Friday, January 31, 2014

A Skooling Fool

Maybe I am just over sensitive, but I find myself crying  A   L O T !  I cry during sad movies, happy movies, romantic movies, spiritual experiences, weddings, family gatherings, stressful times, happy times, disappointing times, frustrating times, peaceful moments, boring moments, dull moments, and although I think I covered most, pretty much any other moment/feeling I forgot to mention. This past week has been a whirlwind of emotions which inevitably means, lots of tears. I have been trying my hardest to find a job. I think I have applied to somewhere over a 100 jobs and have not been able to even get an interview!

Naturally, I have been feeling a little rejected and a lack of confidence. I honestly was about to give up looking when yesterday, I was doing my daily scripture study. I had just finished reading in 1 Nephi and the question that went along with my reading was "How have you turned yourself over to the Lord?" I began to think about that. I have recently really started to devote almost a half hour toward studying scriptures each day and have been so much better about reading my scriptures. When thinking about my progress over the month I noticed how much my attitude toward everything has changed. It really is remarkable how something so simple as reading scriptures and prayers changes your spirit.

Anyway, back to where I was going with this... After reading the scriptures, I rolled off our bed to say my prayers. During prayer, my mind kept wandering to going back to school... I couldn't focus on anything else except this thought of going back to school!   S O   S C A R Y !  After my prayer, I talked to Michael and decided that the Lord is prompting me to attend school again! So, I guess this entire post is about how I have officially decided to apply to Weber State and attend in the Fall! I am taking quite a leap here, but I know that the Lord will provide a way for me to make it!

Oh by the way, I am seriously considering going into photography. I know I amn't any good at it yet, but that is why you go to school right? I have always found it fascinating, and hopefully I can make my dream a reality!

So in honor of this decision, these pictures are all from my first semester at UVU a couple of years ago... I can't believe I am old enough to say a couple of years ago... 



Pray for me! 
Wish me luck!
Send me positive thoughts!

X O X

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

HEROES

Today, Michael & I are heroes! Maybe not really... but to one young pup, we are! After picking Michael up from school today, we were traveling down 36th street when we saw this 
G O R G E O U S    G E R M A N   S H E P H E R D 
almost get hit by a car! Without even a moments hesitation, we pulled over to see if we could find tags on this poor puppy! 
The only thing we could find was a tag to the animal shelter so we hurried our little bums to get there before it closed! After a 20 minute drive, we found out the dogs owners were back where we just came from! PEOPLE : PUT YOUR NAME/ADDRESS/NUMBER ON YOUR DOGS! It would save a lot of time and gas! Anyway, long story short, we returned Remmy to his owner and she was extremely ungrateful! Wasn't even excited to see her pup.
Tough ending!

... in other news, I got ready today for the first time in a long time! Also, Michael took his first math test today and got a 94%! Woohoo!! So proud of my hardworking husband!

X O X

WAGNER IDAHO RECEPTION

Last weekend, we spent our time in Idaho with the Staley family for Kara and Brother's 2nd reception! It was so much fun! Saturday morning, Mom & Dad picked us up on the way to Idaho! It was super convenient for us to be able to save on gas, but mostly it was nice to be able to catch up with them! We see them a lot but it is rare that we get to just sit down and talk! My favorite part is that Mom brought a   T R E A T   B O X ! 

(When we were younger and would go on long car rides, Mom would pack a treat box! Every hour that we were good, we got to eat a treat out of the box! We haven't had one of those in so long it was one of the highlights of my trip!) 




We ended up spending the night at the Staley home. 
They are so nice and we are so happy we got to know them better! 
We have been so fortunate for our siblings to marry into such amazing families!

All evening, we just felt  S U P E R  classy so we ended up taking millions of photos in this particular spot, but I guess only one is necessary to post!


X O X




MIND BLOWN

I have debated if I was going to put this up anywhere or not, but I thought it was just too cool to not document somewhere! 
Let me explain, this is a picture taken a couple of years ago while I was dating someone else. Who it was doesn't matter... Look at the background of this picture! Sure enough, there is Michael Linley! How crazy is that!? He is in the sweatshirt standing up on the right! Can you believe that my husband and I were captured in the same picture before we ever met!? 
M I N D   B L O W N !

X O X

Circus!

Michael is fulfilling my life long dreams left and right this year! It's only January and 2 of them are already completed. ( T H E   F I R S T   B E I N G   T H E   I C E   C A S T L E S )
I have always wanted to go to the circus, and it just so happens that the circus came to lil old Ogden! Lucky me!

Okay, I was absolutely obsessed with these creatures! At the end, the man went up the them and just gave them the biggest hug!  S C A R Y !  I can't imagine how much of an adrenaline rush that would be, but if given an opportunity, I'd do it in a heart beat!


The first time I ever saw the motorcycles in the circle cage trick was on our anniversary trip to Colorado, and it was probably could have given me a heart attack! This time around it was kind of neat though, because it was a family of 3 on motorcycles! They weren't in there all at the same time, but they had the Mother, Father and their 12 year old child performing tricks! I swear it was like watching Robin from Batman!

This was the other trick that stresses me out! This whole thing just screams  U N S A F E !
This man was oober talented on this contraption, however when he was jump roping on the big circle, he tripped and almost fell off! Some people will do anything for a thrill!


I absolutely love animals. Love them. 
So, almost the entire time, Michael got his laughs from watching me clap my hands like a little girl and screaming "W H O ' S   A   G O O D   B O Y !"  At the top of my lungs at pretty much any animal that did anything... Am I embarrassed? Slightly, but let's be honest...
T H E Y   A R E   A L L   S U C H   G O O D   B O Y S!

Also, Elephants are my absolute favorite animal so this was a dream come true... 
I almost started crying! 



 X O X

Monday, January 20, 2014

DREAM. COME. TRUE.

Oh. My. Gorsh. 
Tonight, my family participated in maybe one of the coolest things  E V E R !   Ice Castles. We traveled up to Midway with a lot of my family to witness the beautiful/amazing/incredible/glorious/interesting ice castles!














 















X O X

The whole Fam-damily!

Bum, Bum, Buh-dum. Bum, Bum, Buh-dum! Bum, Bum, Buh-dum dum dum dum de dum! 
It is so incredibly difficult for me to comprehend the marriage of Beans! January 18, 2014 was such a beautiful day! Bryan has done everything in his power to have his eternal happiness and it is such an honor for all of us to have been able to a part of it! We are so happy to have Kara as a member of our family! Beans, I'm so proud of you!

Bryan is definitely a good looking guy. No doubt about that... He just hasn't always dressed that way. Lucky for us, Kara has put some sort of spell over him that makes him actually   
W A  N T  to dress well! So, we took him the the one and only Garth to get fitted for his suit! He seriously looked so handsome! We were all impressed!


Unfortunately the shoes I bought for the wedding were  E X T R E M E L Y  uncomfortable, so I spent most of my day/evening in my slippers... Good thing I thought ahead!




Michael found this ribbon and tied it on my finger at the luncheon. I loved having it on my finger, so all evening he was forced to keep retying the dang thing! That's what you get for being all cute and romantic! I would say it is probably one of my most favorite things he has ever done!

These are totes out of order, but I am way to lazy to fix that! 
This picture does need a little explanation though... This is Allison & Jordan. They are getting married in March, and also happen to be/soon to be our way rad cousins! They were having a picture of themselves taken, and I really hate to pass up an opportunity for my presence to be documented so naturally I   A W K W A R D L Y    S A U N T E R E D   into their picture... As if that wasn't enough, while smiling for this picture something got in my eye forcing it to close! So, now it just looks like I am winking so strangely at the camera... 
What can I say? The camera loves me! 





X O X

Friday, January 17, 2014

Friday...

Welcome to an exciting evening at the Riding home... 

Wings...
American Idol...
Redbox...
&
Lots of snuggles!

X O X

Minky Coture!

Michael spoils me.
That is the most simple way to put how lucky I am. 
A year ago, my old boss bought me a Minky blanket! Basically, we have been obsessed with them ever since! AAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNDDDD... Michael bought me a new one... YESSSS!!!

So much soft!

X O X

School

The best part about Michael being in school is that he gets home early!
Happy Hump day! (Wednesday!)


X O X

Our Own Little Stalker...

Frank has become extremely needy over the past year of us having him. Michael and I don't mind too much, we enjoy a good Frank cuddle as much as anyone would! Frank is a clever little pup though... He slowly works his way over to you from the other side of the room until before you know it, he is laying on top of you! Let me demonstrate... 

He starts down here, and then all of the sudden...

 B A M !  There his adorable little face is! 


Snuggled up as close as he possibly can to your body! 

This little man is so stinking adoable, it's hard to say no to him!


X O X