The Recent Champs

Brockalee Update

2011-09-17T21:54:00.000-07:00

Don't know why, but I'm in the mood to update the blog. I don't know exactly what to write because I don't really know what people want to read. No kids yet- so sorry everyone who is hoping for little brockalees to be running about. Umm... lately I spend most of my time at the Huntsman School working, or working on my business (it's sounds so cool to say that :D ... ). Brock stays busy with work, and we play on the weekends.

He is teaching the young men (priests) and I teach the sunbeams (3-4 year olds).

Howie and Kaila just graduated intermediate school from Petsmart. Yay! They do cool tricks like play dead (bang), "who loves grandma" (waves his paw), sit pretty, shake, and Kaila does quite a bit of army crawl.

I just re-arranged our ... well... upstairs really. I have this thing that I thought was normal, but I love to rearrange furniture. Brock is a good sport for helping me with the heavy stuff but I have moved a full size bed from upstairs to downstairs by my self once. So our office is now a more real looking office rather than a makeshift desk of two doors on top of 3 sets of drawers. We also brought up the full size bed to put in the puppies room. We're weird- we have 4 beds in our house. But it actually makes sense because one is our winter bedroom, one is our summer bedroom, puppies room, and extra bedroom. Yay!

Maybe I'll post pictures.

What do you guys want to know?

Quick Update

2011-09-01T17:31:00.001-07:00

I got a new job, i'm a staff assistant to the directors of the Entrepreneurial Programs, Brand Management, and Strategic Marketing at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business.

My NothingToDoInLogan.com website is doing awesome, and I think it will really take off this next few months.

Life is great, we love Howie and Kaila. They are both in intermediate puppy school classes. Our cruise was awesome, and right now things are busy busy busy but very fun!

Anniversary Vacation

2011-07-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

So this week is our 5 year anniversary. We have gone through so much together. In the past 5 years we have:

Bought a house
Bought 5 cars
Sold 5 cars
Raised 2 yorkies (Howie and Kaila) to be awesome "grandpuppies"
Earned 3 bachelor degrees
Traveled to 9 countries
Rearranged the furniture 897,243 times
Told each other "I love you" everyday
Watched at least 1,560 hours worth of movies
Had our fair share of ups and downs
And we continue to wonder how we ended up so lucky to be with each other.

Brock and Natalee Champlin
Married July 20, 2006

What I do when the hubby is out of town...

2011-03-15T20:58:00.001-07:00

So Brock left today for San Francisco for work. He'll be back on Friday. Till then, I've got to entertain myself.

Yes, yes, I have my puppies (Howie and Kaila) but I've been thinking of a plan. Take today for instance. First off, I had to finish the season finale of the bachelor. (Go Emily!) The plan is to let the house stay messy messy messy and then clean it ALL tomorrow. So that will be the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, computer room, puppy room, downstairs... whew. Yeah that's a lot. I can do it.

I'm also planning on going to at least 2, maybe 3 classes at the sports academy. Woot for dance moves.

As far as the rest of the week... I don't have much planned besides cleaning and working out. Ha. We'll see I suppose. Maybe it will even include some blogging!

OK next topic. I just got an iPad, yes it is awesome. I've been thinking about starting a video blog. It would still be here, i'd just post videos instead of words. Hmm... sounds fun. I'll probably try it and see how I like it.

Well i'm out for the night. It's time to, uh.. i don't know watch movies and let the house stay messy. :D

What I do when the hubby is out of town...

2011-03-15T20:52:00.000-07:00

So Brock left today for San Francisco for work. He'll be back on Friday. Till then, I've got to entertain myself.

Yes, yes, I have my puppies (Howie and Kaila) but I've been thinking of a plan. Take today for instance. First of, I had to finish the season finale of the bachelor. (Go Emily!) The plan is to let the house stay messy messy messy and then clean it ALL tomorrow. So that will be the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, computer room, puppy room, downstairs... whew. Yeah that's a lot. I can do it.

I'm also planning on going to at least 2, maybe 3 classes at the sports academy. Woot for dance moves.

As far as the rest of the week... I don't have much planned besides cleaning and working out. Ha. We'll see I suppose. Maybe it will even include some blogging!

OK next topic. I just got an iPad, yes it is awesome. I've been thinking about starting a video blog. It would still be here, i'd just post videos instead of words. Hmm... sounds fun. I'll probably try it and see how I like it.

Well i'm out for the night. It's time to, uh.. i don't know watch movies and let the house stay messy. :D

iBlog

2011-03-08T19:38:00.001-08:00

iBlog... ok iDont

haha but seriously... does anyone think i should be blogging more? does anyone want to know whats up in my/Brock/Howie/Kaila's life?

Back from South America

2010-08-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

Well i'm back, and **cough** yeah I didn't write AT ALL on my blog while i was down there. But that's ok because I was too busy having the time of my life. I'm so glad I was able to go! It was an amazing experience.

Here are some pictures:

Whoa, whoa whoa.... I WAS going to post like fifty million picture BUT blogger sucks at uploading things fast. You get two pics. Sorry. But there's more on my FB!

In the airport...

2010-05-31T07:05:00.000-07:00

So i'm sitting here in the SLC airport, we are probably going to start boarding soon. We are flying to LA and then at 1:30 we catch a flight that goes to Lima, Peru and then on to Santiago, Chile.

I am surprisingly not very nervous, (surprising because I've sort of been freaking out the last 2 days), but it's nice being with the group. I feel like I've over packed. Most other people only have a backpack but I have my carry on and smaller messenger bag- which is chuck full.

Meh, I guess there's nothing I can do about it.

I'll likely be blogging a lot more for the next five weeks. I'll probably post again in LA!

I LOVE YOU BROCK!

Graduation!

2010-05-12T17:37:00.000-07:00

I wanted to put up a few picture of graduation! I'll have to write more when I have some time, but the pictures are great!

Yardwork!

2010-04-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

So first of all Brock is SUCH AN AMAZING COOK! He got a barbecue for Christmas and just recently got it out and he is amazing. You must come taste!

This last weekend we did some yard work (thanks for your help Dad!!) and I wanted to show you what we did!

Those little yellow ball things are solar powered lights that change color at night... they look SO cool!

We need to sweep the edges up so they are even but other than that I love it! I think it looks great! We have more landscaping plans to come... so we'll see how they work out!!

Never Underestimate the Power of a Puppy...

2010-02-10T19:48:00.001-08:00

Or two puppies for that matter. Except Howie is tame, and no longer a wild beast (so I thought). SURELY he had NOTHING to do with this, it was all Kaila's idea...

Here lie the remains (very very plural remains) of what used to be a puppy pad.:

This is what I get to come home too. Ahhh, isn't it great. At least it's not Brock making the mess.

Love you Howie and Kaila!

Bathroom Project

2010-01-31T20:28:00.000-08:00

So I don't think I ever showed you guys the mini bathroom renovation that Brock and I did in December. I have so say I was very proud. We took our scary bathroom downstairs that has a crazy old blue sink and blue toilet, dark yucky paneling, and of course an aluminum spaceship shower...and made it 1000% better!Now when you walk in you don't feel like spiders are going to bite your ankles. So here are the before pictures: (Technically this isn't the bathroom but this is exactly what the walls and floors used to look like) and the after pictures!! *imagine the lovely warm smell of vanilla as you look at this pictures- haha*

Charlotte Russe

2010-01-21T21:53:00.001-08:00

I love my new dress from CR:

and my new shoes:

the shoes are fairly easy to walk in but they do make my feet tired after a day at the office :D

First Week of School

2010-01-19T21:33:00.000-08:00

Well the class I wasn't sure I'd like, I love, and the class I wanted to take, I don't like at all...

I've been seriously considering dropping my 2 econ classes but I know I would regret that forever. Just being two classes away from a second bachelors degree... come on. I can stick it out. And I will rewards myself with a trip to Latin America!

So for those of you that don't know I'll be gone for 5 weeks to Brazil, Chile and Peru meeting executives and banks and financial institutions, as well as serving the people of Peru with helping make recommendations for micro loan funds. I'm way excited and I've waited my whole college career to have an international experience, and now I'll get that chance.

So my sister Nichelle is doing better from her accident, but today she had to go in for surgery on her hip. The doctors had to re-dislocate it, and pop it back in so they could take out the bone shards that chipped off. Apparently they found out she broke 8 ribs, unlike the 6 we thought she did.

EIGHT RIBS!! She only has 12 and she broke 8! The poor girl is getting worse as she's getting better! I hope we don't have anymore surprise injuries that reveal themselves.

Brock and I went to visit Danielle and Mike Klappoth this weekend. It was so fun to hang with Dani. Silly boys just killed Nazi Bomzies all night.

Well I do have plenty of reading to do: the mystery of capital by Hernando de Soto and of course.... text books.

Thanks for reading!

Sledding on Old Main Hill

2010-01-04T20:07:00.000-08:00

My little sister Nichelle is very blessed to be alive today. She broke her back (not the vertebrae/spinal cord), broke 3 ribs which punctured and collapsed her right lung, and severely dislocated her left hip.

She is going to be ok, it's just going to take a lot of time (and morphine). From what I understand she was sledding with her friends and they decided to link arms and go down on tubes. She was in the middle and they were headed to fast and she couldn't move out of the way of a large tree. She said the last thing she remembers is being told , "Protect your head" so she did everything she could to protect her head. Somehow she survived the crash, and was taken to the emergency room via ambulance.

She had multiple x-rays, and a ct scan to find out the extent of the damage. Her back is broken but not in the sense that you would normally think. The doctors said L5-T11 is broken (I think). Her is a picture to show you where i'm talking about:

I think that the boys who she was sledding with here going to give her a priesthood blessing but their oil was frozen because it was so cold! There have been many prayers for her and her name is in the temple. I'm sure she will be alright it's just a long road to recovery. She will likely be taking the semester off because it will be months before she can pick up textbooks.

I'm so thankful that Brock and I have made it so far without any major injuries. This makes me reflect on how precious life is and that we really do have such amazing bodies, with amazing people that live in those bodies that we love and care about so much. Thanks for everyone's support and love.

Nichelle, we all wish you a speedy recovery and all the morphine you need! Ha- LOVE YOU SISTER!

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T19:49:00.000-08:00

For our Christmas break, Brock and I have had a lot of fun with these two:

and these two:

and James and his sister Naomi... whom I surprisingly don't have any pictures of...

We love you family!

What should I do?

2009-11-17T13:01:00.000-08:00

So I have a choice to make, and i'd like any opinions that you'd like to give.

I have 3 classes left till I graduate with a dual major in Finance and Economics. I have to take a BPS (breadth physical science) class... aka some lame freshman biology or chemistry class I shoulv'e taken a long time ago.

Then I have to take 2 Econ classes that are 5000 level or higher.

The problem is I'm only interested in one econ class that is being offered in spring. The rest make me want to rub a cheesegrater across my forehead (name that movie!). So do I take a semester off to work and take the classes I really would like to learn more about in the fall? Do I suffer and take one class in spring to get it overwith? or do I take one class now and leave one class for the fall?

Here are my econ class options/class descriptions:

I'm interested in 5000, 5200, 5500, and 5600

ECON 5100: History of Economic Thought
Origin and development of economic theories of leading thinkers in western civilization.

ECON 5300: Industrial Organization- Game Theory
Emphasizes market structure, firm conduct, and economic efficiency. Topics include competition, game theory, monopoly, oligopoly, monopolistic competition, firm strategies, and anti-trust policy in the United States.

ECON 5600: Financial Economics
Introduction to development of our present system of money, banking, and financial institutions. Analysis of central bank policy, capital markets, speculative markets, and portfolio theory.

ECON 5000: Advanced Macroeconomic Topics
Covers advanced topics in macroeconomics. Exact topics depend on recent developments in the macroeconomic discipline, the research and teaching expertise of the faculty, and the current state of the macroeconomy, both inside and outside of the U.S. Focuses on studying the most recent developments in macroeconomic theory and applying the theory to the pressing problems in the contemporary macroeconomy.

Taught by Frank Caliendo, who I've heard is an awesome professor

ECON 5110: Economic History of the United States
Development of agriculture, industry, transportation, and finance from colonial times.

ECON 5150: Comparative Economic Systems
History, economic theories, and comparative policies of communist, socialist, and capitalistic economies. Problems facing transition economies.

ECON 5200: Money and Banking
Covers financial markets and the determination of interest rates and asset prices; the money supply process; the structure of the Federal Reserve System and the goals of the Federal Open Market Committee; other topical central banking issues; and the effects of monetary policy on output, interest rates, inflation, unemployment, financial markets, and exchange rates.

ECON 5400: International Trade Theory
Intermediate-level issues in international trade theory and commercial policy. Topics include competitive and noncompetitive trade models, trade policy, balance of payments accounting, exchange rates, international lending and investment, and economic growth.

ECON 5500: Public Finance
One of the most important questions in economics is when or if we should abandon the personal decisions of markets and substitute choosing with and for others through government. By examining the economic activities of government, including taxation, spending, and regulation, this course attempts to answer that question.

Comment on what classes you think I should take and if I should:

A) take sring semester off, and take the classes i'm interest in during fall
B) take one now and one in fall
C) Suffer thru one uninteresting class and one good class
D) Something else

Thanks!!

This is what I look like right now

2009-10-30T13:01:00.000-07:00

can't say much because I need to go back to work but I thought I'd give you a preview of my costume today!

XOXOOOX

2009-10-21T13:02:00.001-07:00

I think we've decided on Kaiala Rio Champlin... I like it!

You Won't Believe It But....

2009-10-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

It'a a girl!!!!

Wait- what?? I know I know, you won't believe it but we did. We bought another Yorkie. This time it's a darling little girl! She is SOOOO CUTE!! I'm so glad we found her. She happened to be in Logan too! She is AKC registered, and so small and darling.

We still don't know what we are going to name her. Our top names are Rio (as in where Brock served his mission in Brasil) and Gucci.

A few others are:
Ritzy
Belle
Elly
Choco
Versace
Zuzi (like suzie)

(added some more names)
Ilse/Ilsa
Porscha
Sophie
Adelade
Elsie
Akira
Laika
Xala
Harley

Any ideas would be great, so if you have a good puppy name leave a comment and maybe we'll pick yours. If you do, then you deserve some sort of prize!!

Here are some pics, enjoy!

Don't worry Howie- I still love you the most! He was so shy around her at first, then when she started getting curious and exploring he growled a little and nipped at her.

I had these notes in my phone

2009-10-19T13:27:00.000-07:00

Elder Oaks
Stake conference May 3, 2009
These notes were in my phone and I wanted to put them somewhere else so I thought my blog would be great! Enjoy!

Stake Conference
Elder Oaks

May 3, 2009

•Great things are in store.
•If we step aside from where "the sticks" or priesthood, that mark the path, then we are lost.
•Having children happens in the lords time. We don't understand the lords time table, but we put things in the lords hands and we are blessed with our desire.
•We are judged for our works and for the desires of our hearts. Do the best you can.
•Personal revalation: When will the lord communicate with us? Shut up and listen. The lord won't wake up someone to reveal to them (drowsy and tired in church).
•Wake up early, pray then study scriptures. Makes his time more effective and so he doesn't forget things. •"Biblical trash", numbers, song of Solomon.
•NO TEXTING during church, he condemns it! Its disrespectful and distracting.
•Lord reveals on his own time, way, and will.
•Satan doesn't have much time. Greatest temptation will be with things that are the greatest to the plan of our Heavenly Father. Things that take away agency-alcohol, (interferes with the power of the mind) tobacco, drugs. pornography, things that drive away the spirit. Anything that destroys the family: De-emphasis of marriage.
•Jesus taught he is the son of God
•The church has no choice but to defend marriage as between man and woman. It has been that way for millenia. We will teach the wrongness of same sex attraction.
•Hold fast to the things that keep us qualified to feel the spirit, attend all church meetings.

Coastal Scents

2009-10-08T17:45:00.000-07:00

So this is a picture of the eyeshadow palatte I just bought from coastalscents.com. It was only $18.95 and has over 88 different colors in it. They are fairly little but still- I don't think i'll be running out anytime soon. They have tons of colors, the next palatte I want to get is the 88 warm (CLICK).

Anyways, I've been super excited about halloween, makeup, and trying out new things. SO I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for me, OR if there were any makeup looks you'd want to see. I've seen tinkerbell looks, geishas, 80's rockers, skull masks and even masqurade masks- painted on the face! If anyone wants to be a victim- or to play makeup with me let me know.

I also need to put up some pictures of my house all decorated and ready for halloween! Those will be coming soon. Leave your comments! Thanks!

2009-10-05T18:29:00.000-07:00

I know this is totally mean BUT I couldn't sleep.... sorry Brock

It was so funny I could barely hold it back.

I love you Brock! BFFE!

Obama Channel

2009-09-10T22:30:00.000-07:00

Any comments on the following video?

I just .... I yuck .... ugh I can't pinpoint why but I just don't like Nancy Pelosi.

The past two days...

2009-09-03T20:50:00.000-07:00

So, I've got to be honest. The past two days have been unusually awesome for me. Let me divulge.

(this post is worth reading, even though it's really long)

Tuesday evening was a meeting for the Huntsman School of Business, Business Council Meeting. I was invited to attend because I've expressed interest in being on the Council. It was on the 9th floor of the business building, which might I say is one of my favorite places in Logan because the sight is gorgeous. The room is so fancy with leather chairs and formal decor. Anyways I went to go find a seat and some guy sitting on the couch, (mind you I didn't know him) jokingly says, "oh here I saved you a seat". I sit down and he says, "sorry if I stink I just came from lifting".

Wow. That's a nice thing to say, so I say something like- "yeah I wasn't gonna say anything" and then I was like pretending to flex and I said, " so which way to the gym eh? I got a kick out of it because I was totally, well not entirely making fun of him but you know- that was a pretty bad way of trying to make me think he works out. Anyways we talked a bit more because I recognized him from one of my classes, and I swear he was making all attempts to look at my left hand- specifically the ring finger.

ANYWAYS, the meeting went great.

So the next day (Wednesday) I get up and go to work where I trained on Positive Leadership. It was rather fun, though I felt like my co-workers thought it was quite dull... and then started work at 9am.

At about 10:45 I get a call from Landon, the Business Council Senator (aka student president) and he says, "Now I totally understand if you can't, because this is so short notice but I was wondering if you could help out the COB (college of business) with a photo shoot they are doing of some student around the city."

Um. Duh? I was stoked! So I got permission from my super awesome boss to go out on the town. We went to the Tabernacle, Cafe Ibis, the Italian Place (never been there- but sandwiches looked great) and then was treated to lunch at Cafe Sabor. When the photographer was taking some pictures of me by myself he said, "Wow, who found this girl" and something to the extent of how good looking I was.

Hey look, i'm not making this up! That was he said... so don't think i'm narcistic :D

Ha, so hopefully the pictures turn out great. I'm sure they will. It did get kind of, um, scandalous?- because it was one picture with me on a bench with one guy, then at a table with another guy, and so on ....so hopefully no one gets the wrong impression! (Just look for my ring bling in the pictures- I told them Brock might beat them up if they weren't careful).

Anyways it really was fun, and the guys- all but one was married- kept asking me all this womanly advice like we were buddies. It was great. The pictures are going to be used in a magazine for the COB and as soon as I find out when it will be published I'll try and get a copy to post some of the pictures.

So on to the excitement of today!

My first class is operations management from Ron Godfrey, who might I say is an AWESOME professor. He really really cares about the students and wants us to take real life lessons away from class. The first day he said, "I want you to make as many mistakes as you can in this class because it's a risk free environment. There's no money to loose, no jobs at stake- you are here to learn."

Aparently his daughter was married 30 minutes before class had started yet he stil showed up. He had a luncheon about 15 minutes after class ended too. So he taught us today about inventories and whatnot. Then he started talking about how important it is to act, and told a story about how he almost was stabbed once when he was in Missouri or something. Then he was telling us we can do anything we put our minds to, and not to ever let anyone tell us otherwise. He's also told us that we are as good as the students at Harvard. They teach the same cirriculum and we should be proud of our unique ethical standards here at USU, and the international experience alot of people have as well as the diverse language backgrounds. He's a good professor.

At the end of class when the other students were filing out, I put away my things and then waited around because all the exits were blocked by a few straggling students that wanted to talk to him. As they left he turned to me as though he were waiting for me to start talking. I just smiled at him, and he kept looking at me and said, "You know you are going to do very well in business don't you"... I half laughed and he took me aside. He said "in being around you I can tell you've got a demeanor that attracts people to you. You're going to go very far in life and in business or whatever you choose." He was completely sincere and I took it as a very nice compliment.

So I had to call Brock and tell him what my professor just said. It made my day. So I don't know it was but I just felt radiant. I headed to the library to meet up with some students for a group project and as I waited some guy came up to me and randomly started talking to me, aparently the look on my face was rather odd- since that's what he commented on. My group members finally did show up, and we had a great time discussing things for our project.

I had a guest speaker in my investments class. He was a USU grad from 10 years ago, that works in NYC on wall street. He was, shall we say, the typical personality of my view of a New Yorker. Hard, not a lot of emotion as he spoke, and very straight to the point... not to mention very (wall) street smart. FYI: that was a joke.... wall street...get it?

Then I walked home. Some kid drove by and ogled/whistled me- I just threw up the ring and said- you're too late buddy.... Not like you wouldv'e stood a chance anyway!

Ha ha ok I actually didnt but that wouldv'e been way funny.

When I got home I saw that Howie had eaten some of the carpet in out bedroom. So I went and ate taquitos and watched Anastasia downstairs. I'm here now, with my cutie Brock watching youtube in our room and i'm blogging about how awesome life is right now.

Well, i've enjoyed your company today- I hope you've enjoyed this post.

XOXOxoXoxO.

California Trip

2009-07-28T21:49:00.001-07:00

Here I am celebrating Danielle and Mike Klappoth weddingness!!! What an amazing story and background of how these two came together! I hope the pictures explain themselves. The wedding was on the beach.... I mean ON THE BEACH in Long Beach CA and it was perfect! Such a blast!!! I'll hopefully get a change to write more but for now here are some pictures!

Of course the two we celebrate:

Notice my tanness level compared to Brock.... :D

Here are the girls for Danielle's bachelorette party at the cheesecake factory!

And of course our suite, rm 341 in the embassy suites hotel next to LAX. It was very gorgeous, and it was cool to see the planes fly so close to the freeway that was just outside of our hotel.

We had 2 TV's, a wet bar, mini fridge and microwave as well as a vanity/sink area in the bedroom. It was so nice!

Thanks! Let me know what you want to know...

A New Post??

2009-06-27T09:23:00.001-07:00

Well, normally I don't blog because I don't feel like, or seem to have time. I belive I do have a little time on my hands now!

So lets see, what things have changed since I last blogged.... I became a Mary Kay consultant. Um, yeah that was a random choice but so far it's been surprizingly fun! I've got this giant shelf cupboard thing in my office full of MK product. Brock recently went to Las Vegas and came home richer than when he left! Yes, he gambled... probably only because I told him too. I have to live my life through Brock. (haha just kidding). I have one semester left of school and a summer class I need to find motivation to finish. It's due in August and I haven't done anything on it since last summer.

Howie met some girls and I believe his teenage horomones are kicking in. He's been a little tempermental sometimes but he is the best decision Brock and I have made! We love that little fellow SO MUCH!

Also we bought a Jeep Cherokee, and sold our Mazda! It all happened so fast, but we got a really good deal on this jeep and we decided to try and be better at "provident living" so now we don't have a car loan. That actually feels really really good. And I don't mind having no A/C for now and getting up at 6:30 to take Brock to work. (you have to understand getting up for me is really hard because lately I haven't been able to sleep till 1 or 2am.)

Well if anyone wants to come to our house we would love to have you over. I was finally able to buy new furniture (first time!!) since we've been married and I love my front room. It's exactly what I pictured it looking like! We'd love to come visit any of you and go on a vaction, so any ideas would be great! We are going to California for Danielle Torres and Michael Klappoth's wedding July 22ish so that should be a good vacation.

Thanks for reading!

Our New House

2009-04-03T23:13:00.000-07:00

OK, so i'm so sorry it's been too long since my last post... I'll tell ya though, school has kept me busy. Linear programing, isoquants and isocosts, stock market investments, exchange rate determination using valuation equations, and retail market theory has surely kept me busy. (Yes, I was trying to impress you with how smart I sound).

But on to the news....Brock and I think we're ready to go public.... we're buying a house!! We are SOOOO excited, and love absolutely everything about the house, except for the big mortgage that comes with it :) I wanted to post some pictures of the house. It's basically in between the Logan hospital and USU. Right now we're at the stage where we are waiting on the underwriters to take a look at our loan, then the title work/paper work will need to be done and we will be the proud new owners! Brock's birthday is also coming up in about a month (May 16th) and I know he's super excited to be getting house stuff- the manly kind of stuff like power tools and whatever.

Anyways here is our baby!!

They ripped up the carpet and professionally restored the beautiful hardwood floors.
Brand new kitchen... the appliances haven't been used!
Pink tub is the best :D
Party basement...

Big backyard, with a huge garden...
So there it is... hopefully things will go by fast so we can move into our new home as soon as possible. We're so excited and so glad we've got our families close by to share the fun with us!

Enjoy! Let me know what you think!

Free Blog Backgrounds

2009-03-08T06:28:00.000-07:00

So I found this new website where you can get cute backgrounds, it's called myblogmakeover.blogspot.com I didn't want to tell anyone about it so I would be the only one with cute backgrounds so people in the blogging world would think i was cool for being original BUT now i guess i'll just have to be cool because i was the first person to hear about it... or was i? :D There are other places like, "cutest blog on the block" and stuff that you can use as well. Funny enough I found this via craiglist.

It's funny I'm not currently using a background from this because I just changed it to this cute pink one that I really like. BUT check out MY OTHER BLOG and you'll see one of my favorite backgrounds from that new site.

and yes, I am due for another large blog about things that are going on... that is yet to come. Good thing spring break is here, that should give me some time.

iPhone is MyPhone

2009-01-30T12:41:00.000-08:00

So I’m getting an iPhone today. In fact it is 11:45 AM and I am meeting my parents at La Tormenta in 15 minutes to have lunch and then drive over and make the purchase.
My stomach is doing back flips- and I have no idea why. Is this excitement? Anxiety? Am I spending too much money when I should just be saving it? I took a women’s one-a-day today (well half of one) because I decided that would be my excuse for why I feel so crazy. This phone is SO cool, and I hate my old phone. Stupid T-Mobile shadow. I wouldn’t suggest to anyone to buy the brand name phone that is made by your carrier. Buy a phone from a company that specializes in phones like Blackberry, Motorola, or LG. Ok well I can’t say the necessarily specialize in cell phones but they’ve done a lot better job that T-Mobile.
So my Dad asked me why I want an iPhone, what does it have that my current phone does not. Well for one, my old phone doesn’t really work and I need to send it in under the warrantee to have it replaced. The camera doesn’t work, whenever I text it spells words that are beyond my comprehension- it is not very smart at guessing what I am trying to say. I can get on the internet but it isn’t very reliable (wireless only). These are only a few. The iPhone on the other hand, well lets get real. There are thousands of app’s you can download that do anything and everything. There is an app that allows you to blow in the mike, and play it like an instrument. There’s an app so your iPhone can act like a level so you can hang pictures, you can budget your checking and savings accounts, check stock prices, exchange rates, give you recipe suggestions, you can even tell it to “fake call” you at a designated time. WOW this is not a phone, this is the world at my fingers!
I had thought of something profound in the shower today but now I can’t remember what .
Well I’m back! I’ve had lunch, and ate an apple- more like I am now a consumer of the iPhone! How cool! More to come!

Stem Cell Research

2009-01-19T21:34:00.000-08:00

So I am teaching my class in a week about Stem Cell Research, and can I just let everyone know something....

I am Pro-Choice. If you choose to have sex, then you choose to live with the consequences of that choice. Which means creating human life. Once you have made that choice abortion is not an option.

Why do so many people think you can do things with out having consequence. If I want to jump up, I have to realize that because of gravity I will come back down. Intercourse leads to pregnancy, it's a simple fact.

Dance Off

2008-12-20T21:50:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Christmas Parties

2008-12-19T21:40:00.000-08:00

So Brock and I went to the Allen Christmas party tonight at my Aunt Brenda's house. It was a lot of fun! I brought my cello and my dad and me played Christmas songs- he played the trumpet. Usually every year the kids put on a "play" of Mary and Joseph and stuff... BUT this year my aunt decided that the "married people and older" were going to do it.

We decided that my Grandpa Allen would read from Luke 2, and every few versus we sang songs that had to do with what he was reading. So I played my cello to songs like, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, Far Far Away on Judea's plane, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Joy to the World, and I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. Wow, it was so amazing and I couldn't hold back the tears. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day is my FAVORITE song and we all sang the first two verses while my Grandpa sang that last ones. I played my cello and it was amazing. I didn't really know the notes but it just came to me and somehow my fingers moved and it translated into the notes of the song. I felt so overwhelmed, and so happy. I love my families so much, life means so much to mean and I am so happy to belong to the true church of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for his sacrifice for me individually. I know he loves us all, and wants us all to return to live with him. What a wonderful plan of happiness we have. I know it is worth all the sacrifices we have to make to stay on the straight and narrow. This was one of the best Christmas parties i've been to with the Allen family. I love my Grandpa and Grandma- I was thinking about how he sealed Brock and I in the temple about 2 1/2 years ago... what a wonderful experience! I'm so excited to start a family (hopefully soon) and am thankful for this season.

Tomorrow we have the Champlin Family Christmas Party- wahoo! That will be way fun! Monday is the Roberts Family Party. Brock and I are going to be partied out!

Thank you everyone for your love and examples to me, what a wonderful life!!!

Howie's First Real Snow!

2008-12-13T11:41:00.000-08:00

So this morning I took Brock to work and it was snowing, a few hours later it was snowing like crazy! There was about 4 inches outside, and Howie was doing his, 'i've held it so long and i've got to go' sit by the door move. So my sister, Nicole, and I bundled up and went out with him. Yeah I don't think snow is Howie's favorite right now, he was barely stepping out the front door. I threw him out into the "deep end" and he just seemed like- what is this stuff!!!??!

He eventually started walking around and exploring but I couldn't tell if he had already gone the bathroom. We went back inside, he has little snowballs stuck in his fur and his face was SO CUTE all covered in snowflakes! I loved it!

P.S. We went bowling last night, and I got 37 the first time and 60-something the next. Yeah bowling is my favorite sport...

Welcome Home Max!!

2008-12-11T23:06:00.000-08:00

Well we all went to pick up Max today, Luke and Rick drove down with us to the airport. I can't describe how I felt while I was waiting.. it was nervous excitement to say the least! I've never welcomed a missionary home at the airport before (that I can remember) and it was an awesome experience. We all were a little teary eyed when Linda was finally holding her missionary again! I didn't take too many pictures, and the ones I did were a little blurry, but here they are!

We ended up waiting at the bottom of some stairs/escalators and it took FOREVER before we saw Max, Brock and I brought Howie too. Afterwards we went to Tepanyaki for dinner... always a treat to have your food diced and sliced in front of you! The chef guy made an onion volcano, and Brock and I both caught the shrimp he tossed to us. (me on the second try) and LUKE- aka MR Professional shrimp catcher, caught 3 in a row!

It was a lot of fun, I think my favorite part was just sitting at the Champlin's talking with the family and laughing about great things.

Go White Rhino.

Cool Blog

2008-12-06T11:47:00.000-08:00

I found a blog that I thought was pretty cool: http://cedric-paris2e.blogspot.com/ also you should look at http://bancop617.blogspot.com/ to see cute pictures of Howie in his santa suit!

Thanksgiving Photos

2008-12-06T11:19:00.001-08:00

So Brock and I went down to St George for Thanksgiving. It was so fun, and so delishous (sp?) Here are some pictures! We had alot of fun with Dylan and Trey!

Luke gave Trey a "broken arm"

I Got Tagged

2008-11-21T16:42:00.000-08:00

Eight things I did yesterday
1. Skipped Financial Policy Class
2. Rearranged our front room
3. Finally caught and disciplined Howie for pooping in the house (he has become stealthy lately)
4. Watched HGTV.com holiday tips
5. Went to Walmart at 11:30 to buy printer ink for my homework
6. Got a massage… from the Hubby
7. Watched the Office
8. Went to work

Eight Places I like to eat
1. Fredrico’s
2. Jamba Juice (does that count?)
3. Rodizio’s
4. Black Pearl (except when I get bad sushi)
5. Hamilton’s
6. Pizza Hut- Stuffed crust
7. Home
8. Pizzeria Sicilia

Eight Shows I like to Watch
1. Prison Break
2. Heroes
3. Fringe
4. Criminal Minds
5. The Office
6. Lost
7. Two and a Half Men
8. CSI

Eight Things I look forward too
1. Thanksgiving in St. George
2. Christmas/My Birthday
3. Buying presents for everyone
4. Going home to Howie
5. Finals… so the semester is over
6. When Brock gets a new job that is during the day instead of night
7. Graduating next year!!
8. Having kids
8.1 Max coming home

Eight People I Tag:
1. Ashley Poulsen
2. Courtney Burkholder
3. AJ Anderson
4. Jenny Jewkes Johnson
5. Kenny Wilkes
6. Aubrey Revo
7. Marissa Wilkinson Anderson
8. Danny Brownell

Christmas for Thanksgiving

2008-11-11T00:33:00.000-08:00

So today I felt in the Christmas mood- Brock and I have been listening to Christmas music on Pandora since November started and we've enjoyed it. My theory is- every year after Christmas is over I always wish it would last a little longer. So why not start it earlier!!

When I got to work today I had a new PC (my old one would turn off randomly...yet especially when I had someone at my desk) however I didn't have a keyboard. So I had to work at the empty desk aka "new accounts" desk. So I cleaned it off, very dusty, I even cleaned some of the very dirty letters on the keyboard and I wiped off the mouse.

That computer at that desk is the one that determines what music is played, so since it was my desk for the day- so was the music. I decided that some nice classic oldies Christmas would do just fine. WELL let me tell YOU that was not what everyone else thought. I have never seen such a reaction to music. I mean I probably could have played rap-sic-not your mama's music (not that I like that garbage) and gotten a relatively kinder response.

I overheard a few of my co-workers complain about the music, and claim that "people were complaining" about the music.... well guess what.... I had people complain that we didn't play Christmas music more often! No one ever asked me to change the station. Anyways, Steve- who is awesome and I know he doesn't like Christmas music before Thanksgiving, started a fun little game once he was back from lunch. He had turned the stereo volume all the way off. Once I noticed I casually turned it back on. IT WAS ALL FUN AND GAMES, but everyone seemed so passionate about it. I thought I might just get a demerit of some sort! Eventually my Pandora station was changed, and the power was cut to the speakers SO I had to go to my backup plan. I had a personal stereo at my desk from Halloween so I could play spooky music, and I decided to put on the non stop Christmas station. Since the speakers to the whole building had been sabotaged by NOT me, everyone could apparently hear my personal Christmas experience.

Donna, Kristi and Ali stormed over and demanded I turn it off. Ha, they were so funny because it drove them crazy. (Sorry guys but it's true). They ended up stealing the cord that goes from my stereo to the plug in the wall... which I got back later.

Anyways I think my boss was a little concerned about how everyone was picking on me, how I was being rebellious, and how everyone was being very Grinchy. And I hope I didn't make anyone mad by calling then Grinches... if I did I am sorry, it was all in fun.

It was so hilarious, and I couldn't help but keep playing along. I would never have thought that playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving would get me almost beaten by an umbrella.

Congratulation

2008-11-09T23:35:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take the time to congratulate myself on the fact that someone from:

Republic of Seoul, Korea, on Sun, 09 Nov 2008 05:47:37 -0600

visited my blog.

I'll be famous, one day.

Homework

2008-11-08T13:26:00.000-08:00

So I have way too much Homework to do this weekend, and i've just finished Part 3 of my Portfolio for my Fashion class. It's a great class, just a lot of random stuff I have to do. We watched this youtube video in class and I thought it was worth sharing! It's what people back in the 50's(or sometime back in the day) thought the dress in the year 2000 would look like.

Listen for the, "ohh swish"!

Enjoy!

"We are fellow Americans"

2008-11-04T20:41:00.000-08:00

Well, i'm one for one! Congratulations Barack, you almost have the same name as my husband! (and you are the president elect) I thought that John McCain did an excellent job on his concession speech. A few things he said:

He pledged to "do all in his power" to help Obama improve the country in these dangerous and fiscally challenging time.
He told his supporters to give Obama their help "to help restore our prosperity" and to defend the country.
"Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans."

GO USA, I hope that we can all come together and not loose faith in this great country of ours.

“If there is anyone out there who doubts that America is a place where anything is possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer,”

Obama also had some good words: We are not red and blue states, but The United States.

I like how he said to his two daughters "you are earned the new puppy that is coming with us to the White House".
"I will never forget who this victory belongs to, it belongs to you."
"the road ahead will be long, the road is steep, we may not get there in one year or one term but I promise you we will get there"
"I will always be honest with you on on the challenges we face"
"let us summon a spirit of patriotism, of service"
He said that those whom he did not win their vote, he will be their president too.

He also talked about a lady in Georgia who went to the polls today at 106 years old. She has seen so much, from cars, planes, man on the moon, the berlin wall coming down, and now today she had touched a screen that helped change history. What changes will the younger generations see in a century? What will his daughters live to see?

"May God Bless the United States of America"

Get out and Vote today!

2008-11-04T11:26:00.000-08:00

Well today is here. Every leap year on the first Tuesday in November we should all be out to vote. We've all probably followed at least a little of what's going on- some of the issues that our country and state faces. This is the first year i'm able to vote (I missed it by a few months 4 years ago) and Brock and I just got back from doing exactly that.

It was actually pretty fun. Since i've never voted before I was a little nervous- only because I didn't want to look like a gomer with all these older people there able to work technology better than I could. They didn't even check my ID... ? When I got to my little booth I found myself looking over my shoulders to make sure no one was looking. I didn't really know how to use the card the poll lady gave me. I tried swiping it like a credit card, then I clicked it in and out of the machine. It said "Your ballot has been cancelled, please see the poll lady"... What?! Did I ruin my chance to finally vote? No I just didn't push the card in right. Ha.

So I started my voting process. There was alot of people to vote for! I think next time i'll learn about the local issues because I was a little confused at what I was voting for some of the time (please don't take that as stupidity-- i'm a very smart person). I wrote myself in on a few... I almost did for President but then I realized even if I won I wasn't old enough. :)

Ha ha overall voting was great, and there wasn't really any line for Brock and I to wait in. So moral of the story is-- get out and vote! Even if it's for yourself!

How to make said cute Halloween Wreath

2008-11-03T18:20:00.000-08:00

How to do what I talked about in the Title of this blog, and sorry that it's coming about 361 days late!

STEP ONE

Buy this wreath :

($3.00 at Michaels, and a similar one would probably do)

STEP TWO

Buy some cute things to glue on to your wreath:

Wood gravestones/"trick or treat" saying : $0.50 each

Googely Eyes: $1.00 for a bag of tons

Spooky old-looking picture frames: $1.00

Natalee's face as she hot glue's her finger: Priceless

STEP THREE

If you don't have a hot glue gun, (like me) you can buy one for pretty cheap. I got one that is fairly small and it was only $2.99 at Michael's and I think a bag of glue was about that much as well. Print off some black and white pictures of you, your family, you're cute dog... etc and glue different size googely eyes onto the eyes in your pictures. Then place the pictures in the frames and place your decorations around the wreath. Hot glue them on.

STEP FOUR

Finishing touches. I used some extra ribbon that I had to make the center ribbon and then just folded it around my fingers to make the curls. Be creative... maybe you could add creppy fake spiderwebs or even real fake spiders!

Then hang and enjoy!!

Halloween Hot and Cold!

2008-11-03T17:52:00.000-08:00

Well Halloween is my Dad's birthday so we always get to celebrate! I'd have to say when I was young it was not really a big bummer because we still got to go trick or treating, and it gets better every year because I think the Halloween parties that people in CV throw are lame. Like the Howl/Scream... yeah they combined the institute dance and the cyran (sp?) wrap model rave together. Who knows?

Brock and I dressed up for work. He was a bad Jedi- aka Sith, and my work had the theme "Where's Waldo" so I dressed up as "Witch Waldo" haha. Clever I might add... I was trying really hard to find a Sarah Palin Waldo outfit but, aparently there's not much you can do at 10PM on Oct 30th. And of course Howie dressed up, he had a cute little bee costume... stinger, antena and all!

Also I made Brock go shopping with me on Saturday to get all the 50% off, 75% off Halloween decor items. It's the way to go when you're a poor college wife who just HAS to have cutsie things. I should try and become more creative. Wait.... wait... wait!! What am I talking about! Brock and I made a craft, yes--- a wreath! We even took pictures on purpose so I could blog about my DIY halloween wreath. (More to come on that later)

Now to the hot and cold.... I was just at home tonight making dinner when I thought I smelt a familiar smell... One step it would smell strongly, and then one more step it got fainter... I got on my hands and knee's. It wasn't under the rocking chair, nor on the love sac, I looked near the computer and all the corners by the banana chairs... I was about to give up when I caught a glimpse of what looked like deer droppings underneath the dinning table. I had found the source. Howie had a few little "poops" he left for me to find under the table.

It's just a good thing I have the sence of smell or we couldv'e run into some stinky situation!

Thanks for reading!

St George

2008-11-03T17:49:00.000-08:00

This post will be dedicated to the adventures of St George that Brock, me, Adam and Maria Covington had a few weekends ago... a few things to be mentioned:

-all the shopping we did
-me getting us there in like 4 hours
-body world
-fiesta fun (or not fun)
-getting lost on the golf course in a golf kart
-soccer sluts (pardone mi frenche)

Modifications and updates to come..

Snowing in October

2008-10-11T09:58:00.000-07:00

So this weekend the Lurp (aka Brock Poulsen) and his wife Ashley, came to visit Brock and I. We went to El Sol Friday night, then came back to our apartment. Stu, and Kraig and Katie came over (Zoe too). Howie and Zoe chased each other the whole night.

We played a Wii olympics game which was pretty cool, then we were going to watch Hellboy but Brock couldn't find the DVD. The boys left to go to Red Box while Ashley and I had some good girl bonding time. They came back with Jumper- which is an awesome movie, however I feel asleep pretty fast too.

This morning we are just hanging out, and are going to lunch with AJ, Jessica, and baby Zoee!! I am so excited! The last time I saw baby Zoee was when she was about a week old.

Yeah for friends, I love spending time with people and getting to know them better. Ashley- you are way cool and we should hang out while our husbands play the wii and earn money for us.

Also *note* it SNOWED today! Crazy! I really think that Howie needs to get a sweater or jacket of some sort. He was shaking for a while after he came inside from his bathroom break.

Scoville Scale

2008-09-28T20:02:00.001-07:00

So if anyone was wondering, this is the scale of how hot a peper is..

Scoville scale Scoville rating Type of pepper
15,000,000-16,000,000 Pure capsaicin
8,600,000-9,100,000 Various capsaicinoids (e.g. homocapsaicin, homodihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin)
2,000,000-5,300,000 Standard U.S. Grade pepper spray, FN 303 irritant ammunition
855,000-1,050,000 Naga Jolokia

350,000-580,000 Red Savina Habanero
100,000-350,000 Habanero chili, Scotch Bonnet Pepper, Datil pepper, Rocoto, Jamaican Hot Pepper African Birdseye

50,000-100,000 Thai Pepper, Malagueta Pepper, Chiltepin Pepper, Pequin Pepper
30,000-50,000 Cayenne Pepper, Ají pepper, Tabasco pepper, some Chipotle peppers
10,000-23,000 Serrano Pepper, some Chipotle peppers
2,500-8,000 Jalapeño Pepper, Guajillo pepper, New Mexican varieties of Anaheim pepper,Paprika (hungarian wax pepper)
500-2,500 Anaheim pepper , Poblano Pepper, Rocotillo Pepper
100-500 Pimento, Pepperoncini
0 No heat, Bell pepper

Eagle Eye

2008-09-27T14:19:00.000-07:00

So Brock, Luke, and I just got back from watching the movie Eagle Eye. AMAZING! So far all the movies I've seen with Shia LaBeouf have been awesome and i'd buy them all.
When we got to the theatre I specifically selected seats that had no one in the row in front of me so I could put my feet up. A few minutes before the movie started a family walked in and as they walked by some old guy said

"Let's sit here so we can smell feet" and then he grabbed my flip flop

WHAT!! Yeah I gave Brock a wide eyed HUH kinda look. They laughed because aparently strange old men touching good looking young womans feet is appropriate at movie theatres.

I ended up being polite and moved my feet to the cup holder rest in front of me. Then they pulled that down too... Come on people! Don't you know who I am? Natalee doesn't take no, or no crap at the movie theatre. I decided to be nice and just sat indian style most of the movie. My toes were violated/cold anyways. Haha.

What Was Lost Now Is Found!

2008-09-21T13:14:00.001-07:00

Well, Brock's bike was found by the manager of our little community/apartment complex! (woot.) Yeah apparently the neighbor boys stole it. So I called the cops to let them know we had gotten the bike back and I also asked that they go talk to the family/little boy to let them know that what they did was wrong. Because stealing IS wrong.

Speaking of stealing... I have come into possession of information that would probably make people want to steal. My father in law revealed the long awaited, divinely inspired, secret of AUNT LYNELL'S SALSA!! And guess what.. I didn't have to steal the information. It was willingly given to me. I have it secretly written down in my mind and I wont give it up. But the recipe does go a little something like this....

1 cup Magic
2 cups Yummy things
3 tsp Envy
1 Pinch of Addiction
and some cilantro... not parsley.

I will not break, though you may try I'm too strong. Knowing the recipe makes my life worth more... so perhaps if I am ever in a situation like Michael Scofield I will be able to use it as leverage. Just as he uses his intellect, charm, and good looks to stay out of jail and help the government bring down "The company" by rescuing the contents of "scylla".

"I'll never tell..."

Stolen in Logan

2008-09-16T18:29:00.000-07:00

Well, Brock's bike got stolen. That sucks major. We've been riding our bikes to work and such, and yesterday when I rode home from work I saw Brock's bike resting in the driveway along our garage wall. I thought, "oh I should remind him to put that in the garage". We went to Angie's for dinner, came back (bike still there) then at about 11 ish we took Howie out to go the bathroom before we went to bed and it was gone.

Brock called the non-emergency police number (yes I have it on speed dial and yes i've called on all those stupid Walmart people who think they can park in the fire lane) and an officer came out, took Brock's testimony or whatever you call it... report? Anyways he said he'd look for it (good luck sir) and he also made a comment that he would look at the apartment complex next to us... like he's had trouble there before...

So today I've felt all violated that someone would do that. When I got home from work today, I was all paranoid about running into the house to open the garage door while leaving my bike at the front door. Then I SWEAR I locked the front door after I came inside. I went upstairs to change, then came down to clean up the front room. When I went up again it smelled like a candle was burning, and then when I went to take Howie to the bathroom the front door was unlocked. I'm a spaz like that I guess, but I swear I consciously locked the front door thinking about creepy stealing killing puppy-napping bad guys.

At least Howie will protect me... he's showing off his teeth... or most likely laughing at me.. :D

Anyways I'm at home know, counting change so I can pay the pizza delivery guy when he gets here. I"m sure he'll like me. It was actually cheaper to call and order rather than do it online. So take that stuffed crust. It also took me like 30 mintues just to figure out what I wanted, and then whemn I called they said it would be about 55 mintues. What happened to speeding eh? I'm thinking 30 minutes. But whatever, I'll just fill up on Milky Way candy bar untill he gets here... Yumm!

Entertain Me Wally

2008-09-10T21:14:00.001-07:00

So there were a few things that happened last week that I wanted to Blog about but now I can't really remember them....I'll try my best...

So saturday Brock and I started cleaning out the 2nd bedroom closet... aka the throw junk in boxes then just shove the boxes somewhere, closet. While I was cleaning off some shelves I felt something warm on my foot. I thought "oh how cute, Howie is licking my foot" and as I looked down I saw Howie, pooping on my foot.

Brock was vacuuming our bedroom and so I loudy said "He pooped on my foot!" Brock actually didn't belive me at first, then I showed him the skid mark on my left leg. It was rather hilarious and I wasn't mad at all. Howie was then banished while I cleaned up the poo and febreezed that room.

Tonight, Brock and I had a few things to grab at the store.. unfortunately we live within 2 minutes of walking distance to walmart so we always go to that devil store. So we were walking down the aisle, (duh nah-na-na, duh nah nu nah) and I saw some cool fall colored ribbon. As I was looking some walmart associate walked by with those metal-i-make-things-easier-to-pull things that had boxes 8ft high. As he walked by I put that thing of ribbon on the tallest box I could reach and snickered. Lame I know, but it gets better. As we were leaving I saw these giant chairs with carts attached to the front. They had green and red lights, but were plugged into the wall. I unattached the piece of equipment from the wall and starting driving! Then I parallel parked next to the pepsi machine and went home.

Oh thank you Wally World, even though I hate you, you can sometimes be entertaining.

No... Your OTHER Manager

2008-08-31T11:05:00.000-07:00

So last night Brock and I went to Ruby Tuesdays with our friends Adam and Maria Covington. When we got in there was another group of 4, consisting mainly of older people (aka grandparents age) the host asked how many in thier group and the oldest man said, "Four, and while you're at it I need to see your manager" The host said well I am a manager, as he pointed to his badge saying "Shift leader"... The older gentleman said, "oh your other manager"

*snicker*

I then proceeded to turn around to Brock and said sarcastically "You're OTHER manager"

So we were seated and some fool named Jeff was our waiter. He was a jerk from the start. He was skimpy (in my opinion) in he gave us (aka bottomless lemonades), rude, smark alek, and not willing to provide 110% service.. which I at least expect 101% service... he was more like an F- server. I don't think either of us tipped him very well seeing as how we determine the tip by preformance. For example we left like a $15 tip the other day because the waiter guy was AWESOME! So there you go waitering world... please don't suck because nobody likes that.

Walking Home From Work

2008-08-26T17:22:00.001-07:00

So I get alot of time to think in the 5-8 minutes it takes me to walk home from work. I wanted to share all the thoughts/funny things I see or that happen on the way home.

-Half the days I always see this lady sitting in a wheel chair pushing herself around with her feet.... yes her non broken ones
-WARNING GROSS AHEAD:Used pregnancy tests/things that are supposed to prevent pregnancy
-This random old car that it FULL of junk, ie food, newspapers, dolls, purses, trash, and more trash... and i think it's unlocked so i'm always temped to clean it
-I usually look at the rocks by walmart to find "crab rocks" (see pirates 3)
-Today I walked home with a half full gallon of milk. I felt like Juno, but with milk.
-Yesterday I forgot my keys to the house so I had to walk to the Hampton for Brock's keys, but he just threw them to me from across the sidewalk
-Frequenly, when I drive to work (that is rarely done) I will walk home without my car... then I think it's stolen when I go to use it... then I walk back to work to get it.
-I also always think about how rent is coming due when I see the "devonshire" sign...then I think about how i'm excited for every other thursday
-Today on my way TO and FROM work I actually waited for some cars to pass along 2nd East and 16th North. Normally I just walk out in front of the cars but I didn't feel like dodging death AGAIN.... thanks for not killing me Donna
-I though about how Brock would be proud when I told him about the above bullet point

This Weekend

2008-08-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

Things that happened/will happen this weekend:

-Brock and I sent our letter to Chad
-I watched the first 6 episodes of Prison Break... aka hott Michael and Lincoln(I still like you more Brock)
-Lacey threw a banana at me
-DFCU Company Party/Picnic in which I am bringing Howie too... and Jasper coming as well. I hope I win BIG $$ PRIZES
-I came up with some swell slogans for Deseret First
-Brock and I rolled 100 million quarters for his vending machine stuff
-I yoinked a Pepsi from the 2nd floor and Brock didn't find out till after the 3rd floor
-I listed to "the Final Countdown" from Arrested Development
-I actually tried getting my haircut but no one wanted too... or they just wouldn't answer their phones
-I watched the aftermath of Zions bank being robbed
-Brock suggested that he buy me a new outfit for school....WOW AWESOME so I got 2 new jeans for 40 bucks and Big Black shirt... DO WORK!!!
-I took Howie to puppy class and he was the favorite puppy of them all!

This should probably be followed with posts of things YOU have done this weekend. :D And Mine will continue to be updated.

CONTINUED....

Alright now as of Sunday these things happened,
-Finished Prison Break...WOW
-Went to the company party, and left my ticket for the prize drawing in my pocket THE WHOLE DANG time!!! When I finnally put 2 and 2 together I won stupid Utah/BYU tickets that I traded for an AWESOME book by an apostle. I didn't even want an iPod or trip to disneyland so take that!!
-went to Hamiltons and found out they no longer have the chocolate torte.. so not much reason to go there anymore. (ok there a few other reasons to still go)
-some other stuff that was way cool

Random Stuff to Catch Up On

2008-08-16T09:18:00.001-07:00

Well there's alot I'd like to write about, but right now I can't think of anything... I'll just start.

So Dani, Brent, and Patrick came up last weekend to hang with Brock and I- that was fun. We went to the Celebration Centre here in Logan where we rode the Sky Coaster (you basically freefall a couple hundred feet and swing back and forth) I made Dani pull the rip cord when we went. We also went on the Go Karts. We made yummy malibu chicken with this "company cous cous", very good times.

So Howie got his first haircut! Can't remember if I've posted about that or not. Yeah it was $40!!!! I am definately learning how to cut puppy hair- or Howie is going to put us on the streets... :D

So Chad wrote Brock and I a letter. It sounds like he is enjoying his mission experience so far. It's cool to know that the spirit is so strong and that Chad is strengthening his testimony everyday. Go Chad! We love you!

Oh SO here is a good story.... the other day I drove to work, which is odd because I usually walk... it's only about a 7 minute walk... anyways on thursday night after work i'm like.. yeah! Time to walk home! Nicole was over and at 8PM I needed to take Howie to puppy school, so I went over and opened the door to the garage. "Where's the car?!" I had no idea where the car was! I thought it was stolen! Then I remembered that I had left it at work. Lo and behold we still made it to puppy school fairly ontime.

Howie's Elephant

2008-08-04T20:26:00.000-07:00

So I went to Khols today and bough one of those stuffed elephants that are always near where you check out... the one where 100% of the money goes to little kids or something. Anyways this elephant is bigger than Howie and when I brought it home to him it was hilarious!

Howie was acting all scared of it. He would come up to it, bark, and then army crawl away. I had to grab him and the elephant so howie knew it wasn't another real animal... he is now happily chewing on its trunk, and half whiplashing it around. So cute! When I find my camera charger I'll post a picture.

Also tonight was very eventful. It was the first time in 2 years that I have not been able to use my credit card because the name on my card did not match my license. Yep, it's been 2 years and my license still says Allen on it. Grrr... I was so mad at the girl- it was $5. I think it was absurd. The only reason people ID it to make sure people are really using their own credit card. She had no reasonable reason to think that I wasn't who I said I was. How many people spell their name with two EE's?? I had other cards with Champlin but noooo... this girl wouldn't let me. I guess I didn't need that cute bamboo magazine holder anyways...

What I Didn't Know About Little Boy Dogs

2008-07-29T17:43:00.000-07:00

So Howie as been a handfull lately, this afternoon before work I took him upstairs with me to grab a few last minutes things and he ran under the bed and peed. He has been peeing everywhere! He used to do so well to go on his puppy pad, I even bought that spray that is suppsosed to help him want to go there (maybe it's just sugar water). Ha anyways its fairly hit and miss with the potty training... but mostly miss.

Also Brock sure did enlighten me tonight, lets just leave it at: I learned something about boy puppies that I never thought I would...

On the 24th of July we went down with my Grandma Lenis and Grandpa Ted to Maddox with the Marshes. Apparently Kale, Jennifers son, asked her "is that one cool mom who plays rock back going to come"? ... aka Natalee. It made my day!

Well i'm trying to figure out a better way to leave Howie alone when Brock and I have work. He can't just stay in his little 1 foot tall crate all day. My ideas have been:

1. Puppy proof the bathroom or extrabedroom and let him roam in there
2. Get a baby port-a-crib
3. Find some fence/larger cage thing for him
4. Get suggestion from other people... :P

Well thats my quick update. XOXO

Howie's Haircut and Batman Adventures

2008-07-23T19:31:00.001-07:00

So I have to confess, I am not one for standing in lines, especially for movies. So I don't do it. Saturday the 19th, everyone (aka Champlin Fam) went to the Dark Knight at 3pm. We got there around 2ish and the line was out the door, around the building, and back to the side exit doors. We waiting and got our hands marked so they knew we had our tickets taken.

Well I had meant to get there early, but didn't so the back of the line just didn't cut it. I saw that the showing right before ours got out so I decided to see if I could put my "1st in line skills" to work.

Heidi came with me to get a drink of water and we just walked in the theatre while poeple were still filing out. We sat there and pretended to watch the end credits while we talked a little, then the ushers started moving people out. So we got up and walked towards the dark hallway. There is a smaller wall when you make the first turn and so I told Heidi to stand up against that quietly while we waited for the worker boy to leave. Unfortunately our Kronk like skills are not perfected and we were detected. Lol. (anybody want a peanut...) ANYWAYS he was like, "What is this?" I made up some mummble jumble and he was like "you have to go to the back of the line". By this time people were already running in for seats so I just said, "What, yeah? Ok... Whatever!?" and walked right on in and saved 3rd row seats in the back section. Yeah basically it was pretty sweet. If we hadn't there was no way all 11 or 12 of us could have sat on the same row.

Hey i'm just trying to keep the fam together.

Moral of the story is... go to movies with me.

NOW on to Howie, so he has grey hair on the top of his head. Silly old man puppy! It started parting down the middle so he had very grey roots with black ends. I thought he looked like one of the 3 stooges so I gave him a little trim on his head. I don't think it looks that bad.

Natalee 2 : Movie Theatre 0.

Hello Tegucigalpa!

2008-07-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

Well last night Chad was set apart as a missionary. What an amazing experience that I was able to participate in. I don't remember ever being apart of that for someone I am so close to. Chad is such an amazing guy and when you heard the words of that prayer you KNEW that the Lord was speaking directly to Chad.

I am so proud that he has made this choice, if you think about it a mission is a pretty crazy committment. We pray for you always Chad and know that you will be safe, your family back home will be safe, and that the Lord has a plan in store for the next 2 years of your life!!

And boy do I love Brock... what a babe! I am so glad I married him, if not for his good looks and loving personality, but his awesome family! I could NOT have asked for better, you guys are more than I desereve!

Sunday, July 20th, was not only Chad's farewell but Brock and I's 2 Year Anniversary!! GO US!! We are probably going to celebrate it officially in a few weeks because we wanted to be with family as much as possible. And I got to play Abide With Me on my cello for Chad in sacrament meeting. That was awesome. The thing I was worried about most is that I would look at Linda and start to cry and not be able to read the music because I didn't have it memorized. Luckily I was able to focus and hopefully it sounded good.

Speaking of family, ahem, Zach-Trisha/Talia-Wes, I miss you and never get to see you! It's so much fun to spend time with you guys so visit when you can. We love it.

Well back to Chad, for all who want to know his address is:

Elder Chad Paul Champlin
Honduras Tegucigalpa Mission
Provo Mission Training Center
2005 North 900 East
Provo, UT 84604

Brock will most likely be taking care of Chads facebook while gone so Chad wanted us to make sure that no one thought he was on breaking the rules or anything. I'm thinking of making a blog or something dedicated to him... but there's always Jeweza Broma Chaluk.

Thanks always for reading. I LOVE YOU CHAMPLINS! Thank you for being such a wonderful, strong, loving family!

Birthday Fun

2008-07-08T17:33:00.000-07:00

Well there have been quite a few Birthdays in the last week. My best girl friend Stacey Arrington Leybas turned 21, my sister-in-law Trisha Champlin, and my sister Nichelle Allen. We celebrated both Trisha's and Nichelle's birthday on the same night (saturday). I had some friends from Oregon come down, Elise (other best girl friend) and Austin Dungan, Brent Cazinha, and Patrick Williams.

Pat and Brent mostly came to hang out with Brock I think. It's funny how well Brock gets along with the Oregon friends that he's met. He's quite the people person. *Perharps he is a paper person's paper people* So we watched stuff on Patricks iPod and then I forgot that I still needed to get Nichelle a present. Which I still haven't given her because I forgot.... oops.

I had dinner with the Champlins at Hamiltons. I got the Halibut California- SO GOOD, I really liked it. Naomi was wearing onions as bracelets and making sunglasses with her fingers. She starting putting her thumbs in her nose and her other fingers up by her ears saying look! look! It was totally cute. Luke was quoting Brian Regan as I was holding back tears of laughter. Fortunately we had a table in back where the other guests couldn't really hear us. We also got an appetizer that Zach guessed was $39.99- I wonder how much it really was. I might never know...

So as dinner wrapped up Jeff and Linda were fawning over cute baby James. Some great face-pulling action. Naomi was combing Heidi and I's hair with a loud mooing flashlight, and we all were laughing at Chad and Luke's good quote-abilities.

After dinner I raced over to my parents with Luke, most of my Dad's family was there. I had a good talk with my Grandpa Ed about life, and saw that Howie was being passed around as to spread his cuteness to all the family. Brock could not make it to either party so at my parents I grabbed the video camera and had everyone say a little tribute to him. The best was my Grandpa Allen made up a rhyme. Actually is was more like a rap.. :D

My Uncle Randall came up from Nevada to hang with my Dad. They saw the stix concert and the cruise in, in Cache Valley on Friday night while Mom and the rest of us girls went and played Bingo with the Marshes. (Jennifer's son, Kale, does mutton bustin and its the cutest ever) SIDETRACK--- back to the party. What an awesome barbeque Mom! THANKS!

That night Brock, Elise, Brent, Pat, and Austin and I went to the Champlins with Luke to watch Iron Man. It was way fun. In the morning we played Simpsons Monopoly (I was the banker because I declined to play a game that had to do with filthy simpsons-ha).

Sunday night we had more birthday festivities for Nichelle- which I forgot her present for the 2nd time. Then my Mom and Nichelle and I went to the Champlins to chat. It was hilarious- what a riot we all can be. That night Brock and I watched Vantage Point, which I enjoyed.

LAST THING!! AJ Anderson and his wife had a baby on sunday night and named her Zoee.. and they spelled her name after me. 2 EE!!!

WHEW what a post. If you read that all Thanks, I owe you a brownie.

Stuff Howie has eaten...besides dog food.

2008-07-03T18:31:00.000-07:00

Well yesterday we were invited over to the Davis' for a 4th of July barbeque. It was really good food and lots of fun. Everyone thought Howie was adorable... because he is... however he was eating all this crazy stuff. He had watermelon, Santa Fe Chicken, even part of a wasps nest! The wasps nest was like the sized of a squished golf ball- I couldn't believe that little stinker- I had already taken it away from him a few times before he finally swallowed it. He also jumped into the slimy part of the pond in the Davis's backyard.

Then we were playing soccer and Howie would run so fast after the ball, and when he caught up he'd head butt it. Alot of exercise for that pup. Brock and Luke were being Howie's commentators- funny brothers! Good summer times.

Howie's Second Shots

2008-06-30T10:05:00.000-07:00

So Brock and I took Howie to the vet this morning. They had apparently lost his file so we had to fill out new info. The first time he had shots he didn't cry at all. When he came back in he ran over to Brock and was perched on his shoulder like a little parrot. It was way cute. When we has 8 weeks he weighed 2.8 pounds.

Today when we took him (11 weeks) he was 3.3 pounds. They took him back to give him the shots and we heard him cry so loud. When the girl came back in she said he started crying before she even gave him the shot. Silly Howie.

He can be fearless sometimes thought, him and my Parents dog, Lotte (a Samoyed) were running around playing like best friends. Thought I think Lotte likes younger men... ha. Right now we're back at our apartment and Howie is sleeping on the love sac and Brock is sleeping on the couch. What silly boys I have.

Snoop Dog

2008-06-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

Check it out. Pray for Snoop y'all. :P

Breaking Tradition

2008-06-28T07:46:00.000-07:00

I'm going to go ahead and break the tradition of posting once a year, and see if I can yet again challenge myself to get back into blogging. Brock and I have a new puppy (as opposed to an old puppy) named Howie. He is a little Yorkshire Terrier and he is so spunky. We got him on June 7 from a family in American Fork. They said that they didn't want their Yorkies to have puppies just yet but their little girl let the boy dog out, and one thing led to another- and Howie was born!

Brock graduated this May, as i'm sure all you know, with B.A. in Psychology, and is working at the Hampton Inn. I have 40 credits left, aka a little over 1 year, and I am working at Deseret First Credit Union.

Well that's kind of boring, stay tuned for cool features on this blog-- as soon as I can figure them out, or as soon as Trisha gets here and can show me how. :P

I used to know how to do this...

2007-08-19T22:28:00.000-07:00

I've got another blog that I haven't used forever, but I forgot the password and login to it. I suppose it's been lost to the cyber-world. However, I can't seem to figure out how to do anything! Maybe I should go to college.