Thursday, August 6, 2009

3 decades and counting

Happy Birthday to me! Wow 30 years old. I had a great time doing my little "all about me" project the last 3 weeks. I totally lost steam in the middle and it almost became a thorn in my side to get it done but it was so much fun going through old pictures and remembering funny stories and seeing some old faces. I think, most of all, I realized how blessed I am and how fortunate I've been over the years. And also, I didn't do any of these things alone--I've been surrounded by wonderful people my whole life and I know not everyone can say that. I had amazing parents who took me on vacation, and sat in the audience of my plays and shows and softball games and sisters who let me tag along, and wear their clothes, and who truly became my friends when I was at BYU. And great friends, some since first grade and some since just recent--but the adventures we've had and crazy antics we come up with are uniquely us and i wouldn't have had it any other way. I also realized that I could never list all the things I've done and experiences I've had. I've had catfish on Beale Street in Memphis, I've seen the Gugenheim in Bilbao, I floated down a river through caves in Belize and saw the island of Cozumel on a scooter. I scuba dived in Honduras, saw the Capitol at night in Washington D.C, floated in a balloon above Palm Springs, ate a hot dog at Yankees Stadium, walked the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco, salsa danced in Santo Domingo, watched the Dallas Cowboys underneath Texas Stadium, saw the stage production of Lion King in London.....I don't say these things to be braggy, but i say it to remind myself how full my life is and how the mundane and the everyday and the hard stuff make getting to do all these things worth it. How in another 30 years, I can look back and say, "Nice work, Nance." I hope that I can continue to be blessed and worthy of great things to come. My life is full--it's no where near complete, but it's full. and I'm grateful. And although I want and pray for more, i have no complaints. Who knows what the next year, even decade will hold? I'm sure a lot of fun stuff and a lot of not fun stuff but I'm ready for it. Come what may and love it...

30 has been great so far. I have a new shirt, I had a cookie for breakfast, I've been wearing the official "Miss Lehi 2003" crown all day at work, had a nice lunch with a good crew from the office, almost put myself in a food coma with some chocolate cake and am looking forward to the SYTYCD finale tonight with Les (Team Jeanine!). Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it...

xoxo
N

i also realized i should have been in pageants. big hair, from texas, can walk in heels. i was made for it :)

free-fallin

1. SKYDIVING! Surprise-I went skydiving a few weeks ago. Happy Birthday to me. My friend, Watts, convinced me to go so 4 of us went to Ogden early one Saturday morning and went skydiving. I was hooked to Spanky, who was a great instructor. I loved it and would go back and do it again in a heartbeat. Thanks Julia, Brian and Pete for being there with me for my first ever skydive. Here's to the next 30 years....





Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Utah or Bust

3. SUMMER VACATIONS: As a child, we never spent our summer vacations at the beach or at Disneyland. No, we loaded up the minivan and drove to Utah for a couple weeks. The drive was long but we broke up it with a night in New Mexico with my mom’s sister, Cecile. We’d stay with Grandma and Grandpa Tadje in Alpine when that town was barely a dot on the map. We’d spend time with cousins on both sides and it wasn’t complete until Grandpa made his ice cream cake-chocolate cake with layers of Snelgrove’s peppermint chocolate spray. We’d also spend time with G&G Johnson in Elko, NV before they moved to Evanston. Most vivid was cartwheels on the neighbor’s grass who didn’t like us and breaking my arm on a failed landing after jumping out a swing. I got a new wardrobe from Fred Meyer (none of my shirts could fit over the massive cast) which I thought was awesome. There really are too many memories to list, but I LOVED coming to Utah. Summer nights hanging out outside were my favorite.

Grandpa T LOVED fig newtons

Lake Powell

Lagoon

G&G J-Evanston

Rafting the Snake River

Lagoon

Lagoon

Mountainview Circle-you can barely see the front end of the station wagon in the top right corner

G&G T at the cabin. we still have that cooler.

Lake Powell

I wore this sailor outfit all the time

I think we're downtown SLC but really can't remember

the awkward years

hanging at Ernie & Sylvia's. I especially love the Coca-Cola shirt.

it's possible that this was at the 49th street galleria

kennecott copper mine--don't ask what look i'm going for here--i don't know.

Sunday best with Grandpa T. he was so handsome.

Grandma, watch me jump!

i broke my arm in Elko and got a new Popples

please note the cast size versus my leg size

Monday, August 3, 2009

catch-up

warning: lots of posts.....

years gone by

4. BIRTHDAYS PAST: As the day approaches to my 30th year, here's at look back at the last 4...

29



28-Snake Creek Grill

27-Citris Grill


26-Porcupine