SPRING!!

I love spring time. We don't really get one here in Mesa because there are flowers all year long. We don't get that anticipation of watching the snow melt and the earth soften to allow the little splotches of green to come up. It is nice to have flowers all year long though. I have a favorite flower! Yep! The snapdragon!! I love it! The temple always has beautiful snapdragons. I think my love came from when I was a kid. I remember in our front yard at home we would have many different colored snap dragons! I would always pick one before I walked down to the bus stop to play with while I waited. Still to this day I can't resist picking one off the long line of them and pinching the sides to make it say something funny. Maybe it was because I am the middle child and had noone to talk to or maybe it was because I didn't have any friends growing up that I had to make the snapdragons be my friend. They only stuck around for a little bit. In the end I would always squeeze it a few too many times or to rough just once and the head would tear into 2 pieces. That was the end of our friendship.

Grandma & Grandpa Jensen

I am pretty sure I have the cutest Grandparents in the WORLD! Grandma and Grandpa Jensen drove down from Idaho to spend some time in the Arizona sun. As it always does a little snow followed Grandpa down so they didn't fully escape it in Eagar but I am pretty sure they had a good time in the Mesa sunshine!

On day was spent on Buddy's boat.

Grandma in Lindseys Stunner shades.

Grandma In Dallin's Shades.

Takin a little break


Hates off to a GRRREAT boat ride!

They had a birthday party for Mom and Dad since their birthdays were the next week! Here is Grandpa with the Great Grandkids.

Grandparents at the Birthday party.

I was in Mexico and it looks like I missed out on a great weekend! I was lucky enough to head up to Eagar the weekend before and spend some time with the parents and grandparents.

BOOK CLUB

Yesterday I happened to stumble across Michael Wiltbanks book club blog! Just in time to join in for April. He is planning on reading a book a month! That is going to be challenging because I don't have tons of time to read but I am excited to make it happen. Feel free to pick up your own copy and join in. The paperback version is only $10 at Barnes & Noble. This book comes out on video soon so it will be fun to go watch it!!

Whats been going on.

Well I have been having a good time this past week doing a little of this and a little of that.

Zach and I were looking for a picture frame at Goodwill and ended up leaving with a golf club for $1.99 AFTER stopping to GRAB THE BULL BY THE HORNS!

Grab the bull by the horns the old addage goes.Nobody tells you where to go from here.Seems like fate's pulling you.Decisions have to be made.The best path is the hardest earned.

South Mountain has a GREAT view of the sunset. This is only a smidgen of how amazing it looked! The sun falls from the sky so fast that I didn't catch it. Try being at the top by 6:30 to see it! There are some neat Indian ruins at the top to check out. Its fun to take a picnic up there too! *note... DON'T forget a Jacket! :) Its colder up there....


These are the beautiful flowers outside of our front door! I love Spring and all the colors that it brings. Sorry for all of you who still have snow! There is always an invitation to stay in our spare bedroom if you want to come visit and enjoy the sun! :)

This is a cool pic I took while hiking last week! Just one more reason why I love Arizona. It was mid day when I took this but because the sun was so bright everything looks dark! I though it was neat. Now if there was just a coyote howling at the bottom!

NIKES VS. ASICS

VS.

I want to get a new pair of running shoes and would love everyones opinion. My last pair were NIKES. I loved them but a few friends have talked about their love for their ASICS. So now am I confused. Did I only LOVE my NIKES because I haven't tried ASICS? I know that its important to find the right show to improve performance.

What is your opinion on the two?

ALSO. What is your opinion on world peace?

THE HIKERS

Dallin is in town for his spring break so we decided to go hiking. He is always saying how much he wished he lived down here so that he could partake in the hiking club. A few of Jeff and Bobbies kids came with us as well. It was a windy day buy we pushed through and had a great hike! At one point I thought my little Cheynanna was going to blow away! We hiked the 3 miles up and back to the Wind Caves at Usery Park. As we were walking Cheynanna said "Mary Ann, How old are you?" Almost 24 I said. "oooh, she said. I thought you were 19!" The funny part is I could hearr the sound in her voice that to her she thought 19 was REALLY old. I used to baby sit those kids! They have grown up so much and have turned into little adults!

Chandler, Cheynanna, and Danielle.

Dallin and Mary Ann

Poor Keldon had surgery a few days ago so he wasn't able to make it. Afterwards we all went out for ice cream as a reward for what we had just accomplished! We went to my personal favorite...

yummmm. I opted to not have any but all the kids enjoyed it. I couldn't believe they could eat so much ice cream! Oh to be young again. :)

HAPPY FRIDAY FRIENDS!!!!

The Princess and the Orange Juice.

Once upon a time in a land far away there was a princess. She didn't want everyone to know she was a princess because she hadn't found her prince yet so she was in hiding working in a sales office selling dreams. One Friday morning she was sitting in her princess cube and thinking about the glorious festivities she had planned for that weekend. Over the cube she heard 2 words, orange juice. Her mouth started watering and she knew that she just had to have some. She didn't care that it would be in a plastic bottle instead of her normal crystal goblet with diamonds in the bottom. So off she went on her quest to find some orange juice from the nice peddler who sold various breakfast items in the peasant room. On her quest for orange juice she ran into a friend and fellow worker Amanda. She happened to be on her way to the peddler as well. They filled the air with pleasant chatter as they made their way down the lane. When they arrived upon the Peasant room it was extra busy! There was hustle and bustle all around as everyone was excited for the upcoming weekends. Laughter was in the air and everyone was having quite a good time exchanging words of well wishing. Somehow in the exchanges the princess and her friend amanda got split up and amanda was in the line ahead of her. Amanda made her purchases and came back to the princess in line. The princess assumed she was going to bid her farewell and start back on her journey. Amanda leaned into the princess and said, Princess, I already paid for your orange juice. Thank you for all that you do for everyone. You are always giving to others and I wanted to say Thank you. The princess wanted to cry right there! Such a kind thing her friend had done for her to say thank you. So that Friday became all the better with one bottle of orange juice.

Its so easy for us to focus on all the negative things that we forget the little things. Lets all look around and notice the small acts of kindness that people do. It may not have been a big deal to Amanda to buy that orange juice but it made a big impact on me....errrr...uhhh.....i mean the princess.

ICE ICE BABY

WOWZA.
I took one chew of this delicious gum and thought HOLY GOODNESS AND BLESSINGS OF TASTE!!!!
The burst of flavor and coolness is incredible. It is worth the price plus 2. Go buy you some. You won't be sorry.
I only have 1 regret about this gum and it is there is not someone right here right now to makeout with and share this wonderful flavor.
SHYZA

Walk or Ride The Ditty Bops

With just one kiss you could change the world,It might not be much better-- but it certainly couldn't hurt.When you stomp your feet you aren't hurting me,But you're always killing something just by living on the Earth...So who you supposed to listen to when you're looking for something to do?And all the voices shut you up-Someone put a brick in your coffee cup.-When you're trying to decide whether to walk or to ride;Take the easy way you know that you want toI saw an educated girl give her hair a twirlAnd contemplate the meaning of a man with just one arm.She's not a genius or a dunce, but it makes no difference;For at any moment we might find ourselves a charmBut I'm feeling quite confused by the people who refuseA simple way of life that don't make you the loser.They say we won't make it far unless drive there in a car,But we'll be there with time to spare and find our own way home.You might find the meaning of life in the barrel of a rifleWhether it's pointed at a bird or if it's pointed at your head.But me, I'd rather plant a tree that grows up tall for all to see..Until I need a pencil, then I'll chop it to the groundAt night falling down, will it make a sound?Should I even wonder what it'd say?It's so hard to change yourself to tell someone elseThat everything is going to be okay..Oooh

My weekend

What a fun weekend! We went to Mexico!! IT WAS COMPLETELY SAFE. Now I don't know about all the other border towns, but Rocky Point was fine. Everyone who went with us came back alive! Who would have thought. I know everyone has heard all the scares on the news about the danger going on down there with the drug wars. My theory is that the news is blowing everything out of proportion because the economy is junky here so they wanted everyone to stay in the states and spend there money here. The crappy part is that IT WORKED! :( The beaches and clubs were a little empty but hey, we had the dance floor all to ourselves! We were okay with that. So if you are thinking of going down there but CHICKEN out because of what you hear from others take it from a chickadee who was there. It's fine.

Everyone Chilling at the Beach.

Dinner at grandmas house. YUMMMM

We love going to church there! We don't understand more than 5 words, but love it.

The only mishap was that we ran out of gas. Good thing it was on the US side.

BRILLIANT!!! BA HAAA HAAA

Why Mormon Girls Stay Single

I think props are due here. I have spent the entire day reading up on a blog. The day has been filled with smirks, laughs that come from way down in the belly, maybe even a few tears when things hit too close to home. All in all the blog is fantastic!! Now it seems, reading from the comments that are made, that some don't think it to be as funny as I do. To those people I would say Lighten up! Laughter helps the soul so take it when you can get it. The other day I saw a young women on a bike get hit by a car. Did I laugh? YOU BET! I could tell she wasn't hurt, she didn't even fall over. It was just the thing I needed to see at the end of the work day. I am sure even she is laughing about it right now with her friends at ASU. Check out the blog if you have a little time to ROFL!!!

http://whymormongirlsstaysingle.com

GIVE YOUR DREAM

What have you always wanted to do with your life? Today you can actually begin to make it happen. What is your most treasured dream? Now is the moment for bringing it to life.
But isn't it selfish to follow your dream, when there are so many problems, so many responsibilities to be met? No, it is not selfish at all. In fact, the selfish thing to do is to hide your dream away and deny it life. In the process of following your dream, you cannot help but add enormous value to the lives of others.
The things you deeply care about are there for a reason. They push you toward a level of achievement that will benefit not only you, but all those around you.
Somewhere deep within you is a dream, a vision for how life can be. Let this day be when you begin to give it to the world.
-- Ralph Marston

Ready to run.

I am ready for a trip, vacation, get-a-way, etc. You know that feeling you get when you have been riding shot gun all night and you have just woken up. Its dark outside and you look to the driver and say "where are we?" I lOVE that feeling. I love dancing in the car and singing off pitch at the top of my lungs. I love getting out of the car at our destination and stretching my legs so deep it almost hurts. I love taking random pictures to remember the trip for years to come. I love getting to visit family and friends who live far away. Its all an experience. Now the only question is, Where should I go?

Contrary to popular belief, America is not a Democracy, Its a Chucktatorship.

I want all of you to do something for me....

1. Pull of a google search.
2. Type in Find Chuck Norris
3. Click the I'm Feelin Lucky button
4. Make sure you read the whole page.


How AMAZING is that?

1. If you have five dollars and Chuck Norris has five dollars, Chuck Norris has more money than you.
2. This in no 'ctrl' button on Chuck Norris' computer. Chuck Norris is always in control.
3. Apple pays Chuck Norris 99 cents every time he listens to a song.
4. Chuck Norris can sneeze with his eyes open.
5. Chuck Norris can eat just one Lay's potato chip
6. Chuck Norris is suing myspace for taking the name of what he calls everything around you.
7. Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table, because he only recognized the element of surprise
8. Chuck norris can kill two stones with one bird.
9. When the boogeyman goes to sleep at night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
10. Chuck Norris is so fast he can run around the world and punch himself in the head.

Contrary to popular belief, America is not a Democracy, Its a Chucktatorship.

Health and Fitness

I love my yoga ball. We spend 10 hours a day together Monday thru Thursday!! I bought a yoga ball to keep at work and decided that it fits in with my adultitis cure! What little kid wouldn't want to bounce on a ball all day long?! :) It helps my back and shoulders. I have noticed they aren't as tight at the end of the day. Yippee! That's one thing I don't like about my job is that I sit all day. My lazy self used to love it but now I am chomping at the bit by the end of the day. Its such a great release to hit the warm weather outside and know that the night is mine!! :) I have also noticed my core getting stronger because I have to force myself to sit straight all day and hold my stomach muscles in. A few times during the day I will do some crunches on the ball as well. SOOOOO I would encourage all of you to go out and get yourself a YOGA ball for work or for when you are watching TV.

ALSO...I wanted to share a great website with everyone. Its http://sparkpeople.com It is so great! Its a healthy living website. You can track what you eat through out the day and also your exercise for the day/week/month. There are groups to join and blogs to read! You can find different exercises and recipes as well. Create an account and have a good time! :)

Food storage

Maybe I am freaking out a little too much about this but it REALLY got me frustrated. We were having a team huddle with about 8 of my coworkers. Only myself and another boy are LDS. He started talking about his night last night and how his wife had some people come over and do a presentation for him. It was the presentation about The Home Store. I don't know if any of you have seen it but its really cool. Its freeze dried food that stores for 20 years and you only have to add water. The meals are delicious and still have all their nutritional value. So he was telling everyone how cool it was and then started saying his church advises to have a year storage incase anything happens. I couldn't believe the results we got from the other members of our team. "That's disgusting to store food for 25 years" "Why would you eat something like that" "There is no reason to store food" " I would rather eat tree bark" I just thought "ARE YOU PEOPLE KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW? Why wouldn't you want to be prepared incase you lose your job, or incase truckers go on strike. We are SO blessed to be thought this concept so we realize the importance of it. Even if we don't store as much as we should at least we are trying and have SOMETHING. I think a hard challenge for me will be if something does happen and these people come knocking on my door asking me for something to eat. Knowing that we have warned them that this may happen, and they did nothing, and having to share with them. I can't worry about that right now I guess. I will just need to work on my storage.

Isn't this so true! haha

'Twas the month after Christmas,
and all through the house,
Nothing would fit me,
not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled,
the chocolate I'd taste
At the holiday parties
had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales
there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store
(less a walk than a lumber),
I'd remember the marvellous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,
The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt...
I said to myself, as I only can,
"You can't spend a winter, disguised as a man!"
So, away with the last of the sour cream dip.
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip.
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
Till all the additional ounces have vanished.
I won't have a cookie, not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie.
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore...
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all, and to all a good diet.

Curing Adultitis

I have found a cure for the silent disease that plagues us!!!

http://kimandjason.com/escapeplan/challenges

This is something out of the ordinary to do each day. I have really enjoyed looking forward to the task of each day. I hope you all take on the challenge. Feel free to share your stories with us....

Special thanks to Kim and Jason for the work they put into this.

Christmas 2008

Reflections of '08

Well Its a New Year! What a fun time. Everyone talking about their failed resolutions from last year, followed by their new resolutions for this year. I hope this isn't the case for you. :) I Think people just try to take on too much all at once. Change needs to be gradual. We don't just wake up every January first as a different person. Lets all take that into consideration while we are setting our goals for this year.

Goals from last year were to Lose weight and have a relationship. Both were completed. HOORAY. Maybe I should include a before and after shot...

BEFORE

AFTER

Funny right? I just don't have a picture from January last year on my computer here at work. I did lose 30 lbs last year though. How about another 20 this year? Maybe in the first 6 months even? We will see how it goes, but thats the goal.

Highlights of last year....

Some friends and I went to Sedona to Hike up to the Devils Bridge. It was Beautiful!

My Dear friend Elicia was baptised!!! She has come a long way and made great changes in her life! I am so proud of her! I have spent lots of time with her and her 2 girls. I love them all so much!

I learned how to make Krum Kake with Pops! It was so yummy! I hope to buy my own Krum Kame maker soon

I have tried to be goofy and not so serious all the time... This is a part of the '09 goal that I will explain later.

Well I am pressed for time so this is all for now. Updating pictures takes a bit....

I love you all!! :)