Friday well spent.

Today was my day off of everything, and if you think I got all the things done that I needed to then you might be dillusional, cause I didn't get anything done that I needed to.

It seems that life just happens how it happens and having a to do list means nothing sometimes.

Haha.

Anyway here are some highlights from my day.

 After dance this morning I passed out then was pleasantly woken up by my sweet husband bringing me breakfast in bed repeating, "rise and shine sleeping beauty" til I woke up.

Seriously, how did I get so lucky???

He even dipped my strawberries in sugar just how I like it.

I love him.

Then he was off to work to later send me day brightener snap chats.

Haha real attractive babe.

Then I wasted my day away doing things that weren't on the "list" including trying this easy enchilada recipe for dinner. Which you can find here!

They were so easy and sooo yummy!!!

 After dinner we were in the dreaming mood so we drove around house shopping then stopped to get a "bloody dew" (we had no idea that was what it was called) and a cookie with extra frosting!

 The night is now being concluded with a serenade session and more house dreaming.

I love Jeff and my life and all the things I've been richly blessed with.

The Lord is good!!!

Goodnight everyone!

School.

Right now school stinks!!!

I have tons and tons of homework and it's only the second week.

My photography class is what keeps me going, so I thought I'd post some of the pictures I've taken so far.

These are all taken around the North Plaza building, hence maybe some weird pictures. Haha.

Enjoy!

So far I've found it refreshing to have a change in perspective of all the things around me.

Hopefully you've felt a little of that too!

Weekly Shenanigans.

We made it...

That's all I can really say after the crazy week we've had adjusting to our new fall semester schedule.

Let me just tell you a little about our week.

My schedule goes like this...

School, work, school or dance, repeat.

Mix cleaning the house, planning and preparing meals, and trying to have clean garments and you can see where it gets really crazy.

Jeff's schedule is similar without the dance.

This is Jeff at the end of the first day of school! :) He was feeling it...

If we are still functioning by December make sure to give us a hug and tell us how proud you are of us, cause we will need it! :)

 The crock pot has become our best friend when it comes to cooking, so if you have any spectacular recipes, send them my way!

 The moon was amazing Tuesday night so I had to snap a picture of it, blurry and all. I later found out that this month there were two full moons which equals a blue moon. Cool huh?

Tuesday night we also had a little surprise ice cream cake birthday celebration for my Aunty Irene!

 The week went on and then it was Friday!!! On my way home from work I had to drop some packages off at the post office, well the curb got in the way and I hit it just right causing an exploding tire. Jeff was still at work for a couple more hours so I locked the car and walked home. It was funny!

 Once he got off he came to my rescue.

 While I sat in the air conditioned car and watched! :) He's one good handy man!!!

 After fixing the tire we headed to my dad and Trevor's first game of the season. Even though Trev wasn't playing (cause of his hurt ankle) we still cheered loud and had fun supporting!

 Then Saturday came and I had a car wash fundraiser in the morning that ended in a rainstorm. Then I went home and got ready for Cec's first soccer game of the season! It was so fun to be able to watch my little sister playing college soccer!!!

She's a stud! End of story!!!

Sunday is our usual but tonight we had a special dinner for Steph because she is moving to Provo tomorrow to start a new adventure up there! I will miss her but I am soo excited for her!!!

Well I better get back to getting my homework done.

Hope everyone has a good reset sleep tonight!

Missing those days already.

School has officially started as of Monday the 19th and I am missing those carefree summer days already.

I'm waiting for one of my classes to start and I was looking at old pictures and came across these ones from our little 6 month anniversary retreat! 

Enjoy!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day! :)

 Hopefully your not missing those summer days already like I am!

If you are, I feel your pain!

Hope you all have a fabulous day!

P.S. I sure do love you Jeff! :)

Stud Muffin Brother.

High school football: Snow Canyon Warriors 2013 preview
By James Edward, Deseret News
Published: Tuesday, Aug. 20 2013 9:15 a.m. MDT

ST. GEORGE — Snow Canyon’s football team hasn’t qualified for the playoffs in six years, which is really quite astonishing.

There’s been plenty of athletic talent at the school during that stretch, but for a variety of reasons it's never led to sustained success on the football field.

That was very evident last season.

In Week 9 of the regular season, the Warriors impressively beat eventual 3A state champion Dixie 28-21 and held eventual 3A MVP Blake Barney in check. During other key Region 9 games, however, Snow Canyon lost to Hurricane 38-7, Desert Hills 42-0 and Pine View 30-13 and missed the playoffs.

Marcus Matua hopes to change all that.

An assistant at Snow Canyon from 2008 to 2010, the Kearns High graduate takes over as head coach this season and has lofty ambitions for turning things around.

“The talent has always been here at Snow Canyon. It’s just a matter of them being held accountable instead of blaming everyone else, and then just going out there and fulfilling their responsibilities,” said Matua.

Matua believes attitude is everything, something he’s trying to instill in his players with the “Warriors’ Code.” The premise is to encourage his players to have the will, desire and dedication to be better in everything they do, which he believes is possible with the right attitude.

So far the results have been great. Participation numbers are up at practice each day, which includes some familiar faces who elected not to play the past couple of years.

With the revamped 3AA South region expected to be as tough as ever, Snow Canyon can use all the personnel it can get to snap its six-year playoff drought.

“We know that every Region 9 game we’re in is going to be a dogfight. We know every team we face is going to be tough,” said Matua.

Snow Canyon’s new coach is changing offenses to help the program be more competitive every Friday night. His team will run the double wing-T out of a shotgun formation, and he believes he has the weapons to do so.

He believes his team has the weapons to be a good passing team too, but that’s not the focus heading into preseason games against San Juan and Shadow Ridge, Nev., during the first two weeks of the season.

“We have the talent to (throw the ball), but at this time we’re going to be focused on the run — establish the run game and then open everything up from there,” said Matua.

Whatever Snow Canyon does, senior Trevor Horlacher will be at the center of it all. Even though he’s listed as a tight end on the roster, his real position according to Matua is "OW" — offensive weapon. He can play halfback, fullback or quarterback if necessary, and the coaching staff will try and get the ball in his hands as often as possible.

Horlacher will also anchor the defense at linebacker. Last season he led the team in tackles with 109.

While Horlacher’s spot in the starting lineup each Friday night seems secure, realistically Matua said every player needs to earn their spot every weekend. He plans on holding players accountable for their actions each week, which he believes will help create ownership in the program among the players and a sense of urgency necessary to win games in Region 9.
Snow Canyon Warriors at a glance

Coach: Marcus Matua is entering his first season as Snow Canyon's head coach after serving as an assistant from 2008 to 2010. He’s a graduate of Kearns High School.

Offense

(3 returning starters; double wing-T offense)

In making the switch to a new offense, Snow Canyon will lean on the experience of returning offensive line starters Bowman Loo and Keaton Plant. After that, Trevor Horlacher is the only starter with much experience. Warner Rigby takes over at QB for the Warriors, and he’s proved to be a great run threat and great leader so far this summer. Zach Kennedy and Connor Parry will be the primary running backs heading into the season, while Cole Mooring and Kade Derrick will split reps at fullback. Most of these players have enjoyed success in little league football, and Matua doesn’t see any reason why it can’t translate to success at the high school level with hard work.

Defense

(3 returning starters)

Horlacher will anchor a 4-4 defense at outside linebacker, while Brady Sargent will be key as well defensively as he makes the switch from defensive end to middle linebacker. Loo, Nate Gottfredson and Tom Jensen will rotate in at defensive end, and the addition of Gottfredson and Jensen is a huge boost as neither played football the past two years. Gottfredson was a first-team all-state basketball player last season, and at 6 foot 7 he’ll be a tremendous presence on the edge defensively. Plant will be a key starter at defensive end. Rigby will be a two-way starter as he roams the field at safety, while Parry and Richmond Anderson will be starting cornerbacks.

Coaches preseason 3AA South straw poll: Sixth

Deseret News 3AA South prediction: Fifth

Bottom line: Last season wasn’t a total disaster by any means for Snow Canyon. After all, it won six games and beat eventual 3A state champion Dixie in the regular season. It just didn’t show up defensively in big games against Hurricane, Desert Hills and Pine View, and missed the playoffs as a result. If the Warriors hope to make any kind of noise this season in the new 3AA South region, they must show up defensively. Only time will tell if the players have bought into the philosophies of their new coach.

Snow Canyon coaching history

2013 — Marcus Matua

2009-2012 — Jay Graft (14-23)

2007-2008 — Rick Secrist (10-17)

2005-2006 — Bill Jacobsen (14-9)

2002-2004 — Jay Graft (19-13)

2000-2001 — Wane Kittrell (13-8)

1994-1999 — Bill Jacobsen (53-13)

Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years

2008 — Adam Timo, RB

2006 — Dalton Groskruetz, WR

2006 — Kason Gubler, OL

2006 — Jared Miller, DL

2004 — Kyle Coop, RB

2003 — Brock Sargent, DL

Good luck this season Trev! I'm so proud of you!!! Let's get that ankle better and have the best season EVER!!! I love you little (huge) brother.

Multicultural Pays.

Who knew being multicultural would pay??

Literally...

I just found out that I got the Multicultural Scholarship at Dixie State University!

HURRAY!

I love going to school for free.

Something you don't appreciate until you have to pay.

Anyway, I hope all you college students enjoy your last day of Summer!

Part of the good news letter! :)

Endowed.

I can't help but think about the first time I went through the temple as I sit and wait for Jeff to come home to go on our temple date night.

I don't think I ever blogged about it and it's a shame!!!

So I'm doing it now!

The temple is a sacred place and it's a sacred experience so I'm mostly going to share feelings!
I went through the St. George temple for the first time December 5th, 2012. Exactly a week before I married my love!!

 (Not the best quality but it's special!)

(I love this boy so much!! And his blurry hand haha.)

I was so crazy at that time of my life that I just simply forgot and I am ashamed!

I was nervous and excited!

I had waited years to go through the temple and it's all surreal when the day actually comes.

I went in as prepared as I could be but I don't think anything can really prepare you for that wonderful experience.

My favorite part though was simply just seeing my family all in white in this beautiful temple and the feeling that overwhelmed me.

Feelings of love, of peace, and of pure joy.

Jeff's face was priceless and it's a still shot in my mind that I will cherish forever.

It was a beautiful experience and I am so grateful I was able to share it with my eternal family.

I'm excited to go again tonight and remember and ponder on life!

If you haven't been to the temple lately, go!!! (There's been a fun change, if you are endowed you know what I mean ;) )

If you can't go to the temple right now, do whatever you have to to get there!!!

You won't regret it!

Blessings all around...

We are seriously so blessed.

It amazes me.

But a recent blessing that has happened is Jeff got another job.

This job, however, is full time, pays more than he's making now, and comes with full benefits!

WHAT???

Thanks Steph for hooking him up!

We are so grateful!!!

It's a little hard for Jeff to quit his other jobs (Advanced Physical Therapy more than Red Lobster).

So he's hoping they (APT) will let him come and volunteer or just work Tuesday mornings.

Cross your fingers for him!

It's always hard to say goodbye to what's familiar and what's worked for the last few years but we are excited and hopeful with this new job.

WE ARE SO BLESSED!!! :)

Cabin Day.

Jeff is in with the scouts/teachers quorum and this week is a scout camp up on Cedar Mountain. 

Jeff couldn't go all week so he planned to head up Monday night and spend all day Tuesday with them.

Jeff doesn't like to go anywhere alone so he begged me to come and I agreed.

Luckily my Grandparents have a cabin in Glendale, Utah.

So I made a plan to go help my grandparents with little projects at their cabin and asked Syd to come with.

We got there around 8pm Monday night where we just chilled and relaxed.

Then we went to bed.

Tuesday morning we had a nice breakfast then Jeff headed off to his scouts and we began our projects.

 First project was painting the bathroom.

 We knocked it out in about an hour and a half! Professionals ;)

 Next we headed in the cubby to get the mail and to explore!

 When we got back we made dozens and dozens of cookies. Syd has mastered peanutbutter chocolate chip cookies, literally the best I've ever had!!!

 While we were cookie baking my grandpa took a good nap in the front room!

 He doesn't know I took this picture haha.

 Cabin views.

 The high of the day was 80 degrees, it was so perfect!

 Apple trees :)

 It's not a cabin trip unless we play card games!

We had so much fun with my grandparents at their cabin.

While we were having all this fun, Jeff was getting sunburned out fishing.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for having us, we love spending time with you guys!