Hoops

I hate losing basketball games, especially when you have little our no control over the outcome. We had one guy say how it doesn't really matter win or lose, true. But, having played for so long and played on competitive teams with lots of organization it's hard to just play for fun. Something I think is difficult to understand unless you have been there our experienced something like it before.
Sincerely,
Uncle Rico.

Temptations...

My latest temptations that I've been working hard to control. There was a day when my mom and I discussed my physcological issue with eating sugar, primarily confectionary. In the end it was an issue of being selfish, I thought each piece of cake and each cookie was the last on earth and I had to eat as much as I could before it disappeared.
The challenge, only eat 1 sweet a week of my choosing. Not for weight control, but for self control ... or in scriptural terms self mastery.
To top it off I decided I want to run a half marathon or two this year. So, I've begun training for a race in May. It's nice to have something that stretches me and gets me up off my lazy bum.

Ciao for now!

Bacon for Lunch?

So I was just peeking around our breakroom during lunch today and saw his big ol slab of bacon sitting in the fridge with someones name on it. 1. How in the world do the plan to cook it? 2. Who is having just bacon for lunch or breakfast :) That combined with the fact these are IT people who, for the most part, sit around all day.

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My Abstract Painting

So this is a crack at my first abstract painting. While Mandi is much more patient and attentive to details, I have to sit down and quickly go wild...a little ADD to say the least.
The painting contains a code inside that Mandi knows, but didn't see right off. Being one who isn't very creative I was quite happy with my quick effort on this guy. Hopefully I can get some of this to spill over into work. Until we meet again...

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Mandi and I had a nice vacation this summer to Bear Lake & Island Park. We were going to stay in Yellowstone, but it was supposed to rain so we made a last minute change and went up to Bear Lake (well worth the chocolate raspberries).

While up at Bear Lake we went on a few bike trails up there. The one in the picture was a short little jobbie that went around a glacier lake. But our favorite was this trail that went across the Utah - Idaho border. As we were going up the trail we heard these bear sounds just off the trail.

The picture on the right is a picture from our dock/cabin we stayed at in Island Park. My whole immediately family all got together and crashed in one place, first time in forever long. The cabin was very nice, but did have a few downfalls, first and foremost being the power outlets stopped working in the kitchen as I was trying to make some homemade waffles for everyone. It almost ruined my trip, stupid cabin. To remedy the situation I made some extra thick pancakes on the stove.

In Island Park Mandi and I went on a little ATV trip and saw a black bear. She told me to go fast at first, but then we turned around a few times to get a second, third and fourth glance.

Ciao for Now.

Kgotso

This is my new hobby this summer, and Mandi's too. In April I got a new/used mountain bike and have been going to some great trails. This one (on the left) is one of my favorites just up Yellow Fork Canyon by our place in Herriman. J - $ even came up one day from Provo to go biking on this nice lil trail, after we meet Mandi at In n Out for some dinner.

More pictures to come on other trails.

Who need's a vacation?

Let's just say I can't wait to take a break and go on a little camp trip down to Moab to kick of the summer. Currently on one of the two long stretches where we don't have a holiday @ work. Love work, but got to have some play time in between; especially when things get really busy.

Started last weekend to prepare for my 3 day ITIL training that starts tomorrow. It's going to be a tough test so I am studying a lot so I'm not the only one who doesn't pass.

Mandi is making for one last push to get ready for finals. Just sold the explorer too. Mandi will miss poor bessy and all her "issues."

Life is Good

Isn't life so great! So last Friday I left work a bit early to help out with a primary activity at the church. I felt a bit awkward @ first because I was basically the only guy teacher/helper there, but it was so fun to help out some of the kids and to see a few kids from our class. One little girl in particular just got the biggest smile on her face when she saw and recognized me. Well worth it.

Today I got session 3 of 5 total Junior Achievement sessions at the elementary school near my work in West Valley City. The first two sessions were a bit rough, but today was great. The classes there are very diverse and you get a sense the kids don't have a lot of external resources from their teacher and normal class room setting. There was one boy who has little earings and "seems" like a potential trouble maker/problem child, but I don't know if I buy it.

As we discussed what an economy is and how companies need each other he offered to answer a difficult question and did very well. After the class he came up to me and gave me one of his treats he just received in class. It meant a lot, not just cause I like chocolate, but because it showed me that he appreciated the opportunity to learn and be recognized in class.

Oh, and while I was walking in I overheard a couple kids ask the teacher, "where's Steve." I go by Steve and not Mr. Morley.

Mandi just got both of her art submissions accepted into the Art show down at University Mall in Orem, UT. I'm very excited for her, although she doesn't always know it, and know she is a great artist. And then...

St. Patrick's Update

Word -

Since Mandi doesn't like the blogging scene I am going to start updating what's happening. Today Mandi started teaching art to 17 kids in our ward. She is going over painting, drawing, and sculpting with the little fella's. I think this will be such a great thing for her, especially since she is going into Art Education.

Speaking of which, the lady at Wal-Mart last night said, "who would've thought that after I finish my degree I'd be working here at Wal-Mart...that's what a degree in Art will get you." Sad, but often true.

I started my Junior Achievement volunteer program today where I teach 5 class sessions about business to a very diverse school in West Valley City where I work. The class was a bit noisy but very fun to teach and be with. It really made me appreciate these Elementary teachers and realize they do a lot for these kids.

Hopefully taxes will come soon. Last year was the year of the car for us. We had our fair share of car repairs, including a new purchase in January of this year. All in all we have been very blesses though and appreciate all the help from family and friends.

Tomorrow I get a free St. Patrick's breakfast from work, so excited. Hopefully some nice treats will be involved. Wish you all the best of Irish luck!

Weekend Update

Status

In May Mandi and I were married in the

SLC temple. It was so amazing and we love being able to go back to the temple and look at our wedding pictures to help remind us of the amazing day we had on the 23rd of May. Since then we've each been making our own adjustments to married life, trying to balance schedules, habits, likes/dislikes and family activities. All in all it's been great though!

Mandi is back in school working toward her Fine Arts & Teaching degree at UVU. She is also working at Hobby Lobby (@ the District), which has it's pro's and con's. Painting is definitely one of Mandi's main talents and loves in life. She could spend most of the day painting away at different styles and

ideas she has in her head. She has won a few awards recently for some of her artwork and will be featured in a 2010 calendar published by Alpine City. I like to boast that I've hired my own "in-house" artist, something not many people have. :)

For me it's mostly been about work, studying for the GMAT and trying to find time to relax through exercising and organizing our flat. No one can ever say to me, "well, you just don't know what it's like to be the one who cleans and cooks everyday," cause I do. Really though, I don't mind doing it, I just wish I had more time to cook and that Mandi had more time to enjoy a nice dinner with me before hurrying to do some homework.

SNL

One of my all-time most favorite video clips/segments of TV shows. If you don't get it the first time or simply don't laugh, just watch it over a few times and it should hit you by then.

Old School Amanda

For Presidents day I went up to my parents house with my beautiful bride, Amanda, and my cousin Goober. Whilst there my mom had me grab a few items out of the old Halloween box, two of which were these vintage dresses that she wore back in the early 1920's. :)

I never knew Mandi could be so excited to try on such a thing.

Mandi was born to be a disco woman!

Dawgs

So, the other day Mandi and I were at her house and we found a nice little remote control car and decided to play with it. Poor Sammy didn't know where to go so she decided to just jump up on my lap. :)

The New and Old Fettish

So, last weekend we decided to watch an episode of 24 since we had just that amount of time before Mandi had to leave to go home. Consequently, we have watched about 6 - 7 hours of 24 since.

Who can dispute that Jack Bauer is just amazing! If you haven't started to watch 24 as of yet, go on to Hulu.com and get caught up as this is a fantastic season.

-Cheers-

Dancing???

I never would've thought that I would attend a Masquerade ball, but sure enough we went. The ball was a charity put on by the local community action, so it was a good cause none-the-less.

The masks are uniquely made by us. I am also now a vintage masquerade dancer, having learned two classic dances. I thought about becoming an instructor, but my time is a little short right now. Maybe when I retire.

Mandi accomplished something that no one else has been able too-big surprise uh :)- I danced!! It was really awkward at first, but my mask gave me special powers that helped me move like I was born to dance. If only I danced as well as I eat brownies, then that would be a true accomplishment.

The Joys of Being Engaged

So, we have now been engaged for two months and ten days, and we are very anxious for the big day to come! Six and a half months is way too long to wait. We don't suggest long engagements for anyone.
But, life is pretty peachy, despite the stress of being in school and planning a wedding at the same time.
Recent updates: Steve cut his hair again. I moved to Alpine to save some mula. All of our friends are getting engaged and married before us. And that is all.
So ends our second post of our lives. Stay tuned for more to come, but I am tired of blogging now so cheers!:)

We are learning how to blog since we are going to get married.

So, during the ever so busy week of finals, Mandi and I decided to join the amazing world of blogging. It just seems to be what married couples do. :) So a quick run through. We started dating in April of 08, talked about getting married in July, finally got engage on November 8th, and plan to get married on May 23rd of the upcoming year. Boo ya!!!