his skills.

Should have edited out where he just drifts away and sinks...but come on now, we gotta have real life situations right?

Real life situations like failures.

Failures happen :)

Good job Bradley.

Good surfing honey face.

No sleep headache.

2009-09-11T14:21:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the world of college.

Welcome to the world of senior semester.

When Brad and I were dating, we would stay up so late. Or so early. Rarely did I get home before 4 AM let alone midnight. I know, bad. But we like each other. Still do, if you were wondering.

We would stay up so late, then we both had class or work at 8AM. The first time it happened I went through about a week of what I called the 'no sleep headache'. Then overtime your body adjusts to sleeping 30 minutes several times throughout the day, instead of at night, for eight hours. Then the no sleep headache slowly fades.

School came back. I never thought I would experience a no sleep headache again. Then school came back.

Now I am experiencing daily no sleep headaches.

School started on the 31st of August.

Its the eleventh.

I am totally doomed. Hardest part is yet to come I'm sure.

I try to fit in naps. I try to make it work. But sometimes when I have class 8-2, work from 2-9pm....its hard.

Then I have a husband.

Oh that husband.

And I feel like since school has started I never see that husband of mine.

We both had intramural flag football games last night.

My team brutally lost.

His team won. Killed the other team.

But our games were at the same time.

So I didn't see my husband.

We got snowies after.

Those were yummy.

Sally came.

She's nice and muscular.

I dont know where I was going with this post.

Maybe that I stay up late doing homework.

Stay up all day schooling and working.

Then . . . other stuff.

I wanted to tell stories.

But I forgot them.

Now all I can remember is how my teachers have been swearing lately.

My science teacher is a nice older lady who said she told her kids once to stop bitchin'

YIKES!!!
She kept saying it.

Then...she just blushed and blushed.

And she tried to explain that that word that I said up there was common 20 years ago. Or however many years ago she said it. She said, it was kinda bad, but not a swear swear like it is now.

Oh so she blushed forever, and kept fanning her face.

But, then....today...our classroom's technology was not functioning so we moved to another empty room.

Then this roode roooooooode rude guy came in and said, uh, I have a class in two minutes in here. So leave.

"Uh, okay, well our stuff wasnt working....so we moved in here."-My professor.

"Okay well I have a class so you need to ."-Rooooddy face guy

"Okay."-My nice professor who sings Three Dog Night songs to us.

After the rude guy shut the door my professor said, "Smart Ass."

Oh gosh.

I love my professors.

Sorry this blog post is so vulgar.

It just reminded me of how I played in my flag football game last night and I dove and killed my body for a flag and barely missed the dang thing. Then I said that d word really loud.

Thats why I reminded myself of it.

Sorry if you are a swearing fanatic of righteousness.

I never swear.

Unless its my fault the other team just scored a touchdown.

But I realized that everyone makes mistakes right.......

I'll work on my d words.

But if I had to pick a favorite, that would be it. The d word.

Gosh Im off topic...
sorry.

Operator retreat is tomorrow. We meet all the operators up there and we just do fun stuff. Teach them about being operators.

We leave at 7:30AM.

I was going to drive them...but my license expired...and apparently the DRIVERS LICENSE people arent open on fridays. . .

Apparently I didn't think of that.

I want to work for the Drivers License division.
So I dont have to work on Fridays.

I could like teach those people who get tickets how to drive.

Like Brad had to go to.

Oh ya, traffic school.

A day after his bday he got a ticket.

Officer: Sorry you are getting a ticket on your birthday.
Brad: Oh its fine, I'll just remember your name and burn your cat tonight.

Back to the point.

I'm tired.

And I have so much homeworky I cant see anything but ink on my planner pages.

But I love it.

Every day I know I am in the right major. I know I am going to love teaching, and being a baby student teacher in the classrooms, like I am now.

Baby student teacher.

Lesson plans.

Integration.

Core curriculum.

All these words mean nothing to you.

But to me they mean everything.

I still like Brad.

Maybe even love him more than I did last time I posted.

Maybe because he listens through my stressed out breakdowns.

Maybe because he doesn't take me TOO seriously when I say I am going to drop out and quit this is way too hard.

But I think its normal for people to cry in their senior semester...

Is it?

Regardless.

I love school.

Yahoo for school.

And Brad is now learning Elvis Presley songs.

Those just hit me right there in the heart and pull the strings.

Probably because my dad loves them, my family loves them, I grew up with Elvis.

'Can't help falling in love with you' is his latest.

He likes to change the lyrics due to his lack of memorization of them.

Like a river 'goes' (really its flows, gosh Brad, learn your Elvis)

Surely I can be......wait Brad its supposed to be Surely to the sea...

"whatever"-Brad

I haven't cooked him food in weeks.

I told him this semester was going to be hard and he might have to do everything.

So far I have been pretty right about that statement.

He does the dishes.

He makes his own food. Unless I have two minutes and I will throw together a sandwich for him.

And he makes the bed.

Jk, we dont make the bed.

He takes out the garbage.

Yesterday I cleaned the sink.

I thought that was a lot. I barely had time to, and Brad was saying, "come on lets go lets go"

The entire time.

I just needed to feel wifey for a minute.

Wifey cleany.

Havent felt like that lately.

Havent felt much of anything lately.

Just getting force fed information.. . . .

And sleeping.

But Im happy, and thank goodness I have a Guitar Husband that sings "cant help falling in love with you" even when Im not really producing much of anything for him to be like, oh that Brittany she is just so great. She makes me dinner, and washes my clothes, mops the floor.....and other wife stuff...
But regardless I just fall in love with him right back.

I love sushi, but I cant make it myself or I get grossed out.

Random fact: Brad gave me socks that said, you're cute on them. For Christmas. We had been dating one month and a half.

He's nice.

What it is like.

2009-09-01T20:18:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I worry that I will forget what college is like.

Forget the diversity and the absence of caring about being popular like we did in high school.

One thing is for sure. . .

Just because you are in college doesn't mean you are the smartest.

I was in class looking down at my syllabus after we had just had an animal activity to demonstrate teaching children about life science and all the sudden I heard the teacher say, "Yes, go ahead."
The girl who was raising her hand asked in a clueless voice, that voice came from the table across the room.
"Are rabbits and raccoons rodents? Because they aren't mammals."-Girl that is a senior. We are two semesters away from graduating.

With that in mind.

There is always the people who speak out. Speak out and correct the teacher. And know every answer. And some.

I am in a GE class.

History 202

I dreaded it. But I think it was meant to be because my professor is ideal. I was already thinking in my head how I am going to give him great marks on the semester review. Great ones. Because he made me laugh a million times. By saying everything in a sarcastic creative way. And by just being awesome.

But you know what Im talking about, those people who raise their hand at the first and know all the questions the professor asks on the first day of class that you dont even care to answer nor do you have any idea where the country even is on the map let alone who is trying to take over it...

and of course he knows that answer.

And of course he expounds so that the teacher and every other 88 persons in the room know that he is just by dang the smartest ever.

I counted after 5 comments.

He made 7 more.

But only on the first 2 did he raise his hand.

Then he blurted them out. Because the professor stopped calling on him.

The professor asked if the UN decided that US should give back all the states that we 'took' from mexico, what would happen....

Of course everyone was quiet, it was supposed to be a thinking dramatic question.

Then Mr. He who sits on the front three rows in the middle blurts out, "Well at least I wouldn't have to try to get my girlfriend a visa to come here, she would just come here....because UTAH would be Mexican Territory."

Oh perfect. Now I can pretty much map out your whole life with that comment. The 88 people who heard that are embarrassed. But we all should of known this class wouldn't have been complete without you Mr. Mexican Girlfriend.

He made other ridiculous analogies that made me grateful I am out of high school so when he becomes a teacher he will NEVER teach me. Just hope he doesn't teach my children, or your children.

On a happier note. FHE happened yesterday. It usually starts with Brad or I finding some religious material in our house and splitting it up and taking time to read it, then taking time to talk about it.

From past FHEs Brad learned he need to give me a time limit to my sharing part.

So I read my part out of the financial booklet our Bishop or someone like unto that gave to us.

And Brad read his.

He was sitting on the couch, and I on the floor rug.

Oh newsflash, we got a couch, its green and pleatherish. And small. Brad and I on it at the same time trying to be comfortable...doesn't normally happen. Hence my floor residing.

I had Brad share first.

Because usually I don't listen if I share first and I am just bored by then. And if I shared first he would just say, "K that was good enough, closing prayer."

Then came my turn.

As I went on about how I wanted to teach our kids about finances and on and on.
Brad made comments at first.

Then they died off.

Then I realized I was losing my spouse.

I was losing his attention.

Wow, Im a sucky teacher.

"Is my three minutes up?"-Brit
"Uh, probably, but its okay, but ya..."-Brad
"Oh, uh okay I'll stop."-Brit
"Oh you are okay."-Brad
"No I'll really stop, Ive gone on forever."-Brit

Now that classes are here. Now that class is in front of my face and I am going to be student teaching in four months. . . I am worried about my teaching skills.

Im worried about my creativity level.

Im worried about my classroom.

Will I paint my bookshelves?

Will I have enough books?

Will they like me?

Oh gosh.

Can I even plan a million lesson plans a day?

Is that even possible?

Sunday I made bread.

Zucchini bread.

The recipe was nice and fun.

Brad did this as I made it.

Oh looky looky! Its our couch!!!! And Addicted Guitar Man.

He usually sings songs pertaining to the day. Or what I am doing.

They go like so....

*NOTE this is just an example of what he could say...not saying he says these things..but alas, sometimes he does say these things.

"Britt NEY wont you come sit by ME
You are making ZucchinEEEE
...bread....
I want to kiss you on the nose.
Please don't make the bread be gross."

Usually to the tune of Banana Pancakes.

oh perfect. Zucchini Bread. New song. For Jack.

He needs to sing it.

Brad will write the lyrics.
The counter in our kitchen doesn't exist. Just this massive table that the owners at his work gave us.

Oh they gave us the microwave too. Mouse microwave.

So I use space.

On the table.

"Wow, we have no table now."-Brad
"Do you want zucchini bread?"-Brit

So its our only option :)

Eh sorry if this picture is grossy. Grossy grossy.

I wonder who decided to mix these two things together.

Oh yes, I know lets put this green VEGGIE in bread.

To make VEGGIE bread.

Oh yes yes, what a great splendid idea.

Well its controversially healthy.

Zucchini+6 cups of sugar= healthy

You may argue that. But you will lose. It is healthy.

As is anything with fruit in it.

Fruit ice cream.

Fruit pizza.

Fruit salad.

Its so all so healthy.

Eh...
I put chocolate chips in the bread. Not strategically. Not orderly. Just dumped them in the pan. And somehow Brad thought I was sweet for making his piece be a smily face of chocolate chips. Then I told him I didn't mean to. Then he got even more excited...

"Yes YEs YEs I'll eat the whole loaf, give none of this away, and I MEAN NONE OF IT"-Brad in an angry cackily voice touchy his fingertips together lightly.

I cut the loaf into segments so I could take some to his sister.

Thats why I dont have 3 perfect loaves here.

I just google searched 'dream kitchen' and found this picture. My favorite part are the streaks on the cupboards below the sink. Oh wait no...its the crooked wobbly coils on the stove top, oh gosh wait no its the paint streaks on the kitchen table that looks like someone just dumped a gallon of paint and tried to scrape it off the table. No, wait I love the placement of the blender, waffle iron, and fan on top of the microwave, all so innovative, all so dynamic.

Just kidding, its my kitchen.

Oh is that two lemon juices you see....yes yes it is.

Thats because Bradley. (He is the guy I married in June)...Bradley is on a cleanse.

He drinks water, lemon juice mixed with maple syrup and Cayenne pepper.

This was not my idea.

This was a challenge between him and his friend. Jeff.

I just support.

He is supposed to eat nor drink anything but this mixture, but they made a decision that they would eat ONLY FRUITS AND VEGGIES with it.

Its Tuesday. He started yesterday. He told me today, "I am sick of this food."

So.....its going well for him.

He eats grapes and mangos.

And cucumbers.

And carrots.

And strawberries.

And onions.

Very little potatoes.

We are stretchin.

But he feels better.

In the mean time I am scarfing down dove ice cream bars.

All this dieting makes me hungry.

Oh and we PAID for 5 intramural teams today.

Gosh.

5x30 equals 80 dollars.

But the teams will be funo.

Now I just have to juggle.

Juggle 2 jobs, 17 credits, a husband, an apartment, and now three intramural teams that I am on. Brad is on five.

What? How is that even possible?

So I will just juggle.

Priorities though.

First comes sleep. :)

JK, husband always wins that battle, cuz he has those dots all over his face called freckles.

Freckles always win.

Baby!!

2009-08-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

I guess I'm overdue for this one. But! Nonetheless. Nonetheless. My sister Tosha had her second baby. Yahoo for babies!!

She probably doesn't want the blogging world to know how she had it. Maybe I will tell the experience later down the road when A.E.A isn't so young. When she is 12. Then I'll blog about it.

By then I will probably forget. Does A. know how she was born. Nope, probably not.

Whats her name??
A.E.A.

I like the sound of that.

Ashtyn Elizabeth Arnout.

Gosh.

Sounds nice.

Tosha had her baby Ashtyn on the fourth of JULY!

jk

she had it on June 10, 2009.

I thought maybe if I lied about when she was born, I wouldn't look so bad because I bloooooooooged about it so late.

But then I realized there is this thing called integrity and a sister who would call me and say this to me.

"Nice of you to blog about Ashtyn. But you got the date all wrong. How could you have even been there on July 4, you were on a beach, in California."

I remember the day.
Brad, Tosha had her baby, lets go to Midway.-Brittany
Okay.-Brad
Are you sure its okay?-Brittany
Ya sounds good.-Brad
Well we don't have to.-Brittany
No lets go.-Brad
(he always has to agree to everything I say, why can't he just FIGHT ME)-Brittany in her mind

OH ...I know why. He's really nice.

Got it.

Oh BLogger makes the images blurry. Stupido.

That is Spanish for stupid.

I also remember when Amanda and Tanner had Sophie. Gosh. I can't even remember when she was born. Maybe 2 months into Brad and I dating.
I watched Brad hold baby Sophie. Sorta like he is holding Ashtyn now....confused, hesitant to breathe for perhaps his lungs expanding his chest will crush the new unknown thing.

But I had this feeling inside of me. This flash to the future. Which I immediately crushed with my mind powers. But I saw Mr. Clark holding my baby. I felt a love for him which I cannot explain. A love that didn't exist at the present, but I knew it could exist. I guess I brinked upon the love we share now, or the love we will share after we hold our first baby. But, like I said, I was thinking about having a baby with this guy I had been dating two months. Creepy. I wasn't having it. SO I CRUSHED IT. But I wish I would have let it in that day that Sophia Hansen was born. I wish. I wish I would have just let the images come to my head, so I could have seen my first baby. But maybe just maybe I was supposed to crush the image eventually, it just had to be there to keep me with Brad. To keep me from chickening out. To keep me from bailing on him. To keep me with him.

So many images like that existed throughout our whole relationship.

I didn't put the images there like I had in previous relationships. I placed them there because ultimately I wanted to be forever happy. But not with Brad. I didn't place those images there with Brad. They always just came. Images of Brad and I together in 2 years married and happy. Then I felt all gross and sappy inside, like I was craving to be a bride and I was over anxious but really those were the best flashes to the future ever. Ever Ever. Because they were real.

Now don't let me give you the impression that I didn't want to be with Brad, and my mind forced me to be.

I wanted to so bad. He was the best thing in my life. He was a perfect match.

He doesn't mind if I leave my clothes on the floor.

I don't mind if he leaves his clothes on the floor.

Thats just brinking on the subject of why we are perfect for each other.

But, I had this incredible fear of getting married.....

Actually of even having a boyfriend.

After the past experiences, , , , , , , I didn't want to tie myself down to anyone...

The ropes would hurt me. They would make me not be able to make my own choices.

But in a way, Brad didn't tie me down.

He gave me every choice ever.
But I didn't leave, because I loved him. Because he was the one for me.

Because the thought of being without him there holding my favorite lilies and smiling shyly with his vans and baggy jeans and bright blue jacket on my doorstep...crumbled me into a million cookie crumbs. Never to be a happy cookie again.

So I stayed. I stayed and he promised to never leave me. He promised to wait for me no matter what.

And still I ask him, "Well how do you know there isn't someone better for you??" HUH???? TELL ME TELL ME NOW!!

He tells me many things.

But these are the things I remember.

"Brit, when I was in Honduras for two years, I always thought about what I wanted in a wife. I dreamed about her. I constantly picked out her qualities. And you are better than all of those things."-Brad

"But, still how do you know? How do you know that there isn't someone with more qualities than me?"-Brit

"You never stop Brit, I know because I dated girls, something always bugged me, something was always wrong, they had maybe all the qualities but something wasn't there. Then I met you, nothing was wrong with you, you had all the qualities and I couldn't stop thinking about you. I would do anything for you then and I barely knew you. Something was there."-Brad

"Are you ever going to leave me?"-Brit

"Never"-Brad

"No matter what?"-Brit

"No matter what."-Brad

"What if.."-Brit

"NO! I never will."-Brad

And thats when I melt into his muscles.

So this baby experience was more than meets the eye. I was 17 days away from gluing my self to Brad. Willingly.

I like baby experiences.

Reminds me of the family I will have someday.

Reminds me of when I asked Brad what he would do if our son pierced his ear.

Reminds me of how I stare at babies.

Reminds me how Brad had to pry my eyes off of a baby last night at Cafe Rio.

Reminds me of how he copies what I do when a baby goes by. Wide eyes with my whole body following the baby.

Reminds me of how my mom says its all natural.

So is love.

Its natural.

I can't stop loving him.

Gosh. I can't leave him in the start of the day, and the 8-5 lasts forever and the end of the day its like butterflies steal my whole body.

Gross. I just went on the longest love tangent ever.

Sick.

Sorry if you puked eight times.

But baby experiences always make me realize who I am. Why I exist, and who I should marry.

Now, I love his freckles.

Freckles.

OH! Operator party tonight.
Yahoo for kids.

Yahoo for parties.

Yahoo for school on Monday.

Yahoo for love.

After the operator party we are going to go on a operator hot dog roast.

Really.

Not lying.

Actually we only have 3 confirmed.

Natalie, Brad and I.

Still, thats a party right?

Oh, School starts.

So sianooooorrrrrraaaaa.