Reader's Digest Version of My Life

Now that I finally have internet and I've set up my router, I should start blogging again. I've never been extremely faithful doing it in the past, but I'm going to try to get better.
Reader's Digest Version of the Updates in My Life:

• First lump of school is over with. The honeymoon phase of the first year of teaching is officially over. Being a teacher is hard. There, I've said it.
• Talked to Darnie on the phone! I MISS NZ!
• Started physical therapy for my 'catcher's knees.' It's more like physical torture!
• Got the swine-flu shot. Yay for Cache County School District!
• Decorated cookies with David for Halloween
• Went on a couple dates.
• Threw a bachelorette party for Crista!
• Downloaded Skype so I can talk to Darnie and Nga
• Finally bought me a DVD/VHS player.
• Returned the DVD/VHS player that didn't work
• Finished physical therapy (as long as Janalyn and I continue to go to the gym!)
• Got a cold.

That's about it. My life isn't too exciting right now other than school, but that's kind of nice all the same. I'd post some pics if I could, but something is wrong with my blog. I'll try again later.

p.s. Visit my good friend Jaci's blog: jacisjuicy.blogspot.com She makes the CUTEST hats ever! Need a fun gift idea--get a hold of Jaci!

Bugs

So I'm bumming internet off the university because this summer I was too poor to buy it and now I'm too busy to get it. I'm sitting outside the Natural Resources Building and I feel something creepy on me. IT'S A HUGE SPIDER! Monstrous! With a white spot on it's back! So I scream a little, luckily no one was around, and I flip my shoe off and the spider goes flying. Upon further inspection I see a swarm of ants eating what looks like a fry or a dried up apple slice. I keep looking for the spider so I can kill it and then I think that I invaded his space. And it's a little awful for me to think about killing something outside of the natural resources building. Sort of hypocritical. Then I see the spider again. This thing is fast and scary! And the ants are EVERYWHERE! I'm amazed that they all work together and totally creeped out at the same time. I want to move...but then I'd have to move all my stuff and I'd feel like a pansy all scared of nature. I've got the heebies. That's it...I'm moving.

My First Teaching Job

So I'm two weeks in to teaching and all is going well. It's crazy and stressful but I'm doing great. I'm taking things one day at a time and I'm learning patience with myself. I appreciate my family and friends so much--they have been so helpful to me. Especially when I have to call and talk about my day since everything is so crazy. I'm redoing my schedule yet again and I really hope I won't have to change it too much again.

It's great feeling like an adult. I have my own medical, dental and renter's insurance and all my bills are in order. So although I hate having to pay bills, it's great knowing I'm an adult. :) Living by myself is a little lonely, but Morgan and I are still hanging out a lot. I miss seeing her everyday but I know she is having such a fun time being a peer mentor.

I went to my cousin's wedding last night and it was so beautiful. He and his wife were married outdoors on a golf yard overlooking Utah County. It was beauriful and I wish them all the best. They are going to work toward getting married in the temple and I hope and pray that happens for them. I know they'll get there. Love you Wyatt and Alma!

Palm Pilot Madness

So...my palm pilot wasn't working with my new computer so I did an online chat with Palm Support and guess what---the Zire 31 doesn't work with the 64-bit Vista. Dumb, huh? So they said I either have to downgrade my operating system (stupid) or upgrade to a smartphone. Then I have to pay the data system and sign another 2-year contract with AT&T. So I'm mad. Ugh.

2 more weeks!

I have two more weeks to get my classroom together before I have to start school! It's crazy to think how fast this summer has gone by. Morgan moves out this week which I'm so sad about. It will be a big adjustment not having her home when I get home, but I know that she's making the right choice with taking the Peer Mentor job and moving on campus. She's going to be amazing and I'm jealous I'm not in her FIG. :)

Wednesday and Thursday Janalyn, Jami and I are going to a Special Education Law Conference in Ogden which will be good to brush up on our skills before school starts.

It's also my dad's birthday on Wednesday! He's so amazing and I am so grateful he's such a big part of my life. Saturday we went golfing with my brother and he gave me a bunch of tips to work on my game. We all went shooting later that evening and I am so grateful that he likes to do activities with us and is always teaching us new things. Happy Birthday Daddy! I love you!

4th of July

I know this is late in coming--but I finally got my new laptop so I can blog away and add pictures! This is a collage of the pics over the 4th of July with my family. It is a Lerdahl family tradition to go to the drive-in over the 4th and the movies we usually see during this time are absolutely horrible. This time we saw Year One and Land of the Lost. Stupid and gross. Don't see them. But it's fun to go all the same. Morgan and I laid in the back of the truck on an air mattress while Mom and Dad enjoyed the lawn chairs.

The next day, Mom, Dad, Morgan and I drove to Delta to visit the Topaz Internment Camp site. (Dane was at the cabin with friends till later that afternoon). It was a long drive but we had fun. For those of you who don't know, during WWII, Japanese-Americans from around the United States were relocated to different internment camps, one of them being Topaz in Delta. Sound familiar? Yes, it's not unlike what the Germans did, however the Japanese-American's weren't forced to work. They were forced to leaved their homes and live in cramped shacks in the boiling hot summers and freezing winters of central Utah with no explanation other than it was "for their protection against angry citizens." We know it was also to prevent any attacks from the Japanese on American soil. However, not one case of espionage was ever found among the Japanese-Americans and many of their brave sons faught in the war. The 442nd RCT and 100th Battalian which was made up entirely of young Japanese-American boys went on to become the United States' most highly decorated combat unit in it's history. Sadly, not enough has been done to memorialize this camp to those who suffered persecution in a free land. I'd love to donate my time to make it a place where people come to learn about these brave people beyond the small placards and bare wasteland. As one of the placards says, "The memory of Topaz remains a tribute to a people whose faith and loyalty was steadfast--while America's had faltered."

After our enlightening trip, we brightened up the day with a barbeque outside and watched a movie together as a family. It was great to spend time with one another and learn about a part of our nation's history on its Independence Day!

Shopping with my Mom and Sister

So my favorite thing in the world is spending time with my mom and sister. We are such good friends and have a blast hanging out with one another. Morgan and I came home for the 4th of July weekend and when we got home, our mom was ready right away to head out shopping. First we stopped at the bank and while we were in there, it started raining. In about 15 minutes, Stansbury Park got almost an inche of rain! It came down in sheets! We ran to the car in it and afterwards felt like we'd taken a shower. We hit the mall and had so much fun checking out the shops. We haven't done that in a long time and it was special to spend time together. I got some cute clothes and a ring and of course had a Mrs. Field's cookie.

p.s. Thanks to Blake for giving Morgan and I his free scoops of ice cream at Farr's during our trip down. It helped the long drive and who doesn't love cherry chocolate chip?