A-L-T-A Alta Hawks are here to stay.

I was tagged by Melinda to do this high school tag. I promise after this I won't do any more tags for awhile, but this was a good one. Some of the pictures got cut off on the right side while I was scanning them and I am too lazy to go back and fix them. Sorry if they look dumb.

Me in high school: (I was growing my hair out... obviously.)

1. Did you date someone from your school?

Oh yes.

2. Did you win anything in Senior's Who's Who?

I don't think we even had this. Or maybe I forgot about it. On my Paris Study Abroad I got "most likely to marry her missionary." ha ha. 

3. What kind of car did you drive?

My first car was a 1993 White Ford Explorer named "White Trash." We enjoyed many magnificent road trips in that car. For my 17th Bday I got a 2001 Silver Honda Civic. I loved it and it broke my heart when it got totaled in an accident a couple of years ago.

4. It's Friday night...where are you?

That depends on whether I had a boyfriend or not. Senior year I was either hanging out with my boyfriend or else doing something crazy with my girls. We loved to dress up crazy and make music videos or else do "undercover missions." We thought we were pretty hilarious. I am the girl with the brown wig in case you can't tell... what good disguises :)

5. Were you a party animal?

I liked doing fun stuff with just my close friends more than going to parties with tons of people that I didn't care about.

6. Were you considered a flirt?

I think it depends on who I was with, but sometimes yes.

7. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir?

No

8. Were you a nerd?

I was in lots of "nerdy" classes (Honors and AP), but all the people in those classes thought I was the dumb blond. I would say I was not a nerd because I spent MUCH more time being social and dancing than I did studying (but I did get pretty good grades).

9. Did you get suspended/expelled?

I actually almost did in eighth grade. We walked to our friend's house for lunch and apparently that was against the rules. Luckily there were tons of us, so I ducked into my class on the way to the Principal's office.

10. Can you sing the fight song?

With actions! I saw the cheerleaders do it like a billion times when we were practicing for Homecoming Halftime. Stand up for Alta High...

11. Who were your favorite teachers?

My dance advisor, Tracy, was like a really good friend (who will also kick your butt at toning). Mrs. Hughes was my best teacher- Art History!!! The picture above is of my most hilarious teacher, Karl. He didn't try to be funny, he was just exceptionally odd. I had him for Honors Chemistry and I learned nothing worthwhile. I did however learn about Power Balls (the alternate energy source he created), Pokemon and Chess. Everyone in our class failed the state chemistry exam at the end of the year. Literally failed. I think I got a 46% and I had one of the higher scores on that test. 

12. Where did you sit during lunch?

We usually went out to eat, I think. It seems like it was so long ago. If not then we sat at the lunch tables. Where else would you sit? The floor?

13.What was your school's full name?

Alta High School

14. School mascot?

Hawks

15. Did you go to Homecoming and who with?

Oh my, what a story... Here goes... (the pics are before and after that "interesting" life experience.)

I was not old enough to go to Homecoming until my Senior year (I turned 16 in October of my junior year). I was asked by someone I didn't even know, but I knew his friends and they were very funny and cool. I decided to say Yes because it would be a change from always going with someone from my usual group of friends. (I should have known it was a mistake because he asked me with a box of Rice Krispies that he wrapped in duct tape and used a marker to write "Rob Krispies" on them. I think he was high. Not joking.)
Anyway, he picks me up and as we are driving down my street he says "I just want you to know that I love you and I have been in love with you for two years. I always love to watch you dance." AWKWARD! How do you respond to that? The dance just got worse from there. It included sitting in his car listening to songs by "his band" because he picked me up an hour early, getting the kind of corsage that pins to your shirt, pokes you in the shoulder and makes you bleed, and him trying to take me back to his house after the dance because "no one else is home." The date ended with me scooting on the very edge of my seat at the dollar theater to try to keep him from assaulting me. I told him my curfew was 11:00 just to get home quicker. Luckily I had really good friends and we laughed ourselves to tears the next night talking about my nightmare date.

16. If you could go back and do it again, would you?
I loved high school and I miss lots of things about it, but I love being a wife and mom even more!

17.What do you remember most about graduation?

Pepperwood Party! We stayed up all night playing, dancing and being crazy and then went to my friend Jerrod's house for pancakes.

18. Where did you go senior skip day?

Senior Skip Day? I think this was every day for me. As long as I was getting good grades I didn't think it was that important to actually be in class. I remember one day we went to breakfast at Einsteins but then we were about five minutes late to second period, so we decided to ride around in Eric's Jeep instead (because you wouldn't want to be late for class). Then before 3rd period we ran through the sprinklers and you can't go to class wet... So then we layed out until school was over. What a great school day! The pic above is of me "skipping" school. My friend Liz and I took pictures of us skipping out of the building. I don't know why...

19. Were you in any clubs?

Dance Company!!! Loved it.

20. Have you gained some weight since then?

Gained and lost (hello I had a baby). Now I weigh about the same as I did my senior year, but I have much less muscle and much more... um... bust.

21. Who was your prom date?

I went to Junior Prom my junior year with a guy I didn't know very well named Jesse and I had a blast (He is in the picture above except that I accidentally cut him out while scanning). Senior year I also went to Junior Prom with my boyfriend Bryan. I was bummed that Senior Dinner Dance was stag. It ended up being kind of lame because everybody got in a fight. Not my favorite.

22. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion?

Definitely. I am really looking forward to it, but it is not for four more years.

23. Do you still talk to people from school?

Yes, but it is getting harder to stay caught up because we all have so much going on in our lives. Thank goodness for blogs :)

Wow, this turned into a very long tag. Sorry if this is very boring. I think I enjoyed reminiscing much more than anyone will enjoy reading this. I promise- no more tags for awhile. 

I tag all my high school friends that read this.

Branden's Movie Tag

I was tagged by my lovely wife and I have to admit that compiling this list was very difficult and it saddened me to have to leave certain movies off of this list because Kristi told me I could only put 2 movies per each category. So without further ado...

Favorite movies you have to be in the mood for in order to enjoy:

1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I'm not saying I don't like these movies because I do, it's just that I have to commit myself to the full 9 hours rather than watch each one individually. I just don't have that kind of time.
2. A River Runs Through It. I'm not saying I don't love this movie because I do, it just can be a little slow moving so I have to be in a certain mood to sit through it.

Favorite movies that make you laugh out loud no matter how many times you have watched them:

1. Top Secret. This is a classic and it's also one of the first movies that Val Kilmer appeared in and in my opinion, it's his finest film.
2. Anchorman. What can I say, Will Ferrell cracks me up everytime. I pretty much laugh at whatever movie he's in.

Your Favorite Guilty Pleasures:

1. Seven
2. Silence of the Lambs. I guess these two can be considered "guilty pleasures" since they deal with some pretty gruesome human behavior. I love movies like these that try and get into the criminal mindset and explain why some people do what they do.

Favorite movies you have seen so many times, you can recite all the lines:

1. Tombstone. My favorite "western" movie and another great Val Kilmer performance with some classic lines. "I'm your huckleberry"
2. Dumb and Dumber. What can I say, this movie is a classic with some great lines. "Yes, what's the soup du jour?" "It's the soup of the day." "Ummm, that sounds good, I think i'll have that."

Movies that opened your eyes:

1. American History X. Probably one of the most powerful films that I have ever seen. If I were a High School teacher or College professor, this would be a required film to watch to show kids how your life and the lives of others, can be destroyed by harvesting hate in your heart. It's a pretty graffic movie but powerful nonetheless.
2. Schindler's List. We've all read about the holocaust in our History books but this movie, with its great symbolism and imagery, helps to crystalize those events in your mind. This is Spielbergs' greatest work.

Most Overrated:

1. Pirates of the Caribbean . All three of them are overrated in my book. The first one was ok but the last two suck and I didn't understand all the hype about how great these movies are because they're not that great.
2. Lost in Translation. I usually love anything that Bill Murray is in but I could not get into this movie. It was "critically acclaimed" but I couldn't understand why.

What were the last 2 movies you watched:

1. Juno. Just bought this film and it has become one of mine and Kristi's favorites. Great film, very well written.
2. Dan in Real Life.

Favorite smart movies:

1. 12 Monkeys. The first time I saw this movie was in 8th grade and when I finished it my initial reaction was "What the..." and I had to rewind it and watch it over again to catch everything. I consider movies smart if you're kept guessing the entire show and by the end of it you want to watch it again to see what you could've missed, and also to catch any hidden meaning in the show.
2. The Usual Suspects. Kristi will mock this choice because she claims that she had it figured out right from the beginning...she's so smart. I really enjoyed this show and the great writing that kept me guessing until the very end. The Prestige , the first Matrix, Fight Club and Memento were close to making this list.

Your spouse's favorites:

1. What's Up Doc? This really is her all-time favorite movie and I scored bed points by remembering this and giving it to her for Christmas without her even asking.
2. A Knight's Tale. I know she put Silverado as her other favorite but this is also another favorite. She loved Heath Ledger, he was on her list and she cried when he pre-maturely left us from this world. Just kidding, she didn't cry but we were both bummed about his passing.

Your all time favorites:

1. The Godfather. Of course, isn't this the greatest movie/trilogy ever? I love all three of them. Yes I even love the third one because it shows how Michael Corleone/Al Pacino, badly wants to do good and make his family legitimate but "just when he thinks he's out, they pull him back in". I really like all movies that deal with the Mafia. When I was younger, my brother and I would say that we wanted to be in the Mob and Mafia when we grew up.
2. A Few Good Men. Kristi knows me well and Legends of the Fall really is my other favorite but I wanted to put another one of my favorites on this list. This movie is a classic story with great acting by Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson and I could watch this movie no matter how many times i've seen it. "You want answers?" "I want the truth!" "You can't handle the truth!"

I tag whoever wants to do this but I am a little curious to see the answers from Kipp, Christian and Aaron W.

Movie Tag

I was tagged by Laura and I am a little embarrassed to do this post. I have weird taste in movies, just ask Branden. So hopefully I won't humiliate myself by listing some of my favs.

Favorite movies you have to be in the mood for in order to enjoy:

1. Dirty Dancing. It is pretty cheesy and the dialogue is not the greatest, but you gotta love it... sometimes.

2.The Notebook. My junior year of college, my best friend and I saw this movie at the dollar theater at midnight... three nights in a row. We wore our PJs and actually fell asleep a little the third night, but we loved it. (We did the same thing with Charly our Freshman year.) 

Favorite movies that make you laugh out loud no matter how many times you have watched them:

1. Arrested Development. Ok, this is actually a DVD of the TV series, but they are a favorite for sure. I am laughing out loud just thinking about chickens. Cha che cha che cha... (please someone understand this)

2. Grumpier Old Men. I think I have a crush on Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. :)

Your Favorite Guilty Pleasures:

1. Chicago. I recognize that this is not a very "appropriate" movie but I have been fascinated by it ever since I saw it in the Latin Quarter in Paris. Maybe it just brings back great memories.

2. American Outlaws. This is a guilty pleasure because Branden has made me ashamed for liking (loving) this show. I have actually been given or bought this movie three times because I lose it and then have to have it again. 

Favorite movies you have seen so many times, you can recite all the lines:

1. Never Been Kissed!!! This was an all time favorite in high school. I still recite it randomly for Branden. Whenever I just start spouting random nonsense he assumes it is from this movie. (Yikes....Bikes!)

2. The Princess Bride. "I'm not a witch, I'm your wife!" I say this to Branden at least twice a month and for some reason he can never remember what movie it is from. Someday he will catch on. 

Movies that opened your eyes:

1. Hotel Rwanda. This one made me sick to my stomach and very uncomfortable, but sometimes I think we need that.

2. The Last King of Scotland (edited, don't worry). For some reason this movie made me think of Hitler. Forest Whitaker did such a good job of showing how dictators can be both charismatic and cruel. 

Most Overrated:

1. The Godfather movies.  Branden will absolutely kill me for this (or maybe just put a horse head in my bed), but I just do not get why he is so obsessed with these.

2. Harry Potter movies. Yuck. I love the book and hate the movies with a passion!

What were the last 2 movies you watched:

1. Dan in Real Life

2. Vantage Point (not a fan)

Favorite smart movies: (Is there even such a thing? If you are looking for a smart movie, I have a suggestion. Read a book.)

1. Baby Einsteins :)

2. Juno.  You may disagree, but I think this movie is so clever. Especially the dialogue.

Your spouse's favorites:

1. Godfather movies (obviously)

2. Legends of the Fall. You may notice that these movies are all rated R...

Your all time favorites:

1. "What's Up Doc?" I also could have used this movie for laughing out loud and reciting the lines, (What kind of wine are you serving at table one?) hilarious.

2. Silverado. This one is my dad's fault. I grew up on this show. I remember being so excited to share this movie with Branden. He was not impressed. 

I tag Chelsea, Dixie and McKay, Annalisa, Melinda and Branden (I hope you will not all be bored of our blog if my husband does this tag too. I think he has interesting taste in movies.)

Dance, Dance, Dance!!!

This is an invitation for all you girls out there who love to dance! I haven't been to dance since I had Marina and I have definitely been missing it. So, thanks to some encouragement from other dance-lovers like myself, I have managed to rent out the dance studio down the street on Wednesdays at 9pm. We will be getting together to enjoy some good exercise and great fun! Anyone is invited and the more the merrier. Let me know if you will be coming and I will email you the address. Also mention if you would be interested in teaching once in awhile...

Wednesday at 9pm (the first one will be April 16th)

Cost: $4-6 depending on how many girls come

P.S. I just want to be clear that you do NOT need to have lots of (or any) dance experience to join in the fun. This will be a low-key fun class (no mocking aloud). See you there!

Marina the Model

I finally broke down and got professional pictures done of Miss Marina. She was a great model, very happy and cooperative, EXCEPT she insisted on keeping her fingers in her mouth at all times. Anyway, click on the link if you want to see some of the other pics. AK Studio 

The Jazz 100 Club

This last weekend we were fortunate enough (many thanks to Kristi's Uncle Pat) to attend the Jazz game as part of the "100 Club". Being a part of the 100 club not only means that you get great seats to the game (row C on the floor) but you also get to go to the top of the arena to enjoy a well presented, all you can eat, incredibly delicious meal with other 100 clubbers and Larry Miller. Our friends Kipp and Chelsea (Kipp is the biggest Jazz fan I know) got to enjoy this night with us and here we all are outside of the dining room with filled bellies from the delicious food and desserts.  

The game was amazing. The Jazz played great and it was a very unique experience to be so close to the action. The players are so big and fast, they made the court seem very small. We were so close that we could not only hear what the players were saying to each other during the game but we could also interact with the players. At one point, during the game, C.J. Miles of the Jazz was walking towards our side of the floor and I said "Good job C.J., keep it up". He then looked at me and responded by saying "I'm not hitting my shots man". I was stunned that he actually heard me and responded so I then said back to him, "Don't worry bud, just keep shooting the ball". C.J. then went on to score the next 4 points for the Jazz and I like to think that it was my encouraging pep talk that made the difference. Here are some great pics from the game.

Here's a good pic that shows our wonderful seats.



Here's C.J. Miles before our little talk.

The great Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer.

Kristi had the camera for most of the night and for some reason there were a lot of pictures of Kyle Korver on our camera. Should I be worried?...I mean he is a better shooter than me.

Like I said before, the game was great but probably the highlight of the night was being able to see the special guest that attended the game. If you've looked at Kristi's previous blog then you already know that President Thomas S. Monson is a big Jazz fan and that he was in attendance at the game. When the game concluded it was amazing to see how many people stuck around just to see him and how everyone tried to get close to him to shake his hand. He was very nice and funny as he shook everyone's hand and struck up conversations with anyone and everyone. At one point, Carlos Boozer had to walk through everyone to do a postgame interview and nobody really cared that Boozer was walking by them, they were too consumed with trying to see the Prophet. Here is how close we got to him.



Kristi got to shake his hand, which was great because "shaking a prophet's hand" was on her list of Things To Do and I got to mark "chat with an NBA player during a game" off my list. Chelsea didn't exactly get to shake his hand but she did manage to rub his hand while he rested it on some woman's shoulder. All in all it was a great night. Thanks again Uncle Pat and Aunt Jen for the tickets and thanks Kipp and Chelsea for coming to the game with us.

6 Random Facts About Me

I was tagged by Lizla Burr. 

Here are the rules:

A: Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves

B: At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names; then goes to their blogs, leaves them a comment letting them know that they have been tagged and invites them to read your blog.

1. I should not be allowed to read. I know that reading is a good habit and it improves your mind etc. but for me it is really a problem. If I pick up a book, even if it is late at night, I usually cannot put it down. Out of the last twenty books I have read, probably eighteen have been finished in less than twenty four hours. This was not as big of a deal before I had Marina, but now I either stay up all night or partially neglect my daughter in favor of finishing a book. Also Branden claims that I am completely unresponsive when I am reading.

2. I used to speak French. I actually got pretty good while living there for Study Abroad, but a few days ago I heard some French on Baby Einsteins and I was completely lost. Lame.

3. I love Mrs. Richardson's Fudge Topping. I buy it knowing that I will eat the entire jar myself because Branden doesn't like it. Sometimes I will even eat a spoonful plain for dessert. 

4. I want to be an architect, but I have no idea how I am going to accomplish that since my degree is in English (useless). Is it too late to go back to school at 45 when my kids are grown up? The good news is that I have designed one house- which I had an engineer approve. Hopefully my dang house will sell so that I can build the new one!

5. I am from California, sort of. Really I moved to Utah when I was eight but I still sometimes think of California as home. I secretly hope that the real estate market continues to drop there. Maybe in ten or fifteen more years we could actually afford to live in that beautiful, sunny climate. (not likely)

6. I love to dance around the house when no one is home (except Marina). Tara, my cousin probably already knows this because our houses are so close together and I rarely close the blinds. Sometimes I also try to dance while I am running. Awkward. 

I tag- Melinda, Caryn, Bekah, Rebecca, Laura and Annie.

April Fools!!! Can I just say again that I have the funnest (and funniest) friends ever? Read on to see why...

Last night we got together to watch the Bachelor (I know this sounds lame but we really enjoy making fun of the psycho girls on that show to make ourselves feel better). Anyway, my friend Laura had the best April Fools prank idea ever. We decided to trick our husbands into thinking we were prego. To make the trick really work we had our dear friend Caryn, who is the cutest pregnant girl ever, pee in a cup so that we could have some positive pregnancy tests to show our husbands. Yes, this is kind of gross, but at least we were committed to the prank. 

So, last night I got home at about 11pm. I told Branden that Becky, Laura and I bought pregnancy tests just to make sure that we weren't actually pregnant. I went into the bathroom to pretend to pee on the stick and then, since I had to feed Marina, I asked him to check it in a couple of minutes. Needless to say he freaked out! He started panicking. I played right along, worrying about how I would take care of Marina if I got sick again etc. If I was actually pregnant our kids would be only thirteen months apart. Branden was so distraught that we might become "that couple" that has like five kids under the age of five. I wish I could have gotten everything on video.

I planned to keep him going until the next afternoon, but at 1am he still hadn't been able to fall asleep. I felt bad and decided to tell him "April Fools!" Now I just have to think of something even better for next year!