My Life, My Love, My Clorox?

An update on my life to date:

First of all, Clorox wipes are my life. I use them on the counters, sinks, and table at least 3 times a week, and sometimes on a daily basis.

Okay, on to other topics. Randy will begin driving his good ol' bus soon, but will be able to continue working part time for at least one of the many companies he has been working with for these past months. I will soon be done, finished forever, at the financial aid office. It's been a good job, but I am soo ready to be done. Then I get to work with the special ed department and help high school kids with math! I'm pretty sure that I'm just proving to myself that math really wasn't the bane of my existence. I even took a couple of tests and did really well! So I'm glad I haven't forgotten everything that I ever learned in that department. It will be nice to have our schedules match up a bit more, and be able to spend more time with each other at night.

I just finished Jane Eyre, and I LOVED IT! For those of you who haven't read it, please do. If you have a hard time getting into it, keep reading! For your own sake! I seriously could not put it down! The language is absolutely beautiful, the plot is fantastic, and I am a hopeless romantic. I also finished reading the Shadow Children series, which was also great! Very interesting read about the future government and how having more than two children is illegal. Told from the point of a third child. Very good. Any other suggestions? What do you enjoy reading most?

One last very important update- I got a fishing license! A One-Year-Fishing-License, meaning I have to go every day! Okay, not every day, but we already went once, and I plan on going again! The last time we went, we didn't have very much time, so the only thing I caught was a nice stick. My dad caught sunglasses, and my brother caught two fish. Oh, and we tried to save a bat's life, too. I saw a bat swinging in a tree on a fishing line that someone had gotten stuck up there. The hook was attached to its head, but we couldn't get close enough to try to get the hook out. We ended up cutting the line, and the bat flew away. Don't bats have rabies??

Alright, that's it for now. Clorox wipes are still amazing. Try them.

Disneyland Trip Pt. 1

We got back about a week ago from Disneyland, and I decided I'd better blog about it right away before I lose any motivation! We had such a good time. We left on a Friday night and stayed in St. George, and left at 5:30 the next morning to Grandma and Grandpa Hackett's house. We got there around noon, and got to spend some quality time with them. My grandma asked me to sing in church the next day, even though I didn't bring any music, and arranged everything before I could say no. She then got really sick and ended up in the hospital, and missed church. Part of her intestine was blocked, so she had to have a surgery, but is doing much better now. We then went to a hotel on Monday and spent the rest of the week at Disneyland and the beach. I warn you- there are lots of pictures, which is why there are two parts to this post!

Day 1- okay, it's amazing how much faster Randy walks at Disneyland! He was zooming all over the place, and never seemed to get tired.

The tram is my favorite.

The Matterhorn!! Love it!!

Mom and Lizzie on the tea cups.

Me and Randy on the tea cups.

Look how strong I am!

Look how strong Randy is!

We went to Minnie's house, and she was gracious enough to let us take a picture with her. What a nice mouse.

Mickey let us take a picture too, but got mad when we slouched. I think he was offended because we thought he was short.

On the Jungle Cruise with the best tour guide ever! Really, he did a great job. Very into character, and weird, and we liked him.

Randy is giving me mouse ears, but covered his face. I included this picture because Kristen and Spencer were with us.

Disneyland Trip Pt. 2

On Mickey's Fun Wheel (Ferris Wheel). The first time we went on it, we went on a non-moving car. That's why I'm not crying in this picture.

Lookin' mighty fine in our Bug's Life glasses.

Jamie was soooo excited to go on Soarin' Over California! It was probably her favorite ride- but then they wouldn't let her go on it again because she was "too short". So how did she get on it the first time when they measured her three times???

We can't wait to go Soarin'!

Randy took this awesome picture of Mickey's Fun Wheel in California Adventure. Go see World of Color- it's fantastic!

We love this ride :) Faces=priceless. Randy might start crying.

Lizzie and I on her favorite ride- King Tritan's Carousel.

Davis fam, Hackett fam, and Hoffman fam. The lady that took our picture was named Kristen, and I yelled for my sister Kristen, and she responded by taking a picture :)

Travis? or Dad? in the water with Randy at Huntington Beach. I'm so glad Randy had people to go and be in the water with! I don't like to go too far out.

Ethan- sporting his sandy diaper bum.

Awkward beach picture, but we like it.

Randy, riding on the old fire truck on Main Street :) Yeah, he's cool.

Blue Bayou

Oh. My. Gosh. BEST salmon I have EVER had in my life! We ate at the Blue Bayou (in celebration of our Nine Monthiversary, but really, we just wanted to eat there) and it was amazing! It was the most expensive meal we've ever had, but it was so worth it.

This place was so cool! It is in California Adventure, and it's called Off the Page. They had all sorts of fun things to do- like learning how to draw like animators, talking with Crush the turtle, and voicing over animation. So fun!! It was a new discovery for us, and we will definitely go back there.

Here we are, sporting our awesome "Honorary J.R. Firefighters" stickers :)

Land of the Free...

There was a time when men and women were proud of the flag and knew what it stood for.

There was a time when every child knew the pledge of allegiance.

There was a time when God was an integral part of this country.

There was a time when people were proud to vote- because they had to fight for that right.

What happened America??

I remember times when our country came together after 9-11, prayed together, and fought together. What happened?? How quickly people turn away from these things after they feel comfortable again. How quickly we forget our pride in our country. I am in no way an extremist in politics. I don't devour the news all the time. But- I DO vote. I was so sad to see how many people chose not to vote during this last election. I don't care if it was the primary election. I don't care that it's not voting for the president of the United States. It's my right to vote- a right that I wouldn't have always had if it had not been for brave women before me fighting for that right.

Sometimes the world can be so scary. My future can be scary when I see people's lack of interest and of knowledge with what is happening in our country. I can't stand it when I hear people bad-mouthing America. We are the place where people want to be!! We have freedoms and rights that not everyone has! I don't know why I feel so passionate lately. Maybe it's because the Fourth of July is coming up, and I'm feeling patriotic. I just wanted to tell you that it is the Land of the Free... BECAUSE of the Brave. Whether you are brave by fighting for your country, taking pride in your country, teaching your children the pledge of allegiance, or voting, take pride in the fact that you are an American.

Total Money Makeover

Randy and I are almost through reading Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. It is such an inspiring book! I really do recommend it to everyone out there. One of Dave's big mottos is that if you are willing to live like no one else, later you will live like no one else. We are on a really tight budget, with little income as it is, but I think if we stick to the principles in the book, we will be a lot happier later. We are already one step ahead by being debt free, and can scrimp and save for other necessities that will come in life.

Some of the things that we need to save for are a down payment on a home, future children, and a new car. Our monthly income is tiny, but I believe in us. That means that we can't spend money on things that we don't need. Even on the little things. I think it's more important to sacrifice now so that we can have a more secure future. So to any of my family and friends reading this, don't be offended if we can't go out to eat, go to the movies, or do some of the other activities that we all enjoy. We are trying to live like no one else, so later, we can live like no one else! Read The Total Money Makeover!!!

What a View

The financial aid office. Where students come to yell, cry, complain, and offer an occasional handshake and a "you saved my life!" comment. I love the feeling of leaving every night. There's something about going outside into fresh air, stretching your legs, and feeling glad that you survived another day. Last night, as I walked outside to my car, I couldn't help but notice how pretty the sky looked. Everything looked so clear and beautiful! I took in a deep breath, took it all in, and started walking to my car. Just after I finished looking at the beautiful view of the sky, I noticed another view across the way. A few cars over, a middle-aged man and a girl were getting in the car. It's interesting how quickly a view can change- one minute, a beautiful sky, another minute, a man who needs to pull up his pants. It was just ironic. :)

Better Late Than Never

It's been a while. I still love yoplait. This week has been awesome because Randy is done driving his bus, and my mom is out of school. Wahoo! That means I have people to be with during the day! We were busy gardening this week, and I made a TON of freezer jam with strawberries that we got from Winco. It's been a blast! Randy and I are extremely sore from the gardening projects we've been doing, and walking in the park every day. Randy also helped his parents with their garden and has worked hard removing weeds and old trees. What a trooper :)

We leave for Disneyland fairly soon, and we can't wait to get away for a while! Oh, and Randy has had two more interviews this week for other jobs. He is currently contracting with the church, but is keeping his options open for better opportunities. His new cover letter rocks, and because of this new cover letter, was contacted about two jobs on the same day :)

Pictures of jam-making to come.