Saturday, February 26, 2011
Turtle what?
My friend Austin and his wife have been married for quite a few years and finally went to the doctor to find out why they couldn't have a baby. Long story short.... they're doing invetro. However, because it is quite costly and Austin is in Grad school, they are looking for donations. Now, of course they'll accept plain old donations, but what they're doing is even better. They created this website, Two Infertile Turtles, and sell little things from children's ties to earrings and baby booties that are all handmade. I urge you to go see what is available. I've already purchases some earrings and simply love them!!!!!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Two birds with one stone
April is a happenin' month here in Logan.
Get your pen and prepare to mark your calendars!!
April 6 - 9; USU's Opera Theatre Production of Mozart's "The Magic Flute"
April 7 - 9; Baby Animal Days at the American West Heritage Center
The Magic Flute - Opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
April 6-9 7:30pm
$13 general admission, $8 seniors, fee admission to students with ID
USU Campus, Kent Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Center (across from Aggie Ice Cream)
The show is double cast so Anthony will be in it either the 6th & 8th or the 7th & 9th.
(This is Anthony's last USU performance, come show your support!!)
"The story is based on circumstances connected with the mysterious worship of Isis, the deity of the ancient Egyptians. Its action is consequent upon Sarastro, the high priest of the Temple of Isis, having borne away Pamina, the daughter of Astrifiammante, the wicked Queen of Night, from her mother in order that she may be trained in the ways of virtue and wisdom. Tamino, a handsome Egyptian prince is saved from a monstrous serpent by the Queen’s servants. They show him a portrait of Pamina, and he falls in love with the unknown original. He is told the story of her having been stolen by Sarastro, and he vows to rescue. her.
Before starting he is presented with a magic flute, by which he is enabled to give alarm and invoke assistance in cases of peril; while Papageno (ANTHONY), the silly bird-catcher, who accompanies him, is furnished with certain musical instruments which, when played, transform anger into mirth and provoke a desire for dancing. Developments need not to be detailed. It is only necessary to say that Tamino, instead of bringing back Pamina, becomes a noviate in the Temple; meets Pamina there; goes through, like her, a severe testing probation; is ultimately proved worthy, and marries Pamina, while his companion, Papageno, also finds a mate."
Baby Animal Days
April 7-9, 2011 10am – 5pm $8 Adults / $7 Students-Military-Seniors / $6 Kids 3-11
The American West Heritage Center - 4025 S Highway 89/91, Wellsville
"Northern Utah’s favorite springtime event is here again. Cuddly animals, living history, demonstration, vendors, pony and train rides, and the return of the baby bears. You don’t want to miss it this year. Come and join us for another great time with this new generation of baby animals."
April is a happenin' month here in Logan.
Get your pen and prepare to mark your calendars!!
April 6 - 9; USU's Opera Theatre Production of Mozart's "The Magic Flute"
April 7 - 9; Baby Animal Days at the American West Heritage Center
The Magic Flute - Opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
April 6-9 7:30pm
$13 general admission, $8 seniors, fee admission to students with ID
USU Campus, Kent Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Center (across from Aggie Ice Cream)
The show is double cast so Anthony will be in it either the 6th & 8th or the 7th & 9th.
(This is Anthony's last USU performance, come show your support!!)
"The story is based on circumstances connected with the mysterious worship of Isis, the deity of the ancient Egyptians. Its action is consequent upon Sarastro, the high priest of the Temple of Isis, having borne away Pamina, the daughter of Astrifiammante, the wicked Queen of Night, from her mother in order that she may be trained in the ways of virtue and wisdom. Tamino, a handsome Egyptian prince is saved from a monstrous serpent by the Queen’s servants. They show him a portrait of Pamina, and he falls in love with the unknown original. He is told the story of her having been stolen by Sarastro, and he vows to rescue. her.
Before starting he is presented with a magic flute, by which he is enabled to give alarm and invoke assistance in cases of peril; while Papageno (ANTHONY), the silly bird-catcher, who accompanies him, is furnished with certain musical instruments which, when played, transform anger into mirth and provoke a desire for dancing. Developments need not to be detailed. It is only necessary to say that Tamino, instead of bringing back Pamina, becomes a noviate in the Temple; meets Pamina there; goes through, like her, a severe testing probation; is ultimately proved worthy, and marries Pamina, while his companion, Papageno, also finds a mate."
Baby Animal Days
April 7-9, 2011 10am – 5pm
$8 Adults / $7 Students-Military-Seniors / $6 Kids 3-11
The American West Heritage Center - 4025 S Highway 89/91, Wellsville
"Northern Utah’s favorite springtime event is here again. Cuddly animals, living history, demonstration, vendors, pony and train rides, and the return of the baby bears. You don’t want to miss it this year. Come and join us for another great time with this new generation of baby animals."
Valentine's Day!
Valentine's Day is a cheesy, Hallmark florists and Hershey's make lots of money holiday that is TOTALLY overrated! HOWEVER! I did enjoy this wonderful day of the year as it has been the first "real" date (meaning we went to dinner, just us, and a movie, just us, and all in one night!) we have gone on in............................................. you get the idea :). Frank and I are realists....perhaps too real at that, AND we are cheap! Combine those two qualities on Valentine's Day and you get dinner paid with a gift card you got from your in-laws for you anniversary (yes we did hang on to if for 2 and 1/2 months before using it) and a movie at the dollar theatre with licorice and peanut butter m&m's we bought at Wal-Mart while waiting an hour to be seated at Chili's and then hid them in my purse because we won't pay theatre price for them OR the movie :) (THANK YOU Janice and Bill! We never would have spoiled ourselves with the dinner we had last night without that gift certificate!) It was the best time we have had in a long time. Dinner was DELICIOUS! Chili's is by far one of my favorite restaurants and mostly because of their spinach-artichoke dip and chips appetizer! YUM! We got through our appetizer and took most of our dinner home to eat for lunch AND dinner today! We definitely got our moneys worth! The movie was AWESOME and we laughed through it while holding hands and eating our stow-away candy. So that is the cheap side of us, but the realists in us know that Valentine's Day plain stinks for many people. Why? Because relationships aren't a one day holiday proven with roses, chocolate and money spent! I like to think I celebrate having Frank as the love of my life each and every day because I know that is how he treats me. I personally do not like getting flowers. They remind me of funerals and they are WAY to expensive for how fast they die and I am NOT a chocolate person. This makes Valentine's Day tricky or so Frank thought. Over time I have finally convinced him that I would so much rather have a loving, caring husband who treats me like a princess everyday of the year and leaves me love notes on my bed side table, surprises me with a volleyball game for our date just because he knows I will love it, takes me dancing in the middle of no where to the music playing on the radio and makes us hot chocolate to drink while we cuddle up on the couch and watch a movie. If you think the romantics on Valentine's Day are bad, they have got nothing on Frank! He is my true love because I am his Valentine everyday. So, for Valentine's Day I got the everlasting, unconditional love of my husband with a hand written declaration of love and the reassurance that the gifts I have been receiving at random all year long are so much more than material. They are memories of my amazing, thoughtful husband that I will cherish forever. So, if you are one of those people who thinks your Valentine's Day was a rip off, I challenge you to look more closely at who you have and what they have already given you.Myles also had a good Valentine's Day.....I think. I suspect that he did merely for the fact that he is big enough to climb onto the chairs and reach almost anything on the kitchen table including the bag of Dove chocolates that was sitting there. The result? One chocolate faced, sugared up boy for auntie Liz who babysat while we went on our date.
I just adore this picture! Myles has started doing the cheesy face when I take pictures and it just melts my heart! Of course, his shirt is my favorite one too! I am so lucky to have the two sweetest Valentine's all to myself!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
5 days...
I have been an engaged woman for 5 days. 5 whole days!!!! You know what that means? It's only 222 more days until my wedding!!!!! I also figured out that there's only 80 more days until graduation, and only 47 days of class left, with 5 days of finals tacked onto that. I sit here and think "it doesn't seem like that long... but it's a friggin eternity!!!" I know someday I'll regret that. But for now all I think is that it will be nice to come home from work and know I'll actually get to see Weston and go out on a date with him, or watch a movie with him because he won't have to run home right after dinner to write a dang paper. or I sit here and imagine what our house will be like, or what it will be like to wake up next to him... weird.
Really though, I like this imagining stuff :) I'm excited to pick out our furniture and appliances and bedding and towels and all that day to day stuff that I love picking out so much. I am SO excited for the next step in my life and am SO excited for day 223 :D
P.S. Happy Valentine's Day :) We went to The Vagina Monologues to Celebrate
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
After 26 years of waiting...
I'm engaged!!!! After probably the worst day of the last 2 years, Weston got down on one knee and asked me to marry him *happy sigh* Oh. What's that? You want to know the details? Ok I'll tell you!!!
Like I said, it was a horrible day, what with the car breaking down and being late to meetings and only getting a 90% on an exam, emotional breakdown, venting session to my boss... yeah. Bad. It was Rebecca's 10th birthday and everyone was getting together for ice cream and cake at Twila's at 6:30 and I, being in a horrible mod, decided I didn't want to go. Weston, however, found out about the party from Alisha while we were out at lunch, and said we were going.
I put myself in a good mood (you know, what they say about fake smiling really putting you in a good mood is for reals), and we went to the party. I chatted with my sisters and loved on my cute nieces and nephews while Weston ate cake and ice cream, then I decided it was time to go. I scooted my way through the throngs of people and edged to the door when Weston called me back in. I just hollered back "let's go" and he said "come in here". "I'm already at this door!" I say to which he replies "Come in here". Fine. I scoot back through people to him and as I reach him he raises his voice and announces "Everyone" *my heart starts to pound and I think.... well nothing... because my brain is going SO fast* "Everyone, I talked to Rebecca earlier and she said we could share her special day" (remember we were there celebrating her 10th birthday). Then Weston pulled a little brown box out of his pocket, got down on one knee, and asked "Erica, will you marry me?" I, with hands over my mouth and a look of shock and confused joy on my face whispered "are you for real?" He rolled his eyes and closed the block then opened it again and just looked up at me. Again I repeated "Are you for real!?....yeah" and then the ring slid onto my finger and there was kissing and hugging and I'm not really sure what all else... but I'm happy. And it's beautiful!!!!!!!
Man, it's hard to dip someone!!!! How do boys do it!?
Monday, February 7, 2011
Oklahoma road trip
Anthony & I just returned from a road trip consisting of five states in five days.
Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma.
Thursday February 3
I left my practicum at noon, we packed up and were on the road soon after.
We stopped at Little America, just East of Rock Springs, WY.
We had also gotten these and were afraid to try them.
They turned out alright.
The remainder of the drive through Wyoming was utterly uneventful.
We couldn't afford multiple hotels so we drove all night.
While Anthony did this
Friday, February 4
Somehow we missed the Colorado sign, but we made it into Kansas!!
I'd never been to Kansas before so I was watching ever so closely for this sign.
It was so dark that Anthony and I weren't visible below the sign, so these are from the next morning when we left the state then turned back for the sign.
When we first got into Kansas I was getting back into the car and I remembered the shoes I was wearing...
Did you know right inside Kansas there is a city called
Kansas and Colorado mixed. I wonder who thought that one up?
I mostly drive with my left hand on top of the wheel and after 9.5 hours it looked all red like this.
Uncrustables for a travelin man's breakfast. Yummy!
We made it into Oklahoma!! I'd never been to this state either. You better believe we sang the song :)
These two houses were about 100 yards away from one another.
Kansas house & inquisitive dog
Oklahoma house
We made it into Oklahoma City and spent the remainder of the morning and early afternoon sleeping at our hotel.
Friday night we went to the home of one of the University of Oklahoma (OU) professors to talk with his about the program. He was a very kind and gracious man and we liked him very much.
You should have heard all the comments people were making about "the weather." Apologizing for the snow, saying they couldn't do all they had planned due to the "weather."
The grass is totally visible through the snow. However, Oklahoma rarely has snow so most roads were covered in ice as there were not many plows.
I had a 5 hour energy and did this.
However, we have AWESOME gas mileage on the freeways, and amazing road trip music.
Lokalgrown is THE BEST road trip music
Friday, February 4
Somehow we missed the Colorado sign, but we made it into Kansas!!
It was so dark that Anthony and I weren't visible below the sign, so these are from the next morning when we left the state then turned back for the sign.
I pretended to be Dorothy for a few minutes :)
Kansas and Colorado mixed. I wonder who thought that one up?
I mostly drive with my left hand on top of the wheel and after 9.5 hours it looked all red like this.
Uncrustables for a travelin man's breakfast. Yummy!
We made it into Oklahoma!! I'd never been to this state either. You better believe we sang the song :)
Kansas house & inquisitive dog
Oklahoma house
We made it into Oklahoma City and spent the remainder of the morning and early afternoon sleeping at our hotel.
Friday night we went to the home of one of the University of Oklahoma (OU) professors to talk with his about the program. He was a very kind and gracious man and we liked him very much.
You should have heard all the comments people were making about "the weather." Apologizing for the snow, saying they couldn't do all they had planned due to the "weather."
The grass is totally visible through the snow. However, Oklahoma rarely has snow so most roads were covered in ice as there were not many plows.
Saturday, February 5
We got up bright and early to make it to the University of Oklahoma (OU) for a coaching Anthony had set up with his pianist. We wandered around campus for a while and read some of the history of the school and some of the buildings. It was super cool.
We got up bright and early to make it to the University of Oklahoma (OU) for a coaching Anthony had set up with his pianist. We wandered around campus for a while and read some of the history of the school and some of the buildings. It was super cool.
They also had these fun phone booths.
This is the Reynolds Performing Arts Center, where all the performances are held. A lot of the older buildings on campus were this Gothic style, I loved it.
Anthony was not only auditioning to be admitted to OU, it was also the Benton-Schmidt Vocal Competition.
There were 17 other contestants, each had 12 minutes to sing. The finals were later that evening and 6 of the 17 were invited back, including Anthony.
In the end Anthony tied for 3rd place. He won $7,500 to be added to his potential scholarships, grants, etc. if he were to come to OU.
Get this, there were THREE professors/voice teachers that let Anthony know they wanted him in their studio if he went to OU, two of which have sung at the Metropolitan Opera.
The special judge of the competition was Kay E. Holt, executive director of the Canterbury Choral Society in Oklahoma City. Afterwards she was giving Anthony some feedback and said he was tall, good looking and had a "sellable look and voice." I.E. he can go places if he works hard.
This is the Reynolds Performing Arts Center, where all the performances are held. A lot of the older buildings on campus were this Gothic style, I loved it.
Anthony was not only auditioning to be admitted to OU, it was also the Benton-Schmidt Vocal Competition.
There were 17 other contestants, each had 12 minutes to sing. The finals were later that evening and 6 of the 17 were invited back, including Anthony.
In the end Anthony tied for 3rd place. He won $7,500 to be added to his potential scholarships, grants, etc. if he were to come to OU.
Get this, there were THREE professors/voice teachers that let Anthony know they wanted him in their studio if he went to OU, two of which have sung at the Metropolitan Opera.
The special judge of the competition was Kay E. Holt, executive director of the Canterbury Choral Society in Oklahoma City. Afterwards she was giving Anthony some feedback and said he was tall, good looking and had a "sellable look and voice." I.E. he can go places if he works hard.
We had some dinner and custard then headed back to the hotel and went right to bed. It was a LONG day.
Sunday, February 6
We got on the road early and drove over to Yukon to see the Oklahoma City temple.
I was surprised it was so small!
Mom Eversole calls us "Loves" so we had to get a photo of this gas station sign.
Also, with Valentines Day quickly approaching we had to give this handsome fellow a photo-op.
Alright, here's something cool. Have you ever seen the movie "Far and Away" starring Nichole Kidman and Tom Cruise? If you haven't seen it you need to.
The movie is, a great deal, about the Land Rush of 1893 wherein settlers from across the globe, seeking free land, made their way to Oklahoma Territory to stake their claim to a new life.
Sunday, February 6
We got on the road early and drove over to Yukon to see the Oklahoma City temple.
I was surprised it was so small!
Mom Eversole calls us "Loves" so we had to get a photo of this gas station sign.
Also, with Valentines Day quickly approaching we had to give this handsome fellow a photo-op.
Alright, here's something cool. Have you ever seen the movie "Far and Away" starring Nichole Kidman and Tom Cruise? If you haven't seen it you need to.
The movie is, a great deal, about the Land Rush of 1893 wherein settlers from across the globe, seeking free land, made their way to Oklahoma Territory to stake their claim to a new life.
"The Land Rush of 1893 happened on September 16, 1893 at high noon with more than 100,000 participants hoping to claim land. One of the few rules to claiming a lot of land was that all participants were to start at the same time. Those who went too soon were called "Sooners." Sooners were often deputy marshals, land surveyors, railroad employees, and others who were able to legally enter the territory early to mark out choice pieces of land for themselves or others."
"A tumultuous avalanche of wagons and horsemen surging forward all in one breathtaking instant."
"A tumultuous avalanche of wagons and horsemen surging forward all in one breathtaking instant."
As time went on, "Sooner" came to be a synonym of Progressivism. The Sooner was an "energetic individual who travels ahead of the human procession." He was prosperous, ambitious, competent, a "can-do" individual. And Oklahoma was the Sooner State, the land of opportunity, enterprise and economic expansion, very much in the Progressive spirit that engulfed the old South in the 1920s. Hence, the University of Oklahoma Sooners.
Learning about history isn't my favorite, but at times I have an insatiable appetite for historical knowledge. These photo I took in Kiowa, Kansas led me to find the above information.
There is also an Anthony, Kansas.
We made it back into Colorado and I was more vigilant in watching for the sign this time.
The weather in CO and WY was awful!! I was going between 25-40 MPH for a good two hours. At times the wind was blowing so hard I couldn't see ANYTHING and had to stop right in the middle of the road as to not run off.
Pretty cool huh?
There is also an Anthony, Kansas.
He didn't really care, but I thought it was wicked cool!
Also, all throughout Kansas there were these oil pumps, just out in the middle of a field. Some fields I saw had up to six pumps.
Also, all throughout Kansas there were these oil pumps, just out in the middle of a field. Some fields I saw had up to six pumps.
We made it back into Colorado and I was more vigilant in watching for the sign this time.
The weather in CO and WY was awful!! I was going between 25-40 MPH for a good two hours. At times the wind was blowing so hard I couldn't see ANYTHING and had to stop right in the middle of the road as to not run off.
Between Cheyenne & Laramie we came across this Abraham Lincoln Monument.
We made it to Mom & Dad Mills' in Laketown around 7:30am and slept till about noon (thanks again Mom & Dad. The electric blanket was magical after a cold night in the car!) We headed up Logan Canyon, but it was snowing and windy and we were sliding all over the place and had to turn around. Luckily, we hadn't gone back more than a mile when we passed a snow plow. We turned right back around and followed in his tracks all the way out of the canyon and made it home a little after 3:00pm.
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