Oh, What A Glorious Morning!

Shannon and I have been wanted to hike Ensign Peak to watch the sunrise for quite a while, and this morning we decided to finally do it. We got an early start at 6:00 to make sure that we would be on the top for the sunrise. It was an early morning, but it was so worth it!

At the start, notice how dark it is. Who functions this early?
Taking a little break on the way up, hiking when you just woke up is a little harder than you would think...
When we got to the top it was still dark so the city was still lit up, it was so pretty. This is one of my favorite times of day with the sky is just starting to lighten...
The clouds made for a beautiful sunrise, with so many colors and shapes...
Yes, this is how hot we are at 7:00 in the morning, on top of the mountain...
When the sun did actually rise, it was SO pretty! The clouds, the sunbeams, the blue sky, all of it was breath taking...
Being up early (with not a lot of sleep) I was a little loopy and it made for a fun time. We sung song all morning and everything we saw or said reminded us of a song we should sing, "The hills are alive, with the sound of music"...
I wish there was some way to justify how pretty it was, I think Shannon does an excellent job here...
Shannon was so fun to be with and she is just "my person" and I love it! Luckily we have a similar sense of humor and find the same things totally hilarious. It made for good times.

After we got done with our hike, we headed to the Farmer's Market. I love being down there and just being in that market atmosphere, it makes for good people watching. Our ward activity was next on the docket and once there we decided not to stay long and headed to Shannon's for a morning hot tub session. It was getting warmer in the morning and the sun was out, and bright, which made for an interesting experience.

It was a glorious morning and I was only going on about 1.5 hours of sleep. Luckily I got to come home and take a nap, but the morning was totally worth it!

Lunch

Due to Brooke's surprise visit, a lunch date was in order. Tuesday we decided to meet up at Noodle's and Company in Sugarhouse. It ended up being Brooke, Jamie, Mom, and me. It was really fun to be with them, good times!

My mom and I, she is the best!
In this picture, Brooke and Jamie were making fun of the way I look in pictures (rude) and the funny this is, Brooke looks slightly retarded. Jamie as always is pretty cute, but they are both dumb...
A funny, yet sad, thing happened as I was getting ready to leave. My mom and I were refilling our drinks and a phone started ringing, loudly. I looked back at our table and asked Jamie if that was Mom's phone. She said "I think" and I said "I wish you could hear your phone" loud enough that Jamie and Brooke hear me at the table. Jamie responded and said "The whole restaurant can hear your phone ringing!" When Mom got back to her purse to answer her phone she realized it was not her phone, but a woman sitting between our table and the drink machine who had just heard our whole conversation about the loud phone.

I have just about the greatest family in the world and I love when I get to spend time with them!

Mamma Mia!

Sunday, Shannon treated us to an authentic Italian dinner at her house. Shannon served her mission in Italy and is an expert when it comes to making Italian food. It was a huge success with fun people, good conversation, a little healthy competition, and of course, some pretty amazing Italian cuisine! The food was delicious (I don't know if I would make it as a missionary in Italy, they would have to roll me home at the end of my year and a half)!

We invited a few people from our ward and some of Shannon's friends (Left to Right, around the table: Liz, Jon, Ryan, Lauren, Joe, Kristen, ME, Steve, Brian):

Kristen and I, I think I have a self-portrait of me and her at every function. She is just always so willing to humor my picture taking antics, gotta love her!
Jon and Ryan, basically our entertainment for the night...
Steve and Brian...
Lauren, this girl is so much fun! We had a killer sleep-over at Shannon's the night before full of hot-tubbing, movies, and fun...
Steve and I, Isn't he kinda cute?...

Shannon is staying at her Uncle's house and it provided endless entertainment, from jumping on the tramp (which I just love, best activity ever) to pool and fuse ball. Overall the whole day was so much fun!

Thanks Shannon for an excellent meal and day!

Apology

I am sorry my blog has been so boring lately. Life is good and exciting and wonderful right now and I will get around to blogging about it at some point, I promise.

Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise

"Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise"

I must be on my way to being healthy, wealthy and wise. The past week or two I have woken up way before I have needed to. Take this morning for example, I didn't have to get up until 7:30, pretty nice right? Well I woke up before my alarm and turned over to see the clock reading 5:58. Yes, I was awake and ready for the day to start. Some mornings when I wake up early I can just roll over and go back to sleep, but not lately.

The weird part is I still have problems falling asleep. I don't go to bed all that early and even if I do, I stay awake just thinking. You would think that it would be one way or the other, but right now, as my dad would say, I am burning the candle from both ends.

The up side of my early mornings is the opportunity to get stuff done before I have to go to work. I have had time to read my scriptures, clean my room, shower and get ready, and today I even went grocery shopping and showed up at work half an hour early. I should still be more productive and maybe get up and actually work out. I always said I wanted to get up early and do that and now that I am I just don't want to do it.

I guess life is just so exciting these days I can't wait for each day to start!

Too Many Good Things...

I feel like I have SO many things I want to blog about that have made me happy, but feel it would be too overwhelming to dedicated a post to every good thing that has happened to me lately. I guess I will just have to compile a list and share a little of my happiness with you...

* Getting to spend so much time with my dear friend Shannon this weekend. I have loved being able to support her and buoy up her spirits.
* Seeing my family on Sunday, it has been a long time since I have seen them all (long time is relative, I know).
* My wonderful ward, I know I have said this a million times, but I just love the people in my ward
* The Colors concert on Saturday night, not only did I get to go with a cute boy, the whole concert was really fun! I never thought I was a Color's fan, but Saturday may have changed my opinion on that.
* Sky the electric guitarist at the concert. This made me happy in part of his extreme emo style while rocking with a mormon band. Good times!
* Having Shannon meet my family. My family is such a big part of my life that I feel like my friends meeting them is a validation of our friendship.
* Pedicures with Kristen and Shannon. These two girls are great! I couldn't ask for better friends. We never realized how awkward it is to have someone talking about you in a different language right in front of you.
* Getting an education. Tonight my class was one of those classes that actually holds your attention and you enjoy what you are learning. It made me so grateful to be getting an education, as well as being almost done.
* Reading children's books with Shannon at Barnes and Noble to waste time. Literally reading the books out loud, story time in full swing!
* My sisters! I am so lucky to have such a good friendship with my sisters and I love the way we just get each other, "You came together nicely."
* A cute boy entering the picture as of late, who can't be happy about that?
* The Gospel and my health/youth. Sunday I went to a sacrament at a local assisted living centers and it made me realize the truthfulness of the Gospel and the opportunity of being young and healthy. I have so much I want to do and accomplish in my life and I am grateful for that opportunity to have some perspective on life.
* Gratitude. I have felt so much gratitude towards so many people in my life lately and have received gratitude from others. I love being able to serve other's.
* My trials, I have been through some rough times in the past and I have learned many things from them. One is sympathy, it is a good perspective to have been through hard times when needing to help others. Two is growing and changing. I can look back and see all the ways I have changed and grown through those hard times into who I am today. Third, the ability to realize how good my life is and see the good times when they come.

Good times are abundant in my life right now and I am so happy! I just wish I could share my happiness with everyone!

Rockband: The Offical Game of the Millstream Ward

Tonight Joe made a dutch oven dinner for a group of friends in the ward. After the hardest time finding his house, we showed up way late and AFTER dinner! Joe was nice enough to still feed us and everyone watched Kristen and I eat, but it was so good!

Ann stopped by later, but didn't stay long...
This is the group that wasn't initially consumed with the following...
Rockband is a popular game, but up until several weeks ago I had never played it or even seen it been played. That is not the case anymore! I think at just about every ward get-together Rockband is being played. I am not opposed to Rockband and actually really enjoy watching people play it, especially the group I usually watch. Let me share with you:

This picture cracks me up, it was right after they had failed a round and they all look so depressed!
Brian is pretty intense on vocals (as well as Jon, but he opted for the guitar this round)...
I decided to try my hand at the drums. I wasn't very good, but it was really fun! I think that is the only thing worth playing in the game!

Nick took his turn on the guitar...
But Jon decided to take over and show us how you really play, Stage Presence...
Adam was the expert and got pretty intense while playing...
Joe took his turn on vocals, and like Jon, is actually really good at it...
Kristen took over on the guitar and rocked it! She eventually tried out the vocals (which I couldn't bring myself to do) and she was great! Too bad I didn't get a picture...

Tonight was a lot of fun and I am officially naming Rockband The Official Game of the Millstream Ward! (As well as Facebook as the official communication device of the Millstream Ward, I don't think the ward would function without Facebook).

And The Winner Is...

Tonight for our ward activity we had a Cake Decorating Contest. We were split into 6 teams and given the theme of Disney. Away we went! We picked "Finding Nemo" and this was our final result (do you love that I had to be in the picture too?)...
Our group consisted of Sister. Hansen, Steve, Bryan, Amanda, Kristen, Me and Ann (Shannon provided us with the idea before she had to leave)...
Kristen, Me, and Steve...
They announced us as the winner and I was so excited! We had some pretty steep competition, but we took the cake (pun intended!). Our prize was these gorgeous vinyl Jazz aprons...
I was more of a "supervisor" throughout the project so I can't take much if any credit for the cake. But with that in mind, I get to say how cute it was and not feel prideful!

A Hard Day's Work

Tuesday, CUDL (yes, pronounced cuddle) which is the company that intermediates between my department and car dealerships, held a golf tournament. Luckily, my whole department got to go at some point in the day.

Raul and I were able to go for the afternoon and it was a lot of fun. Who doesn't like a day out of the office and sitting on a golf course?
I was clearly enjoying my time, checking up on my e-mails, Facebook, and blogs (and my extra large Diet Coke)...
This was our little set up at the #11 hole we were sitting at...
We had the dealers enter for a drawing throughout the tournament and back at the club house we picked the winners, I felt like some game show hostess...
After the tournament there was a luncheon and a raffle. I was the FIRST winner and won a pretty sweet driver (a Nike Sasquatch, if anyone cares to know) and I have no idea what I am supposed to do with that! I don't even golf! But hopefully I can get a couple hundred bucks out of it, I am pretty excited about that. We did have to go back to work for all of about 2 hours, but the day was so much fun and a nice change of pace. I could get used to work days like that!

FHE, Bowling, Fun, and Friends

For FHE this week we ventured to the local Orchard Lanes for some bowling fun! I offered to drive and I think some of the ward members got more than they bargained for and got to experience Jill's Karaoke. On my car on the way there, we rocked out to "Bleeding Love" and it was so much fun! Leona Lewis has go nothing on us!

Once bowling my team, composed of Steve, Shannon, Adam, and Stacie, and we had a blast! Besides Steve, I think the rest of us were just there to have fun and I would say our mission was accomplished!

Steve, Shannon, and I waiting for our turn to bowl....
The greatest girl and the best-est friend ever, Shannon...
Our team, I think we won the other team and had so much fun doing it!
This is our whole FHE group...
Shannon and I were pretty impressed with our fashion sense in shoes and our mad bowling skills that we thought we needed to document it...
Jill's Karaoke continued on the way home and Brian added to the mix by being our backup dancer. I don't think my car has experienced such a thrill before.

I know I have said a million times how great I think my ward is, but I will say it again. I keep meeting more great people at every activity and there are so many fun people in the ward.

Best Weekend!

This past weekend was one of the best weekends I have had in a long time! It was just one fun thing after another!

I am going to even go as far back as Thursday to start of my weekend festivities. After my class that night my friends decided to meet up at the Pie. It was so fun! Being just back from my trip it was the perfect reunion of good friends! I was able to meet Shannon's friend Lauren and she is so fun! They also got to meet my friend Raul. It was a night full of laughter and fun...
Friday night was the loan awaited fair! Shannon and Lauren met me at the fair grounds after work. We decided to get some food and head to the rodeo they were having that night. I was so excited because I LOVE rodeos! Does it get any better than watching cowboys? We have fun eating, taking pictures (I was having a chubby night so please excuse the pictures), laughing and enjoying every one's company...

A little blurry, but I still like this picture...
The lights and fun of the fair are just the best!
We saved the best for last and hit up the Funnel Cake stand. It was SO good! Shannon didn't remember ever having one before and I loved sharing that with her! (again, Chubby Jill)...
We were a little excited about the fair! I don't think those lights could be any brighter, but the entrance was so bright and fun...

After the fair we were invited to a game night with some people in our ward. It ended up being pretty fun. I had my first encounter with Settler of Catan (which has more rules to know than worth playing), met a cute boy, loved hanging out with people in my ward (I really have an amazing ward!) and got to spend more time with Shannon!

Saturday I got to watch Trent and Amy's kids in the morning and it was so much fun! It feels like I have hardly seen them lately and it was so fun to play with them. Everyone was in good spirits and played well together and they couldn't have been cuter! In the afternoon I went to my first wheel pottery class (yes think "Ghost"). I pretty much suck at it, but I am really excited to learn and get better. All I need is Patrick Swayze to come help me ;)

After my class it was time for the game! I was so excited as I made my way to Rice Eccles Stadium. I met up with Heidi, Brad, the boys and Jenny and were off to the game. The first half was a little disheartening, but the second half was way fun and exciting (the following picture are from my phone so excuse the quality)...

Jenny was like her own side show entertainment at the game. She was totally loving the college boys hitting on her and enjoying her cotton candy...
Raul met up with us and enjoyed the game (and Jenny's antics) with us...
The weekend just kept getting better and Sunday was a great day! Church was good and again I felt so blessed to be in my ward. I have formed so many great friendships and I am surprised every Sunday how many great people their really are in my ward.

After church Shannon, Lauren and I went on a walk around the temple, it is so nice to live so close! The grounds are so pretty and there is such a spirit there.

There were so people their and one of the guys took it upon himself to be our personal photographer and took several pictures for us.

We left the temple and headed to the CES Fireside with Elder Holland speaking. After which we made the delicious Pazookie dessert and had some more laughing with Shannon's crazy "Guess Which Movie" game. I think I was 0-10 by the end. I wasn't very good at it. Ward prayer was next on our docket of fun. I was particularly looking forward to ward prayer with the prospect of a certain someone coming. The night ended up really fun full of Murder in the Dark (literally in the dark in the church, pretty fun) and psychiatrist.

I really have the BEST friends and I am so grateful for them! Pictures are mostly credited to Shannon and her great ability to capture the moment, she always has her camera and I love it!