take me out ot the ball game

One of my favorite things about summertime and growing up in Georgia is going to Braves games.   There is just something about America's favorite pastime that brings back fond memories of hot dogs, cracker jacks, fireworks, and all those years I thought the "Star Spangled Banner" truly ended with the line...and the home of the BRAVES. :)

This summer we only made it to one live game, and it was an adventure.  After a crazy thunderstorm, a power outage, and a 2 hour rain delay, we were ready to get the party started.  All in all it was a fun night.  And although the Braves lost in the end...don't worry, I'm no fair weather fan. :)

How cool is that sunset with the Atlanta skyline?!?!

Lyndsey and Charlie came too.

cow appreciation day

July 8, 2011

I love Chick-fil-a  so much, I thought I would share this song with you...

Helen and 4th of July posts coming soon...I promise... 

and i'm free...free falling...

There are two perfectly reasonable explanations for the events that took place on June 25th, 2011.

1.  Back when I first met Brian and we started dating, we used to like to play the "question game."  Basically we would ask each other all sorts of random questions all the time to get to know each other better.  Brian was more than enthusiastic about his answer to what superpower he would choose if he could have just one...HE WOULD FLY!  Over the past 2 years, Brian has brought up his desire to fly so many times that I couldn't forget it even if I wanted to. :)

2.  Every January, my best friends Renae, Amy, Erin, and I share our New Years Resolutions with each other either in person or via email and then report back to each other throughout the year on how we are doing.  It has really helped me thoughtfully pick realistic goals that make me (I think) a better person. And I actually keep them because I know that I will be held accountable to my friends.  Anyway, that is a lot of background information, but the point is that this year we decided to switch it up a bit.  On top of our regular New Years Resolutions, we decided the others would each pick a resolution (really more of a dare) for us to complete individually that would stretch our comfort zones a little bit ... i.e. we challenged Amy to accomplish a recent goal and run a marathon.  My challenge was to splurge on something that I've always wanted to do but haven't done because I hate spending money, and skydiving was specifically brought up.

So for Brian's 24th Birthday, I surprised him with reservations to go skydiving northwest of Atlanta.  Last Saturday we made the trip, and seriously had an amazing experience...check that off the bucket list. :)

Brian calling his sister Emily to wish her Happy Birthday before we jump, just in case...

Still on the ground waiting for our turn.

Ready or Not?!?!

Brian was ready to go.

Videos below...

...nothin's sweeter than summertime...

My first 2 weeks in Georgia have been absolutely divine.  First of all, I got to see my long lost, incredibly good-looking husband. :)  It's amazing how much I missed him in just one week of being separated.  I don't think we should ever be separated again...in fact, I love the fact that we are both teaching swim lessons and get to be with each other all day, every day....hopefully he loves it too....

Anyway, our summer here in Georgia has been jammed packed with good times.  I love Georgia.  I love being with lots of my family.  I love the pool.  I love teaching little kids how to swim.  I love pine trees.  I love Georgia thunder storms.  I love having time to work out.  I love driving the golf cart.  I love playing games.  I love the lake.  I love Goliath at Six Flags.  I love darker skin and bleached out hair.  I love fire flies.  I love my comfy new bed.  I love movie nights.  I love Chick-fil-a.  I LOVE SUMMERTIME IN THE SOUTH.

I haven't been good with the camera but here are some pics of our summer so far...

My first full day in GA, we were lucky enough to go wakeboarding      

Stone Mountain with best friends

and some family too

end of the year

When most people think of the end of the year, they think of December 31st.  But for me as a teacher, who still chronicles her life based on semesters 4 years after graduating, my (school) year ended today.  Not only was it the end of the year, but it was the end of my very first year as an official teacher.......and have love almost every minute of it.  I love my principle, and the teachers, and the school, and my A lunch crew, and the technology, and my crazy but amazing students. 

I'm excited for next year because I get my own room, more classes, and I'll get to teach a lot of my 6th graders from this year.  As excited as I am for next year though, I am sooooooo ready for summer!  Georgia get ready.....I'm coming home tomorrow!

24 reason why I love Brian Benjamin Moote

Happy Birthday to my Darling Husband!

Today my wonderful husband is turning 24, and I am not with him. :( He is already in Georgia for his first week of work, while I am finishing my last week of work in Park City. I won't get to give him a big, fat birthday hug and kiss until Saturday, but I wanted him to know today how much he means to me.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways....

1. I love the way you always open the car door for me.

2. I love the way you always take care of me when I sick or hurt something.

3. I love the way you are patient with me when teaching me new things like skiing and driving stick.

4. I love the way you send the best text messages just when I need them the most.

5. I love it when you tell me I'm beautiful.

6. I love that you know how to cook and like to make me breakfast while I'm getting ready for work.

7. I love the way you work so hard to do well in school.

8. I love the way you moved 95% of our apartment just so I wouldn't have lift heavy things.

9. I love it when we are in the car and you reach over to hold my hand.

10. I love the way you make me laugh at the most random times.

11. I love it when you surprise me by doing the dishes.

12. I love that you will kill bugs/spiders, take out the trash, and reach things that are too high for me.

13. I love that you will run with me and refuse to go ahead faster when I feel I'm about to die.

14. I love the way you hug me the second I walk in the door.

15. I love the way you play the piano and sometimes sing when you think I'm not listening.

16. I love it when you push me to be prepared so we can be on time to church.

17. I love that you are a real man and a worthy priesthood holder who makes me a better person.

18. I love it when you kiss me goodnight after we pray together.

19. I love the way you get excited when we save a dollar or two on gas.

20. I love the way you make me feel like I'm the most important thing in your life.

21. I love that we go to the temple together.

22. I love the cute way to grunt when you're angry so that you won't yell instead.

23. I love that you are my best friend.

24. I love that I get to love you for the rest of your birthdays for the rest of eternity!

* I love you Bri *

memorial day weekend

Our Memorial Day weekend was filled with...homemade pizza, nutella, brownies, a Star Wars marathon, shopping, free Panda Express, practicing my mad manual driving skills, bubble baths, a little bit of packing, Kindle reading...

and spending time with some of my favorite people.   Monday I met up with Kim for some wedding dress shopping.  Can I just say that she is going to an absolutely beautiful bride!?!?!  Well, she is.  After we met up with Cherish and her family for a fun, but kind of rainy BBQ.  Thank you Kim and James for the absolutely delicious food.  

Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures. :(  But I dug around and found some pictures of all of us together from our BYU college years together back in 2004.  Yep this is what we all looked like 7 years ago. :)

Kim, Me, Jessica, Cherish

Me, Cherish, Allison, Jami, Kim

Sometimes it seems that it wasn't all that long ago that we were starting out all bright eyed and bushy tailed.  Then I remember that we are all married or engaged and that Cherish, Allison, and Jamie all have babies now!

ashley's adventures in "running with ed"

Saturday,  I participated in a 42 mile team relay race to raise money for Park City School District.  Each team was made up of 5 runners who ran 2 legs each in this 10 leg race.  We had 2 teams participate from Ecker Hill.

I ran legs 4 and 8.  My first leg was 3.4 miles and started at the bottom of the Olympic Park Ski Jump. 

 I ran a vertical of about 1000ft for 1 mile before running down the other side of the mountain and back up again to the Canyons.

 

 

I actually ran about a 10 minute mile, which was really impressive for me.  I even finished before my projected finish time.

My second leg was a little... ok a lot... rougher...it was 5.15 miles from City Park around to McPolin Elementary.  Thankfully, I convinced Brian (the best husband ever) to run it with me just to keep me going. 

I have to back pedal a little bit, to fully explain the series of events that happened next. 

The race had staggered start times, and our team got the second to last slot.  Combine a late start time with a team of slow runners, and we were quickly one of the last teams to reach each destination.  By the time I started my last leg (8) most teams were already finished and celebrating at the end of leg 10.  Due to our late start and a lot of miscommunication between me, the sweeper, and my team, when Brian and I got to the end of my run, NOBODY was there!!!

So we took the scenic route on the City Bus to the finish line to find my team.

Thank goodness for the City Bus.  :)

All in all it was a really long day and quite the adventure.  I came out with a killer sun burn, a swollen ankle, and sore muscles....but hey, at least I got a medal....

...why I came to work today...

Reading "journal writes" like this just make my day and makes all the grading worth it. :)

happy birthday to me!

So yesterday was my birthday...yep I'm 26. Pretty crazy, huh? The best part about it all was that we were able to celebrate all weekend long.

Saturday we went bowling with Whitney, Alex, Lyndsey, and Charlie.  Alex kicked all our butts, but it was still a lot of fun.  Whit also made me a pretty amazing cookie cake.

Sunday, we had dinner at the in-laws.  We celebrated both Brian and my's birthday because Brian will be in Georgia for his birthday on June 07th.

Monday, Brian woke up early to make me breakfast and a delicious smoothie.  And then I got open all my presents!!!!!!  Brian got me an Amazon Kindle, and I've been downloading new books all day. :)

26 is going to be a good year.