Splat.

Embarrassing story. 

So the other day at school we had the Christmas music program. After the program the kids were instructed to stay on the floor and the teachers would come stand by them so the parents could sign them out right there and take them home. 

Well as soon as the final notes are sung I know I need to get down on the floor as soon as possible because I just know the kids are going to scatter. So as all the parents are still sitting in the audience the teachers start heading to their classes. Well I am marching over to my kids as quick as I can and keeping my eyes on them so none of them disappear. 

Unfortunately I was watching them a little too well because I completely missed the giant speaker that was right in front of me. I tripped over one of the tripod's legs and about landed on my face. My head was parallel to the ground and I took about 7 giant steps trying to regain my balance. It was touch and go there for a minute as time froze and I kept trying to keep myself  from sprawling on the floor. Everything was silent and the only sound I could hear was from the collective gasp from the audience as they watched my battle to not land on my face. 

I eventually regained my balance without falling down and with a face red from embarrassment gave the audience a thumbs up to let them know I was alright. 

Anyway. That was my embarrassing moment that will hopefully count for the whole next year. 

FOUR!

Heavens. 

It is crazy to me that Kolton and I have been married for four years. There have been a whole lot of ups and downs in those four years and I am always, always grateful that he is who I have by my side through all of it. 

So the other night we went on a date Christmas shopping. And it was just one of the best times I feel like we have ever had together. I don't even know why but we were just laughing and being together and we just really had the best time. I was talking to the lady who cuts my hair the other day and she was saying that in life we have a lot of good moments but the GREAT moments are rare and you have to treasure them when they come around. Anyway, that got me thinking that Kolton and I have had a whole lot of good moments (like a lot) and some bad moments and even some terrible, heart-wrenching moments. But we have had some GREAT moments too. And those few and far between GREAT ones are what life is all about. Our date the other night is what I would classify as a GREAT moment.  We were both just so happy to be together and I hope I always remember it. 

Anyway, while we were out eating we were a little too focused on waiting for our food because I was starving after a full day of school. So to take our minds off of how hungry I was I asked Kolton what we should talk about. He jokingly answered that we should list all of each other's favorite things. I took him up on that, much to his chagrin, but it really was fun. 

Here's what we came up with. 

Kolton's Favorite Things According to Jayci

1. Snowmobiling

2. Roadbiking

3. Climbing into bed at the end of the day. (Every night he says, "This is my favorite part of the day")

4. Being tough

5. Building things. 

Jayci's Favorite Things According to Kolton

1. Reading

2. Things that smell good

3. Doing things that bother other people. (Seriously though. He brought up the example of my first year of college when I left the clear plastic cover on my laptop just because everybody told me to take it off.)

4. Salt

5. Decorating the house

Anyway, today being our anniversary I have to get a tiny bit mushy but I  love that man. He is so good to me. We drive each other crazy, support each other, argue, laugh, listen, and are always there for each other. I thank my Heavenly Father every day that I get to have him in my life. We have been through the wringer this past year and especially over the past couple months and when I start feeling down and like I don't have anything to be grateful for I always remember that Kolton is the biggest blessing in my life and even though I may not have everything I want right now, I have him. 

The Blondes Are Back!

After two years all the blonde roommates were finally able to get together. 

Heather Warner came up from Texas, Amy from Provo, Kelsee from SLC, KyLeigh from St. George, and I drove down from Monteview. 

I drove down to SLC on Friday after school. It was terrifying and I really do not belong on more than a two lane highway. But I did miraculously make it to Kelsee's. They were having a Bad Movie Monday night on a Friday night and we watched Frogs on Netflix. It was also terrifying. (Not really. Actually, it was hilarious) The next morning Kelsee and I took off to find our little KyLeigh. We met up with KyLeigh, her mom, and sister and we all went to Gardner Village. 

We wandered around a little bit looking at all the stuff that we will maybe one day be able to afford. It was a cute little place and had lots of fun things to see. 

From there we went to Heather's baby shower where we met up with Amy and Heather and chatted and it was lovely. After the shower we decided a dinner was in order. We went to Blue Lemon and sat at this little round table and visited for hours. HOURS. It was fabulous! It was so great to catch up with these girls and also so bad because I had almost forgotten how much I missed them and then I was reminded and now I miss them even more! 

We have sure had some good times together and I hope that there will be many more! (And I also hope that they all see the error of their ways and finally decide to move to Idaho. Specifically Monteview.)

Class bonding and buggy flies

So we started school about 2 months ago. It's been a lot different this year! I thought I knew 5th graders inside and out but these kids are so different from my last ones! Anyway.  I Just haven't felt like I have bonded with these kids so well as the ones last year. Maybe because I've been more of a hard nose than last year trying to nip little things in the bud and train the kids rather than let them run wild and rampant. 

That's probably it. 

But the other day I felt like we really just had ourselves a moment. And it was over killing flies of all things. 

So we have had a serious fly problem in our room. They are awful and so buggy and making us all crazy. Well, the kids were supposed to be studying their spelling words but instead they were hunting around for flies. And it's not enough just to catch the flies, they have to get them alive and then rip their wings off and it's just a whole big thing. 

So a few kids were studying in the corner and I walked over and saw a fly running around on a kid's hand. I didn't realize he had caught it, ripped its wings off and made it his pet and since we have all been trying to kill all the flies when possible I grabbed a book and killed that sucker right in the palm of his hand. 

We laughed at that and especially at the look of surprise on his face when he realized I had killed his new friend. 

And with that, all sorts of fly killing stories came out. 

But my favorite one was when a boy told me that one time he was in his room reading and there was a fly buzzing around. He sat there with his book open for forever and when the fly finally landed on his book he slammed it shut, never opened it again, and returned it to the library. 

I died laughing. 

Just imagining some poor innocent kid turning a page in his book to find a decaying smashed fly just put me over the edge. 

I still laugh every time I think about and how proud the kid was of this story. 

And that's how you bond with 5th graders. 

A Fairly Fine Wedding Day

So my little Kenzie cousin got married in the beginning of September. 

Kolton was enjoying his very last day of grain harvest in the combine so he couldn't make it to the wedding, but I was able to go in with my dad. My mom and siblings left before us so we were cruising. CRUISING. down the Monteview highway to make it in time. I kept telling my dad that we had plenty of time and yet the speedometer kept inching higher and higher. I did not know it was possible to drive down the Monteview highway in that short amount of time. Amazing. 

We made it to the temple in plenty of time and it was a lovely little ceremony. Afterward we took pictures, killed some time and my birthday money at a little home boutique, and then went to the luncheon which was fabulous. 

Then everyone headed to Quenalee's house to set up for the reception and I chilled at Oswald's house and waited for Kolton to pick me up and take me down to the good ole Blackfoot fair. 

We had been invited by Shively's to go to the Demolition Derby again and it did not disappoint. We got there a little early and ate and wandered and picked out our dream pickup for when we can do things like buy dream pickups and it was a good time. Minus all the people. Holy hannah, it was packed. We were shoving through crowds like nobody's business and I just did not like that so much. 

When we finally sat down in the grandstands we settled in for a long show. It was fun, but definitely made more exciting by the boy sitting next to Kolton. Man, he was excited to be there. He was on his feet yelling and screaming and cheering and was so funny to watch. 

The derby was a little long again, but we had a nice time visiting with Shively's and just getting out of the combine, because it had been a while since Kolton had done anything so crazy as that. 

While we were at the derby Hansen's were able to finish up the grain harvest and it was just a real good day. 

On Top of Old Smoookey

Labor Day is always a little iffy at our house. We can't ever decide if it's a day to play, or a day to labor. (I say play, Kolton says labor. Obviously.)

This year I won the argument. Not much of an argument really. I'm little by little getting Kolton converted to the dark side. 

So at about 7 on Sunday night we decided to head up with my family to Island Park. 

We packed up and were outta there and only hit one small deer on the way up. 

I was in the back seat separating Addi and Brevan and was not having a very good time. I was hot and then cold and then my legs were cramped up and pretty soon nobody was listening to anything I had to say anymore. 

The joke was on them because when I saw the little deer in the headlights and said, "Oh! Deer!" Nobody paid any attention until we smacked into it with the side of the pickup. It didn't do too much damage but I think it was a good lesson to everybody that they should listen when I am talking whether I am complaining incessantly or sharing important life-saving information. 

When we finally got to the cabin we settled in and turned on Secretariat which is just the neatest movie we think. Then we went to bed. 

The next morning we decided to go on a little razr ride to the top of Sawtelle. I had never been up there before and thought it sounded like fun idea until the razrs started moving. It was the coldest dang ride we had ever been on! I had been stupid and figured that even though it had been raining a lot lately it was still just the very beginning of September, still practically August, so I did not pack very warm clothes. I ended up wearing Kolton's sweats over my own and my mom's jacket. Halfway through the ride I procured some goggles which simultaneously made me look like the biggest nerd on the planet and also kept the never-ending dust out of my eyes. It was a fair trade. 

We stopped when we were about halfway there and contemplated going back because we were all freezing but instead decided to press on. 

And it was worth it! When we got to the top of the mountain it was so beautiful and actually a lot warmer than the ride had been. 

Brevan thinks he's hilarious. 

We enjoyed the views and then headed back home the long way. It had considerably warmed up and the ride home was much more pleasant. 

For a small part of the ride we got in some thicker trees and Kolton was driving like a madman trying to get ahead of everyone. I was holding on for dear life and barely heard and registered the instructions I was given before he jumped from the razr. 

When it finally all clicked in my head I kept driving the razr a little more slowly obviously and watched as Kolton hid behind some trees and scared the daylights out of my Dad and Addi.

After that we went back to the cabin, had some lunch, and headed out. It was a short little jaunt but sure made for a nice Labor Day. 

Salt Lake Girls Trip

In the week between the fair and school starting and during the heat of the harvest, we decided it was high time we took a little girls trip. 

Addi, my mom, and I headed down to Salt Lake! 

Our first stop was Scheel's because it was just kind of neat and we'd heard a lot of good about it. We actually found some really cute non exercise clothes and did a little shopping as well as looking around. 

After that we headed to the hotel to freshen up and then ate at P.F. Chang's which was quite fabulous.

From there we headed back to the hotel because we had a little more time to chill and freshen up before we headed to the theatre to see WICKED! 

Oh my stars, it was amazing. 

We somehow ended up with seats on the very front row which we were a little nervous about but it was absolutely amazing. 

Oh, I just can't even describe it. 

We were so up close and personal. The bubbles were popping on our noses and the smoke was right in our faces and we were making eye contact with the actors and it was just....I don't even know. Just the best ever. 

I had been to Wicked when I went on American Heritage and loved it then but it was even better this time. I loved Glinda. She was sooo good and darling. I knew the story a little more too so it was fun to have an idea of what was coming next and just really soak it in. 

Oh man. I could go to that show every night for the rest of my life and be completely happy. It was fabulous. 

The next day, after we'd spent some time that night gushing, we woke up and headed to City Creek to do some shopping. That mall is just super fun even though it is still a little too high class for me. We did find some fun stores before we headed to the Gateway which is also a fun mall. And also had some fun stores. 

By that afternoon we were all shopped out and ready to head home. We stopped in Layton for some Red Lobster which I have been craving since we stopped there on the way to our cruise. And it did not disappoint. 

Then we were back on the road. Around Pocatello we got into the biggest rainstorm ever. It was slightly terrifying. The rain was pounding the windshield so hard that we couldn't see and lightning was all around us and I was trying to soothe my mom and we were all pretty happy to finally be home. 

It was a fabulous trip and super fun to just hang out with the girls.