Orange trees and the frozen lake.

The past two..well actually three weeks have been absolutely out of control. I feel like I have had an event everyday the past two weeks for work, including weekends. If I wasn't at an event I was prepping for one. Two weeks ago we had the Utah County business show. We scooped ice cream for two days. I'm surprised at how picky people are when they are getting FREE ice cream. I can understand paid for ice cream...but come on, free, just be happy to get it. We also had three Jazz games, a Rascal Flatts concert, a trip to Phoenix and family pictures to boot. This past week I had what we call a "Summit" at work. For me is basically went from Monday-Thursday night. I screamed for joy when I got in my car to head home Thursday night. I have never loved my bed, shower, and little apartment so much.

The Orange Tree-
While in Phoenix we attended a Utah Jazz vs. Phoenix Suns game. We gotta love the Jazz they pulled off a win and played a great game. It was so much fun. We also got to see "old man Shaq" play. I'm not saying this to be rude but you can tell that the guy is getting old. I think he is awesome, great personality, was an excellent basketball player and now is an old basketball player. Don't hate me Shaq.
We stayed at the Arizona Biltmore, which looks a lot like a church or a museum when you first pull up. But it turned out to be so beautiful and I hope we will get to stay there again. Especially in March, it was perfect. The Biltmore is where I saw my first Orange Tree. Rocky found this odd. But he grew up in California so an orange tree in California is like an apple tree in Utah. I love the orange tree. Green and orange are great colors for a tree.



The Frozen Lake-
We fly back to Utah March 9th and drove fast...okay super fast to make it home for our family pictures at Utah Lake. After being in Phoenix for two days my body had quickly adjusted to the warm weather and loved it. I wasn't prepared for the ice on the lake. There is nothing like a cold breeze to welcome you back to Utah. The pictures turned out awesome. Although I hope that purple lips are the new "in" thing.



This weekend we had our relief society basketball tournament. It was great. Our team lost our first game but won our second two and were so excited to be back in the winning bracket. We were determined to take the championship. Right before our last game they informed us that we would NOT return to the winning bracket even though it was a double elimination tournament. Whoever won the game would be the Winner of the Losers. So after being confused and wondering why we were even playing we decided that the winners of the losers would be a great title. So we played, played hard and won. In secret I am glad that we didn't end up moving back into the winning bracket. I can't imagine the pain I would be in now. Three games was enough to put my body into very old person status. I can barely walk, stand up or sit down. Basically any movement including breathing is painful. I guess my definition of "in-shape" was not the same as my body's.

For your Listening Enjoyment

While visiting others blogs I have started to notice a common theme...music and I like it. After visiting some blogs with music and others without I decided that a music is a must on our page. That being said I know that there are some of you out there, maybe those who don't appreciate my music taste. I hope it won't keep you from reading this blog. I've made it very simple and specially had a pause button added on for you. Just my small little attempt to please EVERYONE.

A New Discovery

Yesterday Rocky and I were shopping in Salt Lake, it started out just being very windy, glad you aren't wearing a skirt windy, and then turned into pure madness...rain and then lots of snow. We thought it would be fun to document our little outing...we got as far as pictures in the car and then, well, forgot. That is our problem with pictures. I constantly have my camera with me and constantly forget that I do. We have a goal to be better. Now to the discovery part...I have a freaky neck, that's all there is to it. Rocky and I took over 20 pictures trying to get a "cute" one. My neck was all over the place just messing things up. We tried and tried but the neck wasn't going to give. So this is what we got. Oh well, we had a great time.



Our great time included spending at least 2 hours in one store picking out a new cell phone for me. We found one that I loved. So we got it. So far so good. It's working in the "bat cave" (the place we call home) and that pretty much makes me a happy camper. I was going to take pictures of it and post them but decided that was a little over board.

By special request - My celebrity look alikes

My father-in-law, Daddy Dick, requested a celebrity look-a-like on our blog. He is convinced that I look like Geena Davis. I guess according to this little match up thing I don't...but don't worry Daddy Dick, I get Geena Davis a lot.

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

Here is Rocky's

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

Here is who we have been told that we look like...
Joni:
Geena Davis
Rachel McAdams

Rocky:
James Marsden (gets told this all the time)
Christopher Reeve

Haircut

I've been meaning to share a picture of my new haircut for a while but just haven't gotten around to it. Well finally here it is. I have loved it. It's so much easier to take care of daily, but it is growing like a mutant weed and needs a cut at least every two weeks. I'm not sure if I can handle the maintenance and may grow it out again. I guess only time and the budget will tell.

Exercise...what NOT to do

So if you read my earlier post you know that I am working on my "total health and fitness." It is going awesome. I feel great and like mentioned before I can fit back into clothes that had somehow shrunk...well now I have too. Anyway so I'm learning all these new exercises. I'm working my body in ways I didn't know it worked in. I have also learned moves that I shouldn't do. I'm posting a link to this video so you to can see what NOT to do.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daBER1qa67E

Little Updates

So the Rock and I were just doing a little updating to our blog. We quickly discovered after seeing many other friends blogs that we are quite boring. Or at least it seems. We were laughing at the websites we like to visit. Although ESPN is NOT one of mine I decided to make this more of an official "we" blog and I added it in to be nice.

Anyway as for news on us...we just finished our week and a half parenting adventure. We baby sat my bosses kids while she went on a cruise. There were 4 of them. All in all they were absolutely wonderful but we are glad that hopefully kiddy's will only come one at a time for us. We also learned more about the language of a 5 year old. It consists of a lot of 'ehs, umh'...which translates to "I want my parents and I hate you." We have that one down. The picture below is one we took of Rocky while he was on kid duty. The kids took the picture and managed to do other mischievous things while he "watched them."



So another exciting little thing was listening to Rocky's dad laugh as he opened up his first funny video by email attachment. It was like the excitement of a small child on Christmas day. Oh the Joy!

Total Health and Fitness Rocks

Ok so I got introduced to an awesome company last year. They are called Total Health and Fitness.
The help you build a roadmap to your health and ultimately become the best you. A co-worker of mine decided to do it and when she started seeing some great results I thought to myself why not give it a try. So I did and am. Today I had my 7 week appointment. It rocked. I went down 1.8% body fat in just one week and I'm only 2.3% away from my goal. YIPPEEEEE. It makes me so happy. All in all I didn't have too much to loose. I was in fairly decent shape, my clothes were just having a harder time slipping on. In fact it was more like a yank and tug. I like the slip on more. So now I'm thinning down and things are starting to slip on once again. So Very exciting. I totally recommend the program and the company. I'll post some pictures when I'm done. Thanks LITTLE MAN (my personal trainer at total health & fitness).

Happy 2008

I can't believe that it is all ready a new year. I can't believe that I am going to be 28 this year. That seems so old. Well this year started out great all ready. Rocky and I have both been sick. We have both done sick duty at the beginning of the year so we should be set for the rest of the year. I wish it worked out that way.

We had a great Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with my family and then Christmas afternoon and evening with Rocky's family. I've decided that split Christmas is hard. We don't get to spend enough time with either family. It stinks.

We spend new years eve with my family and the Sorenson's. It was fun. We went to uncle Bob and aunt Heidi's house. We ate lots of yummy food and played games, all sorts. We really got into the boxing and tennis on the Wii. I am so incredibly sore from that.

Rocky and I will celebrate 2 years of marriage on the 12th. It seems like we have been married a lot longer than that. Its been great. Rocky is so amazing. I don't know how I got so lucky. I don't know why he stuck around as long as he did when I was being such a bum...but I'm so very glad he did.

okay well that's enough for now.

If Rocky were an Elf

This is classic. Love you Rock!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1176028346
(Copy and paste the link above into your web browser)

Ohio State!

We got our first acceptance to Medical School. We couldn't be happier. It is a huge blessing. Rocky got accepted to Ohio State this past week. He loved his interview out there and the atmosphere of Columbus. We aren't sure if this is where we will end up but if we do we will be glad to be there. WoooooHOOOOO. We are still waiting on a few other schools. Medical school is surprisingly a painful process. It seems a little odd to say that because medicine is supposed to help with the pain or remove it completely. I think that if applying weren't so expensive and so unsure it would be a lot better. It turns out for us that the 3rd time is a CHARM. Yiippppee.

The power of the Pedometer

I just wanted to share with those who may read this mighty blog, my high score on the pedometer. Yes, it is a high score, for those of you who are asking "Is the pedometer a game?" When it comes to competition with Rocky it becomes a SERIOUS game. I think I may have him beat for quite a while. I hit a high score of over 28,000 steps one day and then rocked that score and got a whoping 29,769 steps the very next day. Which calculates to over 11 miles and 800 calories. Thank you...thank you very much. Oh and Rocky, lets see you beat that. :) Love ya!

The Anesthesia Work Room...My first visit

It's Labor day today and in honor of it's name Rocky is laboring. Rocky works as an Anesthesia Tech. Today was my first time visiting him at work. I brought him lunch. He looks so cute in his little blue scrubs with his blue cap on. No wonder his hair always looks weird when he comes home. Anyway I just wanted to document this momentous occasion.

Europe in an RV

I just returned from an EXCELLENT adventure in Europe land. Cyndi, and the girls were brave enough to invite me on their trip to Europe. The trip started out for me with a long day(s) in the airport/airplanes. It takes a while to get to Germany from San Diego. But we did it. Germany was our first encounter with the RV. It was kinda comical for me. Our first day/night we learned the hard way what happens when you put the wrong type of gasoline in a vehicle. For those of you who don't know I'll tell you. Not much happens. The car doesn't work. Such an adventure. We also visited some other amazing places. Austria, where the hills were alive with the sound of music, well at least in my heart. Italy, the totally romantic city of Venice. I wish Rocky would have been there. Switzerland, we were the ropes course champs. The Alps were so incredible that is really where the hills were alive with the sound of music. The music came from the cow bells. I loved it. We then went back to Germany and spent some time at a most wonderful spa. I think we were there for at least 3 hours and loved it. On our way home we stopped in France, the beautiful city of Paris. The girls were nice enough to visit some spots that I hadn't seen and then we had to shop! That is what I loved the most. I can't thank Cyndi enough for this incredible trip. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.

Jamaica Mon

We just got back from a great trip to Jamaica. Please notice the word "trip" and not vacation. You see in my mind vacation means relaxing and no stress. Trip means busy busy and stress. Usually with Rocky+travel=stress. At least for me. He likes me to try new things, things that might make me a little uncomfortable. Like maybe SCUBA DIVING. Yes, I can now actually say I have been. I still have the knots in my back to prove it. It was very stressful for me, but turned out to be a great adventure. My instructor was about 300lbs, 6'3" and his name...."Tiny." I know, it was weird for me too. He taught me, and the Roberts family (Craig, Paula, Emily and Wendy) the basics of scuba. We learned hand signals for animals and for underwater crisis, like running out of air....and I'm out of air. That part had me a little nervous. We swam around a kiddy pool a couple times with dear on and then tada....we were official. In under 2 hours I was ready to scuba dive. I felt very unprepared. Fortunately and unfortunately our dive was scheduled for two days later. I had two days to prepare, forget, and all in all freak myself out. By the time our boat came I was so stiff I didn't think I would be able to walk out of the water. But for the sake of my husband and his excitement for me to Scuba I had to push on. I mustered up all the courage I had and climbed into the boat. Not sure what to expect and if I would return. (so dramatic) As our boat took us out to the choosen dive spot, Tiny helped us get our gear ready and on. We got paired up with buddy's. My buddy was also a first timer. I don't think either of us had a clue what we were doing. When the boat stopped people started walking off the boat and into the water. I didn't think I would be able to make it past this part. And it was only the beginning. The instructor told us to grab onto the rope and make out decent. I was worried that my ears would give me trouble, and they did. They hurt most of the time. I couldn't get the equalizing thing down. Oh I forgot to mention that I also have this incredible talent. I'm a floater. I can float on top of the water for hours. My weakness is sinking. so while in the water when I had reached the end of the rope I let go and immediately began to float back to the surface (right where I belong). One of the instructors grabbed my flipper and pulled me back down. Then as a group we began to explore the ocean. It was beautiful. The only sound you hear is your breathing. In and out, in and out. Very peaceful. We swam around a huge reef and saw colorful coral, sea cucumbers (turds), sea urchants, two eel (too snake like for me, ick) and many many fish. Before I knew it our time had ended and we back to the rope to return to the surface. While I had a wonderful time in the ocean world I was so glad to return to the boat. I had done it and I could finally relax and begin my vacation. Yeah, right.

Scuba Diving wasn't our only adventure while in Jamaica. We also took a three hour bus ride to Dung River Falls. The falls were amazing and the crazy thing about them is that you climb them. You get water socks for your feet and start climbing. I'm such a worry wort. I thought for sure that someone would hurt themselves. Water and rocks usually mean "slick" to me. But that wasn't the case. For the most part it was like walking on a dry rock with a ton of water pouring on you. I'll have to post picts. I made it to the top safe and sound...although I did take some of the easier routes. Rocky, his mom, and sisters were very daring in their choice of path to take. It was great fun and I was relived when we made it to the top.

After the falls we rode around in our bus to a restaurant to eat some authentic Jamaican food. It was SOO good. Too hot for Rocky. He can't handle the "jerk" but I love it. Then it was back to the resort.

Cyndi was the master of the Taxi and we took a taxi ride to another city to watch and participate in diving...again I'm turning more and more into a scaredy cat but I didn't care and I still really don't. So I didn't participate in the diving but watched and took pictures. Our favorite was a local who climbed a tree (dead tree that looked like it would crack at any moment) labeled 90 ft. We thought more like 60 ft, anyway it was a ways up. When he climbed the tree its like he transformed into a Gorilla. Very odd. He put on a little show and then jumped. Crazy!

Jamaica was a blast. I hope to visit again.