Nevertheless...

It's been a busy couple weeks. Here's a look at what we've been up to...

Nov 4 Kaisi and Ady came down to Orem. We chatted it up, like usual, and visited the BYU Bean Museum.

Nov 7 Rob decided to vacuum, wash, and wax both our cars. I liked the idea especially since he was more that willing to do it. He started at about 10 am. At 11 I came out to help. I was surprised to find both cars covered in wax. He asked me to clean the inside of the cars while he rubbed the wax off. It only took a couple of minutes to realize his mistake... never wax more than one car on the same day! We spent the rest of the day rubbing that wax off. Finally finished just after 3 pm.

At 5 pm a bunch of mission friends showed up for a Baby shower. I've always thought pregnant people are cute and DeAnna looked fantastic. We ate and talked well into the night. Shelly, Me, Elizabeth, DeAnna, Heather, Erin

Nov 8 I drove out to Roosevelt to watch Tiffany's two boys while her and Doug enjoyed some time in Washington D.C. Tyler (6) and Zach (4) are super cute kids. Zach and I spent lots of our time putting together puzzles and him building forts with the couch cushions. Tyler had two Jr. Jazz games and he was so fun to watch. He may have been the smallest boy on the team but he was one of the fastest. He'd hustle down the court looking slightly out the corner of his eye just to make sure I was watching him. Nov 12 Tiffany and Doug were back in town. I spent the morning taking Tiffany's photos. They turned out great. Go here to see more. Nov 15 I took some family photos for a friend. You can see more of their photos on my other blog.

Rob's on a intermural volleyball team this year and has played several games. His last game I overheard heard someone from the other team say," He's good!" He really is good.

Rob been doing well at work. He just won a contest for the most sales on his team. He also won a gift card to Joe's Crab Shack. (I hope he takes me.) We're grateful for his success.

For those who don't know Rob and I love to watch 'good' movies... (were not talking your typical Hollywood blockbuster). Rob is the researcher. The films we see must have gotten stellar reviews or we won't see it. I don't like to research as much and so Rob doesn't like to trust me with picking films. I usually leave it up to him and I'm rarely disappointed. Well the other day I filled our Netflix queue and I happened to pick a foreign film (which is not uncommon since I love foreign films). I picked The Chorus.
When it came in the mail, Rob totally disregarded my choice saying, "I've never heard of that movie." which translates to... 'that won't be a good movie since I, the king of movies, have never heard of it'. He'd picked up some other films at the library and wanted to watch them first, of course. I think he even mentioned that he wasn't even interested in seeing the movie I picked at all. Well I wanted to see it, so we finally watched it and it was GOOD. I totally proved him wrong, and he admitted it. Then the other day I happened to notice that Rob had been on our blog and put The Chorus on his 'favorite movies' list. Ha ha, that's right.
We've also been watching all the LOST seasons up until the... I forget which season... maybe 5, but it's not out on DVD yet. They need to get cracking so we can see what happens next. Since Lost is on a break now my new TV series love is Prison Break.
I love it... Rob thinks it's okay. We just finished season 1 and were on to season 2.

Big News

I've been pretty busy lately with a new project and I think it's time I can now share it with all of you. I wrote a few posts earlier about my love for photography so I figured since I have some extra time right now why not do what I love.

I've started a new photography blog. I designed it myself down to all the graphics and additional hacks... so it's taken a while to get it to where it's at, but I'm pleased with the outcome.

Go check it out...

HP Photography be sure to click the 'Other Work' tab to see more (peopleless) photos.

If you know of anyone looking for someone to take their photos I'd love it if you steered them to my blog (heatherpphotography.blogspot.com). If they like what they see they can certainly get in contact with me and we can set up a shoot.

Thriller

Last night we went to Thriller
A musical about some killers
We had a good time,
So I thought I should rhyme,
And tell you about the feature.
The first act was in the graveyard
The zombies were bloody and flesh-scarred
A guy did the robot
He thought himself a big shot
But I'll admit the dance looked dead hard
Then came Bubbles the Clown
His humor was about our town
He made some gay jokes
About some of the folks
His improv was not a thumbs-down.

Some of the skits were dumb
Lorena Bobbitt was one
She was a good singer
But wanted to linger
On the thing that made her a sore-thumb
The dance of the night were the skeletons
They glowed in the dark like a filament
One took off his skull
And gave it roll
And it didn't come down for five seconds.
-Rob

Let's get together...

General Conference tends to bring mission reunions. Rob and I went to mine last Friday. It's always fun to see old friends and companions.

Us with Pres. Baugh

Chalyce, Heather, & Me

You Say It's Your Birthday

I celebrated my 27th birthday Sept 30th. Rob took me to dinner and wrapped some gifts in the coolest paper he could find. He topped it off with a funny picture of me. Thanks Rob!

Hello-Goodbye

Remember this guy...
Well we said goodbye to our '98 Nissan Sentra last Saturday (26th). We also said goodbye to the dents, a cracked windshield, a horn that didn't honk, 5th gear... oh wait, we said goodbye to that months ago, the volume dial that only grew louder and louder (even if you were trying to turn it down), the clock that didn't work, the clutch that was almost impossible to push all the way down, the stress it caused us (mainly Heather since she drove it most), and it's many other problems.
At the same time on Saturday we said Hello to this...

a 2003... let me repeat that... a 'two-thousand' 3, Nissan Altima. What a beauty. We're moving up - getting a car that was made in the 2000's.

We're so glad the hunt for a car is over! We put a lot of time and effort into looking for a car that fit our budget, was newer than a '99, had relatively low miles, has no problems (that we could detect...) and is a nice color. We really had to scrape the bottom of the barrel for this one, but we were able to pay CASH and it felt so good. We hope it lasts us a long time!

Planes, Trains, & Automobiles... Actually Just Trains

Don't you just love pictures of trains and train tracks? I took these in Charleston (which is right next to Midway and Heber). These are the tracks for the Heber Creeper. Click on the images to enlarge them.

Fall

Last Friday, I went up Provo Canyon, up past Sundance. I wound my way up the mountain and dropped back down into Midway. The fall colors were so vibrant and beautiful. I even saw a moose on my way... which scared me to death... and a random, fat cow that also startled me. Here are a few pictures I took (sorry- I didn't get a shot of the moose or the cow). I hope you enjoy the view.

Just Shoot Me

Many of you may know that I've always loved photography. I got my first SLR camera my senior year in high school.I fell in love with photography in Mrs. Phillips Intro to Photography class. I especially loved working in the dark room!

It was my plan to major in Photography in college. I applied for the major twice, which was the maximum amount you could apply, and was rejected both times. I was really going against the odds trying to get into BYU's Photography major when they were only accepting 20 some-odd people and I had such little experience. I was heart broken when I didn't get the opportunity and really considered transferring, but I never did. Photography fell to the side when I went on a mission and when I got back I focused on getting through school.

It's amazing that I was a missionary for only 19 mos (I know I was lucky enough to stay an extra month) but things had changed so much by the time I came home. When I left people were just starting to get personal cell phones and when I returned everyone gave me a weird look when they asked for my cell # and I had to tell them I only had a house #. Embarrassing, huh? Well cell phones weren't the only big change, everyone was getting digital cameras as well. So once I got my digital Sony Cyber-Shot (a college graduation gift from my family) I did not want to go back to film cameras.

I was happy with my little digital camera but longed for a DSLR. I didn't have much time for taking photos while working full time, working a side job, TA'ing an aerobics class 3x a week and everything else you have to do when you're a grown-up. When I was laid off from my full time job back in June, I really wanted to get back into photography. I decided to start saving for a 'new' used DSLR. When I finally had enough, I scoured the KSL ads. Every time I found a camera I wanted, it was sold by the time I called.

In the mean time our laptop bit the dust and we lost our Photoshop program. So I was casually looking for Adobe programs as well. Then out of no where I found this...

Adobe Creative Suite 4... brand new... never used... for $300. Wow. The program originally costs $1800 (ouch) so I was stoked to find such a great deal. To see how awesome this program is, go here and see for yourself.

Well this software purchase set back my camera savings fund a bit and I stopped searching so religiously. A few weeks later, I just happened to look at the KSL ads and found a really good deal. I called and it wasn't sold yet, so I hopped in my car and went to see it. Once I laid eyes on the camera and everything that came with it, it was a done deal.

The camera is a Nikon D70. It came with the body, a 28-80 mm lens, a 75-300 mm telephoto lens, a wide macro lens, a camera bag, a 1 GB card, a memory card reader, a cleaning kit, a flash (which is a pretty cheap one and I'll need to replace it with something better), and a tripod. Wow. I love it. Doesn't it look awesome?

Anyway if you're in need of photos or know of anyone who wants some done, let me know. I'll give you a really great deal.

Photos with my new camera are soon on their way...

When in doubt pick C

Today is Rob's big day. He's taking the LSAT. He's been preparing for this day for about 5 months, studying 3x at week (approx 12 hrs during the week). He's been doing this while working full time in Salt Lake and holding a part-time job as well. He's a busy guy.
He was a little wired last night... pretty nervous. It was my first time seeing him like that and I have to say it was a little funny. He's usually so calm and laid back about everything.
He's getting his last few minutes of wink-eye while I surprise him with a delicious breakfast... something I call Eggs on Toast... which is basically toast with boiled eggs, cut up into a white sauce, poured on top. Yummy. It was always my favorite breakfast growing up!
Anyway...Good Luck Rob!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

It's been a few weeks since our last post and a lot has happened... good and bad.
Bad: Our lovely laptop lost it's life Sunday morning. I took it to Best Buy the next day and they said there was something really wrong with it. They suggested I just buy a new computer. Those couple days without a computer and the Internet were a nightmare!

Good: I must have really been feeling the spirit because the day before the computer crash I went to yard sales with my mom and happened to pick up a really nice Pottery Barn desk($37.50)and a computer... minus the monitor($75). I was feeling a little guilty about buying two items we didn't need and I only wanted, but the feeling didn't last long b/c it just so happened we really did NEED them both. We had to buy a new monitor, but with some strategy we got a really awesome deal on a fatty 24" Samsung monitor. I love it too much. I picked up this cute shelf while at yard sales too ($15). Bad: We received our registration reminders for both our '98 Nissan and our '99 Honda. Both failed safety inspections. The Nissan

needed over $800 in repairs just to pass (it needs some other repairs too, but we can live without them for now) and we'd rather put the money toward something newer. So we've been on the hunt for a new 'used' car. I found some possibilities on KSL, but they all came from the junkiest dealerships and the interior conditions were less than desirable. Our Honda only needs a minor safety adjustment(tinting)thankfully, but it didn't technically pass or fail emissions. It just came up undetermined so we've got to do something to get it to pass. Car problems are so stressful!
Good: I've been getting a little crafty lately. I've made a bunch of cute fabric flowers and a little bit of jewelry. It's really spiced up my outfits and doesn't cost as much as new clothing pieces. I'm thinking of selling some since the amount of fabric I bought made more than I anticipated and I had a few extra beads. What do you think... are they cute enough to buy?

Bad: I wish you could have seen this in person b/c the picture just doesn't do it justice. And no I didn't get my foot run over... one of our many TV remotes fell from the arm of our couch and hit me just right on the top of my foot. I couldn't believe how much it hurt and how it swelled up. It was ridiculous. I think it hit a blood vessel and that's what caused the damage. (Pardon my UGLY foot.) Good: ModBe had a warehouse clearance sale and I picked up 11 items (2 workout pants, a workout top, a cardigan sweater, 3 tops, jean cutoffs-for Rob ---- j/k, a hat, gloves, and a scarf - for the impending weather) and only paid an average of $4.50 an item.
Bad: Last Tuesday, I was kind of in a bad mood (and I was a little down on myself too, about not getting a job yet). Then suddenly I realized I had a sore throat and I wasn't feeling very well... hence the bad mood. I rarely get sick so I don't always recognize the symptoms. I went to bed that night and felt fine the next day. I just had a little bit of a scratchy voice. Suddenly four days later I woke up and I couldn't talk. I'd completely lost my voice. I've never had that happen before. It's now been 3 days since then and my voice is still gone. Oh, and on top of it all. I just got a cold sore this morning. Yeah, nothing like being kicked while you're already down.
Good: I actually got a call back on one of the many resumes I've sent out. I went in for an interview on Thursday. I felt the interview went fine, but I'm not setting my heart on landing the job. I know they interviewed lots of others, but it did make my day.
Good: I got to go spend all day Friday with my 'bestest' childhood friend, Kaisi. She's so much fun to be with. I've really missed being around her. We reminisced for 7 hours straight and it was sad to part. She has a really cute little girl who was also fun to play with. Bad: Rob and I got out of our car the other day and noticed the front tire was as bald as Rob... (Rob really wanted me to write that. I would never be that mean) You could see the metal wires. It was pretty scary. So on top of all the really expensive problems we've faced recently we added 4 new tires to the list.
Good and Bad: We just got asked to speak in church this Sunday. It really is a great opportunity to grow and hopefully touch the ward members' lives, but we all know it's nerve-racking and it's such a pain to prepare. Hopefully I'll have my voice back by then... or Rob's going to have to speak a loooonnggg time.

All in all I'm glad to see that the "bad" list didn't outnumber the "good" list. I'm amazed at how it seems like bad events always come in waves. I'm hoping the pendulum will swing the other way soon. I'm grateful for the good things that have kept us going... it would be much too depressing without them.

The Best Two Years

Rob and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary Monday. Wow, 2 yrs already. It's been an amazing journey.

The Host

Last week was BYU's Education Week. The last time I went to Education week was when I was in high school. It was fun going to all the youth classes and of course the dance. I actually received my testimony of the Book of Mormon in a class at Education Week. Here's a picture of me and two of my friends at Education Week back in the day. Well I finally attended Education Week as an adult... this past week. I signed up as a hosting staff... meaning I worked a couple hrs a day and could spend the rest of the day attending other classes without having to pay. I really loved the classes about speaking effectively in church, financial classes (taught by Scott Marsh), and Barbara Jones'
classes. I also got to spend time with my parents and my Aunt Lawanna and Uncle Doug.

Home again, home again, rickety chick

We attended my Grandfather's funeral Friday, August 7th. It was hard to see him in his casket and know he had moved on, but good to know he had moved on at the same time. We heard some great talks about his life. Everyone mentioned his love for riding horses and his quiet demeanor. We also loved the anecdote about how whenever he came home from a long trip he'd say, "Home again, home again, rickety chick".

No Work and All Play

Rob and I took an exciting 9 day vacation the last week in July. We had so much fun. I drove from our apartment to Rob's work and he drove the rest of the way, which was no small task since we probably drove over 30 hours on our trip. At least I got my beauty rest while he was behind the wheel. We went to Denver and spent the night with one of my old mission companions... Rachel. She was sooooo nice to let us come stay the night and even stayed up late to chat. She made sure we had plenty of snacks for the drive. Saturday, we drove to Kansas City and spent hours looking for a hotel. We weren't in Kansas anymore. Who would have thought all the hotels in Kansas City and Liberty would be booked. We finally found a Motel 6 and got the last room! Sunday morning we drove through St Louis and finally arrived at Wade and Nancy's house in Kentucky. We had a blast with their family. They took us all over Lexington, Frankfurt, and Louisville. The next long drive was up to Ohio. We left early and drove straight to Cedar Point. We went on some crazy rides (the average wait for a ride was 1 1/2 hours) and even managed to get a 14, a 14 dollar, a 14 dollar footlooooong subway for uh.... free. It's a funny story how it happened but it did. Rob must be lucky or something... last time he went to Disneyland his family won a car! Hey, I was plenty happy with a sub. We drove to Cleveland to eat in Little Italy and stayed a couple of nights with my first college roommate, Natalie and her cute little family (they make the best bean dip). We spent the next day going all over Kirtland, Hiram, and lots of other little places. Our last day there, we all went to the beach... or rather Lake Erie where we helped clean up by gathering a bag full of cool rocks. Luckily, Rob didn't wear his Speedo. It was fabulous! We were then on our way to Bloomington Indiana, the home of Hoosiers, hay fields, and hicks, not to mention my brother Logan and his family's new home. We delivered his fully packed van, which he so generously lent to us on our little cross country excursion. We took the kids for scooter rides and got some amazing ice cream at the Chocolate Moose. We wished our vacation could have been longer, but the next day we were on our way home. We were lucky to make our connecting flight and got home late Sunday night. We took A LOT of photos and I spent the whole day putting them together... so I hope you like them.

Keith S. Powell 1915-2009

My grandfather passed away this evening. I'm sad to have him leave. I'll always remember one thing about him... his hugs; he'd wrap his arms around me then squeeze extra tight. I have no doubt that he's gone to a better place and is surrounded by loved ones. He will be greatly missed! -Heather

Oquirrh Mountian

Rob's parents are up in Utah for a few weeks this summer. We got together last weekend with them and some of Rob's family to walk through the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. What a beautiful temple! I especially loved the interior colors. Here's a few pictures we took. I really like the one with Rob's nieces and nephew looking in the fountain.

Photoshopping Spree

I've been trying to learn Photoshop recently. I knew just a little before, but I've really dived in lately. Here are some of my recent "shopping sprees"...

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-Heather

Our 4th of July

We spent the 4th of July in Roosevelt with some of my (Heather's) family (I have a brother, and 2 sisters who live there). We were missing a few, but managed to get 28 of us together. We went to the Neola parade in the morning where I took all the below picts...

We then had brunch at Kimberly's, rode their 4 wheelers, played games and put together a puzzle. We went to Shane's for dinner and ping-pong and stayed up to watch fireworks. We had a fun time with family and can't wait to see them again.