New.

Well I got this new mascara, and I love it. (I'm not wearing it in this photo) It is seriously a revolution. My eyes are still so pop out there by the end of the day. And I need all the help I can get. Kindergarten gives me bags under my eyes. Don't get me wrong. I love them like crazy, but wow, they just know how to make my nerves be gone. Or high...? Or whatever happens to nerves.

Anyway, I am always stuck on one mascara, but Drew Barrymore sold me out. No really she sold Sally and Echo, and then I saw how great it was and bought one myself. Love it. Live by it. And when mascara is your staple make up...you gotta have it last.  

Anyway, I get really excited about the cool brush, and putting this mascara on..so if you are interested in an incredible mascara, get this one. Loreal lash blast volume, or length, or for a few dollars more, both. I got length and swear by it.

Smells like...

Home.

It was so nice to get away. Get some old school (that means from my old school) football and friends to visit.

They lost, but Shad played great....

and Ethan stood so good on the sidelines (he is a freshman so doesn't play much on Varsity, but he is the QB for JV, and Shad is the center.)

Lad lost some teeth. Brad asked him how he was eating an apple. He said, "On the side." Then he calmly continued to chew his apple on the side of his mouth. Totally normal for teeth losing peoples.

Hannah came up for her 10th year! HOly Smokes! My five year is next year. Its crazy to think that I am so old, but yet Hannah is older and still feels like she is young.

Halle learned the ways of relaxing in Standrod quite quickly. She didn't mess around.

I said, "Hey Brad let's go check out the garden."
He said, "Okay."
Then we lost each other.

I found some bunnies in the carrots. 

The carrot rows were bigger than my house. Actually three of my houses.

My dad picked me an entire huge box of carrots, and I said, "Well I didn't want a whole row."

Then he said, "Does it look like I gave you a whole row?"

And I said, "No it looks like you did not pick any from this mass of carrots."

Faith lost her bag of M and Ms like eight times in this garden. 

I also watched our kitty catch a mouse and eat it alive.

Gross.

We left home with our tires saggin due to the weight of veggies.

If you are in need of anything in this category....

squash

zucchini

carrots

cabbage bigger than your body

tomatoes

potatoes

broccoli

peppers of many kind

garlic chives

and other random things that you may need...

let me know I will give them to you for free. In any quantity. 

Life size cabbages

Brad found himself here.

Bikes, fourwheelers, puppies, horses, and unlimited steak and scones.

His true home.

Only if we could make a living there. Apparently Standrod has no plans for a med school. 

Stupid I think.

Teaching is going well. Sometimes I wish I was superwoman, but I'm not so I have to go home not having everything done that I wanted to. I'm about ready to hire my own aid so that I can do everything that I want to. But, I'll figure it out and I am so happy doing it! 

Brad is doing well in school. He is shadowing a surgeon, which he loves, volunteering at a clinic, going to school full time, and working part time. Also, somehow he manages to play his guitar non-stop and practice the song he wrote me for my birthday. I love him to death. But you all know that, and I get annoyed when wives tell their blog readers they love their husband ninety million times a day. You know that duh! And if you are single its just like I rub it in your face even more.

But I do love him to death. Today he said to me, "Brit, I love you."

I said, "Yep, I know."

He said, "No really, you are everything to me."

I said, "Yep I know, love u too baby face lover cake."

I wish I was always that confident about stuff....maybe its just today.

OH! He is playin my song right now. I love it. Someday he will let me record him singing it, but probably never. 

"So let's lay in bed all day long, maybe I'll write you another song." 

Just trying to give you a piece of it's literary genius. 

Dropped.

Yes, I feel as if I have dropped off the face of the Earth. But, I am still alive. I am so happy. Brad says he loves how happy I am. Although, I am a tired, exhausted happy...I am finally doing what I want. Some days I think...what in the world am I doing trying to manage 45 Kindergarteners a day? Why am I doing this to myself. 

But then one shy boy tells me that he likes how cute I dress.

Then I remember its because I love them all so dearly.

It's been crazy getting ready for swiss days. We helped Brooke make jewelry then we sold for two days straight. Yikes! It was ultra fun, but so tiring. I missed church the next day from a wretched sore throat and a head cold. Probably was a mix of having millions of kids yelling 'teacher teacher'. Or maybe it was doing tons of girls faces with no hand sanitizer. Combo meal of both. Yum.

So here we are preparing for Swissy days by making jewels for Brooke. We were all so in love with our chores of gluing and putting JUMP rings on.

I've found that in kindergarten words have to be written like they sound/mean. UP down. You know what I'm talkin about. 

Chels and I wish we could sell our baby wraps at swiss days...but instead we will just dream of one day making them for that event. For now....we actually saw a girl wearing our baby wrap there!! Yahoo padoo!!!

Remember how Brad got me Jack Johnson tickets for my birthday??

I love Jack, and Brad. But Jack in concert is epically classically wonderful.

Mr. Freckles all over his body liked Jack just as much as I did. 

Did you know, wait this may be too much info, but did you know that Brad has freckles from his head to his waist. Then they stop, and start again at his knees. So weird. I just noticed it the other day....its a great discovery. They are sparse in between those areas, but quite thick every where else.

There were drunk guys dancing in front of us. I never wanted to forget it, so I took this picture to help remind me.

Brad convinced me to drive up to Squaw Peak on a Sunday.

I'm not a romantic for long drives. I think they are meant to be slept away while the husband drives. But I did rather enjoy this one. The entire way I kept thinking in my head that our tire was going to blow and off the cliff we would go. But then I thought, at least we would die together. Gorey I know.

Brad thought this picture looked fake.

Just kidding he didn't even look at it.

I'm assuming he would say that though.

This is without the flash.

This is with the flash.

I like the secret w/o the flash better.

Don't you?

It looks like the lake is really the sky. But really the lake is the lake and the sky is the sky and the black is the city.

Don't let me confuse you.

Yesterday I looked at Brad at night and said, "Can you believe we have been married a year?"

He said, "Nope." (He's not much of an expounder when it comes to...why do you love me questions.)

I said, "Well we feel like newlyweds still, except you don't not complain like you used to."

He said, "Ya, I used to sit and watch you do something for hours just to be with you, now I say see ya later I'm going to watch football."

Then I said, "I know, but just pretend that we are still newlyweds."

Then I dream about him holding a baby and that always turns into me saying, "I think we could do it right now."

Then he says, "In your dreams the baby probably doesn't poop and cry all night."

And I say, "No it is quiet."

Then he says, "Okay do you still want a baby?"

And I say, "No not yet."

This squaw peak picture above is crazy and windy and blurry but yet beautiful, perfect example of my life. Cheery O until next time.

Looks like its today again....

Another day went by...somehow days fly. Today I woke up just right before I was supposed to be at school. I thought that Brad set my alarm..he's nice like that and usually sets it, but today he didn't. Anyway, I made it here. Now its nearly six and I am putting my little weekend feeder in my fish tank hoping (goldy) that's his/her name for now. What I just realized is my fish is going to have a different AM and PM name...oh well. He can be a two names fish. 

Lindsay is in town, she is Brad sister. Last night we walked to Spoon Me at 10:45 PM. Lindsay was tired and she said she was sick of the guy next to her on the plane asking her...

"Is it business or pleasure?"

She said she wanted to say, "Shut up and I'm putting in my IPOD".

Sorry we went to spoon me like within a three day period, but we like it. We like low calories that taste good. At least I do, I'm off sugar again. I just have no ability to hold back. I just eat and eat and eat it.

Unless I'm off it, then I lose 10 pounds and feel so much better.

Try it for a month or so, I did it for about 2 months and lost 10! But gained it back as soon as I picked up on it again. I love doing it, cuz I lose my taste for it....except BTSC thats Better than Sex Cake, I forget I'm on a no sugar diet when I see that cake.

Today we are celebrating at Los Hermanos with Lindsay and Brad, and Rachelle and Chelsea.

I really can't wait.

Wanted you to see my Reader's Campground sign that Chelsea made. I also have a tent in my little campground....hence where the genius idea of reader's campground came from.

And this is my five minute get ready hair do and outfit. Super cute huh? I thought so. Sarcasm noted.

Have a great weekend.

Taking a Time Out

Sometimes I just sit at my desk at school and laugh. Like a evil laugh. Ahhahhahaha I have you now...
JK, I never do that.

But sometimes I do get bored. You see I was part time...now I am full time Kindergarten!! (I left APX) So I just sit and stare at my classroom, imagining when the 22 little joys get here and I will never sit again. My fish is still living....I am waiting for my class to help me name him. We gotta name the fish ya know?

He's super happy. The crab and tetra fish died within 24 hours of buying them. So I returned them to Walmart in ziploc bags. I'm excited for school to start. But so excited to name our class fish. I haven't decided what its sex should be yet. You know I gotta have that ready or the kids will eat me alive with...

its a boy because...

its a girl because...

I have the greatest kids.

Yesterday I was testing them and one kid leaned back in his chair and kind of groaned...

I said, "What's the matter?"

He said, "UH! I just can't stop thinking about chocolate cake."

I then said, "Oh my, I love chocolate cake. Now you have me thinking about it."

School starts soon and its all I think about.

Yesterday we went to spoon me after the volunteering at the clinic (mostly I don't do much) and Brad's aunt Pam came. She took 10 days to drive to Provo from Myrtle Beach. And her and her daughter Elizabeth went through 20 lessons of Mandarin. She told me that one lesson was about what you would say if a person knocked on your door at your hotel room and you opened the door what would you say...

She said she struggled with that one because she couldn't get past the fact that she was just supposed to let someone in she didn't even know in a foreign country...She said you are supposed to say CHING CHING or something. Which means...come in.

She said when she first took Mandarin lessons she thought she was on candid camera. All the sounds and moaning and chirping couldn't be a real language.

Then I threw my spoon up in the lamp fixture.

Then I decided to throw Chelsea's up, and I was laughing so hard about CHing Ching...I over threw it and it hit Aunt Pam in the face.

Then I realized I was too laugh drunk to throw anymore spoons.

 

Already I have a tally marks of children who call me Mrs. Clock.

It's cool and hipper than Mrs. Clark. Think I could always wear clock paraphernalia. 

A Shout Out

Back to school night was tonight. Man I was on my feet all day. So much thanks to the following individuals.

Tess...

And by default, or not by choice...Paisley.

Chels....she basically lives in the classroom with me.

Rachelle...

She made my entire word wall...holy smokes it was like 4 hours of work.

Sally....she made all the crayons today. So much work. Not just crayons...like art masterpiece crayons.

And him...he shows up when all the work is almost over.

Jk he did write Clark in all of my books. With that boy handwriting guys have you know?

I accepted it with welcome arms. I'm not too stingy. Plus he is so nice to even step foot in all of that cutting and gluing and writing room.

Ps, isn't his DI outfit rockin!?!?!

He did so well at the DI.

You will have to tune in next time for how to make a classroom look awesome in less than 3 days, and how to find hot deals at the DI.

Chau!

Oh Baby Wrap Me

, 

So remember how I told you I make baby wraps.....ya here is one at its finest work. 

This is my niece Jemma. She loved it :)

I sold 4 at the farmers market on Saturday!! Wooohoooozey! I had only sold 1 up to that point. They are great knit fabric and great for gifts or for yourself you know.

Chelsea and I make them and sell them for 15 bucks!

15 bucks!!! You can't even get anything for 15 bucks at a baby store.

So here I am, telling you about my little expo of baby wraps. I need to get a small business loan so I can make about 5000 of them, then sell them at something more intense than a farmer's market. 

So, I feel happy about my progress.

I feel that my baby and your baby needs a baby wrap.

Not that I have one, but as Faith told me a few days ago, "Brittany you need a baby in your house!"

And I said, "where does a baby come from?"

She said, "The doctor."

Then she said, "Don't have a baby tiger though, those are mean."

Not sure how she figured I could have a tiger.

Counting

I wanted to count my blessings. You know kinda rack them up and see what I've got here.
Won 500 dollars cash from Mary Kay. No strings attached.
Bought Brad's car for 1200, lasted us a year and hopefully many more.
Sold my car with a dead engine for 900.
Got involved with a reasearch project for extra cash.
Got mailed another research proposal makin gover 100 dollars a month.
A lady knocked on my door to tutor paying me daily when I was unemployed.
Sold baby wraps and cards at the farmers market when I was unemployed making over 100 dollars.
Sent over 3 wedding presents over a year late when I was unemployed, valuing over 300 dollars.
Saved over 500 dollars in my drawer when I was unemployed. Took it to the bank the day before rent was due.
Got a job with apx alarm with awesome benefits.
Got a job with Westridge school which is one minute from my house.
Brad got a 500 dollar scholarship.
We sold all of our books for more than we bought them for making over 300 dollars when I was unemployed.
Brad found 2 brand next to new suits at the DI for 40 dollars together.
Didn't buy groceries for weeks but in turn were fed by friends, family, and people we barely knew.
Prayed and cried and prayed and cried. And made it. We made it. Now I am double employed, and school starts so soon.
Now we find out that Brad graduates December 2011. Instead of April 2012.
So we are blessed. And sometimes I forget how blessed. I suggest all of you count those blessings, and when it gets real bad, don't think about how bad it is for everyone else, just think about your life, because in my moment its tragic to me, and I could care less about anyone else's trials, because mine were mine, and mine were hard to me, but yet think about your trials compared with your blessings.
I lost my car to a stupid mistake, and had no job, but it all worked out, and in the meantime I had more than enough blessings to keep me afloat. I forgot so quickly, but looking back I needed those trials, they are what made me better. Not that I am perfect. I am not. But I suggest to you, to count those blessings, they should be more important to you than the trials.
Food for thought.
God loves us.

Roll on

As I started my new job at A P X alarms, I felt fulfilled that I was finally doing something productive, worth while. A job. I may have been a bit over qualified, but it is fun. It is so happy and wonderful.

Today I was notified that I am going to be the new Kindergarten teacher at Westridge Elementary. About 1 mile away from my house. And where all of Tresa and Jon's kids go to school (my aunt and uncle).

I couldn't be happier. I will keep my job at APX and work part time as a Kindergarten teacher. I feel so lucky and happy!! Now I will be ultra busy! I start school in 12 days!!! And I have an empty curriculum book and an empty classroom!! Life may be a crazy crazy havoc, but I have a great husband and great friends and family that are going to come over and help me set up right????

Thanks for all your prayers and encouraging words throughout this long and tiresome summer :) It has been a trail of happiness.

Withdrawals

Sometimes after my birthday I have withdrawals...I wanna go back to the day all about me. It's natural right? I hope so. I had the best birthday from eating four donuts from Krispy Kremes. To hitting range balls in 100 degree weather, to eating at Cafe Paesan and Brad having all my family there waiting for me to surprise me. It was the best surprise. I love their food too. So it was a great birthday. Then we came to my house after and Chelsea had done all my dishes and made me cupcakes that read Happy Birthday Brittany!

So things continued to get better. But now you are wondering what Brad got me...right?

Well lately I always say, I want Krispy Kremes. Let's go. And it is usually 11 PM and Brad is like...you are crazy.

So he got me those..

Such a good surprise. I still haven't eaten the Happy B-day one he made someone write on there.

Well if you are aware I love baths. I love everything about them. I love soaking in there for over an hour. I love reading in there. I love running the water while I am hunched around it splashing it on myself. I love pouring in Epsom Salts to relax my sore muscles. I love it. And at my last apartment I didn't have a bathtub. So anytime I would go anywhere I would ask to get in their tub (if I was staying the night at my sisters or something). So if I love baths, you know my grandma gave me a bath pillow one year. Its pink and blow up and it suctions to the bathtub. And you know I have a bathrobe. But it was thin old and yucky. So Brad got one that is so lush for my birthday. It actually was expensive too, you know you just don't spend money on bathrobes, unless your wife is obsessed with bath related items.

So it is towel on the inside (HUGE PLUS) and cloth soft soft soft on the outside, and it even has these cute borders.

Around the sleeves and pockets. So Brad told me to check the pockets. There was a Ross Gift Card in one, and there was supposed to be an Old Navy one in the other, but since I told him I was going to Gap, he went to Old Navy and I decided to go to Old Navy too, and we ran into each other there and he got mad at me for ruining his other pocket surprise.

Then he said, check the inside pocket. Who knew this robe had an inside pocket.

And inside it were...

Jack Johnson tickets.

I love that man. And I love his songs. And so does Brad. Last year for my birthday Brad wrote me a wonderful song and sang it to me, but...sadly he didn't do that this year :(. But this was a concert full of songs. And we are going this next Friday.

My birthday was a hit, and I was so glad I got to share it with friends and family.

Birthday Dreams..

If I could have an ideal birthday, my bedroom would become this..

Pottery Barn, it never goes wrong.

But I doubt that would happen.

I would be dressed in JCREW and this gold glitter skirt. Total cost of outfit 1,345.00 or something like that.

OH MY HEck...

Brad left me, but he just got back and brought me Krispy Kremes...

I have sure been cravin those. But then he left me again to go get milk for my hot doughnuts. 

So I can finish this post.

I have no idea what we are doing today. No stinkin idea.

Last night we went to Happy Sumo for my birthday dinner with Brad's Mom. But the Bachelorette was on and I thought it was ultra boring. So we had to go really early! 

Anyway, I hope this birthday just continues and continues.

So happy birthday to me! 

I cannot live without it.

This snow cone place. Oh my gosh. I have to have at least 3 a week. Seriously. We have used about 3 of our free ones, from buying ten, you get a free one. Ridiculous. 

But so summerish. And so good. I recommend it. On canyon road, Provo. Go, and don't be disappointed. 

Family

Welcome to the new month!! Today was such an amazing day at church. I bore my testimony, and I feel like a testimony is so powerful, and you really realize how much strength people have, and you yourself can have. But I just wanted to remind everyone that you need to serve others, and what a more perfect way than indexing. I made a goal to index at least one page every Sunday. I think you should make that goal too. Not only will it bring you closer to the Lord, but it will help you be excited about the Lord's work, and gospel.

So start today, make it a habit, and love it.

Click here to get started

It's important, and what a great way to spend your Sunday.

Does your?

Husband do the dishes, or I guess if you are a male reading my blog (rare but possible) does your wife do the dishes after you make dinner and zucchini bread? Did I just have to do spell check on zucchini? Yes. 

Brad seems to always love to do the dishes.

Look at how much he loves it!

Look at all that laundry piling up! Gross!! I need to get on that, and get it done. Too much swimming going on.

Brad and I just got back from our annual Lava Hot Springs trip.

Hans and Frans are the Emcee's at the talent show.

If you don't know who they are....check this OUT!

The Talent Show is a big deal...there are many viewers.

This is Tresa and Tess, Tresa is the mom, Tess is the daughter (my cousin). Paisley is in Tess's lap, and Grace is in Tresa's lap. Tess and Paisley are sisters. Paisley is Tresa's grandaughter. Grace is Paisley's aunt. Cool huh? There are a few of those in my family :)

Faith was a grumpy stumpy, so I told her to look at me and she looked and I caught this beautiful expression of love and joy.

Of course Brad and I hit up Buddy's Oasis which consisted of two boiling hot tubs. We were alone in this oasis. I was waterlogged by the end of it.

It is going to become an annual event. This Buddy's Oasis.

The next day is tube the river day.

We load up in this trailer and try to not get pulled over. When kids were screaming, my aunt Robin said, "Don't scream, MOO!!"

Then we make the trek down to the river. This is Tyler. He actually is TJ to me.

Then we all link up and have a grand ol' time. This is me attempting to keep Lad happy, and hold on to other's tubes.

Then we smile and are so happy we came to Lava.