Water Balloons!

Our ward part was Saturday and as YW President, I was asked to have the YW & YM bring 150 water balloons to the party.  Well, as things go, Friday night about 8:30, Matt and I went out to buy water balloons.  We got back around 9 and started the task.  We bought water bombs and grenades.  It was so late, I didn't really want to call all of my YW to come over, so I strategically texted one, who happens to have two twin brothers in YM to see if they could come help.  She said they could, but ended showing up alone.  So, we spent an hour making water balloons.  I spent 2 hours total and Matt probably 1.  It was a lot of work and of course once we broke out the balloons for a "water toss" game, they were gone within 10 minutes with all the little kids and big kids going crazy throwing them at each other.  I got a good shot at one of the YM who didn't show up to help!  Hahaha!  I got him good!  Here are a few pictures of Matt with a balloon we found when we came home - the last beloved water bomb.  It had fallen under the car before while we were loading the balloons up.  Matt let me practice my shot on him!

Is the LDS Church Meddling in Politics?

Disclaimer: This post mentions politics in some measure and may be found offensive to certain person(s) who have previously expressed disdain for the subject (Kristin). If you feel uneasy or scared by discussions of current events or anything that you would not hear on Baby Einstein videos or reality t.v., please click here for a source of entertainment that requires much less thought.

A few weeks ago the California Supreme Court ruled that a law forbidding same sex couples from marrying violated the state's Constitution. In doing so, the court essentially disenfranchised millions of Californians who voted in 2000 to maintain marriage between heterosexual couples only. A few days ago, a story on ksl.com centered around a letter that was supposedly to be read in sacrament meetings in California urging members to go door to door to rally support for a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between men and women in hopes of undermining the state court's ruling.

As soon as news of the letter surfaced, some members of the church expressed disappointment that the Church decided to "meddle" in politics despite its long standing position to stay neutral. What these members don't understand is that the Church's actions have nothing to do with meddling in politics. Same sex marriage is a political issue, but not exclusively so. (If the state passes a law regulating Italian ice stands, does that make Italian ice a political hot potato, too?) Same sex marriage is also a moral issue, and that is exactly the type of thing churches are in the business of speaking on. If a church does not take a stand on an important issue of morality, especially one that concerns the family, what good is it? The Church isn't telling us whom we should vote for, it's telling us to stand up for the family and stand up to the 4 judges who decided to use their office to legislate public policy for California's 36,000,000 citizens.

I hope that the members of California, if indeed there was such a letter read today in sacrament meeting, will answer the call.

Anniversary, Birthday, & Vegas!

Last week was an eventful week. We celebrated our 1st anniversary on Monday, the 19th. On Sunday, Matt asked me if I wanted my present today or tomorrow on our anniversary. I told him of course I would wait until the day of. He was really anxious to give it to me. Later that night, he brought out a wrapped present and I unwrapped it and really, had no idea what it was by looking at the side of the box. I saw the front and saw that it was a MacBook. I couldn't believe it! I was so thrilled. My old Sony Vaio needs to be tossed and I never pull it out anymore unless I HAVE to get something off of it. We hooked up our internet to be wireless and now we both have independence! Pretty exciting.

The past year has flown by. We can hardly believe it's been a year. I am truly grateful to have Matt in my life. He does an excellent job taking care of me and often wonders how I ever survived on my own. I assure him that I spent 10 years on my own and made it just fine. It has been a wonderful year and we have kept busy and things are just getting busier as Matt started his Bar course last week and now is at class from 9-12 or 1 and then at work (at the firm or washing windows) and studying at night. I was just sustained as YW President and so we may never see each other again between our schedules. I guess that's life. I've been told it only gets busier when you add the kids into the picture etc. etc. (No, I'm not pregnant!).

Friday, was my 29th birthday. We went to Vegas after Matt's class. It is just our luck to go on a weekend when it was raining and chilly in Vegas (I'm told it rarely rains there). We still managed to have a good time. Sally and Mike Hess (my parents' neighbors and good friends in Farmington) stayed with us at my parents' home and we had a great time with them eating out and going to Mama Mia and playing two rounds of Settlers. We spent time with my brother, Scott, his wife, Melissa and their family playing Rock Band, eating out, and celebrating my birthday with a yummy dinner and ice cream cake. I don't remember the last time I had a cake all lit up for my birthday and it was really scary seeing all of those candles lit up. Thanks Melissa for a wonderful meal (I actually ate steak and enjoyed it)!

Happy Anniversary To Us!

Today is our 1 year anniversary! It's hard to believe that it's been a year since Matt and I got married. The time has really flown by. And needless to say it has been the happiest, most fulfilling year of my life. Matt has been a tremendous blessing to me. I feel that all of the years of my life leading up to our marriage was a time of preparation to make me worthy of that wonderful man and beacon of celestial light; my man Matt.

Matt offered to buy me several expensive gifts to commemorate our union, but I politely declined. The last year has been the biggest gift I could ever hope for, and I can only anticipate that the years ahead will be just as wonderful. Matt, however, said that though the last year has been pretty good, he would still really prefer to get some sort of gift, though he was less than insistent. He's so wonderful.

Today we plan on going out to eat, probably the Chef's Table. On Friday we're going down to Vegas for a combined anniversary/birthday getaway for me. My most cherished birthday present will be riding 5 hours in a car and spending the weekend with my sainted husband.

AT Reunion Dinner

It was so fun to get together for dinner with the old team from AT. We had been trying to coordinate plans since February and we finally were able to set a date. Look how cute we all are:


Left to right (back row) - Megan, Kristen, Kelly, Me, Catherine, Brianne, Pam, Susan (front row) - Danielle & Leslie.

Race for the Cure!

Every year, Ann Taylor encourages us to join in with Race for the Cure in our support for caring about the community and finding a cure for breast cancer. Last year, we didn't participate b/c it was right around the same time as our wedding. Two years ago, a group of us went from the store and had a great time. It was my first 5K ever! Well, this year was my second! Those of you who know me well, know that I hate running. I didn't even attempt to run until two years ago, outside of that torture they put you through for gym class in high school and junior high. This year, I decided to run at least 3.15 miles every morning (well, almost) in preparation for the big race. I was a bit concerned I would be running alone as all of my associates told me they would be walking. Several said they could try running, but may have to stop to walk. I was definitely going to run the whole way regardless. The morning of the race, I was happy to find an associate from the Gateway AT who said she would run with me! We ran it in less than 30 minutes! I was thrilled with that time, it was faster than what I had been running at the gym. I love races with a cause. It's always emotional to see people running for loved ones that they have lost to cancer. There were also some humorous shirts: "Big or Small, Save them All" and "Save the Ta Ta's." The group of us from the store did a bit of shopping afterward and then ate lunch at the Cheesecake Factory! We had a great time.


My Team: Chelsie, Me, Jamy, Susan G & Susan W, and Holly holding the sign.

Nicola and I posing with the Mannequins (She is the store manager at Gateway).

The Gateway team: Rosanna, Nicola, and Antoinette.

I'm Back and Taking Control!

Sorry I have been MIA lately. Matt is right, I take much more interest in reading everyone else's blog than in creating my own. I see it has been over a month since I've posted, so I have a lot of catching up to do. We spent Mother's Day with my sister, Heather, and her family. Katie made me a card and I thought it was so cute, I took pictures to post. When I got to the house, Katie called for me to come upstairs and she said I had to close my eyes. She had been making these cards in her mom's bedroom and there were signs on the door that said "Do not disturb." Matt was kind of bummed he didn't get a card, but Katie promised him one for Father's Day.