St. George

It had been a while since we had a vacation. I don't consider our trips to Moab or Football road trips vacations, so it had been a year since our trip. We decided to take a quick little road trip to St. George and stay at Brian's grandparents house. It was exactly what I needed. We had no set plans and it was wonderful.

We did get to go fishing for the first time this year. Quail Creek was absolutely beautiful Saturday morning. And my favorite part was I only had to wear a fleece jacket!!! Usually when we are fishing in February I am bundled up and miserable. But it was perfect!

The rest of Saturday was spent swimming, relaxing in the hot tub, taking naps, and playing boggle. Outside of a beach it was my ideal way to relax.

Sunday of course was Valentines Day. Brian and I have not been huge fans of Valentines Day. But since he had arranged the trip I thought I should get him a little something. So I got him some chocolates and Pinnochio. We have started collecting Disney movies for our kids one day so this was a perfect little present for him.

I truly didn't expect anything back, but I should have known better. Of course Brian had a dozen red roses for me! I was completely shocked but so happy he made the effort to have them for me Sunday morning.

That afternoon we spent 3 hours visiting my Grandparents. They don't get a chance to come up to Salt Lake very often anymore due to age, so we try and see them anytime we are down south. It was so great to be able to talk and catch up with them. My grandparents have made it possible for me to do so much in my life and I am grateful for them every single day. Brian and I learn so much from them every time we visit them. They are simply great!!!

Sunday night we went out to dinner at Outback Steakhouse. It was so YUMMY!!! I had not had a steak in a long time so it hit the spot. A little slice of cheesecake at the end was dreamy. Overall it was my favorite Valentines Day I have ever had. Thanks Babe I love you :)

Overall the weekend was awesome! I couldn't have asked for anything better. I can't wait to plan my next little getaway

UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Last night I lay in my bed enjoying what I hoped to be a good game between the Jazz and the Cavs. With 5 minutes to go in the game, I was feeling pretty good. The Jazz were up by 12 and seemed to have all the momentum. Within just a few minutes, I witnessed why Lebron James is quite possibly the best player in the NBA. He alone put the Cavs ahead by 4 points with just under a minute to go. I fell into a slight depression. But for whatever reason-hope, faith, intuition- I kept the television on. Well we all know what happens next...

This is why you always watch until the clock reads

0:00. Thank you Sundiata Gaines for a

night I will never forget!!

GO JAZZ GO!!!

Let's Go Jazz

Merry Christmas to us!!! Jazz game sporting the green

GO JAZZ GO!!!

Unforgettable Christmas

As many of you know, Brian and I have been together for 3 1/2 years. In that time, every Christmas and Birthday present he has ever given me has been thoughtful. But I think this year took the cake. We always wait to open each others presents until Christmas night. This year his family really wanted to be there to watch us open presents. They said they wanted to see my reaction. I didn't understand why, but I waited until 8:00 for all of them to get there. We opened each others little presents and they were all really fun. He gave me a keg of cream soda (because I LOVE cream soda), a box of Sham-Wow's because I have wanted them forever, a new purse and a really cute wallet. Then came the big presents, which I had two of this year. Let me preface this by reminding everyone that Brian is a HUGE BYU fan! Ok continuing on with the story...I opened up my first one and was shocked with what I saw!

Inside was a Baltimore Ravens jersey #99, which as many of you might know is Paul Kruger's NFL jersey. He was my favorite player while at the U, and I have continued to follow his career this year as a rookie. As I pulled it out of the box, I noticed something on the back. IT WAS AUTOGRAPHED BY PAUL HIMSELF!!! My jaw hit the ground as I looked around at Brian's family. All I could say was "How did you get this?" Brian smiled and didn't say anything, but just handed me a picture. Now I really was in awe! It was a picture of me, my friend Heidi, and Paul Kruger from after the BYU game last year. We rushed the field and happened to run into him so we snapped a picture. THE PICTURE WAS SIGNED ALSO!!! Brian went on to tell me how he pulled off this miracle.

Brian's dad and Mr. Kruger (Paul Sr.) work for the same company. They had a meeting and Bri's dad told him about Brian and I and how we finally took the risk and watched the Utah/BYU game together this year. He loved it! The rest was history!!! Brian bought the jersey, printed off a copy of the picture, and wrote a letter to Paul about me. He told Paul that I am the biggest Utah fan he has ever met and I loved Paul while he was here. (I called him the Greek God, but thankfully he did not add that in) He told him how I continue to follow his career and that it would mean more than anything if he could sign these two things for me. So Paul's awesome girlfriend took the jersey, picture and letter and flew out to Baltimore to see Paul last weekend. He signed the jersey and the picture and she brought it home.

By the time he was done telling the story I was in tears. I could not believe what Brian had done for me! But believe it or not, the story gets better because I still had ANOTHER present to open. I found myself in even more shock. As Utah fans know, Baby Krug (Dave Kruger) plays for the Utes now. He was amazing enough to take a Utah Football up to the team AND THEY AUTOGRAPHED IT FOR ME!!! Brian made sure he gave him a list of the players I would really want. There are no words to explain how ecstatic I was!!! I know I am not like most girls in the fact that other girls would cry over an engagement ring, or a diamond necklace...I cry over a football jersey and a autographed football. I was shown that Brian will go to any lengths to make me happy!

(You can see the picture signed in the top left corner)

Overall, I pretty much was floating on a cloud for the rest of the night. I thanked Brian's family, but I wish I could have thanked the Kruger family also. They truly made this Christmas one of the most unforgettable ones I think I will ever have.

Looking Back...

Thank you Brynn for this idea!

1. What did you do in 2009 that you had never done before?

Got a 4.0!

2. What would you like in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

Get a full-time teaching job and Travel!!!

3. My best memory of 2009.

The Sugar Bowl, finally getting my dream dog in Bella, becoming an Aunt to the cutest baby ever, Moab, and the trip to my cabin with my best friends.

4. What was your biggest achievement?

Surviving my first year of teaching WHILE going to school and getting a 4.0

5. What was your biggest failure?

I can truthfully say I did not fail at anything this year (that I can think of)

6. Did you or someone you know suffer any illness?

Yes, unfortunately both passed away: one in September and one just this last Sunday

7. What was your best purchase?

The 4-Runner!!!!

8. What behavior merited celebration this year?

The Utes amazing run at Championships! From the Sugar Bowl to Conference Championships in Mens/Womens Basketball, Volleyball and Baseball to a 2nd place finish in Gymnastics! It truly was the year of the Utes!

9. What behavior appalled or depressed you?

Two words: Max Hall...and most of our governments decisions.

10. Where did all your money go?

Car repairs, car payments and gas.

11. What was your favorite song for 2009?

Probably Taylor Swift "Love Story"

12. Who was your biggest influence of 2009?

Brian.

13. What was your favorite new TV show?

Honestly, didn't get into anything new. I still love Biggest Loser!

14. What was your favorite new book?

Angels and Demons

15. What was your favorite movie?

Ooooo I have a couple! Star Trek, 500 Days of Summer and The Blind Side

16. What is your favorite new fashion?

Headbands! I LOVE LOVE LOVE them!

17. What has kept you sane?

Brian, Good music and exercise

Do they really matter?

Last week, while waiting for the Cleveland vs. Chicago game, I was talking to my friend Heidi. We were talking about the Jazz/Spurs game that was about to tip off. I was telling her how it could possibly be a big game for the Jazz due to their recent 4th quarter meltdowns. Her response was "It's early in the season, these games don't matter. I get into the NBA closer to the end of the season." I laughed to myself as this was not the first time I have heard someone say this. You hear it amongst family, friends, colleagues, and even the media. Not much hype is put on early season games in the NBA or MLB due to the extensive length of the seasons. A NBA team plays 82 games between late October and mid April, while a MLB teams season lasts a daunting 162 games spanning over 6 months and 3 seasons of the year. So the question came to my mind, are early season games important? My answer is Yes. And here is why.

How many times do you see the Wild Card race in baseball come down to the final day of the regular season, or like this year, a 163rd game? Ask the Detroit Tigers if they wish they would have won their season opening game this year against the Braves? They win that one, the 163rd game against Minnesota never happens and they are the ones partying in the playoffs. Ask the Utah Jazz if that November 9th loss to the New York Knicks last year meant something. They win that game, and they avoid playing the eventual World Champion Lakers in the first round. Now are you thinking differently?

Let's go even deeper. How often do you turn on a game (basketball, baseball, football, etc.) and you see the stands half full, people still filing in, and the front row "money" seats sitting empty? Almost every time right? The people who eventually come in 5 minutes after the game start think they haven't missed much. After all, isn't the end of the game the most exciting? The first few minutes of a 48 minute basketball game are insignificant in the big picture. But just think...if your team would have made one more shot in the early minutes of the game, overtime would have not been necessary. Add in those 3 missed free throws in the second quarter and that 1 point loss turns into a 2 point win.

So when you find yourself saying "Ah, this game doesn't matter because it's only November", jot that statement down somewhere and re-read it to yourself when your team misses out of the playoffs by 1 measly game. Or when you lose home court (or field) advantage throughout the playoffs because that winnable game in December ended in a loss. We expect the players on our team to come out every night and play their best, but yet we are not willing to give them our best effort as fans. If you are a fan, every quarter should matter, every half should matter, every game should matter. So before you go get mad at Boozer, Okur, D-Will, or whoever your favorite player (team) is for not showing up one night, ask yourself if you didn't show up one night also.

Girls will be girls

The past few weekends have been dedicated to my favorite friends in the world! Once you get a boyfriend, you tend to lose touch with your girlfriends. Luckily, my boyfriend was friends with my girlfriends first so I am lucky enough to keep them in my life. Every once and a while though you need a little time to yourselves.

We were suppose to go to the Colorado State game, but last minute decided to save the money. We lucked out since it was 18 degrees and the freeways were shut down. So instead, we went to dinner, got a hotel, and watched TLC shows...oh ya and eavesdropped on the drunk people next door fighting.

Then last weekend was Heidi's birthday. Dinner at CPK, the most wonderful Red Velvet Cake, and presents made for awesome Thursday night.

The very next day we headed to Vegas for the football game. 2 years ago when Heidi and I went down, we witnessed one of the worst games Utah football has ever played. Luckily this trip turned out much better for everyone involved! A little In-and-Out Burger, cheering the Utes on to a win, and girls simply being girls made for a much needed weekend away from reality! Here's to the Single Ladies...One two three...or four? On the floor? Can't wait for the next girls weekend!