I'm Still Alive!

School is coming to a close pretty quick here! I have absolutely loved this semester! It hasn't been too stressful and I have filled my time with a lot of tutoring...a lot!! For the most part it has been a great experience. But my inability to say no has gotten me into trouble once again!

My roommate, Jen, asked if I could tutor some of her friends in their University Stats class. I wasn't sure how their class would differ from the class I took, but I said I would meet up with them and take a look with what they cover. I looked through the front of their notes and the content looked somewhat familiar....so I thought, "hmm, why not". That weekend I took a hard look into their text book and realized this wasn't just any old University Stats class. No, it was a Psychology University Stats class. Oh great! I spent 8 hours that weekend studying their class! What had I gotten myself into!?! But so far so good. I just have to spend more time going over their material than I do all of my own classes combined!

The formulas are absolutely crazy!

And they have gotten progressively worse since these ones.

But really, school has gone well so far. I am excited for the next few years.

I just want to brag about one of my students for a minute. Her first exam didn't go so well when she got a 63% on it. She really wanted to do better so she signed up for tutoring. We worked really hard together. Her next exam she aced with a 97%! I was so proud of her.

Wouldn't you love to come home from church to this?!?

Some guys thought it would be funny to put crayfish in our sinks and tub. We decided to thank them and cooked the creepy crawly little guys for their supper. Crayfish turn a bright orange color when cooked...gross.

I just took a picture with my phone so quality is poor but this one was really big and disgusting....take my word for it!

Melanie, my good friend from England, called me last week! I miss that girl so much. Anyways, she randomly got a phone call from this guy who said, "You don't know me but I recognized you at church today with a picture I have of you sticking your tongue out." Needless to say she was a little creeped out! But the guy went on to explain that he was a friend of mine and his name was John (well actually he would have said Elder Spencer). John is on a mission right now in the same area where I was when I was over seas nannying. He is serving in my old ward and has gotten to meet all of my dear dear friends over there!

This is the picture he recognized her from....she wasn't impressed!

But isn't she gorgeous! I miss her like this dickens and think she needs to come over here to visit!

A Weekend of Firsts

Finally! Something to report! Although I will admit it's kind of bitter sweet. For obvious reasons I can't post everything but some of you know what I am talking about. So I have moved into good ol' Lethbridge on the West Side and it has been great! You all know my goal has been to be more outgoing and try and get out more. Well, I think I have been doing a pretty bang up job with that. This past weekend, there was a YSA activity "Battle of the Airbands". And no, I didn't dress up and dance around like a crazy person pretending to play an air guitar...but I did take part in a skit in between the acts while people set up. That is me taking leaps and bounds I must say!

Here is the skit that we did. Haha. It went really well.

BonQuiQui

I was girl number 1...not BonQuiQui. Ha that was my roommate, Jen. She fit the part perfectly!!

Then on Saturday, I went to my first hockey game ever! Yup, ever! I feel like I am officially a Canadian now. But before that excitement began, I was taken to the Calgary Tower for dinner. It was amazing! We had Calamari as an appetizer. I had never had it before and I didn't even gag. Impressed!? It's chewy, like everyone says, but not too bad. And the view, outside the window, was amazing.

He had timed things perfectly with the Sunset and everything...

But a date isn't a date without it's awkward moments. When we were first seated at our table, my date excused himself to use the restroom. The waiter came over and asked what our plans were for the rest of the evening. I told him we were going to the hockey game and it was my first game ever! We chatted for a bit and then my date returned to the table. The waiter looked over at him and said, "So, you're out with a Virgin tonight!" That didn't make things weird at all...The waiter then clarified that he meant I was a Hockey Virgin. I am positive there were better words that could have been used.

The game was amazing though! It was the Flames vs. Oilers face-off. I have always had friends say that Hockey Players are hot and sexy but I never saw the appeal. I always imagined black eyes, missing teeth--you know, the beat up look. But I must admit there was some definite eye candy on that ice as the game was getting ready to start. And our seats were 10 rows from the ice! I couldn't believe how close we were. I have never been much of a hockey fan but there was a moment or two when my eyes welled a tear.

There were so many people!

And we were so ridiculously close!

So I was somewhat disappointed that there weren't any fights but one of the goals went in off of someone's face and there was blood all over the ice. I could have gone with a not as great view of that...but pretty intense huh!

Wahoo! And the flames won!!!

So it was definitely a weekend of firsts. Now, I know there are several details missing from this post so if you want the rest of the details you will have to give me a call...

And I found this song and now I love it (obvious reasons)! Really you just have to listen to the first minute and a half.

Dream A Little Dream...

It has been quite some time since I have made a new post. It's sad to think that right around the time I decided to start a blog...my life got a heck of a lot less exciting. Even Kody comments on it. Kody has always been one to appreciate a good drama story. He loves it. Not so much the lack of it lately.

Now just wait. When I say that, don't let the image of me being a drama queen come to mind. I'm not. The exact opposite to be sure! Even my dreams don't have drama. Typical people have crazy dreams. Like the 'being lost in a jungle held hostage by an African tribe that wants to sacrifice you to their tiki god but suddenly saved by blue aliens' sort of dreams. But I'm not typical. No sir. My dreams involve me waking up and getting dressed, going to school and taking notes, driving home and working on homework, and then getting ready for bed...(if I'm real lucky their will be a little down time for pleasure reading). Honest to goodness! Those are my dreams! I wish I could say that my dreams were as such in order to compensate for my real life being fun-filled with crazy adventures and excitement...but I'm trying to be good and not lie. My dreams can get somewhat exciting at times though. Like this one night, in my dream I was taking notes in my Management Accounting class and I distinctly remember drawing a picture of a red truck to help me remember a concept. Then the following night, (now this is where it gets REALLY exciting!!), in my dream I got home from school and was reviewing the notes from class, when I saw the picture of the red truck I had drawn the night before!!! Amazing isn't it! My dreams connected from one night to the next!

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true." Oh dear. Is anyone else a little concerned for me?

So now that you are reading this and feeling sorry for the sad and studious life I lead, maybe next time you will stop and forgive me for waiting so long in between posts!

New York, New York

So my time in Virginia was coming to a close and it made my heart want to break. I decided to do something on my last full weekend in Virginia....so with New York being only 4 hours away, how could I NOT go!! I booked a bus ticket on the Washington Deluxe and was on my way to the Big Apple....by myself! Not sure if that was brave or just plumb crazy. But talk about adventure in and of itself.

I got off the bus and had no idea where I was, or where I was going, or even how to get there. But there was no wiping the crazy grin off my face as I grabbed 15 different maps, twisting them this way and that, in a lame attempt to get my bearings. I found a subway and was in the process of trying to figure out which platform I needed to be on....and what with my back pack on, my maps in hand, and the deer-caught-in-the-headlight look in my eyes, I just screamed easy target! Ha I had several people come and offer to help me find my way...and then wouldn't it be so great if I were to 'donate a substantial amount to get them a bus ticket so that they could care for their sick aunt's brother's long lost step child'. Yes, twas an adventure. But I found my way to the Broadway Hostel where I was able to get settled in and drop my stuff off so I could go out to explore. I grabbed my maps and was off once again!

There is just so much to see in New York and I knew I wouldn't be able to fit everything in--so how does one decide what to see and what to leave for another time? I took a very logical approach. I hopped on the Subway, picked a random person, and would get off wherever they did. Then it was just a matter of finding where I was on my handy dandy map and squeezing in the many sights....well at least until my feet went numb and I would have to hop on the nearest subway to do it all over again! I was able to see Times Square, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, Lady Liberty, and much much more. But the absolute highlight of the vacation...WICKED!

I have wanted to see Wicked for as long as I can remember. So check another one off my list of things that I want to see and do before I die! It was fantabulous! I can still feel the goosebumps on my arms.

So I did it. I went to the Big Apple by myself--the only city where people make radio requests like "This is for Tina-I'm sorry I stabbed you" (ok so I saw that on a tshirt and thought it was funny-i doubt my mom will see the same humor--but don't worry! I was safe!)

Here is a picture of Central Park. It is just taken on my phone so not the greatest quality but it'll do!

Yes, Times Square really is as bright and busy as people say!

And it is impossible to go to New York without taking a picture of the Statue Of Liberty!

I haven't blogged in a long time so it is a little overwhelming to try and get caught up. Yes this was kind of pitsy but I am hoping to stay on top of things now...We'll see how that goes!

What Do You Call A Healthy Butterfly?...A Margarinefly!

HaHa! I know! I am so funny! Look at what has happened to me....kinda turning into a bug nerd down here. My life lately has been consumed by pests and healthy eating/living. It has been a weird past few days as I have only worked a regular 8-9 hour shift as opposed to my regular 13-14 hour days. I like it both ways so Life Is Good!! I had the chance to go to DC the other weekend and it was fantabulous. There are so many people!! One thing that I love about big cities is the random busking in the streets. Spot the guys playing the garbage buckets/shopping cart? Spot me with the ridiculously long hair that I am loving!?

We are the ones sitting on the sidewalk.

So I wish I had more adventures to tell. I think Kody is kinda sad about the lack of crazy drama in my life...Hope all is going amazingly well with everyone at home! Love you all!

Life Gave Me Lemonade...

Wow it has been awhile!! Life has been crazy crazy crazy but so good! I love it down here.

So to make a long story short, the night time office person that worked for Kyle had to be let go-she came to work a little tipsy- so I jumped at the chance to work in the office! It is what I have always wanted to do and what I had planned on doing when I came down here to work in the first place. I knew I still needed to grow me a little backbone so I was going to knock from 11-4 and then work in the office from 5-10. But then the day time person decided to move on to something else so I took over full time. It couldn't have gone more perfect. How could I have such great luck?...It most definitely had something to do with my amazing mother who fasted for me more times than I even know. But yes, I love my job. Kyle and I make a dynamic duo! And each day I learn more and more how much of a nerd I really am. The other day I answered the phone "GreenStar Pest Control, this is Katie", and talked to this lady for a bit before transferring her over to Kyle. Kyle answered the call and the lady exclaimed, "Wow, I feel like I am talking to Ken and Barbie!" Nope. Just Katie and Kyle!

And I am excited to welcome a new niece or nephew into my family! KJ and Shayla are expecting. They will be amazing parents. I can just picture KJ now getting crazily excited to go pick out a car seat and stroller.

So ya, life is good.

PS- Can I just say I miss this girl like the dickens!

Virginia Is For Lovers!

What a whirlwind of a month! It seems like just yesterday I was pulling all-nighters to study for finals and trying to find ways to squeeze more tutoring appointments in. School ended with a bang though. It was a busy but fun-filled few weeks. Even though I didn't graduate, I was ahead in my program so the faculty said I should be involved in the Grad Dinner because these students were the ones I went to school with. It was so great! These two teachers have been the most influential throughout my school years. I learned so incredibly much from them.

So school finished and I was off onto my next crazy adventure. GreenStar Summer Sales! It was a long 36 hour drive from Alberta to Virginia. It is so amazingly great to be here with Kyle and Jess and their little family! Partly because Kaden isn't here! Now don't get me wrong, I love my little brother, but whenever he is around---the rest of us are chop liver when it comes to the nieces and nephews! I just love that Grace and Noah are excited to see me and are always asking if 'Aunt Katie' is coming over. Most of the time it is all about Kaden, so it is nice to have the spot light for once.

Summer Sales has been an experience in and of itself!!! It is definitely a lot harder than I thought it would be! But I will forever remember the name of my first lady I sold. Kizzy Shoaf. I can't say I absolutely love what I do but I do think it is good for me. I'm gonna grow me a little backbone!!

So yes, summer sales has been interesting so far. The rest of the office we have here are absolutely awesome though. Everyone is so much fun! I love it! It is so great to be here for the summer. It is gorgeous down here and so green!

I had a crazy experience this past week though!!! My windshield wipers randomly stopped working one day. It wasn't supposed to rain but around 4 o'clock, we were all caught in a terrible downpour. I made it back to my car and was gonna go pick up the other girls so that they could get somewhat dry, but without my wipers I couldn't see a thing! It was crazy and I was in a pickle. So I put my farm-girl upbringing (ha) to good use and decided to improvise. Watch video below for the DIY windshield wiper demo!

So that is all for now! It is kinda a long post but it has been a muchly-needed update!

Hope you enjoyed!