#jaemywedding

Two weekends ago I was able to go out to San Francisco for Amy Wiseman's wedding--one of my best and most favorite friends. It also served as a great weekend getaway with some of my Lanai friends. 

It was such a great weekend, however; there always has to be some hiccup to a great weekend, right?

The Friday that I had left had been one of my most stressful days. I was missing a really important work event. You know...the 9th grade Winter Dance. Sounds important right? Well when your No. 1 job description is to plan, implement and oversee every school activity...it is kind of a big deal when you aren't going to the activity. So I was stressed out of my mind with approving my students less than modest dance attire, counting and recounting our hundreds of dollars in fundraising for the dinner and making sure everything was going as planned even though I wouldn't be there. 

Then to top that off, Utah was enduring one of the worst snow storms ever. I was fretting all morning about my flight with the awful snow. Getting to the airport not only on time but even if it was possible to drive there! 

My flight was running time, but even will sitting under the de-icer for 30 mins, I thought they might cancel our flight. 

So I survived all that and then some. And landed in Oakland thinking I was stressing over for no reason at all. 

Well I thought this as I waited and waited....and waited for my suitcase to come off the conveyor. Which it didnt. 

I finally brought myself to the Luggage Office, close to tears {I had to fight them back!} and reported that my bag had been lost. 

I guess my luck from everything mentioned above had run out!!

I got myself on the BART and made my way to Union Square. Nick met me right outside the station so I wouldn't have to walk alone and did point out that sans bag made for easier travel on the BART and the long walk to our hotel. Guess that counts for something. 

Next morning this happened. 

It was rough. Putting the same clothes back on to march myself down Powell St. to go buy me a new outfit for the wedding. 

{Bards didnt want my new dress getting all wrinkled. Such a gent}

Ok enough about my dramatics. More importantly....

Amy and Jae got married in the Oakland Temple.

 I've never been there before and its such a beautiful temple with an amazing view of San Francisco and Oakland. 

{They happy couple!}

Jae and Amy were beaming coming out of the temple. 

I had never met Jae before but I liked him immediately just by the huge grin on both him and Amy's faces coming out as a newly wed couple. I loved seeing how happy they were. And of course I am going to love any man that makes one of my best friends happy. 

Our time at the temple was full of taking lots of photos, catching up with Lanai friends and a toddler with glasses. 

Amy's reception was in her hometown of Santa Rosa. 

It was in a large yurt, and....

beautiful, simple and classy. 

Just like Ames!! So it was perfect. 

{Unofficial photographer}

We stuffed bags of donuts, ate great food, danced and loooooved spending time with my old crew. 

I absolutely love Amy. 

{'08 gem}

When I was a youngin' at Lanai {pictured}, I admired and looked up to her so much! She's absolutely hilarious, caring, kind, {and every other GREAT quality}, and has great hair. She always such a genuine and loving interest in me and my life.  I am so glad I have been able to become such great friends with her. A friendship that has even become stronger post Provo living! Which I absolutely love! I am so glad I was able to be there for such an important day. 

Love you A Wise {Clarke} ! 

San Fran tourist post coming soon!

I got me an award!

Do I blog too much about my job? 

I don't care, cause in case you haven't gotten the memo...

i LOVE my job. 

I am always excited to come to work. It might get a tad stressful every once in awhile {like today since the Principal is gone and I am in charge!!} but I dont ever have a bad day. It doesnt matter what else is going on--a blizzard and freezing cold weather--it doesnt affect me {too much} cause I am really happy to be at an amazing school with such awesome students. 

Yesterday, I wasnt able to attend a staff meeting because I was running one of our events for the 5th and 6th graders. But halfway through our Principal pulled me inside for what I thought was just to give an update on my events. 

But it was just in time to be presented this from our 9th grade leadership council. 

It got me all teary eyed! 

I was so surprised to get this little award and it meant the world to me.

Just add it to another reason why I love this place. 

{however, spelling my name wrong...dampened it just a bit :) }

2012 in review.

Another year down. I dont think I really need to emphasis again how fast this year went by. And I think lots of people would agree. 

I'll be honest, this was a tough year. 

I guess not every year is full of roses and vacations like years past. 

But nonetheless, this was a big year in my life.

Lots of changes, which I think is one of the reasons why it was pretty tough. 

Here's the breakdown...

January. I started off the year celebrating a quarter of a century.

In the news: The cruise ship Costa Concordia capsized off the coast of Italy, killing 32 passengers. Beyonce and Jay-Z had a baby!

February. I officially started dating my best friend Rudy! It came to no surprise to our friends who saw it coming for months {perhaps years prior}

In the news: The death of 17 year old Trayvon Martin captured and saddened the nation. Whitney Houston was found dead in a hotel bathroom as a result of {shocking} drugs. 

March. Enjoyed the beach with Miss Letta, started going to CrossFit a lot, Celebrated Chaser's birthday.

In the News: The Hunger Games came out on the big screen!!! One Direction hit the charts, giving all of us the boy band we have been missing since N'Sync. 

April.  Took a short trip to Utah for my niece Ella's baptism. My sisters and I rocked So Cal Ragnar with the best team, Ragnizzle Fo' Shizzle!  

In the news: The 100th Anniversary of the sinking of Titanic. Tupac showed up at Coachella. 

May. Had an amazing reunion weekend with Amy, Allie and Nick for the Coldplay Concert! Moved to a new So Cal location as I became an official resident of the Westside. Sadly moved wards and stopped being a Sunday School teacher. Dodger games began to take over my life. 

In the news: The Super Moon! Making the moon look insanely large. Junior Seau of the Chargers was found dead in his home. The ending of my {second} favorite show of all time...Desperate Housewives. 

June.  Kelly and the kids came to visit for a week! This meant less work, lots of pool time and a trip to the beach {on a cold, overcast day}

In the news: Obamacare was upheld by the Supreme Court. Katie Holmes filed for divorce from Tom Cruise.

July. Celebrated the 4th at the Rose Bowl with Rudy for the first time. Went on mini getaways to San Diego to see Nick and Newport with the fam. 

In the news: Summer Olympics kicked off in London; America won 106 medals. Tragic Colorado shooting at the movie theater during the premiere of the Dark Knight. 

August. My Uncle Bob passed away, my family and I went to Utah for his funeral. I came back early to attend the California YSA Conference with my friends. Rudy helped me train for my upcoming half. Became unemployed at the end of the month. 

In the news: Mitt Romney appoints Paul Ryan as his GOP running mate. Lance Armstrong stripped of his 7 Tour de France titles. Spice Girls reunite at Olympics!!

September. This was a BIG month. Half Marathon. Trip to Utah--shocking job interview, and then job offer. Trip to D.C and North Carolina. Ran second Ragnar of the year. Finally let the cat out of the bag that I was moving to Utah. Really, really hard to say goodbye. Moved. 

In the news: The iPhone 5 was released, although not seen as that impressive. 

October. I started my new job and got a promotion in the same month! Went to General Conference. Went to my first BYU football game in FOUR years!! yikes. Rudy came to visit and we explored Salt Lake City. 

In the news: Hurricane Sandy surprised and devastated the East Coast. Killed more than 100 people, left thousands without power for weeks and even homeless. Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel got married!!!

November: Experienced my first snow storm in 3 years! Went home for Thanksgiving. 

In the news: President Obama was {sadly} re-elected for a second term. 

December. Went on a road trip to Cedar City/ St. George with Annie and Monica. Monica joined me as a new employee at APA. Went home for Christmas, celebrated NYE with my friends and for the third year in a row, pulled an all-nighter at the Rose Parade.

In the news: The world almost came to an end.  PSY's "Gangnam Style" hit one billion views on YouTube. One of the saddest school shootings for our Nation, twenty children and six adults were killed in Newtown, CT. 

{by the numbers in 2012 I also...}
ran approximately 300 miles
read only 2 books
traveled to a new city and state
moved three times


{my 2013 goals...}
get my reading back on. Read 5 church books and 25 historical/ fun books
run two half marathons, a new Ragnar
find 5 new family names for temple work
do an active of service once a week
and to have a really fun year. 

Kudos to those that read the whole thing! Needless to say I did not expect to end the year in the freezing depths of Utah. But here's to the adventures that 2013 will bring!!

Valley Ventures: Santa Anita Park

Well its the holidays and so my family finds themselves at the horse races.

{We couldnt go during Thanksgiving this year due to Laura's birthday being on actual turkey day this year, and for some odd reason she vetoed going to see the horses on her birthday. Whoulda thought??}

As a result we were able to venture to Opening Day at Santa Anita Park.

Lets just say this park is a bit classier than Hollywood Park.

And a lot more crowded! I was shocked at the amount of people.

And the horse races never disappoint.

 

We took the rest of the fam this year.

 

Not all of them loved it as much as me and my Dad...

This boy loved it! Until he realized none of his horses were winning their races. He shed a few tears. Good thing mom told him we had been "cheating" by reading up on the races in the program. Whoops.

 

We did see Gene Simmons

 

And found the bugler! I got my picture with him at Hollywood Park too!

I was so excited to see him again.

 

We stayed for about 5 races and each one of us picks a horse to cheer for.

My horses won twice!!

I could have won a lot of money on those races...

{Doesnt that smile just melt you??}

 

Its so fun. I like to pretend that now I know a thing or two about horse racing.

 And its unreal how excited you get when you cheer for your horses when ten minutes ago you knew nothing. And the people watching! Never disappoints.



mi new trabajo

Sometimes when I am at my job, I think I am at church.

Not because Im surrounded by that many Mormons or white people.

But because at my school there are so many dang acronyms!

I work as the CDD at SNA of APA.

{I cant wait for my head shot to go up on the bulletin board}

 

Sheesh!

I guess my school was founded by members of the church.

I usually always get a little annoyed when people brag about their jobs, but I feel like its finally my time to brag about my job.

I freaking love my job.

I know I blogged about it before, but I am seriously so happy with my new position as the Character Development Director at my school.

I basically get to do all of the fun things at school. Help plan the 9th grade bake sale and winter dance, take the leadership students to see A Christmas Carol at the U, go on field trips to the Capitol, make the morning announcements {which is secretly my favorite part} and the best part...I dont have to do any prep or grade papers!

And to top all of that off, I now work with one of my best friends, Mo Milla! Monica got a job at SNA about three weeks ago and we love it! We sit in the office together and try our best to get our work down while chatting the day away.

 

However, the hard {slash, also really awesome}part of this new position, is that I am also the Assistant Principal. Since the school is founded on both Academic Development and Character Development {which is me!} I am the number two in command at school.

This means I sometimes have to put on a mean face and handle some discipline.

Don't get me wrong, sometimes its easy to yell at the students to get to class and be strict when they have to call home for the 50th time that day for not doing there homework.

But then there are the tough times, like what happened to my last week.

 

One of our students, who kinda has an anger problem, was sent to the office for stealing pliers.

I brought him into my office and tried my best to explain why stealing is bad {especially pliers by a kid who threw desks last year!!} and then told him he was going to be suspended.

He bursts into tears!

Yikes.

After giving him time to compose himself, I bring him into the hall to call home about his suspension.

Before I know it, my angry and suspended student is running and flailing down the hallway!

He is running away!!!!

I dont know what to do but follow after him trying not to distrurb classes as I am trying my best to yell "Stop running! Come back here right now!"

But he didnt listen.

 He rounds the corner and runs outside!

Looks both ways as he is trying to plan his best escape route and then runs some more.

So I continue to follow!

 Running after him, and yet also scared to actually catch up to him (since lets be real, he wasnt running all that fast) but I didnt really know what to do if I caught up to him!

What would I say to him? What if he tries to kick me?

Once I see him turn around one part of the school, I went back inside for some back up.

Luckily, our Guidance Counselor was there ready to deal with him, so I turned it over to her.

Its always an exciting day at SNA!

 

When I am not doing the Assistant Principal role of my job, my favorite thing has always been trying to help and support the students as best possible.

Like when I helped a crying 9th grade girl work and comfort her when he friends were being mean to her.

I got a note in return for that one. And many more. Stuff like this always brightens my day and makes me absolutely love working at a school.

I want to try my best to blog about funny things that happen at school.

Cause you know there is never a boring day with these kids!

 

 

Also, I know I havent been the best at blogging lately, but the other day I went through my google reader and noticed soooo many of my friends that havent updated their blogs in months {some even years!}. And to do some "spring cleaning", I unsubscribed from many blogs. But did I miss a memo here? Is blogging all of a sudden uncool? lame? I guess replaced with instagram....It made me a little sad. I dont want blogging to be uncool!

the spirit of Christmas.

I have a really big confession.

I have not felt very Christmas-y this year.

I have always loved parties, celebrations and holidays. But this year I just have not gotten into the spirit of Christmas.

This year has just gone by way too fast. I guess thats what happens when you get older right? Time flies by even faster.

{Wasn't it just Thanksgiving? Didnt I just move to Utah? Shoot, wasnt it just my birthday!?}

 

So Ive been in denial that its really Christmas time.

My mind set has always been if I pretend its not happening then its not going to happen.

Ive always had this mentality.

For instance, I hate cold weather. So during my BYU winter days, I wouldnt wear a coat to school. Cause if I didnt wear a coat or gloves then it would mean that its not cold out. I could pretend it wasnt cold so that I wouldnt have to face the fact that I now lived 30 degree climate. {Ive been scolding too many times by my family to stop wearing flip flops in cold weather}

So accordingly, if I refuse to listen to my Christmas music and I dont look at any lights that means Christmas wont be coming this year. Or at least not so fast, right?

Wrong-o.

Its Christmas Eve.  And I havent even listened to Justin Bieber's Christmas album.

Ive robbed myself and will have to wait a whole 'nother year to enjoy it.

Yesterday as I was getting ready for church I decided to bite the bullet and listen to some Christmas messages on my Mormon Channel app.

And of course that always helps put things into perspective.

I have been so busy trying to figure out life and just get by and adjust to a new life and a new job but of course its always important to remember the why of Chrismas.

I watched this video that brought my tears as I tried to do my Sunday make-up.

It was so sad and heartbreaking but with an incredible message to remember a baby that was brought into the world to give peace and joy to all.

Christ came into this world to hold us, carry us through trials, lead the way and guide us through this life. He knows us and loves us. Christmas isnt about being a bit of a bah humbug or the year flying by too fast but about celebrating the gift of the Savior into this world.

And what a special gift to have and more importantly, to know.

 

"To catch the real meaning of the 'spirit of Christmas', we need only drop the last syllable and it becomes the 'Spirit of Christ'."

Thomas S. Monson

The Best Christmas Ever, Dec. 2008