Closing another fantastic year.

What did I do in 2009? I didn't think very much, but then I started thinking about the year. oh my heck it has been a GREAT year. Let me tell you how great...

A couple trips to Mexico

I cured adultitis

Gained an appreciation for hiking. It's more like a LOVE, and obsession

Bought a truck

Went to Las Vegas for the first time

Had sushi for the first time and LOVED it

Went on a cruise to mexico

Didn't catch the Swine Flu

Spent how many hundreds of hours at the lake?

Attended MEP & TAPP

Spent a week at Lake Powell

Turned 24

Saw multiple broadway musicals including Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Legally Blonde, and Happy days

Wore leggings for the first time

Traveled for 2 weeks around Egypt

Drove the Coronado Trail for the first time

Survived the year with money in my pocket, a roof over my head, and a job to work at. I have truly been blessed in 2009. 2009 provided me with everything I need and all 2010 needs to come up with is a husband! LOL

I thank all my family and friends for their love and support through the year.

Are you ready for 2010?

Here are some tips on creating a prosperous new year for yourself. I have been meaning to start on my BEFORE NEW YEARS EVE to-do list but I am pretty behind...


BEFORE NEW YEARS EVE
Clean the entire house to get rid of any ill-fortune associated with the past year and make room for incoming good luck.
Put away all brooms and brushes.
Pay all your debts
Resolve differences with relatives, family members, friends, business associates
Prepare meals for New Years Eve and New Years Day
Decorate your house with plastic firecrackers to frighten away evil spirits and the bad luck they might bring.
Decorate your home with live blooming plants to symbolize rebirth and new growth.
Display oranges and tangerines to symbolize abundant happiness and a candy tray with eight varieties of dried sweet fruit to start the new year sweetly.

NEW YEARS EVE
Get together with family for a meal and family activities.
Pay respects to your ancestors.
Set off firecrackers at midnight to send out the old year and welcome the new year.
Open every door & window at midnight to let go of the old year

NEW YEARS DAY
The events that occur on New Years Day may have an impact on the rest of the year so be careful with your words, your deeds, what you eat and whom you greet.
Don't wash your hair or you will wash away any good luck for the new year
Wear brand new clothes
Wear the color red for joy and happiness.
Don't wear white or black as they are colors of mourning.
Greet your relatives, neighbors, and friends and wish them well.
Don't greet people in mourning.
Give red envelopes with lucky money to children and unmarried people.
Don't sweep the floor or clean or you may sweep away your luck.
Don't say the number "four" (which sounds like the Chinese word for death)
Don't mention death or tell ghost stories.
Don't cook.
Don't use knives or scissors or you may cut off fortune.
Don't lend money or you will be lending all year.
Don't borrow money.

Christmas 09

How much fun was Christmas 2009? SO MUCH FUN. I can't believe it is done already.

Christmas Eve we lit the luminaries up main street to create Santa's runway.

Then we went to visit Aunt Winnie. She is so adorable. Each time I visit her I learn something else that just amazes me!

Festivities were at Robert and Marci's house. We started with the left right game. Then we did a fun candy bar game where they told the story of how Mary and Joseph traveled to bethlehem and they added candy bar names and passed around treats when they were used in the story.

Crum Kake, Hot Chocolate, Peppermint Icecream, Krispie Cream Doughnuts.

Acting out the Christmas Story.

Super Mario on Wii! It was LOVE at first sight! I remember in College we would waste hours and hours playing old school nintendo. I am sure Ashley and Jami remember!! So much fun. So they can be downloaded onto the wii from the wii shop channel for $5 a piece! Thats as good as gold folks!!!!

We went to drive down Santa's Runway, it was too late to make dinner, so we stopped off for a burger. There is a house in Eagar that has their lights flash to the music on a radio station. We parked and watched that and enjoyed our Beef.

Christmas morning. It looks different without little kids!! We had a blast though.

Down at Grandmas house for Christmas Dinner. It wouldn't be a Haws gathering without Scrabble involved.

It also wouldn't be a Haws gathering without some competition involved. I think this game replaced leg wrestling for this year. Everyone sits on a chair and then leans back on the other person. Then the chairs are removed so that you are using your legs to support yourself and the other person. Its not THAT hard and its fun!

A pyramid!

We played Pretty Bird in my cup. I remember playing this when I was little and I guess Great Grandma Atella would play it with my Aunts and Uncles. It's a silly game that ends up with water in your face. Great fun.

The day after Christmas Aunt Dorie came to our house to visit and play some Monopoly. Dad got out on purpose so he could watch football but we stuck it out to the end. well, almost the end. Mom was DOMINATING and was going to win anyway.

Before my Christmas update...

I just wanted to show you what a down payment on a house looks like. :)

I should close this week or next. :)

Its all about the Benjamins. Right?

My Christmas wish.

I am home for the Holiday! I love it. Its Christmas Eve and I got up this morning and packed up and came. I was going to come last night but there was a big storm so I didn't want to chance it. As I was driving home there was more and more and more snow with every town I came to. I love it. Its going to be great to stay INSIDE all weekend and see the snow from the window. :) Dallin and Tyrell are out working on the 4-wheeler and I am inside eating ribbon candy and listening to Skillet. LOVE. I got all dressed up because its the eve of Baby Jesus' birthday! We are going to celebrate him tonight and I wanted to look my best. Tonight is our family Christmas party. We will set up the illuminarias on main street. Then head to someones house where we will play the left right game and have dinner. I hope there will be lots of cousins there to play games with. I hope that everyone sings around the piano. I hope we a lot of fun with just the right amount of tears. I know there will be plenty of LOVE there because thats what my family is all about. Sure we have rough spots every now and then but those rough spots help us understand each other.

I hope you and your family have a VERY Merry Christmas with plenty of love and just the right amount of tears.

This is my political platform for the year 2010.

I have spent a lot of time at the dentist lately. A LOT OF TIME. I feel like every week I have been there for something. With invisilign, a crown, bleaching trays, and cleanings there is always something that needs done. So as I have spent all this time there I have reflected on all the times I have been to the dentist. Growing up we went to Howard N. Lee, D.D.S.. We would always go in early in the morning before school. Mom and Dad didn't like us to miss school. Who wants to start your day with a trip to the dentist?

I would walk in and Kathy would be at the front desk. It was hard to focus, always getting distracted by her long fake nails, her smacking gum, and the 15 piercings she had in her ear. She was always nice though. Check in with Kathy and then go sit in the uncomfortable green chairs and stair at the ugly, out dated, Native American art that hung on the walls. Then I waited, and waited, and waited. The door would open and I would be escorted back to one of the multiple torture chambers, er... I mean rooms. First I would get my numbing shot and then I waited some more. Dr. Lee would then come in. He was smelly and sweaty and not very gentle. When he was done I was permitted to walk out of there, and bring my puffy cheek with me. Now this is where it got good. Kathy would point over to a corner where there was a box. A box FULL of toys. I would get to pick one. It was always a mystery as to what they would have. It rotated frequently. Stickers, sticky hands, bouncy balls, clappers. It was a real life oriental trading advertisement. I would get my toy and leave. Grateful to be done till my next cleaning, cavity, or orthodontist appointment.

So how do my appointments work now? Pretty much the same, minus the waiting. This new Dentist doesn't make me wait. Minus the smelly Dentist, he is clean. MINUS THE TOY. What the heck? When did the dentist stop being tramatic enough to deserve a toy? Never! I still want a toy! I still deserve a toy. I have sat in the same seat and gone through the same pain that I should still deserve that crappy toy!!! PLUS its worse because now I have to pay for my own appointments.

Christmas baking

A few weeks ago my friend Elena and I had an ugly sweater party. I don't have pictures from the party on my camera. I will have to get them from my roommate Tori. I did manage to take pictures of the decorations though. :) You know me.

I kinda went all out with the snowflakes. :)

My friend Elicia and I had a baking day to make plates for people. I also made this train out of rice crispy treats. Isn't it cute! However I don't recommend making it! It took way too long and one of the parts caved in before the next morning.

We made rice crispy balls, chocolate and peanut butter swirl fudge, no bake cookies, chocolate chip cookies and puppy chow. It was fun! and stressful! and fun! and stressful!

GO SUNDEVILS

Congratulations to Buddy! He graduated from Asu this past weekend! He has been so dedicated in finishing up his degree! He worked full time, did school full time, and still graduated with honors!! WHOOP WHOOP. So proud of you Buddy!

This is the man in front of us that got pooped on by a bird! So sad! I have been pooped on before so I know how embarrasing it is.

Dallin and Chloe at the graduation. Sara had a graduation party for him afterwards out at there house.

Family Christmas Party

We decided to have a family Christmas party the weekend before Christmas since the married kids wouldn't be able to come up to Eagar for the holiday. I thought the weekend was great! Mom worked so hard getting it all planned and it was wonderful! Grandma and Grandpa Jensen were even able to attend! We stayed the night out at Tyson and Kim's house and woke up at 5 am to have the traditional breakfast and exchange gifts. Traditional breakfast is ham, boiled eggs, open faced break with melted cheese, sliced oranges, orange juices, and krumkake. IT'S SO DELICIOUS.

Here are the last minute wrappers trying to get everything done.

I fell asleep right here before everyone was even done wrapping.

We got fake money and had an auction for services and white elephant gifts from everyones houses.

After opening gifts we had the auction and then played the left right game. It was so much fun to have everyone together! We haven't had Christmas like that in a while. I hope that we are able to do this as a family tradition each year.

Dear Orange Chicken Cafe, Oh how I have missed you. I am sure you understood why I have stayed away. It just wasn't right going to enjoy your goodness without him. I ripped up the picture last night. The one at the hockey game. I used to love it, now it only made me feel like I had been kicked in the gut by a midget. Now I won't have to see it again. So now I can see you again. Thanks for the welcome home. I will take 2 please.

~Mern

Dear everyone.

Where have I been?

I myself don't even know.

I am inbetween.

Not six feet under,

but not over the moon either.

I am just here,

on Earth.

~Mern

Because I knew you, I have been blessed

I have lived with quite a few people in my short 6 years since graduating high school. From them I have learned many different things. Like from Mary Bench I learned you can skin a dead snake with a rock. Mekahla Marshall and Jana Rae Shoemaker taught me that its perfectly normal to be completely crazy and silly. Kimbalee Bigler taught me that some people eat vegetables and only vegetables. Ashley Kelepolo taught me that Hard work pays off. Jean Hammond taught me that some people are just misunderstood. Julie Sorensen taught me how to live with passion. Heather Lee taught me what true friendship really is. Meagan Bryant taught me that its fun to be engaged. Katie Elliott taught me to laugh. Audrey taught me that design matters. Sharolyn Gabbitas taught me to pay attention to world events. Kari Ann Pearsall taught me that politics are important. Kara Palmer taught me that little events, thoughts and actions can brighten your day. Zach Bloomer taught me that principle and respect are crucial. Roy Bryant taught me that Mexico rules. Aaron taught me that timing is everything. B-rad taught me to not settle for anything other than true love.



Mary Bench (M)
Sara Bench (D)
Lauris Elmer (D)
Lisa Housari
Mekahla Marshall (M)
Jana Rae Bingham Shoemaker (M)
Vicki Gillespie (D)
Kimbalee Bigler (M)
Ashley Brimhall Kalepolo (M)
Karli Flake
Trisha Haws
Jean Hammond
Whitney Himes (M)
Kali Gardner
Julie Sorensen
Heather Lewis Lee (M)
Meagan Benard Bryant (M)
Katie Elliott
That Blonde girl?
Janelle Tyler (M)
Audrey
Sharolyn Gabbitas
attic girl number 1
attic girl number 2
Kari Ann Pearsall
Lindsey Haws
Tori Bailey
Kara Palmer

ROOMMATES BY DEFAULT
Zach Bloomer
Roy Bryant (M)
B-rad (M)
Aaron
Casey

I wonder what other people are going to enter my life. I can't wait to meet them. I know there is something they can teach me. I believe that people are in your life for a reason. Some make a 5 minute appearance and others last a life time. No matter how great or small of a roll they play, they are all important.