Flashback Friday

One of my fellow bloggers was interested in seeing more pictures of me from high school so I thought I'd do this Flashback Friday post on "the gang." There were five of us girls that were pretty close friends in high school. We did a lot together and have many wonderful memories of time spent together! I moved to the small town of Halstead, KS my eighth grade year and was welcomed with open arms by these four amazing girls! These girls grew up together and could've easily remained friends with just eachother, but they made a shy girl from the big city feel very welcome in their small town. High school can be a tough time, but I had a fantastic high school experience and I think these four girls played a huge role in that. I will always be grateful to them for making me feel at home in a new place. I think it is pretty amazing too that a little over 11 years later we are still friends. We may not see or chat with eachother as often as we would like, but I know they are still there for me if I ever need them and hope they feel the same way about me.

Snowball Dance (2/97)

Front row left to right: Erika, Crissy & Me
Back row left to right: Jill & Sheena

Senior Prom

Graduation Day

Flashback Friday

It's back to school time for children and teachers everywhere! In honor of this time of year I thought it would be fun to post a few class pictures from Dave's elementary school years. I only found 5 class pictures in his baby picture "box" (someday I need to do a scrapbook with all of this fun stuff!!!). I just love seeing pictures of when my sweetheart was younger!

Kindergarten
(Top row 3rd from the right, black & white stripes)

1st grade
(Top row 2nd from the left, light blue shirt)

3rd grade
(Top row 2nd from the left, red sweater)

4th grade
(Middle row 3rd from left, black t-shirt)

5th grade
(3rd row 2nd from the right, white collar shirt)

Back To Work

My husband the high school science teacher has gone back to work! He finished up his summer job at BYU and started back at Independence High School yesterday. He is beginning his 4th year of teaching there and continues to love his job. I know it isn't easy working full-time and working on your masters degree at the same time. I'm so proud of him!

The State of Utah has changed graduation requirements for seniors so he is teaching Earth Science this year in addition to Biology. It'll be a new experience for him, but he'll do great!

It's Official

Our adoption application and deposit is turned in to LDS Family Services! We just have to wait for them to assign us a caseworker and then proceed from there. I'm going to set up an "adoption update" in the sidebar (right-hand side of this website) for those of you who want to keep tabs on where we are at in the process!

Flashback Friday

Last night was the finale of "So You Think You Can Dance." I have to admit that I absolutely LOVE that show! I've watched it faithfully from the very beginning season. I wasn't completely sure who I wanted to win, but when Joshua took it all I have to say that I was completely happy! He definitely deserves it.

I've always loved dancing! Growing up I danced just for fun, but looking back if I would've realized that I could become a dance teacher or something similar versus having to be a performer I probably would've gone that route in life. Dancing makes me happy! I've attached a few pictures from my dancin' days!!!

I was in ballet for a little bit when I was little

High School Drill Team
I was the Co-Captain my Senior year with Lacie Dunn

Orientation

We've waited all summer for this day and it finally arrived! We couldn't be more excited! This afternoon we attended the Adoption Orientation class through LDS Family Services. Basically this is the first step of many in hopefully realizing our dreams of becoming parents!

We made up our minds last spring that we were finally ready to begin the adoption process. LDS Family Services requires you to attend their orientation class before the process can begin. The class is only held once a month. We missed the June meeting because we were in Kansas helping remodel my mother's bathroom and then found out that there would be no meeting in July due to Independence Day. So, we've had to wait patiently all summer for the August meeting to occur.

Today we basically learned the entire process in a nutshell and what all of the fees and expenses will be. We got a packet full of information and an application that needs to be filled out. Once we complete this application and turn in our "deposit" of $1,000 then we really dive in and get things moving. We have to attend four monthly classes beginning in September, have physicals done, get letters of references done, have a background check done, have a home study done, put together a portfolio about us that will be shown to birth moms, etc. It is a lenghty process for sure, but hopefully well worth it in the end!

We plan to keep everyone posted on the progress and ask for your prayers as well! They mentioned today that once we are approved for adoption it doesn't then become a "waiting" period, but a "finding" period. We were encouraged to tell everyone and anyone we know that we are adopting so that if you know or hear of someone who is looking to place their baby up for adoption that you think of us first! We definitely appreciate it.

We love you all VERY much and are very excited to begin this process!

Birthday Celebration

In honor of my 29th birthday, we decided to do something we haven't done in several years! We originally thought we would rent a boat or a jet ski and spend the day on a lake since it was supposed to be 101 degrees, but by the time we made our minds up on that all of the watercraft had been rented for the weekend. So instead, we decided to go horseback riding! I love going horseback riding, but am always amazed by how expensive it is. I guess they know you'll pay it if you want to go bad enough. The last time we went horseback riding was a few years ago up by Dave's home town in Idaho. We have never been riding anywhere close to where we live now. We tried out the Sundance Stables (up Provo Canyon by the Sundance Ski Resort).

Overall we had a good time. Two hours is too long to be on a horse though if you aren't used to it! We both had sore bums when we got done. Even though we were in the mountains, we also couldn't escape the heat. We went at 10:00 a.m. and were still sweating. We found it interesting as well that this company online advertised that they like to provide a "personal" experience and will allow no more than 6 riders per group. We ended up with about 12 riders total. We were far enough back that when the head riders saw elk, it was up and gone by the time the word got back to us. I did catch the tail end of an elk though as it ran through the woods away from us. Dave couldn't see anything.

Here are some pictures Dave took of our adventure!

We have a fire burning up Provo Canyon (it is by Bridal Veil Falls)

Fixing the stirrups (my horse's name was Chubs)

Dave & his horse (he can't remember its name)

On the trail

Beautiful scenery

Stewart Falls is off in the distance (it is kind of hard to see)

Flashback Friday

Today is my birthday so I thought I would dedicate this Flashback Friday post to my early days of life! When thinking about this post, I asked my mom if she thought I would appear conceited (which I am!) if I did an entire post on myself. She kindly reminded me that Dave's birthday was just a few days ago and that I should add some pics from his early days of life as well. Had we been home last week I would've dedicated that Flashback Friday post entirely to my dear husband, but since we weren't home last Friday you get to enjoy pictures from both of our childhoods today! Lucky you ; )

My hospital picture (pretty awful, huh?)

Holly 5 days old with Dad

Baby Holly with big brother Andy

Holly with mom at Great G-pa and G-ma Housholder's 50th wedding anniversary

Look at those chubby arms and legs!

I was a lot older in this picture than the previous pictures, but for some reason this is one of my favorite pictures of me from my childhood! I loved horses and had to ride one every chance I could! This was taken in the parking lot of my daycare facility (funny, huh?)

Dave's hospital picture (much better, huh?)

Dave 1 month old

Isn't he so stinkin' cute?

Serious boy

I absolutely LOVE this picture of Dave! What a cute little boy!