Busy, Busy, Busy

From the moment we landed in Abuja we haven't stopped. Once we get adjusted and find more time, I will update our blog. We miss everyone and think of you often!!!

We're DONE!!!

After six long years, we are finally done with school...for now!  It's such a good feeling to know we don't have to write any more papers or take any more tests.  It's been a long, rough road, but we made it and we're so proud of our accomplishments.

Jessica receiving her diploma

Jordan being hooded

The Elementary gang

One Month To Go!

We leave for Nigeria in 1 month!! Can you believe it? It's hard to believe that we are this close to moving. Moving to Abuja has always been such a far off adventure and now it's becoming reality. We're getting a little anxious/nervous, but can't wait to get there.

Mosquitoes Won't Get the Best of Us

Last Friday, Jordan an I went camping up at Tarryall Reservoir with Jensen, Jayson, Carla, Joe, and Kalee. We were lucky enough to miss out on rain, but did have as much luck with mosquitoes. We all were eaten alive, Jayson being the winner of the most bug bites.Setting up camp

The boys being trouble...as usual




Hanging around the fire...waiting for s'mores

The camping crew!

MAT Friends

Yeah for graduation and surviving the MAT program! (we weren't sure we'd make it)

We have all been through so much the past year and we've become such a close group. We cried, had nervous breakdowns, and laughed uncontrollably together. Last summer we became a family and it will be hard to go our separate ways. Polly is moving to Estes Park and is teaching 4th grade, Pam is teaching Kindergarten at Rockrimmon, Marci is having her second little one, and I am moving to a new continent, country, and hemisphere.

Although we will not be at CC everyday together, I look forward to continuing our relationship.

Stampin-Up party- November 2008





Marci's baby shower-June 2009

ALOHA!!!

It was so nice to have the opportunity to escape, for a week, after a loooonnnnggg year. We really enjoyed our time on the Big Isand. We went to a luau, 4-wheeled and explored the southern tip, went to Waipio Valley, saw sea turtles and did plenty of resting and relaxing.

the view from our condo

One of the days we headed up to Waipio Valley. It was one of those places that you think only exsits in books or movies. The valley is sacred grounds to the natives and is kept very natural. We saw rice farms, waterfalls, and wild horses. The only way to reach the valley is to 4-wheel or to hike down. The whole drive down you have to be in 4-wheel low because the grade is 25%. I was glad Jordan was driving because it almost seemed like a roller coaster ride. The whole way down felt like I was falling straight forward.

Once we were down in the valley, we got in the water and attempted to drive to the waterfalls. We weren't able to get close to the waterfalls becuase it started down pouring and we had to cross rivers which were rising quickly. We were brave enough to pass through one of the rivers, but decided not to go any farther. It was quite the adventure!

Waipio Valley



Waipio Valley


The Big Island is known for their black lava terrian. It was amazing to see how far the lava from previous eruptions traveled. I was very interested in the active volcano and was looking forward to hiking around the crater, but due to high sulfur emissions, the volcano national park was closed.

Lava flow


There is a famous black sand beach on the southern tip of the island which is home to giant sea turtles. On our last day, we traveled down to this beach. We were lucky enough to see one of them playing in the water.Me and the sea turtles


When we were down south, we also tried finding the green emerald beach (a native had suggested us go there). After 45 minutes of intense 4-wheeling we came to the green beach and were VERY disappointed. I expected to see a brilliant green sand against turqoise water, (this is the picture the native gave me) but there was nothing speical about this sand. It was just regular sand! I asked a guy standing next to us if this was the green sand beach and he seemed as disappointed as us. He said it depended on the tide, but since there was a high tide, we weren't able to see the green pebbles which give the beach it's name.



We had such a great time in Hawaii. It was sooo nice to spend time with one another.

I Did This?...

The original picture (sorry...can't get he picture upright)

My drawing

This is what has consumed my life this week. The first summer of CC we took a class which taught how to integrate the arts in the classroom and this summer we took the second half of that class. This project was just to prove that we can do art, even if we think it's an impossible task (which I was very sure it was).