Confession: I Do Judge Books By Their Covers

I love wandering around the young adult fiction part of the library. I will pull books off the shelf at random, look at the cover, and if I like it, add it to my pile of books to check out. If the cover makes me mildly interested, then I'll read the synopsis, and then decide whether to read it. If the cover looks completely dull, then back on the shelf it goes. Using that system, I chose to read this book:

I started reading the book, and I didn't quite know what to make of it.

I would get to parts where I felt like I needed a lot more information to figure out the story and then the author just didn't give it to me. And then later, much much later, that information that I felt I needed would turn up in an unexpected place and I would have to think back to what I had read previously and piece together everything in my mind until it made some sense. It took some effort, and I thought that the author was just making sure her readers were really smart. But then I remembered that this was a young adult book, which means that there shouldn't be that much effort needed to piece together an otherwise simple, yet well written book.

So then I thought that maybe it was a young author and when she was reading back through her drafts she realized that she hadn't provided the reader with everything they needed to know, so she added it in later to help make everything make sense. I was satisfied enough with the book, but thought that there were some things lacking, but by the end I was determined to give this author another chance. When I got to the last page, that was when I saw something that made the entire book make sense:

It is a the final book in a 3 book series and I had read the last book first. No wonder I was so confused! I will now proceed to start at the beginning of the series, even though I know how it all ends! :)

A Celebration of Life - In So Many Ways

I haven't blogged in forever, but I couldn't let this day go by without commenting on it. One year ago today, I found out that all of the treatments worked and my cancer was gone! So today is my "One Year Free - It's the Way to Be!" day! I can now officially say I am cancer free, and in 4 more years I can call myself a cancer survivor! It's very exciting! Let me tell you some of the other exciting things going on in our lives now, because there are some BIG NEWS and BIG CHANGES! (because of the use of all caps, you are now required to keep reading)

First big news and big change: I'm FINALLY pregnant! Woohoo! This is something that I have wanted for years, but the cancer put on hold any of those plans. Jake and I are so excited to welcome our little baby on or around April 29th! I am at about 13 weeks and so far, this has all been fairly simple! I haven't been sick a day, I have tons of energy, and I don't have a crazy appetite. My oncologist kind of predicted that I would react this way to pregnancy. I have already seen my baby once and heard the heart beat twice! And every time I just sob! It's still so weird to me that this is all real! I think that after awhile, I just figured it wasn't going to happen for me and I would be a mom some other way. I am so grateful every single day!

And now to our other news! For those of you excited to come and hold my baby after it is born, you are going to have to come a LONG way! That is because we are moving to Great Lakes, IL! It is about an hour north of Chicago. And why are we moving there? Because Jake joined the Navy! So I am officially a military wife! He is going to boot camp December 14th, and then I will join him in Illinois sometime around the beginning of March, which means that the baby will be born there. But don't worry - I am planning tons of pictures and possibly several trips home so everyone can admire what is sure to be the cutest baby ever!

So there you have it! Huge changes to announce on a very special day! We should find out if it's a boy or a girl around Thanksgiving, so I'll make sure to keep you posted!

I'm a Tour Stalker!!

For those of you who don't know (which everyone should know by now) I am addicted to the sport of cycling. Not actually doing it - but watching it! My life basically comes to a complete stop in July when the Tour de France is on. Which is why I was so excited for the Tour of Utah! Not that many big name riders were going to be there, but I was ok with that.

The Tour of Utah was so much fun! I had a blast running around the state, meeting with other bike racing fans, playing paparazzi with my favorite riders, and just overall enjoying the entire experience!

I went up to the U of U to watch a finish up there:

And then to Thanksgiving Point to watch a start there. I got pictures of George Hincapie (who later crashed out of the race on this stage): Pictures of Levi Leipheimer (who went on to win the whole thing): and Bob Roll, one of the best commentators for cycling, and a darn good cyclist himself: Then I convinced my mom, Conner, and Robbie to drag themselves up to the top of Mount Nebo to watch the finish up there. We weren't planning on going up there originally, so we were almost all dressed in shorts and short sleeved shirts! It was in the high 50's, and we were freezing! But it was so much fun and we got a lot of free stuff!
We got to see Levi Leipheimer make a solo ascent up the mountain, which is a really really hard thing to do, and win the whole thing! After, we tracked down the team bus for a team called Team Type 1. They are a team that rides with Type 1 diabetic riders. We used to think that everyone on the team was type 1, but then we found out only a few of them were but they are sponsored by a lot of different companies that help out those with type 1, like my brother. So we talked to one of their diabetic riders who showed us his pump and his meter and let us ask him all kinds of questions. It was really helpful for Conner. We were exhausted when we got home, but I decided to check out http://www.cyclingnews.com/ to see what they had to say about Levi Leipheimer's win, and you'll never guess what I saw! You might have to look close to see it, so to help you out I pointed out with the white arrows me, my mom, and Robbie! We were on the front page! You can't see Conner because my mom's hand is in the way, and Robbie's head is sticking through the rails turned the wrong way because Levi can in too fast for Robbie to see, but there we are! I am a cover model! :)

The Plus Side to Unemployment

I don't know if anyone actually reads this anymore since I was a major slacker in my postings while I was working. But for those of you who are still reading this, I quit my job! It was kind of long overdue, and now I am just blissfully unemployed! So here are my top reasons why being unemployed is awesome!

• It is 8:25am, and I am still in bed!
• When I go to the gym at 9am, there is always a machine open
• I can dedicate my entire week to the Tour of Utah, a bike race happening around Utah this week
• I can actually make yummy dinners instead of something just quick and simple
• Since we are now a one-income family instead of a two-income family, I get to be far more creative in how I shop and how I re-use items
• I get to read to my hearts content! And I definitely have been!
• I have more time to dedicate to my calling now, so I don't feel like such a slacker
• My house is actually clean now! Well, actually, that one is a lie. But in theory, I would have more time to clean my house now. :)

and the best reason for being unemployed is

• On Sunday night, when I have had such a wonderful day and I am having so much fun with my family laughing, eating, and playing games, and then I think that tomorrow is Monday and I get this little knot in my stomach knowing that all of the fun ends because I have to get up early and go to work tomorrow, and then it usually takes about 3-4 seconds for me to remember that I don't work anymore, and then this sense of euphoria fills me and it's the best feeling ever! This has happened the last two weeks in a row!

So being unemployed definitely isn't the worst thing ever. In fact, I could definitely get used to it!

Product Review: Spin Pins

The Spin Pin by Goody claims to hold your hair with the strength of 20 bobby pins. You are supposed to twist your hair into a bun, spin one pin into the top and one into the bottom and poof: your hair is done and it will hold all day. Here is what I have found about this product: IT WORKS!!!! I don't fully understand how, but it does exactly what it says it does! It is as simple as spinning them into your hair, and you don't have to worry about it ever again. I've gotten good enough to where I don't need a mirror anymore. You don't even have to have an elastic for your hair or additional bobby pins. And instead of having your head ache from the bobby pins, you don't even feel these in your hair. I even slept with mine in and didn't feel it. The only downside is that it is only good if you want to do your hair in a bun. I recommend this product to anyone and everyone! It's one of my new favorite things!

Time for Prom Pictures!

Alex went to her first prom last month, and it was so weird to see her so grown up! She had a blast and she looked amazing! And to prove it, I have pictures! Getting her hair done: (thanks Kandice!)Hair done but no makeup:Hair and makeup both done: (the makeup was done by yours truly - light and natural) Introducing, The Lady In Red! (applause is appropriate)

And don't forget her fabulous shoes!

Her date was adorable:and he gave her the coolest corsage EVER!!!It matches her dress and shoes exactly and he didn't even plan for it! They were just the cutest couple and had a blast!

Easter Fun!

This post is a little late, but better late than never! My niece Echo decided to be festive and color herself green: And of course, we had to have an Easter egg hunt!And then I took the kids over to my house so the moms could have some alone time. While they were playing the Wii, Echo decided she wanted to have a bath. Seriously - the kid requested a bath! I think it's because my bathtub is so huge it's like a swimming pool to her! So we turned on the water, loaded up the bubbles, and had a blast! (CAUTION!!! Bath pictures ahead!)

And wouldn't you know it - by playing around in the bubble bath, her green skin turned back to normal! When we were done she even let me french braid her hair. She is very patient. And she had Robbie on the Wii to distract her. :)

Thanks a lot Obama

I just found out that, thanks to President Obama and the new Health Care Bill, I will be loosing my health insurance. I am 25, wanting to get pregnant, and still going through cancer treatments. I NEED my health insurance, and soon it will be gone. Soon I will have to go to another health insurance company to get coverage, and even though they can't deny me because of my cancer, they can sure jack up my rates. I am currently funded under the Utah Health Insurance Pool which gives really good coverage to those who can't get approved through anyone else. But because it's a state program, the new bill trumps it and it can no longer operate. I don't know when my insurance will be discontinued, but I am not looking forward to the rough times ahead. Once again, thanks a lot.

New Year, New Look

And then I decided that wasn't drastic enough, so I decided to become a nun!
Oh wait. That may have been a one night thing for our Young Men/Young Woman Mystery Dinner. And in case you were wondering - it was me that stole the money. Apparently I was just pretending to be Sister Mary Martha and in fact I was Miss Mary Machete. I never thought it would have been the nun! But regardless, I looked awesome!

Repentance

Okay - I know I have been awful about blogging lately! Ever since starting my job and working 9 hours a day, when I get home I have no desire to do anything but eat and then veg on the couch with my remote. As such, blogging has fallen by the side. But since this is basically my only form of journaling, I really need to do better about it. So I will do better. I promise.

America's Next Top Models

Well folks, there's no hiding it. I come from a family of great talent. So this Thanksgiving, my cousin Jackie, my sister Alex, and I decided to have an extreme photo shoot. Much like those seen in America's Next Top Model. And we decided to be "artistic". So we gave Jackie a ponyhawk: And then Jackie went to town on our makeup:then fixed herself up so she wouldn't feel out of place: Once we were all dolled up, we hit the hay for our first location: (those are my "intense" eyes - don't worry, this isn't the last time you'll see them....)


Then we moved outside and got inspiration from birds. Yep - there are those intense eyes again!In the end, we decided that Jackie was the master of the poses (she seriously didn't even have to think about it and her body would just move into the coolest poses!), Alex was the master of the eyes (I know what you are thinking - how could I not be master of the eyes with my intense eyes, right? I know. But I have to give Alex props for her amazing eyes), and I was the master of the facial expressions and the camera. All in all, it was an awesome night, with lots of laughter, lots of shivering (it was FREEZING outside!), and we could basically make tons of money with our obvious talent!

And one last picture to send you on your way:

Creepy, huh.