A Dilema

To blog or not to blog, that is the question for tonight. I really want to do an update but have a talk to prepare for Sunday....What to do, what to do? I guess this will have to be it for now. Maybe I can get a post added later after I work on my talk, though avoiding it longer and posting to my blog would be more fun, but I'll be good.

Way past update time...I know...Part 2

The laundry's going...Dan's on his computer and so I thought I'd jump on mine and try to get more of an update completed.

I was able to add another state to the list I've visited!

A couple weeks after I went to Yellowstone (well, West Yellowstone to be exact) Dan came to Salt Lake to visit me. Amanda came too and I was able to meet his daughter. (I'd met is son, Sid, on my first trip to Yellowstone.) That's the weekend we unofficially got engaged! Amazingly enough, we were able to keep it a secret from most everyone for 2 weeks before we announced it.

For the 2 weeks between our visits, Dan would call me every night after he got off work at the Playmill Theater in West Yellowstone. We would talk for an hour or more, usually more, each night learning more and more about each other. The nightly calls continued, with the exception of when we were together, until I moved to Pocatello the beginning of October.

The trip after Dan's came to see me in SLC was me up to Pocatello. I met 2 of his siblings, we attended Anthems of America, and made time to go do some Temple work together at the Rexburg Idaho Temple.

The two of us in front of the Rexburg Idaho Temple.

My next visit was July 4th weekend. I was getting spoiled, this made for two weekends in a row! I liked that idea and concept a lot. On July 4th we went into Yellowstone Park for a couple hours. There while sitting on the banks of the Madison River, Dan officially asked me to marry him, and I said YES! (I think we'll be spending many future July 4th weekends in Yellowstone Park!!!) We didn't have a ring yet, we'd not been able to shop for one together yet, so for the first several weeks I wore a simple 2mm gold band I'd purchased as "protection" years ago.

That night we met up with my former college roommate (Chris Barkdull) and her family to watch the West Yellowstone fireworks show.

Dan watching the fireworks show.

The rest of the weekend was spent calling family to let them know we were getting married. There was much rejoicing from all who heard the news then and as we kept spreading the word for the next few weeks. After the announcing the fun began...meeting the rest of our families (he'd still not met my dad yet)...setting dates...coordinating schedules...making wedding plans...all the stuff that needed to be done for our next phase of life together!

Ok, blogger's being weird (sorry about the lack of paragraphs, I hit enter but Blogger just keeps smushing everything together), guess I'll stop the post here so I don't lose it or anything...

Way past update time...I know...

Dan's due home momentarily but I thought, maybe, just maybe if I start a post, I'll get it finished sooner rather than later and then it'll give me the bug to keep posting...we'll see how that works out.

I do have to admit, blogging has been on my mind. I even mentioned it to Dan recently. I just don't seem to find the time to get it done. 95% of my job is on the computer and when I get home, I'd rather visit with my husband, read a book (about half way through Breaking Dawn for the first time!), spend time with family, etc. Despite all that, I have some time off and am determined to get some things updated here. Let's hope this isn't like so many other New Year's Resolutions...only lasting a few hours.

Since picutres get me going...pictures I'll post and now...back in time I go...I'll make stops here & there so it's not just one huge post...

The last weekend in May I took my first trip, and what would become my first of many trips, to Yellowstone. Here are a few highlight pictures from that trip:

The gas station,/grocery store in Ashton, Idaho. I would call Dan when I was here and he'd know only 55 miles left for me to go.

A bull elk just grazing on the side of the road.

One of many buffalo we saw just strolling along the roadside.

One must be very careful here, there are killer chipmunks lurking everywhere!

It's not everyday you see a momma grizzly and her cub. A first for me and a first for Dan as well.

Sunset behind one of the many gysers in Yellowstone Park.

I'll stop here or else I might not ever get this posted. More later...

I have, have you?

If you want to play along, just copy the list and highlight all the things you've done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (well, orchestra)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (Not legally but I have several I call mine)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain (I don't remember for sure but I would guess probably, yes)
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason (Sadly, I was the one giving them to myself)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (I helped place the pieces but that's it)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77.Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (Well, the bee family)

Jennie, thanks for the cute idea. Funny, there are several things on the list I would love to do...I'll have to get them all added to my "bucket list."

Yes, it's true...

...two posts from me today. I was just introduced to this website: http://www.simplifysupper.com. You select the recipes or menu calendar and it will create your shopping list! Best of all, it's a free site. I have a feeling I'll be checking this often for dinner ideas!

Getting help from my friends

Still relying on others for updates...another blog with pictures from my reception & wedding:

http://alltuckedin.blogspot.com/
(it's down a couple posts)

Thank heaven for family!

Check these out!

http://shayolsenphotography.blogspot.com/

http://if-you-cant-beat-em.blogspot.com/

A couple quick updates...sorry that's all the time I have right now. Updates will be coming but there's just so many boxes, I swear they multiply at night!