Gathering #55

"It's coming on Christmas, they're cuttin down trees, putting up reindeer, singing songs of joy and peace, Oh I wish I had a river, I could skate away on..."

Christmas is coming and I am trying very hard to be in the holiday spirit. I love December and all that happens but I am so busy this month that I have not found time to stop and smell the evergreen tree, look at the lights on the houses, or enjoy anything that I love about Christmas. So my plans for this weekend are: sit down and read "A Christmas Dress for Ellen" By President Monson, drink hot chocolate, watch a Christmas movie, and go to see the lights at temple square. We will see how if I have the Christmas spirit by the end of the weekend.

Gathering #54

‎2 days... #16 the generosity of others! I handed out 8 donated (gotta love when someone shows up at my school with 60 turkeys) turkeys to my students today. Gotta love how a thing as simple as a turkey makes a 4th grader feel so proud!

Gathering #53

4 days... #14 a clean bedroom. I love it when my room is clean it makes me feel so much better.

Gathering #52

With the Turkey Trot this weekend I got a little behind so drum roll for # 11-13..................................

5 days... #11 my bed. After a long day of work and my crazy life I like to curl up in my bed. #12 snow! I hate to drive in it but it makes the world look pretty! #13 Christmas music. It makes me smile just to hear it!

Gathering #51

8 days... #10 my job. I am grateful that I get to go to work everyday and spend time with 26 CRAZY 9-10 year olds. They make me laugh, and sometimes cry, but all in all they make me grateful to be apart of their lives

Gathering # 50

9 days until Thanksgiving... #9 I am grateful for free stuff. Shutterfly is doing a great promotion right now where they are giving away 50 free Christmas cards to people who do a blog post about them. I love that it is the holiday time and they are helping the little people. Christmas is the best time of year and I can not wait to send out our cards.

My sister in law uses Shutterfly for her invitations and cards. The card she picked for my nieces 1st birthday was so cute and original. Shutterfly has the cutest cards and make life so easy for busy people. It is the best thing that I can plan my card and do it all from home, and for an extra charge they will stuff, address, and send out my cards. What more can we ask for?

This year I think that I am going to choose this card because then I can combine my card with what we have done this year or this one that is more simple and expresses our love for the season.

So what more to be grateful for then getting my Christmas cards done for free?

Gathering #49

10 days... #8 people who look out for me. I am so grateful that I have people in my life that think about me and have faith in me.

Gathering #48

11 days... #6 my car. I never worry about weather since I got new my car. #7 Sunday dinner with my family. I love how sometimes we talk about serious stuff and other times we just laugh.

Gathering #48

11 days... #6 my car. I never worry about weather since I got new my car. #7 Sunday dinner with my family. I love how sometimes we talk about serious stuff and other times we just laugh.

Gathering #47

13 days... #4 the weekend. I know this is dumb but I look forward to not having to correct papers, or get people back on track. My weekends rejuvenate me.

Gathering #46

14 days... #4 the men and women who put their lives on the line for my freedom and safety!!! Thank you to any and everyone who is the armed services!

Gathering #45

15 days... #3 my ward! I love the spirit I feel each week at church.

Gathering #44

16 days till Thanksgiving...#2 my home. It is my favorite place to be. It brings me happiness and joy when I pull in the drive way after a long day of work.

Gathering #43

Well this never posted yesterday so...

17 days till Thanksgiving! So 17 things I am thankful for... #1- My family! They are my best friends and the little voice in my head that keeps me going. So thank you, Dad, Mom, Nic, Ash, Dano, Benj, and Sammy for always being there for me.

Gathering #42

Only 1 and 1/2 more days until my WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!

Gathering #41

As I was reading through my blog today I noticed a few things. #1 have only blogged a few times in the last couple of months. #2 my blog is turning a little negative. So today is a clean slate of my blog more positive blogs more often.
Today is my brothers birthday and I have learned from him about being positive. I love him and his happy attitude. He makes me laugh and he always has something nice to say about people. His actions remind me:
A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.

Gathering #40

Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.
I feel like stripping my gears but I am working on idling!

Gathering #39

Life has been a little crazy these last couple of weeks. Been a little depressed. But when all else fails. She always makes me smile!

Gathering #38

Structure!!! School starts for me next Wednesday and I can not wait for the structure school adds to my life. I am nervous about teaching but excited for a schedule and structure. I need structure to function. School adds the structure.
What helps you add structure to your life?

Gathering #37

I bought a new car!!! I know life changes so fast. I have been looking at cars since I got my job. Spending hours looking online and researching all different kind of cars. I finally found one that was just for me. I am now the proud payment maker of a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Gathering #36

Dano and Benj getting ready to jump off a cliff.

Chilling in the airport on the way to Molokai. Hanging with Afton.

Sunset in Kauai

Wamiea Canyon in Kauai

Princeville

In Kauai at the pier

Gathering #35

Hawaii!!!
I just spent the last 13 days in Hawaii. We had a great time and did lots of crazy things.
We left on June 10 and drove to Las Vegas. We ate at the MGM Grand Buffet and then chilled until we had to leave for our flight. We were on a red eye flight so that we could be in Hawaii early the next day. We stayed in Princeville Kauai for the first part of our trip. It was GORGEOUS! We did lots of playing on the beach and seeing the sights. We ate a couple of snow cones. The boys jumped off cliffs and we found a rope swing ( yes I did it once and only once, scared me to death). We also ate an amazing Mac Nut Milkshake. My favorite part of Kauai was watching the sunset at night and hanging with my family.
We then went to Molokai, while Kauai is green and lush Molokai is dry and barren. We have been to Molokai before and so I was ready to play. We had a few bumps in the road on this Island (i.e. dead mice in our oven) but it turned out to be great. My cousin Erin is engaged and we (my uncle paul and aunt wendy) surprised her by flying her fiance over to this island. We built towers in the water, snorkeled, and just played.
My families flight left earlier then my cousins so we headed out at 8:30 Hawaii time and traveled for 24 hours to get home. I am frequent flier after that day. Molokai to Laina (20 min flight), Lanai to Oahu (30 min flight), 3 hour layover in Oahu, Oahu to Portland Oregon (5.5 hour flight), 6 hour layover in Portland (yes we stayed at the hotel, and yes it was from 11 pm to 5 am), Portland to SLC (1.5 hour flight).
So to sum it up:
I played hard
Got tanner
Hung out with my amazing family (cousins, uncle, aunt, brothers, parents)
Ate way to many ice cream cones, milkshakes, and shaved ice.
Laughed until I cried
HAD A GREAT TIME!!!
see gathering #36 for pictures

Gathering #34

Wish me luck I am making up my a recipe!!!
Vanilla Blackberry Ice Cream
I will let you know how it goes
I am kinda scared

Gathering #33

School is out summer is officially started. I love the first part of Summer. I love the anticipation of thinking about what I have planned for the upcoming months. I love thinking about my vacations. I leave for Hawaii this week. I love Hawaii. I love relaxing. I love playing in the water. I love seeing the beauty all around. In July I am going to Washington DC. Big plans this summer for me!
What are your plans for the Summer?

Gathering #32

Today I gave a presentation for staff meeting on Investing Personally. I have worked on this presentation for a couple of weeks and it has opened my mind and eyes to what I need to change in my life. Investing personally in a work place is something that take a life change. So in the interest of investing personally, I am wanting to make a few changes in my life. I need to have a better attitude about things. I can only control myself not those I work with or talk to. If someone chooses to not hire me or take what I say too personally there is nothing that I can do about it. I need to see the world as a spot of beauty and sun shine, even on rainy days there are good things. I need to come what may and love it. I think that when I start making these simple changes that things will get better.

Gathering #31

25 days from today I will be getting in a car and driving to Las Vegas.
26 days from today I will be getting on a plane.
27 days from today I will be lying in the sun.
28 days from today I will be seeing Waimea Canyon.
29 days from today I will be getting tanner.
30 days from today I will be relaxed complete stress free.
To sum it up in 25 days I will be on my way to Paradise!

Gathering #30

5 years ago today my life changed. Before May 14, 2005 I went about my life not knowing what I was missing out on. I loved my life and could not see anything wrong with it. Then on this day 5 years ago, my older brother got married. It was on that day that I realized that I had been missing a sister. So this post is for you Ash. To the women who became my sister 5 years ago today! I appreciate the way you include me in all your girl things. Shopping, crafts, and pedicures. I love the way you share your sisters with me. Thanks for everything you have done over the last 5 years.

Gathering #29

Your prayers have paid off. My life has changed dramatically over the last couple weeks. So here is a list of exciting news:

1. My Dad graduated this past weekend. I am so proud of him. He went back to school 3 years ago after not going to school for 30 plus years. He has worked hard and it was a great moment to sit with my family in the E-Center and watch him walk across the stage.
2. My older brother got an internship in Washington D.C. and they leave in a week. My older brother is one of the hardest working people that I know and he deserves to go far in life. I hope that this internship leads him to where he needs to go in life. I am hoping that I get to go see them this summer.
3. Since my brother got an internship, they are moving. I am going to miss talking to them at Sunday dinner. I am going to miss going places with my sister in law. I am going to miss my little sweet niece. All in all I am going to miss them.
4. As most of you have heard being a teacher is not the best job to be looking for right now. Lots of budget cuts, so as of today. I am out of a job come June 3.
5. Good news I go to Hawaii in 36 days!

I know that this list is not long but it is what is going on in my life!

Gathering #28

Nothing to say, life is boring, pray something happens soon!

Gathering #27

And the answer is ...

Mexico Tijuana!!!!!

August 11!!!!!

Gathering #26

My littlest brother gets his mission call today.

The question on everybody's mind is

Where in the world will he go?

Answer to come soon!!!

Gathering #25

Correct me if I am wrong it is April right? I sometimes think that we have gone back to November with snow and rain every other day.

On that note I am getting more and more ready for school to get out and to go on vacation.

I love working and I love teaching, but I am ready to see the ocean, and lay on the beach.

I am ready to get tan and to eat coconut shrimp.

I am ready to get on an airplane and fly far away.

I am ready to search for seashells on the beach.

I am ready to laugh until I cry with my brothers and my cousins.

I am ready body surf and boogie board.

I AM READY!!!

What are you ready for?

Gathering #24

Since my last post things have gotten interesting. I am still not feeling 100%. I am running on about 85%. Slowly but surely my body is healing. My little brother Daniel came home from his mission he had been serving in Sierra Leone. It has been great listening to his stories and learning about the people he served. My birthday was also this weekend, didn't feel very good but all in all it was a nice day. Also my little brother had his homecoming talk at church. We had a ton of people at our house (and just a side note, if I never see a sloppy joe again it will be to soon). My March has flown by!!!

Gathering #23

Sick!!! I hate being sick!!! I am sitting at school wishing that it was 2:57 instead of 9:57. I wish I could be at home on the couch. But in my quest to be positive I am going to list the positive things about being sick.

#1= My pajama's. I love to snuggle up on the couch with my pajamas and sick socks.

#2= Food. When I am sick I get to waited on hand and foot. I usually do half of the cooking in the week but not when I am sick. No one wants to eat food that a sickly has made.

#3= Today my Aunt Wendy (I LOVE HER) called me before school, just to ask me a question, when she heard I was sick. She made me homemade soup and dropped it off at school. I love being taken care of.

I hope that I feel better soon. But if I don't I will be taken care of.

Gathering #22

This post is all about my little brother Benj. He is the baby of the family and is all about having a good time. He makes me laugh. He is super involved and is always running a million miles a minute. We don't always get along but when we do we have a GREAT TIME! This last week he had to get stitches and has spent more time at home. I have loved that we have chilled a couple of days this week. He is the person in my family that I can play with. We laugh and joke around all the time. This past summer the two of us went to Disneyland for a few days. It was one of the funnest things I have done. To just spend time with one of my siblings for more then a few hours is an experience I would like to try with the rest of the family. He makes me laugh, makes me cry, makes me smile, and sometimes makes me want to scream.

But all in all

I LOVE MY LITTLE BROTHER BENJ!!!

Gathering #21

I have decided that for the next few blogs I will be spotlighting different people in my life. These are the people that bring me happiness. They are there to push me farther and to make do things that I never thought I could. They are there for me to lean on when I think I cant do it and to listen when I need to vent. They make laugh, and cry. But all in all these are the people I love. So stay tuned for those of you who want to hear why I love the people I love.

Gathering #20

The Olympics have started, I love the Olympics. I love how for 16 days the world comes together for one cause. I love how people are cheering things that in my day to day life I don't even think of (i.e. CURLING). I love how I am sitting on my couch cheering on the little guy (i.e. speed skating JR Celski bronze medal). I love it I love that I wanted China to win in the pairs figure skating. I love that I would normal never watch snowboarding and I am glued to the TV. In the end its all I want to do and talk about.

Just like Visa I shout "GO WORLD" but I do shout "GO USA" even louder.

Gathering #19

I love Valentines Day!!! I love the hearts and the flowers. I love the idea that we think even for just a day about someone else. About the people we love the most. I love to see the look on kids faces as they are excited to give their valentines to their friends. So yes it may be a made up holiday to get us to spend our money, but in the end I love that someone is forcing society to think about the people they love.

This post is dedicated to the people I love.

You know who you are!

Gathering #18

All about me right now at this very minute. All in one word answers

Where is your cell phone? Purse
Significant other? NONE
Your hair? Curly
Your mother? Fun
Your father? Stressed
Your favorite thing? Family
Your dream last night? Didn't
Your favorite drink? Water
What room are you in? Class
Your hobby? Cooking
Your fear? Rejection
Where do you want to be in 6 years? Happy
Where were you last night? Home
Something that you aren't? Patient
Muffins? Chocolate
Wish list item? Job
Last thing you did? Taught
What are you wearing? Skirt
TV? YES
Your pets? Chicken
Friends? Some
Your life? Hectic
Your mood? Optimistic
Missing someone? Definitely
Drinking? Water
Your car? Red
Something your not wearing? Ring
Your Favorite Store? Eddie Bauer
Favorite Color? Red
When is the last time you cried? Yesterday
Who will read this? ?
Where do you go to over and over? Bedroom
My favorite place to eat? Blue Bayou
Favorite place I'd like to be right now? Disneyland

Gathering #17

Whats in a name?

So I am kinda a nerd and love to read my horoscope or find out what is significant about my birthday. Today I found out what my name stands for.

Does it sound like me?

Kimmy

You are smart and curious

You are a seeker of knowledge and you have learned many things in your life.

You are also a keeper of knowledge- meaning you don't spill secrets or gossip.

People sometimes think you are snobby of aloof but you're just to deep in your thoughts to pay attention to them.

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot is a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way!

You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're to busy having fun to care.

Check out what your name means

www.blogthings.com/whatsyournameshiddenmeaningquiz/

Gathering #16

It's the little things in life that keep me moving forward.

So far this week has been GREAT!!! And it is the little things that have made it wonderful.

So you may ask yourself how do I have a week as great as Kimmy's well here are the steps

Step 1: I did not have to work on Monday or Tuesday

Step 2: Took my family to The Roof Monday night. We had a wonderful time!

Step 3: Everyone else had to work on Tuesday, I had a house to myself, sat in a chair and read all day long.

Step 4: Found out that my brother is coming home from Africa on MARCH 18!!!

Step 5: Worked out so hard that I came home completely ready for a shower and bed (realizing that I can work out that hard is what makes me the happiest. Thank you Torri!)

Step 6: Realized that I really am the happiest when I spend time with my family.

So ultimately it is Wednesday and this week has already been great.

I think if it gets any better I might just have to cry!

Gathering #15

With all the fog that has rolled in and out of the valley the last little bit it makes me think about what fogs my life. I love fog but it does create some problems. There are some things that fog up my life. I don't ever want to face them, but then there are times that I need to. So just to name a few things that fog up my life. I am selfish. I am usually only thinking about my self, and what I want. I am lazy, I do not like to work.

These are some things that I want to work on. So this week. I am going to work as hard as I can on not thinking of only myself, and of stepping up to what needs to be done and not just waiting for someone else to do it.

Maybe my life will be less foggy if I can work on these 2 weaknesses.

What fogs your life?

Gathering #14

Why do we think that it is fun to work out? I am not sure that I always think through these brillant ideas that flash through my mind.

I like sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and chocolate.

I like drinking my soda pop.

I like thinking that I am OK with the fact that I can eat whatever I want and NEVER work out and nothing will happen.

And then over the holiday season we watched home videos. I don't privilege the world that often of seeing me in a swimming suit. But when you are in Hawaii you kinda need to be in a suit. I DID NOT like what I saw. So I started thinking that I could work out tune up my body and that it would be no big deal. Well I was wrong. I truly hit it hard last night. My trainer kicked my butt within the first 10 min of class and I still had 50 to go. So I made it through class and home and thought nothing of it until this morning. I like being able to move. I can't. Sitting down is a major chore.

Am I crazy?

I feel like I am.

Yesterday I almost died, today I can not move.

I will be OK, until tomorrow.

When I get to do it all over again.

Gathering #13

As 2010 has begun we all take some time to think about what we want to do differently in the New Year. How we are going to better our lives. At work on New Years Eve everyone talked about their resolutions. I told them that I don't make resolutions because by the 5th of January I would have broken my resolutions. But they did get me thinking. So this weekend I thought about what I wanted out of life. I want to be happy. I want to do things that make me happy. I want to spend time with my family. I want to travel and see the world. I want to get in better shape. I want to read more.
So still no resolutions for me. Maybe just some things to think about. I can accomplish my goals to make my life happier. I have added some things to my blog to help me become happier.

#1 I love to read. I have added my reading list. Lets see how many books I can read this year.

#2 I love to travel. I have put my count down of days until I go to Hawaii

#3 I am hoping to write more things that happen in my life, maybe keep me more focused.

Maybe this will help me be more happy. Maybe this will be the way to keep me focused on what really matters. I don't know we will have to wait and see.