Life Got Crazy Fast!

Jana was doing so good with catching up on her blog. That was until she was hired to teach 7th Grade at the local school here in Rexburg.
While she was in Tennessee, with her brother Will, helping their Mom with some home improvements she received a phone call from a school principal Thursday night, then was hired on a Friday via phone interview, and had to be back in Idaho by Monday for her meetings. This cut time with her family short by 3 days. Ever since the day she flew in, life has not slowed down.
She is a Language Arts teacher and teaches three writing classes and two reading classes. She is at work everyday from 8am-5pm, comes home for dinner, then heads back to the classroom till about 11 or midnight. She even works on Saturdays and holidays. Now, you guys are all aware of why she is unable to update the blog.
I would do it, but I am not as creative as her, and she said that I write too much and give too many details.
I am working as an insurance examiner here in Rexburg. We have a nice two bedroom apartment, an awesome ward, and don't get out much to meet new friends due to our crazy schedules.
Since I am posting this blog, I wanted to let our friends see what kind of a teacher Jana really is. You all know her as the kind, happy, friendly person who would not hurt a fly, but wait till you enter her classroom where who she really is comes out. :)In case you were wondering, those flowers were not from me. They were a congratulations from her sister Louisa, who beat me to the punch. I love Jana and appreciate all of the time and effort she is putting into being a teacher. I am there with her in the evenings, grading papers, entering the grades into the grade book, and doing whatever else I can, to lighten the stress. She is extremely dedicated and works herself to exhaustion because she wants to make sure her students are getting the best education she can provide.

Summer Trips part 5: Bear Lake, Utah

One good thing about being unemployed and back on the mainland is we've gotten to do a lot of fun things this summer! At the end of June we had our family reunion on my mom's side. There were 90 something people there. We stayed in 2 houses in Bear Lake.

The Inn at the Lake

and the Valhalla House

We went on a hike and tried Geo Caching for the first time.
The box was filled with just some old trinkets and junky stuff.

We hiked up a deer trail to find it too!

We spent one day at the lake which wasn't as cold as I remember. I had fun riding the wave runner.
Rob, Will, my cousin Jordyn, and I built a sandcastle.
We had a night remembering those who have passed away.
We played games together and had delicious meals! Rob couldn't believe no one in the family is overweight with the way we eat. Haha!
And of course we had the Bischoff Blowout (a tradition to eat a ton of junk food one night). We watched a video of past reunions which was hilarious.
We had a Guitar Hero tournament and I won (on the beginner level) :P Here Will and Jordyn are battling.
We ended the reunion by doing landscaping and cleaning at my grandma's house. It looked great after all the hard work.
It was great for Rob to meet most of my family for the first time. We are definitely glad we went.

Summer Trips part 4: Time Out For Women

In June, I went with Kim to Time Out For Women in Pocatello. It's a program put on by Deseret Book designed to give women "Time Out" from their families and lives and enjoy music and speakers. Since I don't have a big family, or a life, I didn't really need time out, but it was fun. :) Rob stayed home and Jacob was gone at work and Lagoon so it was just girl time.

We got to enjoy the music of Jenny Jordan Frogley...

and Hilary Weeks

Their music was so good. I get burnt out from hearing their same songs on my cds or on the radio, but hearing their new material was great. They are very talented and sound great live.

We got to hear from Brad Wilcox and wife and other great speakers.
It was a very spiritual and uplifting weekend and I recommend you go if you can. They tour all over the country. They also give you a free canvas tote bag. That was something to smile about.

Summer Trips part 3: Arizona/Utah

Rob and I were all packed up to go to Arizona with his brother Jimmy and sister Tamera when I started feeling sick. We stopped at Taco Bell before we left town and I could barely force down a crunchy taco. I decided to still go and hopefully feel better soon. We hadn't made it far when I had to throw up.

I thought I would feel better after that.

Not the case.

2 hours later I threw up again. This time Louisa, who had met us to give us her GPS, took me back to her place in Logan. I slept that night and most of the day before I felt better. I was lucky enough to be there the week she was moving to Salt Lake so we spent the days packing.

Lou rented a Uhaul and we made our way down to SLC. Instead of making several trips up to the 3rd floor, our inventive brother rigged up a pulley system to her balcony. It took a lot longer but saved us energy. :)

In the Uhaul

You should have seen us move the mattress upstairs. Will was in the back, Lou the front, and me the side. At one point, Lou was telling Will to slow down, Will was holding it at chest level so Lou wouldn't have to bend down and he kept pushing it into her legs, I was laughing my head off, then they both dropped it and I was balancing it on my head. We about died laughing. That was pretty much how the whole week was: a ton of laughing. It felt so good!

After we got her all moved in I spent a few days there. Then I stayed at my aunt Anne's house in Orem. We hiked to the Y at BYU on Memorial Day and had a BBQ that night. It was fun spending time with my aunt and cousins.

Me, Will, and Davis eating lunch.

Help!!Meanwhile, Rob had gone down to AZ as planned and he got sick soon after I did. He spent most of his trip sleeping and throwing up. He felt bad because he couldn't socialize much with his family. He did get to see Mariah's graduation though which was the purpose of the trip.

Rob's cousin Dan and wife Raeann

niece Mariah

Grandma and Tamera

It was a wonderful vacation and I got to reconnect with my siblings and extended family that I hadn't seen in years.

Summer Trips part 2: Pocatello, Idaho

A few weeks after getting back to Idaho, Kim and Jacob invited us down to their place for the weekend. Then my sis Louisa and bro Will joined us last minute.

I went to work with Kim at the bakery. It was fun to be around such yummy food all day and I went home feeling sick from all the sugar. Kim also let me keep the tips we earned that day!That night we went to their church's spaghetti dinner: spaghetti is still my fave!

They had a silent auction and Lou really wanted this quilt, but she didn't want to look cheap so she bid for it, then had me bid so she could out bid me. She was happy to get it.Waiting for the Redbox

If you're ever driving through Pokey look for this employee dancing outside Little Caesar's. She was funny to watch.

The girls gave each other pedicures while we watched a movie.

We went to the Popcorn Store and sampled all the flavors. We got Jalapeno Cheddar and Huckleberry.
We went to the park and Jacob taught us the game Bocce ball. I won!
Lou pretending she's the mom from "The Boy with the Striped Pajamas."

We had fun playing around.Kim and Lou are such girls!