Christmas

Oh Christmas, sometimes I wish you weren't so stressful.

3 Families in the same town = 3 Christmases.

I don't mean to complain, but it can all get overwhelming when you are trying to make it to everyones traditions and events and not make anyone upset during this merry holiday.

I think this year we were able to make it to everything but boy, I am pretty happy to be back in boring Logan in my little cinder block apt.

Just 10 days before Christmas me and Jo celebrated our 2 year anniversary. YAY!

This year we went to Disney and on a cruise. We had a blast!

After Christmas a we had a little get together with some friends from HS who were in town. I was so happy to see these ladies and it was great to catch up!

Japan in a Nutshell

Ohayo Gozimasu! Genki desu ka?
Ok. It is finally that time. I can't put this off much longer.
I wish I could just write a caption with every picture because most of them have interesting stories or explanations, and because i could just talk forever about this trip.
But...Im not going to.
A. Because my sister and my pictures combined equal roughly 600 pictures
B. It would probably start to get boring for some people
C. This would probably end up being the longest post in blogger history
D. I don't have the time or the finger energy
So.
Here, for my history and your enjoyment, is my Japan trip in a Nutshell.

PEOPLE

The faces of Japan. You know what I thought would be a rarity?
People wearing kimonos. Come to find out, its still pretty common.
You can see a couple people in this pic who are wearing their kimonos out-and-about.
The escalators are my favorite shots.
You will always find people in a line on the left side. No one, and I mean NO ONE will be standing on the right side. That is for walking.
We went out to eat almost every night with my dad's friends and clients. It was really fun to go out with them and practice some Japanese.

Oh the picture of the people sleeping on the sub is pretty funny. It happens all the time but it is amazing because they will wake up mere seconds before their stop.

FOOD

Just a few pictures of the food we ate. It took me a day to get use to it. But it was great.

It was also pretty sweet going to eat with my dad's clients and friends cause they spared no expense at taking us out. The first place my dad's clients took us a Chicken BBQ place that is NOTHING like a BBQ place in the US. I couldn't really eat it. The chicken wasn't really cooked all the way and they were dipping it in raw egg yolk. The salads were really good there though...The second day/place was were I ate gold for the first time. They had gold flakes on the tomatoes, cucumbers and eggs. Yum. We also had food on sticks that we dipped in oil. The food consisted of veggies, egg yolk, curry, yeast, and chicken gizzard. Very interesting but very good! The 3rd day/meal was shabu shabu with my dad's old friends from Nissan. It was sooo yummy. Shabu Shabu is really thin slices of raw meat that you dip in broth to cook it. I think that was my favorite. The 4th day/meal was with my dad's friends and potential clients from Nippon Alcohol. They took us to an organic restaurant. What was interesting here was the dessert. Ice cream: sesame seed, sweet potato, tofu flavored, etc. Yummy... they were actually good.. Speaking of tofu. We ate that stuff everyday with almost every meal. I got pretty use to it and kinda like it now.

PLACES

Tokyo

Imperial Palace

Hiroo (where the LDS temple is)

Harajuku

Odaiba

Ameyoko (old black market place for sweets)

Yokohama

Asakusa

Sensoji (oldest temple in Tokyo area)

JAPAN was fantastic. It was the best trip I've ever been on. I was so lucky to be able to go! and I can't wait to go again!!!

Anyone up for Japan 2010?

procrastination

It has been over a month since Ive been in Japan and still no post.

It is coming soon I promise.

Sweet Little Atticus

One of my BFs just had her baby!!

I am soooo excited for this little one.

Congrats Annie & Todd.

We miss you guys!

Can't wait to meet Baby Atticus!

John & Emily Jones

Every time I think about this tragedy my heart breaks.

If you can, PLEASE donate to the John & Emily Jones Memorial Fund found here.

You can do it online. Its quick, easy and will help provide support for John's wife and children who have suffered this great loss.

Sayonara.

Before I leave for Japan in a couple days, I thought I would just create a quick post of the last couple days here in STG.

I came down Wednesday for a conference at the Dixie Center for the UACD. I had a presentation Friday were I spoke on my GIS project.

Saturday was Jeff & Sara's wedding. It was BEAUTIFUL. Their cake was probably the prettiest I have ever seen. and PS. that BYU hat by the cake is another little cake. I thought it was just a hat and was going to move it for the pictures. Good thing I didn't eh?

Saturday me and Kaylee went to go see Lauren's baby Sadie Jayne. She is so precious and sooo tiny.

Well that is my quick update. Im headin to Tokyo on Tuesday morn. I am super excited!

Little Sister

Okay I couldn't help it. I have the cutest little sister ever. I got these pictures from my sisters camera and wanted to post them.

What a little cutie!!

This is a video we took just before bed the other night.

This is the second time we had been spinning and we don't handle it too well.

Check out Aria's face. Its hilarious!!

Pasta, Passions & Pistols

Halloween 2009
[Murder Mystery Party]

This year we decided to try out a Murder Mystery Party game for Halloween. It was a first for all of us & I would say it was a success.

The theme of the game was "Pasta, Passions & Pistols."

The guests were:

Adam Del Toro: "Marco Roni." Son of the late Pepi Roni who was murdered. Ambition in life-to be a world famous soccer player.

Mollie {soon to be Mollie Del Toro}: "Mama Roni." Wife of Pepi Roni. A wonderful cook and resturant owner.

Kody McDonald: "Bo Jalias." The only french man at the party. He is a wine taster and is interested in Pepi Roni's daughter Angel.

Cherri McDonald: "Angel Roni." Daughter of Mama and Pepi Roni. She is tough business woman who runs with a rough crowd.

Jordan Gardner: "Rocco Scarfazzi." Pepi Roni's twin brother. I think Pepi changes his last name when he moved to New York from Italy; hence the name difference between twins. Rocco is very rich and runs the family business back in Italy. He is recently engaged to Tara Misu.

Whitney Gardner: "Tara Misu." Tara use to be a maid in the villa for Rocco until (cough cough) he got her preggers. Now she sits atop of the Scarfazzi fortune.

Fun eh? It was a blast.

The food was fantastic, the company couldn't have been better and the game was definitely interesting.

We all had the hardest time using an Italian accent the whole dinner and ended up just yelling most of the time {its what the Italians do anyways right?}

Special shout out to Adam and Mollie on getting engaged last weekend!!! CONGRATS!!!!

Pumpkin Carving

Jordan and I went to the McDonald's last night for a little pumpkin carving. We had a great time.

Our pumpkins were:

Kody: Giant pumpkin eating another pumpkin

Cherri: Scary old tree

Me: Pumpkin Pi

Jordan: Well...he started off doing the "Big Brother" face from Orwell's 1984. Then he switched to just a scary face. Then he didn't like it so he punched the face in, which left a hole in is pumpkin. The hole wasn't exactly circular so he started making a perfect circle. Then we decided it could be my pumpkin's carrying case/house/cage/protector. It was so original.

Jordan's Update

I hope ya'll don't mind me bragging about my husband for a sec...

Heres whats going on in the amazing life of JO:

1. Jord is the activities chairman for the USU FPA (Financial Planners Association) and they recently went to Anaheim California for the National FPA convention. They all (I think 7 people went) had a great time and made some good connections.
2. Jo is on the USU Tax team and they had a national tax competition hosted by Deloitte in SLC. The team (4 undergrad students) did great and got "honorable mention"...which is like 4th place.
3. He got his LSAT tests back and ranked in the top 12% in the nation. He is such a smarty. He is now in the process of applying to law schools.

Okay and this was all just in October. But besides all this he has school and an audit going on at work. He is always crazy busy.

I Luff him.

And that is what is going on in the amazing life of JO. Thanks for tuning in.

Thanksgiving

Ya okay I know, it isn't even November yet but I feel like there is a lot to be grateful for this fall. Fall, like many other people, is my favorite time of the year. The leaves are falling, the temperature is getting cooler (but not yet frigid), there are haunted corn mazes all over town, its pumpkin dessert season (yum yum), Halloween is just around the corner, Thanksgiving and Christmas will come soon (which means a 2 yr anniversary for me and Jo) and Logan UT is absolutely GORGEOUS this time of year.

Along with all of this we have weddings in the family, some of my best friends are having little ones, and I have three awesome trips planned.

November:

The first trip planned is to a place I have been dreaming of going for a long time.

Tokyo, Japan.

I almost can't believe that I will be here in a couple weeks.

December:

This trip has been booked since February.

For me and Jo's 2 anniversary we will be going on the same cruise we went on for our honeymoon. I'm ecstatic and Jo can't stop talking about the food.

end of January beginning of February:

Most recently I found out that the Utah Association of Conservation Districts (UACD) will be sending me here

Okay... not exactly here but 3 miles from it.

Orlando, Florida.

My baby GIS project that I have been working on for a year now has been chosen as one of the top 5 success stories to be featured at the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) meeting in Florida.

What does this mean?

That I will have to go to a convention for 3 days, and give a 20 min. presentation one of those days.

But after that...its a party for me and Jo for 4 days at all the awesome theme parks in Florida.

I am so excited for this fall season.

It is beautiful and there is so much to look forward to.

Anaheim, Aida, Accidents

While Jordan was in Anaheim CA for a FPA (Financial Planning Assoc.) convention last weekend I decided to take a trip to STG.

My first stop was in Orem to see some of my old besties from HS, Genna Mugleston and Kelsie James. We stopped at the Pizza Factory and reminisced of old times and caught up on each others lives. I loved hanging out with these girls again.

Then I stopped by Di's to give her a birthday gift. Yes, I did give her a snuggie. I saw it at the store and could not pass it up. It is probably the best gift I will ever give. She loved it.

My weekend in STG was pretty average. I did go to see Aida at Tuacahn. It was fantastic! I love musicals, and Tuacahn is never a let down. Although my weekend in STG was average...my sisters weekend was not average at all.

While Carly was coming back to my mom's house in Ivins with her BF Andy they saw a car that had run into a brick wall. At first they weren't sure what had happened but they turned around and decided to check it out. When they got closer they could see a couple people laying on the ground around the car. It was 2am and the driver had fallen asleep. Carly and Andy checked on everyone and called the police. The people were bleeding and crying. Car and Andy stayed with the kids (yes they were 16 and younger) until additional help arrived. Scary huh? Everyone survived and I don't think anyone was seriously injured.

Me and Jo are in SLC this weekend. Jordan has a Deloitte Tax Competition with his tax team. He is such a smarty. I hope they win!

"Fashionable and Spiritual"

As Janece puts it we were "fashionable and spiritual" this past conference weekend. Thanks to a womans inherit multi-tasking abilities, Janece Janessa Megan and I were able to shell out a few bracelets 'n such while listening to conference.

Here is my stash.

A special thanks to Tresa and Janece for the wonderful beads!

Aria Perry

Hey everyone vote for my baby sister as the face for baby gap.

Isn't she sooo cute?!

Vote here or here.

Check it Out

This is pretty neat:

Logan, UT recently got a Texas Roadhouse. This is not just any run of the mill steak house. All profits at this one location go straight to charity. They say it is the first of its kind in the Country! Check out the article from ABC here.

I have never eaten at Texas Roadhouse but I gotta check it out now.

cool Logan.

Labor Weekend

Labor day weekend was pretty sweet.

Since Jord was taking a LSAT practice test this last weekend I decided to go visit some of my

favorite people.

On Friday I drove down to Orem/Provo and spent the evening with Diana.

We went out to eat, got stalked at the McDonald's parking lot, redBoxed it, and chatted until the wee hours of the morning.

Then Me and Ash had a sleepover.

On Monday I took Jord on a date to Thanksgiving Point
(and since we were close-Cabellas).
I love it here. It is sooo pretty.

Me and Jo in the Rose Garden

Feedin the fish

At the Dinosaur Museum.

We had tons of fun (but were pretty sore from walking all day).

After Thanksgiving Point and Cabellas we headed over to Orem/Provo for a little shopping and some dinner with Ash & Garret.

Kilts, Clans & Quails

Here is what me and jo hit up this weekend:

{Willow Park Zoo}

Located in Logan Ut! Who knew there was a zoo in Logan eh? We loved it.

It isn't a zoo with lions, tigers or bears, but it also doesn't have huge crowds and cost only $1 to get in.

It started out as a bird refuge and so most of the animals found here have feathers.

My favorites were the monkeys and the bald eagles. Jordan liked the huge variety of pheasants and to watch the boa constrictor in the cage next to the birds try to find a way in.

{Logan's first ever Scottish Festival}

Who could pass this up?

We had a lot of fun wandering around looking at all the different Scottish Clan's (family) booths. We didn't see jo's family clan, The Gordons, but we did learn a lot about them.

I had to sneak this picture.

So obviously you could dress up in kilts, pirate costumes, or medieval clothing at this Scottish festival. We saw all these.

My FAVORITE Picture taken during this event.

Yes, these people are LARPing (Live Action Role Playing). This event was probably suppose to be for the children but whatevs.

I love it cause these two were sooo in to it. They had the best stances and moves. WOW.

I love the kid looking up at these two too. He was killed and obviously lost an arm in battle.

There were many men in skirts, or as the Scots call them "kilts."

jo loved these two hillbilly Scots.

(Also, notice the cat on a leash in the background. Weird?, not here.)

Leaping Lulu!

We love this band. Kent, the one playing the drum like instrument, works with me at the County Offices.

jo's new best friend.

We walked by this gate on the way back to the car and this little booger stuck his neck out of the fence and was bleating like crazy.

(I think he wanted to eat jo's papers)

Anyways. We had a great weekend.

Logan UT rocks my socks!

Carlyn Jade

Happy 20th Sister!!

Aren't sisters the best?!(Oh geez, the clothes we would wear...)

20 Reasons why Carly is "the da' bomb"

1. She is the funniest person I know

2. Because she lived a year in my closet (no joke she put a sleeping bag in there and it was her "own" room)

3. She is so sweet and nice to everyone!

4. I just have to look at her and she knows what Im thinking

5. She was/is the constant mediator in the family

6. She is very spiritual and humble

7. She is honest

8.Beautiful, need I say more?

9. Because she knows every word to every song in every play

10. She works hard and loves her job

11. She is very smart and learned

12. She was an awesome Senior Class President to Dixie High and a member of their ping pong club

13. She is always so giving

14. Because she can recite all the words to "Aaron's Party" by Aaron Carter

15. She is my best friend and anyone who is her friend knows she would do anything for them

16. She doesn't care what other people think about her

17. She is a kook (Soap operas, music videos, "Newsies" dances...good times)

18. She always puts others first

19. Because of our million inside jokes

20. Because she is a great sister and i love her!

Happy Birfday!

the 24th: Races and Ridin'

What's better than the 24th of July races in Pine Valley?

I love the Gardner family traditions!! One such tradition that I love oh so much is the 24th of July in Pine Valley. Me and Jord would not miss it this year so we left work and school behind in Logan and drove to Pine Valley where we stayed for 3 days.

Pine Valley, every year, has breakfast, races, games and balloon tosses on the lawn at the church for the 24th of July.

It was Aria's first year in Pine Valley for the 24th. She Loved it!

Here we are waiting at the starting line for the races to begin.

Here she is at the end with Carly. Look at that pic. She beat everyone by a long shot!

Aria is feeding me some of her "winnings" from the race: Cracker Jacks.

Besides the festivities at the church, the Gardners traditionally do a cattle drive during the 24th of July weekend and take their 200 or so cattle from Pine Valley to Grass Valley.This is the second year that I have been able to go on the cattle drive and I love it! I always feel like Im in an old western movie or something riding along with the cattle.


Here we are getting ready for the long trip

How cute! Ashley & Garret riding out to the cows. This was Garrets first adventure with the cattle drive. He was a trooper!

me

Taking the cattle across the Pine Valley road to Grass Valley.

Justin & Maggie Gardner. My cute cowboy husband!
We had such a great adventure! I love Pine Valley!!